Up Next...Survivor: Coal Plant!
posted by: Nancy R. 115 days ago
Activists are often accused of lacking a sense of humor. Now the Guardian is reporting on a new idea for marrying popular culture with climate protest: a reality-tv-style campaign with the public voting for a winner. But in this case, it's not a contest to see which shy young thing will blossom into a big star; voters will decide on which polluting plant to protest. Saying, in effect, "We picked the day, now you pick the place", the website asks visitors to vote on which of two coal-fired power plants to try to shut down. The winner will be announced in August and volunteers will be trained in direct action techniques to close down the chosen target in October.
It's a tricky move. In the struggle to reach beyond the committed few, environmentalists are divided on how best to engage more people in the cause and create pressure on government and polluters. Peaceful protests can be magnificent experiences, but they don't always grab headlines. Cute tactics, costumes and acrobats get some attention, however violence and illegal action are even more eye-catching, as when the G20 protester was killed in London in April, or when Greenpeace activists trespassed and hung a huge banner at Mt. Rushmore in July. But do the drama and sometimes violent moves engage people, or just scare them off?
And then there's the "other side," with scams like the "clean coal" ad campaign that benefits from the deep pockets of the energy industry to spread confusion and myths. Al Gore has his inconveniently truthful charts and slides, and while it's vital to have facts and figures at the ready, it takes quite a 'hook' to get an entertainment-sated public's attention. The complexity and intangible nature of the topic of global warming makes it tough to fit into easy cures and catchy slogans, and feeds the doubters' need for certainty. (How many times have climate change deniers flippantly responded, "Hey, I'd love warmer winters, bring it on!"?)
The organizers make their case for the power of dramatic public protest, citing the end of apartheid and women's suffrage as precedents. In our Internet-connected world with so many avenues for public expression, engaging people with choices, such as which coal plant to target first for closure, could be the next big thing.
It's a tricky move. In the struggle to reach beyond the committed few, environmentalists are divided on how best to engage more people in the cause and create pressure on government and polluters. Peaceful protests can be magnificent experiences, but they don't always grab headlines. Cute tactics, costumes and acrobats get some attention, however violence and illegal action are even more eye-catching, as when the G20 protester was killed in London in April, or when Greenpeace activists trespassed and hung a huge banner at Mt. Rushmore in July. But do the drama and sometimes violent moves engage people, or just scare them off?
And then there's the "other side," with scams like the "clean coal" ad campaign that benefits from the deep pockets of the energy industry to spread confusion and myths. Al Gore has his inconveniently truthful charts and slides, and while it's vital to have facts and figures at the ready, it takes quite a 'hook' to get an entertainment-sated public's attention. The complexity and intangible nature of the topic of global warming makes it tough to fit into easy cures and catchy slogans, and feeds the doubters' need for certainty. (How many times have climate change deniers flippantly responded, "Hey, I'd love warmer winters, bring it on!"?)
The organizers make their case for the power of dramatic public protest, citing the end of apartheid and women's suffrage as precedents. In our Internet-connected world with so many avenues for public expression, engaging people with choices, such as which coal plant to target first for closure, could be the next big thing.
Read more: protest, coal, global warming
comments
I like this idea.it iseducated to peoples.it is depend onwhat we are speaking aboutif it gets something more power to the idea.
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I really like this idea because it gets the facts out to everyone in an engaging way; it educates and gets people talking. Protesting is dramatic and is perfect for a reality show. I won't waste my time watching people subject themselves to extreme stunts, but I'd tune in to this.
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I think that it depends on what we are speaking about but if it gets something done more power to the idea.
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While I am all for clean energy, the idea that people "vote" for the one to protest just rankles my bones. Why is it that we need to turn everything into a reality show? Life is real. Global warming is real and so is stupidity! We have a nation of obese people looking for the next "fix" so we don't have to do what we know we need to (eat properly & exercise more); a nation that will watch the next craze on TV while stuffing their faces; a nation that knows nothing but soundbites about foreign policy, geography and even civics and can't be bothered to really dig deeply into something to find the truth. We can't tell you who our representatives are; where different countries are on a map but we can name the latest Survivor or American Idol. Some of us don't think for ourselves anymore - but are content to use the 60 second soundbite with things taken out of context to smear our opponent. WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER REALITY SHOW. LIFE IS MORE THAN TV AND 60 SECOND SOUNDBITES AND REAL PROBLEMS DON'T GET SOLVED IN 1 HOUR. By all means, let's make people aware of the high stakes involved, but don't make it some kind of contest to be won or lost. People need to care, because everything is connected - not because it is the latest, greatest thing to vote on.
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