subject: Masters of the earth: YOU [print this page] Masters of the earth: YOU Masters of the earth: YOU
Yet, at the same time we can also trace many hopeful signs in society that reflect a more nature friendly ethic. We see, for instance, great public support for nature conservation organisations, growing criticism against factory farming and more public awareness of the human impact on climate change. Since the emergence of the environmental movement in the sixties and seventies, and the beginning of the debate about Mastery, the general public has become more aware of the consequences of human actions on the environment. Environmental issues gained a prominent place on political agendas and much environmentally friendly behaviour became a daily habit for many. Be it the preacher in church talking to his congregation or the water manager talking to the residents living along a dike, insight into the views of your audience makes it possible to anticipate on their ethics. In referring to the same values and using similar concepts and vocabulary the message is easier to understand. Differences between the visions of the stakeholders and the public can be overcome by explaining the issue more thoroughly or from a different angle.
It is not only the openness and acceptance of the others' values that enables mutual learning. It is also the insight into the reasons behind their values. These reasons might form a basis for common ground or mutual understanding. In the Arnemuiden case some participants favoured the preservation of the historical character of the area while others wanted to maintain the peace and quietness of the area.
Apart from the communication with the public, the results of this study also have the potential to contribute to more effective communication among stakeholders. While reading the values of the public the stakeholders become more aware of their own values and on how these relate to their preferences regarding nature conservation policy. The realization of these often implicit visions is an important step towards understanding the assumptions on which their opinion is based. Bringing this deeper level to the surface makes it easier to clearly explain the motives and justifications of decisions to the other stakeholders Studies into environmental world views show that environmental thought has increased over the last decades.
