In “The Double Edge of Globalization”, Chanda (2007) highlighted that global-warming news are claiming front-page attention globally and the use of human suffering images in evoking our sympathy and support. Chanda is thus implying that the increase in global awareness to environmental degradation can stimulate responses from us to tackle environmental problems. However, I believe that this increase in awareness will make us less incline to respond to environmental problems.
News on environmental degradation are ubiquitous in our everyday lives. Frequent exposure to such news has led to desensitization in many of us. Gradually we become increasingly insensitive to environmental problems and therefore it is unlikely that we will respond to such issues.
Due to the hyperconnectivity of today’s world, we are certain that many people are aware of environmental problems. Inevitably some people will assume that others will take action, thus absolving themselves from the responsibilities of environmental problems mitigation. This has led to the phenomenon of “Diffusion of Responsibility” (Darley and Latané, 1968), resulting in a decrease in the actual amount of people responding to environmental problems.
Increase in global awareness to environmental degradation may not stimulate responses from us. Instead, it decreases people’s sensitivity and responsibility towards environmental problems, resulting in us being less incline to respond to environmental problems.
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