How do you maintain the energy for change? Responses from the Sustainable Cities Round Table, 20 May 2009
Posted in Sustainable Cities Round Tables by Ferne Edwards on June 10th, 2009
The final question asked to the audience at the recent Sustainable Cities Round Table – The Energy to Change, 20 May 2009, was: “How do you maintain the energy to change for a healthier, more sustainable future?” This question provided some shining answers of how people maintain their motivation to work towards sustainability. It can be a hard road – we’ve got to pave it! – and it takes a lot of perseverance to make such changes. Find a long list of positive and heart-felt responses from the audience below. Again, the data has not been edited or analysed at all – simply written as was collected at the event.
What keeps you motivated?
Fear, hope
By leading a healthy life and that stopping is not an option for a more sustainable future. Need to stand up for people and the environment.
Collaboration, sharing, inspiration of others
Reflection on all that everyone is doing, grow own food, drive slowly up all hills
Desire to leave the environment in an acceptable state for the next generation
Networking with like-minded people and sharing stories of passion and success
Participation in innovative and experimental projects with educational outcomes
Keep projects fun and interesting eg, practise greening our large flat roof firstly on the shed
Motivated by the panoramic view outside the work window-seeing the smog every day
Encouraging our friends to use their bikes by gifting with fluro decorative leg bands
Using electricity wisely
Use of clean transport ie bikes
Look at packaging before I buy
Its all about doing stuff alongside interesting people who also want to do stuff
Its too vital not to have the energy
Sense of urgency
Like minded people
Events
Positive news on moving towards sustainability
My sustainability job
Working, talking and being with other committed, energetic people (especially when your own energy lags)
My 1 yr old son
Consider how the future will think of us knowing what we know
The challenge and the urgency
Re-assess town planning regulations
By maintaining close connections with the diverse, inspired community of people who also want this change
Climate change is a change to reform society and re-balance the terms of our relationship with the natural world
Community support and passion
Go to events
Read widely
Talk to people
Challenge ideas, be curious, ask lots of questions, share knowledge
Digging the vegie patch
Thinking about the grandchildren
Keeping in touch with like-minded people
Sing in community choir
Go to east Gippsland forests and pretend the worlds troubles have gone away
Look at kids
Connecting with others
Seeing the beauty in everything (particularly nature)
Volunteering
Trying to convince people
Do fun low energy activities eg riding bike, read and learn
My students give me endless hope that the future will be better. (There really is no other choice anyway.)
Part of climate change action group
Enjoyment of low energy activities
Intellectual challenge
Work as a landscape, architect/urban designer
Necessity for a sustainable future
I recognise that the future of life (as we know it) depends on it
A desire to live with more connections with the Earth
Discussing ideas and challenges with my friends so we can share the load and sustain energy
Trying to live a healthy, nurturing personal life and allowing time to change
Ride a bike everywhere
The possibility of living in a zero/low emission future is so inspiring in particular when it includes social benefits and economic change
I think of my kids and the other innocent youth, flora and fauna we share the planet with now and into the future
Eat more greens
Using less energy and thinking about how I use it. Often I think “What is my small change going to do?â€
Guilt? A good bed to rest well and get up and keep on the fight in the morning
Having your kids come home from school and ask what youre doing about sustainability
I gave up my car
Maintain the vision and feed it by interactions with people who are making positive change
Keeping in touch with others interested and active in improving sustainable behaviour and riding my bike and using time to reflect, absorb whats going on around me and generate ideas=healthy body and mind-literally have more energy
Maintain energy by acting-the more you do, the more you can do.
Pay off the ecological debt to future generations asap
I look at my three children and am determined to provide them with a sustainable world
Communicate, live, practise energy efficiency everyday.
Buy energy efficiency products an services
The future of technology will help in meeting our current energy challenges
Walk the talk
Faith
Optimism
Inspiration from others
Its easier to maintain the energy to change when Im in touch with positive possible solutions rather than doom and gloom scenarios
Maintain energy
Connect with others with similar beliefs
Right thing to do-morality
Others around me-seeing wonderful things happening in the world
I feel good about it and it is good for my health (eg walking rather than driving) and finances eg. Better insulation = lower costs
Australia is a precious country with a variety of ecosystems and we need to protect it
Keep paying attention to what others are doing to get ideas and inspiration
Spending time with like-minded people and going to events like this
I think the future will be grim if we dont
I use less energy/recycling.
Attend seminars to broaden knowledge about energy issues
Hearing about new ideas and meeting people who are enthusiastic about change
We do not have the right to live on the wealth of future generations. We must make a difference now.
