Prices, subsidies, and incentives may change as a consequence of this ethic. Entire industries may develop to utilize alternative natural resources such as wind energy, geothermal, and solar power. We should lobby government officials to end subsidies that promote the conversion of open spaces to housing subdivisions and to increase funding to rejuvenate inner city neighborhoods. We should advocate zoning that promotes a mix of retail business and residential land use. By modeling the change in behavior that we wish to see in other people, we not only reinforce our own enduring commitment to this ethic, we also help others see the value of thinking and acting together.
People learn to relish simplicity.
They learn to rely less on possessions for filling the void in their lives. They discover community. They learn generosity. They revel in the majestic beauty of the natural world. They understand that socially responsible consumption depends upon hearts, minds, and hands.