Reflections on Earth Day and the March for Science

I love Earth Day.  I participated in celebrations on the first Earth Day in 1970.  Since then I have tried to do my part daily for the earth (my cloth shopping bags are close to 40 years old and still going!). Every year on Earth Day a variety of groups get together to celebrate this wonderful planet that we call home, to share new innovations and ways to protect Mother Earth, and to come together as one people together on one planet.  It is always a wonderful day, a day for everyone, a day that, until now, has not really been politicized.

That is why I am so saddened this year by the March for Science taking place on Earth Day.  I have nothing against science or with scientists standing up for what they do. Indeed, much of Earth Day has always been about science.   But, I always thought that science was the one thing that would not become politicized.  But no, we now have a March (also referred to as a Protest) that, while it may have some good underlying intentions, is being commingled with a political movement and co-opting Earth Day.

There are many things wrong with this.  First, this politicization of Earth Day will prevent the attendance of many who might otherwise come out to celebrate and learn about the Earth (and in the process learn about and appreciate science).  Earth Day will become just another day to march or protest for or against some political cause, to chant and scream and to hate anyone who disagrees with one’s viewpoint on whatever.  It will engage some in the now political cause, but it will also alienate many others.  Earth Day this year is not a day for everyone to come together and celebrate Earth; rather, it is a day to take political sides.

Beyond my sadness in losing the essence of Earth Day, is my sadness in losing the objectivity associated with science.  When science begins to align itself with or against one party or another, it loses at a minimum its appearance of objectivity.  Can one really trust the hypotheses or reasoning of a scientist who is clearly aligned with, perhaps even a spokesperson for, one particular point of view?  By creating this sort of question, the scientists may be defeating their own purpose behind the march – to assert the importance of science and its objectivity.  If they create a climate in which science is open to question for its lack of objectivity, then they have weakened, not strengthened science.

But, beyond creating the question of objectivity, there is the deeper question of whether, when one is so personally and deeply involved in and committed to a particular point of view, that person can in fact be the independent and objective thinker that science requires.  We all, even scientists, are human.  Much as we might like to think that we can be completely objective, we all have beliefs and biases that to some extent affect our lives.  The stronger these beliefs and commitments, the stronger is their influence.  Hence, if one becomes an avid and active believer and advocate of a particular political view then that will have to in some way affect that person’s thinking.  And, when that thought is applied to scientific examinations and conclusions it is indeed possible that the scientific thinking will no longer have the objectivity necessary to support strong and valid scientific conclusions.

This is not to say that scientists cannot or should not hold political views or that they should not express those views.  But to coalesce themselves into a single group with a clear political voice biased in one particular way does seem to interfere in some way with their necessary scientific objectivity.

So, I will miss attending Earth Day celebrations this year; I do not want to attend a political rally nor do I wish to become involved in a political protest or debate at what should be a unified celebration of Earth.  I hope that next year Earth Day will once again become a peaceful and apolitical celebration where people of all political persuasions are welcome and where everyone can come together to share, discuss, and learn what we can do to protect this wonderful planet that we call home.