{"id":11490,"date":"2020-04-27t05:19:41","date_gmt":"2020-04-27t05:19:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dpetrov.2create.studio\/planet\/wordpress\/opinion-environmentalism-is-a-new-fad-in-the-western-world-but-we-can-make-it-last\/"},"modified":"2023-03-07t19:39:29","modified_gmt":"2023-03-07t19:39:29","slug":"environmentalism-western-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.getitdoneaz.com\/story\/environmentalism-western-world\/","title":{"rendered":"opinion | environmentalism is a new fad in the western world, but we can make it last"},"content":{"rendered":"
this year marks the 50th anniversary of earth day, which was established by a u.s. senator in 1970.<\/a> what did this mean? the modern western world had finally begun to accept the idea that the earth needs to be protected, rather than ravaged.<\/p>\n the western world in this context refers to the portion of the world usurped by colonizers, like much of europe and north america, which has generally placed economic vitality above all. it\u2019s astounding that it took until 1970, only 50 years ago, for many people in the americas to start acknowledging the importance of the environment. what was happening before then? those not in the western world, and those whose cultures persisted prior to the time when colonization and globalization usurped their lands (often people of color), generally acted as though every day was \u201cearth day.\u201d<\/p>\n these cultures understand the concept of only taking what is needed from the earth and playing an active role in contributing to their ecosystem\u2019s health. these cultures see the world as common personhood inseparable from the individual, rather than a distinct entity from which resources are to be extracted.<\/p>\n for example, in their daily routine the kashia band of pomo indians, a native american group of california, have traditionally used native species for foods, sustainably use their local natural resources to create tools like baskets, manage the land through controlled fires, and \u201conly take what is needed.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n