Chrismas, Robert and Brandi Schellenberg. (in peer review). “Not in My Back Yard, Not My Problem: The Effect of Social Justice Discourse in Calling to Action for Community Wellbeing” in Looking In, and Breaking In: Conflict, Peacebuilding, in Through the Outdoor of Core-Periphery Relations (Routledge Publishing).
Abstract
One need not look to the Global South or conflict zones worldwide to find marginalized and oppressed communities. Canada has one of the highest living standards in the world. Yet, many of our citizens live unhoused or with unstable power, undrinkable water, and insecure food supply. In the larger urban centres people seem to have become accustomed to stepping over unhoused people who are dying in the streets, or they avoid visiting the impoverished core neighbourhoods altogether. Countless individuals suffer from mental health challenges or addictions exacerbated by poverty. The same disparity can be seen throughout the world. Many live around these tragic social issues and do not see them as their problem unless they are directly affected by them. Most will not act unless they cannot avoid what is occurring in their own backyard. Society would rather hide the undesirable lifestyles and way of life of the homeless, poverty-stricken, criminal, or addicted individuals by congregating them in impoverished neighbourhoods. Many feel that if these social blisters are out of site, and “not in my backyard” (NIMBY) then they are someone else’s problem (Chrismas, 2020). We should all feel responsible to overcome this culture of indifference and silence as NIMBYism has a high societal cost to everyone especially in the city of Winnipeg and other Canadian cities. This chapter explores the phenomenon of inaction, denial and how the average person is called to act. We examine the power of adding to the discourse around social responsibility to raise awareness and inspire people to make positive contributions in their communities.