Write the movement - our suggestions for what to include in your oped

We’re already seeing a few great published examples of people using the People’s Climate Mobilization and local climate issues as hooks to get opeds published:

• Climate Tracker Alex Lenferna tapped into South African activists’ recent efforts to cut air pollution from the country’s biggest coal power polluters. His oped Eskom and Sasol put a low price on life was published in the Mail & Guardian on August 26th. Because it was published well before the People’s Climate Mobilization, Lenferna’s ends with a clear and powerful demand, asking his readers across to get involved:
  

  “So, what to do? I want to encourage you to raise your voices to ensure that companies like Sasol and Eskom properly value human life and well-being, both now and in the future. On September 20 and 21 tens if not hundreds of thousands of people around the world will be marching for a better future and environment – check out peoplesclimate.org. Right now, however, South Africa isn’t even on the digital map. So let’s get on the map and connect our protests to these important domestic issues.”

• Activist Tony Gordiano published an oped in a regional US paper using the upcoming People’s Climate March in New York as his news hook, describing the event as an example of the kind of unification of disparate but partly overlapping social movements that can lead to real change:
  

  “One sign that the mission of unity is already underway is the People’s Climate March in New York City planned for Sept. 21, when more than 100,000 are expected to march two days prior to the U.N. Climate Summit. Sponsored by numerous environmental, progressive and human rights organizations, this will likely be the biggest climate demonstration in history.”

• Harriet Shugarman, executive director of ClimateMama, writing in MSNBC describes why mothers groups will get involved:
  

  “We teach our children to lead by example, yet our elected officials, business and community leaders have been poor role models when it comes to climate solutions.”

For general resources on the summit
If your piece is likely to be published before the mobilization or summit, you might follow the aforementioned examples encouraging people to get involved. But if you’re piece is coming during or after the big events, you use them as a news hook and dig into local and national climate issues begging for action.

Here are a few general suggestions on what to include:

Headline: Include the most important/interesting news, in no more than 7 words. This is your chance to grab attention!

Introductory paragraph: Short, hard hitting. introduce your story and make sure it’s catchy.

Second paragraph: Focus on the issue. Get into the details of what you want to tell the world.

Quotes from key people: This is where you really want to include some hard-hitting facts, quotes and reflections. Try to bring in at least one quote or key fact to give your story some relevance. If you’re writing about climate impacts, or a local protest, try to include even more. But even if you’re writing an opinion piece, it always helps to have your ideas supported.

What is the alternative: what do you see as the alternative option for climate policy, or the possible adaptation opportunity for a local community. Here is where you want to present what you think needs to change, and how it could change.

2nd quote: You can also add a quote at the end of this paragraph to further support your alternative solution.

End with a demand: End your piece with a clear, punchy and hard hitting line to highlight what you feel about your story and what you want to see happen.

And if you are still struggling, we want to help! Contact [email protected] for some added support in writing your piece.