WHAT SHADE OF GREEN SHOULD I BE ?

Over recent years, there have been very few global issues which have confronted people with a more important, and indeed, more controversial decision to make than how green should I be? Firstly, it would be helpful for everyone to clarify exactly what the meaning of this question really is. Green is a term which has come into use in the last century or so, as a general description for our level of interest in the natural environment. So the question really is, how much interest should I take in the state of the natural world?

Strangely, there is no terminology that I am aware of, such as brown or gray for a total lack of concern or respect for the environment. So, we are virtually committed to consider which position on the green color spectrum we wish to be, or believe we should be. There are so many names for the different positions people hold on this issue, some of them being just a greenie, right wing greens, left wing greens, political party greens, radical greens and moderate greens. It just goes on and on. Some people have political agendas and some have social and spiritual agendas, all shades of green possible.

There are some people who believe that the environment should be totally subjugated and totally subordinate to mankind. Others believe the environment should be left totally alone and we, as humans, should be satisfied to live within the conditions and environment it dictates. I believe that the majority of people are both, caring, responsible and intelligent enough to consider that the shade of green we should choose is definitely not the extreme shade at each end of the spectrum, but that we should choose a shade somewhere in the middle, the correct choice is definitely not all or nothing. Everybody has a different level of responsibility and level of contribution which is normally governed by the individual opportunities and resources we have at our disposal .Apart from the absurd option of total destruction of the environment, there is probably room for almost everyone else to follow their own individual path. I would also suggest that we all need to be as considerate and as tolerant of the ideas and opinions of others as we can and try very hard to keep open a peaceful dialogue with those people who appear to have a very different view and a different agenda to you. Always remember, you will gain a far better knowledge and understanding of those who may oppose your ideas if you listen carefully to what they have to say and what it is they believe. This may assist in some helpful compromises you may not have been able to achieve.

Circumstances can dictate solutions which are not always the perfect results we would like to achieve. However, people must come first. We must not only survive, we must also prosper. This is the natural process of life so it may continue no matter which form of life it is. So, this leaves all of us in a position to choose the shade of green involvement we wish. Please do not distress yourself over the amount of good you can achieve, be it small or large. We are not expected, as individuals, to contribute more than a small effort each. Remember, the mighty structure of the Great Wall of China was built by simply adding one stone or mud block to another. If our effort is made with love, concern and genuine intentions to preserve and return a healthy balance to the world in which we live, we will contribute a benefit well worth our effort.
So, as a final comment you may wish to do the following things.

:Assess your ability to contribute.
:Assess the level of commitment which is right for you.
:Take the level of action you, yourself, are comfortable with.
:Take the level of action which will fit comfortably with your work and family.

After considering the ideas above or similar ideas of your own that you arrive at, you will have answered your own question and will have found which shade of green you should be.