The Four sides to making the right descion

The title is aptly named for the BC Healthy communities foundational chart that was displayed in class last week. Oh you don't remember? Well then take a look!

I was thinking today about how people make decisions and how this little chart is a an easy way to explain how to make the right decision.

When simply trying to influence some one to be more environmentally conscious the task is easy, you show them an example of something they do everyday like take out the garbage, then you say 50% or whatever amount of that garbage could be recycled and so less will go into a land fill. Or in opposition to that you place a regulation on those who put out too much garbage. Now of course remember this is the easy way to get one thing changed but it does not reflect the chart above because you haven't thought about it from enough angles. The beauty of the chart is that it reminds me that there is no way we can change an entire country's ideas about the environment with just a regulation or just the grass roots movements. It reminds me that in order to actually change something you must fundamentally change the reason a person makes a choice. That is to say that you must influence people to make the right decision because they want to, not because they have to or because it "makes sense". People love to do things once and then procrastinate for ever after and that is why we love to experience things so much, its our lust for an ever stimulating environment that always keep us interested. Well i have a news break and that is sometimes change is hard and dirty and not fun at all but the if you can see the reason for sticking it out then you will profit. Unfortunately, this is no game and we are loosing and if all of us rush the scene with out the knowledge of what position we play and how to play it then we are useless. It will take time to understand but I encourage anyone the next time you talk environment, the you explain why you choose it and how the choice is right. If we can't do that than is the choice worth it to even you?

Forest Policies Don't Match Reality....What the?

So yeah, this was not really directly related to class discussion but the article was interesting. It seems that our lovely government is keeping with the idea that we can't trust our politicians. In an interesting move to contradict what was layed out in election platforms to protect the forests here on Vancouver Island , the Premier Gordon Campbell has allowed about 5% of the islands useable forest reserves to be opened up for two private companies.

The classic say one thing do another is typical of politicians but I mean this article says it all. The press release where he states that we need "a commercial forest reserve, where forest jobs are the priority and where the long-term security and confidence in those jobs is there for people in communities across this province", has little or no bearing on his actions. This issue provides great evidence to suggest that we can only be as "green" as our actions.

I guess it is hard for me to understand how to promote a sustainable community when the one I live in taxes me for things which they told me they wouldn't do. That is not to say that we should be defeated. Maybe marketing our issues to help educate people that are not in the forefront of environmental issues would be a great investment. Go forests go

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Forest+policies+match+reality/1193808/story.html

Canada's Federal Budget?

Not sure how to start this off but after reading some CBC news online I started to think about how I am not sure if the Conservatives or the purposed "Coalition" can create a Federal budget that will work in my best interests but still manage to stabilize the economy enough to help Canada work towards a sustainable future. I hope to convince you that whatever the plan, we should start with a central focus on Renewable energy is in my mind the key to environmental and economical prosperity.

In class this week the idea of the electric car was brought up with regard to solving our dependance on fossil fuels in the auto industry. I think that although this would remove emissions directly from the vehicle, when you go home to plug your car in or charge it up you are using energy. This energy is in the form of Nuclear and Coal for the most part. The point is, either way you choose to drive we are creating emmisons in one way or another.

If we can create a budget that puts more money and incentives towards renewable energy technology, local production of renewable systems and a continuous commitment, we can stabilize the economy by becoming leaders in these fields. Also this could help create jobs, lower renewable energy equiptment costs (lowering economies of scale), and unify Canadians as commited sustainable practitioners.