Let’s Make Americans Work Together Again

President Biden's Climate Plan will play a constructive role in global environmental governance. But, the plan fails to address the real barrier that has hindered the progress of the environmental movement: America's obsession with individualism.

In the book Good Society, American sociologist Robert Bellah defines individualism as the belief where "individuals are left free to pursue their private satisfactions independently of others, a pattern of thinking that emphasizes individual achievement and self-fulfillment."

America's individualism is the reason for our nation's lack of empathy and concern for the wellbeing of our environment. As a result, our country cannot think collectively or work towards a common goal of sustainability.

Yuval Noah Harari's book, Sapiens -- A Brief History of Humankind, argues that individuality is not how our species operates effectively. Harari states that the most critical skill of the Homo sapien is building communities with shared beliefs who passionately work together.

It is time that Americans stop thinking individually, start thinking collectively, and be inspired by a shared purpose. I believe that we can extract some insight for the future of our democracy and environment from an unexpected place: Japan.

Japan's culture of minimalism, connection, and zero waste is all due to the influence of the Mottainai culture. Mottainai directly translates to "what a waste." The word originated from Buddhist teachings and Shinto beliefs of animism that all objects have spirits.

Mottainai is more than just a word; it is a culture that focuses on the bond between a person and an object. Mottainai culture unites people in Japan by being the guiding principle in their everyday decisions. The culture creates a collective mindset and encourages everyone to be mindful of their resources, environment and avoid wastefulness.

Mottainai culture was a crucial part of my childhood. When I outgrew my clothes, my grandmother would give my shirts a new purpose by using the fabric to make bean bags. My brother and I used the bean bags to play Otedama, a traditional Japanese children's game. My late Japanese grandmother instilled values about sustainability and the importance of not wasting anything, a mindset that American society lacks.

We must draw inspiration from the Japanese Mottainai culture as a way to unite Americans and replace the individualistic attitudes inhibiting our nation's progress towards sustainability.

Based on my upbringing and the lessons my late Japanese grandmother taught me, there are several ways we can implement Mottainai culture into our daily lives.

Mottaini culture depends on education. If we want to see tangible change, it starts with educating the youth. The Mottaiani Grandma is a popular Japanese children's book that teaches the importance of not being wasteful. The American education system should start instilling values of sustainability in children, just as Japan is. Educating the younger generations will inspire their future actions and ignite a collective mindset towards sustainability.

Mottainai culture depends on respect. American's do not respect what they own because they do not know how an item was made or the conditions the item was made in. Americans must demand brands to be transparent about their treatment of workers and their environmental impact. Respect and responsibility should be at the forefront of a brand and consumer's mind. When consumers respect their clothing items, they take care of them and make them last, reducing our carbon footprint.

Mottainai culture depends on reducing excessive consumption. Suppose we all make thoughtful changes to our consumer habits that help us identify what we need versus what we want. In that case, we would be embracing the Mottainai culture and living a more conscious lifestyle better for the environment.

Mottainai culture depends on reusing and recycling. Americans must understand that we are not superior to nature. The items we throw out will hurt the environment, which will also hurt us. We need to awaken our consciousness to the reality that we are a part of nature and must start expanding the life of an object or discarding it properly.

If we want to make a genuine change in this world, a collective consciousness about how we interact with the environment is not only imperative but required. To have this collective consciousness, we must be inspired by a shared purpose. Mottainai culture should serve as the guiding principle in Americans' everyday decisions. Suppose millions of people begin making similar sustainable choices; the system might start to shift without policy changes.