<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Umbra on writing to reps about climate change]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by RachelFindley http://www.grist.org/article/letters1/ Wed, 02 Aug 2006 06:53:52 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/letters1/1 To Sir, via surface mail?

Umbra says a nice typed or handwritten letter carries more weight than e-mail. I always used to send mine off with a pretty stamp.

But since 2001 I have heard that letters sent to The Government in Washington, DC are inspected, disinfected, examined, and detoxified so thoroughly that they may never arrive, or may be reduced to an illegible, melted, soggy mass that is useless for communication.

Please let us know. My pretty stamps would love to fly to Congress.

]]> To Sir, via surface mail?

Umbra says a nice typed or handwritten letter carries more weight than e-mail. I always used to send mine off with a pretty stamp.

But since 2001 I have heard that letters sent to The Government in Washington, DC are inspected, disinfected, examined, and detoxified so thoroughly that they may never arrive, or may be reduced to an illegible, melted, soggy mass that is useless for communication.

Please let us know. My pretty stamps would love to fly to Congress.

]]> Comment #2 by Heidi http://www.grist.org/article/letters1/ Wed, 02 Aug 2006 10:12:17 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/letters1/2 Good resources!

Thanks for the great resources, especially the Union of Concerned Scientists.   Also, for anyone who is willing to do a little more research, the USGS has some pretty useful and incontrovertible info to use as talking points in a letter.

]]> Good resources!

Thanks for the great resources, especially the Union of Concerned Scientists.   Also, for anyone who is willing to do a little more research, the USGS has some pretty useful and incontrovertible info to use as talking points in a letter.

]]> Comment #3 by davidwill http://www.grist.org/article/letters1/ Wed, 02 Aug 2006 19:13:41 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/letters1/3 Getting the language right

We've spent the last four years working on how to communicate sustainable development issues, especially climate change more effectively. Please, please, please read our 'Rules of the Game' publication (http://www.futerra.co.uk/downloads/RulesOfTheGame.pdf)

It's a distillation of a good few feet of research papers on how to communicate climate change and environmental issues. It was the foundation of the UK government's climate change communications strategy.

]]> Getting the language right

We've spent the last four years working on how to communicate sustainable development issues, especially climate change more effectively. Please, please, please read our 'Rules of the Game' publication (http://www.futerra.co.uk/downloads/RulesOfTheGame.pdf)

It's a distillation of a good few feet of research papers on how to communicate climate change and environmental issues. It was the foundation of the UK government's climate change communications strategy.

]]> Comment #4 by JMG http://www.grist.org/article/letters1/ Wed, 02 Aug 2006 23:50:40 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/letters1/4 Postcards are cool

Handwritten (readable please, print if necessary!)postcards have a number of virtues for communicating with electeds.  

they force you to be short and get to the point.

they bypass all the security nonsense.

a pretty or interesting postcard--especially of something in the elected's district or state--is nearly irresistable.  They stand out in a pile of letters like a flower in a desert.

they are so quick to read that they actually do get read.

they make the flunky who must read and sort the mail's job much easier; anything that makes their life easier enhances the reception for your message.

they are cheaper than mail in envelopes.

They may also use fewer resources compared to the typical letter+envelope+fuel (weight), but it's not clear (depends on the printing on the picture side).

]]> Postcards are cool

Handwritten (readable please, print if necessary!)postcards have a number of virtues for communicating with electeds.  

they force you to be short and get to the point.

they bypass all the security nonsense.

a pretty or interesting postcard--especially of something in the elected's district or state--is nearly irresistable.  They stand out in a pile of letters like a flower in a desert.

they are so quick to read that they actually do get read.

they make the flunky who must read and sort the mail's job much easier; anything that makes their life easier enhances the reception for your message.

they are cheaper than mail in envelopes.

They may also use fewer resources compared to the typical letter+envelope+fuel (weight), but it's not clear (depends on the printing on the picture side).

