Source: wikihow.com via wikiHow on Pinterest

Let’s face it—we like to push the “easy button” in this country.

We’ve cocooned and fortressed ourselves so that it’s easy to deny problems and causalities and easy to avoid facts.

When it comes to climate change (or “chaos,” as it’s also been referred to), if we admit that it’s human-made, then a logical sequence of thoughts leads us to doing something about it. It’s not easy to look in the mirror and it’s not easy to fix this overwhelming problem.

One of the reasons photographer James Balog’s (who established the Extreme Ice Survey and is featured in the documentary Chasing Ice) story is so compelling, is because even as a scientist, initially, he was not convinced that climate change is caused by humans. He can honestly say to deniers, “I used to think like you, until I saw it with my own eyes.”

We are sometimes stumped at how to begin a conversation with a climate change denier. Think about the last time you were in denial of something that would be very concerning to you if you were to deal with it—maybe it was a health issue with you or someone else close to you. You probably felt afraid and fragile. This subject is no different. We meet people where they are in order to guide them to a better place.

This easy to follow flowchart/cheat sheet helps you start the conversation and feel more comfortable with condensing facts that often appear complex and abstract.

And, never doubt that it’s worth having the discussion, even if you’re met with resistance throughout.

If you push the door open even a little, sometimes it doesn’t shut again and eventually, the light streams in.

Laura Sabransky’s advocacy for a more just, humane and sustainable world has been as volunteer – serving on boards, organizing and working events, launching grassroots activism campaigns, participating in demonstrations and writing to and for those who influence change. Her work with a variety of non-profit organizations includes volunteer management and education, special events organizing, fundraising and communications. Her degrees are in Psychology and Interior Design. Your contributions are welcome on her blog www.activistsdiary.com. You can connect with Laura on Facebook and twitter @mysticagitator.

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Ed: Lynn Hasselberger