I don’t know. I worked in the environmental community for 25 years and we always asked nicely and suggested. For example, many, many “Ten Things You Can Do To Help” lists, always in a friendly voice. Never held anyone accountable. Just hoped the facts and information and an easy list of ways to help would work. It has not. Not even to the true believers that donated to the organizations. In lobbying meetings we would kindly ask for a meeting about a topic of concern (ask permission to talk about it) and than at the meeting present information and ask how they and their boss feel and think about it, usually with constituents present. Always politely thank them for thinking about and considering the problem and suggested solutions. Always in a calm, friendly voice - and it has not worked. When I ask people what are their concerns about climate change they roll their eyes and say it’s too late, the Chinese, the Indians, the poor - anything they do will not matter (poor American victims). So maybe they need an air slap. A scolding. A public comparison (keep up with the environmental Jones) cause we have five years to make enormous behavior changes or we all burn together. Just my thoughts - feel free to ignore. Thanks!
Last thought - advertising- we see ads for coke and McDonald’s for 50 years, relentlessly. They know you need to see them every time you feel thirst or peckish to stay on top. Maybe we just need ads with helpful behaviors to save our planet/nature over and over and over…. Anti-eating beef ads run as often as fast food, anti plastic as often as everything in plastic (except medical things).
I understand, and respect your pov and lived experience. but as you know from our work together, this is actually not about being nice… not about being soft. It’s about actually working with people’s resistance to change. We can do this work and be fierce. I do not believe that constant reminders to be healthier will get at the underpinning resistance to change. The reason why advertising works from McDonald’s is because they’re playing to desire. We could certainly be doing the same thing by appealing to desires for what every human wants. Connection, safety, belonging, love, acknowledgment, contribution. As you also know from our work together, we could be bridging these core needs to the bigger picture of shifting environmental work.
I don’t know. I worked in the environmental community for 25 years and we always asked nicely and suggested. For example, many, many “Ten Things You Can Do To Help” lists, always in a friendly voice. Never held anyone accountable. Just hoped the facts and information and an easy list of ways to help would work. It has not. Not even to the true believers that donated to the organizations. In lobbying meetings we would kindly ask for a meeting about a topic of concern (ask permission to talk about it) and than at the meeting present information and ask how they and their boss feel and think about it, usually with constituents present. Always politely thank them for thinking about and considering the problem and suggested solutions. Always in a calm, friendly voice - and it has not worked. When I ask people what are their concerns about climate change they roll their eyes and say it’s too late, the Chinese, the Indians, the poor - anything they do will not matter (poor American victims). So maybe they need an air slap. A scolding. A public comparison (keep up with the environmental Jones) cause we have five years to make enormous behavior changes or we all burn together. Just my thoughts - feel free to ignore. Thanks!
Last thought - advertising- we see ads for coke and McDonald’s for 50 years, relentlessly. They know you need to see them every time you feel thirst or peckish to stay on top. Maybe we just need ads with helpful behaviors to save our planet/nature over and over and over…. Anti-eating beef ads run as often as fast food, anti plastic as often as everything in plastic (except medical things).
I understand, and respect your pov and lived experience. but as you know from our work together, this is actually not about being nice… not about being soft. It’s about actually working with people’s resistance to change. We can do this work and be fierce. I do not believe that constant reminders to be healthier will get at the underpinning resistance to change. The reason why advertising works from McDonald’s is because they’re playing to desire. We could certainly be doing the same thing by appealing to desires for what every human wants. Connection, safety, belonging, love, acknowledgment, contribution. As you also know from our work together, we could be bridging these core needs to the bigger picture of shifting environmental work.
I sure needed a climate person to say these words in particular. Righting vs Guiding or Power Over vs Power With. Yes Renee!
If you asked me what my relationship / experience with education is, I'd say I don't understand it as related to 'telling'. And wonder why so many do.