it's a gas, man

By jimbo on May 10, 2006 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

For a warm-up on today's rant, read I'm Doing my Inconsequential Part for the Environment from The Onion.

Together, we can make an unbelievably negligible difference.

When I got rid of my car two and a half years ago the gas prices were just starting to rise. While I miss my Big Girl I do not regret the decision...by now the gas prices would have killed me. But there is a pro in all of this in that environmental thinking, or at least energy conservation efforts, will rise again - at least until the gas prices drop again. Having gone through the environmental 'movement' in the 90s with an undergrad degree in environmental education and having studied the rhetoric of the environmental movement of the 70s, I feel qualified to offer some suggestions to organizations, politicians and activists for this go-around:

The Sky is Not Falling - or it is, but slowly at least. Avoid doomspeak. Not only do those statements engender a sense of futility within your audience, but these days even more than ever before, sensationalism is overused in rhetoric and the media, and has less of an effect than it used to. I recall reading a quote from an environmentalist from the 70's who said something like, "We have 7 months to go before the Earth is overburdened...tops..." Sure, doomspeak is easy to wield as a rhetorical tool and gets an initial rise out of people, but the reality is that with a degrading environment the quality of life on this planet will decrease for us and other species, but we are not doomed a la Day Ater Tomorrow. With a bad environment, life will suck a little or a lot more, but we are not irrevocably doomed.

Focus on the Back Yard - I'm sure the purchase of toothpicks that originate from the forests of Borneo will destroy the rare ring-tailed tillirat, but most people can only see what is happening in their own back yard. Focus on rhetoric that people can directly relate to, how it affects them, and what they can do locally to solve the problem...which leads me to:

Keep it Simple, Stupid: I recall a long laundry list of all the things we were told to do to save the planet in the 90's. Most people can't even figure out how to integrate a simple fitness workout into their lives, and you're asking them to separate their trash into color-coded transparent bags by plastic recycling code, switch their entire diet to organic, start biking to work, cut out meat entirely, etc. Instead, suggest that they do their best to change their lives in one achievable way, rather than a complete overhaul. Habits and culture are hard things to change. I knew of only a crunchy few who could do everything they were told to do. The rest threw up their hands in exasperation at the requirements for global salvation, or eventually gave up trying. With every environmental organization telling you to do several different things, the list quickly became too exhausting and confusing.

I guess all of the above suggestions essentially have to do with lowering your expectations of the public at large. This may have something to do with an overeducated bourgeois perspective of environmental knowledge that ignores the fact that not everyone can make the leaps of logic and connections that you have. I'm sure a small group of you are doing the right thing and you understand why, but not everyone even has the time to give it any consideration at all. They are busy working 80 hours a week at Wal-Mart and working hard at home simply feeding their kids. Don't overwhelm them or ask too much of them.

My suggestions appeal to a common denominator, but if a 'movement' is restricted and achieveable only to a select and elite group of educated folks, what's the point?

I have spoken, but I'll betcha no one listens to Jimbo this time around. We are doomed.

In other news, Gurl has pointed out that I sound a little burnt out, and I think I am. I haven't even been feeling horny lately, and have a very neutral/blah attitude towards men and dating. And I don't give a shit about rugby after last weekend. It has been a great spring with vacations, visits and accomplishments, but it all kinda happened at once with no breaks. I will make a focused effort to have little focus or responsibility this weekend and the next. I need to chill out and catch up with myself.

0 TrackBacks

Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: it's a gas, man.

TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.kr8tiv.com/blogit2/mt-tb.cgi/156

3 Comments

kiri said:

The problem for me is the environmental movement is one without design. If environmental conciousness were well designed, people would not even have to think about it -- products would be eco-friendly already... etc. etc. etc. How do we design a movement that the masses don't even have to think about, but do as part of their daily consumption? I believe this is the only way to enact mass environmental change. And you can start it by convincing the elite few - the designers, the ceos, the politicos that in long run designing for eco-conciousness saves money - and the environment.

(off soap box)

May 10, 2006 1:42 PM

copperred said:

Maybe you should carry a cattle prod while speaking, that'll get the sheep in line.
Recycling is pretty much the first step, and many municipalities are still ridiculously backward. DC is trying to catch up, by getting rid of the useless Waste Management contract that loaded everything in the same place.

Sounds like Jimbo needs a nap with a interim general manager of WMATA. Now how to affix him to your bed...

May 10, 2006 2:16 PM

homer said:

I try to make as little impact as possible- recycle everything I can, big stuff goes in the alley to be taken by pickers, no pesticides or herbicides, and so on. My biggest vices are gasoline for my car (although at $3 I'm driving less) and water (I live in the desert).

May 10, 2006 3:01 PM

it's a gas, man

Categories:

0 TrackBacks

3 Comments

Leave a comment

E-mail jimbo

Blogroll

My Flickr

Search

About this Entry