dohboi wrote:This is much harder than you might think, as even relatively enlightened Americans feel quite offended at the idea that air travel, for example, is something they may have to reconsider if they want to live in a sustainable world.
dohboi, this is exactly what I find so troubling. Energy use is cultural at this point. For over 100 years per capita energy use of the now "developed" nations has been growing out of control, but only because the energy comes out of ground on its own (with some help from water and gas injection). The paradigm shift will come though. We are moving from an era of increasing energy use to one of decreasing, and it will affect the culture of energy use. It just won't be tasteful to expect your 3rd cousin to fly 1000 miles to be at your mothers funeral (I'm exaggerating, but the point is made I think).
Therefore, I think your goal will be easier to reach when the declining energy era requires everyone to view their own energy use differently. We Americans have the furthest to fall and it's not going to be easy. For now, I would give PO/GW/Sustainable World information as gifts to try and create the support circle, which as you mentioned is hard to develop but vital to one's effort.
Stay with it. It's a good fight.
"If you are a real seeker after truth, it's necessary that at least once in your life you doubt all things as far as possible"-Rene Descartes
"When you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains however improbable must be the truth"-Sherlock Holmes