NIMBY stands for Not In My BackYard. It describes people who, for example, don’t want a wind turbine built near their town, because it would, in their opinion, destroy the view. They mustn’t be against renewable energy, but they don’t want to see it.
Of course, the destroyed view is often only an excuse. The real reasons are variegated. It maybe fears, because people have problems with new things or because your neighbor does want it, but you hate him, therefore you are against it.
NIMBYs are mostly hypocrites. As we all are. Therefore, we are all NIMBYs.
Why NIMBYs are hypocrites
We eat meat, but don’t want a slaughterhouse or factory farming in our neighborhood. More than that. We want the meat cut up into little pieces and wrapped up in plastic, so they don’t look like animals anymore.
We want to eat avocados but don’t want to see the underpaid worker harvesting them in the plantations and having no water to drink, because it is all used for the avocados.
We want to drive the car and feel the freedom and don’t think about the emissions, the health issues we cause for the people outside, the poor working conditions on the oil drill and the wars fought for the black gold.
We think shelter for homeless people and care centers for drug addicts are a good thing, but please not in my neighborhood.
This list is endless.
We always want the outcome, but not the struggle to get there. We want a million, but not working for it.
It’s normal
It’s normal human behavior, and if you think you are different, you are an even bigger hypocrite. We don’t like to see the problems. The one phone call you have to make, you postpone it, till the moment you have to make it. The dripping faucet will not be repaired till after the next water bill or your floor is soaked. The paper you have to write will be done right on the deadline or a day later.
Of course, it varies from human to human and from problem to problem. If it is easy, and you know how to fix it, or it distracts you from your real problem, you may solve it right away. The more difficult a problem is, the more we procrastinate.
It’s the same for one human or all mankind.
Entering climate change
Entering climate change. This problem is so massive and so complex, we deny it till it is (nearly) too late. We believe the lies and propaganda, because it is easier to do, and because we’re afraid of the new and afraid to lose what we have.
That’s why we stick to our system. It’s cozy. We can block out the bad and enjoy the wonderful world of consumerism. And we know it, change makes us uncomfortable.
Let’s be populists
Populists know, that we are all NIMBYs. They tell us, exactly, what we want to hear. That we are the best, our system is the best, or it will be, when we turn back time and do it like we always did.
The others are the bad ones. They want to take away, what we have.
Of course, these are all lies.
How can we address the people acknowledging that we are hypocrites, afraid and lazy and doing this by telling the truth?
Have a vision
By having a vision.
A vision of a better system, from which the people benefit. A step-by-step plan how we achieve the goals. So that everybody can see it is achievable but doesn’t have to think too hard.
It will not be without friction, but step by step we can do it.
My name is Ian DeBay.
I am the founder of iandebay.com. I am a content creator, blogger, podcast, YouTuber. This is my blog where I talk about system change, sustainability and other fun stuff.
Leave a Reply