Climate Change And The Many Faces of Denial by Don Shafer Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Graduate Liberal Studies Program Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Don Shafer 2018 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Summer 2018 Copyright in this work rests with the author. Please ensure that any reproduction or re-use is done in accordance with the relevant national copyright legislation. Approval Name: Don Shafer Degree: Master of Arts Title: Climate Change And The Many Faces of Denial Examining Committee: Chair: Gary McCarron Associate Professor, School of Communication Elenore Stebner Senior Supervisor Professor Department of Humanities Stephen Duguid Supervisor Professor Department of Humanities Jack Martin External Examiner Professor Department of Psychology Date Defended/Approved: July 16, 2018 ii Ethics Statement iii Abstract Despite growing evidence, there seems a general reluctance to accept the seriousness of climate change or that human activities are a prime cause. While there needs to be a substantial change in humanity’s relationship with the Earth, evidence confirms that we have done very little about it. For many, this reluctance manifests itself as a kind of denial. For others, their reluctance is embedded in cultural, religious, or tribal beliefs. This human ability to ignore those things that conflict with one’s values and beliefs, or that are so unimaginable that one can’t deal with them, as they can often increase our anxiety. This project explores the inaction around climate change, as well as the impact of that inaction on people and communities. It explores why some people are in varying degrees of denial about climate change, and how climate change relates to social., political and economic issues. While it may not be hopeless as some experts suggest, it is deadly serious. This is a narrative-based inquiry that considers the narrative or storytelling format as a non-neutral, rhetorical account that aims at “illocutionary intentions.” This approach follows a recursive, reflexive process of storytelling that subsumes a group of approaches that in turn rely on the written or spoken words or visual representation of individuals. This approach utilises field texts, stories, journals, interviews of over seventy experts, and personal observation and experience as the sources to understand this complex topic better. ______________________________________________________________________ Keywords: Climate Change; Denial; Culture; Religion; Capitalism iv Dedication This project is dedicated to those who applauded my return to school and helped me along the way. Heartfelt thanks to SFU’s faculty and my cohort, my kids - Paisley, Heath, Ally, Evan, Shalon, Monique, and to my closest friends who have been a constant source of support and encouragement during the challenges of graduate school and in life. Had it not been for Dr. Anne Newlands who encouraged me to chase my dream of going back to school, Tracey Friesen for recommending the Graduate Liberal Studies Program at SFU, or my sister Khristan Lee Shafer who championed me to become a better writer, it is unlikely that I would have undertaken this path. For those academics, authors, scientists, colleagues, and others that went out of their way for me as I was trying to make sense of this world, I am forever grateful. v Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge those people who guided me on this journey through the Graduate Liberal Studies Program (GLS). In particular, Dr. Stephen Duguid and Dr. Ellie Stebner whose interest, supervision, passionate teaching styles and ongoing support contributed immeasurably to my academic growth and in bringing me, and this project alive. It has been a life-changing experience, an honour, and pleasure to work with them. I am ever grateful for our engaging conversations and growing friendships. Dr. Sasha Colby opened this world of GLS at a critical time in my life as I began building a new community radio station. Making sense of the old and new world with many of the “big books”, a tour of Italy, and our hometown. They provided a better understanding and appreciation of the diversity and richness of Vancouver and the world in which we live. I am grateful for her leadership and direction and a glimpse into the life of H.D. and other extraordinary women. Dr. Anne-Marie Feenberg Dibon shared her unique perspectives about pivotal changes in western civilization. I loved our tour of the Renaissance and Enlightenment as well as the introduction to Frantz Fanon. I found her breadth of understanding and storytelling captivating as we studied colonialism and the impact humans have on our planet and each other. Dr. Lara Campbell allowed the older kids like me to share their lived experience in Sex and Gender studies in the Sixties which seemed surreal at times, to have grown up in this period, and Dr. Gary McCarron whose conversations about forgiveness and apologies contributed to a breadth of knowledge and inquiry in many areas. Dr. Anne Newlands graciously shared her knowledge and many hours of depth psychology as I struggled to understand myself, human interactions and relationships throughout this pivotal time in my life. Dr. Minelle Mahtani who took a chance on me as we became colleague’s and friends from Roundhouse Radio. She generously shared her unique perspectives about journalism, feminism and geography and helped me learn my way along this academic path, how to bridge what I was learning, and making sense of it at school, on air and in my heart. vi Ms. Sandra Zink made all of us feel at home at GLS. She juggled many details that kept us and the program together allowing all of us to find our way as we returned to school. No obstacle was too great, and I am touched by her warmth and optimism and many encouraging conversations. To Yvonne Evans, Betty Morton, and Anne Watson with whom I enjoyed many heartfelt discussions during my studies. Their personal experiences, questions and insights added greatly to this experience. Finally, I’d like to acknowledge my colleagues and friends at Roundhouse Radio for supporting my curiosity and interest in this project. I am humbled and touched by the impact our team had in such a short period of time. They brought our station, our city, and me alive as they put their heart and soul into its mission of bringing our twenty some neighborhoods closer together. The passion that they brought to this work reminds me that there is a greater need for independent journalism on all platforms large and small and that we need those places that allow for spacious conversations, where all points of view are welcomed, and dialogue is encouraged. Somehow, I am confident these voices will be heard if we listen closely closely. vii Table of Contents Approval .......................................................................................................................... ii Ethics Statement ............................................................................................................ iii Abstract .......................................................................................................................... iv Dedication ....................................................................................................................... v Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................ vi Table of Contents .......................................................................................................... viii List of Figures................................................................................................................. ix List of Acronyms .............................................................................................................. x Glossary ......................................................................................................................... xi Preface.......................................................................................................................... xiii Chapter 1 Introduction: There Is No Way Off This Ride ........................................... 1 Chapter 2 The Science Seems Simple ...................................................................... 21 Anthropocene or Capitalocene ...................................................................................... 27 Chapter 3 Self Deception, False Beliefs, and Denial ................................................ 38 The Shadow .................................................................................................................. 52 Chapter 4 In Search of God ....................................................................................... 56 On Death and Dying ...................................................................................................... 63 Chapter 5 Adaptation and Mitigation ........................................................................ 67 Chapter 6 This is The End ......................................................................................... 79 References ................................................................................................................... 86 Appendix A. ................................................................................................................. 95 viii List of Figures Figure 1 Phu Quoc, Vietnam, Ocean Garbage ..................................................... xiii Figure 2 NASA Earth