DISCUSSION GUIDE & EXERCISES
HowToChangeTheWorldMovie.com
Director: Jerry Rothwell Year: 2015
Time: 110 min
Awards & Accolades (2015)
Special Jury Award: Editing, Sundance Film Festival
Best Environmental Documentary, Sheffield Doc Fest
Pare Lorentz Award, IDA
Best Feature Film, Portland Eco-Film Festival
Top Ten Audience Favorite, Hot Docs Film Fest
Previous films by the director:
Town of Runners (2012)
Donor Unknown (2010)
Heavy Load (2008)
Deep Water (2006)
FILM SUMMARY
Greenpeace is a universally recognized organization. The environmental agency is synonymous with the modern-day eco-movement,
and its high-profile campaigns still manage to capture the imagination of global citizens. But where did it all begin? How was such a
colossal enterprise established?
Director Jerry Rothwell sets out to explore all that on the big screen. How To Change The World draws on interviews with the key
players and hitherto unseen archive footage, which brings these extraordinary characters and their intense, sometimes eccentric and
often dangerous world alive. Somehow the group transcended the contradictions of its members to undertake some of the most
courageous and significant environmental campaigns in history.
The film spans the period from the first expedition to enter a nuclear test zone in 1971, through the first whale and seal campaigns, and
ends in 1979, when, victims of their own success, the founders gave away their central role to create Greenpeace International. At its
heart is Bob Hunter, a charismatic journalist who somehow managed to bind together the ‘mystics and the mechanics’ into a group with
a single purpose: to save the planet. The story is framed by his first-person narrative, drawn from his writings and journals about the
group, voiced by actor Barry Pepper.
How To Change The World is an intimate portrait of Greenpeace’s founding members and of activism itself: the dilemmas all groups
face between idealism and pragmatism, principle and compromise. They agreed that a handful of people could change the world; they
just couldn’t always agree on how to do it.
HowToChangeTheWorldMovie.com
FIVE RULES
Director Rothwell extracts five rules from Hunter’s writing about how change happens.
Less of a step-by-step guide than a set of mantras for change-makers, based on the
experience of the early Greenpeacers. We discuss them below.
1. PLANT A MIND BOMB
Greenpeace’s first president Robert Hunter coined the term 'mind bomb’ to describe
the way electronic media could be used as a tool for change. A ‘mind bomb’ was a
powerful image or video that could send shockwaves across the planet, transforming
minds and hearts. Sailing a small boat into a nuclear test zone was Greenpeace’s first
‘mind bomb’.
2. PUT YOUR BODY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS
The early activists of Greenpeace risked their lives to act courageously for the planet.
For them, physically placing themselves in the way of whalers, sealers and nuclear
tests spoke to people around the world, whatever their language, culture, or belief
system. Courage takes many shapes and sizes – but it always takes a step outside of
your comfort zone. 3. THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE ORGANIZED
Activism is messy. True revolutions spring from tipping points — an impulse in society
that happens everywhere at once – and this is often not centrally organized..
Greenpeace began with a loose group of friends who had conflicting personalities, but
it was these early activists with their diverse skills, that helped launch a global
movement. 4. FEAR SUCCESS
The early success meant Greenpeace exploded into the mainstream. Offices sprung up
around the globe. The success was met with new constraints and new conflicts as a
small group grew into a large-scale global movement requiring different kinds of rules,
leadership, and skills. A movement needs to remain clear in vision whilst acting
effectively and avoid the sweet simplicity of fame, money or power.
5. LET THE POWER GO
The early Greenpeace founders had to let go of the organization for it to become a
global movement. By broadening and internationalizing the movement, rather than
attempting to own it, millions of people were empowered to act courageously for the
planet. Any force strong enough to truly change the world won’t be harnessed or held
by a few. It has to be unleashed…
“There are no
heroes, there are
only opportunities”
Robert Hunter
“We were talking
about a new way of
being in the world”
Rex Weyler
“Ecology is flow. You
and I are most
definitely part of the
flow. Everything we
do affects the flow.
