This article is about how we can educate people about the climate by using humor – helping people laugh first – before the educational part comes out.

I have long been urging us to use humor to educate people about hard, scary issues such as nuclear weapons, dangerous right-wing politicians, etc.  This article’s focus on the climate is applicable to other hard, scary issues:

https://grist.org/fix/arts-culture/humor-comedy-engages-people-climate-science/

 

Here is a GREAT EXAMPLE of how to use humor in our outreach: This movie satirized the Cold War.

During the workshops I conduct to strengthen people’s skills in organizing grassroots movements, I encourage the participants to use humor, wit and satire in raising issues.  Even serious issues such as nuclear weapons can be approached.  When people are laughing, their defenses are lowered, so they can see things in fresh ways.

You can watch for FREE the movie I linked below.  It came out in 1966, during the height of the Cold War.  It pointed out – in very funny ways – the ridiculousness of some people’s fears, and also the humanity of Russian submariners.

I watched it when it came out and watched it again twice in recent years.

You will enjoy it too.

https://www.freegreatmovies.com/Free-Movie/The-Russians-Are-Coming-the-Russians-Are-Coming/5642