Why We Don’t Care About [Global Warming]
by Miss Baker
I read a magazine article in the September edition of Oprah magazine titled “Why we don’t care about Darfur”. Hundreds of thousands of innocent people have been brutally killed in this conflict. When we are hit with these staggering, overwhelming statistics, we fail to act. In the article, psychologist Paul Slovic describes the process as “psychic numbing.”
I believe this process of psychic numbing can be seen in our response to the world’s environmental crises. The UN estimates there will be as many as 150 million environmental refugees by the middle of the century. Scientists warn us that nearly every ecosystem on the planet is in decline. Yet most of us have failed to act. Some of us deny there’s even a problem. I witness the process of psychic numbing every year in my students. “What are we supposed to do about it?” “We’re all just going to die!” “I’d rather just not think about it.”
Last weekend I saw the movie The 11th Hour, a documentary on the global environmental crisis humanity is facing. While the movie uses too many gruesome images to convince us that there is a problem, the good news about this film is that it contains a lot of positive solutions. Most incredibly, it makes the argument that now is a great time to be alive! This generation may be the most important generation in that the choices it makes will determine humanity’s future. It leaves you feeling optimistic and motivated to start making differences in the way we live.
September 8th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
I think it is really sad that more people don’t care about what is happening to the world they LIVE IN!!! I will admit that I don’t think about it as much as I should, but when I do think about it, I think really hard about what I can do. Why do most people block out horrifying or bad news, and blame other people instead of themselves? Is it something that has developed over time? Are we born thinking that way? Does anybody have an answer to this??
September 8th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Hi Evelyn! I’m glad you feel passionate about this topic. Read the article “psychic numbing” linked to in the blog post. See if you can come up with some solutions we could implement that overcome this numbing process.
September 8th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
When i hear about all the horrible events that happen in the world today and about our enviorment it truely makes me really sad. I know that i don’t think about it becasue it’s a thousand miles away, but it really does affect us. I mean this is our world, we do live in it we should take better care of it. That “The 11th hoour” video that you showed us was really an eye-opener for me, i always thought that i’d just do something about it when i’m older. But WE are the generation that is going to make a difference!!! We need to take it seriously or else our kids and their kids and their kids kids are going to have a horrible problem that they might not be able to fix if we don’t help!!!!
September 8th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
I think that most people are afraid to deal with this situation because we are just getting lazy. I believe that people are thinking to much about all the effort its going to take and not about the positive changes that will happen afterwards. I think that if we want to get people to do something about this we have to show them just exactly whats going to happen if we keep on living like this either in a film [like Leonardo Decaprios film] or magazine, anything that will give them a big heads up about the future and really make them think about it. Wouldn’t they like to know what’s going to happen to their children’s generation if they don’t do anything about it now?
September 8th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Wow, it’s just so sad how no one seems to care. I mean, there is SO MUCH EVIDENCE, yet so few people are acknowledging it. Yes, it may be expensive, and it may take a bit more effort than what we’re used to, but isn’t that a small price to pay for LIFE!!! I don’t know about everyone else, but I don’t want to live my life knowing that someone (or more than someone) died (or will die), while I sat back and did nothing. Maybe it’s only me, but I believe that something needs to be done, and done now.
September 9th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Well, here’s what I think. DeCaprio was not wrong in showing the horrific images of the earth today. What about Gibson in “The Passion”? Was he wrong? The thing is, for some, he was wrong.I mean the only reason you (miss baker) said they were horrific was because you have a clear understanding already. You don’t have to be told twice or three times that we are not being good stuarts over our Earth. Others have to be told visually. If I asked you to name a brand of caviar, you might not be able to do so, but if I asked you told name a brand of fried chicken, I get a number of resonses(i.e. KFC, Ms.Winners). Fried chicken is advertised. We see it every day. Caviar is only known umong a select group of people, because it’s not advertised. I think the ignorance of stuff like this is because it’s not put out there for us to see every day. Yeah, scientists know, but what about the general public? They count also.
