This article by Peter Malchett hits the spot.

Now environmentalism has gone mainstream, Hickman argues, we need to “embrace mature political debate”. I agree with a lot of what he says, but not his conclusion that compromise and pragmatism are now the order of the day. This isn’t the first time that environmentalists have won an argument. Nor is it the first time that there has been a significant backlash as a result.

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/16/activism-food
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One of the first environmental campaigns in the UK that led to a clear-cut victory was the campaign to get lead out of petrol in the 1970s. This appeared to be a no-brainer, and brilliant work got government agreement in a short time. But there was an immediate backlash on behalf of what had now become the downtrodden and oppressed drivers of vintage cars, whose lifestyle the ban apparently threatened.
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We can be realistic without losing our idealism. The real danger is that environmentalists become so caught up in what politicians and companies think of as reality that they lose not only their idealism, but also their ability to communicate clearly and simply with the public, which is where their power lies.

All completely spot on. Environmental issues is one area where I don’t yield much, and frankly when people snort angrily about Plane Stupid that gives me even more pleasure. The fight will only be won by constantly pushing the boundaries and arguing for a different world. To that extent, I think sometimes even I become too pragmatic instead of idealistic. Thankfully there are articles such as this to set me straight.

Ooh, and this article by Hugo Rifkind on student activists is quite good too.  http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article5739655.ece