Environmental Belief Systems and How You Can Use Yours To Benefit the World
Every piece of plastic ever made still exists today.
Everyone that walks this Earth has a belief system. Most people probably automatically associate a belief system with a religious preference; however, a belief system could include political views, family values, and even one regarding the environment. In her book “Communicating Nature”(2006), Julia B. Corbett defines an environmental belief system as one that “inhabits each individual and informs her or him about where humans ‘fit’ in relation to the rest of the nonhuman world (12)”. In simpler terms, it is a person’s views on interactions made between humans and the Earth.
What Influences an Environmental Belief System?
While there are several different ways in which someone establishes their belief system, there are three primary experiences that establish how people form their own beliefs: direct, indirect, and vicarious. A direct experience is one that involves a person to truly experience nature and its smells, sounds, and sights. An indirect experience is similar to a direct one, except it is more controlled by humans. For example, a trip to the zoo is considered an indirect experience, since nature is being observed, but the person is not completely submerged in the environment of each animal. Lastly, a vicarious experience is one that is physically disconnected to nature. If you watch a movie about oceans, you are having a vicarious experience. All three of these are vital for establishing a belief system, but in order for someone to have a true environmental belief system, it is crucial that he/she has more direct experiences. For me, living in Flagstaff has deeply influenced my views on the relationship between humans and the environment. Waking up to seeing Mount Humphreys out my window, walking to class and seeing all of the aspen trees that are soon to change color, or even smelling the rain as it drizzles down. All of these have opened my eyes on my beliefs and concerns regarding the Earth.
Experiences are not the only contributors to the establishment of an environmental belief system. For some, religion and scripture greatly influence how they view the world around them. For others, especially children, the opinions and views of their parents have become their own. However, everyone’s beliefs have been shaped by one overarching idea: a sense of place. Everyone can think of some place that is etched into their memories. The place where someone would go when they wanted to escape. The spot on the beach where you read a great book with the sounds of the waves in the background. Everyone has a location that gives them a feeling of being at home.
Why Does Having An Environmental Belief System Matter?
Before I provide my answer to this question, please feel free to watch these videos. Don’t worry, they are very short. :)
As you can see, we have some HUGE issues going on in this world regarding the amount of plastic present and the danger of water consumption. Environmental belief systems matter because they are what will help resolve, or at least diminish these problems. To put this idea into perspective, think of politics. Politicians are voted into office to discuss and help solve issues present on the table. They use their beliefs and the beliefs of the people they are representing (or at least they are supposed to) to create a solution to the issue on the table. In this circumstance, the solution would come from the environmental belief systems of the politicians and the people they are representing.
It is crucial to realize that politicians are not the only ones who can enact change using an environmental belief system. Anyone can by becoming knowledgeable on environmental issues, practicing environmental activism, non-activist behavior in public spheres, and private sphere environmentalism. Become active members in organizations, reduce the time you take in the shower, call your political leaders and express your concerns. All of these are ways that you can make an impact.
However, you have to recognize that even if you have a great attitude about saving the world one plastic straw at a time, your behavior is what is important. If these videos have impacted the way in which you feel about the water and plastic messes, then they affected your attitude toward these issues. I know for me, I was shocked by the statistics regarding the amount of plastic in the world and how in about 30 years, we will have a severe water shortage. After watching those videos, I suddenly felt the urge to never use a plastic straw or a plastic water bottle again. This is an example of the effect that public messages have on someone’s attitude, or in this case, mine. While having this attitude is great, I need to take action on how I am feeling. I have to recognize my values and act upon them by limiting the amount of water I use in my everyday life (directly and indirectly) and by cutting plastic out of my life, unless it is necessary. Then, once I have chosen an active behavior, I attempt to influence others to join me by providing information, incentives, or by appealing to people’s morals and values.
Remember, you truly can make a difference in this world. Use your environmental beliefs for good by limiting your water use and reducing the amount of disposable plastic in your life. (909)