I think that Ariel has pinpointed the biggest problem with intention. She says that there is a major gap between intent and impact. This gap shapes her, as well as others, perceptions of environmental solutions. Problems don’t get solved with good intention alone.
and that is where the but… comes in.
“I intended to . . . (insert trivial task or life changing solution). . . but . . . (insert excuse).”
Projects like the video below epitomize good intent but I question the impact.
For me, it is so hard to overcome the skepticism for these kinds of solutions. I probably need to hang out with Sam more, she says in her latest post, “I refuse to be a jaded environmental studies major. I am a glittering glowing ball of sunshine and enthusiasm and I will surround myself with people who want to share that.” Primarily because while the intent is clearly present, I don’t think the impact is. Someone has to empty the bins. The bins themselves are garbage. You can’t really put them in the places that need them most. They are really only for wealthy folks boat docking marinas. The trash still has to go somewhere after it is collected from the ocean.
Ariel ends with a message of more well thought-out intention for environmental solutions. The solution must consider not just one perspective, but many. However, this makes a solution much harder to implement leading to more “I intended…but….” This puts us in a very difficult position. It is clear that intent is not the only factor necessarily for implementing impactful solutions. I believe that intend must go hand-in-hand with thoughtfulness and follow through.