Project+Plan


 * //This is not yet a plan - it is my initial proposal. There will be further discussion and development before it becomes a fully fledged plan - but I'll start with the following!...//**


 * //A title that describes the project so that the intended audience would have a reasonable idea of the subject and purpose of the project://**

** What crisis? **  Why people deny that human activity is causing climate change. **//The purpose - including audience and desired outcomes://**  What causes humans to refuse to accept truths - even after enormous bodies of evidence overwhelmingly indicate they are true? Even when the risks involved in making a mistake on this issue are so enormous - it could cost us our species! This project will arrive at a theory/theories as to why a percentage of the population refuses to accept anthropomorphic climate change, by conducting an historical analysis of major views which were violently argued, only to later be disproved.  Why? Because the climate crisis cannot be tackled in isolation. It will take positive action from a huge majority of people globally, if we are to succeed. Science is providing significant and mounting evidence. This project addresses the human roadblocks to success.  The audience for this project is both those who doubt the reality of human influence on climate change, as well as educators and other spokespeople who acknowledge the problem is real and seek to provide a rational, compelling case to those who doubt or deny it. **//The scope, boundaries and direction of the project://** 1. The project will first explore a number of significant historical examples of ‘denial’ and the tipping point when public opinion acknowledged the truth. Possible historical examples:  The world is flat

Cigarette smoking is good for you

Asbestos is safe

Thalidomide is safe

Women have smaller brains than men

Lindy Chamberlain is guilty

Refugees on the Tampa threw their children overboard <span style="font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">2. The project will then consider what causes people to deny truths <span style="font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">3. The project will hypothesise what tipping points might cause an overwhelming majority of people to acknowledge human induced climate change. <span style="font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;"> **//What information will you need to complete the project?//** <span style="font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;"> The project might consider these questions:

<span style="font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">What are some key examples of major denials?

<span style="font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">When did the tide of public opinion on these denials turn, and what precipitated it?

<span style="font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">What causes humans to refuse to accept truths even in the face of evidence?

<span style="font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">What role does media play in moulding public opinion?

<span style="font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">Who/what might benefit from continued denial? <span style="font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">__Potential References:__ <span style="font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">Change or Die - article by Allan Deutschman, Fast Company

<span style="font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">Merchants of Doubt - book by Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway

<span style="font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">Our Choice book by Al Gore

<span style="font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">website- grist.org

<span style="font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">Possible street survey (videoed?)

<span style="font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">further reading and web references to be sourced