I’m the creator of a project that’s called is this how you feel and what I
called is this how you feel and what I
called is this how you feel and what I want is for more people to care about
want is for more people to care about
want is for more people to care about climate change because climate change
climate change because climate change
climate change because climate change Israel humans are burning fossil fuels
Israel humans are burning fossil fuels
Israel humans are burning fossil fuels this is releasing carbon dioxide into
this is releasing carbon dioxide into
this is releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and this is changing the
the atmosphere and this is changing the
the atmosphere and this is changing the climate scientists know this climate
climate scientists know this climate
climate scientists know this climate change is bad sea level is rising ice
change is bad sea level is rising ice
change is bad sea level is rising ice cover is shrinking storms and heat waves
cover is shrinking storms and heat waves
cover is shrinking storms and heat waves are getting more frequent and more
are getting more frequent and more
are getting more frequent and more intense scientists know this and we need
intense scientists know this and we need
intense scientists know this and we need to act if we do nothing then by the end
to act if we do nothing then by the end
to act if we do nothing then by the end of the century we could be facing four
of the century we could be facing four
of the century we could be facing four or five degrees of warming the
or five degrees of warming the
or five degrees of warming the repercussions on some of the world’s
repercussions on some of the world’s
repercussions on some of the world’s most vulnerable people would be
most vulnerable people would be
most vulnerable people would be catastrophic scientists know this now to
catastrophic scientists know this now to
catastrophic scientists know this now to give you some insight into what I mean
give you some insight into what I mean
give you some insight into what I mean when I say scientists know this 97% of
when I say scientists know this 97% of
when I say scientists know this 97% of the world’s leading climate researchers
the world’s leading climate researchers
the world’s leading climate researchers agree that climate change is real and
agree that climate change is real and
agree that climate change is real and that humans are to blame 97%
that humans are to blame 97%
that humans are to blame 97% that’s a lot of scientists that’s like
that’s a lot of scientists that’s like
that’s a lot of scientists that’s like it’s pretty much all the scientists and
it’s pretty much all the scientists and
it’s pretty much all the scientists and you have to presume that if all the
you have to presume that if all the
you have to presume that if all the scientists agreed on anything then the
scientists agreed on anything then the
scientists agreed on anything then the rest of the world would tend to agree as
rest of the world would tend to agree as
rest of the world would tend to agree as well in the same way that if 97% of
well in the same way that if 97% of
well in the same way that if 97% of builders said your house was about to
builders said your house was about to
builders said your house was about to fall down you’d look at probably moving
fall down you’d look at probably moving
fall down you’d look at probably moving out right unfortunately this isn’t the
out right unfortunately this isn’t the
out right unfortunately this isn’t the case when it comes to climate change
case when it comes to climate change
case when it comes to climate change only 60 percent of the Australian public
only 60 percent of the Australian public
only 60 percent of the Australian public agree with the scientists 60 percent and
agree with the scientists 60 percent and
agree with the scientists 60 percent and even more scary is the fact that that
even more scary is the fact that that
even more scary is the fact that that number is echoed right across the world
number is echoed right across the world
number is echoed right across the world you’ve got to ask yourself why is there
you’ve got to ask yourself why is there
you’ve got to ask yourself why is there such a disconnect between what the
such a disconnect between what the
such a disconnect between what the scientists know and what the general
scientists know and what the general
scientists know and what the general public believes well I think a lot of it
public believes well I think a lot of it
public believes well I think a lot of it comes down to something as simple as
comes down to something as simple as
comes down to something as simple as communication let me give you an example
communication let me give you an example
communication let me give you an example quite a while ago I myself was a
quite a while ago I myself was a
quite a while ago I myself was a scientist now I wasn’t the climate
scientist now I wasn’t the climate
scientist now I wasn’t the climate scientist I was a marine scientist but I
scientist I was a marine scientist but I
scientist I was a marine scientist but I got to spend my days before
got to spend my days before
got to spend my days before experiments studying cause-and-effect
experiments studying cause-and-effect
experiments studying cause-and-effect using graphs and data and statistical
using graphs and data and statistical
using graphs and data and statistical analysis are communicated with
analysis are communicated with
analysis are communicated with confidence levels and graphs and and
confidence levels and graphs and and
confidence levels and graphs and and precise thorough language head start it
precise thorough language head start it
