How to Effect Change

[Gabriel Thibault]

Howdy folks,

 

     Like most of you I'm sure, our knowledge of the state of the environment has directly translated into action. We know that greenhouse gases are responsible for climate change, that resources are finite and that we have reached/are about to reach both Peak Oil and Peak Phosphorus. For most of us this this leads us to do what we can to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, purchase carbon credits, recycling, composting, posting a "no junk mail" sign on our mailbox, eat less meat, signing up with Bullfrog Power, maintaining naturalized backyards, etc. Unfortunately, for a large fraction of the population, awareness of environmental issues is not enough to lead them to sustained action.

 

     I was wondering if anyone out there has any advice on how to get the message through. From my own experience, I have learned that bombarding people with statistics and doom and gloom does not work. Making them feel guilty about their actions is also not productive! More recently my approach has been to simply lead by example, to maintain a positive attitude and to invite friends and family to see environmental movies and volunteering but with no pressure to join. So far, this appears to be a much better approach.

 

    So to me, leading by example is the #1 way of effecting change. Initially, only the most devout environmentalists adopt the new way of doing things (e.g. installing a rain barrel or a solar panel). As more and more people do it, it eventually gains acceptance by the general public and eventually begins to look like the fashionable or cool thing to do. The attached figure illustrates this point (http://www.sustainablecommunities.fcm.ca/Sustainable_Communities_Co...).

 

    Any thoughts or advice on all this? Cheers.

[Amber Westfall]

Hi Eric,

According to Wikipedia, a Flash mob is, "a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and pointless act for a brief time, then quickly disperse. The term flash mob is generally applied only to gatherings organized via telecommunications, social media, or viral emails. The term is generally not applied to events organized by public relations firms, protests, and publicity stunts."

For our purposes I think we would want to do something with a point, and our mob might be less flash and more slow and sustained, but it could be an interesting idea draw inspiration from!

Eric Snyder said:

For those of us a bit longer in the tooth, could someone explain "flashmob"... and how it is done, please?

/e

Julie Hong said:

Flash mob canning! Flash mob jerky making? Flash mob dandelion root roasting/lamb's quarters stir-frying?


Meeting date:

How does May 6th, 7 pm, Bridgehead at Albert and Bank sound for everyone?

[Julie Hong]

Hi All,

To answer Eric's question. A 'flash mob' is a bunch of folks who assemble quickly in a public space for some agreed upon 'action' (performance, protest, etc.). The mob is usually organized via email, text messaging or some other electronic social media. Big groups of folks can be organized for an activity.

looking forward to hearing everyone's ideas - from tours, walks, 'flash mobs' and workshops.

[Amber Westfall]

Check out some of these great initiatives mentioned in this NY Times article on Urban Homesteading:

Hayes Valley Farm "Located in the center of San Francisco, Hayes Valley Farm, is an education and research project with a focus on urban agriculture. Situated on city-owned lots bordered by Oak, Fell, Laguna, and Octavia streets, the project is organized by an alliance of urban farmers, educators, and designers that comprise the Hayes Valley Farm Project Team. Hayes Valley Farm is a Parks Partner, a fiscally sponsored project of the San Francisco Parks Trust.

The project is founded on an interim use agreement between Hayes Valley Farm and the City's Office of Economic and Workforce Development- a two to five year time frame - until which time the City moves forward with other development plans for the site.

1. to create a successful, sustainable urban farm where community members can access healthy local food
2. to serve as a model and a resource center for urban agriculture education and green job training
3. to build community resiliency around local food production"


Happy Girl Kitchen- canning workshops

Studio For Urban Projects

SF Underground Market

[Amber Westfall]

Here's another link to an article with a cool idea for a clothing swap! http://thetyee.ca/News/2010/04/27/ShareClothing/?utm_source=mondayh...

[Katherine Forster]

One last inspiring event before the meeting tonight: Rethink Communications & Plastic Pollution Coalition's Vancouver Plastic Public Stunt.

