Futureye:WikiCurve

What are the stages?

WikiCurve states that issues move through 6 stages of maturation. During each phase, critical events happen that help to shape our attitudes and opinions. They could be as dramatic as an oil spill, an upcoming global Summit or a political event. Even the release of a popular movie can have an impact on opinion development. Click on the stages below to read more about them.

Catalyst

A few people notice something new or have different ideas about the status quo and start talking/writing about it.

Theory development

Different theories are developed by “fringe” groups of activists, academics or others. Specialists talk about the issue and become engaged in theory development, but it doesn’t have much public profile.

Popular interest

The issue starts to come into public awareness, media coverage about the issue starts to spread and bigger more mainstream groups begin to form to advocate on the issue.

Public debate

The issue is becoming important to people and they are talking about it with their friends and family. There is advocacy and pushback from different groups and opinions are being formed through debate.

Policy and regulation

Policy is developed and contested, industry groups might put voluntary regulation into place and attitudes are becoming more fixed.

Mainstream acceptance

The issue is in the mainstream and has become a “norm” and those who hold alternate views are sanctioned for not adopting the requisite values, behaviours, and practices expected.

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The Green Economy Narrative

"The future is already here, just not very evenly distributed" William Gibson What does it mean for something to be Green? The word itself comes from Germanic roots and it means “grass” and “grow”. Throughout the world, it is most commonly associated with springtime, growth and nature. In contrast, we think of an economy as something harsh and sterile that serves...

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Ted
12:30pm | 29.06.2012

I'm not sure that high oil prices actually spur action against climate change. Very high oil prices do correlate with slower economic growth, but as far as spurring discussion or changing opinions regarding climate change I don't see any evidence...

mouse
11:48am | 12.05.2013

Most modern technology uses oil in its manufacturing somewhere along the line. As there is currently exponential population growth we are not going to ease this necessity.

We also burn oil for transport which is unnecessary. While we havnt developed new fuels for larger load carrying vehicles or air transport but we have developed alternatives for moving people (e.g. passenger vehicles) which does not burn oil.

If we are not implementing this solution and we are going to war to secure oil for transport and holidays around the world then it should come as no surprise if we are basing our economies on violence, and therefore we must tolerate the heavy loss of life and eventual ending of most human beings through war and finally climate change.

If you believe in violence and feel you deserve this oil to run cars and fly around the world aimlessly. Then you are in the majority of opinion in the western and developed world. If you think we should immediately ban the hold fossil fuel companies have in the economy and use governments to control and change the way we burn oil to protect what is left of this commodity, then you are in the minority.

If, down the track, you change your mind and decide electric cars and solar panels are probably a good idea remember it takes oil to make them.