The Human Face of Climate Change

Upon learning that we would be hosting the exclusive university screening of Mike Nash’s important documentary- Climate Refugees, it got us thinking about how to better communicate the ramifications of climate change. The opportunity for CSU to share this film with our community is a good first step.
Michael Nash’s documentary brings the mass global migration of humans caused by climate change to the spotlight with harrowing images, and strong stories. The visual provides the slap in the face that many people need to wake up and realize that this is something that will affect their lives- not just people living in far away countries. Putting a human face on an issue makes it resonate stronger and involves emotion.

As researchers, we know that it is more than just weather and sea levels, but how do we communicate this to the world at large? How do we help create the motivation for change? We won’t be able to answer these questions in this blog, but it is something that is churning in many heads campus wide.

Yesterday at our first panel discussion, "The World Gathers in Copenhagen: What to Expect and Why it is so Critical to Us," some interesting dialog was formed around the need to educate. Student attendees posed questions on how we go about creating dialog in the public that the decisions they make, ranging from the everyday things like meat consumption to the higher level concepts of cap and trade, change the global dimensions of climate, and thus will have a domino effect on how we live our lives in the future. It was a good start to generating collective thought on such an important issue.

We look forward to the panel discussion that follows the Climate Refugee screening, to see again that spark of collective thinking to begin solving such serious problems.

This exclusive university screening is free and open to the public. Colorado State students, faculty, and staff will have the opportunity to get tickets before tickets become available to the general public.

Starting Wednesday, Nov. 4, CSU students, faculty, and staff can pick up their tickets from the CSU Campus Box Office with a valid campus ID. Up to four tickets per ID will be issued. Tickets are not available online. Tickets for the general public will be available starting Friday, Nov. 6. The Campus Box Office, located in the Lory Student Center, is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

For more information on Climate Refugees, please visit http://www.climaterefugees.com/.