I've been struggling with what I perceive as a common problem.  While everyone is being told to Go Green, no one tells us what Going Green is.  We are left to a non-descript and unregulated free market of ideas as to what Green is.  In the end, confusion reigns when it comes to the concept of Green, and everyone wants to hitch a ride on the Green popularity bandwagon.

So, I saw ads for Green cars that use energy better, and I wondered if energy savings is actually Green or was it actually an environmental or sustainable factor involved here.  Well first of all, we need to define these terms because part of the confusion comes from the free interchange of all these terms.  To help you with this concept, I propose the Four Corners of Environmentalism to give an enlightened perspective to the subject.

First of all, Environmentalism is the master topic.  This is well defined in Wikipedia as: "Environmentalism is a broad philosophy and social movement centered on a concern for the conservation and improvement of the natural environment, both for its own sake as well as its importance to civilization."  Ecology, by the way, is the science of how all things in this world interact including climate, geology, and earth sciences. 

Environmentalism, as I see it, breaks into four areas of human-related application, and these would be the four corners of the greater topic.  Though I am sure to take flack for daring to quantify and restrict the terms, I feel an urgent need to add clarity to a confusing subject.  Therefore, I suggest these four corners that make up the greater concept of environmentalism:

1- POLLUTION:  The most obvious issue in environmentalism is the process that harms the environment.  Whether air, water, land, or the destruction of habitat or rain forest; stopping pollution is the premier issue of  environmentalism

2- SUSTAINABILITY: Though the earth is very resilient, there is a growing concern for the depletion of our natural resources.  Sustainability deals with the "Life Cycle" for products used at every level.  This issue considers the harvesting, manufacture, use, and disposal of earth's resources stressing the key issues of conserve, recycle, and reuse to lessen the environmental impact on mankind's growing demands.

3- GREEN and GREEN CLEANING: Green is distinctly about health of the living creatures in this earth.  It frankly moves the primary focus from the larger issues of the world to the more narrow issues of life, health, and well-being.  Conflicts between Green and Environmentalism exist in a complex world of diverse needs not always in harmony.

4- CONSERVATION:  This area is concerned for the preservation of wildlife and wildlands anywhere in the world.  Preserving the rain forest, saving the whales, or protecting natural habitate is a duty of each generation.

While there are various subtopics to each of these four divisions, it is helpful to realize how we participate in each major area of environmentalism.  So, as I see it, an energy-savings car is not Green, per se, as it is an asset in the Sustainable issues that we face.  A car does not make us healthier as a direct consequence though in the greatest extension, there are Green ramifications.  Saving the whales does not add years to my life, but it is very ecological.  Removing phosphates from soap is not Green though it helps the pollution issue under the smaller topic of eutrophication.

Therefore, I struggle with everything being called Green when it is better defined by other excellent categories of environmentalism.  And yes, I know that nearly everything in the grand topic of environmentalism has health benefits to the world and all in the world.  The stretching of the Green moniker to every aspect of environmentalism is hurtful to our intelligent efforts to make a difference.  What is wrong with addressing pollution as pollution instead of Green concept?  Shouldn't sustainability stand in its own  strength when we plant more trees rather than calling is "Greenification"?  Every cause and endeavor needs to have clarity in their terms and definitions, and the immense environmental movement needs clarity if we are to make serious progress. 

I have prepared a more complete report on Environmentalism for anyone who cares to get a free download.  You will find it at www.GreenCleanInstitute.com/fourcorners.  I hope you enjoy it, and will share it freely with others.