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Feedback ForumWho has the edge in the classic battle between environmentalists and developers?Submissions for this question are no longer being accepted. Previously submitted comments appear below. Comments may have been edited for content or space. Poster: Chris Wittrock Comment: I believe this to be an obvious answer of the developers have the edge because in this country whoever has the money has the power. This is because Americans do not take action unless there is a severe impact to their lifestyles and I emphasis the word severe. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue, it is a people issue and I wish the American people would wake up to this fact. If enough people would understand the consequences of their actions and that of big business not only to their lives but those of future generations then they would take action to makes things right. But since it does not affect them enough at this point in time they will sit back and do nothing. That is sadly the American way. Poster: Joanne Cockerill Comment: It's a stupid question. When environmentalist (rarely) win, it is temporary. When developers (read: destroyers) win, it is permanent. Poster: Gary Bills Comment: Your story did not mention the fundamental problem driving development, i.e. overpopulation. Until we stabilize the population we will continue to see farm land and environmentally sensitive land developed. We are in dire need of leadership that has the intestinel fortitude to address this problem head on. Overpopulation either causes or exacerbates almost every problem we humans face. Poster: catherine Comment: Undoubtedly, the developers are in the catbird seat in determining the quality of life for the majority of us. We have accepted the isolated, barren enclaves as the path to a better life, when in fact, it takes years for these tracts to even begin to develop any idenity at all, and this is a direct result of lack of imagination and generosity of developers who only care about the bottom line and are quite successful at it. I would also like to call attention to the phenomenon of the SECOND home in areas along the east coast. These homes have replaced not only wetlands, but huge amounts of farmland in the state of delaware. It is a truly sorry sight to see these homes sit vacant for most of the year, and the areas turning into a nightmare of congestion for the remainder of the year. Is this any way to live? An awful lot of people are buying into this at unbelievable prices with the real cost becoming more evident with each passing summer. Poster: Stuart Kaye Comment: Here, in Winnipeg Canada, one cannot tell the difference between the developers, contractors, realtors, etc. and the civic politicians. The sad thing is that the public does not seem to care. Poster: Don Harris Comment: The commenters above are right in that the developers have a huge clout edge, and one of the solutions to that is campaign finance reform, among others. The environmentalists have the evolved edge (excepting the radical eco-activists, who want to see everything pre-modern, i.e. before electricity, but they are a small minority of the environmental movement). The environmentalists are more evolved spiritually, and understand the long term value of nature as a spiritual lens transparent to Divine Light that encourages the human soul to grow, whereas the developers are still stuck in the 50s mentality that nature is brutal and must be conquered. The author of the film is correct, however, in that that is a correct attitude to have AT THAT LEVEL of consciousness. Nature had to be tamed in the past for civilization to thrive. Now our task is to preserve it and live on a higher plane that encompasses nature and green development. Unfortunately, there will always be more people living at a lower level of awareness, but, if we don't screw up our environment too badly, the balance will shift further up the spiral of HUMAN INNER development. Our job is to help it shift upward faster. and that task is changing minds and hearts with new spiritual understanding. Poster: Sylvia Comment: I live in Florida. Development is the third largest growth industry in the state, after agriculture and tourism. Almost every time there is a battle between environmentalists and developers here, the developers win. The environment has no chance to survive!! Poster: Maria Kollas Comment: As long as money is worshipped the developers will have the upper hand. We are losing farm land and forests right and left, but the environmental movement is not strong enough to stop this. Perhaps we'll wake up when most of our food is imported, especially since we are considering growing more corn and soybeans (all subsidized) to use for fuel. Campaign finance reform certainly would give more people a chance to be voted into office. We must get the money out of elections. Yes, in this part of the country we are struggling and the developers have the upper hand. Poster: Luise Perenne Comment: For the sake of the future health and beauty of our country and the entire world I sincerely hope that the mounting facts of what rising temperature has been doing (and is likely to do in the future!) to the environment will convince people to stop letting mega-corporations continue with their systematic rape of the planet. I live 5 miles from the Pacific Ocean in a city that is 28 feet above sea level. Rising sea levels around the world will inevitably destroy Venice, Italy, The Netherlands, Bangladesh, and two-thrids of the state of Florida. This cannto be allowed to happen. Somebody must draw the line and be more concerned with maintaining this planet for future generations; Health and the survival of Nature and lasting peace for humanity should be more important than making piles of money. There must be a sane solution to stop global warming, and it had better happen soon. Poster: Geraldine McCroskey Comment: I don't know about other states and places but in Idaho the developers have the upper hand to the extent that the heavy metals pollution in the nation's largest superfund site, the Coeur d'Alene Basin, is being ignored by government at all levels. Human and environmental health always takes a back seat to making money, even in the short term. The clean up of lands, waterways and even homes has been second rate and incomplete. The statistics show this to be true. The true nature of the mess is one of the nation's best kept secrets. Poster: Carl Williams Comment: I'm afraid that because of the current momentum in Congress that was caused by the massive infusion of lobby-generated money, both sides of the isle are in a virtual check-mate in regard to the environment. Corporations who stand to make millions in profits tend to be more forthcoming with their donations to election campaigns. Environmental groups and sympathisers are, by comparison, virtually non-existant when compared to the big corporation's financial clout. So, I would suggest that until we have true campaign finance reform and candidates' campaigns are forced to be financed by the public purse on an even playing field, the environment will always be at a disadvantage. So, to answer the question, I believe the developers will retain the upper hand for some decades to come. Poster: Louise Waitt Comment: In our neighborhood, we were able to stop a huge WalMart store from being built by waking up the suburban town of Beaverton and convincing the city council to vote No, but WalMart did succeed in getting their way in a smaller nearby town about 10 miles west. They have so much money and power to influence the legislature. It's definitely not a level playing field! Poster: Marianne Slaughter Comment: Because of Republican attitudes favoring development (as well as some Democrats) developers still have the edge over environmentalists. Poster: Louise Comment: The developers always have the edge--they have the money and that's where the power is. When they lose one round, they get up, dust themselves off, gather more money and more influence and come back later. Poster: Don Luke Comment: This isn't a battle. Sadly developers have politicans in their pockets. The war was won by developers long ago. Poster: Stephen Suor Comment: It is the developers as they have the large amounts of money that they can use to influence politicians and local officials to their point of view. |
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