Monbiot Fumes Over a List
I don’t get George Monbiot’s problem with this list of 20 “Green Giants” singled out by the Guardian’s Sunday Observer. Are such lists arbitrary and pure fluff? Sure. But Monbiot’s beef goes way beyond that:
Much of the list was a catalogue of rich and powerful people who have now added green ““ or some nebulous semblance of green ““ to their portfolios.
That’s just flat wrong. But Monbiot is all bent out of shape because the list includes the likes of Prince Charles, Jay Leno and Brad Pitt. Big deal. It’s a freakin’ list. It also includes 12 people who I knew little about (and I thought I was up on all this stuff).
Here’s just one example of Monbiot misrepresenting the Observer’s list to air his own grievance:
First, it reinforces the story, endlessly told by those who hate environmentalism, that it is the preserve of toffs and princes (Prince Charles, inevitably, features on the Observer’s list).
I challenge anyone to read the list and tell me they walk away with that impression–that environmentalism “is the preserve of toffs and princes.” (You could be somebody who believes that already, but I can’t see how your belief would be reinforced by the list.)
Monbiot is equally miffed at The Observer’s headline for its article: Green giants: the eco power list
He writes:
To me, eco and power occupy different spheres. The environmentalism I recognise is a challenge to power. It confronts a system which allows a handful of people to dominate our lives and capture our resources.
Oh..kay. So about those stereotypes you don’t want to reinforce….
Monbiot: ‘Environmentalism is one of the last hold-outs against celebrity culture.’
He’s finally lost it.
Environmentalism IS the preserve of toffs and princes. Only the well-off and wealthy will be able to afford the promise 50% extra “greened” energy bills in the UK.
Low- and middle-incomers, the retired and the single-parent families simply don’t have disposable income in the UK like they do in the US. We physically can’t stretch to the burden that’s been committed to in our names. You have no idea at all.
I agreed with George on this article, of all people. The Guardian even allowed my comment!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/discussion/comment-permalink/9196866
And you would be wrong, too, Barry.
You agreeing with Monbiot’s characterization of environmentalism is one thing; Monbiot’s characterization of the Observer article is another. And from where I’m sitting, he mischaracterized the piece to fit his polemic.
Show me where I’m wrong, if you will.
Yes, KK
There are many more serious environmentalists than those on the list, and because of this, Monbiot is right. The list features Arnold, Prince Charles and a few other enviro nobodies who are on the list for their obscure celebrity status than any environmentalism.
But then, as is usual, Monbiot is wrong overall – because he is imagining an environmentalism that does not exist anymore. Local environmentalist thinking is now rooted in reflexivity. environmentalism that fights global change is firmly wedded to power and addicted to power.
keith let us agree to differ. ie I think you are wrong..
People like Zac (uber rich) green Goldsmith bending David Cameron’s ear on all things green, does not make George happy.
George does sound troubled though.
George’s worldview has taken a big knock in the last years or so. He really seems to believe the green myth, little guys vs big corporate.. when environmentalism went Gucci years ago. I do sympathise with the grass roots activists, but they are just ‘useful idiots’ now.