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A Sierra Club Holiday Survival Guide
How to Win Arguments and Influence People
Cousin Mervin
Cousin Mervin is as nice as it gets. He wants to do the right thing, but he gets a little overwhelmed by all the stories he hears on TV. He wishes he was more of an environmentalist but doesn't know quite where to start. He's been recycling for a few years now, though, and once he finds easy solutions he gets on board.
Now that Beck is back from a commercial break, Uncle Burt is glued to the TV. Cousin Mervin asks you to pass the turkey, but then hesitates once it's in his hands.
Cousin Mervin: Hmm, I've heard something about meat and the world getting hotter... what's that called?... oh yeah, global warming. I'm not sure what they said, either meat makes it hotter, or that turkeys like higher temperatures. It's all so complicated.
You: I've heard about that too, Cousin Mervin. It's actually not that complicated. The way meat is produced these days makes a lot of pollution, including methane from cows that increases the temperature of the planet, as well as cutting down forests to give the cattle grazing areas. One easy way to help the environment is to eat less meat. You don't have to give it up completely; you could just make smaller portions or skip meat one day a week, for instance. Think of it as "Meatless Mondays."
Cousin Mervin: People keep talking about this global warming thing, but I'll be darned if I can understand it. It's colder than a well-digger's behind out there this morning. There's frost on my car at night when I get out of my bingo tournament!
You: That may be, Cousin Mervin, but don't confuse climate and weather. Climate is the weather averaged out over time. When scientists talk about climate change, they're concerned with long-term trends across the entire planet, not so much about the temperature in Topeka this morning.
Cousin Mervin: Hmm, that's interesting. The problem is, I don't have time to think about environmental issues.
You: Yeah, it can be hard to keep up with all of the science. But there are easy ways to help out. Start by "liking" the Sierra Club on Facebook. The page offers lots of easy, everyday tips that don't take much time.
Cousin Mervin: Really? Like what?
You: Well, I read that by turning on your ceiling fan during the winter you can reduce the amount of energy you use and save money. Heat rises, and the fan pushes it back down to where you are. Who knew? But I've started doing it and it works great.
Cousin Mervin: Using a fan in winter! That is interesting. I wish being green was always good for my pocketbook, though.
You: You know what? Green living is usually cheaper than the way people tend to do things. Whenever you reduce your energy use, you are doing a lot for the environment and saving money at the same time. Whether you are driving less or turning down the thermostat, you're helping out. Don't be confused by advertisements -- you rarely have to buy anything to be green.
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Now... how about someone else?
