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Hi John,

We all know the feeling – you’re home with your family for the holidays,
it’s a cosy Sunday evening, and everyone’s sat around the dinner table.

Suddenly an uncle you see once a year starts talking about politics. From
across the table you hear him exclaim, ‘Actually, the Earth is still
coming out of the last ice age, so I’m not sure human-made climate change
is something we should be worrying about!’

Your blood is boiling. Half the table is looking at you for a response.
How do you react?

 1. Lash out, accuse him of consuming too much corporate media, and ruin
the vibe.
 2. Contain your frustration, offer a well-mannered toast to quirky family
dynamics, and pass the potatoes.
 3. Engage him calmly, and genuinely ask him why he thinks that way.

Now I’m sure we’ve all chosen option two to keep the peace, and certainly
I’ve opted for the momentarily-satisfying option one in moments of
frustration.

But if we want to convince our loved ones to join the climate movement,
option three is how we win hearts and minds, even though it is often the
hardest to do.

Just a note before I start: this isn’t about myth-busting, but rather how
we can hear each other with openness and compassion. I’ve found this to be
quite useful before, and I hope it helps you with difficult conversations
as well.

1. Connect to Real Life

Start with real-life experiences – the climate crisis is real and we see
it on the news every day.

Everyone can relate to changing weather patterns locally. It could work as
a way to start the conversation, and help invoke emotions when talking
about climate change, especially when climate disasters have been on the
news.

2. Share Your Own Story – And Listen To Theirs

People love stories – hearing them, telling them. Evidence shows the
emotions stories help persuade people much better than simply reeling off
facts.

So when discussing climate change, focus on personal experiences and
emotions to make your message compelling. Describe local impacts you've
encountered and how they've affected you. Share your own story into
climate activism – what drove you to take action?

Parents love hearing about their children’s passions, so if you’re talking
to your mum or dad, show them exactly how much this means to you.

And remember, you’re not giving a PowerPoint presentation! Just as much as
you love telling stories, it’s important to listen, too. Think of it as a
chance to really learn why your family believe what they do.

3. Appeal to Their Values

Consider the person you're talking to and frame your argument in language
that resonates with their own values. If your family aren’t interested in
politics, meet them on their terms.

For a nature or hiking enthusiast, discuss deforestation's impact on
natural habitats and ecosystems. For someone interested in technology,
discuss exciting new developments in the field of sustainable tech.

4. Offer Hope

It's natural to feel down sometimes, but I've found that people respond
better to optimistic messages than gloomy ones. You can share successes in
climate action that you've been part of or talk about how we can achieve
more victories together when we unite against powerful forces.

Encourage your family to take follow-up actions, like joining 350.org's
mailing list or attending a local event. Remember, you can't convince
everyone immediately, and that's okay.

If they are interested, you can send them a link to take their first
action with us. We’ve drafted a quick message for you to send, all you
have to do is click!

[ mailto:?subject=Following%20up&body=Hi%2C%20%0A%0AI%20wanted%20to%20follow%20up%2C%20you%20mentioned%20that%20you%20are%20interested%20in%20doing%20something%20for%20the%20environment.%20So%20I%20wanted%20to%20pass%20on%20this%20link%20and%20you%20can%20sign%20your%20first%20petition%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fact.350.org%2Fsign%2Frenewable_energy_now%2F ]Share via email

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You may not turn a skeptic into an activist in one conversation. But if
you practice empathy and active listening, and make sure to ask open,
non-judgmental questions, it could go further than you think. If a
constructive conversation isn't possible, change the topic.

And remember, be kind to each other and to yourself too – you've given
your best effort, no matter the outcome.

Onwards,
Tre for 350.org




 




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