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Tuesday, February 17th, 2015

Want to save the planet? Neighbors better allies than family

Author:     Basil Waugh
Source:     University of Vermont
Publication Date:    
Link: Want to save the planet? Neighbors better allies than family
Stephan:   Tonight some good friends came over, both social progressive activists, and philanthropists. One of them asked me "how do we put this life-affirming choices process you advocate in motion." Here is an answer. Note the distinction made between family and friends — one's intimate circle — with a second less personal circle. Then to a tertiary connection and so on creating the network of shared intention that changes the consciousness of the community. I live in such a community. It is a fraudulent myth that change can only be achieved with official power, position, and wealth. Neighbors joining neighbors is the secret route that creates lasting change.
Socializing with neighbors leads to more planet friendly behaviors that visits with family or friends. Credit: Joshua Brown/UVM

Socializing with neighbors leads to more planet friendly behaviors that visits with family or friends.
Credit: Joshua Brown/UVM

Know your neighbor, save the planet. That’s the key finding of a study that finds socializing with neighbors leads to more planet-friendly behaviors than spending time with friends or family.

The study, published by Environment and Behavior journal, finds that people who visit neighbors are more likely to “keep up with the Joneses” on green behaviors, including water and energy conservation, buying organic fruits and vegetables and driving less.

“These findings suggest that our neighbors play a unique and crucial role in getting people to act on climate change,” says study author Thomas Macias of the University of Vermont. “Surprisingly, green outcomes were higher with neighbors than family relatives or close friends.” (emphasis added)

Researchers blame the differences, in part, on the overwhelming similarity of loved ones due to shared cultural and socio-economic upbringings. “This similarity provides emotional […]

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