There was a thought-provoking article in the New York Times recently asserting that “Guilt Becomes a Burden for Fallible Greenies”[1]. The article showcased three people who actively project their “green” credentials by writing books and running companies that assert to foster one or another version of environmentally sustainable practices. Even considering the work these people do, they all have aspects of their lives that would seem to fall far outside of the bounds of what another observer might consider “sustainable.”
Should these people feel guilty because they aren’t living up to their own standards? What role, if any, should guilt play in sustainability efforts? Is it a variant of “greenwashing” if someone claims to be sustainable in one regard yet falls far short in another — or, does a high “sustainability score” in one area make up for shortcomings in other areas? Is sustainability a work-in-progress, or are there definitive, absolute measures that can be implemented today and last for all time?
—-
[1] Joyce Wadler, “Green, but Still Feeling Guilty,” New York Times, Sep. 29, 2010. The quote is from the article’s title as printed in the Oregonian, Oct. 8, 2010, p. D6.
–
Sustainability History Project 
Leave a Reply