Community book read, public discussion takes aim at climate change

Contact: Mark Schwerin
Photo of a seedling growing out of dry ground.

Copies of Marshall's book will be available for short-term checkout.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University students and faculty are facilitating a community discussion in late March to explore the social causes and responses to climate change.

The discussion runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31, in the Van Deusen Room at the downtown Kalamazoo Public Library and will focus in part on key themes from one of the most influential books to address climate change, "Don’t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change," by George Marshall.

"Most people recognize that climate change is real, and yet they do nothing to try to stop it," says Dr. Denise Keele, a WMU associate professor of political science and an organizer of the event. "We want to explore what are the social, psychological and political habits of American life that prevent citizens from understanding and acting on the changes happening to the world."

about the book and event

Marshall wrote his book based on interviews with Nobel Prize-winning psychologists, activists of the Texas Tea Party, climate change scientists and deniers, liberal environmentalists and conservative evangelicals.

Local Kalamazoo climate change leaders will provide opportunities for participants to learn about and connect with various Kalamazoo initiatives. The event is free of charge and light refreshments will be served.

For participants unable to buy Marshall's book, copies are available for short-term checkout at the Kalamazoo Public Library as well as the Office for Sustainability front desk, located at the corner of Howard Street and West Michigan Avenue.

event co-sponsors

Co-sponsors for the community discussion include WMU Interdisciplinary Humanities Group for the Study of Climate Change, University Center for the Humanities, College of Arts and Sciences, Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program, Office for Sustainability and the Kalamazoo Public Library.

For more information, contact Dr. Denise Keele at (269) 387-5686 or denise.keele@wmich.edu.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.