Changing the dialog around sustainability

Yesterday, I spoke on a student panel for a conference that centered around issues of sustainability.  There were speakers from various universities (including President Becker from GSU), company heads, interested scholars and a diverse group of other individuals all with a vested interest in integrating and sustaining green systems into our schools, our work and our daily life.

Many of the sessions were informative and enlightening, but what I enjoyed the most is when all 4 panelists (emory, ga tech, spellmen, and myself) came together with other interested participants to discuss specifically ways we can share our resources and knowledge to further the goal of sustainability on campus and around Georgia. We were able to exchange ideas, ask questions on how others have implemented certain programs with success, and discuss in general some innovative ways to approach the issues facing sustainability without falling into the trap of sounding like a “liberal, tree hugging hippie”.

Now,  I say liberal, tree hugging hippie with love because that’s what many of my southern family members think of me.  I work in urban gardens, I buy organic food, I try to stray from overly processed and chemical based products, I recycle and I strive to include green development in my thesis work and future plans for a career.   The problem is that in this country, and especially in the south, sustainability is too broad of a term that many times is disregarded or resented because of its association with things that might be considered anti-republican, anti-american or anti-economy.  What is funny is that many of those same people are already participating in “sustainability” without thinking of it in those terms.

A comment that especially stuck with me came from a gentlemen from England who commented on how our country has managed to assert issues of sustainability into certain political parties versus acknowledging it as an american and a human issue (a message discussed in depth in the documentary series- Years of Living Dangerously).  Most countries in Europe, for instance, have parties that might have polarizing positions on most issues, but seem to be able to come together or at least agree on needing to initiate some form of change, whether it be decreasing fossil fuel use with better public transit, increasing use of and education on recycling, or just promoting organizations and institutions that are creating sustainable systems.

My personal feeling is that our problem is that we have not been able to overcome the word “sustainability” as a culture. It is considered a fad, something people with money do (buy electric cars, install a solar panel on their roof and shop at Whole Foods – also know as whole paycheck), it is a luxury item versus a world problem.

Our oceans are filled with plastic pollution, climate change is devastating agriculture and other ways of life for people all over the world, our fresh water supply is dwindling, and the biodiversity in our ecosystems is being destroyed- yet as a culture we are obtuse.  And, I think the reason is that we are a country driven by one thing: ourselves. We are selfish, therefore we need to change the dialog around sustainability to stop being global and become local, or rather personal.

Rachel Carson wrote a book called The Silent Spring  in 1962 that brought the harmful effects of DDT and other agricultural chemicals to the attention of the general public- why it was so revolutionary is because she made it about the public’s health versus the environment, she focused on each individual’s well being and the culture changed. We now have trader joes and whole foods, full sections in kroger that are green- change can happen nationally, but it first has to become personal for people to care.  We need to change the dialog from sustainability and the world to smaller issues that can be accomplished and affect the daily lives of american people.

Now, this is not say I have the answer for exactly how to do this or what issues to focus on- this subject was just brought up yesterday and it was met with passionate debate and educated ideas, so I thought I would spew out this rant for the blog to see if some dialog could start and ideas would get flowin on how to get people involved and invested on campus, in georgia, the south and our country as a whole.

Ok, go….

Nicole Ryerson