Bob Hunter was plain and simply one of the most inspiring and visionary environmentalists of our time.
He was "the" founding father of the Greenpeace Foundation."
More on the flip.In the wake of his passing, it's important to see where the environmental movement stands now that he's gone. There have been other events that signal a "changing of the guard" for the environmental movement. Early next year, John Adams, the long-time President of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) will retire after speerheading the organization's advocacy for 35 years.
http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0310-09.htm
It seems that all the established names from the environmental movement in the 1960s and 1970s are leaving us. Interestingly enough, it's not clear to many whether this changing of the guard is good or bad.
Mr. Hunter's passing is indeed quite sad. He was a passionate man who helped form one of the most well known environmental organizations in the world. His passing, and Adam's retirement, might signal the "change" the authors Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus meant in their October 2004 report titled "Death of Environmentalism."
One of the main arguments Shellenberger and Nordhaus made in thier report was the old establishment needed to move on, while a new leadership could bring in fresh ideas, strategies, and ways of thinking:
"We have become convinced that modern environmentalism, with all of its unexamined assumptions, outdated concepts and exhausted strategies, must die so that something new can live. Those of us who pay so much attention to nature's cycles know better than to fear death, which is inseparable from life. In the words of the Tao Ti Ching, 'If you aren't afraid of dying there is nothing you can't achieve.'"
Indeed, new leadership is being thrust upon us, whether we like it or not.
The question now is, will this new leadership follow the path presented by advocates Hunter and Adams, or will they follow a different path? Will they listen to the advice "Death of Environmentalism" offers, or will they use the same strategy and tactics that have been the staple of organizations like Greenpeace and NRDC.
Our sympathies to Mr. Hunter's family. I personally did not agree with all his tactics, but there is no denying that Mr. Hunter made a positive difference in this world, and that is the mark of a truly great man.
He will be missed.
