a person who believes that differences between individuals or groups, esp. in moral and intellectual attributes, are predominantly determined by environmental factors, as surroundings, upbringing, or experience
When one goes to look up a definition for “tree hugger” he or she might find one similar to Merriam-Webster’s, who defines tree hugger as “an advocate for the preservation of woodlands” (Tree Hugger). Unfortunately, the definition provided by Merriam-Webster lacks the connotations that society has placed on the word, and is therefore not complete. The phrase “tree hugger” is one that carries much controversy with it, and has found itself right in the middle of today’s environmental debate. The phrase is most often used when describing an extremist, who takes radical and over-the-top approaches to try and conserve nature and wild life. It seems society has begun to use this term in a derogatory manner. However, the term must be looked further into, because it conveys different meanings to different groups of people.
The exact origin of the word has been debated over by environmentalists for years. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term “tree hugger” has been around since at least 1965, where an article in the Appleton Post Crescent in Wisconsin read, “The battle was between the tree huggers and the city. The city won 100-0,” (Oxford). However, the Britannica Encyclopedia dates the origin of tree hugging back to the Chipko movement of the 1970s. The Chipko movement took place in a village in India where a group of villagers prevented commercial logging by literally hugging trees. This nonviolent form of protesting created by the Chipko people, although a protest based primarily on livelihood opposed to forest conservation, has since been the rallying point for future environmentalists and nonviolent protestors (Priesnitz).The name “tree hugger” once started out as a quite literal description, however, to be considered a “tree hugger” today the literal act of hugging trees need not be carried out.
As the phrase “tree hugger” has evolved, it has come to refer to many different groups of people along the way. For instance, the term tree hugger was once used to describe people who studied the habits of trees (Oxford). Thus, by comparing these people with the Chipko people, one might see how the word can convey different meanings. These groups of people categorized as “tree huggers” are much different from the literal tree hugging villagers of the Chipko tribe that the word previously described. Another group once encompassed by the phrase included rangers who patrolled the Washington state area (Oxford). It has become quite evident that as the phrase evolves and changes so do the different groups of individuals described by the phrase. Today the phrase has become a much more controversial term with much more than a literal meaning attached to it.
In an attempt to fully define the phrase “tree hugger” and its use in the world today, it is essential to look at the connotations, both positive and negative, that are attached to it, as well as the types of people that use the phrase. The phrase is predominately used among the more mature age groups who have had time to experience and understand some environmental battles. It could also be said that the term is sometimes used by individuals of an urban setting. The basis behind this comes from the ideathat the individuals that reside in the cities and other urban settings are not exposed to as much green and forestry on a daily basis compared to someone who dwells in a more rural area. Therefore, due to the lack of exposure that the individuals of the urban settings experience, it could be said that they are unfamiliar with extreme environmentalists, and perhaps even more judgmental. Therefore when terms such as “tree hugger” are used, there are often negative connotations that are associated with them. Due to differing values and priorities that the two different lifestyles incur it can be seen why it may be difficult to agree on certain issues, such as environmentalism. As a result, phrases such as “tree hugger” have arisen which invoke different meanings. Although certain groups of people choose to use the phrase “tree hugger” in a derogatory manner in an effort to belittle other individuals and undermine their ideals and ways of living, it is not the intention of all people.
For example, some individuals have chosen to embrace the name and take satisfaction in it. By simply surfing the internet one can see the evident pride certain individuals take in being considered a “tree hugger”. Many internet sites, such as How to Go Green: Tree Hugger, Tree Hugger Forum, and The Tree Hugger Project, promote the idea of the phrase tree hugger and all that it stands for. These groups of people have chosen to use the opposition they face as motivation for their goals of living in a more environmentally friendly world.
Although some groups of environmentalists have chosen to embrace the phrase tree hugger and all its meanings, the offensive intent of the word has caused some backlash from certain environmentally conscience individuals. There are online Facebook groups, Twitter accounts, and blogs dedicated to extinguishing the term and all of its derogatory meanings. On one particular blog, a man argues that he is just a dedicated conservationist who hopes “to protect the last remnants of roadless lands across the National Forests” (UnEARTHED). These groups are dedicated to freeing themselves from the label that society has placed on them.
Despite the efforts of many people to eliminate the label and any stereotypical generalizations placed with it, society still sees the term in a derogatory way and even finds some humor in it. In June 2009, the network ABC aired a cartoon titled, “The Goode Family”, which portrayed and mocked the idea of a family of do-gooders, including a wife who wears a "Meat Is Murder" T-shirt, a daughter named Bliss and a dog who is a vegan (The Goode Family). With this example, it can be seen that tree huggers often find themselves at the butt of many jokes these days, and there are numerous amounts of resources and articles dedicated to negating the credibility of any tree hugging ideals.
Whether a “tree hugger” or not, it is clear that there is a new Green Movement sweeping the nation. Action is being taken by certain determined groups of individuals. For instance, some of the largest protests have been to protect the old growth temperate rainforests in Coastal British Columbia. One of the main protestors, a seventy-eight-year-old grandmother named Betty Krawczyk, was arrested with almost ninety others, and continues to be jailed regularly for defending thousand-year-old Douglas Firs. Another tactic for tree protection is tree sitting. In the 1990’s a woman by the name of Julia Butterfly lived in the canopy of an ancient redwood tree called Luna for 738 days in order to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by ancient rainforests (Priesnitz). Although methods may seem extreme to any everyday passerby, these “tree huggers” truly believe they are simply making a point and raising awareness of today’s environmental issues. Many environmentalists and their tactics have been awarded and some, like Wangari Maathai, even have their efforts and success acknowledged with a Nobel Peace Prize (Priesnitz). These individuals have overcome the label “tree hugger” and have accomplished a great deal of success and made a difference in the world.
It has become quite evident that tree hugger is not a phrase that can simply be summed up in one sentence. It is a phrase that is comprised of two very simple words, that when placed together, stir up all sorts of other meanings and emotions. It seems as though it may be near impossible to give one simple and accurate definition of what a tree hugger is, since the words hold much different meaning to different people. While some may categorize tree hugging as an extreme, even unnecessary, set of actions for the preservation of a few trees, this is by no means the correct or only definition. The way tree hugger is defined may differ depending on what your surroundings are, urban or rural, or it even may change as you age. But no matter what the case is, these words will constantly find themselves surrounded with connotations both positive and negative from which it cannot escape.
Works Cited
"'The Goode Family': Can a TV show bash tree huggers -- and survive? | The Big Picture | Los Angeles Times." LA Times. Web. 20 Feb. 2010.
"Oxford English Dictionary." Oxford English Dictionary: The definitive record of the English language. Oxford University Press. Web. 20 Feb. 2010.
Priesnitz, Wendy. "The Wonderful World of Trees and Tree Hugging." Britannica Encylopedia. July 2007. Web. 20 Feb. 2010.
I am at freshman at Washington and Jefferson College. I enjoy the outdoors and believe that we must do what we can to preserve them for as long we can.
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