So I suppose I'll begin by saying that it was interesting for me, in light of all your positive comments and emails this week, to read Sharon Astyk's article yesterday. In it, she calls herself one of the 'second wave' of peak oil & climate change writers (the 'first wave' being those who initially called attention to the 'big issues') who accepted that climate change and peak oil are real and went about - still go about - exploring the hows and whys of what might/ will happen in the future. She also mentioned a 'third generation' of writers and thinkers, whom she will cover more fully in the future (hopefully soon), all building upon the foundation laid before them.
Random archive photo:
Mt Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales, 1996
Mt Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales, 1996
I found it interesting because it led me to think that, just as there are a third wave of "scholars", shall we say, there is most likely a corresponding wave of "doers": People who have read the books and seen the films - and likely scared themselves shitless doing so - and have started down the path of reassessing their lives and their places within this current consumer-driven economy. Whether through good luck or necessity, some have been lucky enough to already have many of the skills the rest of us are now trying to learn, and all of us have found that we have natural strengths and weaknesses, which is an indication of how important a diverse and interconnected local community is going to become.
But now, many of us.. me, anyway... are saying, "Well. What now?" I've accepted peak oil and climate change are real, I've ditched the second car & commercial cleaners, buy local & organic and mostly cook from scratch, have built up a good selection of reference books and have taught myself some basic skills which I hope to refine in the future. But how do you (re)build a new community when those around you aren't interested or won't listen? I couldn't count the number of times I've wanted to pack it all in and move to a commune somewhere where everyone has the same values as I do. But a small, stubborn voice in the back of my head keeps saying "Yeah, but that's just copping out". It would be so easy to pack up and move to a rural property, make ourselves as self-sufficient as possible, and be done with it*.
But that makes me feel guilty, just thinking about it.
I can't un-know the things I've seen and read, and - I feel - that makes me almost complicit with the marketers and polluters, if I don't at least try and share what I know even if nobody wants to hear it.
So maybe the third wave of "doers", are those who suck it up and at least attempt to step boldly out of their comfort zone? Instead of dancing around the edges of issues which are important to us, we might start discussing them openly without fear of being judged? I know I'm not the only one who has dropped a few clangers - real conversation stoppers - into general chit chat and been mortified/embarrassed/disappointed at the response. I see from your comments too, that I'm not the only one considered a bit 'nutty' for some of our actions and had copious eyes rolled in our direction.
Maybe we'll only manage to creep timidly out of our comfort zone at first - I myself took four years at university before I could manage to deliver a presentation without shaking and stuttering; the thought of ever openly talking in a public forum makes me want to throw up - but maybe this awesome virtual community which has sprung up in the blogosphere over the last few years might be enough to provide moral support those of us who are a little more shy and retiring? I know I stand in complete awe of those of you who are out there setting up school veggie gardens and the like.
Food for thought.
Cheers,
* If you've already done that, please don't think I'm having a go at you, your skills and knowledge are enormously valuable to the rest of us.
30 comments:
Welcome back! I feel very much the same as you, but for me these issues are closer to home - I'm a student living in a share house and trying to convince my housemates to do something as simple as recycling cardboard toilet rolls is a nightmare! But I do keep trying and I think I'm slowly seeing changes - no cage eggs appear in the fridge anymore. I guess the only strategy I have to deal with this is to just keep explaining why it's important and hope that eventually it will sink in.
Hannah
The thing is, you don't need to start a "peak oil" group or a "climate change" group to start sharing your skills and ideas. You can join (or start!) a gardening group, or a cooking group (e.g. Slow Food), or a sewing or knitting group, or whatever.
Peak Oil and Climate Change are just your motivation, not your interest. It doesn't really matter why other group members are motivated to join, it's the common interest that breaks the ice and makes the friendships.
