I initially had a reaction similar to Andy's last year when the International Grand Prix (which for decades had its only US location at Watkins Glen) went "green." But then, precisely because of its apparent absurdity, the green Grand Prix stimulated lots of discussion about cars and racing.
I was in Melbourne, Australia, when the green Grand Prix was run there (that was NOT why I was there), and we discussed the pros and cons of a green Grand Prix (and of racing in general) at my family's house, in our "stitching" circle after Sunday worship, and strangers discussed it on public transport (one of the great pluses in Melbourne). I think that we need to keep reaching out, and the going will seem slow for a while. However, with an ever-expanding base, after a while I think the rate of change will accelerate in one of those exponential growth patterns. But that will only happen if conversations--and the resulting decisions to make changes--keep expanding out to reach more and more people. At some point, we will need government mandates (such as a carbon tax), especially to reign in the worst behaviors by mega-corporations, but that won't happen until there is a political mandate for significant change, and that won't happen until MOST people agree it needs to happen. So we need to keep bringing more and more people into the conversations. I won't drive to Watkins for the race, but I don't begrudge them doing it. Margaret >I think I'm going to have to remain in disagreement, without going >through this line by line. > >People change slowly. Helping people change means finding ways to make >them _want_ to change. Telling stories, showing them what's possible, >and generally inviting them in are ways to encourage change. > >Declaring that change has to happen immediately doesn't encourage >change, except among the folks who've already decided that things should >change. Targeting the people least likely to agree with your point for >a stern insistence on their need to change seems utterly >counter-productive to me. > >I know - patience sucks. But the number one rule with people seems to >be that patience is required. > >Incrementally yours, >Simon St.Laurent >_______________________________________________ >For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County >area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > >RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: >[email protected] >http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins >free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
