Eco-Communication

I read an article in the New York Times that discussed some of pyschological problems behind really going "green". The most interesting aspect of this article was the idea of semantics and its role in how we perceive environmental problems. Based on the study discussed in the article it may be much more difficult for people to commit to the green movement unless we (government, environmental policymakers and advocates) change our lingo.

As we talk about possible solutions and problems we need to be aware of the possible connotations associated with certain words we commonly use to to describe and solve environmental issues. A study discussed in the article demonstrated how people were opposed to doing something that would benefit the environment when the word "tax" was used. Being aware of words that may turn people off is essential in solving environmental problems.

My final take on the article is that we need to work as groups and use group language to solve the environmental problem. According to the article we as humans are more likely to react in a positive environmental manner if their is a group consensus to do so. One approach we should consider taking is hosting more community forums to discuss environmental issues.