Is It All Talk? Or Are We For Real?
“Every Earth Day is a reflection of where we are as a culture. If it has become commoditized, about green consumerism instead of systemic change, then it is a reflection of our society.” Robert Stone, Film maker, NYTimes.
Understanding our society and how we operate is imperative to change. Creating awareness is critical to create curiosity in the planet and its health. Sure, no one is a fan of consumerism for Earth Day. It sounds so counter to everything that it represents, yet, this is how our systems works. Ideally, the word is spread and everyone that day (and hopefully many more days) picks up some litter, turns off more lights, drives a lot less, takes shorter showers, etc, What ever it is you do. but, nothing is perfect and if the word is passed on through a toy and banner, or a party, let it. We need people to pay attention and the more reminders they get the better off everyone is.
Most major changes usually have to work through the current societal system unless cause by major events. It is what is frustrating about trying to promote a new concept or solution to an entrenched system; and at the same time it is beneficial as it lets a concept be tested and tried before the establishment wholly adopts it. I don’t like this one bit and I wish the country and the world could be ruled by a benevolent King that makes and enforces the “right decisions” But this will never happen so the current systems political, business, and societal are what we have to work with to create change. The current workings of our society serve a purpose and not always the best.