 |
|
|
|||||
Rain-parched Southern California finally received some much-needed precipitation recently, offering some relief from the Los Angeles wildfires which displaced more than 150,000 people from their homesand either razed or damaged some 15,000 structures. Of course, not everyone jumped to help. But amid the widespread devastation came what seems like, in our socially and politically fraught times, an unlikely ray of hope: A convergence of communities, of neighbors helping each other in whatever way possible and even heading out to assist complete strangers. The goodwill and altruism born from this calamity has been a boon to exhausted and overwhelmed firefighters and public resources. But why does it seem to take epic disasters to bring people together in the first place? Social behavior and trauma Psychological research provides fascinating insights into that very question. One particularly influential paper published in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry in 2008 dubs this phenomenon of charity and communal support altruism born of suffering. Research on altruism has focused on its positive roots, whereas research on the effects of victimization and suffering has focused on aggression and difficulties in functioning, write the study authors. However, anecdotal evidence, case studies, and some empirical research indicate that victimization and suffering can also lead people to care about and help others. One of the papers authors, prominent psychologist and professor emeritus Ervin Staub at UMass Amherst, has expounded on his findings in the years since, noting the real-world evidence from studies of peoples social behavior following a traumatic event, such as the 2004s devastating earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean. In one study, some participants reported that they have suffered because of abuse or violence against them in their families, because of harmful behavior against them as members of a group, or because of natural disasters, Staub wrote in Psychology Today. Months later they expressed more empathy with, and feelings of responsibility for helping people affected by the tsunami in Asia in 2004, and volunteered more to collect donations for them, than people who reported that they had not suffered. They also volunteered more for causes that involved helping people. Tightening communities A trio of experts who spoke with Fast Company added further context to the social psychology of collective trauma events, group identity during times of disaster, and community cohesion after mass tragedies which helps explain this sudden impulse toward altruism and empathy. There are place communities like we had in Altadena, and that’s very meaningful, and it’s not something that everyone has. But there are also these other kinds of communities of identity, you know, like people will say, I belong to the gay community, or I belong to the community around a particular organization, says John Brekke, professor emeritus at the USC School of Social Workand, incidentally, an Altadena resident whose own home was greatly damaged by the recent wildfires. So, you know, it’s interesting when you see people who all of a sudden come together around this almost community of disaster, in a way, they feel themselves. They can be a part of something by participating in this community of helpers, really, either through giving money or lending time or actually taking people in, and that act of giving at the community level seems to be as meaningful as literally giving to someone that you’re right next to who needs some help. Theres a neurobiological aspect to this, too, Brekke says, explaining that, it not only feels good from a spiritual point of view, if people are being spiritual, but it also feels good from a psycho-biological perspective, because you get a rush of great stuff into your system when you are being empathic and when you are giving to others. This includes biochemical releases of things like serotonin and oxytocin, which lead to feelings of contentment, well-being, and connection. Individualism and identity Unfortunately, whether that feeling of empathy and good will persists after a collective traumatic event like the wildfires is a more complicated question. Some of that has to do with American societal values. American mainstream society is about rugged individualism, says Jorja Leap, a professor of social welfare and executive director of the UCLA Social Justice Research Partnership. Here you’re an individual, you’re taught. Whether it’s the frontier, whether it’s space travel, whether it’s running for office, we look at individual personality and individual strengths, and we tend to lift that up more than the idea of community, so people are expected to make it on their own. So, while disasters such an earthquake or war may bring people together, there can be an ensuing cynicism, she adds. (Case in point: The ongoing battle over fire insurance and which communities houses will be rebuilt in Los Angeles.) We may be incredibly altruistic and responsive and then incredibly cynical, and sometimes that cynicism is self-protective. I really believe that cynicism is just cover up for fear, adds Leap. Another expert, Alison Holman, a professor at the UC Irvine School of Nursing and UCIs School of Psychological Science, has extensive experience researching the effects of individual and collective traumas, including Southern California wildfires. Like USCs Brekke, she believes identity is a key factor that drives empathy and altruism during crisis moments. What may be happening is that people identify, to some extent, with the people, the victims, she says. We have found in our work that identifying with victims is really something that helps to encourage people to engage in pro-social behavior. So, when people identify with them, meaning, ‘Oh my God, I lived there, I lived in that area,’ or, ‘Oh my God, I’ve lost my home,’ or, ‘Oh my God, I know what it’s like to be threatened by that,’ it may just instigate in people that sense of identification that would make them want to help out. Thats certainly a phenomenon playing out in Los Angeles at the moment. Whether it leads to lasting change in people and more community engagement after the blaze, and in an era where climate change is expected to lead to ever-cascading calamities, is a more open question.
