ABSTRACT
Discussion on sustainability might feel difficult due to conflicting opinions, values, attitudes, and challenging emotions that the topic may evoke. This chapter outlines an accessible activating technique which can encourage the debate of sustainability issues in a safe space and allow learning through hearing the attitudes and opinions of others. The technique asks participants who may be from different disciplines or cultural backgrounds to adopt a particular attitude and opinion about a sustainability issue and discuss that issue. By not expressing personal opinions, the practice lowers the threshold to express arguments about sustainability. Therefore, this practice suits the task of talking about sensitive issues. The practice fosters both argumentation skills and awareness of sociocultural values and mindsets, but also promotes empathy and understanding of different orientations and interests in sustainability. The arguments that emerge from the discussions can be further elaborated and reflected upon to consider the different motivations of people and the potential for a change of opinion.