September 9th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
P.S. by no means did I want to put anybody down, that’s the last thing I had mind to anybody, but I was just saying that it has to get out there. We need good government, and leaders that are willing to allow us scientists to get our message across. Like the man in the trailer said, the reaserch has been done. Materials aren’t an issue. We’ve figured out alot of the puzzle, and where most of the pieces go, we just need the green light to put it together. I can’t see myself as an enviormental scientist, but being a politician that will help such projects, and programs that benefit the enviorment…That’s fiesable!
September 9th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
I think it was good for the films to bluntly show the problem we have at hand and not beat around the bush. Global Warming IS happening and it IS real which I didn’t really even want to beleive before the video. It’s alot easier to just ignore it or change the channel or station whenever we hear about whats wrong in the world and just hope we dont have to deal with it in our lifetime, and unfortunatly we do. It is happening as we speak, and its fast enough to hurt the earth, but not fast enough to catch many peoples attention. If it weren’t for them bluntly showing the problem and the facts to back it up it wouldn’t have effected me just like reading it out of a text book didn’t effect me throughout the past few years. But I now feel like we really need to do something about this.
September 9th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
Environmental crises can seem very overwhelming. I think the reason we avoid addressing them is simply because it is a big task…but keep in mind there are billions of people in the world. Take the problem and divide it by a billion. Now it doesn’t seem so big anymore. I’m not saying we can get everyone in the world to participate. I’m saying that simple actions make a difference and participation is a huge factor. In order to help the environment, we need to make the public aware of the issues the environmental world is facing, and not only that, we need to offer solutions. It is easier to fix something if you are told how to fix it. The only thing left to do is take action. This movie is the perfect example! By writing newspaper articles, or making films such as these, we are making the public aware. I think this is the best approach.
September 9th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
i think that the film made a very good way of showing our generation can either basically destory the world or make it a better place. we all can do something about this. yes, it cant take just a year or two this is going to be a happening thing till as long as we know! but if we start and teach everyone we know about this matter, we could be making a huge diffrence! i agree with everyone on this post so far….the reason we arnt doing anything about it is because we are lazy and we think it is such a big matter to handle. but if you really think about it its no such big of a matter. by making up ideas such as solar powered cars, solar energy we already have all these things in our world today, we just have to make the world use them in replace of things we use today. people need to understand that this is real and if OUR generation does not do something about it now..then world is at its end before we know it. so basically the fait of the world is in our hands.
September 10th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
I think global warming is going to be a bad thing if we don’t watch it. I don’t think anybody worries about it because it hasn’t harmed them. But if it does they will try to fix it.
September 10th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
I think it is really sad how us as a nation are ruining our world. Global warming might not be effecting us now but it will and people will not understand why. If we make a choice to stop our ways now when global warming is at its lowest we can really make a difference even if it might not effect our generation as much as the next. But we owe it to the next generation to make it a good life for them and not a world that is being ruined by global warming. I like how the movie” the 11th hour” puts global warming in our hands but in a positive way. Like there can be something done about it and all we need to do is try.
September 10th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
I really liked the video. It deffinitly taught me a lot and that global warming is going on NOW. It really is up to our generation of what is going to happen. The film made made me a lot more aware of global warming. I think that a lot of the time people don’t notice that its going on because its a slow change. I agree with everyone. We have started to develop certain cars and things to help. I hope a lot of people see that movie and realize that we all need to help!
