Kyla Threlfall
Mrs. Radley
Writing 150
28 February 2012
A Truly “Eco-Sexy” Figure
Looking “eco-sexy” is currently a fad in the United States. However, is being “eco-sexy” truly helping the environment? Alex Williams reveals the truth in this question in his article “Buying Into the Green Movement”. Williams educates those who desire this “eco-sexy” figure how to help save the environment rather than just put on a phony persona. William believes that when one becomes truly “eco-friendly” rather than “eco-sexy”, the most environmental relief is achieved. Right from the start, Williams captures his audience using picturesque imagery and a sarcastic tone. He wants his audience, the eco-sensitive readers of The New York Times, to understand where they are going wrong and what they can do better. He backs up these pathos appeals with research to validate his arguments that it takes a lot more than small acts for America to become eco-friendly. Williams, however, while pointing out misassumptions, fails to realize that these small acts will in the end prove to be beneficial.
Williams begins his article with an invitation to his readers to picture the situation he outlines. Laughter or rolling of the eyes is sure to follow as you imagine someone living the ridiculous nature of the lifestyle he describes. Hemp-fiber sheets, $245 organic cotton Levi's, biodegradable shirt, reclaimed lumber and fish food golf balls all sound eco-friendly but not very appealing. Williams describes how life would be different using all eco-friendly products. Through this fictitious situation he covers not only how certain events would be different with an eco-friendly lifestyle, but also how everyday habits would be changed. The public then realizes they must find an eco-friendly medium between the outrageous extremes and fruitless deeds.
By the second paragraph, Williams sets up his argument about whether people are attracted to being eco-friendly because they want to help the environment or because it is a style statement. As earth-conscious people read this article, many will want to persuade how eco-friendly they really are–quickly disassociating themselves with those who only want the Earth-friendly image. However, after reading the second paragraph containing Williams' argument, readers are encouraged to take a deeper evaluation of their thoughts and actions on the environment. Williams opens the idea that the green movement came about by society's idea of an eco-sensitive life. He sarcastically mentions that too many Americans ignorantly believe that it is simply a series of choices, such as buying eco-friendly products, that determines your degree of earth-friendliness.
Williams gives examples, statistics, and research to claim his points. Because of a lack of his own knowledge, Williams gathers information from other, more reliable, sources. He tells how 35 million Americans regularly buy products that claim to be earth-friendly. Throughout his article he mentions many websites, journals, and groups such as worldchanging.com, the Sierra Club, grist.org, OnEarth, Greenpeace, and Rainforest Action Network, that are making efforts to better our world. “The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook” and the 2006 documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” are mentioned to exemplify positive media that helps to inform an inexperienced society. Williams uses sources that are dependable and common so his audience will be able to relate to them because of their familiarity. If readers recognize one of his sources, they are more likely to connect with and be open to the information presented.
Seeing the label 'organic' can be very appealing to anyone. Buying organic can be done with the intent to help the environment or to follow the fads of a trend. Williams explains how the marketing industry and media attracts the younger generation into the “green issue” by posing it as fashionable and using pop stars like Kelly Clarkson and Lenny Kravitz to promote its importance. Live Earth concerts around the world are another great advertiser to the young generation. However, Williams explains how this “green fashion” can distract from serious issues. Williams quotes Chip Giller, the founder of Grist.org that “too much of the population thinks there's an easy way out.” (101)
Williams clarifies that doing small acts of “green” or being what is often called a “light green” does little for improvement. He uses the examples of buying eco-friendly items such as clothing material, cars, solar panels, lights, homes, and beeswax lipstick does nothing for the environment. He uses the analogy of consuming an entire box of SnackWell's fat-free devil's food chocolate cookies–avoiding fats but piling up on calories. Williams recalls information by Paul Hawkens, a longtime environmental activist and author when he talks about how buying fruit at a whole foods store in the winter is another example of the ignorant mistakes of the public. If they are flown in from another country, it doesn't matter if they are organic. “It's diabolically stupid.” says Hawkens (102). Williams also quotes Rachel Kesel, a founder of a San Francisco group called the Compact, who says, “The more I'm engaged in this, the more annoyed I get with things like 'shop against climate change' and these kind of attitudes. It's hysterical. You're telling people to consume more in order to reduce impact.” (103)
As a writer on the economy, the web, technology, and enterprises, Buying into the Green Movement is a foreign subject to Williams. He gives little solutions to the problem throughout the article. His purpose is to enlighten society that what is being done is not enough. One solution that is offered is that less is more. The less done or bought, the more the Earth will be helped. Williams quotes Michael Ableman who says, “Maybe the solution is instead of buying five pairs of organic cotton jeans, buy one pair of regular jeans instead.” (102) Williams says that some products, such as cars, that are marketed as green, may actually pump more carbon into the atmosphere than something more modest or nothing at all. Simply owning one home is another way to reduce carbon footprints, according to Williams.
These solutions are feasible but Williams fails to recognize that these small steps will take a long time and are essential. Even though buying eco-friendly items is not a solution, it is a start to a life-long process of keeping our Earth safe. At this point in the article, Williams' sarcastic tone has worn off and his audience is left feeling guilty. According to Williams, it seems as though the audience's small acts of purchasing eco-friendly products have gone to waste. Williams quotes Michael Brune, the executive director of the Rainforest Action Network, “After you buy the compact fluorescent bulbs, you can move on to greater goals like banding together politically to shut down coal-fired power plants.” (103) Though it might be a bit late for the small steps of eco-friendly purchases, how else to get the attention of society to make larger decisions that will actually benefit the environment? Despite the media marginalizing the green movement, it is gaining the attention of the public on the subject and making them aware of their choices. Williams never mentions that though the seemingly useless consumer attempts at being “a green” do not add up, they are a good first step that can lead to greater objectives.
In order for global warming to be lessened, the participation of all the public is needed. One way to help get the participation of society is to educate them and urge them to make better eco-friendly decisions. More action on the side of political leaders can also help to assist in this education and desire to better our Earth. Near the end of his article, Williams quotes Michel Gelobter, a former professor of environmental policy at Rutgers and current president of Redefining Progress. Gelobter says, “A legitimate beef that people have with green consumerism is, at the end of the day, the things causing climate change are more caused by politics and the economy than individual behavior.” (104) If humankind wants to continue to have a sustainable Earth, the concept of “eco-sexy” must be turned around to become “eco-friendly.”
Works Cited
Williams, Alex. “Buying into the Green Movement.” Perspectives on Globalization. University Writing. Provo: BYU Academic Publishing, 2008. 100-104. Print.
Spalding, Michael. The Debate over Green Consumerism (Can we buy our way out of this problem?. Philanthromedia, Dialogue for the discerning donor. 2006. Web. 20 February 2012.
Zaleski, Olivia. Buying into the Green Movement. Huffpost Healthy Living, The Internet Newspaper: News, Blogs, Videos, Community. 4 July, 2007. Web. 20 February 2012.
Steffen, Alex. Privatizing Responsibility: the Times on Green Consumerism. WorldChanging: Change Your Thinking. 1 July 2007. Web. 20 February 2012.
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