BLOG POST 3: DID 'NO IMPACT MAN' MAKE IMPACT?
Did ‘No Impact Man’ make impact?
In the developed world we generate on
average 2.3 kg of waste per day (World Bank, 2012). All goods we consume is
produced out of natural resources processed by labour. But we as a consumer
rarely think about environmental cost and a complicated system that a product
went through until you unpack and finish consuming in a few seconds. A
documentary film “No Impact Man” is a story of a family who tried to live one
year without causing any possible environmental impact in New York. Their extraordinary
attempt gathered big attention from the public. At the same time, he faced
skepticism saying individual action brings little impact in reality. Did he
succeed to bring ‘impact’ to make this planet more beautiful place?
His strategies
In this documentary, Colin Beavan and his
family’s attempt to live without wasting is recorded together with physical and
psychological and social challenges that they faced in the year. The basic
principle of the project was living without wasting and consuming industrial
products and services as much as possible. In the year, the family ate only locally
grown unpacked food, avoided using modern transport (including lifts!) and
avoided products which are produced by industrialized production system (even
toilet paper!!).
It seems very simple way but doing this at
the heart of American capitalism must have been so hard. If Beavan wanted to
save Amazonian rainforest, there could be less challenging and more efficient
ways to do so. Why did he choose to become “No Impact Man” and what messages
did he send us?
Re-thinking everything
It is believed that industrialization
allowed us to live more comfortable, healthy and happy. ‘No Impact Man’ doubts
this meth and asks “Is it possible to have a better life without wasting so
much?” The film casts fundamental questions like ‘Do we need this?’ ‘Is this
the best way?’ The project was a process of re-thinking everything that we take
for granted.
Importance of community
Another key message that ‘No Impact Man’ sends
is ‘interconnectedness’. In the film, Beavan’s wife Michelle said that she
realized existence of all people who grew and prepared her meal. We can’t live
alone. As long as you live in a society, you are connected to other people.
Michelle’s words remind us about interconnectedness from which we tend to be
blind.
Beavan’s interpretation of sustainability seems
to be heavily lopsided to environmental sustainability at first glance. What he
did was anti-capitalism and anti-industrialism to protect natural environment.
It seems very simple logic. However, what he actually tried to realize were not
only environmental sustainability, but social sustainability. He indirectly
uncovered forgotten happiness that arises from interconnectedness. According to
psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, human lives healthier and happier life if one
keeps good relationships.
As Beavan’s goal was “living better life
without wasting”, he showed us alternative for consumption to be happy. In short,
the ‘No Impact Man’ indicated that sustainability could be interpreted as a way
of being happy without harming the environment.
Did ‘No Impact Man’ make impact?
So, did ‘No Impact Man’ bring impact? Yes!
The extraordinary lifestyle of No Impact Man won public attention and made them
re-think about their lifestyle. Though he succeeded to bring impact, it is very
hard to make an individual action influential. Then, what’s the point to take
individual action? He answers this question in one simple phrase. “Don’t wait
others to do.” If you notice a problem, even a marginal one, take action! Small
but pioneer action is always the first step to drive a big change!
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Waldinger, R. (2015). What Makes a Good Life? Lessons from the Longest Study on Happiness. [online] available from:
World Bank (2012). What a Waste: A global
Review of Solid Waste Management. Chapter
3 Waste Generation. [online] available from:
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