precise thorough language head start it was it was hard but eventually I got
was it was hard but eventually I got
was it was hard but eventually I got good at it it became natural and it was
good at it it became natural and it was
good at it it became natural and it was just the way I communicated until one
just the way I communicated until one
just the way I communicated until one day I gave up being a scientist and I
day I gave up being a scientist and I
day I gave up being a scientist and I started work as a builder’s labourer I
started work as a builder’s labourer I
started work as a builder’s labourer I went from designing experiments to
went from designing experiments to
went from designing experiments to digging holes
digging holes
digging holes I went from studying cause and effect to
I went from studying cause and effect to
I went from studying cause and effect to digging holes
digging holes
digging holes I went from using graphs and data or
I went from using graphs and data or
I went from using graphs and data or statistics to digging holes I dug a lot
statistics to digging holes I dug a lot
statistics to digging holes I dug a lot of holes as a builder’s labourer but
of holes as a builder’s labourer but
of holes as a builder’s labourer but that wasn’t the only thing that changed
that wasn’t the only thing that changed
that wasn’t the only thing that changed this clinical and precise language gave
this clinical and precise language gave
this clinical and precise language gave way to a more colorful fluid way of
way to a more colorful fluid way of
way to a more colorful fluid way of speaking where the vibe and the feeling
speaking where the vibe and the feeling
speaking where the vibe and the feeling was the most important thing I was still
was the most important thing I was still
was the most important thing I was still communicating I was just doing it in a
communicating I was just doing it in a
communicating I was just doing it in a very different way and it was probably
very different way and it was probably
very different way and it was probably around the time I was digging my fourth
around the time I was digging my fourth
around the time I was digging my fourth or fifth hole for the day that I
or fifth hole for the day that I
or fifth hole for the day that I realized maybe we’re seeing this
realized maybe we’re seeing this
realized maybe we’re seeing this difference because of how scientists are
difference because of how scientists are
difference because of how scientists are talking how they’re communicating now
talking how they’re communicating now
talking how they’re communicating now don’t get me wrong scientists need to be
don’t get me wrong scientists need to be
don’t get me wrong scientists need to be precise and clinical when they’re
precise and clinical when they’re
precise and clinical when they’re talking to other scientists it lets them
talking to other scientists it lets them
talking to other scientists it lets them be completely certain on everything that
be completely certain on everything that
be completely certain on everything that they’re talking about and sort of
they’re talking about and sort of
they’re talking about and sort of together lets them further the
together lets them further the
together lets them further the collective understanding of a given
collective understanding of a given
collective understanding of a given thing but that doesn’t mean that
thing but that doesn’t mean that
thing but that doesn’t mean that scientists need to speak in that certain
scientists need to speak in that certain
scientists need to speak in that certain way when they’re talking to everyone
way when they’re talking to everyone
way when they’re talking to everyone else and then I thought well maybe I can
else and then I thought well maybe I can
else and then I thought well maybe I can start approaching scientists maybe I can
start approaching scientists maybe I can
start approaching scientists maybe I can I can ask them to speak differently when
I can ask them to speak differently when
I can ask them to speak differently when it comes to climate change and see if
it comes to climate change and see if
it comes to climate change and see if that can change how people feel about
that can change how people feel about
that can change how people feel about the issue so I approached some of
the issue so I approached some of
the issue so I approached some of Australia’s leading climate researchers
Australia’s leading climate researchers
Australia’s leading climate researchers I asked them to step away from their
I asked them to step away from their
I asked them to step away from their computer screens and a hand write me a
computer screens and a hand write me a
computer screens and a hand write me a letter answering one simple question how
letter answering one simple question how
letter answering one simple question how does climate change make you feel
does climate change make you feel
does climate change make you feel now I wasn’t asking them for a big old
now I wasn’t asking them for a big old
now I wasn’t asking them for a big old stack of peer-reviewed journals I wasn’t
stack of peer-reviewed journals I wasn’t
stack of peer-reviewed journals I wasn’t asking them for results from a recent
asking them for results from a recent
asking them for results from a recent experiment I was asking them for a
experiment I was asking them for a
experiment I was asking them for a handwritten letter telling me how
handwritten letter telling me how
handwritten letter telling me how climate change made them feel this is
climate change made them feel this is
climate change made them feel this is the first time that anyone had asked me
the first time that anyone had asked me