Here's the article in The Province: Porpoise Statue Strangled

[Julie Hong]

Hi All,

It was a great meeting at Bridgehead (Bank and Albert), May 6th, 2010.

The “How to Effect Change” discussion group proposes having regular meetings for brainstorming and planning various events & initiatives that we’d like to get underway. The next meeting is set for Wednesday, May 19th, 2010, 7pm-9pm at the Bridgehead (Bank & Albert).

To briefly recap the meeting. (If someone else wants to add anything that I’ve forgotten, please do so!)

Kaia, Keith, Mike, Amber, Katherine and Julie were present for this round of discussion.
Generally, we proposed having events centred around community building and public outreach while showcasing sustainable initiatives at the ‘ground-level’ in various neighbourhoods. This could range from conducting tours of existing initiatives (community gardens, co- housing, private gardens, etc.) to seeding ‘community bees’ (eg. preserving and canning ‘bees’), to instigating ‘slow-flash mobs’ in public spaces, film screenings and starting swap sites. There is a need to bring private green initiatives to the public realm as we feel many can benefit from seeing real-life models of sustainability. There is also the desire to have the events feel celebratory and fun while fostering community and familiarity with our neighbourhoods. We’d also like to see Transition Town Ottawa become more visible to the general public through these events. We'd also like to make connections with other community groups (eg. ethnic communities, other ecological groups, etc.)

For this year, we propose to undertake a project or two and build from there. The next meeting, we will decide on the focus for this year’s projects.

[Julie Hong]

Revision to the date for the next meeting. The meeting will take place on Thursday, May 27th, 2010 (Not Wednesday, May 19th. ) at Bridgehead (Bank & Albert), 7-9 pm.

[Katherine Forster]

Here's a great link about tipping points:

http://www.ecotippingpoints.org

[Pamela Scaiff]

As I am new to Transition Ottawa, I am catching up on old threads. Are you still meeting on this topic? I'd love to know what you have planned and help you out with it!

Julie Hong said:

Revision to the date for the next meeting. The meeting will take place on Thursday, May 27th, 2010 (Not Wednesday, May 19th. ) at Bridgehead (Bank & Albert), 7-9 pm.

[Katherine Forster]

Hi Pamela!

The group has met about three times - last night was the most recent. We are working on two things presently:
- three community garden tours (first one is at Nanny Goat Hill C.G. on July 10th - posted in Transition Ottawa's events page) and
- Adopting a Park

I'll forward you a couple of emails - tell us if you want to help out for the C.G. tour (we'll probably be meeting up soon again for that) and/or the park idea - one of the group members is going to survey the T.O. membership to determine which park to adopt. We'll keep you posted!

[Pamela Scaiff]

The Resiliency of Experience

http://transitiontoresilience.blogspot.com/2010/07/psychological-re...

[Caelan MacIntyre]

The funny thing is, is that there can be quite a lot of doom and gloom (and statistics) in some of those "environmental movies". ;) (Of course we can like a good drama or murder-mystery and my meat intake has plummeted since viewing the grisly docu, 'Earthlings'.)

Certainly, one can lead by example by planting some fruit trees, or maybe bombing some factories.
Now, while I imagine most would rather do the former, sometimes the latter may be necessary in some dire contexts, and I suspect that Derrick Jensen would agree:

"Give me a threshold... at which you'll finally fight back... maybe it will take the death of polar bears..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BFJe3FDVMs
- Jensen

As for personal examples, I already bike and rollerblade; recycle; consume very little (hardly shop except for basic necessities); don't own a car and have a "small carbon footprint" in many other ways. I also knit.

I might also have an idea for an advertising campaign for the Transition movement, maybe specifically Transition Ott..

That said, I'll take this opportunity to ask if someone would like to donate a printer with ink, or at least printer-access at their place (ideally that can do 11"x17" sheets).
It doesn't have to be colour, and I'd be willing to use just the black ink, and limit my prints to a negotiated amount :)
I'd also be willing to credit them hereon. Small things can make a difference. So there's your chance. :)