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Rezension: “Klimaschutz ist Menschenschutz” – Wirksame Medizin gegen Ratlosigkeit in Klimafragen

Cover: "Klimaschutz ist Menschenschutz"

von Constantin Maria Paschertz

“Man wird Dinge niemals verändern, wenn man gegen die existierende Realität ankämpft.“ So beginnt ein Zitat von Buckminster Fuller, einem US-amerikanischen Architekten und Philosophen. Das vollständige Zitat steht aber auch am Anfang des Buches ‘Klimaschutz ist Menschenschutz’ vom Journalisten und Kommunikationsexperten Michael Adler, das 2022 im Verlag oekom erschienen ist. Und Fullers Aussage trifft den Kern des Buches exakt.

Die Problematik des Klimawandels betrifft und beschäftigt bei weitem nicht alle Menschen gleichermaßen. Für die einen sind die Weltuntergangsszenarien durch Überflutungen, Orkane und unerträgliche Hitze längst Realität. Hier, im globalen Norden, in Europa, wo Industrie und Wohlstand für die Beschleunigung des Klimawandels sorgen, leben wir noch weitgehend unbehelligt unser Leben weiter. Wer sich dabei mit dem Klimawandel befasst, sieht sich sehr schnell einer immer höher wachsenden Wand von Problemen gegenüber, deren Bewältigung immer unmöglicher erscheint. Langsame Politik, mächtige Lobbyisten, sture Wirtschaft, Klimaziele, die kaum mehr zu erreichen sind und Endzeitberichterstattung. Ideen verpuffen, werden nur halbherzig angepackt oder versanden, weil sie nicht zur Klientelpolitik vieler Parteien passen. Jeder schaut auf sich und nicht auf das große Ganze. Zugegeben, das ist alles sehr verkürzt beschrieben, aber so geht es vielen Menschen gerade – inklusive mir. Ratlosigkeit und Antriebslosigkeit haben sich breit gemacht, Optimismus kam kaum mehr auf.

Continue reading Rezension: “Klimaschutz ist Menschenschutz” – Wirksame Medizin gegen Ratlosigkeit in Klimafragen

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Rezension: “Sprache der Zuversicht” – Eine andere Welt ist möglich

cover "Die Sprache der Zuversicht"

von Christian Schneider

Ulrich Grober möchte mit seinem neuen Buch “Sprache der Zuversicht” der Resignation der aktuellen krisenhaften Zeiten die Stirn bieten. Zu diesem Zweck begibt er sich auf eine akribische Recherche nach Wortherkünften und ursprünglichen Begriffsbedeutungen. Er zeigt, wie wir sprachliche Tools einsetzen können, um an der Konstruktion einer besseren Welt mitzuwirken.

Another World Is Possible – eine andere Welt ist möglich. Wer schon mal auf einer Klimademonstration war, der wird dort wahrscheinlich auch über diese Parole gestolpert sein. Ulrich Grober holt in seinem neuen Buch „Sprache der Zuversicht – Inspirationen und Impulse für eine bessere Welt“ die ganze Kraft dieser Parole und anderer ikonenhafter sprachlicher Werkzeuge aus der Geschichte hervor. Er stellt sich der neoliberalen Erzählung der Alternativlosigkeit unseres den Planeten ausbeutenden gesellschaftlichen Systems in den Weg. Dabei beginnt der Wandel für Grober in der Sprache. Sie habe die Macht, die Dinge in Licht zu kleiden und mit Hoffnung zu füllen. Grober möchte mit einem ganzen Werkzeugkasten sprachlicher Tools der lähmenden Endzeitstimmung unserer krisenhaften Zeit die Stirn bieten.

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“Cranky Uncle” – A Game Against Denial

smartphone game Cranky Uncle

by Fenja De Silva-Schmidt

One big question for climate change communication is how to deal with deniers and stop misinformation from spreading. A smartphone game called “Cranky Uncle” teaches players common techniques of denial, such as ‘cherry picking’, logical fallacies, and conspiracy theories.

