When I was in elementary school, the cafeteria switched to disposable plastic trays because the paper ones hurt trees. Stupid, I know… but are today’s initiatives any better?
When I was in elementary school, the cafeteria switched to disposable plastic trays because the paper ones hurt trees. Stupid, I know… but are today’s initiatives any better?
This is a frustrating kind of defeatist attitiude I’m finding is getting more and more common.
It comes from a place of unwillingness for personal and habitual change. It’s hard to accept that we all have to change our lifestyles and accept that how we’re living is going to have to change. That there is exists some scenario whereby we all continue living exactly how we’re doing now with the same consumer behaviour and expect a bit of regulations to change everything. Or delay changing until after these regulations are in place, when in reality BOTH needs to happen.
What’s the point in sitting on your ass complaining about the behaviours of other individuals and organisations when the only thing you have direct control over is your life.
I’m not challenging you on the “sitting on your ass” part because that is true. But I promise you the Earth getting hotter and more polluted is going to exert “direct control …over your life.” And the only real way we can change this is through some kind of political process.
Where did I say it shouldn’t be a political process? It isn’t an either-or. How many people online who are saying “oh why should I consume less when corporations emit the most CO2, there’s no point I’m not going to bother” is politically active outside of voting? As in, physically - attend climate rallies or petition their local representative. I’d wager it’s a slim minority. Signing an online petition or tweeting does not count.
If people honestly cared so much that they’re doing these things anyway, then changing themselves and their consumption habits should be dead easy. So why don’t more people do it?
My point is this isn’t an excuse to not take any actions locally within your life, which is something you can do RIGHT NOW.
I assume that folks are just looking for a way to keep their comfort zone the same. Finding an excuse is simple, even without blatant logic errors.
It is textbook cognitive dissonance.
Ineffectively complaining about corporations and changing your own life are not the only two options. That is a conveniently simplified view that just serves to make everyone feel better about using paper straws.
A third option is to try to make effective change. Real change requires significant investment of energy, time and maybe money. Lobbying, campaigning, making noise, seeking and rallying larger groups of people; politics. Make youtube videos, radio shows, interviews - chain yourself to a tree, whatever… Any of those are better than recycling unrecyclable plastic.
Making meaningful change in a society is hard work. You can’t just keep living your life and pat yourself on the back just because you stopped buying that one Néstle product you know about.