All the Earth Day circus put me in no mood to celebrate. Still, last night I attended an Earth Day event, sponsored by E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs), and NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), two organizations that I am very proud to support. Robert Redford was the main speaker. He was one of my idols, growing up, and I did not want to miss a chance to meet the man in person. Mr. Redford did not disappoint me. I came out of the evening with a renewed sense of commitment, and wishing that more people could have heard him live. Here is a video of a similar talk that he gave for the Apollo Project:
During his Earth Day speech, Robert Redford emphasized again the power of optimism, and of dwelling on opportunities and solutions. ‘America doesn’t do well with doom and gloom. Let’s get off how bad it is. Let’s get on with what can be done.‘ Robert Redford’s new push is on water and the need for quick solutions to the unfolding worldwide water shortage. For those of you also interested in water, click here.
Robert Redford is the perfect eco-hero, someone with the power to inspire through his example, and who has walked his talk for forty years. I can’t help but compare him with Al Gore. Although I am a big fan of Al, my response to his discourse is very different. Al Gore appeals to my intellect. Robert Redford grabs my heart and inspires my whole being to go further and to act.
The power of example.
GREAT video, Marguerite!
I have mixed views of Al Gore myself. I think it’s going to be extremely difficult to convince the jaded and spoiled American public to change their lives, especially when one of the movement leaders is so unwilling to change his own life to reflect what he preaches. It’s great when we can find public figures who are willing to both “talk the talk and walk the walk” as Marguerite put it.
Thanks for sharing this video. He’s really good.
Although what Al Gore is doing is really important, I think this guy has more leadership potential. I see Al Gore first and foremost as a spokesperson for the scientific community, not as a leader.
Americans need leadership, the world needs leadership. I think he’s feeling this need quite well.
Could someone help finish me this list:
- Al Gore
- Van Jones
- Adam Werbach
- Robert Redford
Maybe we could have a discussion about the different ways they (and others?) approach this problem, how they frame it, how they present it to the public.
Meryn – How about Ed Begley Jr.? He’s pretty well known for his green lifestyle.
Does he speak in public? I can’t find anything on youtube.
On second thought, Adam Werbach fails that test too.
I think someone should at least have a speech on youtube to judge him.
We could of course include authors of opinion pieces, but I don’t think a serious amount of people would ever gather around those. I think it’s quite natural people want to see a living, breathing person.
If you search for “living with ed” in youtube you can find clips of his shows. There’s also a website http://www.livingwithed.net I think he gives interviews; I remember seeing one but can’t think of where.
In his leadership role, he seems to be a sort of No Impact Man, but then a little more commercial, and a little more popular. Do you think this is a good characterization?
Yep, sounds about right. He’s got all the green gadgets you can possibly have – solar panels, electric car, etc.., but can probably reach a larger audience than NIM since he’s on tv.
“Robert Redford grabs my heart…”
You’re not the first woman I’ve heard say that.
Perhaps between Cassandra and her sexy dancing, and Al Gore’s rotund form, there’s a happy middle ground, where the person is good-looking and charismatic enough to keep your eye, but where it doesn’t distract from what they’re saying.
I suggest Joni Mitchell. Her latest CD, “Shine”, is great. And very relevant. I’ve suggested that someone, or we, or the powers that be, should try to get her and others to do a “Big Green” event at Stanford and/or Cal (Berkeley).
Depending on the main (part of) the message, and the audience, I think it will often help to have several spokespersons involved. Because you need the credibility, and the passion, and the charisma (sometimes), and so forth. Because of the nature of the problem, it is sometimes difficult for any single person to carry the whole message credibly. For example, if we had an event at Stanford (and I realize that the audience here is spread all over the world), we could have, on the same stage, some leading entertainers, some leading environmentalists, some leading climate scientists, some leading politicians, some energetic student leaders, and so forth, all together to carry the message.
In any case, I suggest Joni Mitchell. Also Joan Baez. And Bob Dylan. And Pete Seeger. And . . . .
