The Fight Is Never Over

If you look at the history of the environmental movement over the last 35 years, much of what we've done in the United States is focus on the issues--clean air, clean water, land protection--that we can see and feel are immediately around us. But in the last five to 10 years we've realized that the whole global system is at risk. The atmosphere is at risk from global warming; the oceans are at risk from depletion and heavy overuse. And we have a responsibility to manage the whole system.

This administration has been accused of neglecting the environment. Does that reflect a wider public apathy toward these issues?

No. There's a complete disconnect between the way Congress and the president treat these issues and the way they're looked at by people on the ground. Everybody cares about the environment in his or her own way. There isn't a person who doesn't want clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. I think we have a nation of people who think they're entitled to this. And that to me is a great success.

So environmentalists are winning the battle?

One thing about the environmental movement: our aim is to safeguard the earth, and that's a continuing mission. You never succeed. The fight is never over.

© 2005