Processes Involved in Driving Change: A Stage with Many Actors Connection to a place is also important in terms of the degree of civic cooperation when authorities attempt to promote the subject of sustainability. Studies indicate that people who feel disconnected are more likely to downplay the requirements and decisions dictated by the local authority or the state and may even ignore them. In contrast, in places where people are connected to the environment, the degree of civic cooperation increases. Within the community, private initiatives are created to promote and cultivate environmental activity. It was also found that at times, decisions reached by higher ranks (‘from above’) are not understood or do not suit the local population. On the other hand, initiatives implemented within the community (‘from below’) are likely to also impact the activities of the decision makers. Consequently, this will create a system based on a combination of processes: ‘Bottom- up’ and ‘Top-down’. At times, these processes arise spontaneously within the communities in which the residents demonstrate awareness of and an ability to work toward advancing an issue. In this case, the issue of sustainability. However, effective cooperation and the prevention of disagreements between the authority and the residents regarding courses of action requires involvement of intermediaries to mediate between the different parties. These ‘middlemen’ are parties with connections and understanding within the community and are capable of influencing the authorities. They mediate between the communities and the local authority and help improve communication, relay information, and promote action on behalf of groups of residents, organizations etc.
Environmental Activity In light of the serious climate crisis, one would expect a multitude of initiatives both by the authorities and private parties; however, it appears that many members of the public are apathetic toward the crisis. Among the researchers engaged in studying social activism, there is wide consensus that there is no direct connection between an injustice or problem and public action. At times, serious problems may be met by public indifference whereas at other times, marginal injustices will result in a sweeping protest. The circumstances for public participation in activism in general, and in environmental activism specifically, are complex and depend on the social mindset, on the ways the problem is presented to the public and on the abilities and talents of the members of a given social space. In order for people to choose to invest time on behalf of the community, they must be familiar with the problem, wish to solve it for themselves and for others, consider this activity to be valuable to them and possess the appropriate skills for the action (e.g., knowing how to start a venture, identifying the target audience, how to obtain funding if necessary, etc.). As such, environmental activism will develop in communities in which involvement with the environment is part of the local identity and the self-perception of its members. This activity also requires an understanding regarding the implication of the activity on the environment and the effective methods of coping with it.
Activism* A view that one should respond vigorously by taking real steps in cases of economic, social or political dispute. In short, Get up and Go!
10
Made with FlippingBook HTML5
RkJPbmxpbmVTSFAK - bcsPAAAAAAA= - NzUyMTI3