Re: How to link carism and environmentalism
Robert Dierker <[email protected]> Fri, 19 Oct 2012 17:19:52 -0700 (PDT)
| Newsgroups | gmane.politics.activism.carfree-network |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <[email protected]> |
------=_Part_1160_21794303.1350692392702 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Hi Geoff. Thanks for the posting. I disagree, though. I think we have an information overload. I think we have a propensity to study a problem and create a huge report and then say - well, nothing. These reports are wonderful and they''re needed to separate fact and fancy, but a series of reports does not a movement make. Have you ever watched a documentary on, say, food processing or filmed plastic? At the end I say to myself: "great! look at all that information. Now why didn't they just go one step further and say: refuse to take a plastic bag - don't buy garbage bags - deal with your garbage this way?" They never do. They think the information itself is all we need. I'm sure there are ways to say "do this" without great liability. All we get is information, not direction. - except in the form of advertising... On Wednesday, October 17, 2012 12:08:12 PM UTC-7, Geoff Beacon wrote: > > Gabrielle, > > That's interesting. > > We also need some economic analysis to identify the benefits and > possibilities for car free living. > I've tried it here: > http://www.brusselsblog.co.uk/a-parable-of-four-villages/ > I'm not sure how well it worked but I think it's in the right direction. > > and Robert > > You may find some amusement in this:http://www.beacon-dodsworth.co.uk/blog/general-news/a-holiday-pastime-the-hypocrisy-index/ > > Geoff > > ----- Original message ----- > From: Gabrielle Hermann <gabb...-/[email protected] <javascript:>> > To: [email protected] <javascript:> > Cc: carfree...-/[email protected] <javascript:> > Subject: Re: [carfree_network] How to link carism and environmentalism > Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2012 10:55:48 -0400 > > Oh man, I feel for you! I'm an American/German living in Germany for > precisely that reason. I just wrote a scientific article on car-free > households (hopefully to be published early next year, if accepted). One of > the great paradoxes is that being an environmentalist is in some cases > negatively associated with being car-free. There are a bunch of > psychologists in Germany trying to figure out this irony. One of the > theoretical constructs that has been used to explain this is called the > Theory of Planned Behavior. For instance, the likelihood that an > individual will develop an intention to travel by bicycle increases if that > person holds a positive attitude towards bicycles *and* believes that > bicycling conditions are safe and cycling is a fast and efficient > transport-mode (not to mention a belief in the ability to ride a bicycle). > Once the intention to bicycle is sufficiently high, actual bicycling > behavior will result. The PhD by Steve Melia (found online) explains this > theory pretty well. > > Here are some conclusions I reached in my article, which was a literature > review of German- and Anglophone research on car-free households: > > - majority of people are car-free to save money. > - After becoming car-free, environmental awareness about negative > environmental affects can increase because they no longer have to fight the > cognitive dissonance caused by their car driving habits. They're free-er to > face it once their car is gone. > - To convince people to give up their car, better to focus on health and > economic benefits. Young environmentalists might be more attracted to the > bicycle because it offers flexibility, speed, and keeps them in shape. I > realized in Canada that teh cold makes this more difficult. > - New technologies (car sharing, smart phones) can make car-free living > more attractive and cool. > > Hope this helps! And good luck :) > > Gabrielle > > On Oct 12, 2012, at 3:41 PM, Robert Dierker wrote: > > Hello. > > I volunteer for several environmental groups in Vancouver Canada. One > thing they seem to have in common is a belief that the use of cars is a > necessary evil within their organizations. I can send many examples, if > requested, but I'm sure you've all seen it. > > Canada and the US are stuck in a well orchestrated car culture - no > doubt about it - and the natural resources of Canada are now hijacked by > foreign corporate giants. Their government lobby efforts and PR machines > are in full force here. > > My great concern, now, is that our new batch of young > environmentalists can't leave their cars behind. This is not > particularly new, but seems to be more pronounced than it used to be. > Our environmental movements can't move forward with this kind of base > line. > > I have no particular influence within Vancouver's environmental movement, > however I want to affect this one component of change: I want these > groups to weigh the value of each member's opinion and motivation with > respect to their personal activities with cars. > > Before I go I would like to remind any reader that Canada gets REALLY > cold. These groups have to define models that will work in an > individualistic, affluent society at -25c. > > How do I do this? Please help. > > Robert. > 604-440-0860 > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "World Carfree Network" group. > To post to this group, send email to carfree...-/[email protected]<javascript:> > Replies are sent to the author of the message. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > carfree_netwo...-/[email protected] <javascript:> > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=en?hl=en > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "World Carfree Network" group. > To post to this group, send email to carfree...-/[email protected]<javascript:> > Replies are sent to the author of the message. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > carfree_netwo...-/[email protected] <javascript:> > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=en?hl=en > > -- > Geoff Beacon > [email protected] <javascript:> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "World Carfree Network" group. To post to this group, send email to carfree_network-/[email protected] Replies are sent to the author of the message. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to carfree_network-unsubscribe-/[email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=en?hl=en ------=_Part_1160_21794303.1350692392702 Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <font size=3D"4">Hi Geoff.<br><br><font size=3D"4"> Thanks for = the <font size=3D"4">posting. I disagree, though. I think we ha= ve an information overload.<br><br><font size=3D"4"> I think we= have a propensity to study a problem and create </font>a huge report and t= hen sa<font size=3D"4">y - well, nothing. These reports are wonderful= and they''re needed to separate fact and fancy, but <font size=3D"4">a ser= ies of reports does not a movement make.</font><br><br><font size=3D"4">&nb= sp; Have you ever watched a documentary on<font size=3D"4">, say, <font siz= e=3D"4">food processing or filmed plastic?</font></font></font> At th= e end I say to myself: "great! look at all that information. Now why = didn't they just go one step further and say: <font size=3D"4">refuse to ta= ke a plastic bag - don't buy garbage bags - deal with your garbage this way= ?" They never do. They think the information itself is all we n= eed.</font> I'm sure there are ways to say <font size=3D"4">"</font>d= o this" without great liability. <font size=3D"4">All we get is infor= mation, not direction. - except in the form of advertising...</font><br><br= ><br></font></font></font></font><br>On Wednesday, October 17, 2012 12:08:1= 2 PM UTC-7, Geoff Beacon wrote:<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"m= argin: 0;margin-left: 0.8ex;border-left: 1px #ccc solid;padding-left: 1ex;"= > <div><div style=3D"font-family:Arial;font-size:medium" dir=3D"ltr"><div> <div> <div> Gabrielle,</div> <div> </div> <div> That's interesting.</div> <div> </div> <div> We also need some economic analysis to identify the benefits and possibi= lities for car free living.</div> <div> I've tried it here: <a href=3D"http://www.brusselsblog.co.uk/a-parable-o= f-four-villages/" target=3D"_blank">http://www.brusselsblog.co.uk/<wbr>a-pa= rable-of-four-villages/</a></div> <div> I'm not sure how well it worked but I think it's in the right direction.= </div> <div> </div> <div> and Robert</div> <div> </div> <div> You may find some amusement in this:<a href=3D"http://www.beacon-dodswor= th.co.uk/blog/general-news/a-holiday-pastime-the-hypocrisy-index/" target= =3D"_blank"> http://www.beacon-dodsworth.<wbr>co.uk/blog/general-news/a-<wb= r>holiday-pastime-the-hypocrisy-<wbr>index/</a></div> <div> </div> <div> Geoff</div> <div> </div> <div> ----- Original message -----</div> <div> From: Gabrielle Hermann <<a href=3D"javascript:" target=3D"_blank" gd= f-obfuscated-mailto=3D"gRXXerHCKk4J">gabb...-/[email protected]</a>></div> <div> To: <a href=3D"javascript:" target=3D"_blank" gdf-obfuscated-mailto=3D"g= RXXerHCKk4J">[email protected]</a></div> <div> Cc: <a href=3D"javascript:" target=3D"_blank" gdf-obfuscated-mailto=3D"g= RXXerHCKk4J">carfree...@googlegroups.<wbr>com</a></div> <div> Subject: Re: [carfree_network] How to link carism and environmentalism</= div> <div> Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2012 10:55:48 -0400</div> <div> </div> <div dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"word-wrap:break-word"> Oh man, I feel for you! I'm an American/German living in Germany for pre= cisely that reason. I just wrote a scientific article on car-free household= s (hopefully to be published early next year, if accepted). One of the grea= t paradoxes is that being an environmentalist is in some cases negatively a= ssociated with being car-free. There are a bunch of psychologists in German= y trying to figure out this irony. One of the theoretical constructs that h= as been used to explain this is called the Theory of Planned Behavior. = ; <span style=3D"line-height:150%"><span>For instance, the likelihood that = an individual will develop an intention to travel by bicycle increases if t= hat person holds a positive attitude towards bicycles <u>and</u> believes t= hat bicycling conditions are safe and cycling is a fast and efficient trans= port-mode (not to mention a belief in the ability to ride a bicycle). Once = the intention to bicycle is sufficiently high, actual bicycling behavior wi= ll result.