the first time that anyone had asked me this before and their responses they
this before and their responses they
this before and their responses they shocked me it makes me feel sick it
shocked me it makes me feel sick it
shocked me it makes me feel sick it makes me feel sad and it scares me it
makes me feel sad and it scares me it
makes me feel sad and it scares me it gives me more than anything else this is
gives me more than anything else this is
gives me more than anything else this is from a research associate professor
from a research associate professor
from a research associate professor Katrina Meisner now her day job involves
Katrina Meisner now her day job involves
Katrina Meisner now her day job involves looking at historical climate records
looking at historical climate records
looking at historical climate records and building models to predict what the
and building models to predict what the
and building models to predict what the climate will do in the future
climate will do in the future
climate will do in the future Katrina gets climate change but right
Katrina gets climate change but right
Katrina gets climate change but right here she’s not telling us the likelihood
here she’s not telling us the likelihood
here she’s not telling us the likelihood of temperatures being above a certain
of temperatures being above a certain
of temperatures being above a certain level by a given date she’s telling us
level by a given date she’s telling us
level by a given date she’s telling us how climate change makes her feel she’s
how climate change makes her feel she’s
how climate change makes her feel she’s scared and then this one global warming
scared and then this one global warming
scared and then this one global warming doesn’t bother me as much as what it is
doesn’t bother me as much as what it is
doesn’t bother me as much as what it is revealing about humans maybe I just need
revealing about humans maybe I just need
revealing about humans maybe I just need to grow up and get over it but that
to grow up and get over it but that
to grow up and get over it but that won’t help my kids any this is from
won’t help my kids any this is from
won’t help my kids any this is from Professor David Griggs this guy’s the
Professor David Griggs this guy’s the
Professor David Griggs this guy’s the director of Monash a sustainability
director of Monash a sustainability
director of Monash a sustainability Institute he’s authored reports for the
Institute he’s authored reports for the
Institute he’s authored reports for the International Panel on Climate Change
International Panel on Climate Change
International Panel on Climate Change he gets it the right here he doesn’t
he gets it the right here he doesn’t
he gets it the right here he doesn’t sound like a scientist he sounds like a
sound like a scientist he sounds like a
sound like a scientist he sounds like a dad who’s worried about his children
most of all I feel so very sorry for my
most of all I feel so very sorry for my children and my hypothetical
children and my hypothetical
children and my hypothetical grandchildren’s generation for all the
grandchildren’s generation for all the
grandchildren’s generation for all the beautiful things in the world that they
beautiful things in the world that they
beautiful things in the world that they will miss Stephen Sherwood again another
will miss Stephen Sherwood again another
will miss Stephen Sherwood again another of Australia’s leading climate
of Australia’s leading climate
of Australia’s leading climate researchers this is phenomenal when I
researchers this is phenomenal when I
researchers this is phenomenal when I started asking these scientists how they
started asking these scientists how they
started asking these scientists how they felt they went from being these boffins
felt they went from being these boffins
felt they went from being these boffins in lab coats that can’t really talk to
in lab coats that can’t really talk to
in lab coats that can’t really talk to everyone else at least our minds and
everyone else at least our minds and
everyone else at least our minds and turned into real relatable human beings
turned into real relatable human beings
turned into real relatable human beings with real relatable emotions
with real relatable emotions
with real relatable emotions and that was the start of his lease how
and that was the start of his lease how
and that was the start of his lease how you feel
you feel
you feel originally I had nine of these
originally I had nine of these
originally I had nine of these handwritten letters and I wanted to put
handwritten letters and I wanted to put
handwritten letters and I wanted to put them in front of an audience I wanted to
them in front of an audience I wanted to
them in front of an audience I wanted to see if they could change how people felt
see if they could change how people felt
see if they could change how people felt about climate change so I went to my
about climate change so I went to my
about climate change so I went to my local Vinnie’s and you know how in those
local Vinnie’s and you know how in those
local Vinnie’s and you know how in those sort of places there’s always these old
sort of places there’s always these old
sort of places there’s always these old framed photos of like fruit or cats or
framed photos of like fruit or cats or
framed photos of like fruit or cats or something like that I bought a bunch of
something like that I bought a bunch of
something like that I bought a bunch of those frames and I popped out the fruit
those frames and I popped out the fruit
those frames and I popped out the fruit and the cats and then I framed the
and the cats and then I framed the