September 10th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
I have always been an environmentalist. everyone in my family is as well. i was so happy when we saw the clips from the movie in class, it makes me feel like people are finally realizing that something IS happening, and we need to do something about it. not just talk about it, but DO it. i don’t think it is a burden at all to be the generation to help out. like miss baker said, it is an exciting experience we should be proud to be involved in! God gave us the earth, and the animals, and told us to take care of them, but when i look around me, i don’t see that happening. not to say that there isn’t ANY progress, because this movie proves that there is, i’m just simply saying that if everyone pitched in, everything could be fixed a lot faster. everyone has something they care about, whether it be sports, the fine arts, or environmental studies, but there are also things that we SHOULD care about, and i feel that it is our responsibiliy. Are we seriously just sit back, and watch the earth fall apart right in front of us, and maybe not even notice, not even realize its happening? and that is one thing that really scares me. a majority of people DOESN’t realize what is going on, and this movie really puts it out there. i think that unless you are really blunt, like this movie, you will have a hard time waking up to the harsh reality of the situation. with all the people in the world, if we all just made an effort, got over our differences, and just cooperated for the good of our planet, things could be a lot better. and if, no, when (because i am sure that we CAN do this), we complete whatever we do, imagine everything else we could do! awarness is key, especially for something that may be blinded from your sight. like the activity in class, it was proven that the media can blind you from other things. i won’t deny that i did awful on that quiz, and that i am terribly unaware of a lot of things. but i am most definately willing to change that.
September 10th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
I also have to say that i REALLY agree with Bryant. Alot of people are visual learners. it is hard to describe something to someone, and expect them to jump up and take action. most people (in my opinion) go with that saying, “i’ll believe it when i see it.” and this movie, most definately lets you see it. for example, when i first HEARD about the problems in Rwanda, i felt compassion, but to be honest, i never really got a solid grasp on it. when i saw the movie about it though, Hotel Rwanda, it totally changed my perspective. i was ready to take action. i think this is the sort of thing that a lot of people need to SEE in order to realize how harming nature’s depletion can be.
that brings up another point for me. someone might say, oh, that tree fell down, because of erosion. wow. but say that tree fell on a car, and killed people. or say someone say a landslide, they might be like, “Woah, that looked awesome!!” sure it might look like it, but do the dead bodies at the bottom of that hill look so awesome too? whether or not we like it, these things DO effect it. whether people do it for the environment, or do it for the people, they just need to DO SOMETHING.
i also really agree with Katie. if i didn’t even try to do anything, and just watched this epidemic takea toll on people, i would feel extremely guilty. it’s my responsibility, and like i said earlier, i am really proud about that. when we fix things (because we will) i will feel really excited, really proud. God didn’t put us on Earth and supply us with everything, just so we could watch it die, he gave us purpose, and i believe that one of those purposes was this very thing. it’s not like fixing things will be boring, and just a total waste of time that “we could be spending doing something else…”, we can make it fun! plenty of fundraisers are fun! a lot of them are carnivals, with slides, and all that cool stuff, and then the money goes to a cause. so this isn’t anything like a drag, or a chore. it can be just as fun as you imagination makes it!
September 11th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
I actually did a report on Darfur last year and you are definently right. With things like that and global warming people might know about it but they don’t know the severeity of it or how soon it may be able to affect them. I hope we get to discuss this topic more in class and what to do and such.
September 11th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
I think that people want to block out the bad things in life because they don’t want to have to believe that they are actually happening. I don’t understand what else will have to happen for everyone to realize what is happening to earth. I also think people are stubborn and thinking “oh nothings happening and global warming doesn’t exist” when in reality there is a ton of evidence right before their eyes that they can’t comprehend. I admit that I don’t think about the environment as much as I should but i’m starting to learn that we need to act now to keep the planet alive and well.
September 12th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
I think that people aren’t really doing anything because they don’t think it’s affecting them. What they don’t understand is that if it doesn’t affect them now, it will definately affect them later. I also think that people can’t see global warming, so they don’t believe it exsists. Many people might not know about it either. They may not have heard about it before. That’s why this movie is great becuse it’s telling people that global warming is real and they can help stop it!
September 15th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
If we keep treating the world the way we do, we will have no world to live in within a couple years. Those oil companies neeed to grow up and get over the fact that people want to save the world and not destroy it. For those of you who recycle and use recycled pens and paper, THANK YOU.
September 15th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
the videos we watched in class were kind of scary! its like the frog in the boiling water. i think that most people dont realize how dangerous it is.