In fact, now that La Marguerite is being recognized on a top-ten list of the best blogs, Marguerite can think higher, about the next step. I suggest this:
The “Big Green”, featuring Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, the Grateful Dead (living members), Arnold S., and (more recent stars), some key Stanford and Cal scientists, and so forth, … BROUGHT TO YOU BY Stanford Students, Cal Students, “We”, General Electric, PG&E, the Sierra Club, the San Francisco Chronicle, and La Marguerite!
(To newcomers to the blog, this is just an idea/dream: Please don’t start calling for tickets just yet!)
Thanks all, for the brainstorming. It strikes me we all different ‘idols’ that speak to us. Setting personal preferences aside, some possible criteria that make sense to me: charisma, ability to bridge generations, integrity.
Going back to the Gallup Survey, it would be interesting to know what types of people those 34% who are ahead of the curve, fall into. Particularly in terms of age, occupation, belief systems, etc . . . Who are the heroes that speak to them?
I don’t know how many people in the U.S. are scientists or have relevant and good science backgrounds. But, probably a good number of the 34% either understand, or at least respect, science, in a proportion greater than that in the general population.
Regarding those scientists, or people who respect science, or people who respect nature, in that 34%, many of those probably have deep feelings but aren’t normally of the “activist” sort. Those people need to realize their numbers, that they aren’t alone, but that they also need to speak out and take action. In other words, they need a sense of urgency, and they need example and leadership.
For example, the American Chemical Society (which is supposedly the largest scientific organization in the world) has a very strong statement regarding global warming. And, given my experience in the oil industry (awhile back), my guess is that alot of chemists and related scientists in the American Chemical Society work for ExxonMobil, for example. Why don’t more of them speak up?? Many people wait to see what other people do.
In fact, it’s interesting to watch some of the recent shift taking place. Where were all of these people (now talking about global warming) three months ago, or five months ago, or a year ago? Many well-meaning people are followers when it comes to things like this. To the degree that their “leadership” begins to unfold, it mainly unfolds AFTER they see other leaders and/or AFTER they realize that they will indeed have followers.
In situations like this, example and true leadership matter, alot. Scientists who speak out, and who take action, can act as examples to other scientists (who know the same things). Same thing for other people in academia. And same thing for entertainers, etc.
“my guess is that alot of chemists and related scientists in the American Chemical Society work for ExxonMobil, for example. Why don’t more of them speak up??”
Maybe they want to keep their jobs. ExxonMobil chucks a bit of money the way of climate change and peak oil denialist groups, people by former speakers for the tobacco industry. So I hardly think they’d look favourably on their own employees speaking up.
I’d like to add one thought, though. (It probably won’t be my last.)
I know of a guy who is probably about 60 or 65. He’s a key scientist at Stanford. A very respected scientist. But, in most respects, he’s probably not an activist type, at least not unless he’s part of a group. He looks like you might expect a mad scientist to look.
This gentleman has a deep, passionate, streak that doesn’t often show. He has a deep respect for nature. And he’s a HUGE Bob Dylan fan. He’s a Stanford scientist who attends Bob Dylan concerts. (And we shouldn’t think of that as rare or odd, of course.)
So, how to help this person realize that he’s part of a broader group, to tap into his deep activist within, and to inspire him? Bob Dylan!
There is a reason that people admire “heart” and courage and sincerity. We just need more people to take those initial steps. In fact, the times are probably RIPE for it. People who step forward now, to lead the global warming charge, can expect to have people to accompany them and follow them. In fact, what a great time for would-be leaders!
But, there are matters of degree, and there are differences. For example, there is a bit of a difference between on-line things and street-activism things. Both are helpful, but one can’t really replace the other. Some people will need to actually meet, and catalyze their neighbors, and walk the streets, and march through campus, to display action and passion that can’t be displayed in quite the same way on-line. A movement that is entirely on-line, invisible on the street, is unlikely to “move” execs at ExxonMobil or at the coal companies, and it’s even unlikely to move some government leaders as far as they need to be moved. This summer needs to be an active, outdoor summer if the cause is to make alot of progress. That’s my guess.
Cheers.
[...] need to go back to how I felt after attending Robert Redford’s speech, when I emphatically declared, ‘Robert Redford grabs my heart and inspires my [...]
I LOVE HIM!!! =)