Comments on: Happy New Year, Welcome Back: Seven Proposed Next Steps for the U.S. Climate Movement

By: World Bank – Tell Them What’s What « It’s Getting Hot In Here

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 02:25:14 +0000

[...] Getting Hot In Here bloggers and commenters have had a few things to say about the Bank recently, so here’s your chance to tell them [...]

By: Climate Generation: It’s Getting Old In Here « It’s Getting Hot In Here

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:32:26 +0000

[...] our movement by unforgiving metrics of success. More of my thoughts on what that should look like here and here. But also I remain convinced that reaching our climate goals will rely heavily on the [...]

By: nickengelfried

nickengelfried — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:45:23 +0000

One thing I’ve been thinking a lot about is the possibility of a global day of action, concentrated in heavily coal-dependent countries and those countries moving toward heavy coal dependency, to highlight the fact that coal means death for the planet and our civilization. I guess this would go under linebacking, as it would be a way to strike back at the myth of “clean coal,” and attack the coal industry’s current grip on politics. I’m picturing a day of action on the scale of October 24th, 2009, with creative events across the US, China, India, EU, South Africa, and other places where coal has made/is making the most inroads. Regarding framing though, and in the spirit of some of the comments above, I haven’t figured out how to frame this idea as a “positive” rather purely “negative” message. I realize that terms like “attack” and “strike back,” while sometimes appropriate, don’t always make for the most attractive message.

Obviously, it would take a whole lot of time and resources to make something like this happen. But I’d tentatively say that I would volunteer to coordinate or co-coordinate an event like this in the Northwest United States if it were part of a global effort.

By: Jess @ Openly Balanced

Jess @ Openly Balanced — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:45:53 +0000

@Meg re generational framing… no clue, so take what follows as a stab in the dark as well as gross generalization.

I’m coming at this only from the age that I am (26) and my own personal experience, but maybe there is a way to engage with previous generations on a skills/principles level. From a local resilience and lifestyle standpoint, our grandparents are incredible sources of insight, skills, and alternate perspectives. From growing victory gardens to living through rationing in World War II, they have a real life perspective on many of the ground up individual and community changes that could really be incorporated as a part of the youth climate change movement.

Many of our parents lived through the ’60s, and many were activists in their own right. Underneath the sometimes squishy exteriors, there is still a profoundly revolutionary spirit that believes in challenging governmental authority and using protest as a means for governmental change.

2010 will be a year of great opportunity, but I think we (progressives in general) need to be organized and ambitious about seizing it. Senators Dodd and Dorgan retiring, and who knows who else – perhaps this is a moment for your #4?

By: Victoria

Victoria — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:33:03 +0000

@Dan, yes, there is a huge march being planned now targeted for pre-earth day. 350k in DC and a million total nationwide. please contact me if you want to get involved. we need as many visionary leaders involved as possible. victoria@kids-vs-global-warming.com

By: megboyle

megboyle — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:24:48 +0000

Within generational framing, how do we ensure generations before us are part of–rather separate them from–our movement? And how do we ensure that the structures that we built to grow ourselves as climate leaders when we were young are still equally available (or better yet, better than ever) for generations after us, and that those generations can still access core movement leadership positions?

By: Jess @ Openly Balanced

Jess @ Openly Balanced — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:29:51 +0000

@Derek – I completely understand where you’re coming from, I just worry about the effectiveness of that line of framing. Historically speaking, we don’t have a good record of ending wars because of the direct or collateral damage done to the other side. Why would this issue be any different? If anything, it seems like it would be more difficult and more complex a sell. That being said, I agree with you that issues can (and should?) be framed in many different ways for different audiences.

I think by solutions-based framing I meant “ways through which we are most likely to be persuasive/find solutions.” What I was trying to say was that while framing climate change as a war to be stopped might be accurate and vindicated by history, it might not be the most effective way to get real solutions now. In fact, it might actually be counterproductive if it turns people off who might otherwise be supportive. Unfortunately, being vindicated by history is not going to do us much good if we don’t find, as you said, science-based solutions today.

But I agree with you about moral framing and fair solutions. So I guess my next question would be… how do we sell moral framing?

@Morgan I love the ‘generational’ framing concept! Absolutely.

And I also really liked the point about being a linebacker (and the additional link). I would love some more guidance on how to be a linebacker, as it is not something that comes naturally to me and I agree that it is absolutely necessary. Teach us how to be linebackers!

By: Andy Stevenson

Andy Stevenson — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:33:21 +0000

Ha, that was supposed to be an “eight”) to add to the list, not a smiley face with sunglasses.

By: Andy Stevenson

Andy Stevenson — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:20:19 +0000

8) Perfect the art of “compromise”. I know this is a dirty word for many people, as it suggests giving up on your ideals, what you believe is needed or is the right thing to do. But from my perspective, the primary reason so much progress was made in Congress this year is that major environmental groups and businesses came together like never before to create a safe space for elected officials to support climate action (see step #2 above). Some would obviously argue that these policies are not strong enough or that it would be better to keep starting over until the political support has been built for what is seen as an adequate policy (and maybe they’re right). However, the bottom line is that 2010 is the best chance the U.S. has ever or may ever have to enact an ambitious national energy and climate program. 60, not 350, is the most important number for the climate. There will only be one bill that comes to the floor, and that bill will likely be far from what many want. Helping to secure even one additional vote for this imperfect bill would be a monumental achievement for the environment. Perhaps this year, more than any other, is the time to put the long-term social change strategy on hold and focus on how to build support for this bill. Just my 2 cents.

By: Re-Powering the Movement: To Healthy Growth in 2010 « It’s Getting Hot In Here

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:54:56 +0000

[...] around solutions and encouraging our leaders who are taking the right steps as Phil Aroneanu and Meg Boyle suggested, but we also must remember to share heartening words with each other. Look at the [...]