September 16th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Thanks for responding to my comment Emily. Hey, miss “administrator”, can we get extra credit for bringing in paper to be recycled, or get our parents to sign a paper saying that we recycled a certain amount of things. Maybe, we can have a system like, 25 sheets of paper gets us one extra point on a quiz, and maybe 5 aluminum can gets us a point extrra. As you can see, I’m not expecting a free-be, but think about how much we can brag at the end of the year! Think about that blog that shows how much paper, and how much metal MISS BAKERS biology class recycled. If this blog is supposed to convey what I think it’s supposed to, then let us help out, and let us help the enviorment!
P.S. Pwetty, pwetty pwease!!
September 16th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Bryant,
No. Recycling paper and cans takes minimal effort and are things any person can easily do.
If you design a recycling/environmental project for the school that it doesn’t already have in place and that you see to fruition, then we can talk potential extra credit.
Miss Baker
September 16th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Theres actually a lot of things that I can do like recycling and stuff to slow the climate change. It’s scary to think about all the problems happening in the world today, but as the video said, our generation has a chance to change everytihng and i think , as a part of this generation, I should do all i can to make the world a better place
September 16th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Thats amazing I had no idea that our world economy was declining at that rate. Some of those cities in the video didn’t even look livable.
September 17th, 2007 at 10:33 am
This is a response to the comments on recycling. I am very disappointed that anyone would think in 2007 that participating in any form of recycling program warrants extra-credit. Recycling is something that has been promoted in our society for many years and the desire to participate should be on everyone’s mind. If it is not, it is probably because that person has chosen not be informed, or if informed and has chosen to continue to be part of the problem and not part of the solution.
We are all in this together and the health and survival of our planet and life as we know it depends on everyone being not only a willing participant, but an enthusiastic one. Remember, it is YOUR generation that has the ability AND the responsibility to make change happen!
September 17th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
I wish people would stop being so stubborn and do something about global warming. People are so concerned with their own lives and they don’t even worry about the planet. Now that people have dug such a big hole they don’t know if they will be able to get out of it, so they don’t want to do anything. I wish global warming was a bigger concern in America than sports, movies, and things like that. If global warming was more publicized people would pay attention to it more. I think it is cool that our generation is going to be the ones to change the fate of the earth.
September 17th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Ms. Wood, though we talked, I again apologize. I guess I was kinda caught up in the m oment. But, you know, My dad was cleaning out his desk Sunday, and was about to throw out all this paper. I told him “dad, lets recycle that paper”. Apparently, it was at the wrong time, but he didn’t seem so pleased with my looking down on him, when I’m sometimes worse. None the less, I possed the idea. Now, this is not in anyway supposed to be negative twords my half-way omniscently respectable father, but when people gotta get stuff done, the being of everyone else doesn’t always come into play. I guess I was just loioking for a solution to my current issue, becuse I could of said nothing, and would’ve been fine recycling on my own. However, Ms. Wood, I’m sure you know through expierience, people sometimes have to sit down for hours, days, potentially years to reconsider, and listen, grasp and understand the truth. You are 100% right, thanks for the kind little slap in the face. I needed it. You too Ms. Administrator. Thanks.
P.S. I know this comment was somewhat un-scientific, but I think it was a much needed one.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Bryant,
I do understand - really. The situation with your father is one that is probably repeated over and over again in many households in this country. Those of us who are older have grown complacent - we used to be more idealistic, but we lose the fire as we age. I am one of those who no longer cares what people think about me. I am determined to make my voice heard. You can ask my neighbors who had to look at my “Stop Iraq War Funding” yard sign for a couple weeks! There are ways you can bring the other members of your family around without “talking down” to them. And this goes for anyone else reading this comment - ask your parents if you can’t take responsibility for the recycling in your house if they will agree to help you take it to a recycling depository if you do not have pick-up service provided. As they see you doing this, they, too, will see how easy it is and also notice how much less actual garbage they have. Those of you who live near the Roswell Recycling Center - you can include all your junk mail with other paper. Maybe, Ms. Baker and I could come up with some sort of reward for all of you who have converted your families to recycling by the end of the year???
