World We Imagine - PART 1
A perfect world cannot exist, but a better one can.
In my opinion, the first area where we need to start tackling challenges is how people - especially those of us in highly industrialized countries - treat the environment. Most people of my generation are aware of the fact that climate change is going to have drastic implications on all of our lives.
We know the oceans are rising as the ice caps melt. We know storms are becoming more powerful and more frequent. We know that droughts will become longer and more intense. We know that coastal cities will have to adapt their infrastructure dramatically or simply end up underwater. We know that millions of people will be forced out of their ancestral homelands. We know that ecological systems will be tested and some will fail. These are not matters of if, but when.
In the past, I have been incredibly afraid of these coming challenges. I still am to some degree. But, as I get older and the burden of responsibility falls more on my shoulders, and the shoulders of my generation, it will be our turn to decide whether or not we care enough to do anything about it. If we decide to take action, then what actions should we take?
As individuals, we can consume more sustainably. We can choose to travel in energy-efficient ways, eat fewer animal products (or none at all) to reduce the need for industrial livestock, buy solar panels for our homes, shop local instead of order items from overseas, use biodegradable and compostable plastics, et cetera. Essentially, we can choose to prioritize the environment and our collective fates over convenience and selfishness. And, in doing so, we can innovate and create new ways of doing things so that the cost of these changes is not so high that they are impractical.
The alternative to making these changes is becoming yet another generation that kicks the can down the road. We should not pass the bill off to our kids as our grandparents' generation did to our parents, and as our parents' generation have done to us.
It will come due eventually.
We can either fork up enough change to pay it now or let it compound to the point that the planet evicts us and all of our neighbors. The choice is clear.
Hi Joe, so much great thoughts about the environment and earth. I think you had a great imagination of a better world we live in. Maybe the next step would be you think of some specific way that we could become more sustainable. For example, creating a non-profit organization that promotes solar power or renewable energy and work with state/local government to actually implement these projects. Think of something more specific in next step would help achieve your goal!
ReplyDeleteVery good thoughts Joe. I totally agree. For your proposal, I think you should emphasize ways (actions) that this change can actually occur. Humans are very incentive-based but so much more when the reward is tangible, rather than a possibility/even a probability. Focus on concrete data and stats about this issue, such as how many years away we are from various possible disasters and points that will make it harder and harder for humans to live on Earth. I think you've got a great idea here.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with you Joe. This issue can be so stressful to think about and get overwhelming very quickly. I think you've done a great job touching on all of the possible individual actions we can take, and I think your ideas would be even better if they included something about the impact of corporations. Even if every individual behaved more sustainably, a massive part of the problem is companies that have no regard for the environment. One idea for this is to vote people into office who would pass legislation to make these harmful behaviors illegal, or a better idea would be to find a way to motivate people to boycott some of these companies- like fast fashion brands. I'm excited to see where this goes, you're off to a great start.
ReplyDeleteHello Joe; I agree with you that we as are generation have such an important role in human history to ensure that the future for this planet is sustainable; the human race has come to a turning point where before us all we thought about is to expand consumption and increase the quality of living, but now we have finally got to the place where we think about lessening consumption and started seeing environmental changes.
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