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How to End Our Lack of Climate Urgency – My Theory

October 18, 2013 @ 22:59 By Gavin Webber 11 Comments

When I talk to people about the seriousness of climate change and peak oil, you soon realise is far more dire than anything you’d guess if you only follow the mainstream media.  Thankfully there are many informed citizens that think and read outside the square.
Ordinary people tend to not take me too seriously, for two reasons I think.  This is often the reply I get to my side to my conversation:
  • “Gavin, if what you say is true, why isn’t the government doing a lot more?” and,
  • “Gavin, if what you say is true, why aren’t there people protesting in the streets? Why isn’t there a really big, loud protest movement?”
Why indeed.  This is the reason I am writing this post!  It feels that complacency and the status quo are the soup du jour.
Therefore, I believe that one good reason for taking drastic public measures in the form of activism, street marches, protests, walk against warming etc. in addition to just changing your life as best you can, is quite simply to create a sense of urgency.   We need more people telling others why it is time to act now.
Because right now, that sense of urgency is not there at all in the general population.
Mind you, that may change pretty soon if water gets scarce, food supplies dwindle, and extreme weather events continue to escalate.  Let me share with you the mechanism that counteracts the creation of a sense of urgency;

A few years ago, I was working at in an office tower minding my own business as a cubical serf, when there was an alarm. 

It sounded like it might be something serious, but I didn’t know for sure. So I looked around to see how other people were reacting. Since nobody seemed overly worried, I concluded that it was probably not a signal to leave the building, and so I continued working instead of running down the fire stairs.  Sure enough, it turned out to have been some technical glitch with the alarm system.

The same effect happens in the larger context of our current global issues. When ordinary people read truly alarming stuff in the newspaper, hear it on the radio, or see it on TV (if they’re lucky), they will check around them to see how everybody else is reacting. If other people don’t seem to be overly worried, they’ll shrug, decide that the alarming report was probably exaggerated, and continue about their daily business.

However the facts are there for all to see.  Climate scientists are telling us that urgent action to combat climate change is required, and learned geologists are trying to open our eyes to peak oil.  We now know it’s not a technical glitch, and it’s not an exaggeration, either. 
They/We (the people) should be really worried about these issues.
Not being worried, right now, could turn out to be fatal for the entire human race. And all this talk about saving the planet is rubbish.  The planet will get along just fine without us, albeit in a slightly altered state and with a lot less species inhabiting it.  We need to save ourselves from ourselves.

It is this reason, in my humble opinion, that we need to start behaving like people who really do believe they are living during the time of the greatest emergency mankind has ever faced.  We need visible and drastic action because only visible and drastic action communicates to people that there is an emergency going on.

My action of late has been strong ones. Not only am I trying to live a sustainable life, demonstrating how easy it is, but I am now acting as if there is a real emergency (there really is, you know), hence me jumping at the chance to get vocal in the media any way I can. And it’s not about me.  It’s about learning to live lighter on the Earth, and living with sustainable intent so that we, our children, and their offspring have a habitable place to live.
So my theory is that if more people also begin to notice the emergency, they will act, so my work will have only just begun.  People need to be taught new skills, new ways of doing things.  
Hopefully people will begin to act decisively to help avert the climate crisis by voluntarily lowering their carbon footprints.  Alternatively we all should be demanding that governments around the world, via activism, take serious steps by enacting policy and legislating large cuts in emissions and change the way they subsidise fossil fuels instead of renewable energy. If this happens, then less of a crisis, and the emergency goes away. Then, and only then, can it be business as usual, in a good way.

I believe that in this moment in time this will be the only way we will be able to save ourselves, unless a global leader takes the reigns and leads us down the right path to avert the emergency. 

But as we have recently seen in the western world, leadership is a rare commodity indeed. It will be up to people like you and I to step up to the crease and bat to a record score! 
Food for thought.  What do you think?  Is there a sense of urgency in your community or is it just business as usual?  Bread and Circuses? 
What event do you think will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back?
-37.6777778144.5686375

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Filed Under: climate change, Peak Everything

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About Gavin Webber

Gavin Webber's daily goal is to live a more sustainable lifestyle, in an effort to reduce his family's environmental footprint so we can all make a difference for our children & future generations to come.

Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

Comments

  1. PointyShouty says

    October 19, 2013 at 01:53

    Hi Gavin, I’m a reader of yours from London, UK. Sadly, I think the moment of realisation will come far too late for for most residents of this metropolis. It’s so easy for people to ignore the obvious here, what with the fast pace of life, pressure to perform, disconnect from the land, and general feeling of superiority at London’s ‘status’ as a global business hub. Sometimes it seems that nothing short of a tsunami coming up the Thames will open people’s eyes. There are people here preparing, working on urban agriculture, reskilling, etc. but the seriousness of what they might be preparing for is never really openly expressed. Government doesn’t help either! Food and fuel prices are going up, but I think most people don’t really ever think this might be due to impending shortages due to environmental issues.

