How to Put a Human Face on Environmental Problems
One of the most difficult hurdles for environmental campaigns to overcome is the fact that many environmental issues seem overly technical or abstract to the average person, especially the average city dweller. This can pose a major obstacle to gathering public support.
People support issues that they feel an emotional connection to. One of the most reliable ways to create this sense of connection is to give an environmental issue a human face. Remember that all ecosystems are interconnected, and so every environmental issue affects humans somewhere.
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Instructions
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Decide who your target audience is, and find out how the environmental problem is affecting them. People connect better with tangible ideas (e.g., a child suffering from asthma or cancer) than intangible ones (e.g., rising Medicare costs), so focus on tangible effects whenever possible.
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Use the language of values. People have an innate desire to live meaningful lives, and our values determine what we find meaningful. Even environmental problems that are unlikely to immediately affect people's health probably touch on something else they care about. For example, you could talk about habitat destruction by appealing to people's fond memories of playing outdoors in the woods as children, and their desire for their grandchildren be able to do the same. Beyond necessities like food, water, shelter, health and safety, most people also value community, animals and trees, natural beauty and justice.
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Research your issue to find out what communities are being (or may be) affected by the problem. Again, focus on tangible effects, such as communities whose health or livelihood is being harmed, or who are being forced to relocate.
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Select a handful of representative quotes from members of these communities and get permission to use them.
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Pair the quotes (written or audio) with pictures or video of their authors and make them a centerpiece of your outreach materials.
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Use cameras and video recorders to document your supporters engaging directly with the issue. Images of activists placing themselves between whalers and a whales, cleaning oil off trapped birds, or even just walking next to a strip mine give your supporters a protagonist to identify with and help them feel invested in your campaign.
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Invite members of affected communities to speak in public about the issue, ideally in a venue where they get a chance to interact with supporters face-to-face. People tend to be far more influenced by the story of someone they have met and who made a good impression on them.
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Speak in public about your own experiences as activists. If you can convey your own passion for the issue, you have already given it a human face.
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References
- Photo Credit whale hitting the water image by Xavier MARCHANT from Fotolia.com
