Thanks also to John for his thoughtful input.

 Give people unbiased factual information without the hysteria that accompanies (for example) much of Al Gore’s film.
 Avoid agressive or over-assertive statements and predictions. They tend to make people avoid worrying news and antagonise those with real expertise. For example, a growing number of climatologists are becoming increasingly skeptical about the anthropomorphic contribution to climate change and the part played by CO2 as compared to water-vapor in heat retention.
 Provide explanations so that people can make their own interpretations rather than simply telling them what to think.
 Give the information in an entertaining fashion rather than as lectures.
 People are motivated by rewards or the promise of rewards, and the more immediate the better. Those rewards can be as simple as the warm feeling of having helped the environment by eschewing polythene bags.
 Offer people the opportunities to take active part interesting events that promote the message. This could include, obviously, practical help to a campaigner such as you and the annual events sponsored by a number of local governments.
 Recognise that people are influenced in differing ways, as some are obsessed by TV game shows while others find them merely irritating, so your blog (for example) must appeal to differing audiences, including those who read carefully the main text but are baffled by Twitters, and those who respond happily to brief snappy text messages on their cell phones
 Nothing motivates like success. The business with polythene bags has had demonstrated success measured by the number of shops that now sell reusable bags and sometimes give a kind of discount for their use.
 Hold people’s attention with regular and interesting items in the print and TV media as well as on the internet. Your blog is an excellent example of the kind of opportunity for this as exemplified by the video of Sylvia Earle’s recent presentation.
 As regards oceans, people need to be shown their significance. Many people have never even seen an ocean and to some they are as unreal and remote as Mars. It looks as though the new version of Google Earth may be an ideal vehicle for this.
 Lectures and instructions, particularly by government agencies, are less effective than the entertainment approach typified by, for example, facilities such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
 Parallels may be drawn between the sort of atmospheric pollution that affects people immediately – such as dust, pollens, smoke or even unpleasant smells – and equivalent pollution in the sea affecting sea life.
 People will preferentially believe information given to them informally in preference to the same information given formally. This means that instructions and demands have far less effect than suggestions and requests.
“A society must ask, seek and demand, that each individual give something of himself. From the sum of these small offerings. It can then build itself anew. If all of us light the candle of our souls, the world will be filled with light.” -Adin Steinsaltz

All the best to you as you continue pursuing your pupose-filled passion!

Janis Hatlestad
Woodland Hills, CA

I think that the real challenge with the green movement is that the message can end up preaching to the converted rather than focussing on what can be done. This is obviously a broad brush statement, and I certainly don’t want to criticise the great work that a lot of these organisations do, I just think that the message is getting through and what we all need are some practical steps to change our habits.

So maybe the key is to stop trying to convince everyone and focus on those that are already believers, put us to work first and the late adopters will eventually get the idea!

My view is that the most effective ways to communicate a message and create change are;

1. Communicate the message and the urgency, but avoid spreading fear. Fear is a poor motivator, people will avoid it at all costs even if it means sticking their heads in the sand.

2. Keep it simple, focus on less information and less areas to tackle. The most interesting point I got out of Sylvia’s talk was the fact that we have progressed quite a long way with protecting areas of the earth by creating national parks etc, but haven’t done the same with the oceans. A simple concept to communicate and for me to understand.

3. Empower people by spreading hope and by providing practical steps that we can all undertake to really make a difference. There are so many people (and groups) communicating the message and I believe that the general consensus is that change is needed now, but too few suggesting practical steps that everyday people can take. Maybe you could come up with a list of five things that anyone can (must) do to make a difference to our oceans, I.e stop using plastic bags, pick up 3 pieces of rubbish on your daily walks, start a monthly clean up the beaches club (currently happens yearly in Melbourne), join a conservation group that is lobbying for ocean protection etc.

4. Get people involved. Eco tourism has proven to be a great educator and motivator for the environment. Getting out into nature inspires you to take an interest in its preservation. The challenge with the ocean is that it is largely “out of site, out of mind”. Although it is all around us, most of us hardly venture beyond our shore lines or beneath the surface to explore what’s beyond. Those that do partake in ocean hobbies, sailors, surfers and divers appreciate the ocean and have an interest in its protection.

5. Lead by example and acknowledge participation. Seeing and hearing about others getting involved and also receiving credit for taking steps themselves (no matter how small) can motivate more than anything else. I don’t think that you need too many tips on this, you are certainly leading by example and its great to hear from you about some of the others out there spreading the work and making an impact.

Keep up the great work!

But I wonder if I can just clarify my question? What I really need is not so much suggestions as to what people should be doing – rather, I need suggestions as to what is most likely to increase knowledge and motivate action.

Before people change their behavior, they need to feel that change is necessary. And it is that first step that the green movement has always struggled with. Once they know that change is necessary, the rest is easy. But how to get them to that realization?!

I’ve seriously thought about devoting my life to saving animals, but
I have to make a living, so I just keep plugging on. The only thing people as individuals and nations are motivated by is money, and the ability to feed their families. It seems simple enough, don’t generate a demand for the product. Find another hobby other than fishing. Donate to organizations devoted to helping the oceans. Take your investments out of corportations that pollute and destroy oceans, and kill sea life.

It seems to me that Asians are the worst offenders, the Japanese will bludgeon dolphins to death and turn the sea red with their blood. The Chinese are extincting shark species to satisfy their craving for shark fin soup (which tastes disgusting, I tried it 25 years ago). All of asians, Thailand, Taiwan, China and Japan are wiping out turtle species. It just goes on and on. In Canada we are so enlightened that we allow Americans to come up and hunt polar bears! Polar bears! WTF?! We also have a yearly seal hunt, where they tear off the skins of baby seals while they’re still alive infront of their mothers! Humans have no soul. We know this is going on and we just look the other way and whistle. I refuse to invest in Canadian savings bonds for this reason. Victoria which is populated by sweet, nature loving citizens dumps their raw sewage into the ocean, because they don’t want to spend the money on a sewage treatment plant. How messed up is that? And they live next to it.

My ideas in priortity:
1. Take your savings and investments out of sea life for food companies and polluting companies and put them in companies that help the oceans, such as plastics recycling or vegan food products.

2. Stop with the seafood language and thinking.

3. Stop eating sea animals no matter how small, and sustainable and blah blah. Just be a mensch and eat something else. Eat flax and walnuts for your Omega 3s

4. Take a look at your own life and start making sacrifices that you can handle to save the oceans, such as using nature friendly cosmetics and cleaning products.

5. Get politically active, join groups that are organized and out there working for the causes you believe in. Maybe Green peace? Peta? Clean water groups? Around here there are lots of salmon saving groups, (because they like to later catch and eat them tho, it’s weird).

How about “By Rowboat to Antigua” or “Rowing to Myself” or “The Advent of an Adventurer”

You can do better than that: Don’t let them bully you!!