One
of the points that Zizek makes is that people do not necessarily care about the
environment because they are not directly affected by what is happening. Most
people do not care about the destruction of the world because they do not see
it and do not see the repercussions associated with it. In the first video
regarding ecology and environmentalism (6:34), Zizek starts discussing the idea
that people are alienated from the natural world around them, and cannot see
the problems of the general environment. I agree with this statement, while I
think that people do care about the environment, I believe that Zizek is right
in assuming that people who do not see the effects of global warming are not
going to do anything about it.
For
example, a person living in an urban environment perhaps in a small apartment
and puts their garbage down a trash shoot, does not see where the trash goes.
Garbage cans and dumpsters are common place in populated environments, but it
is rare to see as many recycling bins as there are trash bins. This person,
while they may be compassionate and caring towards the earth, they may not see
the destruction that they themselves are causing on the earth. It is a lot
harder to go through the effort to find a recycling bin as opposed to go to the
nearest trash can and throw away something that might have been able to be
reused. It is all about convenience, not whether or not people care or want to
help the environment, it is the fact that most people are ignorant to the real
problems facing the world.
In
order to see any progress with this problem, it needs to start with education.
People need to see the dumps and see where their trash goes. Zizek brings up an
interesting phrase that relates to most people on this subject, “out of sight
and out of mind”. I find this to be very true, even with myself. I often times do
not think how my actions will affect others, or less often how they will affect
the environment. It is so much more common to see the better parts of nature,
walking through a park, seeing a garden, people are able to enjoy nature and
see the beauty that it holds. However, most people are not privy to seeing the
dumps or the deforestation that occurs.
Some
people, even if they do know the extent of the problem do not give as much
though because it does not directly affect them. The benefits of recycling and
keeping the earth nice will go to benefit future generations. Zizek comments on
this point saying that we as humans are not evolutionarily wired to see the
destruction or to directly relate to what it happening. Humans are more
egocentric in this way and tend to focus only on ourselves or our species. He
even goes as far to use the phrase “I know very well but…” He uses this in the
context that even though people may be aware of the problem, they do not know
the extent of the problem, or how they can solve the problem. Many people do
not even believe that nature could be destroyed, or are again uninformed about
the fact that there is ecological catastrophe in nature.
I
agree with the points that Zizek makes about the ignorance of the human race
and how people need to be more educated on the issue in order to show any
remorse for the environment and to start making changes to better it.
I agree with you Emily when you made mention to the "out of sight and out of mind" quote. I do not always know how my actions can affect others, and sometimes you never know how they affect others. I also agree that people are ignorant when it comes to the environment. I like your post, and I agree with you! Great post!
ReplyDeleteEmily, several great points were made that I agree with. Firstly, I totally believe that humans are more likely to ignore or lessen the importance of environmental problems because they aren't immediately effected or cannot see these results directly. Especially in lower income areas, those residents are more likely to experience the effects of environmental abuse. Those residents are poorer and have less power in changing the judicial rulings on pollution or deforestation, even though they are the most effected by it, often. Because middle-class and upper-class residents hardly ever see the state of some of these communities, it is hard for them to become motivated to change something in the judicial system that would benefit everyone, especially those of lower income, in terms of environmental issues.
ReplyDeleteEmily, you made great points on his outlook on nature and the environment. I agree that if people are not aware of the harm going on in the world then they are not capable of helping fix it. With that being said, I agree with having to educate people preferably when they are younger. Great post!
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