I've found that the best way to reach most folks is to meet them on common ground. Many folks have a hard time understanding the interconnectedness of ecosystems, so they tend not to realize how flipping on a light switch relates to blasting mountaintops in Appalachia. Most of my family enjoys fishing and hunting, so I try to talk to them on more of a conservationist level as opposed to explaining global warming. It serves as a decent starting point, and from there I dig into more complex topics. I don't really think it's as much about trying to refute arguments, but about encouraging folks to see the simple connections and think positively about the environment. I've taken a bit of heat for that viewpoint, especially when James Hansen says we have so little time left to combat global warming.

I really think that the rise in oil prices give us a chance to further the public's environmental literacy, and I definitely agree that gloating is no way to gain interest. Certainly, US science education isn't helping, but many folks are hurting because of fuel and they want an alternative. We just have to make sure that we don't exclude anyone from our alternatives, especially those with low incomes. All of the greenwashing ads on TV about clean coal and fuel-efficient 30 MPG cars really have an effect on folks, and it seems that corporations pushing “green” products to folks with a lot of money creates the perception that one can only live a sustainable lifestyle if he or she has a higher income. I think that's where the green movement tends to lose a lot of momentum.

But you're absolutely right; after initially sticking two fingers up at the other side, it would be immature to gloat and we all have to be modest and humble guides to those that still can't quite comprehend what a greener lifestyle involves.

At the other end of the scale the green movement has a duty to attempt to reign-in those that would take advantage of the situation with their greenwashing tactics, so there's no time to gloat when there is so much important work still to be done.

What does concern me is the incredible narrow-mindedness of the people that Jeff Tunnell encountered; how on earth can environmentalists deal with such deeply flawed indoctrination? I've had the same “religious” battles myself and the zeal of these people to preach their own counter views is both absurd and frightening.

1. There is 500 years worth of oil locked up in the oil shale. If only the “do-gooders” would allow us to process it, we could get the price of oil/gas back down where it belongs.
2. Global warming is just a cycle and is not caused by humans. The Earth is just too big. There have always been cycles, how do you think the dinosaurs died? Besides, the poles are freezing over faster than they ever have.
3. Trees actually give out CO2 late in their life cycle. Do you really think we need to plant more tree.
4. The Earth makes oil as a process, it is not fossil based. Thirty years ago, when we had the gas shortage, the do-gooders were wrong then, and they are wrong now.
4. There were WMD's in Iraq, we just did not get in there in time to stop them from going to Syria and Iran.

On, and on. Anyway, my point is that these points are becoming the mantra of the non-believers. I have heard it from other people. I have no idea what the source is. Rush Limbaugh? Fox News? What ever, these people feel they are informed, and It is not an insignificant percentage of society.

I had no idea how to rebut them. It felt like a religious battle. I was outnumbered, so I meekly replied that I believed in human caused global warming, and even if we are wrong, what difference would it make. Not a very strong reply, but nothing I could have said would have mattered. There are a lot of people that do not want to change the way they live even in a small way.

Exactly! We've got a golden opportunity to speak to many people who don't necessarily share our values. We can't squander that by gloating… we also can't approach them by sawing “See, we were right, so it's time to start thinking like us.” Rather, let's address their concerns: high gas and energy prices are eating up a higher percentage of people's incomes, so let's introduce them to the tactics and technologies available now that will lessen their consumption.