Mental models for sustainability 1

This chapter offers both theory and practices designed to help people make substantive changes in their mental models. Mental models for sustainability are operating systems or paradigms that value and generate respect for one's self, respect for other people, respect for peoples, and respect for our Earth. In "Mental models in civil society," Beth Applegate shows the importance of mental models to the development of a culturally competent strategic plan. The mental models that prevail at the beginning of the 21st century are so far working to preserve the status quo and hindering the sustainable initiatives that most people now know are necessary to preserve a choice-rich human presence on the planet. Grassroots organizations proliferated in the region in which the companies were operating and were able to litigate on behalf of communities, further contributing to a change in mental models that had existed since the industrial revolution.