The Conflict Perspective

The conflict perspective is very apparent in modern day issues affecting the environment. Environmental groups, both government and non-government based like The Sierra Club and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) are often at odds with industries with conflicting goals such as logging and oil industries. The industries want their right to manufacture products from natural resources, while environmental groups want to protect and preserve these limited natural resources. For example, conservationist groups lobby to industries in the energy field and people in general to reduce and conserve their use of natural resources and to develop alternate sources for this energy. On the other hand, preservationists strive to preserve these resources as much as possible. Various other environmental groups have specific purposes and goals such as eliminating air pollution from automobiles and stopping the dumping of chemicals into ocean waters. The general goal of all of these groups is ...