The Lorax Can’t Stand Alone

Dr. Seuss’s children’s book,  The Lorax, demonstrates the effects of consumerism and industry on our environment, represented by the Truffula forest; as well as the regret we will experience should we fail to take action against these powers, illustrated by the Once-ler. In the end, the Truffula forest is destroyed except for one seed, which is given to a little boy in the hope that he will successfully care for the seed and undo the damage, bringing back the Lorax and his friends. Maniates says that the little boy charged with planting the tree cannot bring back the Truffula tree forest and the Lorax. He criticizes there is too much emphasis on the ability of the individual to effect change, and he makes a valid point. Maniates argues that the idea of “living green” is actually just a consumerism ploy. The environmental movement constantly encourages buying green products, replacing old appliances with energy efficient ones, and buying organic or local. All of these are great things that one can do to reduce one’s environmental impact, but is that enough to stop the inevitable destruction? No, there needs to be a complete revolution of the way we think and operate as a whole, not an individual. While efforts to hang dry laundry, plant a tree, and recycle are respectable; they are not enough. More important than the individual struggles is collective action, which could sway the government and institutions that really control our environmental future. It is the government who will pass through green policy that will encourage investments in the environment on a much larger level than anything that could be done by one person.

Maniates believes that the focus on the part each and every one can do to help the environment takes away from the bigger picture; which is what can we do together for the environment. Until there is a collective outcry from the people, the governing bodies will continue to sit idle while a few individuals plant trees and recycle; and consumerism will still be the center of society. There are alternatives to buying more of something. Maniates makes the analogy that instead of having the choice between blue cars and red cars, there needs to be the choice between mass transit and automobiles. This requires government intervention.

Maniates’ arguments definitely give one cause for pause, but he takes too much emphasis away from the individual. Although he has a valid point, there is value to personal action as well. Collective movement will not work without the individuals within it. There is no denying that “going green” has become a business ploy to make money and fuel consumerism by encouraging people to buy eco-friendly products, but doing one’s individual part to help the environment does not limit one from working with others as well. There needs to be a balance. Right now the balance is shifted to the individual, but that can be changed if people are educated. Maybe the Lorax could have educated the people buying Thneeds to see that their actions were destroying the Truffula trees. Then the people would have worked with the Lorax to stop the Once-ler before the existence of Truffula trees was left in the hands of one individual boy.

Maniates, 2001. “Individualization: plant a tree, buy a bike, save the world?” Global Environmental Politics 1 (3):31-52.