Alone or together?

“ We (I) can make a change” is commonly used in regards to changing the environment as a group. However, change not only relies on “we” but also “I”. In order to make a change on your own, you would need series of support. It would be necessary to organize groups or committees, fighting for the change in which you are trying to make. Throughout history, humans are always seen working together. Whether it is in farming fields where many individuals are picking crops, or at work- where there is a level of social organization. In cooperate situation; you will see workers, a manager, a CEO and so on. Without each level, you would not able to make a system function as efficiently. The same can be attributed to the issue of changing the environment.

As individuals we prefer to have food security, tools for protection and comfort of knowing our family is well off. However, we do not realize that many short-term changes may impact the well being of our families. It is true that we need to sustain our needs and perhaps learn to limit our wants, but how many of us are really willing to commit to such a change? We are accustomed to having accessible goods and expect to them to available at all times. Today, individuals do not experience lack of goods (perhaps because of large corporations such as Wal-Mart), and make people less likely to believe there is a need for change. You see new commercials on television exhibiting the idea of going “green” and you begin to think you should commit to the changes because of all the benefits the TV is feeding you. In fact, this may be true in one way or another – but must of us would not commit to the change. Were human and were built a certain way- and it may be difficult to skew ourselves. One factor may revolve around cost and availability. The prices of making these “short term” changes are costly and are not completely proven to be compatible to “saving ourselves”.

In order to make short-term changes to affect the future, we need to be able to work together. Just like products are available at Wal-Mart for low prices and are easily accessible for all-energy saving products should be too. The idea of saving energy should be profoundly advertised. People should be well aware of what is REALLY going on, not what might happen in twenty years from now. We are living today and are more concerned with what is happening today, then later. As a student put it in lecture “Just like the Swine Flu- they need to throw it in our face”. This is a very great point to make because without a blunt prevalence of an issue- most people would over look it.

We need to combine our individual efforts to build a stronger force for change. People are largely influenced by each other and may follow the leads of others if a point is proven strongly. Whether it is through petitions, letters to committees or forming community gardens- small change will lead to a big change.

Consider Earth Day or the “International Day of Climate Action” by 350. These days were formed by organizations, where by individual efforts- merged into a larger group making a change. These groups maintain their efforts together and use their human energy to stay committed to their desire for change.

Change that is made alone or by a group will greatly affect many. As individuals we are capable of contributing effort to any change we desire. However, most changes will require external sources for support.