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Why values matter
Jan. 27th, 2005 01:21 pm"Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 'I have a dream speech' is famous because it put forward an inspiring, positive vision that carried a critique of the current moment within it. Imagine how history would have turned out had King given an 'I have a nightmare' speech instead.
"In the absence of a bold vision and a reconsideration of the problem, environmental leaders are effectively giving the 'I have a nightmare' speech, not just in our press interviews but also in the way that we make our proposals. The world's most effective leaders are not issue-identified but rather vision and value-identified. These leaders distinguish themselves by inspiring hope against fear, love against injustice, and power against powerlessness."
- Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordha, "The Death of Environmentalism"
Shellenberger and Nordha recommend as an initial step toward a solution the organization they helped found, The Apollo Alliance. Rather than focusing categorically on environmental dangers, it lays out a positive plan that happens to combat global warming as well as offering clear economic and social benefits.
"In the absence of a bold vision and a reconsideration of the problem, environmental leaders are effectively giving the 'I have a nightmare' speech, not just in our press interviews but also in the way that we make our proposals. The world's most effective leaders are not issue-identified but rather vision and value-identified. These leaders distinguish themselves by inspiring hope against fear, love against injustice, and power against powerlessness."
- Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordha, "The Death of Environmentalism"
Shellenberger and Nordha recommend as an initial step toward a solution the organization they helped found, The Apollo Alliance. Rather than focusing categorically on environmental dangers, it lays out a positive plan that happens to combat global warming as well as offering clear economic and social benefits.
