Survivalism vs Environmentalism

Many of the worlds most outspoken green advocates come from most green-friendly developed places. In contrast the developing world where fewer green practices take place often seems to lack environmental advocacy even though these countries are so strongly affected by their ecological state. I could go as far as to say that often in poor third world environments there seems to be very little concern for the environment at all. Taking care of ones environment is an attitude that is free so why do poor populations seem to ignore environmentalism? Perhaps the answer lies in studying your situation as you read this: you are most likely at a comfortable temperature, not really hungry, clothed, sitting safely in front your computer at home. In this state you have the privilege like me to remove your thoughts from your immediate situation and think about what's happening in the world.

The renowned psychologist Maslow, suggested that we have a hierarchy of needs starting with our most basic and primal needs like breathing and eating at the base moving up to needs like shelter and working all the way up to our more complex personal and social needs such as a sense of achievement.

Only when the base needs are met do we shift our focus to the next level and the next until, if your are very fortunate, your needs at all levels of the hierarchy are met. If you your basic needs such as nourishment aren't met this will dominate your every thought and your more complex needs such as social standing will not feature.

So many people in developing nations are simply too preoccupied with survival to get to a state where they can focus on the bigger picture. Developing nations contain the most natural resources. Being less developed they have the opportunity to learn from developed nation's mistakes and develop their own countries using their natural resources more wisely and responsibly. But while their people aren't adequately looked after they can't look after their natural resources properly. In trying to save the environment and conserve nature, we must be aware that effective global conservation cannot be achieved while we have neglected populations of people. In a sense our people crises must be addressed before or in conjunction with our environmental crises.