Robert at Environmental Graffiti just posted an article titled '5 Ways Environmentalists Can Be Less Annoying' in which he proceeds to put-down certain personal attributes of people he has met an environmental rallies.  Let's review his list.

"1. Practice what you preach."  - Um, okay.  I think this goes for everyone, not just eco-nuts. 

"2. Get rid of those dreads, white boy."  - Robert hates white people with dreadlocks so much he even felt the need to drop an f-bomb to express himself.   I don't see what someone's hairstyle has to do with anything... would a nice, spiky mohawk be a more acceptable choice for an eco-warrior?

"3. Shower."  - Okay, people who smell bad aren't always pleasant to be around.  But (I would imagine) that the truly hardcore treehuggers who just left a forestry protest to attend an environmental seminar probably aren't too concerned about stopping at a spa to freshen up.

"4. Read a book."  - Robert doesn't like it when people spout statistics and stuff if they haven't read the research papers themselves.  The extent of what most people know about the environment comes from what they saw in An Incovenient Truth and Sunday morning nature documentaries on the Discovery Channel.  People don't need to be walking textbooks of factoids to care about their environment.

"5. While we're at it, stop arguing." Translation: "Stop disagreeing with me!"

The word "environmentalism" has negative connotations for a lot of people.  It sounds like a religion (and for some people it is!).  Environmentalists sometimes get caught-up in going to rallies and debating the issues... don't get me wrong, these are great, enthusiastic people.  But when you get caught-up in "environmentalism" as a lifestyle choice maybe you start to lose all perspective on what's important.  Maybe you become more concerned about people's hairstyles than about doing something in your own life to make changes for the better.

Call them "hippies" or "environmentalists" or "treehuggers" if you like.  Regardless of what they look like or how they're labeled, if someone wants to do something positive to turn the tide on climate change they should be encouraged, not insulted.

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