In this week's round up: finding common ground on our values, a crash in Americans commuting by car, DON'T buy buy buy - for the children, and more.
If you’re a science communicator or educator at an informal science center (such as a zoo, aquarium, or museum) trying to encourage conservation action – this is the round up for you! Every week we break down the most interesting recent news and best resources to help you frame the issues as effectively as possible. Some of these resources will be practical communications and framing tips, and others are great starting points for brainstorming future strategies.
Jump to...
Thoughts on communication
It's what we all are striving to figure out - how can we communicate with other people in a way that leaves an impression? Here are some thoughts that may help:
Climate communication: know thy audience, know thyself
It's critical to keep your target audience in mind when communicating - but it's also important to know your own strengths and weaknesses as a messenger. Douglas Meyer shares some thoughts in this mini-blog.
Finding the Common Ground
This interesting post by Lightbox Collaborative isn't specifically about environmental issues, but it's definitely applicable. You may know that there are six fundamental morals most humans identify with (fairness, respect for authority, etc.) but did you know that political ideologies give these values very different weight? However - that doesn't mean you can't talk about issues traditionally seen as "liberal" using "conservative" values. This post gives some tips.
Is Every Day Black Friday? How Climate Inaction And Hypermaterialism Betray Our Children
It's a confrontational headline but it makes a common sense point - if you care about the future of our children, buying them junk for the holidays is self-defeating. 1/4 of America's energy use goes to creating products. Pair that with the fact that, in general, we value positive experiences over nice material possessions.
By the numbers
Stats, polls, all the new developments by the numbers.
The US has 43 nuclear power plants’ worth of solar energy in the pipeline
A lot of this is still in the planning stages, but there is a bright future for US solar power. Lame pun certainly 
intended! I like this article for talking with people who are still unconvinced that solar power is an up-and-coming energy source in America.
Car commuters declining in 99 out of America's 100 largest cities
There is a small but significant shift happening in the way America's city dwellers are getting around, and it doesn't seem to be due to the economy. This is a great stat to use when talking to people about biking and using the subway to travel - it's green and lots of people are doing it.
