Where have you been Al? With the elections and all, you have dropped from the scene.
A little over two years ago, I attended your presentation of an ‘Inconvenient Truth‘, at Stanford University. I had not been wanting to go. Could care less about that environment stuff. But went because Amy, my husband’s ex had organized the event, and the whole family was going. The room went dark. Amy and a bunch of important people spoke first. Lots of people clapping at the end of each introduction. I thought, why am I here? Then you came on stage, looking like the university professor I remembered from your times running for President.
And delivered a speech so powerful, and presented images and graphs that were so convincing, that I came out of the event a changed woman. You really got me here:
Lots has happened since then. Your name has become synonymous with the climate fight cause, and you have earned worldwide recognition, last with the Nobel Peace Prize. That’s all good, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am for all you have done.
Now, I am asking you to go further. Many of us greenies are getting annoyed with the lack of attention given to global warming by the media. The San Francisco Chronicle is saying, ‘Media Consigns global warming to back burner‘. Move On is calling for its members to mobilize. Representatives from the press are coming up with all kinds of reasons.
Here is what I would like you to do. Forget trying to get the press to cooperate. Instead, use the power of advertising, and buy your way through the media landscape. If Clean Coal can do it, so can you. Build a coalition of the most creative ad agencies around, and ask them to come up with the best ad campaign ever. A campaign to keep up the awareness of global warming, and to persuade people to take a few simple actions that may add up to big cuts in emissions. A campaign that will also reach the most influential people, the politicians, the business leaders, the philantropists, the influencers, those with the power to make big changes fast. A campaign to make sure that global warming will remain present in the public consciousness, at all times. We may all suffer from the limited worry pool problem, but we can’t resist the power of advertising.
Marguerite,
Great post. As usual, a few comments . . .
I wonder: Al Gore may be trying to stay above the political fray, for now anyhow? It’s possible that he’s waiting to have more influence regarding global warming (and solutions) until each party has chosen its candidate? And/or, it’s possible that he’s talking to all candidates to urge them to take the matter seriously. And other things are possible as well. I, too, have wondered, where is he these days?
I don’t know the details, but he has attended at least one major get-together of top advertising agencies to discuss global warming, I believe. And recently, according to the news, he was in Davos.
Also, I think the Chronicle article you mentioned (and linked) was great.
As you have noted, many times, people are moved by emotion more so (and more often) than by “pure” reason, whatever that is.
Experiences. Pictures. Narratives. Personal journeys. Music. And so forth.
FYI, along those lines, I was moved to write a song that, I think, captures some of the emotional connection that relates to this issue and to other environmental issues. I’m trying to figure out what, exactly, to do with it. After I finish a couple things here, I may send it to a few people. If you have any ideas/thoughts, please let me know. Of course, parents are often predisposed to love their own children, so I’m not the best judge as to whether the song is good, great, or terrible. That said, I kinda like it, a lot.
Cheers.
Al can’t carry the ball, all he could do is get it rolling. It’s completely out of his implimentation hands.
A better question you might ask is – where’s Wal Mart on this? And why are they in Europe putting together a retail block to set packaging standards. Why aren’t they in the USA working with Best Buy, Target and KMart?
Jeff, as you well know, songs can be very powerful. Latest example, being ‘Yes We Can’ video.
Mary, I disagree with you regarding Al’s scope of competence. And the importance of advertising to help shape public opinion and behaviors. Which is not to say that it is to be the sole focus of our efforts. I am a big believer of attacking the problem from many angles. Wal-Mart and other big corporations have a huge role to play of course, and so do you and other people involved in standards and other product related sustainability policies.
Heroes and popular figures are the spark..when the straw fire dies down, the folks on the ground pick up their wallets and let them speak.
Yes, i agree that any project needs to be approached from several angles–that’s insurance. It also is reinforcement,.
This why i am beginning to feel united in our diverse efforts.
Marguerite you have enough leading strength to send us into the field of action, let’s flood Gore with demand for focus on a follow up green campaign.
Thanks Nadine. I am thinking you have such a gift for writing. This has to be put to use in a big way somehow! Things are percolating right now. I will keep you posted.
