For my Blog Action Day post I wanted to, very briefly, discuss my thoughts on the marketing of the climate change crisis.
I think my biggest issue with the marketing thus far (whether it’s from Gore, the media, or most others) is that it focuses way too much on Earth. It focuses way too much on this enormous thing, the size of which is difficult to comprehend, let alone all the complex ecosystems and organisms that inhabit it.
But here’s the thing. This isn’t about Earth. This planet will be just fine thankyouverymuch.
Earth will be a-okay once we’re all dead.
Stop trying to save the planet, that’s not the problem. We’re screwed.
Maybe this whole issue might get some more general support if we stopped focusing on the polar bears and started thinking about the human beings who are going to die, lose their homes, lose their livlihoods, lose their… everything.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
but generally, people aren’t interested in saving other people; some only ever take action when cute animals are at risk. Not sure why that is–maybe the whole idea of saving people is just too big, messy and overwhelming to tackle. Saving an animal, preferably one you have a tiny stuffed replica of on your shelf, seems more palatable and safe.
True, but more than cute animals, people care about *themselves*. We need to hammer home how much each one of us, individually, are and will be affected. Not people in distant countries we don’t have to think about. Us, now.
And I think lots of people might feel bad about a cute animal dying, but it’s not going to make them change their behaviour any more than the thought of millions of people living on the coasts in faraway countries dying or losing their homes will.
To actually get people to change their behaviour, it has to be personal, it has to affect their community, and it has to be a mass movement.
I agree, though I think most people won’t be up for doing much until they start seeing the bad stuff first hand, which will probably be too late. That is, unless countries adopt laws and force people/companies to comply. Generally, I think the marketing around green initiatives has been very preachy and self-righteous, causing people to tune it out. Yes, it’s a serious issue but I think people might respond better if marketers cut down the sense of panic and the melodrama.
I think you’re right, and that’s concerning. Cutting down on the panic, frankly, means watering down the seriousness of it to make it more palatable. And it’s just annoying that that has to be done.
hmmm, maybe it’s possible to make the messaging funny or clever somehow or even poke fun at the doomsday reality…that might make it more appealing.
Potentially. Worth trying at the very least.
Thanks for writing this Joel. The idea of putting a human face on Climate Change is not new. Trust me, people have been. The effect of climate change on the worlds poor is HUGE and will only get worse.
It has started to affect us North Americans as well – just look in your supermarket.
Sad to think it’s not enough to have the fact that we are all human in common with other people in far off distant countries.
“Sad to think it’s not enough to have the fact that we are all human in common with other people in far off distant countries.”
Couldn’t agree more.
Joel,
Still one more perspective on this situation…
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE OCCURS, HUMANITY PERISHES, SO WHAT?!
http://deeperarts.blogspot.com/2009/10/global-climate-change-occurs-humanity.html
Barry
I sincerely hope apes take over the world and enslave people. I also hope they mount Al Gore on a wall.
Ditto.
Except for the Al Gore part. I find his voice soothing.
Ah… there’s nothing so good as a full-on laugh in the middle of the day. Thanks for saying what so many of us realize… that the planet will be just fine without us (after all, we’ve been acting like the frickin’ swine flu crossed with cancer to all other species).
Whew! Still laughing… yep and Joufy’s comment I read wrong and it was even funnier… thought they said, “I also hope that apes mount on Al Gore’s wall.” Now there’s a visual.
Haha!
Glad you liked it!
Woke up thinking today of Climate change, your blog & balloon boy. To be fair I have no idea what this “balloon boy” was about, but maybe something like he fell out of one…sad to say I didnt read it as I realised he was ok in the end. All the same, like you say~ its the human interest stories that catch the attention, that affect peoples emotions, reactions be it empathy, sarcasm or humour. Its part of who we are. The “climate” is simply too abstract ~ hence its almost impossible to affect change in it ~ unless on a very basic level , like changing bin colour, walking instead of taking a car. Maybe I’m wrong…
But I do however have belief still in humanity & there are those out there who care about people enough to make a difference. Where small changes such as bin colours may never change the climate. Small changes, such as belief, encouragement, saying how are you today do….
& those little things do & can change the world.
Thanks for making us think ; )
Too right, Eva.
Thank you so much for that thoughtful comment. Now you’ve given me something to think about
You know, Eva… you are spot on. And I think that what you suggest — caring about people enough to make a difference — requires real courage… because, as you say, it’s so often the small things… the smile, the word of encouragement… that have such powerful ripple effects.
And along with courage, I also think that to do what you suggest effectively, it also requires a genuine sense of discernment… and sensitivity so that I really more deeply understand when, with whom, and how to make a difference.
As Joel said, thank you for bringing your thoughtful comment forward. It’s needed.