GREEN, GREEN, GREENEST

OK, you've started using your own bags at the grocery store. You drive a hybrid, compost, and are even thinking of installing solar panels on your roof. You may consider yourself pretty darn environmentally conscious. But to many environmentalists you're just a "Light Green."

"Light Green" is a term used in the environmental movement to separate "lifestyle" environmentalists from activist die-hards, which are themselves divided into two camps: "Dark Greens" and "Bright Greens."

--Dark Greens, as the name implies, have a rather pessimistic view of our environmental future. In their view, industrialization and capitalism are leading the human race to extinction, and the only solution is radical political and economic change, including, potentially, returning to a pre-Industrial past. Dark indeed.

--Bright Greens, on the other hand, believe all hope is not lost. They agree that radical changes are needed, but are optimistic that technological innovations, like renewable energy, will save us without having to resort to truly drastic measures.

--Light Greens, meanwhile, focus on individual contributions to environmental conservation, like recycling. When it comes to politics, they believe in moderate reform versus chucking the whole system.

And what about the movie star who buys a Prius when it's hip to be green, only to trade it in for an Escalade a year later? Or the corporation that pays lip service to the environment in TV commercials, while dumping chemicals in the ocean? There's a label for them too: "Lite Green." A totally unorganic environmentalism!

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