Every person one sees is in some way part of ones existence. What keeps one alive in the city are the people who drive the trucks, who work in offices, wheeling and dealing and making connections to the life-giving countryside whence come food, water, building materials. So the lessons of interdependence are everywhere, providing we do not hide behind the glass and steel structures feeling separate and independent. We are all in this together, redwoods, mountain lions, the little kid down the street, the Mexican immigrant who picked radishes this morning. As the world grows smaller and human population increases, escaping these issues will be increasing unavoidable.
Denial is a problem facing both advocates of social justice and ecopsychologists.
Invisibility is one of the main symptoms of denial. Ecopsychologists recognize the limited effectiveness of pounding people with horrific facts and statistics about poverty in America did not stop the welfare bill from passing. Both social justice advocates and environmentalists need to find ways of presenting facts that invite participation rather fear-based apathy. Both need to help people find the strength and courage it takes to face the truth, and look each other in the eye. This shared challenge is itself common ground.