Climate Change and Hippie Hypocrisy

By Ashley Pratte, CP Op-Ed Contributor Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Ashley Pratte is the Public Relations Officer for Young America's Foundation and is responsible for managing communications and media outreach through press releases, social media, interviews, and op-eds. She is a graduate of Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire where she served as the student body president and was involved in her campus conservative club. | (YAF/2014)

This past weekend hundreds of thousands of environmental activists took to the streets of New York City to demand action when it comes to "climate change."

This "climate march" drew thousands of our nation's earth lovers. But, as is true in most cases—these activists were quick to abandon their principles at the first convenience. After the excitement died down and the crowds dwindled, all that was left of this march was litter strewn about the streets as though a tornado ravaged the Big Apple.

How is it that these Mother Earth-loving activists couldn't find a receptacle to stow away their food wrappers, plastic bottles, and Starbucks cups? Better yet, how come they didn't try to recycle their items? It seems as though they want everyone to collectively reduce pollution but feel no personal responsibility to their cause. My term for this: "hippie hypocrisy."

Their behavior is typical however of leftist activists who place blame upon everyone and seek big government policies as a remedy. They want to restrict everyone's actions through regulations, yet they don't even do what they feel everyone else should be forced to do. It is high time that we expose these so-called Earth lovers for what they are: hypocrites.

Each year, Young America's Foundation examines what we call the "liberal speaker parade." Each year, Al Gore seems to top the list of leftists welcomed on our campuses. For the environmentalist that he is, he drives around in an SUV and uses a private jet as transportation when he speaks on college campuses.

Science shows, for the past 17 years, there has been no direct correlation between the human contribution to carbon dioxide and global warming. Liberal talking heads are quick to say that they have science on their side when, in fact, there is no scientific consensus when it comes to global warming.

Of course, there are the A-list celebrities, such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo, who designate themselves at the "spokespeople" for climate change, yet they always seem unwilling to give up their private jets, yachts, and other modes of transportation that utilize our Earth's resources.

It's fascinating how hypocritical the climate change movement's leaders, as well as its followers, can be. If they honestly believe that everyone must do their part to save the environment, why are they the exception? In the very least they could start by picking up their own trash.

Ashley Pratte is a communications consultant in Washington, D.C.