Never has the need for a public information campaign been so great, not only to educate people about the climate emergency, but also to flag what they can do to mitigate its impact
How about reinstating Ye Olde Telephone Booth, standing fully in the sunshine and fitted with a thermometer and a humidifier, so as people can find out what 40+ C and no wind feels like.
Beyond this much-needed public message emphasis upon reducing individual and business contributions to climate degradation... thanks, Bill... there might also be a defensible point for (publicly) preparing vulnerable people for climate adaptation and/or relocation. The global balance has already been skewed enough that interwoven climate and ocean effects are magnifying at an accelerating pace... and preparing realistically for a worst-case scenario wouldn't be a bad idea.
I do love this. Maybe, however, the house should be half full of water, the walls cracked and the wallpaper peeling, and the father and kids starving and in rags!!
I didn't want to deviate from the original image, but you're right. This isn't exactly appropriate for a modern version. Perhaps someone could reshoot the exact same image as a photo - with modern toys, smartphones, etc. - but still with the same idea. That would be really striking...
Hi, Bill. I created a poster for climate marches here in France based on that famous first world War poster. If be happy to share it with you to illustrate this piece?
Really good blog and crucial for getting the message out. I’ve begun to write about this from an everyday perspective and I’ve already had some pushback. I think many people simply don’t want to know about how serious things are getting. I think that climate breakdown can be seen as what Iain Banks called an outside context problem; it is still outside the conceptual maps and mythos of most people. They know how to handle war, and they know how to handle recession, conceptually speaking. But climate breakdown is still very ‘left field’ for many. I have also been appalled by the lack of formal education on this, even now. I had a conversation with a 17 year old recently who said he’d had pretty much zero education on climate breakdown. This is a major failure of older generations.
Thank you for the kind words Matt. You are absolutely right. The poor level of education/information about global heating and climate breakdown has been absolutely criminal. Of course, there are huge vested interests out there who want it to keep it that way. All best, Bill
Hey Bill - absolutely. It chimes with the campaign our charity ran calling for a weekly climate address from the government. We need it now more than ever before. It fell on deaf ears when it was delivered to Downing Street unfortunately. We didn't even get replies from all the relevant parties it was delivered to.
Why am I not surprised. And there will be no luck with the next occupier of No 10 either who seems likely to be the most ignorant and stupid PM this country has ever had, with zero interest in the climate emergency or green issues in general. They must be kicked out in 2024.
How about reinstating Ye Olde Telephone Booth, standing fully in the sunshine and fitted with a thermometer and a humidifier, so as people can find out what 40+ C and no wind feels like.
Beyond this much-needed public message emphasis upon reducing individual and business contributions to climate degradation... thanks, Bill... there might also be a defensible point for (publicly) preparing vulnerable people for climate adaptation and/or relocation. The global balance has already been skewed enough that interwoven climate and ocean effects are magnifying at an accelerating pace... and preparing realistically for a worst-case scenario wouldn't be a bad idea.
Cannot agree more.
Hey Bill,
Here's a low resolution png of the poster. I have it at a size you can print on A3. https://www.dropbox.com/s/q8owprfo7spbgi4/Daddy%2C_what_did_You_do_in_the_Great_War2%20-25%25.png?dl=0
Hi Ben,
I do love this. Maybe, however, the house should be half full of water, the walls cracked and the wallpaper peeling, and the father and kids starving and in rags!!
All best
Bill
I didn't want to deviate from the original image, but you're right. This isn't exactly appropriate for a modern version. Perhaps someone could reshoot the exact same image as a photo - with modern toys, smartphones, etc. - but still with the same idea. That would be really striking...
Hi, Bill. I created a poster for climate marches here in France based on that famous first world War poster. If be happy to share it with you to illustrate this piece?
Hi Ben, Would be great if I could take a look. Please do send it over. All best, Bill.
Hi Bill—
Really good blog and crucial for getting the message out. I’ve begun to write about this from an everyday perspective and I’ve already had some pushback. I think many people simply don’t want to know about how serious things are getting. I think that climate breakdown can be seen as what Iain Banks called an outside context problem; it is still outside the conceptual maps and mythos of most people. They know how to handle war, and they know how to handle recession, conceptually speaking. But climate breakdown is still very ‘left field’ for many. I have also been appalled by the lack of formal education on this, even now. I had a conversation with a 17 year old recently who said he’d had pretty much zero education on climate breakdown. This is a major failure of older generations.
Thank you for the kind words Matt. You are absolutely right. The poor level of education/information about global heating and climate breakdown has been absolutely criminal. Of course, there are huge vested interests out there who want it to keep it that way. All best, Bill
Hey Bill - absolutely. It chimes with the campaign our charity ran calling for a weekly climate address from the government. We need it now more than ever before. It fell on deaf ears when it was delivered to Downing Street unfortunately. We didn't even get replies from all the relevant parties it was delivered to.
Why am I not surprised. And there will be no luck with the next occupier of No 10 either who seems likely to be the most ignorant and stupid PM this country has ever had, with zero interest in the climate emergency or green issues in general. They must be kicked out in 2024.
Great writing Bill. You put things very clearly.
Thanks Nicholas. Much appreciated.
Recently, in addition to living in an intentional community where we try to minimize our carbon footprint, I've also started daydreaming about what large organizations can do to mitigate global warming: https://martintruther.substack.com/p/climate-change-strategy-harvesting
Sounds good Martin. I will take a look.