and the cats and then I framed the letters and I went to my uni and I held
letters and I went to my uni and I held
letters and I went to my uni and I held an exhibition a few people came along
an exhibition a few people came along
an exhibition a few people came along and the response was pretty positive so
and the response was pretty positive so
and the response was pretty positive so I held another exhibition to put the
I held another exhibition to put the
I held another exhibition to put the letters in front of more people and then
letters in front of more people and then
letters in front of more people and then I put the letters online because I
I put the letters online because I
I put the letters online because I wanted to show them to the world did I
wanted to show them to the world did I
wanted to show them to the world did I hold another exhibition that I started
hold another exhibition that I started
hold another exhibition that I started approaching researchers from all over
approaching researchers from all over
approaching researchers from all over the globe asking them for their feelings
the globe asking them for their feelings
the globe asking them for their feelings and then bang the website went fire or
and then bang the website went fire or
and then bang the website went fire or then I held another exhibition and
then I held another exhibition and
then I held another exhibition and another so that today the project has
another so that today the project has
another so that today the project has been shown in seven X exhibitions across
been shown in seven X exhibitions across
been shown in seven X exhibitions across two countries the website now houses 43
two countries the website now houses 43
two countries the website now houses 43 letters from researchers from 8
letters from researchers from 8
letters from researchers from 8 different countries at the peak of its
different countries at the peak of its
different countries at the peak of its virality the website and social media
virality the website and social media
virality the website and social media presences were saying a quarter of a
presences were saying a quarter of a
presences were saying a quarter of a million people in a single weekend and
million people in a single weekend and
million people in a single weekend and there’s a thirst for this sort of
there’s a thirst for this sort of
there’s a thirst for this sort of content it’s been covered all over the
content it’s been covered all over the
content it’s been covered all over the world in news and media sources which is
world in news and media sources which is
world in news and media sources which is great right a bunch of people have seen
great right a bunch of people have seen
great right a bunch of people have seen this stuff and you know that’s good but
this stuff and you know that’s good but
this stuff and you know that’s good but is it changing how people feel because
is it changing how people feel because
is it changing how people feel because remember that was the original goal I
remember that was the original goal I
remember that was the original goal I think so because we get responses from
think so because we get responses from
think so because we get responses from people that have seen the letters like
people that have seen the letters like
people that have seen the letters like this
this
this I felt feel guilt and overwhelming
I felt feel guilt and overwhelming
I felt feel guilt and overwhelming sadness but I can see I was apathetic
sadness but I can see I was apathetic
sadness but I can see I was apathetic now I feel moved to do something that’s
now I feel moved to do something that’s
now I feel moved to do something that’s changed for the longest time I didn’t
changed for the longest time I didn’t
changed for the longest time I didn’t buy into climate change now I’m a
buy into climate change now I’m a
buy into climate change now I’m a believer that is change being a climate
believer that is change being a climate
believer that is change being a climate change activists makes me feel sexy and
change activists makes me feel sexy and
change activists makes me feel sexy and free not necessarily change but still
free not necessarily change but still
free not necessarily change but still have valuable part of the conversation
have valuable part of the conversation
have valuable part of the conversation right but these responses they’re not
right but these responses they’re not
right but these responses they’re not rare
rare
rare I’ve received facebook messages emails
I’ve received facebook messages emails
I’ve received facebook messages emails written letters from people thanking me
written letters from people thanking me
written letters from people thanking me for the project saying that before they
for the project saying that before they
for the project saying that before they didn’t used to care about climate change
didn’t used to care about climate change
didn’t used to care about climate change and now they do because that’s really
and now they do because that’s really
and now they do because that’s really what’s been missing the care factor when
what’s been missing the care factor when
what’s been missing the care factor when you look out your window you can’t see
you look out your window you can’t see
you look out your window you can’t see climate change when you look at your
climate change when you look at your
climate change when you look at your window you can’t see the benefits of
window you can’t see the benefits of
window you can’t see the benefits of acting against climate change it’s this
acting against climate change it’s this
acting against climate change it’s this far-off ominous thing it’s really hard
far-off ominous thing it’s really hard