I suppose i am one of the lucky ones and I'm not quite sure how it happens??. Most of the people in my life are 'greenies'- even old school friends, not quite as hard core- but still green or at the least feel the guilt !Lol. So for me its hard to imagine the isolation that can come from being green. keep on plodding alon banging your drum- everyone has some awareness- people like you/me keep the pressure on. Normative change doesn't happen without changing normal!
I'm in much the same boat with you, Julie. Public speaking doesn't terrify me. I can teach a cooking class, or probably one on an subject I know very well, just fine. but I am in no way a charismatic speaker, one to persuade people to take seriously what they'd rather ignore. Nor am I particularly a "people person." My community is far from confronting these realities too. I much prefer blogging and homesteading. But like you, I feel it's not really enough.
I was supposed to teach an introductory homesteading class, but that was nixed due to liability issues for the school district that would have managed the enrollment. An alternative means of teaching cropped up though - the WWOOF program. It's not an exact replacement because I'm generally teaching people who are not from my immediate area. But I am able to demonstrate very concretely what we are doing, and hope to do. The why's of what we do also filter in there, as background. But that's probably the method best suited to me anyway. I don't have the facts of peak oil and climate change and economic crisis at my fingertips.
Maybe WWOOF, or something like it, would appeal to you as a means of teaching others in a very concrete way about why and how you live the life you do. Oh, and you'd get some free muscle power thrown in. I know WWOOF is worldwide, so check it out. You don't need to be a proper farm to host. Just produce food in an organic manner.
Everything starts with one...
The more "ones" there are, the more the message / lifestyle change / encouragement gets out - to the next one, and the next one, and the next one...
I am trying to be a "one" - not through public speaking (that thought scares me sh*tless), but through my actions and lifestyle and impact on this planet. And through what I am doing, my grown up children are adapting their lives - they can see how easy it is. And because my daughter is changing her ways, she is teaching my grandson.
So it really does just take one to start the snowball rolling down the hill...
Hey Julie,
I understand your frustration but keep in mind it took the human race a long time to get to this point and it's going to be a long slow process to get back. One step at a time...
You've made the commitment to live lightly on this earth and there's nothing wrong with trying to pass that message along to others but you can't force people to see what they don't want to. Gentle persuasion however can be a subtle but effective thing applied regularly. Lead by example but don't be all 'holy' about it or you risk alienating the very people who need to hear it. Share knowledge whenever possible but don't preach- let them absorb it in small ways. Share results when you share words- nothing opens peoples minds faster than tangible things like homemade pickles or line dried sheets.
But also, let people be shocked sometimes- you never know what will spur someone into action or a lifestyle change!
And when you feel frustrated by the lack of visible progress remember the words of Margaret Mead
“Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have.”
I know exactly what you're talking about. Conversation stoppers. When people ask why I wanted to learn to can for example, I think they were expecting me to say so I can enjoy my harvest year round. Yes, that's true. But I'm also worried we're going to run out of oil, society will collapse, and I need enough food to get by until we can learn to live in our new world. I'm met with blank stares or giggles. But I persist. And I'm glad you are too. Again...I wrote a blog in your honor. I hope you got a chance to read it! So glad you chose to stay!
Stephanie :)
www.simplicitymom.blogspot.com
Your blog post is:
http://simplicitymom.blogspot.com/2010/09/goodbye-friend.html#comments
Hi Julie,
I've been trying to live "lightly" for awhile now, line drying clothes, cloth napkins, washing dishes once a day, reusable grocery bags, gardening w/o pesticides, cooking at home etc. It's been hard but I've been slowly converting my hubby to do more green things. We're now talking about letting one car go. I sometimes feel that I'm alone in my nutty ideas but I trudge on, hoping to meet like minded people, boy am I glad I found you!!!
Here's something funny to think about: I once asked my sister-in-law why she didn't recycle? her response was it would cut into her shopping time!!!! I nearly fell over! LOL
Coleen
Oops! I wanted to asked what books are on your resource shelf?