    Reply
  2. Kim says

    October 19, 2013 at 08:28

    I think it will get really really bad before it gets good , Gavin.

    Reply
  3. Tanya Murray says

    October 19, 2013 at 09:26

    Here in Tasmania I am surrounded by like minded individuals or at the very least people who appreciate what we stand to lose. We seem more connected to natural resources. Last week I went back to Brisbane for a reunion and as happened last visit, I became quite despondent. People live like everything is provided by magic through a super market. They need, they go, they get. I did a lot of yard spying as we drove around and a huge percentage (98%) had no food growing or plots dedicated to growing. The norm was vast tracts of grass from fence-line to fence-line. There is definitely no sense of urgency in the city, in fact their is no thought for consequence either. It seems I fail to even make an impression on my family, except for an aunt and uncle who in their 70s I have inspired them to keep chickens again. So I guess it’s just keep chipping away and leading by examples.

    Reply
  4. Chris says

    October 19, 2013 at 10:32

    If you pop over to my blog, you can see a link to an interview with David Holmgren. He puts emphasis on what we do beyond sustainability – how do we shape our society then? He mentions nature’s built-in energy efficiency, is simply not to proceed with an action if it’s non-essential to survival.

    So I do question the importance of making a debate on climate change, the emphasis of where individuals place their energy. Because it’s not like it’s going to suddenly escape our attention. With each natural disaster our society has to deal with, it remains a real and present threat. As I understand the science (to date) we’ve passed the point we could make a difference to the climate disasters they’re predicting.

    If that is the case, then we need to utilise our energy the best way nature ensures herd animals survive best, and that is to put our strongest and most capable on the outside as a means of defense, and the most vulnerable moved to the centre. At the moment, we keep those most vulnerable in our society, tied closest to the industrial giant.

    All our environmental solutions to date, provide a means of survival for those who are capable of change, and leave the young, elderly and disabled to continue having their survival paid for by the industrial giant growing. That is why you won’t find the political will to turn this juggernaut around. It will require the sacrifice of those we’re meant to protect as a society – the most vulnerable.

    So I’m wondering if our energy is best placed, coming up with solutions for the most vulnerable, so that when the industrial giant actually falls – it won’t take them out so brutally? How we proceed down this uncertain future, will determine if we’ve evolved beyond our animal instincts to survive, or into more compassionate creatures with a sophisticated network of buffers, so we can afford to care.

    I’m not suggesting it’s wrong to talk about climate change, just that if it becomes our focus so we displace energy to help those most vulnerable, a less diverse set of people get to live. Those that survive will be strong and most likely (I suspect) waste a lot of energy fighting over dominating what’s left.

    Climate change is happening and it’s only going to get worse. Do we engage over who has the political strength to change our fate – or do we get on with the job of helping our fellow man survive what’s coming? What we decide after all, will shape the society that’s left beyond sustainability.

    I hope you don’t view this as an attack, I just think we need to shift our focus to include those who need our help the most. The dominant in our society, tend to make decisions which effect others, but the most vulnerable always get the lowest billing on our set of priorities. Until we change that, I’m not sure if we’re going to change the siege mentality that gets passed on to each generation which manages to survive.

    Reply
    • Linda says

      October 19, 2013 at 19:57

      Hi Chris, I found your comment very interesting. And while I think you are right, climate change is enevitable, I believe if the majority took urgent action we could still adapt to the changes. Therefore I think we need to spend energy getting the message across. I have five children and hope to leave them with a world that still works and I’m desperate to see people put huge energy into mitigation! I really appreciated reading your view. It’s one that will make me stop and think.

      Reply
    • Chris says

      October 21, 2013 at 18:51

      Talking about climate change and its effects, as we go about our regular business is quite normal and we shouldn’t discourage that. What generation has managed to escape talking about the weather? 😉

      Activism, on the other hand, is a high energy pursuit.

      I didn’t want to suggest people stop talking about climate change and it’s effects. But how we go about drawing attention to it, will determine how much energy is left for the future too. It’s a catch 22.

      Reply
    • Mark Agullana says

      May 26, 2015 at 07:20

      Why not do both? One dealing with the giants and the others dealing with the army of ants who need help?

