Derrick Jensen
Derrick Jensen: A Voice for Environmental and Social Justice
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Derrick Jensen is an American environmentalist, author, and public speaker known for his uncompromising views on the relationship between human society and the natural world.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on October 16, 1966, in Buffalo, New York. Still active and living.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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American environmentalist, author, and public speaker.
Early Life and Background
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Derrick Jensen was born into a family of modest means in Buffalo, New York. His early life was marked by a strong sense of social justice, which would later influence his environmental activism. Jensen grew up in a time when the world was beginning to grapple with the consequences of industrialization and pollution. He became increasingly aware of the devastating impact human activities were having on the planet and its inhabitants.
Major Accomplishments
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Jensen's work has focused on exposing the destructive nature of industrial civilization, highlighting the need for radical change. He has written extensively on topics such as environmental degradation, corporate power, and social justice. Some notable accomplishments include:
Authoring influential books: Jensen has written numerous bestsellers, including "A Language Older Than Words," "The Culture of Make Believe," and "Endgame." His writing has been praised for its clarity, passion, and unwavering commitment to environmental and social justice.
Public speaking and activism: Jensen is a sought-after public speaker, known for his engaging style and uncompromising views. He has given numerous lectures and talks worldwide, advocating for radical change and inspiring others to take action.
Notable Works or Actions
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Jensen's most notable works include:
"A Language Older Than Words" (1990): This book explores the relationship between language and reality, arguing that our words shape our perceptions of the world.
"The Culture of Make Believe" (2002): In this work, Jensen critiques modern society's emphasis on consumption and growth, highlighting the devastating consequences for both humans and the environment.
"Endgame" (2006) (co-authored with Aric McBay): This book presents a stark vision of a world in crisis, arguing that radical change is necessary to prevent ecological collapse.Impact and Legacy
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Derrick Jensen's work has had a profound impact on the environmental movement. His writing has inspired countless individuals to reevaluate their relationship with the natural world and to advocate for systemic change. Jensen's influence can be seen in various aspects of contemporary environmental activism, from the rise of radical ecology to the growing recognition of indigenous perspectives.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Derrick Jensen is widely quoted and remembered due to his:
Uncompromising views: Jensen's unwavering commitment to environmental and social justice has earned him a reputation as a truth-teller, unafraid to challenge the status quo.
Influence on contemporary thought: His work has inspired a new generation of activists, writers, and thinkers, shaping the way we understand the relationship between human society and the natural world.
Passionate public speaking: Jensen's engaging style and ability to convey complex ideas have made him a sought-after speaker, inspiring audiences worldwide.
Quotes by Derrick Jensen
Derrick Jensen's insights on:
I think a lot of us are increasingly recognizing that the dominant culture is killing the planet.
You may come to believe that the world cannot survive without your interference, while the truth is that the world cannot survive your arrogant interference.
I’m not, for example, going to say that I hope I eat something tomorrow. I just do it. I don’t hope I take another breath right now, nor that I finish this sentence. I just do them. On the other hand, I hope that the next time that I get on a plane it doesn’t crash. To hope for some result means that you have no agency concerning it... When we realize the degree of agency we actually do have, we no longer have to “hope” at all. We simply do the work... We do whatever it takes.
That’s what we’re afraid of. The wild. Those we can’t buy. Those we can’t threaten. Those we can’t domesticate. Those we can’t control.
Once you break your identification with the system, with the authoritarian technics that are driving planetary murder, your language and your actions become very different. Once you identify with the real, living planet, everything changes.
We have been taught, in ways large and small, religious and secular, that life is based on hierarchies, and that those higher on these hierarchies dominate those lower, either by right or by might. We have been taught that there are myriad literal and metaphorical food chains where the one at the top is the king of the jungle.
In order for us to maintain our way of living, we must tell lies to each other, and especially to ourselves. It’s not necessary that the lies be particularly believable, but merely that they be erected as barriers to truth. These barriers to truth are necessary because without them many deplorable acts would become impossibilities. Truth must at all costs be avoided.
Even if through simple living and rigorous recycling you stopped your own average Americans annual one ton of garbage production, your per capita share of the industrial waste produced in the US is still almost twenty-six tons. That’s thirty-seven times as much waste as you were able to save by eliminating a full 100 percent of your personal waste. Industrialism itself is what has to stop.
I no longer see Descartes’ statement as arbitrary. It is representative of our culture’s narcissism. This narcissism leads to a disturbing disrespect for direct experience and a negation of the body.
It’s no wonder we don’t defend the land where we live. We don’t live here. We live in television programs and movies and books and with celebrities and in heaven and by rules and laws and abstractions created by people far away and we live anywhere and everywhere except in our particular bodies on this particular land at this particular moment in these particular circumstances.