One of the greatest curses to the youth of the world is that of apathy. A sense that we are too insignificant to make a difference in the world often leads to non-action. The quality of our environment is something that every individual effects, and is also something that every global citizen should care about. The environment is a commons, that we all must share, and we will need the combined actions of all global citizens to combat the landfill issue.
The first and quite possibly most important step that can be taken is one of education and information. It is important to research the situations in other countries, all the while keeping an open mind and seeking the truth. It is also important to keep in mind that the legal and social differences between the United States and other Nations could lead to various opinions or methods of waste disposal. We should not keep the information which we gain to ourselves, but rather we should inform others. With the free flow of information created by the internet and other media, there is no reason that you cannot seek to inform someone in China or India about the problem of landfills and solid waste.
A simple practice of consumer sovereignty can go a long ways. Purchasing products made from recycled goods, even if at a slightly higher cost is a move towards the solution. In purchasing these goods, we are telling the producers that we want more sustainable products such as this. In the new global market, we may begin to see the competitive asian exporters producing sustainable goods.
4 comments:
It seems as though it would be hard for someone in China or India to take our words to heart when the US is the number one producer of solid waste, but I suppose that anything is worth a try. Do you think that recycling and reducing are the individual's decision or should more environmental laws be created by the gov't? Although everyone wants a greener earth, it seems as though it would be hard to encourage people to take more environmentally-friendly actions. Convenience and cheapness usually win out over true morality in these sorts of situations. Do you think that an increase in awareness will work to significantly reduce solid waste, or will people not act until it's too late? Scary stuff.
-Mari Miyoshi
Education, while certainly a nice sounding solution to any problem, has a myriad of problems.
Firstly, what exactly will this education be? As your blog makes clear, there are many different ways to tackle the problem of waste on both the personal and governmental level. Which course of action should be backed?
Secondly, with regards to third world countries, is it really practical for us to tell them to reduce their waste? After all, wasteful packaging, while poor for the environment, is often (financially) the only course the poor can afford.
Thirdly, how does education translate into action? Though you can tell individuals plenty about recycling, or whatever else you choose, there is nothing within a video or website that forces change to occur.
Like Mari said, it is kind of hypocritical of us as a nation to tell other nations to reduce their solid waste. I think that is why if we want change in the world, we need to initiate the change first. Other countries will follow in our footsteps and maybe then will we see a dramatic change in solid waste globally.
I agree with Richard's assertions. There is little benefit for poorer nations to reduce the amount of solid waste they produce. In fact, their modernizing industries are often heavy waste producers. Restricting this growth in more ways than it already is restricted will only further cripple industrializing nations. Education may come in the form of showing the governments and industrialists of poorer countries the benefits of reducing solid waste. These would likely have to be financial.
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