what are some environmental philosophies that allow you to think globally, and act locally?

Question

recognizing that the entire planet is affected by what we do in our back yards, it's more important than ever to act 'wisely' on an individual level.

what environmental philosophies or plans of action allow us to act wisely, taking into account our local needs and resources? and why is it so important for each of us to do this on a strictly 'local' (not global) level?

niccas9, that is exactly the kind of philosophy that would work. thanks!

lili - it is a 'perfect' analogy, in my mind. thank you for sharing.

amy - agreed, planting more natives helps us easily care for our lots, if more people did this they'd have more success and use less water, it's a win-win situation.

mouse - if we all start little, that's a whole lot of 'help' right there. just wait until the ball REALLY gets going!

belladonna - permaculture helps us act as locally as conditions will permit, and people benefit as well. this is a great example.

Answer 1

I wanted to change the world, but then I realized I could only change myself!

Answer 2

Unless you're already a very high-ranking member of the federal government, a leader of a major worldwide company or organization, or other similiar positions, you cannot act globally. You will not have enough control over things if you try and handle more than is reasonable. Therefore, one can only ACT locally. Thoughts as to global impact, or dreams of such, can be considered, but the vast majority of people are only capable of acting locally.

Answer 3

I think one of the biggest things that one person can do is try to walk/ride a bike whenever possible.

I'm a 23 year old college student in rural, mountainous West Virginia and I walk just about everywhere I can. When I need to go somewhere that is over 3 miles away, I catch a ride with someone else. For me, there is no choice because I can't drive and never have (for medical reasons), but I have managed pretty well just walking or riding my bike everywhere, as long as it is less than 3 miles and the weather is good.
So one thing you can do is walk/bike a lot like me, and encourage the developement of sidewalks/trails in your community if they don't already exist (odds are, they don't). If that's too much, carpool whenever possible. Try and build relationships with the people who live around you and let them know where you might be driving and offer them a ride. A lot of people are too proud to ride with someone when they have their own car, but that is just silly. For someone like me with Epilepsy, there is no choice, and carpooling/walking isn't that bad.
Personally - and this isn't so much on an individual level - I'd love to see Americans embrace public transit a lot more than they do. When I lived in Europe for 6 months 2 summers ago, I could get all over town, the country, and the whole continent by train or bus. But America is so sprawled out, and the automobile and the open road are so romanticized in the American psyche, I wonder if it will ever happen that Americans realize that cars and highways are going to be the ruin of our environment, not to mention that car accidents are among the top causes of death in this country.

Another thing you can do on an individual level is just conserve and use things wisely. Instead of going through box after box of Ziploc bags, just buy about 20 tupperware containers and use them over and over. Instead of using the plastic bags provided to you by the grocery store, simply buy about 10 cloth tote bags and use them over and over. Instead of drying your clothes in the dryer all everytime, use a clothes line whenever you can (people in Germany don't even have dryers - and their weather is much colder and cloudier and rainier than ours - if they can do without dryers, why can't we?).

Also, you have to recycle. My college friends and I established a recycling program on campus and we were fully funded by the local solid waste authority, and now I'm working on getting my parents to do the same in their apartment building. Recycling isn't hard, and it is totally worth. It is a small decision you make everyday, but can really help in the long term, especially if you spread those habits throughout your community.

Basically, the best thing you can do everyday is look at your daily routine, all those tasks and things that you do time after time and ask yourself "Is there a way that I could do this that would save energy or materials?" I do it all the time - and even if it means I spend more time doing some things, it also means I save money.

Answer 4

if each of us were to act locally, the impact would be at a global level.

i think the point you are trying to make is, why do we estimate impact of resource utilization first at a local level than at a global level, when we very well know that the smallest of our actions adds up to produce a global impact.

our global thinking is often provoked by what we experience locally most of the times. sometimes its from something we see on TV which could be classified as global media exposure.

how many of us can actually implement an environment philosophy globally first before implementing it locally? nobody, right.

Having said this, your question is so powerful that I do not think anyone can have a real good answer. Sorry, but good one, this should make us think before we act.

cheers n God bless.

Answer 5

I've always loved nature, especially my lakes and trees. I would have to say that the most important thing for us to do to make a local/global difference is to try to 'do' something, anything 'green,' even one thing. It seems like if we look at things from a global perspective that things appear overwhelming and insurmountable. It is easier to wrap your mind around doing things on a smaller, local level.
I've started trying to be much more environmentally conscious, partly out of guilt. I recently had a baby and I feel terrible about using disposable diapers. This has made me even more aware of how much harder I need to make efforts in other areas to be more environmentally friendly. Some small things which I've done (and I hope add up) are: driving a car which gets great mileage, starting to clean with vinegar & baking soda, buying more energy efficient lightbulbs, returning soda cans, buying clothes from thrift stores, 'borrowing' magazines to read from laundromats where other people have dropped them off (I do return them), and getting a composter. I am not perfect and could do better, but I am not giving up on me yet.
What I believe is most important is for people to recognize that they do not have to 'do it all', but they need to do something, even one small thing.

