Solving the worlds problems with awareness...? (1 Viewer)

[loquasagacious]

Basically a couple of friends and I (exciting people that we are) were talking about green politics and the politics of awareness, or more specifically whether awareness politics is worthwhile or even counter-productive.

In my opinion the politics of awareness is based on two primary thought processes among it's proponents. On the one hand there is a genuine belief that the issue involved is of such pressing importance that as soon as people are made aware of it they will act. The other motivation being informed by marketing principles, build brand awareness and people will buy your product.

Awareness politics is the driving force behind many campaigns both Government and non-Government, the campaigns like Earth Hour, Harmony Day, International Women's Day, World Refugee Day and the myriad of other similar events. These campaigns are great for ribbon sales (pink, yellow, orange, white, etc depending on the day) but do they actually achieve anything?

I tend to think not, in fact I feel that 'awareness campaigns' are counterproductive. To look at this we simply divide success into immediate and longer-term. Lets look at Earth Hour:

Immediate Effect: Let's assume that everyone, everywhere, did it. 1 hour. No electricity used. That's a mighty 0.01% reduction in our yearly energy bill. So even if there was 100% compliance, which there never will be, the immediate impact is still not worth talking about.* Similarly if in respect of White Ribbon Day men did not abuse their wives that day it's a 0.27% reduction in yearly abuses.

Obviously it's not about the immediate effect then. The aim is that these campaigns will make people aware of issues which they will then act on themselves. Without awareness there can be no action, without action problems an not be addressed.

It seems to make sense. Except I think that there is a fatal flaw. People perceive the awareness activity as the action. They turn off their lights for sixty-minutes, congratulate themselves for 'doing their bit' and lapse into inactivity on the issue. Wear a white ribbon one day a year, overlook the neighbour who abuses his partner. Wear an orange ribbon one day a year - make racist jokes and discriminate against people the other 364 days.

Participating in awareness events becomes an excuse to do nothing else. In this sense I think they are a counterproductive exercise that fundamentally allow us to feel good about doing bad things. A media-sanctioned catharsis which allows us to assuage our guilt and continue our lives as normal.

So to summarize – you get all the benefits of helping (self satisfaction, telling other people) but no need for difficult decisions or the ensuing criticism (how do you criticize awareness?). Once again, white people find a way to score that sweet double victory.

#18 Awareness � Stuff White People Like
Greg Gutfeld: Raise Awareness of Raising Awareness of Raising Awareness!

Anyway apologies for the polemic, what are your thoughts about awareness campaigns?




*And it's impossible to stop power plants for just an hour. So that 0.01% of power is still produced with all the associated pollution.

 

[russs]

The awareness campaigns are essentially pointless and are a waste of money (esp. Earth Hour). They work great as a tick on a piece of paper with a to-do list, maybe as something politicians can present as an achievement during an election campaign.

Instead of Earth Hour we should be concentrating on real investment into proven nuclear power / actual research in alternative energy sources. Earth Hour is just a feel good thing.

International Women's days, Refugee days (???) are a pointless waste of time.

All the money spent on printing flyers, tv ads and otherwise marketing these awareness events is better off invested in cancer/heart disease research etc. research into power. Instead of telling people how they should recycle, how about introducing an initiative to scrap plastic bags in shops?

etc etc.

 

[kami]

This reminds me of a conversation I was having with an American friend of mine, he said one of the differences between Australia and the US is that where we had 'awareness' they had activism; our approach is very much about moderate discourse and apathetic support with 'superfluous ribbons' while they rage, protest and campaign.

I'm not sure if that statement is absolutely true but it does strike me that we don't voice ourselves too loudly and that there is something of a stigma attached to those who do. I'm sure we've all been annoyed at one time or another at the student activists who take it too seriously and get up into our faces; it's confronting and not something we react that well to.

I have to wonder if these kinds of things, the ribbon campaigns, the awareness weeks and the earth hour, are sourced from that same aversion to confrontation and fervor - we do the inoffensive and low energy campaigning for awareness but very little that gets everyone gasping.

