Rotorua Workshop Report
We had 16 attend our all-day workshop at the Rotorua Arts Centre on 10 Feb – a good number for discussion, and a range of ages from the 20s to 81. Jeanette presented with help from Pat , and with invaluable local organising help from Jenny Lux.
We covered ways of having a conversation about climate change: identifying shared values, understanding the other person’s point of view, making it relevant to them and motivating with hope rather than fear and guilt and too many facts. One theme that kept coming up was the balancing of pessimism and optimism, dealing with feelings of helplessness and building a supportive group. We practised this with role plays. Comments like “The Declaration made me feel excited” were very encouraging.
We also covered where emissions come from, which matter most, simple things that communities can do to reduce them, and whether to measure tonnes of carbon or adopt targets like travelling fewer km or producing less waste. (We recommend the latter.)
People identified communities in Rotorua that they were part of, but the idea of trying to stimulate a climate action plan in their school, workplace, union, or street is still a step too far for many people. They commented they want to take more personal action and get their own household in order before they tackle a wider community. We learned that if that is where people are, that is where we need to be too. We are confident it will grow from there.
We are looking forward to the next one in Tauranga on 24 March.
Featured News
See all news >Newsletter April 2024 - Can you help?
16 April 2024
Ngā mihi nui! Our Climate Declaration needs a new convenor Can you help? We are now in our s...
Read more >
A new way to fund climate action? | Webinar Recording
12 April 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa! This webinar picked up important threads from our previous webinar - on b...
Read more >
Building Alternatives: Are Efforts to Reform the System Misplaced? | Webinar Recording
11 April 2024
We were pleased to co-sponsor this webinar. Ted Trainer Ph.D. is a retired Australian academ...
Read more >
A Degrowth Approach to Climate Change | Webinar Recording
29 March 2024
We were proud to present this webinar, along with the Nelson Tasman Climate Forum:
Read more >
The Behavioural Crisis Driving Ecological Overshoot (2nd Presentation) | Webinar Recording
08 March 2024
We decided to open this year’s webinar series with a second presentation of last year’s “The...
Read more >
Newsletter February 2024
14 February 2024
Kia ora katoa! Ngā mihi nui mō enei rā mahana rawa! We decided to open this year’s webinar s...
Read more >
Newsletter January 2024
28 January 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa. Ngā mihi nui mō tēnei tau hou. Another year and a new government – and he...
Read more >
When the heat rises, we all suffer | Newsroom
15 January 2024
Credit Matthias Zomer on Pexels for thumbnail
Read more >
Take the Jump | Webinar Recording
07 December 2023
We ended 2023 with our final webinar of the year, on Wednesday 6th December: Take the Jump ...
Read more >
Newsletter November 2023
24 November 2023
Kia ora katoa! This newsletter focuses on activities undertaken in local communities for the...
Read more >