Designed by Malcolm Coxall
1001 Ways to Save the World
| · | So. Whats the problem? |
| · | OK Lets feel guilty! |
| · | Take Responsibility |
| · | Being Pragmatic |
| · | The Poco a Poco Principle |
So whats the problem?
The problem is this:
Ordinary people are genuinely concerned about the environment and social injustice in the world, but feel helpless. Greenhouse gases are the greatest threat to human society ever, Africa is in poverty freefall, the worlds fish stocks face extinction within a generation, water is becoming a seriously scarce resource. The same goes for all the other issues: landfills, water and air pollution, congestion, loss of animal species, GM foods etc, etc
But what can we do? Surely this is a matter for the UN and Kyoto not for ordinary people to deal with? Nuclear power stations are bad but what can they do to stop them, we need the energy? Surely the government knows what is best? What can the individual do to change any of this?
In the 60’s and 70’s the environmental movement was born in the US and Europe as a response to the rapidly deteriorating environment after the post-war boom. Like all new political movements, the ‘Greens’ have had their teething troubles. Alas, the movement today is very fragmented and remains largely isolated from mainstream society. Indeed, “Politics” has become a dirty word for many in western society, and politicians are seen as elitist, self-serving, and power-hungry by the current generation.
At the same time, the radical green movement has often surrounded itself with cool folk, wearing sandals and eating tofu, seen as ideological purists with nothing to do but agitate. Meanwhile, the rest of us have to get up at 7am to trudge to work every day to feed the family and pay the mortgage. There isn’t a lot of time left to “save the world”. That’s the reality for most of us.
These days, real action is only taken by small groups of “green activists”, dedicated to the task….. leaving ordinary people sitting on their hands waiting for politicians to take initiatives. In the meantime, the world’s environment and the quality of all our lives have taken a nosedive. What’s to be done?
OK, Let’s feel Guilty….
Now, before you become overwhelmed by depression and put the TV on, just remember one thing:
It’s your fault the world is in a mess! Yes, it’s your fault! You are personally responsible for all evils afflicting the environment. You, your family, your neighbors, your boss and all your colleagues and friends are all guilty of screwing up the planet! And for that matter, so am I, and so is everyone I know. In fact, all of us are guilty of this whole damn mess.
So before you put this book down, just remember that we are all as guilty as sin of brining humanity to the brink of extinction, that in the last century we have all done more damage to the natural environment than in the last million years. Yes, and that includes you and that includes me!
Take Responsibility
There is really no reasonable way of excusing our behavior. We have been wasteful, profligate and glutinous of all our natural resources. We have destroyed every beautiful and valuable living thing on the planet, the forests, the oceans and now the atmosphere. As a species we are shortsighted half-wits. We have fast-forwarded our own destruction to the very near future and some of us still can’t see it, or, I suspect, prefer not to see it.
Anyway, like it or not these are the facts and the sooner we accept responsibility for what we have done and what we continue to do, the better. If we accept our role in the mass vandalism of this planet, then just maybe we can do something to stop the damage and fix the mess. So accept your PERSONAL responsibility and let’s get on with it!
There are few people in the world that would honestly say that they don’t give a damn about the environment or the future of the planet and mankind. To some extent, all of us care about the world we live in and the world our children will inherit. Even if we only care about the world for selfish reasons, we all have some concern for the environment around us. Even the most amoral capitalist leaders of industry choose to live in leafy suburbs or country houses simply because they appreciate something valuable in these living environments.
Why bother with this?
Put the following in the order which suits you best:
Its good for the planet and therefore your children’s future
It makes you feel better
Its cheaper to live and makes your income go further every month
Whichever order you selected, read on…..
Being Pragmatic
It’s about risk: Limiting risk to yourself, your family and the environment. This book isn’t going to tell you which toothpaste to use. You have to be aware of the consumer environment in which we live and make the optimal decision for you and the environment.
