How Do We Change?

Posted on July 13, 2009 by zoeweil

Note: Zoe’s on vacation this week, so this is a repost that was originally posted 6/30/08.

Artist and changemaker Chris Jordan asks several questions in his fascinating presentation at the TED conference. Through his powerful photographs of human behavior and mass consumption, Jordan attempts to make our unconscious societal choices conscious so that we can change destructive and unhealthy behaviors and systems. Jordan’s captivating wall-sized photographs depict, in a compelling and often visually stunning manner, such mundane realities as the number of plastic cups we use on airplane flights in the U.S. each day or the number of people who die from smoking cigarettes every year. By making our societal choices accessible in this way, he invites viewers to reflect upon their own individual contributions (presumably both positive and negative) to the world. I consider Jordan’s work to be a spectacular example of humane education through art.

But what I found most compelling about this particular presentation was his question to the audience. How do we change?

It’s an old question with a long pedigree of distinguished and not-so-distinguished answers. Psychologists, philosophers, anthropologists, preachers, and advertisers alike have all sought to understand the forces that mold us, and then to mold us toward their own aims.

This is true for humane educators as well. The primary goal of humane education is to provide people with the knowledge, tools, and motivation to create a peaceful and humane world. Note that humane education seeks to do more than provide relevant information and skills; it must also instill desire to create a good world and motivate its recipients to be engaged changemakers. We humane educators are in the influence business, attempting to answer the question “How do we change?” so that we can help our students change themselves and the world for the better.

From my perspective as a humane educator, I believe that we change:

  • By emulating those who inspire us most (so humane educators must model a positive message as fully as possible)
  • Through daily practice and a commitment to live with integrity (so humane educators must provide maps for such a practice)
  • When the choices before us include convenient, healthy, and positive options (so humane educators must offer these and work toward their development)
  • When we are part of healthy systems and live in healthy situations (so humane educators must help create such systems and situations for our students)
  • With support from others who also strive to change for the better (so humane educators must provide such support)
  • By pursuing lifelong learning and wisdom (so humane educators must inspire others so that they are passionate about learning)
  • When we have hope (so humane educators must offer painful truths about current realities in ways that do not create despair but rather engender enthusiasm for new possibilities)

Our task as humane educators is to create change, and so we must seek to answer Jordan’s question so that our work has the greatest impact. I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas for answering this perennial question.

~ Zoe

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What Is Ethically Justifiable Consumption?

Posted on June 1, 2009 by zoeweil

I was kayaking on the bay where I live this morning, enjoying the bobbing seals who didn’t seem to mind my presence, and breaking a line through the thick carpet of spruce pollen that floated on the ocean. When I turned around to return home, I was struck by several newly constructed mansions on the shore. These are summer homes, a couple of which are occupied only a few weeks of the year. Their square footage is equivalent to that of dozens of families living in poverty in other countries.

I know that the owners of these summer homes earned their wealth, and have probably created many jobs that have employed and provided a living to many people, including the jobs just to build these huge homes. They may also be philanthropists, creating opportunities and possibilities for countless others. And, I too, live in a big home (which we share with the Institute for Humane Education) and have loads of stuff (including my kayak), so I’m not one to talk. Yet, in the context of this series of posts on consumerism, I do wonder whether these big houses bring their owners joy, and whether the negative impact on the environment is morally justifiable. These are not environmentally-friendly, solar-powered homes; but even if they were — even if their owners purchased carbon offsets — there are still ethical questions to consider.

What is ethically justifiable consumption? Can we imagine a MOGO litmus test or rating system? What would we include? Who decides?

~ Zoe

Image courtesy of albany_tim via Creative Commons.

Filed under: consumerism, Environmental Preservation, integrity, MOGO (Most Good) | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Richer, But Not Happier

Posted on May 29, 2009 by zoeweil

The Worldwatch Institute has produced a short film which asks whether consuming things really makes us happy. Turns out it doesn’t. Beyond a certain point, money and things don’t bring us joy. I imagine most readers of this blog already assumed (or knew) as much, but this short video is worth watching and sharing with others.

If you can’t view the above, go here to watch it.

~ Zoe

Filed under: consumerism, videos | Tagged: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

The Story of Stuff Helps Us Envision New & Better Systems

Posted on May 27, 2009 by zoeweil

The New York Times recently had an article about the growing use of the video The Story of Stuff in schools, and the controversy that sometimes surrounds it. The short, animated film provides an introduction to the impact of our stuff on the environment, and it’s a great way to introduce the effects of consumer products and consumer culture on ecosystems and climate. I’m delighted that The New York Times has written an article about the film and its creator, Annie Leonard, because both deserve widespread attention.

It’s not surprising that there is some controversy associated with the film being shown in schools. Just as the economic historian I mentioned in my previous post countered a call to non-consumerist living with the statement that our economic system is based on consumerism, some are calling The Story of Stuff anti-capitalist (and hence anti-American).

Name calling. It doesn’t achieve much. It doesn’t solve our problems or imagine new ideas that could create greater happiness, prosperity, healthy, and peace. We need The Story of Stuff and so many other alternative views in our schools. Without them, we trudge on the status quo path that threatens all of us – even if we personally fail to see the likely consequences of our actions. But when we introduce new ideas to the next generation, pose questions that invite curiosity, critical thinking, and creative ideas, we can get beyond the name calling and “the controversy” and build new systems that work for all.

~ Zoe

Filed under: consumerism, critical thinking, Cultural Issues, economy, education, humane education, systemic change, videos | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Must Our Vision of the World Be Based on Consumption?

Posted on May 25, 2009 by zoeweil

I’ve been encountering a number of people who are ambivalent about this recession we’re in. On the one hand, they’re struggling personally because of economic hardship, but on the other hand they recognize that consumption needs to decline for the sake of biodiversity, climate stabilization, and restored ecosystems. I was listening to an economic historian on the radio yesterday, who pointed out to a caller (who believed we need to reduce our consumption) that this was simply not how our economy worked. I’ve written about this topic in previous blog posts (such as this one), imagining a more service-based economy to replace our thing-based economy, but I know that this solution is incomplete.

Recently, on my book tours for Most Good, Least Harm, I’ve met people who want to read my book, but don’t want to buy it because they don’t want to consume more (more paper, more trees, more ink, more fossil fuels – all of which go into the production of my book). And I agree with them! I want my book to be a bestseller that millions read, and I want each of us to consume less and use our resources with more care. When asked about this dilemma, I often suggest they get a copy of the book and donate it to their local library when they’re done. Since the last page in the book provides a place for people to write down their names and email addresses so that they can connect with others who want to explore the issues involved inMOGO living, the perfect home for Most Good, Least Harm is a library. But the quandary remains.

What kind of society and world do we envision? Is it consumption-based or something else? What else?

In some of my future posts I’ll explore these issues of consumption further.

~ Zoe

Filed under: consumerism, economy, MOGO (Most Good), systemic change, third side thinking | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

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