With ”You can do that“ A campaign was developed that explains why we humans find it so difficult to react adequately to the climate crisis and offers psychologically sound ways out of this misery.
The content and messages are the result of scientific studies, presented in an easy to understand and interesting way. In addition, there is a collection of socially effective options for action.
Interview with Daniela Gaulrapp and the DasKannstDutun team
What changes or actions do you expect from people who visit your website?
We want to bring about sustainable social change in dealing with the climate crisis. To do that, we all need to rethink. We want to promote this change of thinking through better understanding and new ways of thinking. Climate issues are exhausting and burdensome, which is why we are suppressing them. We can't do anything about it, our brain does it automatically. But there are ways out, and the surprising thing is that these are actually good for our psyche! Instead of further suppression, we should act, because self-effectiveness is “the antidote to powerlessness.” It is easier than many people think — in return, we provide psychologically sound suggestions for rethinking, getting involved effectively, using your own strengths and charging your batteries regularly. With our collection of concrete steps, we go even further: Here we offer thoroughly researched, very specific options for action from various areas that really make a difference.
How did the collaboration between “Creatives for Future” and “Psychologists for Future” come about?
Psychologists for Future initiated this campaign out of the awareness that many people want to do something but legitimately do not believe that the focus is on individual action. Unfortunately, for this and other reasons, it often happens that nothing is done due to excessive demands or helplessness. We wanted to offer these people guidance as to which options for action could have an impact beyond ourselves.
Self-effectiveness, i.e. the belief that we can change something, can thus be combined with the knowledge that it works. That makes it particularly strong. We want to pick people up where they are. With their doubts, with their fears, with the repression that exists in all of us. For clear and memorable communication, we needed the help of “Creatives for Future” — a network of professionals from the creative and marketing scene who support other groups on a voluntary basis. They helped us to translate our abstract ideas and concepts into words, imagery and design and make them accessible to a wider audience. The result was a super committed team from both groups, which developed everything together on a voluntary basis.
What advice would you give someone who wants to fight for climate change but doesn't know where to start or how to make a difference?
First and foremost, it is essential to combine yourself with your own values, with the hope of a better future in line with your own ideas and the fear of a future should the climate disaster reach its full potential. Face the associated emotions such as fear, anger and hope and let them work! After that, it is easier to find the right group for yourself in which you want to become active. Here, you should also pay attention to your interests and strengths.
Our strengths make it much easier for us to take action. We are particularly effective and stay on track more easily when we do something that appeals to us and brings us joy. That's what we do at creatives and psychologists — we do exactly what we're good at. Is it rather the social policy issues surrounding poverty and inequality that concern me the most? Can I connect well between people and groups? Would I rather be in the front row and give lectures, or help implement new projects or support activists in the background? Can I volunteer my skills to a climate protection organization? It is important not to remain alone, but to team up in groups and use bigger levers. This is the only way we can develop good and healthy strength that helps us to realign our lives based on the climate catastrophe and to act in such a way that we have maximum impact beyond ourselves. Under Concrete Steps — daskannstdutun.de, we have compiled a collection of socially effective options for action. We would advise everyone to take a look at them — there is something for everyone.
