Uncle TreeHugger Wants You
by TreeHugger on 04. 2.05
NOTICE: Those who choose to read further are hereby drafted for Earth Mission Possible.
Thank you. By accepting this assignment, TreeHuggers, you have commited to the following. First off, forget the old Earth Day tactics. No parading, no protesting, no whining about toxics in your vital bodily fluids; and, definitely, forget about press releases that threaten Climate Change "end times" unless a list of demands are met. You are going undercover.
Strategy is simple. We're going to re-gather the troops for the coming charge.
There are two tactics. The first one is straightforward. You're not just "doing your part" any more, you are a Change Agent at large. Slow and steady as it goes. Remember, organic food took 35 years to hit the main stage.
Flashy eye-grabbing hyper-efficient products, and dream technologies are only a starting point. Make your health, happiness, creativity, and awareness an inspiration.
The challenging tactic involves getting into meat space. Blue Stater's visit Red Stater's. City cousin visits country cousin. City mouse visits suburban mouse. Mix it up. That's basically it.
Well,...almost. You know that loud relative with the gun collection, bass boat, and yard cars? You are actually going to call him to see if you can come out for a visit and have him teach you how to fish. Whatever you do, do not blow your cover. From the first phone call onward, he'll put you to the test with goading remarks. Don't fall for it. Keep your cover. When you get there, ask to put your own worms on the hook. Remember: them's who catches 'em cleans 'em. And no hostile remarks about guns or "values". If he offers target shooting, it's reasonable to ask for safety tips first. Operating Cover Protecton Tip: if it turns out you're a dead-eye, make sure to widen the pattern out enough for him to out-do you.
Soccer mom. Invite that vegan city cousin out to the suburbs. Ask her to teach you about vegetarian cooking and maybe help you get an organic kitchen garden going. And if there's any bad looks at the MegaTruck just get past it OK? Do I have to spell out more examples? Didn't think so.
I know there's some pretty hardened characters out there. Might have to buy that brother an NRA membership for his birthday to prove yourself. Do what you have to do. It's only about 40 bucks.
Look for common ground. Weather talk leads to climate change. Offer to help with the gas, and maybe bring up peak oil when you ride away from the pump. A ride in the SUV leads to how wonderful it is to see greenery and how important conservation is for hunters and non-hunters alike. Keep trying until you hit one.
The goal here is just to leave your undercover target feeling like the other side of the divide is filled with good, open minded people. When you hear "like you even if you are a TreeHugger", thats the gold.
Be patient. When the cavalry rides, and it will eventually, there's going to be thundering hooves, just like the first Earth Day.
Discharged.
by: John Laumer
"Dismissed" ;)
Ve hav vays of making dem forget dey ever heard dis.
Good ideas, except for the "buying a NRA card" part :D
I'm funding a recycled solar design contest for Earth Day at MIT. The most useful renewable energy device made from recycled bottles and cans wins at least $200.
Further information at http://hubevents.blogspot.com
Interesting, creating a dialogue. Why didn't I think of that! True the sky is falling approach doesn't seem to work.
I thought of slipping in some environmental slanted magazines in my doctor's office, gym and dentist office.
Plenty, Sierra Club and ReadyMade are the ones that come to mind.
Great idea with the magazines. How about actually sending a gift subscription to the doctor's office, barbers, hairdressers or 'SuperCuts'. The staff will likely just put them out there with the 'People' magazines each month to be read by dozens of unsuspecting citizens!
"Might have to buy that brother an NRA membership for his birthday to prove yourself. Do what you have to do. It's only about 40 bucks."
No need. I already have a lifetime membership. ;)
MJ / TAP
"Green" Conservative
"Sierra Club"
Not a good choice. Most conservatives, even "green" conservatives like myself, balk or even get angry at any mention of the Sierra Club...mainly due to their backdoor funding of eco-terrorist groups like ELF. Not good at all.
Also, remember that most REAL country conservatives (ones like me that grew up on a farm/ranch) are far more eco-wise than most would think. In working with the land, we have a greater appreciation of conservation and related subjects than your average kneejerk city vegan or urban "eco-activist". We live there and know what real, pragmatic ecological solutions are.
It's those damned urban cowboys with their freakin duallies and H-2s you have to really worry about. ;)
How about being normal and stylish and not look and act like some scruffy unshaven hippy. I mean people equate Eco with Hippy. When people come to my house and see the hemp sneakers and all the eco cleaning solutions they say "wow I didn't know you could do that" Take Eco to the next level and don't look back.
I agree with Christian. Where I live (Lancaster, UK) there is a decent awareness of Green issues. But, non-green or new-to-green are put off by the cliquey nature of many of the core 'members'. I had to laugh when we turned up, in non-Hippie uniform, to a Green gathering, and found us to be more 'hardcore Green' than most of them.
As I harden my own stance on Green and ethical issues, I've found that the influence rubs off on those around me without the need to become preachy. My Mum recently changed all her cleaning products to green alternatives. Now, if only I could get our Council to extend their recycling scheme...
i don't think the NRA is an enemy of the environment. many riflemen care about the outdoors and want to preserve their hunting grounds.
nature conservancy and audobon society publications might be effective tools. it's true that the sierra club causes kneejerk reactions from many conservatives (usually for political reasons), but i'd like to hear more about sierra club funding ELF because that's quite an allegation. this particular 'urban veggie eco-activist' grew up on a mid-western farm and knows first-hand what my country cousins' 'working with the land' actually means. no doubt some are ecologically-minded like michael jones, but from what i've seen, working with the land does not, in itself, impart eco-wisdom or pragmatism. country folks are no more wise than city folks. both groups have a spectrum from wise to idiot. it's different perspectives that will not be bridged with stereotypes or claiming to be 'real'.
i also doubt the wisdom in telling people to look 'normal' or 'stylish'. isn't that just feeding the liberal elitist myth at the expense of personal choice? when is the last time you saw a 'scruffy hippy' driving a prius? style is up to the individual and it's not a political tool for most.
how do you persuade green-leaning conservatives that it's important to not vote against the environment?
Feed them!!! Organic is the way to go! Have your naive relatives over for dinner. Cook them an organic meal, pour organic beer or wine (it's better) and have Fair Trade coffee and Rice Dream for dessert!
You can change someone's attitude by changing the contents of their stomach. It's not that hard.
During dessert ask them if they've ever considered leaving their estate to the local land conservancy.
I'm tired of the anti-corporation, anti-everything hippies.
These are the people that don't drive a prius because they are against cars and don't shave and play those really weird wa wa instruments at earth day.
These are the people that pretty much scare away others who don't know about ecological alternatives.
Whoops! My bad. The Sierra Club has spoken out against ALF and ELF. It's PETA that's funded ALF and ELF. The Sierra Club has funded Earth First! EF! founder Dave Foreman was even a seated board member of the Sierra Club.
The trail of money in dealing with these groups ties itself in knots in places and gets rather confusing to follow. I'll reread my research next time before mouthing off. ;)
I agree there are alot of hunters who respect the environment and are responsible.
I also think being a role model not preaching has a big effect. A friend of mind recently started using biodeisel and has "converted" people by his enthusiasm not with gloom and doom speaches.