I think another reason people get defensive and angry about the topic of the environment is because it frightens them. I know some folks like this and they deal with fear and anger by wanting to control conditions or people around them. The evidence is getting so obvious that they can’t really deny it anymore, but it’s overwhelming so they don’t want to think about it at all.

The truth is that one person can make a difference. It can be a big one or a small one. We can create a backyard habitat for birds and animals, back positive legislation, clean up rivers and streams, recycle…it doesn’t matter. Whatever we appreciate and want to conserve, protect, and enjoy in our own neighborhood is possible. Bigger things are possible, too, but definitely in our own homes and towns.

I’m with you, Erica — I’m an optimist, too. We can do amazing things when we decide we want to and there are so many who are already working to preserve and protect the environment, who are paving the way with environmentally friendly products, technologies, and ideas. There are so many ways established now that we can join in with to preserve and nurture our world and more coming all the time.

Great post, Chris! Very thoughtful.

~Suzanne

I guess I’m an optimist — i do believe the journey of 1000 miles begins with one step, whether it’s a blogging journey or an environmental journey. Thanks for stepping out there, Chris.

I’m working for a coalition that is hoping to keep the demanding standards set up by the energy bill right now in the final bill. The standards would call for 15% renewable electricity standard and 35mpg fuel economy standard (both by 2020). We have a chance to call on our government to make a real change and not succumb to the auto lobbies who would like to see these standards lowered (among other self interested groups). We can all help by signing the petition available at http://www.energybill2007.org. This is another real chance to make a change!

I agree, many people are like this. Unfortunately, though, someone needs to tell them what to do – they won’t stop on their own or through telepathy. We have to keep being vocal and ram it down the ignorant sons-of-bitches throats until they stop or legislation stops them! Seeing as environmental friendly living is not good for the big corporations, I don’t see legislation happening, ever.

Interestingly, the most viewed post I’ve ever written for my blog was about ‘plastic shopping bags’ and the alternatives available. Seems people are interested in making a good choice if the information is readily available.

My post on the issue is titled: Vision of The Environment…

Action matters in huge way, of course. But no one’s going to be motivated to act until they’re aware of the impact of their actions, right?

And yes, there are many who are making money at the expense of the earth, but who’s to say that campaigns like this won’t reach them? Or, reach their kids, who will join in the enviro-movement as a part of their rebellion against their parents?

You know Americans view environmental problems from one point of view, we Russians have another point. You know that our drinking water is considered bad even for bathing… In Russia and former SU countries people smoke so much, that on the streets it is hard to breathe for non-smokers.

These kind of problems are much more important to us. We do not think how to save a tiny bits of energy unplugging the chargers for cell-phones when they are not in use, or using energy-saving monitors… BTW, I really doubt that this kinds of things have any effect on Global Warming.

People should learn to care for others. This is something I think everyone can learn, and that is something that can help the society and environment no matter where you live.

I hear what you’re saying. It’s totally true that it looks really bad, and the short-term “benefits” seem to be outweighing people’s ability to choose for our long-term health and well being. People are making money killing the planet, and it’s awfully hard to let go of the wealth, even when you don’t need it.

However, when you write “It is just that we need to realize that, what we can do is very limited.” I don’t believe that for a second. I think that’s actually a bit of a dangerous viewpoint. I think there is a danger, also, in blind optimism and cheerful, polly-annaish (?) “Let’s do GOOD!” cheering.

However, when I read what you write, I feel sad, because I believe there is more hope and power available than you say. It’s entirely true that one outcome could be that despair and blindness continues to rule the day, and we never gather the effort to make change.

In my spiritual lineage, the teaching is that hope is a medicine. Without hope, miracles and healing are not possible. Of course, hope without action is useless, but action without hope is worse than useless- it’s dangerous.

I still have hope in my heart that we will make the change. I’m nervous, and unsure whether it will happen. But, I do have hope.

When an individual stands up, others feel permission to stand up. MLK, Jr. did it. Gandhi did it. Rachel Carson did it. Mother Theresa did it. Bono is doing it. Dozens, hundreds of others are doing it. I’m doing it in my own small way.

Caution is good. Despair is dangerous.

Yes and Yes. Or use public transport.

Water, we all take for advantage, we all waste it, not thinking that they are people in third world countries who are desperate for it. How many of you reading these comments offset your carbon emissions?

http://www.travel-rants.com/2007/10/15/blog-action-day-help-the-environment/

Chris, I agree that CO2 and carbon offsetting is a subject alot of people will blog about, but that’s partly because of the amount of media attention the subject receives.

We blame cars, airlines, etc. but pollution has been around since the cavemen were around!

Very few people can actually make a change. But those few won’t change anything, because they make money while killing the planet.

Does it mean that we should not act? Of course not. It is just that we need to realize that, what we can do is very limited. Do not expect factories to close or stop disposing waste into the seas and rivers.

I believe that after today more people will get more environment cautious and that is good.

The kind of change we need to make is on that level. And, we can do it, the technology is here, the know-how is here… we just aren’t choosing. Recycling and hybrid cars are good things, but too incremental.

Any ideas of how to effect this kind of change in direction?

I think because that one issue gets so much press a lot of the rest gets under discussed such as polluted rivers, toxic waste being dumped, industrial exhaust going into the air, farming land, water supply, man-made chemicals being found right through the food chain and getting into our bodies (including our human fetuses), deforestation, floods and water scarcity, ….

I wouldn’t call myself a “nay-sayer” but my views do seem to differ from most other people’s here. I’m going to generalise the “environment” into “global warming and CO2 emissions”.

‘Raising awareness’ is and will continue to start a very slow gradual shift in technology and business towards creating a greener society that may or may not counter balance the CO2 emissions of the exponentially growing population of the world and will no where near reduce over all emissions.

Call me fatalistic, but the only way I can see global warming being solved once and for all is from natural disasters (that are not really natural) causing horrific destruction to jolt people and governments into action. Until then, I see individuals becoming greener, but barely enough to stay at a steady level, yet alone to improve things.

This does mean that I think Blog action day is a good thing and that in the long term raising awareness with have a small effect, but it will take much more pressure on society for a solution to be found.

I think that if the environment has become a divisive issue it’s because many people have become dogmatic about it. I read recently that even if all Americans switched to hybrid cars, the increased pollution coming out of China would easily negate the impact.

We need to hear more about priorities in cleaning up our mess.

Here was my add to the Blog Action Day Activities:

http://jobmob.co.il/blog/the-obnoxious-guide-to-environmentally-safe-job-hunting/