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<TITLE>Re: [MPWG] central (read: govt) / local communication</TITLE>
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<BLOCKQUOTE>This may better provide my point in the last note <BR>
>From another e-list- "conservation psychology"<TT> <BR>
</TT></BLOCKQUOTE><FONT SIZE="5"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">Individual vs Government<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0055FF"><FONT FACE="Arial"><B>Body: </B></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"> Responding to Joanne's post - I concur that most people in first world countries<BR>
are aware of environmental problems and in a cursory fashion do "support"<BR>
conservation efforts. Evolutionary theory has much to say about why we are in<BR>
the current state of affairs and can explain a substantial amount of why our<BR>
behavior patterns drive the current denigration.<BR>
<BR>
Furthermore, although I agree that governmental systems in place may be<BR>
inefficient in mediating these problems, I don't agree that they are the thrust<BR>
behind why humans aren't conserving. Although governments primarily have the<BR>
role of implementing mechanisms that could facilitate "convenience" - there has<BR>
to be sufficient support for those mechanisms on the individual level. Bottom<BR>
line is individual people have to be convinced that their behavior is driving<BR>
the problems (and not big business or other outside sources) in order to set<BR>
the wheel in motion that would ultimately result in governmental intervention.<BR>
<BR>
I see the problem as two fold - first, in line with evolutionary theory, humans<BR>
are simply not built to contend with issues on a global scale, or even on a<BR>
scale outside of their immediate daily environment. Working against our<BR>
evolutionary machinery via bombarding the "rational man" is simply inefficient.<BR>
Secondly, once we learn more about our "programming" we can learn to put<BR>
systems in place that manipulate those triggers, which can change behavior<BR>
patterns in a way that will safeguard resources for sustainability. Once these<BR>
triggers are known, THEN government intervention can implement systems that<BR>
coincide with our natural behavioral tendencies. There are many isolated<BR>
instances of closed-group conservation efforts that are successful, and the<BR>
ones I am aware of are working outside of governmental influence.<BR>
<BR>
Yes, people support environmental efforts, however, their is a strong<BR>
disconnection between these "values" and attitudes and their behavior. This is<BR>
partly because people don't understand the impact their daily routine has. In<BR>
my opinion, it is first necessary to understand completely that disconnection<BR>
before we begin to solicit governments to implement facilitory mechanisms. I<BR>
agree that there are many impediments, however, government in and of itself is<BR>
not the problem.<BR>
<BR>
Cheers<BR>
Dawn<BR>
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-- <BR>
Myron Hardesty<BR>
Clinical Herbalist<BR>
<BR>
Weeds of Eden<BR>
1572 Bardstown Road <BR>
Louisville, KY 40205 <BR>
(502) 456-9453 <BR>
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