Are you there or are you elsewhere?

The psychology of how we think about systems begins with whether we understand ourselves as having agency. And it depends on how tethered we feel to the physical facts of a place. 

If you sense yourself as powerless- and if broken windows and glass-strewn parks reinforce that sense when you step outside- you seem less likely to engage in the slow, uncertain work of civic exchange. (This is a guess that I'd love to research.)

A different kind of remove probably operates at the other end of the wealth spectrum. If we think we can just leave, literally or digitally, how effective will appeals to our solidarity be? 

The premise of AllBeforeUs is that local focus, and local negotiation, regulate stress and foster civic engagement- and civic engagement can effectively replace some carbon politics. If you want someone to feel responsible for climate change, make her feel tied to the place she lives.