Coleen
Hi Julie, I'm taking a rest from all the peak oil and climate change action for a while - I just burnt myself out. I started in 2004 when I first saw The End of Suburbia and it all ended with the start of Transition Towns and delivering a 400+ list of positive actions document (an Energy Descent ACtion Plan) to our local govt this year. It's been 4 solid years of volunteering on this and now its time for me to put my energies into other things and things that give me energy, not deplete my energy. I also need to start earning some money too! So I can empathise with your frustration and feelings - I know exactly how you feel. But I'll keep being active, just in different ways. Keep up the good work, Sonya
Please don't feel guilty about moving, let alone thinking about moving!
You really can't save everyone, and who knows? If the people in your wider circle (for example, the other mothers at your kids' school) realise that you're serious enough about peak oil that you're willing to completely change your life in preparation - it might just give them the pause for thought that they need in order to start making real changes in their own lives.
Besides which, you can still reach city folks with your blog anyway.
We moved to a small country town in NSW five years ago. We chose this particular town simply because the real estate was cheap. The people here are mostly very conservative, and they tend to think that global warming is a socialist conspiracy. Nevertheless, many people have water tanks, keep chickens (including roosters), and grow some vegies.
We have a fabulous cafe owner who is always keen to buy fresh produce as locally as possible (such as eggs, vegies, herbs, and bread), and we've just entered into an agreement with a local grain grower to buy wheat and oats directly from him. (This is what peak oilers would call Community Supported Agriculture or CSA - a term that he's never heard of, and doesn't really care about).
Anyway, my point is that you can make surprising connections and progress no matter where you are - so to my mind, the sensible approach is to be where you want to be, and work from there.
I'm a firm believer in doing more than saying... not just a version of 'practice what you preach' but practice rather than preach.... so in that vein I have always tried to live my life authentically following my beliefs generally without any accompanying commentary UNLESS of course I'm asked or its in passing conversation (that's how I'm justifying adding comments to blogs!)
don't you find that people are more likely to listen/change when they are inspired by example (which is what I think your blog often does) moreso than badgered by rhetoric....
(just a quiet thought)
cheers from sams creek
ronnie
Julie,
We are a voluntary simplicity family in the USA who feel your isolated pain. We even placed an add on craigslist looking for like-minded people!
We have found incredible help with handsonnetwork.org. They are a US based company which empowers volunteers of all ages all over the nation.
As a family (with our 6 year old in tow) we now Depave asphalt to make community gardens, help weekly at the state's food bank, pull garbage out of our local watershed slough, provide citizen action against big business destruction, and remove invasive species at the parks we hike in. It has moved us past that point of thinking about our personal needs into working as a community to restore some of the damage which has been done.
I realize you are not in the United States, but they have a comment/question area and I'm sure you could ask them if they know of any on your continent :)
More than anything, they are volunteers who train other volunteers who train still more volunteers. Local community outreach directly working to educate and mobilize youth and community. It has helped restore some of my faith. It has also greatly empowered my son who heard about the global warming and the global water crisis on NPR and began to have serious concerns.
Lots of great comments to your post - I too was going to say use this as your motivation. Things like joining school committees and going for no litter lunches - educating the kids does so much for the whole family (look at Jamie Oliver trying to change food habits...). Promoting environmental days through the school also helps bring the message home. There are lots of avenues (many of which I am sure you have sort of the past few years) that we can go down but we all just need to keep trying. Good governance makes a huge difference too - look at Moreland Shire in Melbourne, Victoria, they have some great things coming up and lots of strategies to "green" up their territory and residents. I feel like the movement is getting bigger...slowly!
I couldn't count the number of times I've wanted to pack it all in and move to a commune somewhere where everyone has the same values as I do. But a small, stubborn voice in the back of my head keeps saying "Yeah, but that's just copping out".
