So we've got an audience (the UAS Community), we've started to attempt to understand this audience, and we agree that we need to communicate some of the scientific detail to facilitate social change in response to climate change.
Now we need a message or a way to frame the issue for our audience. So, what do you think,
can we articulate our message in a catchy sentence or a simple image? Do we need a couple of messages?
List a few potential ideas here--and bring a few to class, too.
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I would start thinking about this by finding out different ways of spreading our message, whatever that may be. Do we put notices on bill boards? Use the UAS TV channel?
Second, what do we want people to do? I think we decided that we need to focus on having people limit carbon emissions, since that has a direct link with climate change. So what can people do to limit their carbon emissions? They can carpool or, use a more gas efficient car.
There is one other thing though. I remember that Joe said we need to change peoples attitudes. What about all the tourism buses that come through the campus area? Like Grace said, we would be wise to educate them about climate change. This would help spread a message to many people. So how do we influence people that come by in a bus? Maybe if there was a visible monument from the bus... that sounds a little far-fetched. My ideas come to a halt.
The best way to approach the global climate change issue is to take it one step at a time, start with small changes and slowly build to bigger changes. These changes can be as simple as bringing your own, reusable bags to the grocery store, buying products and shopping at businesses that support “green” living or donate to it, adjusting the temperature to cut back on carbon emissions, and so on. Taking these small steps make the end goal (reducing emissions) more obtainable, this in turn will give a person piece of mind so that when the time comes they can tackle even larger efforts to benefit the environment. If a group or organization was to start with these small efforts in hand as a prerequisite for joining, it could make an even greater impact. A sense of solidarity would also come into with that (a big part of any movement). If group members wear around an emblem, I would think that more people would want to be included and become apart of the effort (those “This is a home for peace” signs come to mind). As far as a symbol or sentence to articulate a certain group, I think this is obviously the best way to make a buzz in a community of any size. Something that rhymes, an easily identifiable or provocative image, acronym, or catch phrase is the best way to make a group recognizable and appealing.
I am reminding of the slogan " Take only pictures, leave only footprints" - only now what we want to do is NOT have a "footprint" and to try to become carbon neutral or carbon negative. Actually UAS might have a pretty good chance of being carbon neutral since the campus has so much vegetation, EXCEPT for the emissions that come from transporting goods and supplies and people to the campus. One thing we haven't discussed too much that i think is an imortant part of our message is the huge carbon footprint we have as Alaskans. In McKibben's first chapter, he talks about the fact that Americans have by far the most per capita carbon emissions in the world. If you compare the per capita energy use (not exactly like carbon emissions but closely related) for all the states within America, Alaska stands way out at the top - the next highest state, California, isn't even close to us. While some of our high energy use results from cold weather and long winters, even more comes from our lack of locally produced goods and services, our high rate of air travel, and other factors. If we are the "worst" state in the "worst" country in the world, the development of alternative energy sources should be especially important to us. If we can figure out how to let people know that they are contributing more than their "fair share" of carbon to the atmosphere without depressing them or making them feel defensive, I think it would be important to our message.
I agree with Joe's slogan "if you can change your attitude you can change the world." It allows any ordinary person to feel empowered to join in on the influence and it could start as easily as turning off lights, unplugging appliances, riding bicycles, carpooling, reusing ceramic mugs, shopping locally with canvas bags, and challenging yourself to a five minute shower. Just like with Chris is saying it starts off with small actions such as these that turn into large actions. What we really need is to get the word out there by suggesting things that people can do while educating them about energy conservation and climate change rather than scaring them or supplying another massive text to read. By educating and making it "fun" more people would be interested. A great idea that Karen had was to incorporate workshops where UAS students, faculty and staff could teach a thing or two about gardening, political candidates or recognizing your carbon footprint. Getting people together to learn about the sciences and why our littlest actions matter is the greatest way to influence a change in attitude. Make it a FUN thing people will want to be involved in. Not another job on a list of things to do. The question is how to get the word out there and what words are catchy enough to STICK. I still agree with the workshop idea, and maybe a blurb on KTOO radio to get the word out there and an article on the UAS website would be helpful. We have many, many resources that are available here in Juneau such as the UAS channel. We just need to use them!
Maybe we could use television or fliers to get the point across but I think that the best way is to have something solid, like a straight forward plan of action or steps that are easily done. Or perhaps more than one somethings. I think the best plan is the simplest. Using buttons and shirts and mugs, and the like would be a very good start but it would be just that, a start. I agree with the idea or a prop of some kind but I also think that we need more to get the ball rolling and keep it going. I also agree with Grace when she says that whatever it is it needs to be fun. What ever it is that we do we need, in the end, to go big or go home, as they say. What works best with the demographics at UAS I have no bloody idea. Again I think that a button or whatever or the bookmark we talked about is a really good start. I like Jon’s idea of doing different things to spread the word and I think different things and different ways are the best for getting the message out. I think that giving the students and faculty and teachers and other staff a way to lower their carbon foot print or otherwise do their part to contribute. But what ever is done we need make sue it sticks.
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