Ms. Wood
September 19th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
To tell you the truth, I’m a little scared about the whole global warming thing and our entire world seems to be slipping through our fingers. Now more then ever, our world needs us and not enough is being done. The mind set of a lot of human beings is that we can start recyceling and taking care of the environment whenever we want. This acomplishes nothing! I wonder when we will ever get controll.
September 22nd, 2007 at 9:14 am
Okay, now we’re talkin Ms.Wood. But seriously, Stop funding Iraq war sign? People thought you were crazy for that? They’re pretty off for that. Anyways, way to be so bold about it. I think you’re setting a great example for everyone out there. Thanks for responding to my comments. Good times.
P.S. If we keep doing what we do, and getting better at it, and getting involved, I think getting controll is too easy Danielle. We’re so close, ya know. I mean, it’s very fishasble for me. I can see it happening real quick.
September 22nd, 2007 at 8:08 pm
What is happening on our planet is truly a crisis. If we don’t take action soon, the way of life as we know it will be gone forever. What is so sad is that there are so many ways people can help, even just by doing a little thing, but most people are too lazy or just don’t care enough to do anything. They think that by the time anything happens to the earth, they will be dead and it won’t matter to them. But we should all care about what is happening because earth is our home, it is our job to protect it. Why is it that so few people feel the need to take action, even after they are aware of what is happening? Please respond!
September 30th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
THIS IS A RESPONSE TO AMANDA, BECAUSE YOU ASKED SO NICELY.
I think that in the Bible, where it says to be good stuarts over our body, which is his temple to reside in, is a clue that we should also take care of this Earth that has been given to us. Think about the Adam and Eve story. In this story, it doesn’t say strait forward that don’t be gay, it’s a sin. It does else where in the bible, but in this sory, if you read between the lines, you see how a good relationship should be run under God, and that God didn’t ordain a relationship between a guy and a guy. Perhaps if you put that scripture out there, people will really wake up. Hey, guess what. I turned off the a/c today before I went out, and opened the windows before I left upstairs. Saving some serious energy. I’m really starting to get good at this!
October 29th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
There are so many issues in the world!!! Making a long checklist only stresses us out. Instead, I think we should look at one issue and address it. If you think about it, most of the big charity organizations in the world have one focus. For example, Operation Christmas Child sends Christmas presents to less fortunate people who wouldn’t normally receive any presents. They aren’t solving world hunger, stopping global warming, AND sending presents to the kids. They chose one issue. More simply, each family that donates to the organization sends a present- they are changing one child’s Christmas. It doesn’t require TONS of effort. Also, the participation of those families is vital- but I think that for most issues, participation isn’t the problem. Plenty of people send presents to the children. The problem isn’t participation, but feeling overwhelmed to participate in so many things. I think the answer to our problem is this- 1.Choose an important issue that you want to CHANGE FOR THE BETTER, not necessarily eliminate altogether. ( It is very overwhelming to eliminate world hunger, but feeding people and lowering the amount of people who are starving isn’t quite as bad.)
2. Think of ONE simple solution. (Sending the people food.)
3. Ask for help by telling people ONE way they can help you. (Donating money to help pay for food.) (or another example: donating Christmas presents.) Do not create a lot of different choices or dilemmas. Tell them SPECIFICALLY: what to put the present in. (a shoebow)
where to bring the present. (a participating
church or school)
ideas for what the present should be
what age group the present should be for (the
brochure has a few age groups to choose
from. )
Pick a problem. Identify the solution. Ask for help: Keep it simple and easy.
March 4th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Global Warming is a HUGE problem!!! People shouldn’t blame other people. We shouldn’t just sit here and blame people anyway, we should get up and do something about it! Although I can’t really think of much to do anyway, we should still try!
Actually here are some things:We could all just ride bikes, it would be good for us anyway! Or we could not leave lights on when we don’t need them! Or we could not take such long showers! We don’t need to leave the t-v or radio on when we aren’t even paying attention to them! All of the extra energy that we use but don’t need could be part of the cause of global warming.