3 Videos About the Power of a Few

Sustainability issues can be overwhelming, depressing, and almost traumatizing. At times we may feel powerless to make a difference. In The Cult of Impotence: Selling the Myth of Powerlessness in the Global Economy, author Linda McQuaig provocatively suggests that helplessness is exactly what some large institutions want us to feel, so that they can get away with
solutions that are more in their interests than ours. She encourages us to take more personal responsibility for global sustainability challenges. The following three videos strongly support our capitalizing on our ripple effect.

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1. The Ripple Effect (2:19 min)This is short, clever, animated film about how our individual small steps can lead to big changes. The “ripple effect” is how I often describe my own efforts to make a difference through my talks and other resources that build capacity in others. As with a pebble dropped into a pond, the ripples go in all directions. We may never know what they end up touching. They may spawn new ripples. And so on. The metaphor works for me and may work for others. Let keep making splashes.

2. Together We Can (3:01 min)I like Margaret Mead’s famous statement: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” In this 2007 video, world leaders, celebrities, and ordinary people echo that we can make a difference together on climate change. As with most such videos, some viewers may take exception to particular political or corporate spokespeople being in this video, but its collaborative message is good.  It supports the leadership paradox that you have to do it yourself, but you can’t do it alone.

3. UnSTOPPABLE (3:06 minutes)Made by Climate Counts, this short video uses a hard-hitting style to make a point—individual consumers and investors can make a difference on climate change. How? They vote with their wallets in support of companies that are operating responsibly and that are offering environmentally and socially responsible products and services. Companies are very sensitive to their reputations with their important stakeholders, and investors and consumers are two of the most important.

If you know of other similar videos, please suggest them in the Comments section below. I’ll suggest four more next week.

Bob