It’s a difficult issue to get people to respond to, because the consequences are relatively distant, and “what should I do?” is often not answered.

We already know from people gambling excessively, smoking cigarettes, drinking too much alcohol, taking strong drugs and so on that people are prone to see just the short term. “It might kill me in twenty years” doesn’t seem terribly impressive, and “it’ll raise the world’s temperature by a degree or two” less impressive still.

As for “what to do?” the truth is that individual actions can be quite effective if taken by many; but they must start with one. We need only consider things like the action of Danes preventing the Holocaust in their country - they simply refused to go along with it. Individual people just did what they felt was right, and it spread. But at some early point there were a few people saying “no” who wondered if they might be the only ones. Obviously those causing climate change don’t have that kind of malice in their actions, and unlike the Danes greenish types don’t risk being murdered, but the two events are comparable in their scale and the likely suffering. And individuals stopped it, in one country at least.

Or we can consider individuals as being inspirational, like Gandhi and his walk to make salt. Such a simple thing made a very great impression, and contributed strongly to the erosion of British rule. On a less grand scale, each of us will have in our lives some person who inspired and changed us.

So I think that’s a good way to approach things, for each individual to do as they think right. Perhaps my personal actions will not change the world. But when I am faithful to my woman, refrain from stealing from or abusing people, it’s not because I think it will bring fidelity to the world, or make the world honest and kind; I do it because it’s the right thing to do.

Personal example is also a compelling argument. Here in Australia people tend to say, “but to be low carbon we’d have to live in a cave” or “it’d cost too much to change.” Since I’m aiming at a one tonne CO2 lifestyle, and am a fair part of the way there, I can say, “Well, no actually, it’s not bad at all, and has saved me money.”

anway, i am going to talk about this someday they will come to know the real sitution.

warm regards,
Meena.

Kudos to you on your thought-processes, Jane! Hope to exchange thoughts with you, and hopefully collaborate to initiate action in the near future.

The near future… that’s all we have, realistically.

:0)

Warmly,
Krish
http://friendlyghost.rediffiland.com
http://globalwarming.rediffiland.com

I often run into a wall when I ask people to make BIG changes. They are ok with changing lightbulbs, turning off taps and all that. But when you ask them to change lifestyle or relook at the way they are shopping, carrying out their own business etc.. WHAM! They slam shut.

This guy had recently seen “The Great Global Warming Swindle” (a movie that was recently aired on TV but can be found on you tube) and while he agreed that we are doing terrible things to the planet (i.e. clearing forests) he one, doesn’t believe that global warming is happening in the first place and two, doesn’t think that it is a man-made problem.

It was infuriating for me. My partner and I were talking about it after and decided that we needed to do some homework to be able to squash the ‘facts’ that have come out of that movie. Now I can also apply some of the tactics you have mentioned above.

Thanks for that.