Connected to every problem that faces the world, there are infinite possibilities for positive, sustainable change. Rather than a) sticking to business as usual or b) kvetching non-stop, why don't we grasp some of these possibilities? Do something, change something, make the world a better place.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
When pollsters ask Americans to name the most important problem facing the country, fewer than 3 percent mention the environment. But when asked to name the most serious problem facing the planet if left unchecked, the environment and global warming rise to the top, according to a May 2010 study by Woods Institute Senior Fellow Jon Krosnick.
Krosnick and colleagues from Stanford and the Associated Press analyzed the results of a recent Internet survey of 906 adults. When asked “What do you think is the most important problem facing the country today?” about 49 percent of respondents answered the economy or unemployment, while only 1 percent mentioned the environment or global warming.
But when asked, “What do you think will be the most serious problem facing the world in the future if nothing is done to stop it?” 25 percent said the environment or global warming, and only 10 percent picked the economy. In fact, environmental issues were cited more often than any other category, including terrorism, which was only mentioned by 10 percent of respondents.
I feel like this kind of finding underlines the basic disconnect which exists in society around the world - a disconnect between “the world” and day-to-day life. This kind of disconnect fundamentally limits any efforts to stem the tide of anthropogenic climate change; if people don’t understand that what impacts the world does and will continue to impact their life, or if they don’t care that it impacts the lives of others, then they won’t inform the decision makers in society that addressing this problem is vital. People KNOW that the environment is in trouble, and that it’s our fault. The missing link is the personal, not-in-my-backyard sentiment. The BP spill was a missed opportunity to use just this sentiment in a positive manner. Is it going to take true catastrophe to make people understand? I, for one, hope not.
