The environmental movement, like all political processes, reacts best to disasters. But these are very slow, very gradual disasters in the making.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Very large scale disasters, especially those that have occurred in the developing world, have very long recovery periods.
Environmental disaster is the gravest threat to China's continued development. That's according to me, but it is not some wacko view.
I really believe in the environmental movement right now - it only takes a little effort to make a big difference.
Sometimes it takes a natural disaster to reveal a social disaster.
We have a real role in how our own collective lives, our nation, and our world and society turn out. Seizing those opportunities is important, and disasters are sometimes one of those opportunities.
We ignore slow environmental changes unless they are crisis-driven, such as hurricanes in Florida.
From year to year, environmental changes are incremental and often barely register in our lives, but from evolutionary or geological perspectives, what is happening is explosive change.
The environmental crisis arises from a fundamental fault: our systems of production - in industry, agriculture, energy and transportation - essential as they are, make people sick and die.
Disasters are usually a good time to re-examine what we've done so far, what mistakes we've made, and what improvements should come next.
The environmental crisis is all a result of rushing.