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the situation that in local cases the roles may overlap, and it is not rare for an actor
to experience a conflict of interest within himself about a certain issue, because
he knows what would be right, yet his political and economic interests override
his ethics (Töth I. 2002).
ECOLOGISM
Ecologism is a set of theories and diverse efforts that regards humans as part of a larger
ecosystem and wishes to sustain the balance of this system with an attitude of dynamic
development. It may be labeled a “System of Green Thoughts” in which theory and
practice are connected, creating a bridge between theoretical and pragmatic actions —
participation, strategy creation, proposal of alternatives, assuming political roles —, and
which develops the concept of ecopolitics and its field of activity . It does not merely
emphasize the protection of the environment but rather provides a framework for
collective thought and a search for alternatives with the complex attitude of
environmental protection and a critique of consumerism. It has become crystal clear
that the particular approach of traditional individual disciplines is insufficient for the
understanding of global problems, let alone their management. Ecologism leaves behind
pure theory in order to create both the academic and political dimensions of human
ecology.
Local environmental conflicts
Community decisions affecting the environment can be made at a local, regional,
national and supranational (international and/or global) levels. Decision-makers
in charge of decisions with substantial influence on the environment are faced
with uncertainties and difficulties implied by the complexity of such questions.
The consequences of a decision ought also to include irreversible damage caused
to the natural environment, which puts those concerned in a position of great
responsibility . Its potential effects cannot be precisely defined; sometimes the
processes triggered by an action (delayed effects) become clear only much later,
after the intervention. Its impacts may be extended in time and space, hence the
number of those affected might be large. The actors do not enter into the decision¬
making process all at the same time, and they enter with different information
and chances. The investor usually tries to usher the necessary procedures and the
process of social communication to their conclusion as fast and in as narrow a
circle as possible. The environmentalists and the affected inhabitants enter into
the decision-making process later, “at the other end of the line”, that is, after the
preparatory phase. What remains for them is to target “the lesser evil”, that is, to
suggest the halting, transfer, postponement, etc. of a project which has already
been begun. The events have to move along forced courses, as the investor not
necessarily interested in solving the problem wishes to achieve a quick and favorable
solution for himself (Glied 2013).
There are two basic categories of environmental conflicts. One is a long-term
systemic conflict related to the exploitation, exhaustion, and contamination of
limited natural resources. This can be seen at the global level in the systematic
plundering of certain continents or regions where the specific high standards of