It has been a recurring theme in environmental activism that businesses must be held accountable for their decisions and use their power wisely in helping the green movement. Adam Werbach’s associations with Walmart and his partnerships with business executives have created a significant contention. Subsequently, “Working with The Enemy” by Danielle Sacks has delved into the same concerns of power and responsibility in this area. Sacks explores how activist groups have an advantage when coming up with catchy slogans and soundbites that rile up the public and paint businesses as criminals. Companies cannot fight against these tactics unless they rely on technological skills that only a few people understand and even fewer believe in. Doing the correct thing becomes less important than gaining public favor in this situation. Therefore, Adam Werbach’s associations with Walmart hurt his credibility as an environmental activist and the green movement by making activism an invaluable part of society and losing the broader community’s priorities.
An increasing number of people see activism as a valuable part of our society’s fabric. Several issues have been brought to light as a result of this. According to Sacks (2007), anger and rebellions against the elite have led to significant social changes over time. Actions taken by activists supporting various causes, such as women’s empowerment, the defense of civil rights, environmental preservation, and more, have resulted in these and many other positive outcomes. The possibility of an activist response keeps corporations on their toes. However, Adam Werbach helps activism devolve into another collection of powerful but unaccountable interest groups. Thus, he must design an effective long-term plan to avoid causing social harm or eroding legitimacy. It becomes more difficult to make political decisions in a frenzy when various political forces constantly consider how a challenging situation might be used to their advantage.
Amidst the commotion of the present, it is easy to lose sight of the broader community’s priorities. When confronted with a lack of funds to drive their agenda, activists are left with few options (Sacks, 2007). Many activists’ assertions are not backed by scientific evidence and are inaccurate to get funding. They may do this on purpose to call attention to the cause they support. By working with the enemy, Adam Werbach ruins the reputations of the vast majority of activists who work persistently to accomplish their goals while relying on fact-checked material from credible sources. Informed activist is a word Sacks (2007) used to distinguish between activists who use correct, verified sources of information in their campaigns and those who do not. In Werbach’s case, funding can come from various sources, including Walmart, depending on the situation.
Conservationists can use two primary strategies to avoid or decrease environmental threats: prevention and mitigation. Possessing command over potentially dangerous actions is one method for doing so. Adam Werbach’s associations with Walmart hurt his credibility as an environmental activist and hurt the green movement by making activism an invaluable part of society as well as losing the broader community’s priorities. As an activist, it is Werbach’s responsibility to implement the necessary legislation, and someone must argue that the law is in the best interest of both society and them. To get the support of policymakers, it is necessary to give a convincing case in favor of that case based on their constituents’ values and political expediency, as well as on their values and political expediency.
Reference
Sacks, D. (2012). Working with the enemy. Fast Company. Web.