framing bushfires and climate change

(Inspired by Lisa Simpson and JFK)

First up, we hope you are safe and well, and extend our well wishes if you or your loved ones have been affected by the bushfires. And in some way, all of us are affected, directly or indirectly.

Over the break I recalled Lisa Simpson explaining to Homer that Chinese people use the same word for crisis as for opportunity (which Homer coins “crisitunity”). With a little probing, I learnt of the idea’s heritage in a 1959 speech by JFK: “The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word 'crisis.' One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger - but recognize the opportunity.” ​

Then I discovered the inconvenient truth that the crisis symbol isn’t actually composed of danger and opportunity.

However, I imagine “crisitunity” has such wide appeal because we would like ourselves to be courageous and hopeful enough to take hold of the opportunity, while also dealing with the immediate crisis.

With this in mind, I’d like to share some guides that can build our courage and hope – and skills – to take action, particularly in how we frame bushfires and climate in conversations with our friends, family, colleagues and elected reps, in social media, opinion pieces and policy. These frames are powerful because they set the ‘space of possibles’– how people understand the crisis, what caused it, and importantly, what we can do about it.

In this brilliant guide, our colleagues at Australia reMADE recommend responding in four steps:

1. Lead with the good, the values of compassion and generosity we’ve seen in response to the fires.

2. Speak from a Transformation frame to explain what has gone so wrong and what we need to fix: this is severe climate damage, and we need to transform how we do things to protect our country and planet. Avoid simply making Scott Morrison the fall guy or further undermining faith in government as an institution. Be careful with the charity frame – remember, we need change, not charity. Solutions not band aids.

3. Name what we want, name the change! Describe what a just, inclusive, earth-centred, democratic society looks and feels like. You may wish to revisit Australia reMADE for inspiration. Make it tangible by describing what we already have today: community-owned renewables, citizens’ assemblies, Indigenous Rangers and fire custodians, regenerative agriculture. We have all the solutions already, we just need more collective action to scale them up, helped along by political leadership and funding.

4. Reach out to ‘unusual suspects’ who now seem more open to climate action and bigger systems change to make these solutions the default.

For more specific advice on talking climate, these guides by Psychology for a Safe Climate and others help us approach conversations with ‘warm hearts and cool minds’. Or in video form, check out George Marshall’s tips: listen and find common ground, describe why you care and find the need for climate action compelling (summary at 16:30min).

Together we have the opportunity to fix the root causes of worsening bushfires and climate change, thereby creating a better world. Let’s get on with it!

Blog written by: Eleanor Glenn on behalf of Ang and Mark at Common Cause Australia

- Amongst the many calls for donations, you might like to consider Firesticks Alliance who are providing emergency assistance to affected communities as well as training and advocating for Indigenous cultural fire practitioners across Australia. Crisis and beautiful opportunity.

- Many thanks to the Commons Library for sharing the bushfire and climate guides.