      Reply
  5. foodnstuff says

    October 19, 2013 at 12:58

    Climate change is already on the hroizon of most people via the media, but peak oil isn’t and that’s where we need another shock. Something like the tanker driver’s strike that happened in the UK in 2003, when virtually everything shut down within a week. It might make industrial society see how vulnerable it is to energy scarcity.

    I don’t have a large social circle, but certainly, as far as my neighbours go, there is no awareness of the need to change. As humans we have not evolved to deal with gradual change, only sudden change and we will only adapt to that when it happens, not before.

    Only some people will listen…you have to pick your targets carefully or you will only make enemies.

    Keep doing what you’re doing…you seem to have the ability to get through to people. I don’t, so I just do my thing and hope it’s making a difference.

    Reply
  6. Linda says

    October 19, 2013 at 19:47

    I agree with everything you say! Though I think the media are getting much better at acknowledging climate change. I think if we keep shouting from the rooftops, the people with their heads in the sand may eventually hear us. Then we will have the power to influence our govt. they’ll only act if people demand it!

    I do feel though, that things are turning around. I hope my gut feeling is accurate. Great post. Keep talking Gavin!

    Reply
  7. rabidlittlehippy says

    October 19, 2013 at 21:46

    I’ve been very blessed to make new friends here in Ballan who are aware of what is happening and are making the changes but I see zero action with my neighbours and many others in town. I currently have 30 or so apricot trees and I really want to plant as many of them out as I can because when things go completely pear shaped I believe that those who have made the changes and are ready will be in both a very vulnerable and very strong position. There are plenty out there who will (and do) just take what they want then they want with no thought to the consequences of those being taken from. When it comes to food, if there is nothing in the supermarkets then every skerrick will count. Therein lies the vulnerability. The strength lies in the fact that those of us who are ready will have the skills to share and also hopefully some food and seeds and tools or the know how to make them at least. Therein lies the strength. Having extra food to share, even if it is just a huge glut of apricots might be the difference between people starving or just being hungry.
    Chris, I hear what you are saying and although I do believe that those of us who have somewhere to stand up and shout about climate hange and peak oil should continue to do so (that’s most of us as we all have a friend or some family to whom we can discuss this), but making the effort to put into place more than we can use is a valid and valuable thing to do. If I end up with 200kg extra of apricots and my friends and neighbours aren’t starving then I have plenty to sell – extra pocket money for me but if they are starving then even a meal of just apricots will go a long way. 🙂

    Reply
  8. Sol says

    October 20, 2013 at 10:37

    Hi there (I am supposed to be on an unplugged weekend, I cant sleep so I thought I would read the news on the BBC.)

    I saw this and I thought you would be interested.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24580716

    heres my two pence worth

    you know on a plane it says something like “when the oxygen masks drop from the ceiling, secure your own before you help others”. I think life is like that now.

    Chris, I completely get what you are saying. I understand. If there is even a glimmer of a hope, that we can change this all back, and halt it all. Well I think it is worth everyone trying.

    I don’t really know other than blogs from people in Australia how it really is over there. But I really am starting to feel the shift. We are lucky(?), that we have had programmes over here over the last few years (its not easy being green, tv programme) and for about 10ish years of River Cottage. it starts with small things like the chickens and celebrity chefs stopping battery chicken farms. We stop buying it, they stop producing it.

    Where I work now, in the approx. 30 people in the office I know of at least 7 who have chickens in their urban gardens. and all the people who are over 30 have something growing in their garden or even better managed to get an allotment.

    This all may sound like small stuff. but if everyone buys seasonal food, and buys British, and tries to grow something. Think of that spreading all across the more developed world. Wow, I really think that is something amazing. I would even go as far as to use the word Awesome. (But it is over used now.) Think of all that oil being saved.

    And what naffs me off over here, they charge you for a plastic bag if you forget yours, because the company is now being ‘Green’, but what is laughable is they fly in green beans out of season in little plastic bags. That makes me furious.

    We will move house in the new year fingers crossed. We are booked on a small holders course and on a chicken keeping course. And we are planning to make all our changes as eco as possible and to move to an area where other like minded people are.

    I hope my ramblings make sense

    I could go on for hours, but I will stop here.

    Reply

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An Ordinary Australian Man Who Has A Green Epiphany Whilst Watching A Documentary, Gets a Hybrid Car, Plants A Large Organic Vegetable Garden, Goes Totally Solar, Lowers Consumption, Feeds Composts Bins and Worms, Harvests Rainwater, Raises Chickens, Makes Cheese and Soap, and Eats Locally. All In The Effort To Reduce Our Family's Carbon Footprint So We Can Start Making A Difference For Our Children & Future Generations To Come.

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