The website cOnservitude posted this definition of "Light Green" environmentalism over the weekend.
"Light green environmentalists tend to emphasize lifestyle/behavioral/consumer change as key to sustainability, or at least as the best mechanism for triggering broader changes. Light greens strongly advocate change at the individual level. The thinking is that if you can get people to take small, pleasant steps (by shopping differently, or making changes around the home), they will not only make changes that can begin to make a difference in aggregate, but also begin to clamor for larger transformations. Light green environmentalism, as a call for individuals to change, has helped spread the idea that concern for sustainability is cool. Consumers make a big difference when they stop supporting products that negatively impact our environment."
This particular definition struck a chord with me because it didn't simply state that "light green" environmentalists promote small, "easy," minor ways to impact the environment. Instead, it defined the movement in the way that I see it and the way YBG embodies it...if YBG can effect small, painless changes in its readers' thoughts and actions, then hopefully these little efforts will grow in both magnitude and number as my wonderfully responsive readers become more conscious of the ways in which they can make an impact and comfortable with making larger and/or more numerous changes. YBG strives to show its readers that being green is fun, easy, cheap, and cool, and once y'all realize that, there's no end to the positive impact you can make!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
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Right on YGB! Small changes measured in the aggregate by a community can make a meaningful impact on the environment. Folks often get some frustrated and or give up thinking what difference can I make? But if measured within a community, the persons actions take more meaning. Also, be on the lookout for one of my future posts. There was some research done out of stanford that talks about motivations for consumers. Environmental goodwill isn't going to be enough to make the change. Other motivations such as economics play a major role in affecting change with the masses.
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