Climate Advocates’ Monthly Edition III
May 20, 2025
As the climate table appearances increase, it has been inspiring to connect with so many great people, places, ideas and events. Each month those connections expand and become more diverse and interesting. Last month, we highlighted Food to Power and their great work for the climate and community. Please take a look at the new examples below:
I’ve also included a summary of a fascinating Rolling Stone/The Guardian story that is part of the 89% Project. The Rolling Stone titled it “Activating the Silent Majority to Fight Climate Change” and it explains why our 89% majority around the world must learn to become better advocates.
I. Upcoming Events – also see the “Sales/Events” page on our site for climate table events/dates
Wednesday, 21 May 5:30 p.m. Poor Richards Downtown: 350 Colorado, the Sierra Club and others are hosting an event to bring together local pro-climate organizations and the public to meet and connect
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- Weekends: Periodic climate table events at the Colorado Springs Flea Market on Platte have begun, and soon, the summer Colorado Farm and Art Market (champions of our local foodshed).
- Longer term: Through Citizens Climate Lobby/Education, we are working to fund a visit and talk by Jon Waterman, author of “Into the Thaw – Witnessing Wonder Amid the Arctic Climate Crisis.”
Waterman is a renowned writer who embarked with an equally amazing photographer on a series of extraordinary adventures (1988-2022) to document climate damage to the biodiversity, people and cultural heritage of the Arctic.
When we secure funding and have a date, this will be a presentation not to be missed. Please stay tuned – thinking August/September.
II. Worth a Look
The theme this month is how to break through the cognitive barriers that keep too many of our fellow humans on the climate sidelines when we REALLY need to get a majority onboard. As you’ll see below, there is a lot of work underway on this key issue.
2. “Don’t Even Think About It – Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change” by George Marshall. Well worth reading (available at Poor Richards) or listening to one of his YouTube talks about cognitive and social challenges that impede climate thinking, conversations, and hence, actions.
There is a twelve page outline of the book to entice you here. I recommend the book because of the great material to help with your own climate conversations.
III. Contributions (achievements or experiences, new connections or partnerships).
- A Pay-It Forward Moment! At a Poor Richards Saturday event, Sam bought a shirt for himself and donated $20 for a “pay it forward” shirt.
Soon after, a young visitor stopped to listen, then told his story. Just out of a homeless shelter and into his own nearby space, William told of his plans to make a fresh start and very clearly articulated the gravity of the climate crisis.
Thanks to Sam’s generosity, William walked away gratefully with a free shirt.
- On Mother’s Day, The Flying Pig Farm in Manitou Springs hosted the climate table after a gracious invitation from Executive Director Barak Ben-Amon. The Farm offers many programs and activities such as an agriculture and arts-based farm summer camp for ages 4-18, yoga classes in a yurt, a natural dye garden, and special events throughout the year.
- May International Messaging: This month so far ten “Fight Climate Change Not Each Other” T-shirts are crossing the Atlantic en route to Brittany, France – with one destined to continue on to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Two others are now in Paris and Norway!
Thank you all for sharing and spreading the message – which is also showing up in Vancouver and Ottawa, Canada, Leicester and Stratford UK, Chicago, the D.C. metropolitan area, NYC and the Bay Area in California.
IV. Featured Article:
Activating the ‘Silent Majority' to Fight Climate Change
The Rolling Stone recently ran the headline above for an story reprinted from The Guardian as part of the 89% Project, an initiative of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now. And it certainly resonated with me!
The story discusses the concept of the "spiral of silence" in climate action—highlighting how the vast majority of people worldwide (89%) want stronger governmental efforts to tackle climate change. We mistakenly believe they are in the minority, which leads to inaction and self-censorship.
Here is a link to the full original article with graphics: ‘Spiral of silence’: climate action is very popular, so why don’t people realise it? | Climate crisis | The Guardian
Key points include:
Global Support: A large-scale survey of 130,000 people across 125 countries found overwhelming support for climate action. Even in major polluting countries like China and the U.S., most people want their governments to do more.
Perception Gap: Many people underestimate how many others share their pro-climate views. When informed of the actual numbers, they tend to take more action.
Silent Majority: Experts argue that revealing this hidden consensus could spark a social tipping point, accelerating climate policies and activism.
Political Blind Spots: Many politicians underestimate public support for climate initiatives, leading to slower policy progress.
Breaking the Silence: Studies suggest that correcting these false assumptions about climate attitudes could encourage more public engagement and action.
“We’re sitting on an enormous potential climate movement,” said Prof Anthony Leiserowitz, at Yale University. “It’s latent. It hasn’t been activated or catalyzed. But when you break through these perception gaps, you help people understand that they’re not alone and there is in fact a global movement.”
A second story in The Guardian said the US isn’t far behind the 89% number, with 74% in the US wanting to see more climate action. Headwinds include a two-party system makes the US more polarized, “a strong sense that individuals can take care of everything,” a powerful fossil fuel lobby, and many climate misinformation campaigns that originate in the US. But we shouldn’t be cowed by a small and vocal minority.
Cassie Flynn’s quote also certainly reinforces our Climate Advocate’s message and philosophy as well:
“People are actually very multilateral. The result that always sticks with me is this: 86% of people [in the survey] thought that countries should put aside their differences on other issues and work together. People understand our fates are tied together when it comes to the climate crisis and they want world leaders to act on it.”
Thank you to The 89 Percent Project, an initiative of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now, for making this story a focus for 2025.
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