What looks like a funny diversion is actually built upon a scientific theory and developed by a team with long experience working with climate change deniers – in the US, but also in other countries like Germany. Continue reading “Cranky Uncle” – A Game Against Denial

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Why Don’t We Act Now? The discrepancy between climate change awareness and action

By Marina Falke

The 6th IPCC Report of Working Group 3 was published just about two months ago, on April 4, and stated once more and in further detail the urgency to mitigate climate change. As known, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) consists of politicians and scientist of the United Nation, grouped in three working groups focusing on different aspects of climate change. The third working group specializes in climate change mitigation and presents sources of global emissions as well as developments in emission reduction and mitigation efforts. Despite the great importance of the report’s findings, neither sufficient media coverage nor meaningful political reaction have yet materialized. Why is the gap between climate change’s urgency and action on it still so wide? Continue reading Why Don’t We Act Now? The discrepancy between climate change awareness and action

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A Short Personal Guide to Climate Change Conversations

by Eduardo Alastrué de Asenjo

As natural scientists, we hopefully learn multiple concepts about uncertainty throughout our education and research, and, at some point, the time will come when we need to put them into practice. This post comes from the necessity of a first approach to assemble some of the multiple guidelines and recommendations that we receive regarding climate change communication. I am not referring particularly to the topic of communication in newspapers or TV, but to a much more mundane request. In this case, my goal is to have a structured set of rules or steps that a natural scientist working on climate change can follow when trying to address a day-to-day conversation on the topic.

Picture taken from Pexels. Author: Oleg Magni

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What would you miss the most?

Interactive visual arts project on climate change consequences

by Fenja De Silva-Schmidt

During my research stay in Stellenbosch, South Africa, I came across an interesting arts project on climate change, which was installed during the cultural festival “Woordfees”.

A note on the wall invites onlookers to participate: to illustrate or write about what or who they would miss the most if our climate completely collapsed. Another note asked to describe fond memories of nature.

interactive art project on climate change

All around, people posted little notes and drawings, all of which gave interesting insights into their perceptions of climate change, especially their fears.

Continue reading What would you miss the most?

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“The Kids Are All Right – Adults Are the Climate Change Problem” by Max Boykoff

Logo CSTPR Blog

There is an interesting new comment by Prof. Max Boykoff on our partner blog from the Center for Science and Technology Policy Research in Boulder, Colorado/USA. He describes how older adults try to diminish climate engagement promoted by young activists – and calls for more support: “Trust in this next generation of leaders”.

Read the comment here.

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First results of our new survey

by Fenja De Silva-Schmidt

During the first week of the recent COP 24 in Katowice/Poland, we reran our survey from 2015 and questioned a sample of German nationals about their climate change knowledge and attitudes. The German newspaper DIE ZEIT published an article about our first results – here is a summary for our English speaking readers: Continue reading First results of our new survey

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A change in mind (Photo journalism project as a support for #EarthToParis)

 

AnneSchmitz
Blog by Anne Schmitz

“How can contemporary image makers promote new thinking and make a difference in the world?” (Fred Ritchin, Bending the frame)

Since the first day in my photo journalism class, taught by Sarah Schorr at Aarhus University, Ritchin’s quote has not lost its grip on me. How can a single photo in today’s digital media flow, still contribute towards making a change? How can one create meaningful content through a photo project?

Questions, which constantly floated in my head. Thoughts permanently popped up and disappeared again.

Continue reading A change in mind (Photo journalism project as a support for #EarthToParis)

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Ulysses in Paris – Climate narratives and avoiding the siren’s song

 

reinergrundmann
Blog post by Professor Reiner Grundmann of the University of Nottingham

In the ancient mythical saga Ulysses, sirens were beautiful creatures with enchanting voices who would lure sailors to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island with their sweet intoxicating music.

Ulyses, curious to hear the the siren’s song, ordered his men to bind him to the mast. He implored the crew, who had their ears plugged with wax, to leave him tied tightly to the mast, no matter how much he would beg. Upon hearing the sirens’ beautiful melody, Ulysses urged the sailors to untie him but they instead bound him tighter.  The ship then navigated the narrow channel to safety: Ulysses actions had saved the lives of himself and the crew.

Continue reading Ulysses in Paris – Climate narratives and avoiding the siren’s song