By CG Science Editor Austen Verrilli
Eco-minded people live in a world of duality. There is no question that the
environment is important. There is no question that people are important. There is
question, though, as to how these two things sync up. There’s even more question on
how environmentally conscious people sync with average indifferent Joe’s and Jane’s.
Here’s a start on that last one – stop yelling at them.
Believe it or not, the average Joe or Jane really does know a bit about the earth.
They do live on the green-blue sphere after all. Whether or not people care for this space
rock is an entirely different matter. And making people care? Well, good luck.
Yet making people care seems to be the mission of many environmental groups.
That is certainly not bad. Groups need public support to rally a cause or raise funds.
Also there is no denying the importance of ecological causes in an environment getting
dominated by humans. Still, trying to coerce people to care about the environment is a
waste of resources (no pun intended).
I am often miffed when I hear what some environmental advocates have to say
to the public. Josh Fox, creator of the documentary Gasland, explained that Americans
need to stop using natural gas period, at the College Green screening of Gasland last
spring. I asked him if he had any thoughts to improve drilling practices for the time
being. He looked me square in the eye and told me I was asking the wrong question.
He explained how someone in California had some plan to make the whole U.S. an
alternative energy consumer. That was it. Applause showered him as doubt hit me in the
face like a fire hose.
Lofty goals on paper are great but they are just that, lofty. Legitimacy needs to
come through practical motivation and action. Locally a group called Rural Action seems
to do just that. They work with Appalachian community members on local problems and
create feasible solutions. The group focuses on sustainable agriculture, economics and
environmental practices. When I saw them at the Paw Paw Festival they let their work
speak for them and never brandished an end-of-days eco-rant to get my attention.
Lets face it, big issues like changing to alternative energy will never happen
quickly. Infrastructure, corporate resistance, and naturally sluggish democracy
continually snare huge leaps of progress. But that’s fine because huge movements need
time to mature and as they do support will follow.
Public support can never be directly forced in a democratic state. Instead people
have to think for themselves and rationalize their support. Legitimate practical solutions
are the only way to get real support.
Gandhi put it best when he said “be the change you wish to see in the world.” Don’t be the
person ranting about the change he or she wishes to see in the world. That would make
one as lowly as a writer rambling on about things he thinks people should do. And no
one likes that, do they?
Eco-support follows solutions, not screams
Posted by College Green Editor on 10/27/11 • Categorized as Commentary
By CG Science Editor Austen Verrilli
Eco-minded people live in a world of duality. There is no question that the
environment is important. There is no question that people are important. There is
question, though, as to how these two things sync up. There’s even more question on
how environmentally conscious people sync with average indifferent Joe’s and Jane’s.
Here’s a start on that last one – stop yelling at them.
Believe it or not, the average Joe or Jane really does know a bit about the earth.
They do live on the green-blue sphere after all. Whether or not people care for this space
rock is an entirely different matter. And making people care? Well, good luck.
Yet making people care seems to be the mission of many environmental groups.
That is certainly not bad. Groups need public support to rally a cause or raise funds.
Also there is no denying the importance of ecological causes in an environment getting
dominated by humans. Still, trying to coerce people to care about the environment is a
waste of resources (no pun intended).
I am often miffed when I hear what some environmental advocates have to say
to the public. Josh Fox, creator of the documentary Gasland, explained that Americans
need to stop using natural gas period, at the College Green screening of Gasland last
spring. I asked him if he had any thoughts to improve drilling practices for the time
being. He looked me square in the eye and told me I was asking the wrong question.
He explained how someone in California had some plan to make the whole U.S. an
alternative energy consumer. That was it. Applause showered him as doubt hit me in the
face like a fire hose.
Lofty goals on paper are great but they are just that, lofty. Legitimacy needs to
come through practical motivation and action. Locally a group called Rural Action seems
to do just that. They work with Appalachian community members on local problems and
create feasible solutions. The group focuses on sustainable agriculture, economics and
environmental practices. When I saw them at the Paw Paw Festival they let their work
speak for them and never brandished an end-of-days eco-rant to get my attention.
Lets face it, big issues like changing to alternative energy will never happen
quickly. Infrastructure, corporate resistance, and naturally sluggish democracy
continually snare huge leaps of progress. But that’s fine because huge movements need
time to mature and as they do support will follow.
Public support can never be directly forced in a democratic state. Instead people
have to think for themselves and rationalize their support. Legitimate practical solutions
are the only way to get real support.
Gandhi put it best when he said “be the change you wish to see in the world.” Don’t be the
person ranting about the change he or she wishes to see in the world. That would make
one as lowly as a writer rambling on about things he thinks people should do. And no
one likes that, do they?