Written after my Sustainability Class on Tuesday

[shychick72]

The ground for sustainability comes down to the free thinking individual. There seems to be two core groups of thought when it comes to this topic. The tree hugging, tofu eating, environmentalist vs. the consumer driven capitalist who just wants to live their life in comfort, living off the fat of the land. Then the meat. And then sucking the

Comments

[minorpianokeys]

I think those are very overly generalized terms. But then, I am not going to college. Let alone, a fancy university.

There is a problem going on in our world. Obviously, there is. The main problem is fixing it. Everyone has got their inane idea on how they're going to do this.

Then the original problem keeps getting stretched to the point where everyone feels fucking overwhelmed. Which creates frustration that leads to apathy. Which is where I'm currently at.

I think the best thing you can possibly do is learn and read. Read books about what's going on in the Middle East, Africa, China, etc.

Avoid commercial newspaper because it is propaganda. Yes, even the New York Times. Especially the New York Journal.

[minorpianokeys]

Damn it! I accidentally posted it before I got a chance to edit it.

Fuck it. Livejournal you are the original political cockblock.

[shychick72]

They are overly generalized terms and I wrote this more as a reaction to what my class was lectured on. But the biggest thing I took away from it was that I see a problem. And you see a problem too. But the big difference is that just because we see a problem doesn't mean everyone does. We can't force people to change their minds or their values just because we see a problem. So I think we should stop wasting time trying to convince people there is a problem and just fix the bloody thing ourselves. No one wants to hear there is this huge massive problem because it is overwhelming. That's what I don't like about my sustainability class. All we hear is what's wrong and there is no easy answer. And what my lecturer was going on was how there is nothing that brings humanity together as a whole any more. We are fractured individuals who have their own minds and ideas and values. Some people are happy living off the fat of the land not really caring about the repercussions of their actions. So yea it's just frustrating. But

[theeinherjar]

I have met plenty of environmentalists and those who live "simply" who buy the newest, best, and most expensive products. They claim moral superiority because they don't own a lot even though they consume new products.
I have grown up and live around consumers who believe in using what products there are until they are no longer useful and then finding another use for them.
People who label themselves environmentalists feel they are superior because they live simply and recycle but when they put on a pair of 80 dollar shoes that costs more than my entire outfit then I see another consumer chasing a fad.

[minorpianokeys]

Even though I already threw my two cents in, I also want to agree with Christina.

Anything that sparks conversation is a good read. And I love doing so with my sister. Since we are probably polar opposite.

[shychick72]

well I wouldn't say polar opposites. Maybe more like opposite tropics? (Tropic of cancer vs. tropic of capricorn)