Everything the flow
does affects us.”
Robert Hunter
HowToChangeTheWorldMovie.com
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
In groups or individually, go deeper into the topics of the film with these discussion questions. Questions have been adapted from our
friends at Influence Film Club, learn more here.
1.
How familiar were you with the work of Greenpeace
before watching How to Change the World? How did the
film affect your understanding/ opinion of the
organization? 6.
What does leadership mean to you? What lessons can be
learned from Bob Hunter’s personal story in the film?
What kind of leadership do you prefer; collaboration or
structured hierarchy?
2.
Director Jerry Rothwell structured the film with five
‘rules’ or lessons from the experience of the early
Greenpeacers (outlined on the previous page). Which
“rules” in the film resonate with you and why? How does
that rule apply to activist movements/ organizations
today?
7.
Some it takes a combination of vision and organization to
make a successful movement. Discuss. Are you more of a
visionary or an organizer? A mystic or a mechanic? What
groups, movements or causes do you know that have
elements of both?
3.
What is your definition of an activist? Do you have any
positive or negative associations about activists, and why?
Where do these ideas come from?
8.
Discuss the concept of success. How have you managed
growth or success in a group or project you’ve worked
on? In what ways did success force a compromise with
your original vision?
4.
Have you ever been involved in any type of activism,
environmental or otherwise? What was the most
important lesson you learned? If you haven’t taken part in
any activism, what do you want to change?
9.
What are today’s “mind bombs” - moments that are
shaping cultures, behaviours and consciousness with
powerful media stories? What do you think certain
things go viral and others do not?
5.
Do you think today’s environmental movement differs or
has similarities to the movement 40 years ago? What
lessons can be learned from the past to make
movements stronger today?
10. What do you think is the most critical issue we are facing
today? What are opportunities that you know of to
challenge these problems? Discuss. Invite others to share
possible solutions to this issue?
HowToChangeTheWorldMovie.com
FACTS:
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How to Change the World premiered on the opening
night of the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, where it won
the World Cinema Editing Award and was nominated
for the Grand Jury Prize in the documentary field, and
it has gone on to win numerous other awards.
Newsweek said it was one of the Top 15 Docs to watch
in 2015.
In his youth, the British director Jerry Rothwell was
politically active in nuclear disarmament and other
movements, and considers all of his films to be political
in the broadest sense. In 2007, he was involved in a
project that had him looking through Greenpeace film
archives in Amsterdam, which sparked his interest in
the writings of Bob Hunter and inspired How to
Change the World. First pitched in 2008, it took an
additional 6 years to find funding for the film, a year
later the film was completed.
Modern-day Greenpeace International is comprised
of 26 independent national and regional offices across
the world, covering operations in more than 55
countries. The organization’s main campaigns include
Save the Arctic, Climate & Energy, Oceans, Forests,
Detox and Food for Life.
As of 2016 the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society,
founded by original Greenpeace co-founder Paul
Watson, had active campaigns in place for Bluefin tuna,
dolphins, reefs, sea lions, seals, sharks, turtles, and
whales.
Robert (Bob) Hunter was a writer and journalist from
Manitoba, Canada who joined the first Greenpeace
campaign against nuclear testing in the Aleutian
Islands, and thereafter become the leading figure in
the movement. As first president of the organization,
his media savvy and political ideas defined the
character and methods of the early Greenpeace,
coining the terms “mind bomb” and “eco-warrior.”
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TIME magazine named Bob Hunter and Paul Watson each
one of the 20th century’s top 10 environmental heroes.
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Bob Hunter led the first on-sea anti-whaling campaigns in
the world, against Russian and Australian whalers, which
helped lead to the ban on commercial whaling. Later, he
began a career as environmental reporter for Toronto’s
CityTV and published 13 books on Greenpeace history,
Indigenous rights and climate change. In 2005, he passed
away from terminal cancer, survived by his four children
and grandchildren. His ashes were scattered in the
Galápagos Islands, in northern Canada near the Arctic, and
on top of an Antarctic iceberg during a Sea Shepherd antiwhaling campaign.