</span></span> The PhD by Steve Melia (found online) explain= s this theory pretty well. <div> </div> <div> Here are some conclusions I reached in my article, which was a literatu= re review of German- and Anglophone research on car-free households: <div> </div> <div> - majority of people are car-free to save money. </div> <div> - After becoming car-free, environmental awareness about negative envi= ronmental affects can increase because they no longer have to fight the cog= nitive dissonance caused by their car driving habits. They're free-er to fa= ce it once their car is gone. </div> <div> - To convince people to give up their car, better to focus on health a= nd economic benefits. Young environmentalists might be more attracted to th= e bicycle because it offers flexibility, speed, and keeps them in shape. I = realized in Canada that teh cold makes this more difficult. </div> <div> - New technologies (car sharing, smart phones) can make car-free livin= g more attractive and cool. </div> <div> </div> <div> Hope this helps! And good luck :) </div> <div> </div> <div> Gabrielle</div> <div> <div> <br> <div> <div> On Oct 12, 2012, at 3:41 PM, Robert Dierker wrote:</div> <br> <blockquote type=3D"cite"> <span style=3D"font-size:large">Hello.<br> <br> I volunteer for several environmental groups<span styl= e=3D"font-size:large"> in Vancouver Canada. On<span style=3D"font-siz= e:large">e thing they seem to have in common is a belief that the use of ca= rs is a necessary evil within their organizations.<span style=3D"font-size:= large"> <span style=3D"font-size:large">I can send many examples, if = requested, but I'm sure you've all seen it.</span></span> <br> <br> <span style=3D"font-size:large"> </span>Canada and the = US are stuck in a well <span style=3D"font-size:large">orchestrated</span> = car culture - no doubt about it<span style=3D"font-size:large"> - and the n= atural resources of Canada <span style=3D"font-size:large">are</span> no<sp= an style=3D"font-size:large">w hijacked by foreign corporate giants. = The<span style=3D"font-size:large">ir government lobby efforts and PR machi= nes are in full force here.</span><br> <br> M</span>y great concern, now, is that <span style=3D"f= ont-size:large">our new batch of young environmentalists can't leave their = car<span style=3D"font-size:large">s behind. This is not particularly= new, but <span style=3D"font-size:large">seems to be</span> more pronounce= d<span style=3D"font-size:large"> than it used to be.</span> Our <spa= n style=3D"font-size:large">environmental</span> movements can't move forwa= rd with this kind of base line.<br> <br> <span style=3D"font-size:large"> I have no particular i= nfluence within Vancouver's environmental movement<span style=3D"font-size:= large">, however I want to <span style=3D"font-size:large">affect this one = component of change: I want these groups to <span style=3D"font-size:large"= >weigh</span> the value of <span style=3D"font-size:large">each</span> memb= er's opinion </span></span></span>and motivation with respect to their pers= onal activities with cars.<br> <br> <span style=3D"font-size:large"> Before I go I would li= ke to remind any reader that Canada gets REALLY cold. These groups ha= ve to define models that will work in an individualistic, affluent society = at -25c.</span><br> <br> <span style=3D"font-size:large"> <span style=3D"font-si= ze:large">How do I do this? Please help.<br> <br> <span style=3D"font-size:large">Robert.<br> <span style=3D"font-size:large">604-440-0860</span></span></span></= span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <div> </div> --<br> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<= br> Groups "World Carfree Network" group.<br> To post to this group, send email to <a href=3D"javascript:" target= =3D"_blank" gdf-obfuscated-mailto=3D"gRXXerHCKk4J">carfree...@googlegroups.= <wbr>com</a><br> Replies are sent to the author of the message.<br> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to<br> <a href=3D"javascript:" target=3D"_blank" gdf-obfuscated-mailto=3D"= gRXXerHCKk4J">carfree_netwo...@<wbr>googlegroups.com</a><br> For more options, visit this group at<br> <a href=3D"http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=3Den?h= l=3Den" target=3D"_blank">http://groups.google.com/<wbr>group/carfree_netwo= rk?hl=3Den?<wbr>hl=3Den</a></blockquote> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p> </p> --<br> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<br> Groups "World Carfree Network" group.<br> To post to this group, send email to <a href=3D"javascript:" target=3D"_= blank" gdf-obfuscated-mailto=3D"gRXXerHCKk4J">carfree...@googlegroups.<wbr>= com</a><br> Replies are sent to the author of the message.<br> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to<br> <a href=3D"javascript:" target=3D"_blank" gdf-obfuscated-mailto=3D"gRXXe= rHCKk4J">carfree_netwo...@<wbr>googlegroups.com</a><br> For more options, visit this group at<br> <a href=3D"http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=3Den?hl=3De= n" target=3D"_blank">http://groups.google.com/<wbr>group/carfree_network?hl= =3Den?<wbr>hl=3Den</a></div> </div> </div> <div> </div> </div><div>-- </div> <div> Geoff Beacon</div> <div> <a href=3D"javascript:" target=3D"_blank" gdf-obfuscated-mailto=3D"g= RXXerHCKk4J">[email protected]</a></div> </div></blockquote> <p></p> -- <br /> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<br /> Groups "World Carfree Network" group.<br /> To post to this group, send email to carfree_network-/[email protected]<br /> Replies are sent to the author of the message.<br /> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to<br /> carfree_network-unsubscribe-/[email protected]<br /> For more options, visit this group at<br /> <a href=3D"http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=3Den?hl=3Den">= http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=3Den?hl=3Den</a> ------=_Part_1160_21794303.1350692392702--