Most people can agree that conserving and recycling are good things. The discussion gets a little hazy when people start discussing the best way to go about conserving. From electric vs. hydrogen cars to nuclear vs wind power. People are at odd with the most viable options for the future. What do you think? How should Americans lead in conservation technology? Should we lead in this technology? What are some problems with implementing this new way of life?
I think one of the best ways to begin recycling is by using what you are already have as a jump off. When we can barely even seperate plastics from paper and aluminum in our own home, how on earth are we (US)going to lead in conservation technology? The world will look at us and say, "Sure, they have great strategies, but do they use it? No? Then why should we?" We can't lead if no one will follow.
ReplyDeleteMandating proper waste disposal universally is a good start. Build on the basics. It's not convenient at all to recycle, reduce, reuse. Why don't we start with making it easy?
"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink."
ReplyDeleteWe can be told that recycling is important and be given a blue tub to use, but if we don't really care then people won't do it.
Getting information to people is one way to raise awareness. I think there is a a lot of great info out there.
But another way to raise awareness is incentives. Before moving back to SD, I used to live in Minneapolis. There I received a credit for $8 a month if I recycled. But in Aberdeen I pay $2.50/month(for recycling much less). Guess what, I'm much less excited about it.
Look how well cash for clunkers motivated people to trade in their gas guzzlers. Sometimes people just need a little push to get them going.
Exactly!
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, there are major constituencies who *don't* efforts to conserve are a mistake. "Planned obsolesence" is still par for the course in many industries, and Thorsten Veblen's argument about the need for "conspicuous consumption" to keep people employed has its adherents.
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