Ecotopia

One of the major themes of Ecotopia is conservation, most visible in the discussions of “stable states,” which the novel defines as “all food wastes, sewage and garbage were to be turned into organic fertilizer and applied to the land, where it would again enter into the food production cycle” (15). This idea of reducing non-usable waste to essentially zero is the cornerstone of Ecotopian society. It ties directly into the ideals of living in harmony with nature and reducing the negative impact of humans on the environment. If, as Callenbach suggests in his “Author’s Afterword,” Ecotopia is a work of “politics fiction” (170), then conservation is maybe the political theme the novel pushes.  

Perhaps one of the most salient themes in Ecotopia is that of journalism and its ethical ramifications. In the beginning, journalism is presented as a way to bridge the gap that has formed between the two nations and peoples that used to be one. However, even when speaking about this unifying capability, Weston reveals some bias (perhaps subconscious) through his tone, presuming he will find faults in Ecotopia’s society, while begrudgingly admitting he might also find “achievements” (4). The novel also brings up the question of issuing corrections.