What is social change anyway? Throughout this semester, the class has centered on the possibility of social change. But what exactly is it that we have been referring to? I believe that the basis of social change is in making a positive difference. This difference can take place on various levels – personal, community, national or international. As each individual helps to form the society that we share, each positive difference initiated holds equal weight to that of a broader scale. For instance, I believe that an individual choosing to walk to work everyday in order to conserve oil and fossil fuels is creating social change equal to that of a nation spending an hour in which lights are turned off to conserve energy. In both instances, an entire people are being positively influenced. Emission of fossil fuels is no longer causing polluted air and the conserving of energy is taking place during an effective awareness strategy.
Social change is entirely possible; however, it is the movement to make a difference that can cause problems. If people are unable to find a way to channel their causes or are unwilling to change their set behaviour, then society remains at a constant. It is the responsibility of the media to not only capture the attention of the public when an individual is charged to make a change but to compel others to follow in those footsteps.
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this sounds like a reiteration of the maxim, "the personal is political." you're right, i think it's important to bear in mind that change begins with the individual and works exponentially outward. however, if the media is not disseminating information that will raise public awareness, how can ordinary, everyday citizens bring issues like climate change and energy conservation to the fore?
i.
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