636
The standard for change isn’t “is my doing this going to change the world?” The standard is “is my doing this part of the shift I want to see my community make?” And if the answer is yes, I do my best (thelemmy.club)
submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by to c/solarpunk@slrpnk.net
43 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I love that analogy. No, you're not going to personally save the world by reducing your carbon footprint. But you know what you are going to be? One leaf on a tree in a forest, making that little bit more oxygen that helps collectively make the world a better place.

And that's worth doing. Especially if you can encourage other people to be leaves too.

A screenshot of a Tumblr post. The text reads: I keep seeing posts claiming that x y or z action you can do to build a better world won’t matter. That capitalism doesn’t care, and your own actions dont amount to much. It’s so painfully individualistic. Of course me doing that thing isn’t going to save anybody or anything. Im not trying to be a superhero who personally saves the say. I am one leaf making oxygen in a massive forest of other trees making oxygen. I am doing my best and having faith that millions of others will do their best as well. Because that can and has made big changes over time. Like. That is just how change happens. Thats cultural shifts. Thats political shifts. Thats how lasting changes happen. I don’t plant milkweed because I’m personally gonna save monarch butterflies. I plant milkweed because I know thousands of us are gonna plant milkweed and send money to the people fighting horrible pesticides in court. The standard for change isn’t “is my doing this going to change the world?” The standard is “is my doing this part of the shift I want to see my community make?” And if the answer is yes, I do my best.
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 12 points 4 months ago

As anecdotal evidence, I live in a Brazilian region that produces a lot of cattle. About 10 years ago, beef production went down due to economic reasons, and this was noticeable in land cover studies, The mere reduction in cattle numbers, grazing intensity and pasture management was enough for the forest vegetation to advance and take back some border areas.

So, this is very true, and not just "vegan propaganda". Reducing demand for meat can have a significant environmental impact!

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent