Connecting to Care

The environmental disaster is caused by a lack of profound emotional connections between humans and the natural world.

Can you think of a natural location that you are quite familiar with?

Consider closing your eyes for a second and seeing what comes to mind.

Is it possible for you to picture the location in minute detail? The noises, colours, fragrances, and subtleties that only you are aware of.

Do recollections come to mind? Perhaps you've been to this location before. Perhaps you spent some of your best childhood memories here? Is it possible that there are good memories tainted with grief or regret?

What do you think of when you think about this site now?

Please take your time. Take a moment to connect with one another.

Now for the next question.

How would you feel if this same location was threatened? Assume it's being demolished right now. What are your thoughts? Anger? Sadness? Shock? Resignation? Is there nothing at all?

Can you envision yourself doing anything immediate and concrete to help protect this place?

Be truthful to yourself.

If you have a strong emotional attachment to this location, you may feel compelled to take action. Isn't that self-evident? We behave naturally and intuitively to safeguard the things we care about.

But what if you don't have that profound attachment to a place? What effect would that have on your response? It's a lovely spot, but it's not your spot. Is it still likely that you'll take action? Is this something you're in charge of?

Let me paint you two scenarios...

You're walking around town late at night when you notice your best friend, who appears dishevelled and is sleeping on the street. He hasn't been seen in six months. "Oh my God, what happened?!?" is probably the first reaction. You reach out to him impulsively. "Come home with me," you say as your arm reaches for his shoulder. Allow me to look after you."

Now it's time for another night. This time, you come across a random individual who appears dishevelled and is sleeping on the street. Be truthful. So, what exactly do you do? Is this someone else's issue? You might give him some money or buy him a sandwich if your heart is big enough, but is he coming home to sleep on your couch? Perhaps you justify your inaction by remembering that you donate to a local homeless shelter. You might want to remember yourself to vote for a politician who appears to be serious about getting things done. However, the majority of the time, we do nothing.

Why is there a distinction? Isn't it self-evident? You don't even think in the first case. You have a strong emotional bond with your best friend and must take action. In the second scenario, you may be sorry and recognise the horror of the situation, but there is no emotional connection between you and the other person, thus you are more likely to do nothing.

"It means very little to know that a million Chinese are starving unless you know one Chinese who is starving," wrote John Steinbeck (at a time when China was experiencing famine). For something to have significance, it must have an emotional connection.

When it comes to the environmental catastrophe, it's the same storey. There is currently a groundswell of support for taking steps to mitigate climate change. A number of people appear to have finally realised that there is a problem. But, then then, most individuals don't actually "do" much, do they? I'm not trying to be arrogant or judgmental here. I'm quite aware that I'm guilty of it. Why are we all so oblivious to what's going on around us? Why do we wait for others to take action?

There are several reasons for this, and none of them are straightforward (and I certainly don't know the answer). But I've given it a lot of consideration and have some suggestions:

Most of us don't feel capable of doing anything meaningful since the scope of the problem is so frightening. I'm just a small ant, and the tree is ready to tumble down!

The way society is set up now is intended to make us passive and obedient. We have tremendously busy lifestyles... commuting, working, eating, exercising, shopping, caring for the kids, more work, Netflix, and bedtime. The majority of us simply sleepwalk through life, looking for the next small window of pleasure. The days are melting into one another. We don't have enough time to think, let alone act.

Many people in today's culture are socially isolated. The sensation of belonging has vanished. Loneliness is at an all-time high right now. You are significantly less likely to generate the guts to undertake anything if you believe you are alone. The Titanic is sinking, and you're the only one with a bucket on board. The rest of the passengers on the boat are complete strangers to you. What's the goal of it all?

Perhaps the most important reason we do nothing is that most of us have lost our predecessors' sense of deep connection to the natural world. If you don't feel deeply linked to nature, you certainly don't care as much about it, and you're significantly less likely to take action right away. It's the same reason you pass by a homeless guy you don't recognise.