I don't think its an "either / or" choice - you can live in an a commune - or an intentional community in the city, in the suburbs or in the countryside. Living together is far easier on the planet - many many people can share a toaster, a vacuum cleaner, an oven. For me, I think the biggest thing about an intentional community is that you must learn to get along with other people - that is the hard part - the earthship recycled methane digester technology is not nearly as hard as getting along with people. And if you can get along, you'll give others hope and show them a way. And that could be priceless.
Julie it may not seem so but the fact that you can say this and be understood is, I think, a sign of change. Even at the grand old age of 55 I'm optimistic that the mainstream will come on board. Each of us has to keep plugging away with what we do and encourage others by our example. Keep at it, keep us thinking.
I'm really pleased you've decided to stay! I'm one of those who gets completely freaked out by discussions about Peak Oil and Climate Change, because I'm really worried about what will happen if we don't change our mainstream habits, soon. However, I know I need to be better educated about the big picture stuff, because it helps make more sense of why we do the small stuff on an individual level. Context is very important! Even when it's really hard to process. I'm lucky enough to be involved with a community that has many people who are passionate about living differently, some of whom are young (uni aged) people who have the potential to be quite influential in the future. I spend time praying that they will work out how to best live out those passions authentically, and that they go on to make a real difference.
Most of us wont have the impact of Jamie Oliver or Stephanie Alexander (but praise God for people like them who choose to use their profile they way they do!), but we can all have an impact at a grass roots level. And blogging means we can make connections with people we would otherwise never know they exist. Those of us who strive to live differently can encourage one another, and make an impact on those who are physically around us (even if for a very long time it seems that all we're doing is creating dissonance!). At least we can challenge them to think a bit more closely about their choices.
Anna
Didn't read all the comments yet, just wanted to say moving to 'the country' and all that, it's not a cop out... if that is what people want to do, go for it! But, for us, that isn't possible at the moment, and may not even be that desirable if we truly thought about it... SO we intend to make the most of where we are, take advantage of being close to people who might want to make changes or learn more, and start working our green magic on them!! I won't waste my precious time trying to 'convert' people who don't want to know, or don't care. But helping those who do want to know and learn and change and make a difference, that is what I am all about!
Of course, we have to remember to put our own oxygen masks on first! And you're so right, you can't un-know stuff... it's there in the back of my mind constantly. Sometimes I do just need to step back from the 'scary' stuff though, so I can get on with doing things, without feeling overwhelmed. It is good to still find the positives and wonderful things in life, without always 'dooming & glooming' (as some put it). A healthy dose of wonder, in amongst the reality!
I so understand where you are coming from. I live in a very un-green area and find it a daily battle to get people to think differently and I constantly want to move to another area where people are a bit more like me...but I also don't want to give up on this area just yet.
I'm currently in the middle of a huge fight with my daughter's school and P&C who have absolutely no interest in becoming sustainable or doing anything eco-friendly...they don't even want to put a vegie patch in!
But I will battle on and continue with the fight because it is important for the kids to learn. They are our future and unfortunately some of the parents we won't change but maybe the kids will grow up differently.
I don't give up easily :)
PS Glad you haven't disappeared...I love getting your blog updates delivered to my email!
Another one here who has a constant stream of thoughts wanting to move to more like minded area- it will happen eventually but for the time being I like living where we do and trying to do as much as we can with limited time/resources etc.
It would be great not feeling like a leper when I bring up topics of preserving, sourdough making, not buying useless plastic toys etc. But thats what we do, so I have to walk my talk and stand by it.
Slowly things filter down, thoughts are changed, ideas creep up. When you slip in tidbits here and there, and be encouraging of people who are making changes- surely there is a follow on effect. Like chinese whispers I guess. A bit slower than I would like, but still happening non-the less. I'm not comfortable in a large public speaking position, but am more than happy to ramble on, on a ground level.
* And as for the vege garden thing, I am fully intending to save up a whole lot energy for plugging that one next year when my boy goes to kinder.
