Malcolm Gladwell in his book "The Tipping Point" tries to explain why certain events and trends spread so quickly and unexpectedly across a large population. He calls this phenomenon the 'social epidemic,' the way an idea, behavior or product can spread like an infectious disease. The example that resonates in my mind relates to the CROCS footwear, which (please skip this sentence if you like the brand) despite looking like giant clowns feet, suddenly exploded in popularity in the western world by 2006.
When I think of the issues related to the environment and climate change I try to think of what will be the tipping point to bring about more responsible behaviors and market economics. Our prior generation would have thought the tipping point was Rachel Carson's book of 1962, Silent Spring. Rachel brought to the attention of the world the dangers of pesticides to wildlife and our own health, which helped to galvanize public opinion, unite scientists and herald a number of environmental protection regulations including the creation of the EPA. We today may have thought the tipping point would be Al Gore's 2006 documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, or possibly the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, but they collectively have not been enough to support the passing of cap and trade legislation in the US Senate.
I personally hope we don't wait for 'that' tipping point for the US to make a step forward in global environmental leadership and responsibility. I am assured by the fact that rationality returned to how we viewed the CROCS shoes, which this year I found were worn primarily by African children after being discarded and donated by western countries. I believe soon science will win over emotions and self interest and that we will act in the interests of all citizens, fauna and flora we share this planet with. I believe rationality will soon unite us all in how we manage our global environment.
Jamie
No comments:
Post a Comment