Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability 1

unfavorable to the administration’s political goals. Administrativeofficials deny such charges.The way out of this quagmire, some analysts say,is for individuals to work together to elect ecologicallyliterate officials who will provide environmental leadershipfor the United States and the world. Thus leadershipat the grassroots level is perhaps the key tosolving a leadership crisis at higher levels.Each of us can provide leadership on environmentalor other issues in three ways. One is to lead by example,using our own lifestyles and beliefs to demonstratethat change is possible and beneficial.A second approach is to work within existing economicand political systems to bring about environmentalimprovement. We can influence political decisions bycampaigning and voting for candidates and by communicatingwith elected officials. We can also send amessage to companies making harmful environmentproducts or policies by voting with our wallets and lettingthem know what we have done. You would besurprised at how few consumer complaints it takes fora company to change its ways because of a fear of havinga bad public image. We can also work within thesystem by choosing environmental careers (IndividualsMatter, below).A third form of environmental leadership is to runfor a local office. Look in the mirror. Maybe you are onewho can make a difference as an office holder.A fourth form involves proposing and working forbetter solutions to environmental problems. Leadership ismore than being against something. It also involvescoming up with alternatives and getting people to worktogether to achieve them, especially in today’s oftenhostilepolitical climate.Solutions: Election Finance Reform in theUnited States: Taking the Government BackDrastic reform of the election financing systemcan reduce the influence of special-interest moneyin elections in the United States.It should come as no surprise that in the U.S. politicalsystem (and those in most other democratic countries),people with money and power have greatest influencein deciding who gets elected, what causes they supportafter being elected, and whether they get reelected.Most analysts and about 80% of citizens polledagree that the U.S. political system is based more onmoney than on citizens’ votes and concerns. This isone reason that voter turnout for federal elections inthe United States dropped from 74% in 1900 to 49% in2000. And many people who do vote often feel theyare simply choosing the lesser of two evils.According to social analyst Paul H. Ray, surveyupon survey shows that over 70% of U.S. voters areunhappy with the country’s system for financing elections.This explains why a growing number of peopleof all political persuasions see drastic election finance reformas the single most important way to reduce theinfluence of special-interest money in local, state, andfederal elections in the United States. They urgeAmerican citizens to focus their efforts on this crucialEnivronmental CareersINDIVIDUALSMATTERIn the UnitedStates and otherdeveloped countries,the green jobmarket is one of thefastest-growingsegments of the economy.Many employers are activelyseeking environmentally educatedgraduates. They are especially interestedin people with scientific andengineering backgrounds and doublemajors (business and ecology,for example) or double minors.Other possibilities are majors inbusiness administration and environmentallaw.Throughout this book I have exposedyou to various career possi-bilities in this exciting and challengingfield. They include environmentalengineering, sustainable forestryand range management, parks andrecreation management, air and waterquality control, solid waste andhazardous waste management, recycling,urban and rural land-useplanning, computer modeling, ecologicalrestoration, and soil, water,fishery, and wildlife conservationand management.Environmental careers can alsobe found in education, environmentalplanning, environmental management,environmental health,toxicology, geology, ecology, conservationbiology, chemistry, climatology,population dynamics andregulation (demography), law,risk analysis, risk management,accounting, environmental journalism,design and architecture, energyconservation and analysis,renewable-energy technologies,hydrology, consulting, public relations,activism and lobbying, economics,diplomacy, developmentand marketing, publishing (environmentalmagazines and books),and teaching and law enforcement(pollution detection and enforcementteams).Critical ThinkingHave you considered an environmentalcareer? Why or why not?610 CHAPTER 27 Politics, Environment, and Sustainability