Writing for Climate Justice – A Toolkit
1, Introduction
“Right here, right now is where we draw the line. The world is waking up, and change is coming whether you like it or not.” Greta Thunberg
“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” Malala Yousafzai
“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world…would do this, it would change the world.” William Faulkner
The written word is a powerful form of activism. Writing can confront, educate, ignite emotions, persuade, and inspire action – all at the same time. And the written word allows us as climate activists to cut through the noisiness of the world to leave a lasting impact on those in positions of power to effect change.
This toolkit is designed to provide you with the support you need to make your writing activism easier, efficient, and habitual. We hope this support helps you to employ writing as a regular and powerful form of climate activism.
2. Current Action Alerts
Current Action Alerts will be listed at the top of the 100Grannies.org website. Check there for timely opportunities to use for writing as activism.
3. Choose a Writing Activity
- Letters to Editor and Op-Eds. (Guest Columns)
- Guidelines for writing LTEs or Op-Eds.
- List of Publications, Instructions, and Submission Links:
Des Moines Register
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Iowa City Press Citizen
Please direct all submissions and queries to: editor@littlevillagemag.com
The Daily Iowan
Letters to the editor may be sent via email to Executive Editor Sabine Martin. Each letter must be signed and include an address and phone number for verification. Letters should not exceed 300 words and may be edited for clarity, length, style, and space limitations, including headlines. The DI will only publish one letter per author per month. Letters will be chosen for publication by the editors according to space considerations. No advertisements or mass mailings, please.
Guest opinions that exceed 300 words in length must be arranged with the Opinions editor at least three days prior to the desired date of publication. Guest opinions are selected in accordance with length, subject relevance, and space considerations. Guest opinions may be edited for length, clarity, style, and space limitations.
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
- Letters, Emails, and Postcards to Elected Officials, Boards, and Entities
Mail: Office of the Governor
Iowa State Capitol
1007 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA, 50319
Johnson County Board of Supervisors
Mail: 913 S. Dubuque Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Iowa City Mayor and City Council Members
Mail: 410 E Washington St
Iowa City, IA 52240
Coralville Mayor and City Council Members
Mail: Coralville City Hall
1512 7th St.
Coralville, IA 52241
North Liberty City Mayor and Council Members
Mail: PO Box 77
North Liberty IA 52317
4. Useful Guidelines, Tips for Writing, Templates and Sample Letters
Guidelines for Writing Effective Letters
Emails, letters, and postcards are important ways for the 100 Grannies to take immediate action. Here are some tips on proper format and effective content for a letter urging an action or expressing an opinion to elected representatives or other officials.
What are some rules you should follow?
- Be brief — keep a letter under one page [ideally 4 paragraphs]. An email should be five hundred words or fewer.
- Be concise — address only one topic in your letter or email.
- Locate yourself — include your home address.
- Avoid mass-mailing — if using email, send it to only one representative or official at a time if possible.
- Be Up-Front — state your subject clearly in the first sentence of your letter or subject line of your email.
- Be knowledgeable and specific — include facts and demonstrate a credible grasp of the issue.
- Be nice — avoid personal attacks.
How should your letter or email be structured?
Here is an outline you can follow when writing to your elected representative:
- Salutation — If you’re writing a printed or handwritten letter, include the date you’re writing the letter in the upper right-hand corner. If you’re writing an email, simply start with a salutation.
- Summary — Your first paragraph should be the summary paragraph. In this paragraph, you should outline who you are, why you are writing, and what you’d like them to do. [Note: You can include your credentials—your job title or any honors you’ve been awarded—if they are relevant to the issue you’re writing about.]
- Context — In your second paragraph, give the representative or official some context. Why is the issue you’re writing about important? This way, they know exactly what you’d like them to do about the issue. You might ask them to vote for a particular bill, take action on an issue in your community, or include funding for your issue in a budget. Then, provide three of your best supporting points. Those could be data, relevant events, or other key evidence points. You may break up your evidence into a bulleted list after your second paragraph or include them in the paragraph.
- Personal story — In the last paragraph of your letter, help them connect with you. Including a personal story can make your letter more convincing. If you have any personal connection, or you know someone who does, tell a story about it. You might add a transition sentence at beginning of your fourth paragraph, too. The more relatable the representative or public official finds you to be, the more powerful your argument is likely to be.
- Respectful closing – In the final paragraph, include a good-mannered closing, and perhaps a word of encouragement such as, “I have long admired your commitment to young people and trust that you will ensure that the next generations can raise their own children in an environmentally livable Iowa.” You may write “sincerely,” “thank you,” or something along those lines.
- Closing — At the end of your letter or email, you may write “sincerely,” “thank you,” or something along those lines. Sign your name, but also be sure to print it beneath your signature as well. You may add your title, if you have one, to your name. After your name, include your address, phone number, and email address. This way, if multiple governing bodies are involved, your elected representative will know you are their constituent. They’ll also be able to contact you if they need more information.
- Finally — Don’t forget to proofread your letter, checking for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors.
Sample Letter
Dear Representative or Senator [insert name]:
My name is [Your name], and I live in [Your city]. I’m writing to urge you to oppose Summit Carbon Solution’s proposed pipeline project in Iowa. My reasons for this request are many. They include the following [choose 2]:
- As the 2020 carbon dioxide pipeline disaster in Mississippi starkly demonstrated, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) pose a significant danger to rural and indigenous communities where people are subject to asphyxiation resulting in persistent respiratory damage or death in the event of pipeline failures.
- Current rules pertaining to Carbon Capture and Storage are inadequate and have not been updated. In the wake of the failure in Mississippi, PHMSA has acknowledged that its safety rules are obsolete and insufficient. Although some pipeline advocates have argued that safety is not a reason to await updated PHMSA rules, such an argument lacks all credibility when it was the disaster in Mississippi that prompted PHMSA to raise questions about the adequacy of their current rules in the first place.
- As an Iowan, I do not want the very integrity of Iowa’s precious land and natural resources to be permanently disfigured using unproven methods to extend the indefensible use of carbon fuels.
- I strongly object my tax dollars being spent to salvage an environmentally detrimental fossil fuel industry when those dollars would be far better invested in technologies with a proven track record such as wind and solar.
- I am deeply troubled that the property rights of Iowa farmers are being violated by the imposition of eminent domain. As many farmers testified in the Fort Dodge hearings, these CO2 pipelines cause significant property damage, pose financial hardship, and create unsafe conditions on their farms. All of this is indefensible when there is no public benefit and existing research does not support the proposed pipelines effectiveness.
[Add a personal note] Examples:
I have lived my entire life in Iowa, and I find the prospect of CO2 pipelines …..
I grew up in an Iowa farm family…….
I did not grow up in Iowa but chose it as my home because…..
[Add a respectful closing] Example:
As a thoughtful and accountable elected representative, I believe that you are committed to making the best decisions for Iowa and Iowans. For the safety of our citizens, the integrity of our land, and in honor of our values, I implore you to oppose permissions for Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed project in Iowa.
Sincerely
[Your full name]
[Your address]
[Your email address]