far-off ominous thing it’s really hard to relate to if you can’t relate to
to relate to if you can’t relate to
to relate to if you can’t relate to something you’re probably not going to
something you’re probably not going to
something you’re probably not going to care about it and if you don’t care
care about it and if you don’t care
care about it and if you don’t care about it you sure as hell not gonna act
about it you sure as hell not gonna act
about it you sure as hell not gonna act against it it’s my hope that these
against it it’s my hope that these
against it it’s my hope that these letters can start to change that that
letters can start to change that that
letters can start to change that that these real relatable emotions can start
these real relatable emotions can start
these real relatable emotions can start to help everyone else relate to the
to help everyone else relate to the
to help everyone else relate to the issue can start to get them to care
issue can start to get them to care
issue can start to get them to care about it and hopefully get them to act
about it and hopefully get them to act
about it and hopefully get them to act against it now I know a lot of us here
against it now I know a lot of us here
against it now I know a lot of us here today are young people and maybe that
today are young people and maybe that
today are young people and maybe that taking action that’s the biggest hurdle
taking action that’s the biggest hurdle
taking action that’s the biggest hurdle because I accept that you can’t go home
because I accept that you can’t go home
because I accept that you can’t go home and whack some solar panels on your roof
and whack some solar panels on your roof
and whack some solar panels on your roof I accept that you can’t go out and buy a
I accept that you can’t go out and buy a
I accept that you can’t go out and buy a Tesla and maybe a bunch of you here old
Tesla and maybe a bunch of you here old
Tesla and maybe a bunch of you here old enough to vote that shouldn’t mean that
enough to vote that shouldn’t mean that
enough to vote that shouldn’t mean that you stop caring that shouldn’t mean that
you stop caring that shouldn’t mean that
you stop caring that shouldn’t mean that you give up because there is always
you give up because there is always
you give up because there is always something you can do you can talk you
something you can do you can talk you
something you can do you can talk you can talk to your peers to your parents
can talk to your peers to your parents
can talk to your peers to your parents to your friends tell them how you feel
to your friends tell them how you feel
to your friends tell them how you feel tell them the change and the action that
tell them the change and the action that
tell them the change and the action that you want to see because there’s a lot to
you want to see because there’s a lot to
you want to see because there’s a lot to be said for talking there’s a lot to be
be said for talking there’s a lot to be
be said for talking there’s a lot to be said for sharing your feelings there’s a
said for sharing your feelings there’s a
said for sharing your feelings there’s a lot to be said for writing a letter I
lot to be said for writing a letter I
lot to be said for writing a letter I want to show you this photo here this is
want to show you this photo here this is
want to show you this photo here this is a group of students from Hong Kong who
a group of students from Hong Kong who
a group of students from Hong Kong who saw the project and decided to write
saw the project and decided to write
saw the project and decided to write their own letters on how climate change
their own letters on how climate change
their own letters on how climate change makes them feel now that’s important
makes them feel now that’s important
makes them feel now that’s important because it started a really valuable
because it started a really valuable
because it started a really valuable conversation in their school but it’s
conversation in their school but it’s
conversation in their school but it’s also been an opportunity for them to
also been an opportunity for them to
also been an opportunity for them to take that first step away from apathy
take that first step away from apathy
take that first step away from apathy and indifference and that first step
and indifference and that first step
and indifference and that first step towards action because they’re not just
towards action because they’re not just
towards action because they’re not just writing the letters these students here
writing the letters these students here
writing the letters these students here and 400 of their peers
and 400 of their peers
and 400 of their peers have handwritten letters and now want to
have handwritten letters and now want to
have handwritten letters and now want to send them and we’ll send them to the
send them and we’ll send them to the
send them and we’ll send them to the President of the United States in those
President of the United States in those
President of the United States in those letters there yeah they’re talking about
letters there yeah they’re talking about
letters there yeah they’re talking about how they feel but they’re also talking
how they feel but they’re also talking
how they feel but they’re also talking about the actions they want to see that
about the actions they want to see that
about the actions they want to see that is real change that is stepping away
is real change that is stepping away
is real change that is stepping away from apathy and indifference thank you
from apathy and indifference thank you
from apathy and indifference thank you [Applause]
”
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