Adapted from the book Collapse by Jared Diamond, here are some actions an individual can take to impact environmental protection, even without wealth or power. First and foremost, each individual should not expect to make a difference through a single action or even a series of successful short-term goals. Instead, if we want to make a difference, we should commit to a lifelong action policy. Voting In a democratic society, we can use our vote to support representatives who we believe will take beneficial actions to improve environmental issues if elected. Ask questions about the issues you care about during voter meetings to understand their stance. Shopping Choices As consumers, we can consider what products to buy or not buy. Large corporations operate for profit. They will stop producing products that the public does not buy and shift to producing and enhancing products that the public does buy. Prioritize purchasing from brands with environmentally friendly policies. D...
The Environment Must Be Balanced with the Economy This argument suggests that caring for the environment is a waste of money and that ignoring environmental issues will save costs. This is not true. Just as taking care of health and preventing disease is much cheaper than letting diseases occur and then treating them, environmental pollution incurs significant financial losses. Technology Will Solve Our Problems This argument reflects a belief in the future, suggesting that technology will solve current problems and stop creating new ones. Real-world experience contradicts this prediction. Some technologies succeed, but others fail. Successful technologies often take decades to develop and widely apply. Whether or not they solve the issues they were designed to address, new technologies often create unforeseen problems. Moreover, technological solutions for environmental issues are generally much more expensive than preventative measures taken from the outset. If One Resource D...