[oil25]

Reading articles like this make me quite sad, not because the described lifestyle is unappealing to me (I'm a vegan who doesn't drive, avoids plastic, and is "off-grid" on solar power), but because on an individual level, these efforts are so pale in comparison to environmental destruction caused by military, industry and large-scale commerce, I consider bragging or evangelizing them to be vain and even a bit egoistic.

Don't get me wrong: avoiding animal products, long-haul flights, plastic shampoo bottles are all worthwhile, but not for the reasons stated. They do not even begin to address the large systemic problem of climate change and ecological harm. They make us feel good, like we're "doing something" - and perhaps that's by design while the real perpetrators of our own extinction go unpunished and even unrecognized. It is "bumper sticker" activism while what's actually needed is a radical shift in collective consciousness. How do we organize such global action for effect?

[skybrian]

A slightly more useful way to think about it might be that early adopters can try out and perfect new ways of living that later might be scaled up.

So if you take that perspective, it's not just what works for you, but what can you come up with that might appeal to others? Can you document what works and what doesn't?

[perfunctory]

> I consider bragging or evangelizing them to be vain and even a bit egoistic... How do we organize such global action for effect?

Well. One suggestion would be to stop feeling bad about evangelising and start talking about lifestyle choices with friends, family, and co-workers.

[oil25]

I haven't had much success with that, probably because it's difficult for me to disjoin emotion from passionate evangelism. It may even have been counter-productive. What has your experience been? Can you share any strategies for such discussions about personal lifestyle politics?

[perfunctory]

I think the key is to be friendly and not judge people and not come across as a fanatic. And be patient - don't expect any immediate results, lifestyle changes don't happen overnight. It may be important to leave emotions out of this, though I am not sure about that.

Reflecting on my own experience, I don't remember anyone telling me explicitly what I should do with my lifestyle, but I did meet several people who were talking about climate change and their own personal choices. The discussions were always calm and intelligent. In hindsight I can tell those conversations were a contributing factor in triggering my own lifestyle changes. But it took years.

Bringing up the latest climate news piece could be a good entry point for a conversation. Before I joined my current project team I'm quite sure they never talked about climate. Now we regularly discuss it during lunch breaks.

[rlpb]

> They make us feel good, like we're "doing something" - and perhaps that's by design while the real perpetrators of our own extinction go unpunished and even unrecognized.

Arguably encouraging others to do these things is even harmful, because they then think they're "doing something" and consider their job done, instead of working on influencing society to change its rules.

[sadmann1]

Enjoy the brief amount of time that we still have to live in comfort then prepare to fight hard for survival or die.