We all must use less gasoline and more efficient lightbulbs, and turn down our thermostats and support positive action by business and government. AND each of us must make an effort to inspire and help those we can influence to do all of these things. If you are on this website, you are a connector, and you have power to make more of a difference than you can make by yourself.

So I challenge you to cultivate climate change awareness and action:

1. Make a list of 3 people you think might not believe it's their problem or might not know much about it.


2. See An Inconvenient Truth with someone on your list, or call a person on your list to discuss the movie. If they haven't seen it, buy it or rent it for them or lend yours to them. I found that the movie was a powerful catalyst with my friend on the phone. I am sending her a copy of the movie today.


3. Give a person on your list a pack of compact fluorescent lightbulbs or email them this video.


4. Ask someone on your list what kind of gas mileage their car gets, brag about yours and say you feel good about doing something. Think about the power of bragging vs. nagging.


5. Email a person on your list this video: Global Warming: How to Be Part of the Solution


6. Have a spirited discussion with a person on your list about climate-change related legislation.


7. Reply, comment or add to this list.
   

Edited by: BlueSky on Jan 19, 2007 1:24:04 PM

The charts and graphs in An Inconvenient Truth are scary – but what inspired me most was perhaps this statement by Al Gore in his book:

The climate crisis also offers us the chance to experience what very few generations in history have had the privilege of knowing: a generational mission; the exhilaration of a compelling moral purpose; a shared and unifying cause; the thrill of being forced by circumstances to put aside the pettiness and conflict that so often stifle the restless human need for transcendence; the opportunity to rise.

Edited by: BlueSky on Jan 19, 2007 1:24:43 PM

You bring up a valid point. Most of us spend most of our time preaching to the choir. Everyone on here knows "what's up" so it's safe to discuss issues among each other. But what we really need to do is spend more time talking about these issues with those who don't quite see things the same way. The evangelical religious groups do it, so why shouldn't we be evangelical environmentalists?

Just don't start riding your bycicle around and knocking on my door at 6am on Sunday morning to ask if I'm ready to accept Mother Earth into my heart.

I've seen the documentary three times, and every time it made me look at things in a new way!  It's hard not to feel overwhelmed by the size of the problem.

Amen. You're absolutely right! It's very important to make subtle and then significant changes in your own lifestyle/contribution. But even more important (and harder in some ways) is the task of sharing the truth! Inspiring change in others. ESPECIALLY THE NAYSAYERS!

There are two sides of the global climate change fence at this point: the side populated by 99.4% of the scientific community, and the side populated by Rush Limbaugh, George Bush and Michael Crichton. If you know someone in the latter group, save them from the embarrassment that will be their (hopefully near!) future. Invite them into the facts and out of the notion that this is a partisan issue.

Ok. My challenge is clear. I need to find someone outside of my green tunnel and talk to them about what opportunities lie ahead of them!

Me too!  I really like the point about bragging, not nagging. 

Sometimes it's so hard for me to tell friends on the other end of the spectrum my point of view, but I've found it's easier when I do it in a way that's positive and not "preachy."

A couple of easy and simple things I've found recently to help mitigate climate change are below:

1. Buy the Global Warming Action Kit!

2. Check out ways to invest in socially and environmentally responsible ways.

There is a fundamental difference between the green movement and the climate change debate.  You do not have to believe in the whole man made pollution> Ozone> greenhouse> global warming story to be green.  The roots of the movement are conservation not global climate issues.  Why can't we convince people that it is better to use less of everything without having to prove it is harmful?

I like the idea of working on three people.  But don't get distracted with the philosophy when the point is to get more people helping.  If you find certain avenues of thought are blocked, go another way.  Do it for the planet, for the environment, the neighborhood, to hurt big business or to save money; what's the difference as long as you do it?