When it comes to the environment many things seems to be obvious for some, but not for others.
By burning piles of plastic in a field with a large trail of thick black smoke as a result, putting out your garbage next to your neighbor’s house instead of outside your own, or having a picnic and leaving all your trash behind. To me it seems very obvious that this is wrong, and it most likely feels wrong for you as well. So why do people still do it?
Throughout my years in Malta and the work to safeguard the environment, I have noticed that too many lack the understanding of their impact and the power of one. Take the example of the burning of plastic. In all decisions, human beings are instinctively comparing the effort, benefit and negative impact. If the person has a belief that the action won’t have a negative impact simply based on the action being in singular, and on top of that it’s easier and cheaper to burn it at home rather than going to a civic amenity site, it will be done accordingly. This is even though the person might know that black smoke and burning plastics is bad, but “it’s just one and it doesn’t matter”. This is why environmentalists have the feeling that awareness is everywhere, yet these bad things keep on happening. People are aware, but still don’t see the full picture and continue taking bad decisions.
This can be seen in so many scenarios in our society and this is where the government should put a great effort, solving the root cause. I could go on for a long time, but some examples would be; not using an indicator because “there are bigger issues”, stopping on a main road blocking traffic because “it’s just a second while buying pastizzi”, not picking up that one bottle below the bin because “it’s not mine” or not voting on small parties although you might want to because “what difference would it make?”.
If we all keep on making excuses for not doing what we want, based on the belief that nothing will change, indeed nothing will change. The only way to create change is to be the change. The only way to see no change is to remain the same.
People are sometimes telling me I have a vision that is impossible to achieve. Just like I wrote in my column last week, I strongly believe that goals should be set high and if we only achieve half that’s ok. Setting goals that we can reach tomorrow would make us too relaxed, knowing that we will achieve them no matter what. No society was built with reachable goals, but with visions about a better future for all.
At the moment the EU has plastics on the agenda - how well are we living the change we wish to see? How many of the political parties have a policy for no single-use plastics during their events? How many of the leaders of the country are willing to raise awareness of their personal sacrifices for this cause? Simply, where is the will to be the change, not only lead the change?
I went to a school some time ago to speak with the students about the grassroots movement and what it is that makes it strong. There is nothing better than having a discussion with students about the environment and activism. I learn something and come to new conclusions every time. Grassroots movements are born out of passion and keep on being fueled mainly by that initial passion. There are some individuals that manage to keep this up even when entering a political playground, unfortunately too few if you ask me.
This means that the leaders of grassroots movements many times still will be on the floor, actively working with the people and not only giving orders from above. The protagonists of a movement are the ones that start following it, not the leader. A leader has always been in a certain way and motivates others to be their best version of themselves, to develop. True leaders don’t change a lot along the journey, hence they will confidentially be working at the same level as the people and keep on working for the same people on every level they climb.
Why? Well, dear reader, a true leader that comes from the people and always had the best of the people at mind, will continue to empower the people and reach half way rather than being alone at the top.
When people see the leaders being the change, they will also instinctively follow. Like the saying ‘Kids won’t do what you tell them, but what you do’. It very much applies to the society as a whole and all public servants should have that in mind.