The first workshop was held on 13 June, 2008
See reports, starter papers, photos and films from the workshop here!
The workshop series begins with a look at how climate change is communicated, and how this communication relates to political responses. It is thus concerned with two specific aspects of how social and cultural tipping points are generated:
The first has to do with apocalyptic language (from both secular and quasi-religious images of disasters) used in media rhetoric, political communication and popular culture. Our task is to discern which aspects of this communication of disaster trigger renewals of active participation on the one hand and non-action, or states of despair and denial on the other. A number of resources present themselves from a range of philosophical, political and religious traditions. Experience and insight is welcome on any aspect of this communicative process: from science reporting to campaign strategising and education. By considering each contributor's perspective in turn the workshop will be able to deliver its verdict on how crisis can generate action amongst (for example) citizens; community groups; policy makers.
The second aspect of the workshop is a chance for people to reflect on what exactly constitutes 'effective' action in response to so vast a problem as climate change. Faced with massive and potentially irreversible global upheavals, do people believe there is a duty or ethical responsibility to take certain forms of action as opposed to others? Common responses have focussed typically on the impact of small individual actions and political lobbying. But direct action and civil disobedience continue to play a role for an emerging climate protest movement. Another area for our consideration may be more top-down institutional solutions: imposing carbon rationing, for example, or increasing penalties for polluters. What is common to both of the above approaches is a sense of time running out. The imperative of 'taking action now' is pivotal in generating a critical mass of actions / policies. It occurs often alongside an impatience with a slow and broadly conservative political process. This workshop needs to consider carefully whether communicating a message of empowerment ('I can really do something about this') is compatible with communicating the magnitude of the crisis ('how can I possibly stop this from happening?')
Considering any of these examples brings the workshop series as a whole closer to understanding what sorts of messages of climate crisis suggest tipping points in human consciousness, movement or collective action. The impact of language and different faiths (from the political to the spiritual) in conveying human potential for change may prove to be just as important as communicating the science of global disasters to the general public.
Suggested presentation themes:
- Communicating climate crisis in the media
- Apocalyptic language and belief
- Direct action and civil disobedience
- Defeatism vs. utopianism
- Civil society and democracy