]]> Comment #5 by Peter O http://www.grist.org/article/letters1/ Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:44:16 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/letters1/5 Newspapers

See also the practice of writing letters to the editor in your local newspapers. Although they aren't nearly as high tech or cool as yaking on blogs, a lot of the political establishment still works by them as a way to guage citizen's interests. Or so I've heard. Plus, if you get your letter published, you've already passed the test of someone (the newspaper editor) thinking you aren't crazy, which makes more people pay more attention to your words. Best of luck.

]]> Newspapers

See also the practice of writing letters to the editor in your local newspapers. Although they aren't nearly as high tech or cool as yaking on blogs, a lot of the political establishment still works by them as a way to guage citizen's interests. Or so I've heard. Plus, if you get your letter published, you've already passed the test of someone (the newspaper editor) thinking you aren't crazy, which makes more people pay more attention to your words. Best of luck.

]]> Comment #6 by sarahkrasley http://www.grist.org/article/letters1/ Fri, 04 Aug 2006 06:21:38 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/letters1/6 in the meantime

Umbra, as always, thanks for the GREAT resources. I also love the Lulu reference! While concerned citizens are waiting for their suggestions to be incorporated into the legislative process, they can also look into renewable energy options to power their homes or businesses. Choosing renewable energy such as wind or solar power is a simple and inexpensive way to do something about climate change. It's also available to everyone in the U.S. regardless of whether your state is blue or red.

When you sign up with a renewable energy provider, they will give you tangible examples of what your purchase did in terms of how many tons of Greenhouse gas emissions were avoided or that your purchase of renewable energy certificates was equivalent to taking a certain number of cars off the road for a whole year. You get tangible results normally within a week that show what you did to mitigate the risks of climate change. My experience was that it was more gratifying then the standard form letter I received back from my representative.

Green-e (http://www.green-e.org) is a good resource for renewable energy options in the U.S.

]]> in the meantime

Umbra, as always, thanks for the GREAT resources. I also love the Lulu reference! While concerned citizens are waiting for their suggestions to be incorporated into the legislative process, they can also look into renewable energy options to power their homes or businesses. Choosing renewable energy such as wind or solar power is a simple and inexpensive way to do something about climate change. It's also available to everyone in the U.S. regardless of whether your state is blue or red.

When you sign up with a renewable energy provider, they will give you tangible examples of what your purchase did in terms of how many tons of Greenhouse gas emissions were avoided or that your purchase of renewable energy certificates was equivalent to taking a certain number of cars off the road for a whole year. You get tangible results normally within a week that show what you did to mitigate the risks of climate change. My experience was that it was more gratifying then the standard form letter I received back from my representative.

Green-e (http://www.green-e.org) is a good resource for renewable energy options in the U.S.

]]> Comment #7 by caniscandida http://www.grist.org/article/letters1/ Wed, 09 Aug 2006 05:13:07 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/letters1/7 ain't democracy great

Here on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, one of the bluest districts in all the land, it is generally unnecessary to direct our Senators and Representatives how to vote.  Probably it helps to remind them what the issues are, though.  And to thank them afterwards for voting as they did.

Still, we must always remain cynical.  Even here, environmentalist issues are not at the top of the list.  Given the world petroleum situation, I suspect they are all ready to give up ANWR before long.  But how could our counter-vote then punish them?

Alabama is rough: Can you unite pro-environment, anti-drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, pro-Ten Commandments, anti-manatee abuse, in one package?

Letters in the swing states and districts apparently still matter the most.

God knows what Lieberman's re-chivalry is going to amount to.  May God direct the voters of Connecticut to write the right letters, to the right people!

]]> ain't democracy great

Here on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, one of the bluest districts in all the land, it is generally unnecessary to direct our Senators and Representatives how to vote.  Probably it helps to remind them what the issues are, though.  And to thank them afterwards for voting as they did.

Still, we must always remain cynical.  Even here, environmentalist issues are not at the top of the list.  Given the world petroleum situation, I suspect they are all ready to give up ANWR before long.  But how could our counter-vote then punish them?

Alabama is rough: Can you unite pro-environment, anti-drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, pro-Ten Commandments, anti-manatee abuse, in one package?

Letters in the swing states and districts apparently still matter the most.

God knows what Lieberman's re-chivalry is going to amount to.  May God direct the voters of Connecticut to write the right letters, to the right people!

]]>