Ecology comes of age – I even took it in school!

What early writers on ecology did was to bring the ideas of environmental catastrophe down from its lofty position in science to the values and emotions of people.  No longer were human impacts on the environment left to statistical and scientific knowledge and jargon that only a select few to understand.  The works of early activists such as Carson and Commoner brought an emotional connection to the data, making it accessible to a much broader audience.  I wonder if the medium and language they used had the underlying intent of a scare tactic to make its point.  It may be true, but I’ve a feeling that if it did not have such an intent, the impact would not have been felt and we would have continued on, business as usual.

No longer could individuals be absolved of their responsibility to the effects their lifestyles of consumption have on the planet.  The sense of entitlement to extraction and consumption began to be coupled with awareness of actions.  What happened in the sense of ecological thought at the time was that the facts and data were beginning to mean something to voters and consumers, and was beginning to change how they vote and what they bought.  These attitudes, emotions, beliefs need to change.  These thoughts are what drives our behavior.  If one can change an attitude, the behavior will change for itself.  Perhaps this is the direction policy makers should take – don't impose controls on people, but work to change their minds…