"I have a dream...", is an extremely famous introduction to a famous speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Well, I also have a dream. A dream for a sustainable future where generations to come are able to live substantially better and healthier lives than our current generation. A future where little to no natural resources are used or wasted. Where people understand how fragile this planet of ours is and how lucky they are that the generations before them changed their unhealthy, unsustainable ways before real permanent damage was done to this planet.
I believe that my vision of the future is an optimistic one. The people who occupy this planet would need to understand a few things in order to truly achieve a sustainable future though. Some of these understandings would include: realizing that global warming is not a political game used by politicians to scare people into voting for their agendas; it is not a quick fix issue; every person can make a difference and must participate in order for this ideal future to come about; and change has to start with our generation. There are many other "understandings" that must be realized by people in order for a sustainable future to really be a possibility, but the above few are just scratching the surface of where we need to begin. First we need to realize that having a sustainable future really is a possibility. According to the reading by Lombardo, we must first change our thinking from pessimistic to optimistic through the use of psychotherapy. Believing in ourselves is the beginning step in achieving our future goals.
I believe that one of the hardest parts to realizing this sustainable future will be changing our habitual routines and beliefs. As stated by Durning, we need to achieve a balance between under-consumption and over-consumption. People will have to change the ways in which they consume and what they believe about consumption habits. It is like they have a blindfold on and can not see what their consumption/waste/etc. is doing to their environment. They are blind to the consequences of their actions. All the more reason to make what they are so used to doing as blatantly obvious as possible, so that maybe it will cause them to realize what they are doing.
That is where this change will need to start. Where it will need to take root in peoples lives, habits, and routines in order for us to make any sort of difference.
Hi, Jamie! Can you reflect a bit on your own capacity for future consciousness? Generally, your blog is a little light this week in terms of integration of course materials to support. On the other hand, you have identified many characteristics of your vision that you can now build on for your mid-term paper. Just ensure in your paper that you are utilizing your chosen book (the most) and other required readings to discuss and support your ideas. In terms of mental mode, continue to explore beliefs that will support your vision -- things that people believe they have a personal stake in.
ReplyDeleteHi Dr. Armstrong, I think about the future all the time. I wonder what it will be like, what my children's futures will look like. I also wonder about how things will be different in the next 20-30 years. How businesses will be, if the things we did/do today will actually make a difference or have a big enough impact on our futures. Let me know if you need any more reflection.
DeleteThanks for your response, Jamie!
DeleteJamie,
ReplyDeleteoverall good ideas. Maybe a little more background on why people aren't buying into these beliefs yet might be helpful. Such as the prevalence of scare tactics used by many environmentalists. How can the main stream media help to promote this new sense of optimism? Have a great day!
Hi Josh, I think that people aren't buying into these beliefs because the only people promoting it are radical environmentalists and it is not considered a normal thing. I just saw a news story about Lucy Lawless (Xena) being arrested for protesting on a Shell oil rig about drilling in the arctic. It seems to me that the only people willing to say something/do something are the ones who get attention for being arrested or doing something radical. Sustainability has not reached a mainstream point yet in the media. Most people still think it is a gimmick.
DeleteHey Jamie. What do you believe will be the biggest obstacles to changing people's beliefs? Also, interested to hear about your own capacity for future consciousness, could you elaborate on your personal optimism statement?
ReplyDeleteHi Brittney, I think that some of the biggest challenges to changing people's beliefs will be proof. As stated to Josh, people still think that global warming, climate change, the need for sustainability is a gimmick put out by the government to get votes. Or they believe that it is not a serious issue at this time and that we can't effect any change that will make a difference.
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