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The colours of Green

Page history last edited by Andrew Alder 3 years, 9 months ago

A page of energy issues

 

A work in progress. Warch this space.

 

"Green" is a very positive term to most people. But there are many colours of green.

 

I've always thought of myself as a pro-nuclear greenie. I was raised to think, and to check my sources, by my father who was a nuclear engineer, built his own wind turbine and solar hot water service before they were commercially available (I helped with the solar, the wind was before I was born) and was another pro-nuclear greenie. (And is one of my heroes.)

 

But like all positive terms, "green" has been hijacked by the doctors of spin. "Environmentalist" and even now "ecologist" have suffered the same fate. Unless you subscribe to their manifesto, the spin doctors will deny you are "green" no matter how high and sound your environmental principles are.  They'll also deny that you're an "ecologist", even if you have a PhD in Ecology and work entirely in areas to which it is relevant. They'll even deny that the Institute in which you studied ever existed, despite all evidence to the contrary. (You think I'm kidding?) And the scary thing is, many people will believe them. Evidence, shmevidence. Don't confuse people with facts.

 

So let us dig a little. 

 


 

 

You may be greener than anyone thought you were

I turned out to be even greener than even I thought I was. See below!

 

But that certainly doesn't mean that I subscribe to the manifestos of everyone who likes to be called "green".  

 

Three greenish parameters

Following some helpful discussion on Quora, my views on "green" have changed a bit. I had already formed the opinion that some "green" environmental organisations had policies that were environmental suicide, notably but not only by lobbying that in practice replaced existing nuclear power stations with coal or gas. See what happens when you do not go nuclear.  

 

Environmentally Green

I thnk "green" probably originally meant, placing a high value on environmental issues. And that's probably what many people still think it means or should mean.

 

Politically Green

It was pointed out by several people at Quora that "Green doesn't mean what you think".

 

See Why-does-Greenpeace-oppose-nuclear-power-plants on Quora, particularly the excellent analyis by Michael Karnerfors.

 

As well as environmental issues, Green parties have adopted a number of other policies. Generally, they champion small-scale development and the rights of the little guy. It's not always that simple, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_colour#Green for some examples of the use of the green colour. But use of the word "Green" in a party name is narrower than use of the colour, and it's that narrower use that I mean here.

 

Idealogically Green

See my essay Greenpeace is a great idea and greenist.

 

Phony Green

See my essay Greenwashing  But that's just about environmentally Green.

 

It's phony enough and very dangerous. Any organisation or individual who campaigns on a supposedly environmental platform for causes that damage the environment is obviously dangerous. And replacing nuclear power with fossil fuel is a case in point. See what happens when you do not go nuclear.

 

But goes deeper than that. Green is idealogically anti-war. Yet "Green"parties and organisations can be abusive and even violent. Where does that lead? Nowhere good!

 

If you're Saving The World anything is justified. And it can feel really good and give life meaning and purpose, especially in the company of like minds. But just maybe it's all self-defeating in the long run? Even and maybe especially the good feelings? See my essays The Wikipedia Creed and judgement.

 

It's a deliciously baited trap.

 

How I stack up

As I said, I've always thought of myself as environmentally green. I subscribe to the ideology. I just disagree with a few of the means, notably on "green" opposition to nuclear power.

 

It turns out I get two out of three. I'm environmentally green and ideologically green, but not politically Green. In fact I think that phony green, however well intentioned, is really dangerous. Maybe all the more dangerous for the good intentions!

 

See https://www.quora.com/How-can-we-correct-the-publics-impression-about-nuclear-technology/answer/Michael-Karnerfors for some really interesting analysis.

 

How about you?

 

 

 

 

 

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