Seeing Green: The Politics of Ecology Explained

by Jonathon Porritt

Book by JONATHON PORRITT

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Environment

249 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Jonathon Porritt, Co-Founder of Forum for the Future, is an eminent writer, broadcaster and campaigner on sustainable development. Established in 1996, Forum for the Future is now the UK's leading sustainable development charity, with 70 staff and over 100 partner organisations, including some of the world's leading companies.

In addition, Jonathon is President of Population Matters, President of The Conservation Volunteers and a Director of Collectively (an online platform celebrating sustainable innovation). He was formerly Director of Friends of the Earth (1984-90), co-chair of the Green Party (1980-83), of which he is still a member, a Trustee of World Wildlife Fund UK (1991-2005) and between 2000-2009 he was Chair of the UK Sustainable Development Commission, providing high-level advice to Government Ministers. Jonathon was installed as the Chancellor of Keele University in February 2012 and he received a CBE in January 2000 for services to environmental protection.

Reviews

[Gavin McColl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic of Green philosophy. Which clearly and easily explains the various difficulties we face and the solutions offered by ecological politics. It is sad that now over thirty years later that this message is still not getting through to most people, and hence these solutions are for the most part still relevant and radical.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

No education, written or televised journalism, or political broadcast has so clearly, enjoyably and stirringly explained the 'politics of ecology' to me. While I've held political views for as long as I've been able to vote (admittedly much more loosely in the early years), politics itself has always been a struggle to wrap my head around. Words like 'manifesto', 'policies' and 'taxation' would ping off my brain with vigour, nothing would stick. But this did. I was able to read and understand thoughts and beliefs I've held for a long time but could never articulate or fully understand, and was able to read about them in practice. This book begins by Porritt stating that he realises "there is nothing new in what we are saying", and I think that's something that makes this book so striking. Written in 1984, it, like Rachel Carson's Silent Spring which had a similar effect after reading, is all the more necessary, urgent and validated by its relevance today. So many underlined sections. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking towards a new way of life on earth, beyond the constraints of 'capitalism' or 'communism', beyond 'industrialism' and the illogical quest for endless economic growth. This book will passionately and simultaneously raise levels of rage and hope. It's all about balance.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped coalesce my ecological & environmental ideas and confirmed that the Green Party (might have been the Ecology Party way back in 1986-7) best fitted my political beliefs.

Joined a short while after finishing this book and I’m still a member (moved to Life membership around 2005-6) and will be until I die.