Answer 6

Three things. FIRST - Deep Ecology, which makes evident that we are part of an interdependent whole, incorporating the universe, Earth, and everything on it which creates our life support systems - and that mutual interdependency holds true in every sub-system from family to community to species etc. So we cannot damage any part without potentially damaging ourselves. We are embedded in the whole, and thereby embedded with all other parts. SECOND - for radical social and economic change to occur doesn't require universal agreement; only the active engagement by a sufficient critical mass. THIRD - the best way to create that critical mass is to engage individual participation on simple and available projects through questions and invitation, without preaching or domination. That way each individual provides their own motivation - and once engaged they will go on engaging, and investing themselves further, because of the satisfaction it gives them personally, and they find the joy of being embedded in a community. The "why" is obvious, I think. Unless we act intelligently now to create a new sustainable way of life, life on Earth is imperilled, and will be significantly diminished, especially human life - and the meaning of our own brief lives is surely embedded in the meaning life has for future generations. "Why local?" Because it is immediately accessible, and adds up to global. But that doesn't mean we need neglect the global, too. Seeing the local in a global context feeds motivation, helps sort priorities, and gives greater meaning to what we do. We can move a mountain a teaspoon at a time if there are enough of us.

Answer 7

This is an excellent question man, i can give a hint but i don't think i have the right answer. My opinion is that if you want to find an answer environmental philosophy of that sort, it may be that it means you can start by increasing the health of the environment around you and then eventually start growing your resources and make a bigger change for not just your region, but for many other places.

Answer 8

I know that I am only one person, and that by myself, my efforts seem insignificant. However, I AM one person, and my behavior and actions can influence others. When I do what I know to be right in terms of the entire planet, I have the hope that others will follow my lead. I also know that there are many other people who may feel just as isolated in their efforts, but more and more, I know that they are "out there," and remember that I'm NOT the only one doing what I do.

Margaret Mead said it best, and the fact that it works for things other than politics is something to remember: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Answer 9

I have been working locally and on the state level for a long time, to stop polluting the planet. Recently I met with city and and a state representative on how people can help in preserving our environment. One of them is Thermal Heat Islands. For those that are not familiar with this please go into the EPA site and click on thermal heat islands. Briefly, these islands are large areas covered by black asphalt. Black asphalt contains the heat and slowly emits it into the atmosphere raising the actual air temperature by several degrees. It also contributes to air pollution, high energy costs and repiratory illnesses.
So what am I doing about this? I am not working alone. My fiance and I talk about this a lot and she suggests what to put in letters that are sent to local and state officials.
I am happy to say that progress is being made, not only with thermal heat islands, but by using 'green' products in all walks of life.

I hope this answers your question.

To find the EPA site:

epa.gov

Answer 10

Well if you start locally and it is becomes something that a large number are involved in it will become something that is normal for the younger generations. If our younger generations grow up with these "philosophies" as the norm then it will not require a change it will just be. Humans cannot reverse the damage we have done over night. There are so many simple little things that we can do that will make a huge difference if it becomes a social norm. One easy thing which I am trying to do is tell everyone I know about buying grocery sacks. Grocery sacks are just nice sturdy bags with two straps that can be made out of many different kinds of materials (preferably recycled) and they can be used every time you go to the grocery store instead of buying and eventually wasting plastic or paper bags. There are tons of small simple ways to make a difference that do not require a huge lifestyle change. I bet you can think of something that can help.

Answer 11

Permaculture Answer: Think Global Act Local

We need to think Globally and Act Locally. Whatever we do locally impacts on the rest of the world. Overpopulation will ultimately place too many demands on finite resources.

Fair Shares: In order to address the problems we face globally we need to agree ethical social values, such as Permaculture Ethics of Fair Shares which direct people to limit their own consumption and to share available resources. Alongside this we need to integrate social, political and economic systems at both the local and global level to ensure 'equitable' consumption of resources. We will then see the reality that our actions impact on all of the world.

People Care: By concentrating and limiting the unsustainable consumption of resources by the first world, we automatically address some global issues. Acting locally ensures People Care, but we also need to consider quality of life world wide. When we are not making such extensive consumer demands (Greed) more sustainable community and local livelihoods are promoted globally. Which minimizes the earnings gap, poverty, and inequality of wealth throughout the world. As well as the environmental costs of production and transportation.

Earth Care: If the human population continues to grow at the rate it is today, we will soon be overpopulated; the finite resources of the Earth will not be able to sustain us. We need to voluntarily and ethically reduce the human population and encourage migration through the removal of artificial barriers to trade and immigration. We can do this by resource management, using low environmentally impacting natural systems such as Permaculture, conserving the diversity of plants and animals life and reducing man made unsustainable practices. Future development should only be done in a positive ethical and ecologically-sound manner. The evidence clearly demonstrates that the current socio-economic/political systems perpetuate unsustainable growth and uncontrolled greed We must recognize our own lack of knowledge of natural systems and work towards finding sustainable and low impact solutions.