It helps to make people aware of existing dangers all right. A very good book along that line is "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight". I don't agree about "appealing to their fears" exactly, but I do agree about making them aware of danger.

As for "encourages, doesn't ensure"...you're right, but that's okay with me. I only expect encouragement. Encouragement is good enough. Encouragement means: to fill someone with courage. And that is enough, as far as I'm concerned. One doesn't have to change everyone to turn things around, one just has to change enough people to do it.