Modern man is wrecking the planet and doing so at an increasingly rapid rate. Why aren”t more people angry?
Though his revolutionary queries became a subject of rejection, he still heralded an era of environmental inquest. From The Great U-Turn, The Stable Society, The Way: Towards an Ecological World View to A Blueprint for Survival, Edward Goldsmith kept questioning the rationale behind genetic engineering, large dams and more importantly, the economics of nuclear power. But now, he doesn’t do it anymore. Maybe realizing these as sermons falling on deaf ears, he breathed his last lecture on Aug 21 in Siena, Italy.
He founded The Ecologist magazine in 1970. From here on, he kept embracing issues like climate change during the African droughts of the mid-1970s, pre-industrial society, and the plight of the rainforests. Moreover, his efforts led to the formation of the People Party (now the Green Party). Since politics wasn’t his cup of tea, he continued with his first love i.e. environmental journalism. He led his followers by example in saying no to cars and heating.
He also was one of the founder members of the Primitive Peoples’ Fund of London, which was later rechristened as Survival International. Later, he went on to compare the Gandhian (Sarvodaya) movement with the Ecology movement in Europe. Until he departed, he remained a potent force behind The Ecologist.
Image Credit: Regione Toscana