Preaching Beyond the Choir

By Christopher Forestieri

As we approach the final post of the summer blog session, I have been considering my parting words. Having endured 12 long years of Catholic school, my mind is a backlog of biblical references. The one that stands out to me at the moment is, to paraphrase: give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day; teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime.

I can’t quite decide what this blog has been all along. Passing on my experiences of reusing bags or statistics on waste can contribute to changing a person’s thinking and even their lifestyle. But, in the end, it’s only one person. In that sense, I suppose I have been handing out fish each week.

I don’t know if I can “teach a man to fish.” Maybe someone with a scientific background could. What I can do is impart the principals I have kept in passing on my own environmental concerns and ideas, so that others might find it a bit easier to express their concerns and ideas and cause a chain reaction of sorts.

My first and foremost principal going into this blog was to try to preach beyond the choir. This comes from a history of talking with people who aren’t very concerned about the environment, and maybe, to some extent, having been one myself.

Almost every decision we make regarding the improvement of our environment and lessening our impact on the planet is tied to other facets of our lives, be it our daily routine or the amount of money we spend. It is how the “little things” in our lives are affected that usually determines our willingness to change. If the effect is a negative one, change is not likely to be appealing.

I have realized that the best way to “enlighten” those not particularly concerned about the environment is to point out changes that will have a positive effect on their lives. This is usually best accomplished though identifying changes that will save money (e.g., eating out less, using less gas) as well as changes that will save time (e.g., making more efficient trips).

It is important to emphasize how becoming more environmentally conscious doesn’t have to be an all or nothing decision. There are elements of conservation one can take or leave based on their life style. I have tried to stress balancing the good with the bad rather than demanding drastic lifestyle changes immediately.

While it would be best for the environment if everyone drastically changed their lifestyles, it is simply not realistic. Whether or not you feel that those of us unwilling to change everything for the planet are selfish, you must ask yourself weather making unrealistic demands is worth alienating the large number of people who don’t see things your way.

The main thing is to realize that most people feel differently than you do about the environment. If someone is hesitant to give in, it may be best to offer simple suggestions that will be convenient rather than burdensome. Those resistant to environmentalism will be much more inclined to try and save money than the planet. Thankfully, those two goals tend to overlap more than you would think.

It is very important to talk with our friends and family about the environment. The key to success, as I see it, is to consider whom you’re speaking with, what changes would fit their lifestyle and what they will respond to positively.

My writing can only reach people who take the time to read this blog. Often, they are already inclined toward environmentalism (and try as I might to avoid it, here I sit in my choir robe). But you, the reader, can reach a wider audience. If you approach them in the right way, they just may listen. Good luck and thanks for reading.