Two types of environment:
The Natural environment (air, water, flora and fauna
The human environment (buildings, public places, man-made natural spaces)
Be Patient - The Poco a Poco Principle of Eating an Elephant
The problem is this:
Ordinary people are genuinely concerned about the environment and social injustice in the world, but feel helpless. Greenhouse gases are the greatest threat to human society ever, Africa is in poverty freefall, the worlds fish stocks face extinction within a generation, water is becoming a seriously scarce resource. The same goes for all the other issues: landfills, water and air pollution, congestion, loss of animal species, GM foods etc, etc
But what can we do? Surely this is a matter for the UN and Kyoto not for ordinary people to deal with? Nuclear power stations are bad but what can they do to stop them, we need the energy? Surely the government knows what is best? What can the individual do to change any of this?
In the 60’s and 70’s the environmental movement was born in the US and Europe as a response to the rapidly deteriorating environment after the post-war boom. Like all new political movements, the ‘Greens’ have had their teething troubles. Alas, the movement today is very fragmented and remains largely isolated from mainstream society. Indeed, “Politics” has become a dirty word for many in western society, and politicians are seen as elitist, self-serving, and power-hungry by the current generation.
At the same time, the radical green movement has often surrounded itself with cool folk, wearing sandals and eating tofu, seen as ideological purists with nothing to do but agitate. Meanwhile, the rest of us have to get up at 7am to trudge to work every day to feed the family and pay the mortgage. There isn’t a lot of time left to “save the world”. That’s the reality for most of us.
These days, real action is only taken by small groups of “green activists”, dedicated to the task….. leaving ordinary people sitting on their hands waiting for politicians to take initiatives. In the meantime, the world’s environment and the quality of all our lives have taken a nosedive. What’s to be done?
OK, Let’s feel Guilty….
Now, before you become overwhelmed by depression and put the TV on, just remember one thing:
It’s your fault the world is in a mess! Yes, it’s your fault! You are personally responsible for all evils afflicting the environment. You, your family, your neighbors, your boss and all your colleagues and friends are all guilty of screwing up the planet! And for that matter, so am I, and so is everyone I know. In fact, all of us are guilty of this whole damn mess.
So before you put this book down, just remember that we are all as guilty as sin of brining humanity to the brink of extinction, that in the last century we have all done more damage to the natural environment than in the last million years. Yes, and that includes you and that includes me!
Take Responsibility
There is really no reasonable way of excusing our behavior. We have been wasteful, profligate and glutinous of all our natural resources. We have destroyed every beautiful and valuable living thing on the planet, the forests, the oceans and now the atmosphere. As a species we are shortsighted half-wits. We have fast-forwarded our own destruction to the very near future and some of us still can’t see it, or, I suspect, prefer not to see it.
Anyway, like it or not these are the facts and the sooner we accept responsibility for what we have done and what we continue to do, the better. If we accept our role in the mass vandalism of this planet, then just maybe we can do something to stop the damage and fix the mess. So accept your PERSONAL responsibility and let’s get on with it!
There are few people in the world that would honestly say that they don’t give a damn about the environment or the future of the planet and mankind. To some extent, all of us care about the world we live in and the world our children will inherit. Even if we only care about the world for selfish reasons, we all have some concern for the environment around us. Even the most amoral capitalist leaders of industry choose to live in leafy suburbs or country houses simply because they appreciate something valuable in these living environments.
Why bother with this?
Put the following in the order which suits you best:
Its good for the planet and therefore your children’s future
It makes you feel better
Its cheaper to live and makes your income go further every month
Whichever order you selected, read on…..
Being Pragmatic
It’s about risk: Limiting risk to yourself, your family and the environment. This book isn’t going to tell you which toothpaste to use. You have to be aware of the consumer environment in which we live and make the optimal decision for you and the environment.
Two types of environment:
The Natural environment (air, water, flora and fauna
The human environment (buildings, public places, man-made natural spaces)
Be Patient - The Poco a Poco Principle of Eating an Elephant
Free to read, free to reproduce
Copyright © 2007 by Malcolm Coxall and Tony Lowes All Rights reserved info@biomercado.es
Introduction