Firstly, on a segment called "Lifeboat Cities", urban planner Professor Brendan Gleeson,Director, Urban Research Program Griffith University , discussed his views on our response to climate change. From the blurb for this programme "Climate change will cause economic and social disruption but it also gives us the opportunity to embrace new lifestyles and values. Urban planner Brendan Gleeson believes we need radical change and strong government to point us in the right direction. He also looks forward to a society which greatly values caring for families and communities".
I agree with Professor Gleeson: I don't consider we're taking climate change seriously enough - especially the need to be less materialistic and consumeristic. In fact, I strongly urge anyone who is in a job that depends on materialism or consumerism to seriously consider changing to something that is not: do it now, while you have a choice and the ability to be in some control of your destiny, rather than later, when you may be panicked.
Of course, I also urge people to be as environmentally responsible as they can - to the extent of, say, having a nice bath (subject to water restrictions!) rather than a shopping spree to cheer yourself up - or maybe receiving a nice massage inctead of buying a new outfit. (If you feel you do need a new outfit, maybe make it, or get a recycled [second hand] option.)
There have been years of people in spiritual circles warning against materialism/consumerism and related problems (e.g. Alice Bailey warned against what she called "glamour"). For most of my liofe, I took this as being a spiritual imperative: it's now clear that it also is environmentally responsible ...
As an illustration of some of the problem attitudes which come with this, immediately followingthe story I've just written about was one which illustrated the problem of vanity or ego: adult acne.
Does it really matter that a woman getting up to give a presentation has a spot on her face? No! - and it reflects very badly on any jer... person who thought less of her message because she has a spot, badly on them that they allowed their sexist prejudice to fasten on to such a trivial and irrelevant issue, and badly that they have - in effect - decided to actively promulgate the socialisation that causes women to think they "must" be pretty, or conform with certain images for ANY reason and causes any person to think that superficial appearance matters more than content in ANY context (which is a major problem in my day job as a professional engineer - for all genders, not just women).
This sort of attitude always leads me to think about people who "spend to feel happy", or "have" to have the latest gimmick, or regularly change their car because it isn't the latest/MIGHT start costing them some maintenance/looks older (all of which causes massive environmental damage - sure, the materials get recycled, but at the cost of massive power consumption [i.e., GHG generation]). better to make do until NECESSITY says you REALLY need something - we ARE going to have to make these sorts of changes at some stage: better to do it now, when you have some personal choice, than later, when the governments of the world finally realise what was cost at Coppenfloppen (apparently largely due to the Chinese position, which is understandable given the problems of poverty there) and impose a last second, panicked "solution" on everyone.
*takes a breath and chants "calm, calm, calm"*
...
*takes another breath and continues chanting "calm, calm, calm"*
OK, normal service will now resume :D
I also get annoyed when people start salivating about the value of their house: if I ever find myself in the fortunate position of being able to buy my own house, I want to do so for the sake of having somewhere to live, NOT because I want to pretend I am one of the rich! (Incidentally, I'm writing this in between watching the 1984 and 1946 film versions of Somerset Maugham's "The Razor's Edge", which was a book I read many years ago and quite enjoyed.)
*takes a breath and chants "calm, calm, calm"*
We need to have less materialism/consumerism.
Also, the world of business/commerce needs to remember it's place: it is NOT the be-all and end-all! Sure, a healthy economy is very, very important, but only in the context of whether or not it is contributing constructively to all people's quality of life. For instance, if measures are introduced to cut welfare to promote business achieving it's targets, that is usually a net LOSS. (Also, have a look here.) However, if a new (environmentally responsible) industry comes in to an area and gives the people living there a chance of a decent income and of funding (through taxes, usually) education, health care, aged care, etc, that is wonderful.
There has been research that improved income leads to happiness up to the point probably slightly above where it ensures meeting survival needs (i.e. lower end of middle class, if i recall correctly): beyond that, money doesn't buy happiness. We don't NEED to be rich, and have lots of "stuff". In fact, one of the happiest times of my life was when I got rid of a lot of stuff so I could move onto a small boat.
So ... let's all start thinking about how we can fit onto this small planet. OK?
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
PS - this post, my third today, has been finished in a hurry, so don't be surprised f I edit this a little in the next few days
This post's photo is yet to be posted
Tags: attitudes, environmental, personal responsibility, perspective, consumerism, materialism, emotions,
First published: Saturday 3rd July, 2010
Last edited: Saturday 3rd July, 2010
