**7. Discussion**

**2.** Some are afraid of losing power.

148 Environmental Change and Sustainability

new traditions, adjusted to the natural conditions.

group psychology.

**6.** Psychological denial.

**4.** We are reluctant to think in a long-term perspective.

Power attains many forms. Wealth often creates power, and rich persons, companies or nations may depend on continued plundering of nature and natural resources. Dictators may suppress

Nordic settlements on Greenland existed for 450 years, but collapsed during the 15th century. Diamond assumes that the traditional Norwegian lifestyle, which they maintained, led to overgrazing and erosion. They had contact with eskimo people, but were not willing to consider harvesting from the sea, which would have been more sustainable on Greenland. Also, English traditional husbandry in Australia on vulnerable soils, with little forest and limited precipitation, has created several problems: overgrazing, erosion, lack of freshwater, and loss of forests and biodiversity. Diamond suggests that a sustainable Australia has to create

While a farmer may be eager to leave his farm in an improved condition to his children, both politicians and private persons may evolve a mental obstacle about thinking too far ahead. Politicians may be more eager to be renominated than to grasp challenges demanding longsighted thinking, and individuals may be more or less self-centered. Economic activity may be highly focused on short-term produce, and investments may easily be moved from one

History illustrates several cases where people have been seduced by charismatic, but danger‐ ous leaders. It may be a demanding task to maintain independent, critical thinking amidst a mentally brainwashed and emotionally heated public. Clever nazi-propaganda in the 1930's made Hitler's crimes against humanity possible. Even a handful of good advisers may give bad advice as a result of unfortunate group psychology. Stressful circumstances and the need for mutual support and approval may lead to suppression of doubts and critical thinking, resulting in a dangerous decision. One example from the book is president Kennedy's advisers during the Bay of Pigs crisis. Later, Kennedy was careful to let his advisers think critically and independently before the group concluded. The movie "Twelve Angry Men" demonstrated how one critically thinking person, presenting his doubt, was able to break an unfavourable

Man has a psychological ability to suppress, often subconsciously, the inconvenient. For instance, people who live just below a dangerous dam may claim that they do not fear a catastrophe. They suppress thinking about it. However, persons living further down the

watershed dare to worry, and actively try to reduce the danger.

environmental hostile activity to another, with great total economic success.

**5.** Critical, individual thinking may be paralysed by group psychology.

**3.** We are unwilling to change traditions, even if they are environmentally unfriendly.

democratic movements and even commit genocide to avoid losing power.

This review illustrates how sustainable thinking depends on fruitful concepts and wellfounded attitudes. We have also stressed the value of powerful rhetoric: It matters how you communicate about environmental problems. On our way towards a sustainable future, concepts, attitudes and rhetoric represent important weapons against "Business as usual". However, these weapons must have the necessary quality.
