Nationalism and Environmentalism

NATIONALISM and ENVIRONMENTALISM

by Antonio C. Antonio

November 14, 2014

A friend of mine who is also a keen apostle of environmentalism and has been regularly visiting my blogsite (http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/) emailed to ask if I have decided to segue to socio-political articles from socio-economic-environmental matters and concerns.  This observation, perhaps, was triggered by the fact that I have been posting articles aimed at rekindling nationalism instead of environmentalism.  I wrote back to say that I really don’t find too much difference between nationalism and environmentalism.

Much as I want to establish a synthesis (meaning: (1) deductive reasoning; (2) the frequent and systematic use of inflected forms as a characteristic device of a language; (3) the composition or combination of parts or elements so as to form a whole; (4) the combination of often diverse conceptions into a coherent whole; and, (5) the dialectic combination of thesis and antithesis into a higher stage of truth) to marry nationalism and environmentalism, they just are neither compatible nor contrary.  These terms stand alone in character and meaning; both are belief and ideological systems influenced by a lot of other factors.

“Environmentalism” is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement on matters and concerns that pertains to environmental protection and the improvement of the health of the environment.  Environmentalism does not only involve biotic (living) but abiotic (non-living) elements in the ecosystem.  On the other hand, “nationalism” is a belief system, a creed or a political ideology that involves a profession of love for country.  There is a very thin line that differentiates nationalism and patriotism.  Patriotism, as opposed to nationalism, involves social conditioning to develop a mindset and personal or collective behaviours towards one’s national condition.

Environmentalists and nationalists are two people sharing the same passion for two closely related concepts.  Their profession of love for their country and Mother Earth is an ideal combination of value sets.  In fact, it is often said that love and care for one cannot be possible without loving and caring for the other.  So… what then could be the difference between nationalism and environmentalism?

Just my little thoughts…

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