New Acts of Valor: Sara Flounders on the Environmental Impact of the U.S. Military

Jul 25, 2012 9:05 PM ET
Sara Flounders

Audio File

Patriotism. Since the birth of the nation-state, humans have equated fighting in battle on behalf one’s country as the ultimate form of patriotism. But the U.S. military is far and away the planet’s biggest polluting force. Given the looming threat of climate change, perhaps it’s time we recognize environmental stewardship as the more patriotic undertaking.

This week on Sea Change Radio, host Alex Wise talks with author and activist Sara Flounders about the pollution and environmental devastation that continues to be wreaked by the greatest fighting force the world has ever known. How do we break this bellicose cycle of using resources to destroy human life and degrade the earth? Can the green movement somehow become the new face of patriotism? And what exactly does mother nature need to tell us until we finally understand that war is not the answer?