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To celebrate his legacy, a park was named in honor of him
called the Bob Hunter Memorial Park as an extension to the
Rouge Park system in the Greater Toronto Area, a park
system he helped to defend. A scholarship fund was also
named in his honor by the University of Toronto’s School of
the Environment. To learn more about Bob Hunter and his
legacy projects, visit: BobHunter.org
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Emily Hunter, Robert’s daughter and youngest child, works
with Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd, and a number of other
activist organizations. She directed several TV
documentaries and published her first book, “The Next EcoWarriors,” in 2011. Recently, she published a manual called
the “Mobilisation Cookbook” in 2015.
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The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is an ancient Chinese
oracle and book of wisdom that dates back to the Western
Zhou period (1046–771 B.C.). It was used to describe the
present, understand the past, and predict the future. A 21st
century version of the book has been developed in a mobile
application called the ‘I Ching: The App of Changes’ and you
can learn more about it here. It’s available for iPhone, iPad,
Kindle, and Android devices.
HowToChangeTheWorldMovie.com
EXERCISE I What kind of
change-maker are you?
Group Size: Individuals
Size: One or more individuals
Time: 10-15 minutes
Level: Easy
Resources: Computer/ mobile phone and internet access
Source: Story of Stuff’s Change-maker Quiz
Exercise: Ready to make some change? Whatever you have to offer, you can help write the next chapter in the fight for the planet. In
How to Change the World, there were many conflicting characters and personalities. When we better understand our own identities
and others, we can begin to work more collaboratively with our individual strengths. To better learn what kind of activist you are, take
the Story of Stuff’s “Change-maker Personality Quiz” here: StoryofStuff.org/Changemaker
Once you’ve taken the quiz, here are some further resources for you to explore:
If you’re a Resister, consider these opportunities: *
• Become a volunteer with Greenpeace or apply to join as crew on their ships
• Become a volunteer with Sea Shepherd or apply to join as crew on their ships
If you’re a Networker, consider these opportunities: *
• Join Greenpeace’s Greenwire network of volunteers working on a variety environmental issues
• Join 350.org’s network of volunteers fighting climate change
If you’re a Nurturer, consider these opportunities and resources: *
• Consider learning coaching work or getting First Aid training to support activists/ people
• Join the Transitions Network to nurturer a community off fossil fuels and into sustainable living If you’re an Investigator, consider these opportunities: • Support Greenpeace UK’s Investigations Unit with intel or learn about current investigations
• Join a “citizen science” project and help scientific investigation, such as with SciStarter If you’re a Communicator, consider these opportunities and resources:* • Read “Winning the Story Wars” by Jonah Sachs & learn about Greenpeace’s new story
• Learn social media skills with free webinars from Nonprofit Tech for Good If you’re a Builder, consider these opportunities and resources: *
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Join a local community garden project to get your hands filled with healthy food
Join a Makerspace community or Hackerspace to create and solve problems
HowToChangeTheWorldMovie.com
EXERCISE II The Story of Self, Us and Now
Group: K12, College, University and Adults
Size: Groups of four, multiple groups encouraged
Time: 1-hour min/ 3 hours’ max with full guide
Level: Moderate
Resources: Paper and pens for each participant, encouraged
to have flip chart or board
Source: 350.org Workshop in collaboration with Marshall Ganz
& New Organizing
Exercise: Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have
to inspire and activate ourselves and others. The film How to Change the World inspires people via the personal stories of the founders.
Now it’s time to share your story about making change. This exercise will help to identify your personal mission, your audience, and your
collective vision for affecting change. Gather into small groups of four and answer the questions below sequentially, giving critical
feedback to each other before moving to the next story. This exercise is adapted from 350.org Workshop, click here for the complete
guide and slides.
SELF
US
What are the experiences you’ve
had that call you to take action or
leadership on a cause?
A.
B.
NOW
What shared values and experiences does
your group have in common?
