Grassroots efforts vs. top-down policies

Does anyone else feel frustrated and discouraged from these classes? It seems like every initiative that is suggested is shot down right away...I'm trying to remember what we talked about in Luke's class, but it is difficult. Why are all these ideas so controversial? I think it is because it is not our own ideas.

How did the tree planting initiative in Kenya become so successful? Wasn't it because 1) Dr. Maathai listened to the concerns of the people, 2) she helped local communities understand the importance of the trees and then how it will benefit the communities, and 3) she got the communities involved in the planting of the trees? This grassroots effort is starting to affect a nation and even the rest of the world. Pretty amazing for planting a few trees.

So what about energy (i.e. oil use, nuclear power, coal, etc.)? Why is this so contentious? I think a big part of it is that it is difficult to see the negative effects of all this rampant oil use right in our own communities. Sure, the kids in Boston may be suffering from childhood asthma, but how does that relate to my heating my house, driving my car? We still think and act very locally, though the rest of our true actions are very global.

I agree with LaToyia's comments in class this week. We expect people to agree to a tax (and let's face it, who really enjoys having their money taken away from them. Even I don't like it, though I agree with it), but don't have anything for them to be involved with. With respect to energy savings/reduction, we don't have a grassroots movement that stirs up camaraderie between people, we don't have something to talk about over the water cooler. "Guess what I did this weekend! I changed my lightbulbs to compact fluorescents!" That really doesn't inspire many people to join in. David Suzuki has advertised the CFLs a lot, but even a very motivating person like him has not created a big social movement. Even more difficult is when you hear reports saying that changing the lightbulbs doesn't do much in the grand scheme of things. So what can I do if my actions really don't make a difference? Defeat is sometimes too easy to accept (and my cynical, conspiracy theory side would say that is what "Big Brother" wants us to do).

So what can we do? I think we do agree that uncontrolled resource use can lead to environmental and social degradation, and maybe even war. Not good. Now this is where I feel like I am lost. I want to create a grassroots movement that helps people understand that energy conservation and alternative energy use is effective in my community and the world and that also is motivating to others to join in. No small task. I think policies need to made to conserve energy, but we need to expend more energy as educators on motivating citizens, because then the government will definitely follow.

So what can we do? Any ideas? I'm still brainstorming, I'd be happy to have more people join me brainstorm.