Protest is a important part of how climate change has developed in the public mind. But when showing images of protest, ensure that the viewer can easily identify the protesters as 'authentic' and genuinely pressing for change, rather than potentially having a fun day out. Our research pointed strongly to images of 'typical' environmentalists (from white. western backgrounds) with face paint and banners as a 'turn-off' for people who are not already actively interested in the climate issue.
WHAT IT SHOWS: USA. Illinois. 2017. Georgia de la Garza, a local environmental activist in Southern Illinois looks at mercury run off by an active mine. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stability, prosperity and pride. In the last few decades the number of jobs have declined to a small fraction of their former number, leaving the economy in shambles with few prospects for new forms of industry to take its place.