Category:
E-Commerce
Straws might seem insignificant, inspiring jokes about the plastic vs. paper debate, but the plastic straw has come to symbolize a global pollution crisis over the past decade. On Monday, President Donald Trump waded into the issue when he signed an executive order to reverse a federal push away from plastic straws, declaring that paper straws dont work and dont last very long. Trump said he thinks its OK to continue using plastic straws, although they’ve have been blamed for polluting oceans and harming marine life. In 2015, video of a marine biologist pulling a plastic straw out of a turtles nose sparked outrage worldwide and countries and cities started banning them, starting with the Pacific Island nation Vanuatu and Seattle in 2018. Heres what to know about the larger fight over single-use plastics in the United States: What happens to plastic straws? More than 390 million plastic straws are used every day in the United States, most for 30 minutes or less, according to advocacy group Turtle Island Restoration Network. Plastic straws are usually thrown away after one use, going on to litter beaches and waterways and potentially killing marine animals that mistake them for food. The straws are not recyclable because they are so small. They take at least 200 years to decompose, the network said. They break down into incredibly tiny bits of plastic smaller than a fraction of a grain of rice. These microplastics have been found in a wide range of body tissues. Though research is still limited overall, there are growing concerns that microplastics in the body could potentially be linked to heart disease, Alzheimers and dementia, and other problems. Trump’s executive order claims that paper straws use chemicals that may carry risks to human health are more expensive to produce than plastic straws. Researchers from the University of Antwerp found forever chemicals known as PFAS to be present in paper, bamboo, glass and plastic straws, but not stainless steel ones, according to a 2023 study. The advocacy group Beyond Plastics said that while plastics are often cheaper than paper products, the cheapest option is to skip the straw. Judith Enck, a former Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator who now heads up Beyond Plastics, said she hopes that people react to the executive order by committing to using fewer plastic straws and that local and state governments do, too. Its easy to just kind of almost poke fun of this, ignore it, she said Tuesday. But this is a moment that we as individuals and state and local policymakers can make a statement that they disagree with this executive order and are committed to using less plastic straws. Its not that hard to do. Several states and cities have banned plastic straws and some restaurants no longer automatically give them to customers. What is being done globally? President Joe Biden administrations had committed to phasing out federal purchases of single-use plastics, including straws, from food service operations, events and packaging by 2027, and from all federal operations by 2035. The move was a way for the federal government to formally acknowledge the severity of the plastic pollution crisis and the scale of the response required to effectively confront it. Erin Simon, an expert on plastics and packaging at the World Wildlife Fund, said at the time that it sent a message around the world: If we can make change happen at scale, so can you. The declaration came in July, just a few months before negotiators met in South Korea to try to finish crafting a treaty to address the global crisis of plastic pollution. Negotiators didnt reach an agreement late last year, but talks resume this year. Under the Biden administration, the United States at first adopted a position viewed as favoring industry, stating that countries should largely develop their own plans instead of abiding by global rules. China, the United States and Germany are the biggest players in the global plastics trade. The United States changed its position heading into South Korea. The delegation said it would support having an article in the treaty that addresses supply, or plastic production. More than 100 countries want an ambitious treaty that limits plastic production while tackling cleanup and recycling. U.S. manufacturers have asked Trump to remain at the negotiating table but revert to the old position that focused on redesigning plastic products, recycling and reuse. Aren’t other plastics a problem? The environment is littered with single-use plastic food and beverage containers water bottles, takeout containers, coffee lids, straws and shopping bags. Every year, the world produces more than 400 million tons of new plastic. About 40% of all plastics are used in packaging, according to the United Nations. In 2023, Ocean Conservancy volunteers collected more than 61,000 plastic straws and stirrers polluting beaches and waterways in the United States. There were even more cigarette butts, plastic bottles, bottle caps and food wrappers, the nonprofit said. Most plastic is made from fossil fuels. Negotiators at the United Nations climate talks known as COP28 agreed in 2023 the world must transition away from planet-warming fossil fuels and triple the use of renewable energy. As pressure to reduce fossil fuels has increased globally, oil and gas companies have been looking more to the plastics side of their business as a market that could grow. Trump strongly supports and gets support from the oil and gas industry. ___ The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Jennifer McDermott, Associated Press
Category:
E-Commerce