What are some shared stories that give
you a sense of the strengths and
capacities of your audience/ community?
A.
B.
C.
Why is it urgent to take make change
now? The opportunities or threats that
make it urgent?
What is the strategy/ plan to overcome
the challenges?
What is the first step that each person
can take to be part of the solution?
Story of Self
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Focus on one key story—one event or one important relationship
Share elements that give context to your story: the challenge, the choice and the outcome
Purpose of ‘story of self’ is to better understand why you’ve been called to a particular mission
Keep track of each person’s story and provide your response: what resonates? What affected you and why? How well did they tell the story, any positive and critical feedback?
Story of US
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Brainstorm a collective story (imagination encouraged) based on shared values and experiences
Give context to this story: the challenge, the choice and the outcomes
Purpose of story of us is to create a sense of community with your group through shared values
Select one of the stories you brainstormed and share with the group, each giving feedback
Story of Now
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Brainstorm on the questions of the ‘story of now’ above, connecting with the story of us and self
Story includes: your goal, a plan to achieve your goal, a choice or action(s) that can be taken
Purpose of ‘story of now’ is to know what action/ strategy is required to affect change
Before ending, you can ask each person to commit time, resources or skills to at least on the plans (a ‘story of now’ that you
want to manifest into reality) to begin some change-making
HowToChangeTheWorldMovie.com
EXERCISE III Create your own campaign
Group: College, University and Adults
Size: Groups of four or larger group
Time: 1-hour min/ 2 hours’ max
Level: Advanced
Resources: Download the worksheets here and here,
plus paper and pens.
Source: DIY Toolkit’s Theory of Change &
StoryBasedStrategy.com Influencer Map
Exercise: The best way to start being a change-maker is with practice. Many of us have ideas for changing the world and some of us can
imagine different activities or tactics for an advocacy campaign (i.e. protest, fundraiser, community gathering, social media). But the
missing ingredient is often understanding the “how” in How to Change the World. How do we create change? How do our activities lead
to the desired goals? To answer these questions, you’ll practice by mapping out a campaign and assessing key actors. For this exercise,
you’ll need to identify an existing problem in your community, the more local and tangible the better, in a group of four or more. Then
perform both exercises A and B in order to develop your own campaign. For an in-depth campaign, see additional resources.
A) Theory of Change
To build a campaign, you’ll first need a roadmap that outlines your goals and the steps by which you plan to achieve your goals (called a
Theory of Change). Start by noting down the main problem you want to solve in the worksheet below (download the worsheet here).
Then complete the other boxes, such as your key audience and your entry point to reach that audience. Try to be as specific as possible
because it will help you to come up with more effective direct actions.
HowToChangeTheWorldMovie.com
B) Influencer Map
This exercise is intended to get the group to start thinking about "avenues of influence" in your local campaign. Essentially, to better
understand power, who has the power to make change on the issue you are campaigning and moving this power in your favor. We begin
by assessing who is the most important “target” or decision maker for your group to focus on, the top individual or institution who has the
power to give you what you want.
Now, map out their relationships with other key players that you may be able to influence. Their relationships are divided into three
categories based on the degrees of influence:
Decision-Makers: people or institutions who have the power to make the target listen.
Influential Peers & Allies: people or institutions the target naturally listens to.
Adversaries: people or institutions the target distrusts and has a history of ignoring.
AVENUES OF INFLUENCE
TARGET A
TARGET B
TARGET C
Decision-Makers
Who is the target's boss? Who
are they accountable to? Who
can't they ignore?
Influential Peers & Allies:
Who does the target listen to
and trust? Can be an effective
messenger for your
campaign.
Adversaries:
Who does the power ignore
or disdain? These are your
anti-messengers
After you have analyzed all the key players, select at least one key player in each category: decision-makers, peers and allies, as well as
adversaries. You can now determine which key people and institutions your campaign should attempt to move in favor of our campaign
to bring you closer to your goal. In the end, go back to your “theory of change” and discuss how you would change it with this new, better
understanding your key target and influencers.
