While it is dark, scary and at times overwhelming, there is no denying our planet is in danger thanks to our industrialized world. The charge to save the planet is being led by a passionate group of young people, including the amazing Greta Thunberg (I have always said people with autism will change the world in ways we don't yet understand, because they see it differently).
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| Young people will save our planet. |
The answers to saving the planet are not simple and are not going to be easy. As a person who studies human behaviour change for a living, I am not always optimistic that our entire species can change their habits. I say this, not because I don't think the vast majority of people don't care, it is just the reinforcement for engaging in climate change behaviours will be delayed and we like our reinforcers to be more immediate. The behaviours we are currently engaging in that are harming our planet (i.e. driving, flying, use of plastic) are reinforcing now (i.e. picking up that veggie tray that is given in plastic). The mind shift we need, as well as all of the little habits we would need to change are huge.
While I am not as optimistic as I would like to be about this, it doesn't mean I have given up. I continue to take small steps to help reduce how I am contributing to the problem. I am using less plastic and always looking for more ways to cut back on the use. I am starting to look for clothing made out of sustainable materials. I am trying overall to consume less and use more reusable options. I try and imagine how my grandparents and great-grandparents did things.
Together, we may be able to solve this problem. We just need to listen to the young voices.
if we see it as the precious thing it is, we can keep our planet healthy and we can rescue all the things we love...
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteLovely and honest post, "Lady of dogs". I agree that changing habits and conveniences is going to be a long-haul task and while every individual can make a difference in their immediate environment, it is going to take the majority of individuals to do this before the folk who are actually gainig from no change (i.e. those with $$$ interests) properly take responsbility for change also. That said, many corporations ARE making changes, but again, electric cars and bio-airfuels don't happen overnight.
Last night on our tellies, Dear Ol' David Attenborough was narrating another great BBC nature production - "Seven Continents One World" - showing some amazing stuff with animals as always, but very much pushing the effects of environmental change and the impact on those critters. He has 60 years of filming in places remote on order to compare then and now... I hope everyone will watch it (I am sure it will go global, most of his stuff does!)
Happy Blog4Peace Day!!! YAM xx
(My article is here.)
the young voices are the ones that are saying one thing and doing another. what you said here is true. we All of us, are using things many many times a day that we never even notice. like the veggie trays you mentioned. not that we don't care, most of us do. it is the way our world is now and we would have to go back to glass bottles being reused for Milk and orange juice and soda and now water. just those plastic bottles are being thrown a way by the millions of pounds a day.... I think it is great the youth want change, but they are throwing millions of batteries and plastic things out while talking about saving the climate. not on purpose, they don't even realize what they are doing. we in America continue to buy 5 new pairs of pants when we already own 10 pair, that kind of thing.. the old days of wearing clothes until they fell apart is gone.
ReplyDeleteWithing all your excellent remarks we noticed thinking on how your "grandparents and great grandparents" lived. I believe there is great value in looking back to those times when much was done with less, a more simple way of living yet living well. We can learn a great deal about what we need and do not need. What we "consume" and are so frivolous in tossing away. We can DO with much less, can reuse and restore and recycle and it is not hard once you begin. It is often the first step that is the hardest but then soon it is a habit ... it must be done if there is to be a future. I did not say this, someone else did, "there is no Plan B" ... we have no other home to move to, relocation is not an option.
ReplyDeleteExcellent, thoughtful post. Behaviour change is difficult. But when I think how amazingly quickly attitudes to smoking in public places changed in this country (within 5 years we went from "you couldn't possibly ban smoking in pubs" to "how ever did we put up with all that smoke in pubs?") I remain somewhat optimistic.
ReplyDeleteLike Yam, I too watched the latest David Attenborough program and heartily recommend it. He is that rare case, it strikes me, of a man who gets more radical as he ages. Wonderful, simply wonderful.
Cheers, Gail.
What a wonderful post today, I do hope we start listening!
ReplyDeleteI 87 x's what LLB said. K10 this is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHugs HiC
What a fabulous post!
ReplyDeleteSo true! We must do more so that the earth will be there for those young voices. :)
ReplyDeleteWe agree with your post 100 percent. Great job
ReplyDeleteWe are with you, and we are so sorry about our country's foot-dragging. I think that anyone who trains dogs also sees the difficulty with changing the behavior of people with the rewards being "invisible" and far off. Dogs need their treats RIGHT NOW. Many people are the same. We are doing our best too.
ReplyDeleteAnd our President says climate change is hoax. The only thing I can vote agaist him.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately in today’s world, saving the planet or improving the environment is in competition with greed!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post. We have become accustom to all our comforts and conveniences but they are wrecking the planet. The thought of taking a few steps back to try to do things like our elders did is a great way to think about what we can do to help.
ReplyDeleteBaby steps will be key in the struggle to draw attention to keeping our planet alive and safe. Thank you for your efforts.
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