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How many of you have heard this argument? "I don't have to worry about climate change. I'll be dead before it gets really bad." There is nothing more infuriating than this. The people who use this argument demonstrate unabashed selfishness and complete moral apathy, in my opnion. How can you convince someone like this that they should go green? They obviously aren’t swayed by morality or facts.
Confronting apathy is difficult, because the apathetic party does not care. To cause change, you will have to be very motivated yourself. Convincing the apathetic man on the street to care may prove impossible, but you may be able to influence a loved one or family member.
Apathy and Depression
Apathy is linked to depression, but they are not considered one and the same. Someone can be apathetic and not be depressed and vice versa. The two conditions are tightly bound. If a loved one is suffering from apathy, it might be wise to have them checked out for depression. Ask them to see a therapist. Offer to go with them. Once the depression is assessed and treated, the apathy may lift.
Find a doctor that treats depression.
Apathy is also linked to a number of diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer's, Huntington's, Parkinson's, etc. All the more reason to see a doctor.
Apathy and Human Connection
Teachers have to deal with student apathy all the time. The University of Oregon suggests building a relationship with the person to determine the underlying cause of the apathy. Students often suffer from apathy when they fall behind in their studies or when they believe that they cannot do well in a class. Therefore, it is not too hard to believe that more than a few people will be apathetic towards environmental concerns, because changing the world seems much too difficult.
“It is not too hard to believe that more than a few people will be apathetic towards environmental concerns, because changing the world seems much too difficult.
To break open their shell of apathy, it may be as simple as giving the people hope about the environment. Don't let the apathetic party dwell on disparaging news reports that suggest the end of the world. Show them that the green movement has hit the mainstream, that more and more people are taking steps to reduce their own greenhouse emissions. The governments and corporations have been slowly following the lead of the people. Governments and corporations only have the power that the people yield to them, but we have to be united to make a difference.
Apathy is a Sign of Aging
Older adults are more likely to suffer from apathy than younger people. Most people who claim that they will not be alive when climate change hits hard are probably older. A thirty-year-old can theoretically live well past 2060 with future medical breakthroughs.
The next time a person says "I'll be dead by then," tell that person that apathy is a sign of old age. I don't know if that will motivate them, but at least they will be forced to think about why they may be apathetic.
The Apathetic Won't Be Dead
Climate change is already affecting us. Again, I don't know if this is a great motivational technique. We may be seeing major problems within ten years. That's not good news, but it is all the more reason to act. If the apathetic party has kids or grand kids, they might be swayed by this simple truth.
More on Green Community:
How Your Backyard Photos Can Help Scientists Control the Spread of Invasive Species
Talk to Your Roommates About Conservation: 40 Green Changes You Can Make Together
15 Ways to Use Social Media for Green Good
Tom Green Quiz Game
Got a tip or a post idea for us to write about on Planet Green? Email pgtips (at) treehugger (dot) com.
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