Congratulations, you know have a basic campaign model for your local issue!
Additional Resources
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DIY Toolkit’s Theory of Change webpage has worksheets, videos and more
TheoryofChange.org has free software for creating an advanced ‘theory of change’ map
StoryBasedStrategy.org provides an Influencer Map worksheet among other resources
Greenpeace offers additional tips and tools for creating an effective campaign
HowToChangeTheWorldMovie.com
FILM QUIZ
1. In which city was Greenpeace founded?
a) London, England
b) San Francisco, California
c) Vancouver, Canada
2. When was Greenpeace founded?
a) 1961
b) 1971
c) 1981
3. Who is considered to be Greenpeace’s founding father?
a) Robert Hunter
b) PatrickMoore
c) Paul Watson
4. What was the focus of Greenpeace’s first campaign?
a) Russianwhaling
b) Amchitka nuclear bomb test
c) Canadiansealslaughter
5. What other international organizations was established by one of Greenpeace’s founding member?
a) Amnesty International
b) Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
c) World Wildlife Fund
6. What concept and corresponding phrase did founding president Robert Hunter coin?
a) Social wave
b) Mind bomb
c) Media frenzy
7. In what year did Greenpeace become Greenpeace International?
a) 1969
b) 1979
c) 1989
8. How does Robert Hunter’s legacy live on today?
a) A park named after him in Toronto
b) A scholarship named after him by a university
c) A campaign called #MindBombs was launched by Adbusters in 2015 HOW DID YOU DO?
ANSWERS:1:c, 2:b, 3:a, 4:b, 5:b, 6:b, 7:a, 8:b, 9:b, 10:all of the above
HowToChangeTheWorldMovie.com
HOW TO GET INVOLVED*
INSPIRE: Host a film screening event
Organize it: Get the Screening Toolkit on our website to organize your own event
Private Event: Get a copy of the film, options: DVD, Netflix, iTunes and more
Public Event: Fill in a form on our site & pay a license fee (50% discount for activist groups)
Promote it: Get the film’s social media package and a copy of the poster
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ACTIVATE: Join or start a local advocacy group
Become a volunteer with Greenpeace or apply to join as crew on their ships
Become a volunteer with Sea Shepherd or apply to join as crew on their ships
Join 350.org’s network of volunteers in fighting climate change around the world
Join the Transitions Network to develop a community off fossil fuels and into sustainable living
Start or support an online campaign with: Avaaz.org, Change.org, SumofUs.org and more
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GROW: Build up your capacity with training in activism and campaigning
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Greenpeace’s Greenwire offers numerous in-person trainings for volunteers around the world
The Story of Stuff’s Citizen Muscle Bootcamp is an online program to give you citizenry skills
350.org Workshop offers online Toolkit in activism training and in-person workshops globally
Training for Change offers workshops in becoming effective change-agents in the USA
The Change Agency offers an Activist Toolkit, resources and education (based in Australia)
FURTHER READINGS*
Books on the history of Greenpeace:
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“The Greenpeace to Amchitka: An Environmental Odyssey” by Robert Hunter
“Warriors of the Rainbow: A Chronicles of the Greenpeace Movement” by Robert Hunter
“Greenpeace” by Rex Weyler
For a complete list of Robert Hunter’s books: click here
Books/ resources on the modern environmental movement:
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“Blessed Unrest” by Paul Hawken connects varying modern movements
“This Changes Everything: Capitalism Vs. The Climate” by Naomi Klein
“Seven Shifts” is an outline of the new story of Greenpeace
“The Next Eco-Warriors” by Emily Hunter, 22 short stories by next generation of eco-leaders
Books on activism tactics, strategies and theory:
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“Beautiful Trouble” by various authors
“The Activist Handbook” by Aidan Ricketts
“The Politics of Nonviolent Action” Part 1, 2 & 3 by Gene Sharp
*These lists are not comprehensive, nor an endorsement and some suggestions are region specific
HowToChangeTheWorldMovie.com