Elemental

::via Guardian

EA have released a list of the top 100 environmentalists EVER. Some favourites of mine included in the list (with ideas for Xmas list reading and viewing):

4. David Attenborough – Sunday nights just wouldn’t be the same without Planet Earth

5. James Lovelock – I’d recommend two of his books Revenge of Gaia and Gaia

9. Al Gore – I still haven’t managed to catch An Inconvenient Truth, out on DVD 26 December in UK

10. Gro Harlem Brundtland – the lady who coined the phrase which defines sustainable development: ‘Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’

23. George Monbiot – my new best friend (well, he signed my copy of his new book for me) – Heat

37. Mayer Hillman, who brought us the concept of carbon rationing, explained in his book How we can save the planet – a good primer, even if I disagree with the negative tone of the book

72. Jane Jacobs who died earlier this year – I’m currently reading her book The Nature of Economies and for the first time economics is beginning to make sense

74. Michael Braungart and Bill McDonagh – I have a copy of Cradle to Cradle ready to attack once I finish with Jane

91. Tom and Barbara from the classic 70′s self-sufficiency sitcom The Good Life

Expect to see more bickering over the inadequacies of the list around the blogosphere over the next few days. Yah sucks boo boo sucks, says I. Lists are never going to please everyone all of the time, but at least they stimulate a discussion.

admin News Al Gore, Bill McDonagh, David Attenborough, Environment Agency, environmentalists, George Monbiot, Gro Harlem Brundtland, James Lovelock, Jane Jacobs, Mayer Hillman, Michael Braungart

Larry David is somewhat of an icon in our household with re-runs of ‘Seinfeld’ tiding us over until the new series of ‘Curb your enthusiasm’ comes out.  Turns out he is a bit of an environmentalist and is married to Laurie David, who produced Al Gore’s ‘An Inconvenient Truth’.  Larry also drives a hybrid…

admin Diversions Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, Celebrity, Larry David, Laurie David

Condensed from the ESPRC press release:

New research published 25 September 2006 by the Economic and Social Research Council shows that positive, informative strategies which help people set specific environmental goals are far more effective when it comes to encouraging behaviour change than negatives strategies which employ messages of fear, guilt or regret.

Theories have long suggested that by changing attitude, social rules and peoples own ability to reach their goals, people’s intentions or decisions to act in a particular fashion will be changed, which in turn determines the extent of change in behaviour. But the supporting evidence for these widely accepted ideas was weak; there was a need to take a closer look at experiments that changed attitudes, norms and self-efficacy in order to measure the true extent of any changes in subsequent intentions and behaviour.

Research found the most effective strategies were to prompt practice, set specific goals, generate self-talk, agree a behavioural contract and prompt review of behavioural goals. The two least effective strategies involved arousing fear and causing people to regret if they acted in a particular fashion.  

I’m glad the academic world agree with me on this one ;o).

It reminds me of Seth Godin’s attempt to repackage ‘global warming’ as a more evil sounding problem.  Sorry, Seth – doesn’t look like that would work.

I’ve yet to go see Al Gore’s ‘Inconvenient Truth‘ – I’m hoping it’s not all doom and gloom.  I will report when I manage to see it. For readers in Leeds, it is showing at the Hyde Park Picture House from Friday 6 October until Thursday 18 October. Even if the film isn’t appealing – the cinema certainly is:

Originally built as a hotel in 1908 and converted to a cinema in 1914, The Hyde Park Picture House is a beautiful example of an Edwardian venue and one of the only surviving picture palaces in the UK.

As a grade 2 listed building, The Hyde Park still boasts many original features including gas lighting and a decorated Edwardian balcony.

With its classic facade and atmosphere, The Hyde Park Picture House has been through many changes in its long history. It is now home to a diverse mix of art house and mainstream films, backed up by screenings of classics, providing the most unique cinematic experience the city has to offer.

admin Psychology Al Gore, cinema, communications, Leeds, negative message, positive strategies, Seth Godin