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Can the origins of the ecological movement be realistically traced back to the eighteenth or nineteenth century? ➤ How far is ecologism a political ideology and how far a quasi-religious faith? ➤ How far is the green view of man's place in nature a valid one? ➤ Are the greens correct to adopt such negative views of industrialism? ➤ How far is green ideology intellectually coherent and based on empirical evidence? ➤ Are green politics practical politics?Environmentalism and ecologism constitute one of the most recent ideological movements. Though the terms are often used interchangeably, it is more useful to regard ecologism as a philosophy that believes in a thorough-going root and branch transformation of society, whereas environmentalism believes that dangers to the environment can be tackled within the existing political, economic and cultural order. We examine here the genesis of the movement in the explosion of concern at the apparent threat to the planet in the 1960s, and its subsequent evolution as an ideological force and political movement. The various elements, spiritual and scientific, which have influenced the 'green' movement are presented and subjected to critical analysis. Finally, we consider whether the movement is little more than a current fad, or whether we are all 'green' now.