As an introvert, I dread large conferences. I get invited to a number throughout the year, and I usually scramble to find excuses for why I cant attend. Since I have spent much of my career posing as an extrovert, some people are surprised to discover that I really dont enjoy networking at large gatherings. I worry about feeling overwhelmed by the crowds, not remembering peoples names, having to sit alone for meals, drawing a blank and not being able to engage in small talk, and, of course, worried I wont know anyone there. Just thinking through all of this is absolutely exhausting. Last year, I was invited to speak and attend Transform, a conference focused on driving innovation in the workplace. The same dread took over me as I committed to attend. And after spending a few days in Las Vegas with a few thousand attendees, I think I finally cracked the code for myself on how to approach large conferences as an introvert. So this year, as I prepare to attend again, I have a game plan to get the most out of this conference. Heres my advice on how to navigate and network at large conferences. Plan your days in advance, including who youll talk to Now, I prepare for the conference weeks before I even arrive. If possible, I try to stay at the hotel where the conference is taking place. And if not, as close as possible. I take a look at when the conference begins and when it ends, and I study the agenda topics and list of sessions. I take a note of the speakers and who is attending and see if I see any familiar faces. If available, I use the conference app to keep track of the sessions I want to attend and message and connect with people before the conference. I also check if any colleagues or friends are attending the conference, what days, and coordinate travel and even share Ubers to and from the airport. Last year, I planned to meet a friend who was also attending in the lobby in the mornings and walked to sessions together, and when I was feeling anxious I texted her to grab a coffee or snack. We also walked out of the conference at the end of the day and grabbed a drink. I was happy to have a buddy I could rely on when I was feeling out of place or overwhelmed by the crowds. Find the super connectors While large conferences can be intimidating, I also want to push myself to meet new people. I set a goal of meeting at least three new people a day. This can be daunting if you feel uncomfortable walking up to a stranger or breaking into a circle of people and introducing yourself. My plan now is to find the super connectors and have them help me meet new people. I try not to apply expectations on what these introductions could lead to. Some of these new people I have a lovely interaction with and we dont connect again. And some of these new people I hit it off with and we stay in touch post conference. My friend Dinah Alobeid, a communications executive, is a super connector who knows a variety of people across sectors and industries. She had me grab a coffee with her and then invited me to stand with her and her team at the Greenhouse booth in the exhibitor area. It was an easier way to meet people who came to their booth, as opposed to going around the large area alone and trying to force myself to stop and booth after booth after booth and make small talk (I did do that later, and of course brought my friend Sarah along.) My friend David Landman, an human resources executive, is also a super connector who seems to make friends wherever he goes. He plugged me into all the social events that were happening. He also found me the very first morning of the conference during a break and introduced me to people. He then got me invited to lunches, happy hours, and dinners so I didnt have to worry about who to meet with and if I would be sitting alone. He even met me in the lobby so we could walk over to evening events together. I felt so much more at ease not having to enter rooms alone where I may not know anyone. Prioritize time to decompress Finally, I stopped putting pressure on myself to do every single thing at the conference. Theres so much happening at a large conference like Transform you can want to make the most of it and take advantage of everything being offered. The first year I went, I tried to do it all, and left feeling exhausted and depleted. Now, I dont pressure myself to attend every single session. I take breaks, I grab a coffee and go and recharge for a few minutes alone. I usually have my journal with me to take notes. I also go back to my hotel room to freshen up or sit in the quiet and recharge before heading back downstairs. I give myself permission to leave when I want to. I also find by doing this, I am much more present and attentive when I am at the conference and one on one conversations. One evening, I wasnt feeling great and couldnt make it out to dinner plans. My friend Sally Wolf, a wellbeing advisor and keynote speaker, invited me to come to her hotel room, and join her and her friend Danielle Farage, a speaker on Generation Z corporate talent. I was hesitant at first to go, and then felt at ease as soon as I walked into their room. We nibbled on snacks and chatted for over an hour. It was great to connect with conference attendees in a more informal, casual setting. With preparation and pre-planning, with the help of super connectors, and prioritizing time to decompress, large conferences dont have to be an introvert’s worst nightmare. In fact, now with my plan in place, I am excited to attend Transform and other large conferences this coming year. I am on a mission to learn and open my mind to topics, be present and share my expertise and knowledge, and hopefully make at least one or two new friends along the way.
Category:
E-Commerce
All news |
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||