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| If what we do as individuals doesn't matter, how does this happen? |
A common reason for inaction against a world gone wrong is that individual actions won't make any difference. We demand that governments do something, then go home to continue our high consumption lifestyles.
"What I do won't make a difference anyway."
But that is untrue. It is an abrogation of responsibility for one's decisions.
The best example I can think of is plastic waste. It is building up, and scientists say that it will enter the fossil record.
Future archaeologists will learn about the Plasticonian Destruction layer that will be prominently seen in stratigraphic cross sections on digs across the planet.
"Modern humans thought that the Earth would one day be paved over, but it was quietly smothered in plastic while everyone was looking out for steamrollers."
How did all that plastic build up? One person, one decision at a time. It happened by individual actions repeated many times over entire populations.
What we do has a great effect on everything. Especially when there are so many of us sharing this planet.
Every decision matters. What each of us does makes a difference, beneficial or not. No one is exempt. We have to decide what kind of effect we want to have on Earth.
We can not let governments or corporations off the hook because they have their parts to play, but we can also not say that individual actions don't affect anything.
We created this mess one decision at a time, and we can fix it one decision at a time. We have the power.
I totally agree. If everyone took a turn to do a litter pick in their own neighbourhood they would be staggered at how much plastic is pushed into and under hedges. Repairing the earth starts with each and every one of us doing our bit.
ReplyDeleteThat picture makes me sick. But I know we can make a difference and I see it all the time in my community.
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant reframing of individual actions not mattering, to show the flip side - the huge mess we have created.
ReplyDeleteThank you Gregg, it has renewed my motivation. I have to admit to feeling very down about it all lately as my town is once again blanketed in smoke from unseasonal bush fires. I am sure many of us feel that we are trying to single-handedly save the planet whilst others just continue as though it doesn't matter. It gets exhausting, and yet I know I could still do more than I do.
Madeleine