Really happy you decided to stay too Julie. You have the podium...
Great post, I like to see people talking authentically about how they're figuring things out. It's a process rather than a light-bulb moment, I reckon.
The thing about moving to the country and being self-sufficient, is that if everyone did it, there'd be no wilderness left. We have to think about more than just ourselves, we've got to have a vision for a sustainable society that works for everyone, not just the 'enlightened'.
But I'm biased, I've got more in common with No-Impact Man in New York than with Bear Grylls :)
So pleased to see the first of your "new" posts Julie. I've noticed more people talking about climate change and even some mentioning peak oil but absolutely no one I know has taken any action at all or feels any sense of responsilibity for either. Even my husband, the man I have lived with for 40 years doesn't want to talk about it and I'm beginning to lose heart.
I'm not too good at stepping out of my comfort zone but I'm looking forward to reading and hopefully contributing as your blog follows this new direction and maybe I'll gain the the courage to take action outside the safety of my own backyard.
Welcome back!
I too struggle with finding a community. For my green side and for my crafty side too. Though after many years I'm finally growing a community of like-minded souls who like to have in depth discussions on topics - ahhh, it's so good!
It is difficult for me to appreciate the impact I have on the planet in general. In college, I did what I could to reduce my footprint, and I was prideful. I was one of the good ones. Once I bought a home, though, things started falling by the wayside. I didn't buy CFL bulbs. My food came from either a regular grocery store or from eating out. I stopped buying organic. I've gotten better recently, however.
It is nice to have reminders (like your blog) of the needs that our planet has. Sometimes it is in doing alone that we find other like-minded people: at farmer's markets, food co-ops, and farm stores. I know that in the US, we have the Center for the New American Dream (newdream.org) that addresses these issues.
I'm 65 and still shake and stutter.
I live in a community in a rural area, I love it, and I think we have done some great work inventing models. BUT I envy you the impact you have, the power in the work you do, the ease with which people can identify with you, the way in which you can model living ethically in the mainstream. It takes all kinds, but one of the kinds it takes is someone like you who is not easily marginalised. There is a wonderful poem So hurray you are back. There is a Marge Piercy poem called "The Low Road" (google it), that I love, that ends with:
"It goes on one at a time,
it starts when you care
to act, it starts when you do
it again after they said no,
it starts when you say We
and know who you mean, and each
day you mean one more"
I don't think you need to move...looks like you've got your community right here.
I started the gardening and simple living with my family in mind but education was always part of my agenda.My friends call me the local hippy but at the same time they are making small changes in their loves because I am not willing to stop talking about it. A huge leap forward will come this weekend when I open my garden to like minded people and although it is way from ready it is still education and every person that stops and thinks even for a minute is one more person moving in the right direction. The suburbs need spokes people as much as the country does.
I'm glad you might keep blogging, and I hope it can be a bit more fulfilling for you. I know what you mean about the temptation to cop out and move to the country, but it's always heartening when you realise your choices and spouting about your choices may have changed even a small habit in someone's life (we can always dream of epiphanies!) I think there's room for the hard word and the softer daily stories on blogs, because I for one take a lot of support from knowing that there are others out there trying to live an against-the-flow life.
I will say that my life changed when I read Nourishing Traditions. On top of peak oil, climate change, etc.. Lets start eating by-products/waste from other industries :( I was already buying organic and local, walking, biking as much as I can, but there is still something wrong. How do you let the mommy beside you in the grocery store fill her cart with crap and not say anything. Promoting more bad industry practices and even worse filling her kids tummies with it. I had one of those conversation stoppers in the grocery store the other day. I saw a mom buying the Horizon "natural" little meals for her baby. I had to point out that it wasn't organic. Dun dun dun... she actually put it back and said that she thought that all Horizon products were organic and thanked me. That was a first :)
Have just returned from a week away to read you have had a change of heart. I'm glad. I will be reading with interest... :)
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