When she first found fame, the Grammy-winner was appalled to see how environmentally destructive the concert business can be. Now, as one of the most influential touring acts in the world, she is building a blueprint for change. "Things don't have to be done the same way."
  • SolarQueen@slrpnk.net
    5·
    1 day ago

    Sure, there are bigger things, but there will always be bigger things. Someone, especially someone with a large audience, coming out and saying that this is important to them is the important part. That’s how you begin a movement.

    Naysayers pointing out how one thing isn’t going to make a difference is part of how capitalism works; it persists by convincing everyone that there is no point in resisting, that nothing will ever make a difference. But she and others aren’t doing this because it’s going to change everything, they’re doing it because they should, and it’s part of the world we want. It starts with a few people, and then spreads to everyone else. I myself have managed to convince a non-zero number of people to change their ways just like this. You just have to be persistent, and have a little faith.

    • SolarQueen@slrpnk.net
      2·
      1 day ago

      I realized I didn’t give examples of things I’ve convinced people of, so I figured I’d elaborate–sorry for the comment length; I’m not trying to pile on you, just hoping to inspire others!

      • I’ve pointed out to a few people that restaurants will often let you bring your own food containers for leftovers, and sometimes will box it for you, so that you don’t have to use Styrofoam or single-use plastic
      • I’ve inspired a few folks to repair their clothing instead of throwing it out by wearing very visible patches on my own clothes. I usually make them look pretty and/or creative, which makes them popular with people
      • I’ve steered folks away from Spotify by sharing places I like to buy music that aren’t streaming platforms (I even got a family member a CD player so they could build a collection, and it went down really well with them!)
      • I like to make zines going over various ways I’ve found of consuming less and saving money. I’ve gotten a lot positive feedback on them over the years.
      • Steve@communick.newsEnglish
        2·
        21 hours ago

        There aren’t always bigger things. There’s always one at the top. That’s where changes can have the biggest impact. And where peoples focus needs to be.

        “What’s your carbon footprint?” was a marketing slogan from the big oil companies to steer the environmental movement away from them (where substantive change was possible) onto everyone else, so they could dodge responsibility. It worked remarkably well. You still thinking that way is testimony to the fact.

        • SolarQueen@slrpnk.net
          1·
          20 hours ago

          You and I, though, have virtually no say in what goes on at the top, and realistically, we never will. So I don’t really see why giving up work elsewhere would accomplish anything. Which isn’t to say that we can’t do two things at once, of course–you and I can both push for legislation against large industrial polluters, and we both should. Where I take exception to that is in saying that others also shouldn’t take action in their own way as well.

          It assumes that work on climate change is a very zero-sum game, in that focusing on one type of behavior eliminates work on any other sort of behavior, and that’s simply not the case. We can do many things at once. It also helps to build a community that has buy-in from each of its members about how things should be–sustainable and regenerative, instead of exploitative (whether of people, things, the Earth, etc), so that the larger things follow suit. This normalizes the behavior and practices and moves the Overton window away from what the big players are doing.

          Thanks for the reminder about the carbon footprint slogan. I don’t think it’s wrong in itself, however, it’s just that it was co-opted to remove pressure from Big Oil instead of being used in tandem with the movement against them.