Recently, @MichaelEMann has criticised @dwallacewells & @GreenRupertRead for being more alarmist and much more alarmist than him (respectively).
He argues that if you are too alarmist, people may disengage and this could lead to inaction.
Does this argument make sense?
2/9
He argues that if you are too alarmist, people may disengage and this could lead to inaction.
Does this argument make sense?
2/9
Let's take the more extreme alarmist position, from
@GreenRupertRead.
Rupert Read worries and talks about the possibility of societal collapse in Western countries. I don't share this.
But is his alarmism damaging to the climate movement?
3/9
#ClimateCrisis
@GreenRupertRead.
Rupert Read worries and talks about the possibility of societal collapse in Western countries. I don't share this.
But is his alarmism damaging to the climate movement?
3/9
#ClimateCrisis
Yes, it does some damage, and it will put a certain number of people off.
But it also does good, in ventilating the urgency of the climate crisis and attracting people into the movement.
Do I want @GreenRupertRead to stop talking about societal collapse?
4/9
But it also does good, in ventilating the urgency of the climate crisis and attracting people into the movement.
Do I want @GreenRupertRead to stop talking about societal collapse?
4/9
No, I don't.
Moreover, I would regard it as a loss if he did.
This is a strategic position I take: it's not an expression of kindness.
5/9
Moreover, I would regard it as a loss if he did.
This is a strategic position I take: it's not an expression of kindness.
5/9
People come to the table of politics from different backgrounds, with different values, psychologies, needs, and fears.
For people to jump on the train which says "the climate crisis is a real thing", they DON'T NEED to converge on WHY they are jumping aboard.
6/9
For people to jump on the train which says "the climate crisis is a real thing", they DON'T NEED to converge on WHY they are jumping aboard.
6/9
To wish for such convergence is to wish for a world without human beings.
In the real world, human being will continue to be moved by the climate crisis for different and incompatible reasons.
7/9
In the real world, human being will continue to be moved by the climate crisis for different and incompatible reasons.
7/9
We can think of “an economy of discourse”.
We want an economy of discourse that expands rather than contracts. We always want to keep enriching and not shrinking it.
We don't want to contract the conversation so that the least & most alarmed voices fall off the ledge. 8/9
We want an economy of discourse that expands rather than contracts. We always want to keep enriching and not shrinking it.
We don't want to contract the conversation so that the least & most alarmed voices fall off the ledge. 8/9
The climate crisis requires all hands on deck.
In order for the climate movement to grow, it has to be maximally inclusive and minimally precious about what is and what isn't allowed in. 9/9
Full take in my video below -
📽️ urlgeni.us/youtube/Xbc (7 min)
In order for the climate movement to grow, it has to be maximally inclusive and minimally precious about what is and what isn't allowed in. 9/9
Full take in my video below -
📽️ urlgeni.us/youtube/Xbc (7 min)
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