3rd case: The garbage collector in denial
This is the largest category. It includes a very big quantity of people who own vehicles that consume and/or pollute a lot. I know, you all need your cars, you all need that type of vehicle and your choice is totally justified. And if it isn't, it's none of our business. It's a personal choice, after all!
That pretty much sums up the arguments of the garbage collector in denial. A choice with social implications that is rationalized to an individual choice. If you own a car that pollutes or consumes a lot, what's the difference between that and throwing your trash in the neighbours' yard? You take more than your share of the neighbourhood, but you don't want to assume the global cost.
Even if I own a car that pollutes ten times less than my neighbours', I still ecologically pay the same price as him. Pollution isn't limited to the borders of one's car or property. However, how many people just don't want to see this? I know people that justify the purchase of a car with this kind of answer: "I need to buy this truck (which consumes 20 L/100 km) because I have a power boat to tow." That's quite an argument. As a matter of fact, it's necessary to own a vehicle that consumes and pollutes a lot in order to tow another transportation device that consumes and pollutes a lot!
I think that if most people have a minimum of social conscience in regards to their near environment, the global or planetary conscience is still taking its baby steps. The youngest generations, thanks to the Internet and international media, are more and more conscious of the impact that their actions do on the rest of the planet. But that work is long and hard. Many parents tell me that they are more and more informed (and sometimes criticized) by their children in regards to their wasteful lifestyle. These children are fully conscious of the fact they it's them who will be stuck with the consequences of our current actions.
And that also represents an act of throwing our trash in the neighbour's yard... that will succeed us.
(To be continued)
This is the largest category. It includes a very big quantity of people who own vehicles that consume and/or pollute a lot. I know, you all need your cars, you all need that type of vehicle and your choice is totally justified. And if it isn't, it's none of our business. It's a personal choice, after all!
That pretty much sums up the arguments of the garbage collector in denial. A choice with social implications that is rationalized to an individual choice. If you own a car that pollutes or consumes a lot, what's the difference between that and throwing your trash in the neighbours' yard? You take more than your share of the neighbourhood, but you don't want to assume the global cost.
Even if I own a car that pollutes ten times less than my neighbours', I still ecologically pay the same price as him. Pollution isn't limited to the borders of one's car or property. However, how many people just don't want to see this? I know people that justify the purchase of a car with this kind of answer: "I need to buy this truck (which consumes 20 L/100 km) because I have a power boat to tow." That's quite an argument. As a matter of fact, it's necessary to own a vehicle that consumes and pollutes a lot in order to tow another transportation device that consumes and pollutes a lot!
I think that if most people have a minimum of social conscience in regards to their near environment, the global or planetary conscience is still taking its baby steps. The youngest generations, thanks to the Internet and international media, are more and more conscious of the impact that their actions do on the rest of the planet. But that work is long and hard. Many parents tell me that they are more and more informed (and sometimes criticized) by their children in regards to their wasteful lifestyle. These children are fully conscious of the fact they it's them who will be stuck with the consequences of our current actions.
And that also represents an act of throwing our trash in the neighbour's yard... that will succeed us.
(To be continued)