Emma Little / Who is responsible?

Last thoughts before weekend number 2:

Finally woke up to autumn with a spring in my step today.  Realised that I have been completely absorbed in work recently and after a big event yesterday is now over, is it that the autumn colours are brighter, or am I just able to notice them more?  Are we only able to notice nature if our other needs are being met?

Confession:  Went to Starbucks today having succumbed to their clever advertising and the temptations of dark cherry mochas (a ’special treat’ after big day yesterday). Cost me £2.70 (WHAT?) and I had to take away as I was late for work.  What could they do to be less wasteful?  And what could I do?  There’s a coffee shop in broughton street that charges 30p for take aways - how much do people need to be charged for take aways to make them sacrifice 2 minutes of their busy lives to enjoy their coffee indoors? 

I’m in the middle of reading a brilliant book called ‘Nudge’ - about “how to steer people toward better health, sounder investments and cleaner environments without depriving them of their inalienable right to make a mess of things if they want to.” (thanks for the nudge Joyce) And it’s made me think - how much do we need governments and other powerful organisations to intervene and ‘nudge’ us towards behaviours we know are better for everyone, but that we are incapable of choosing ourselves?  What issues are we responsible for and what issues do we need governments and the likes to influence us on?

Visited Barnardos last weekend and had some great finds:  amazing african print frilly blouse for £4 (not to everyone’s taste, but with the right outfit) and cosy but cool bodywarmer for £6.  How much more creative can we be with less money? How much more individual can we be with less direction? If fashion is just repeating itself then basically we already have all we need - we just need to use our creativity to pick the things which express our individual personality. Think Carrie Bradshaw in the early SATC days - much edgier and individual.  Less couture and following the herd.  No contest.

So who is responsible for what?

I think we are responsible for nudging ourselves towards reducing, reusing, using our creativity and expressing our individuality.

AND we are responsible for nudging those leaders in positions of power to make the changes neccessary to create the healthy sustainable urban spaces we need to experience the seasons as they happen - without travelling far in to the countryside.  Cities scattered with greenspaces and an infrastructure to support these cleaner, healthier behaviours.  Do we need to show leadership to be led?