Comments Orion Kriegman has made

Political Engagement not Consumerism

The conclusion of the Economist article is that we can not address our mounting ecological crisis through consumer habits alone, and citizens need to get engaged in political movements to change current policies.

This is what I argue in my paper on the possibility of a true Global Citizens Movement

I agree with the Economist that markets and improved technologies will not save the day. We need a widespread social movement -- one that demands investment in the infrastructure needed to promote lifestyle transformation. Why do people drive SUVs anywhere?? Let's build our homes close to where we work and shop, let's invest in public transit and make it convenient and affordable.

New regulations, taxes, and investments are needed if we are to create an ecologically sustainable and socially just planetary society. This won't happen by putting out our recyclables and buying organic -- such action is mostly symbolic, signaling a desire to do something and solidarity with others who also share that desire. It is consciousness raising, but hardly emotionally satisfying or ecologically significant.

We need a hopeful rigorous vision, offering plausible solutions to global systemic problems that can inspire a social movement. For those of you who agree with this line of thought, you might want to check out the work of the Great Transition Initiative, which is a network of some of the best scholars, futurists, and policy experts from around the world attempting to articulate a hopeful vision of our global future.

Orion is the Organizer for the Great Transition Initiative(www.GTInitiative.org)

Personal Responsibility, Global Change

It is interesting that this conversation about our diets, and the need for changing our lifestyles, has generated more comments than any other blog post on Grist.

We want to live our values -- we have different ideas about what that means.

We know as individuals our choices are mostly symbolic -- that major lifestyle shifts are necessary among the wealthy consumers of the world (among which we all count).

How do we support each other to make the necessary changes and how do we encourage others to do so?

Whan in human history have people of privilege, en masse, given up their privileges? Without a struggle? I can't think of a single example.

How then do we expect the average American to willinging decline to consume cheap fuel and eat meat at every meal?
On Umbra on sustainable sushi posted 2 years, 12 months ago 54 Responses