Responsibility
"I don’t wanna point at one side or another on this because I think it exists in a lot of ways well-rounded within society. There has been a growing anti-intellectualism that says people who know what they’re talking about shouldn’t necessarily have more of a voice in this grander conversation than people who have no idea what they’re talking about, but have a stake in wanting to see it go in a certain direction." - John Kiehn
"With seven plus billion of us on the planet, how much can we actually minimize our impact or find a way to feed [it] back in on itself in a positive manner? That seems a very overwhelming thought to me." - John Kiehn
"...that feeling that we're deeply responsible for everything that's happening. But also, that nothing we do on an individual level matters, and that kind of tension, that in-between space, which can cause a lot of apathy but also just yeah, not knowing what to do with yourself." - Julia Onoyama
"Recycling starts at the grocery store, at the purchase point. I’m sorry, I’m angry. I’m always so angry. I am resentful that individual people [are] doing this, not that this is a bad thing. It’s a good thing, but what I am saying is that shouldn’t even be necessary. What the problem is, is who is generating it? It’s not me, and it’s not you. It’s none of us." - Kelly Doyle
"Recently it's become a thing for me where I feel so guilty and I think about all the impact every time I start my car that I'll walk three miles to work every day, as opposed to when I used to go drive around on weekends." - Isaiah Ross
"In terms of the whole planet, maybe not individuals, maybe corporations, but whatever entities are doing the damage, [it] seems like everyone else on the same level is pretty reluctant to step in and take responsibility for it. The other tenants won't pick up the trash someone throws and the other corporations aren't gonna hold accountable the guy who's pumping out all their carbon emissions, you know?" - Isaiah Ross
"Maybe it shows you that try as we will as individuals, really, most of the solution to environmental degradation has to be at a much higher level." - Jonathon Gold
"It's five times as big as any of the cars and it raises issues of... what does it mean to be an American, these days? How can you be proud of being a country that's doing the things that it's doing right now? It’s rolled in climate change. And yet, you have to have some way of -- how do you relate to American history, really? Actually, every country has to do this. They have the great achievements that they've done. I mean, America put a man on the moon and had a major role in World War II, defeating the Nazis. These are things to be very proud of. You have the feeling that even though we have lots of problems, it's constantly a work in progress trying to solve these problems." - Jonathon Gold
"I find very frustrating, that there are solutions out there and we do not seem to be taking advantage of them, because they are inconvenient, and Americans, and I must admit to being one, are basically selfish. We are used to getting what we want, feeling a sense of entitlement, because we are, you know, westerners." - Melanie Hodgdon
"This could be something that could spread, actually. I was just thinking that it is a simple thing that people could do. You can go to people in other towns and other states and say, look. This little town has done this, what are you going to do? ....This was made a ballot initiative and it was put on the ballot and this is what the town did. It's a challenge to other places, can you do this? It's a small thing but it's something that, actually, individuals like us could do." - Jonathon Gold
"You can rail against the government but it's on all of us." - Doug Poulin
"Globally, it's important for everybody to do their part to try and reduce their carbon footprint. I take my recyclables to the recycling center, because most people just put them in the dumpster, and I don't wanna just put them in the dumpster.... I walk my dog every day. If I see bottles or cans, I pick them up, just because that's what everybody should do. And I've done that for years." - Joan Shapleigh
"Somehow, we need to object to what's going on and not stand down, each of us, in our own way." - Stephanie Mattsen
"I feel really betrayed by the inaction of leaders in bringing about that change. I feel really angry about that fact that there are so many gatherings and groups of people trying to inspire that change and bring about that change that we all know factually we need to create. We need to have this change in our world, and our world leaders, the people in power -- whether it's politically or in corporations -- won’t even address or acknowledge that it’s happening. You know the fact that there’s corporations contributing to emissions that aren't responding to protests and our climate marches and what not... I feel really betrayed that the people who are in power, that there’s a structure in place that they can just ignore us and essentially ruin the earth." - Isaiah Ross
Chris Maas: You think about – there’s two issues that you bring to mind, and one of them is the notion that it’s hopeless for one individual to do anything –
Kelly Doyle: It’s frustrating.
Chris Maas: And the second one is when it comes to global effects, can mankind collectively do things? And certainly one of the things that comes to mind on that latter score is the hole in the ozone layer.
About CHANGE
CHANGE is a climate change research project directed by Dr. Kati Corlew and is dedicated to reaching a better understanding of peoples' perceptions of climate change. Our research was conducted using a qualitative research method called PhotoVoice. PhotoVoice, is a method “by which people can identify, represent, and enhance their community”. (Wang & Burris, 1997, p. 369) Our participants met in focus groups to discuss the research topics, and then went out into their communities to take photographs according to their conceptualization, values, and priorities regarding the topic. They then selected photographs to present and discuss in a final focus group (Gleason & Corlew, 2019). By placing participants’ photos, stories, and conceptualizations at the center of the study, we hope to expand the exploratory nature of this research to include themes outside of current climate change conceptualizations. For more information, please visit our Main Page.