[SustainableTompkins] Green Grand Prix, Watkins Glen, Sat., May 3

[Margaret McCasland]

I initially had a reaction similar to Andy's last year when the 
International Grand Prix (which for decades had its only US location 
at Watkins Glen) went "green."  But then, precisely because of its 
apparent absurdity, the green Grand Prix stimulated lots of 
discussion about cars and racing.

I was in Melbourne, Australia, when the green Grand Prix was run 
there (that was NOT why I was there), and we discussed the pros and 
cons of a green Grand Prix (and of racing in general) at my family's 
house, in our "stitching" circle after Sunday worship, and strangers 
discussed it on public transport (one of the great pluses in 
Melbourne).

I think that we need to keep reaching out, and the going will seem 
slow for a while. However, with an ever-expanding base, after a while 
I think the rate of change will accelerate in one of those 
exponential growth patterns.

But that will only happen if conversations--and the resulting 
decisions to make changes--keep expanding out to reach more and more 
people.

At some point, we will need government mandates (such as a carbon 
tax), especially to reign in the worst behaviors by 
mega-corporations, but that won't happen until there is a political 
mandate for significant change, and that won't happen until MOST 
people agree it needs to happen.  So we need to keep bringing more 
and more people into the conversations.

I won't drive to Watkins for the race, but I don't begrudge them doing it.

Margaret





>I think I'm going to have to remain in disagreement, without going
>through this line by line.
>
>People change slowly.  Helping people change means finding ways to make
>them _want_ to change.  Telling stories, showing them what's possible,
>and generally inviting them in are ways to encourage change.
>
>Declaring that change has to happen immediately doesn't encourage
>change, except among the folks who've already decided that things should
>change.  Targeting the people least likely to agree with your point for
>a stern insistence on their need to change seems utterly
>counter-productive to me.
>
>I know - patience sucks.  But the number one rule with people seems to
>be that patience is required.
>
>Incrementally yours,
>Simon St.Laurent
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