:60 seconds to Save the Earth
Sponsored by the Alliance for Climate Protection and Current TV, the contest was announced by Cameron Diaz at last week’s Live Earth Mega-Concert.
We live in a media-saturated society and using the media to help get global warming in the public consciousness can’t be a bad thing. Right?
My fear is that the issue is oversimplified on both sides through the media. But that is hardly new with the issue of global warming. And this blog is part of that same media. The sad truth, perhaps, is that we all are. It is in our nature, therefore, to want to simplify complex issues.
In any case, some of the prizes for the winning spot include “Sony products” and the grand prize is a Toyota hybrid vehicle. The irony of a car as the top prize for a video contest on solving the global warming crises isn’t lost on me – even if it is a hybrid.
Still, if it means you replace your gas-guzzler with a hybrid and you’re going to drive anyway; and all for creating a groovy (to belie my frame of reference in regard to “hip”) video about “saving the earth”, then that’s okay despite the irony of it. (Since I am grateful to not require a car for my urban existence, I will donate the hybrid if I win…)
Of course, “Saving the Earth” is a bit of a misnomer. The Earth is going to survive humanity. We certainly have the demonstrated ability to change the earth and make it unlivable, the earth will still be here despite anything we do.
We should be thinking more along the lines of “Saving Life on Earth (in 60 seconds)”
Despite all the self-important, existentialist comments on YouTube with Cameron Diaz announcing the contest, it’s just a video contest. It presents no real authority on the issue (or that of human existence in general), nor should it. It isn’t going to change the world. But there are worse things to spend your time on.
The power of the media, especially the people-driven online media, is to consolidate and excite grassroot momentum in the important issues of the day.
Even George Bush has been forced to pay lip service to dealing with global warming, though I feel certain no fundamental changes will occur at the federal level in seriously addressing climate change, at least from the White House, until he leaves office (and hopefully then).
It’s just a video contest, and it will only be as good and effective in utilizing that power as the message it produces. The power of the media is the power of inspiration. And that is a challenge that is available to all.
So go ahead, give it a shot, show us how to save the Earth in 60 seconds.