The “Big Green” (with friendly Trees and friendly Bears)?
One of the things that sometimes occurs to me is that, even though the internet is great and helps people communicate, the communication is relatively invisible to those who don’t know about the sites, or aren’t into computers, or don’t understand the issue of global warming (yet), or are too busy to pay attention.
When it comes to an issue like this (global warming), people who don’t understand the issue and/or those who just want to perpetuate the status quo are quite “happy”, knowingly or unknowingly, if all communication and activity occur online or in specific focused areas, such as occasionally indoors on campuses. Life on Main Street USA continues, as usual.
I attended the “Focus The Nation” event at Stanford. The event itself was great. The organizers at Stanford put together a great list of scientists and others to speak. Some came from out of town. I got a lot out of it! But, there were only about 40 people in the audience! At Stanford! One of the students said that professors (or at least his) would not give any extra credit for attending the event, and I got the impression that the faculty didn’t even get close to offering students an entire day off to attend. Consider: Leading scientists say that we humans are abnormally warming the Earth’s climate. The status quo needs to change, in a big way. Yet, whereas at least 5,000 students at Stanford should be attending “Focus The Nation”-type events, in my view, about 40 people showed up. What’s up? I don’t get it.
I like the advertising idea, and I also think Al Gore can continue to play a vital role, of course, and I think the media need to improve, but I also think that visible friendly local action may well become necessary. In other words, a group of ten or twenty or thirty people may need to create a visible eco-friendly green parade down the middle of the Stanford campus and the main street of Palo Alto to prompt some positive peaceful attention and help build a movement. And, someone needs to call Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell and the (remaining members of) the Grateful Dead, in my view. Heck, the Stanford mascot is the TREE. Maybe they need a green “tree” event where thousands of people dress up as, or paint themselves up as, trees.
And why don’t the Stanford folks invite the Berkeley folks over for a “Big Green” event, with Trees and Bears all getting along, for once! Or vice versa. What a great and symbolic thing. If Cal and Stanford folks could set aside their football (and academic) rivalry, for at least one day or week, for such an immensely important cause, that would be great!
Maybe Al Gore himself would come to a “Big Green” event? He has friends at Stanford, and probably at Berkeley too. And, the number of scientists at Stanford and Berkeley who are concerned about global warming (and working on solutions) is substantial.
Anyhow, just a few thoughts.
Jeff
go with the song, as LaM says, songs are important tools. we need all the music and songs and lyrics we can get in this battle. send the song lyurics and tune to me too. you know my address. gmail
danbloom
i also wrote a song last year, ”HOW ON EARTH”…and i paid a singer in texas to sing it for me as a demo just to get it started, you might want to do that too, just 19 dollars. it;s not a perfect song yet, but i am now showing it to other singers and maybe someone will do it better…… email me for more ideas on songs
my song here
http://www.dailymotion.com/songsterhiragana/video/x398cu_global-warming-song-how-on-earth
Al Gore has his sequel to An Inconvenient Truth coming out on Earth Day – April 22. I’d suspect in the very near future that you’ll be seeing a lot more of Mr Al Gore.
Hrmm…sounds like a good blog post for me
-Jason
http://www.screamtobegreen.com
On 22 April 2008 (Earth Day), Gore will release his new book, The Path to Survival. A sequel to An Inconvenient Truth, the book has been described by its publisher as explaining, “how making bold choices now to protect our environment will also create new jobs, propel sustainable economic improvements, and inspire a new generation to tackle our most challenging issues with moral leadership.” [117]
Thanks Jason. Sounds like another inspiring book from Al.
Still, I think he would do well to consider advertising, besides just PR and publishing, to get his message across. Not everybody reads books, or blogs. The majority of folks do watch TV however, and read the paper. Plus, advertising allows you to buy your way through the clutter, assuming the budget is there. And it makes it possible to have a message out continuously, regardless of what is going on on the national or international scene.
Only through repetition will people internalize the message. Recall and persuasion, remember those two pillars of advertising? Gotta to use the same weapons as consumer goods advertisers. It has worked for them very very well.
I look forward to a post of yours on the topic!
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