 

[Iron]

Revolution>penal colony

 

[kami]

Revolution>penal colony

Let's start a revolution, bb.

 

[Iron]

Cant bru, too hot and arid...

 

[Arienetta]

So what if Earth Hour was a publicity stunt?
I understand your point of view, but I wonder what has helped the environment more. Our government, who seem to set up comitees for everything but actually DO nothing. Or the Australian public, who indeed have been influenced by such publicity stunts as Earth Hour.
Yes, I agree that publicity is not enough, that we need action. But that action needs to be accompanied by wide public knowledge of the situation.
Earth Hour was labeled a success because it showed that the public do care. Now it is the government's turn because together is the only way anything will ever work.

 

[jules.09]

Participating in awareness events becomes an excuse to do nothing else. In this sense I think they are a counterproductive exercise that fundamentally allow us to feel good about doing bad things. A media-sanctioned catharsis which allows us to assuage our guilt and continue our lives as normal.

I absolutely agree with this. It is counterproductive and largely a scheme for us to 'assuage our guilt' as you aptly refer to it. This runs deeper than just the awareness campaign on a political and environmental level. It is central to the 'fat is beautiful', 'we're all unique and individual', 'be yourself' and 'let's celebrate mediocrity!' movements. The message isn't healthy in the least. We need to assess whatever situation it is, for what it is, and address it accordingly. In addition to this, who are we to kid that the 'United Nations' is not a 'toothless tiger'.

The reality is confronting and these campaigns effectively seek to neutralise those undercurrents of guilt and materialism. If it's something we should invest more in, it's funding for scientific research, less for military, volunteering our time at a local nursing home or soup kitchen and supporting secular groups like Medecins Sans Frontieres. We need to look beyond action --> immediate recognition/pleasure.

The main problem is we always look towards others in being philanthropic in place of ourselves. Because it's easier.

 

[Tangent]

The campaigns lose meaning ever year they are held. I mean, Jeans for Genes day, hardly anyone hasa full understanding of what tht means. At my school, its just an excuse to wear jeans.

They have turned into a "look, I've given you 2 dollars, I've done my part, now leave me alone."
Instead of raising awareness it has made people apathetic to their cause, and people view it as a way to raise money, not awareness.

It's sad Y-Y

 

[ComingUpForAir]

(Excluding the well-intentioned intigator) I think alot of environmental/social issues attract those 'prostest-for-the-sake-of-protest' individuals.
e.g those unkept 'socialist alliance' kids who hang around campus wearing invertable t-shirts (free palistine on one side, and 'sack connex' (melbournes train provider) on the other), they're obviously more interested in emulating some romantized 'stick-it-to-the-man' movement, and a quick conversation exposes them as incapable of producing any meaningful or logical discourse.
Public activism should be about raising consciousness levels, so much of it today is merely the misdirected venting of some persecution complex, or wanna-be dissenters pushing some arbitory tokenist idea that everybody allready agrees with.

 

[jules.09]

they're obviously more interested in emulating some romantized 'stick-it-to-the-man' movement, and a quick conversation exposes them as incapable of producing any meaningful or logical discourse... or wanna-be dissenters pushing some arbitory tokenist idea that everybody allready agrees with.

So true. It's capitalism; it sells. It's like those Supre outlets selling 'anti-whaling' shirts - incongruous to say the least. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2377/2256966396_7bc3d09168.jpg?v=0 Naturally, consumerism desensitises the issue. At any rate, we're pitched in a society that's about flashy slogans (apparently a fashion statement) and a lack of exertion in the philanthropic respect.

I suppose it's easier for a capitalist state though, to inundate its constituents with lots of choice: the prolific material goods which hint at very real, social and ethical issues, are becoming the opiate of the masses.

'I care but I can't do anything about it. Instead I'll purchase this ribbon to show my support. I'll also buy that shirt to spread social awareness amongst my colleagues. It dispels public ignorance. Hurrah.' - and this is probably what your archetypal 'good citizen' does.

Saving the world, one ribbon at a time.