Hot Video Contest Seeks Solutions to Hot Problem: Convenient Truths
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 11.21.06
Since it has left theaters, buzz has died down on Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth. We say, let it live again! The documentary is released today on DVD! Due in large part to the film, global warming is now part of the public discourse. From US Magazine to “The Colbert Report,” everyone knows something about global warming. Great. But what are you actually doing about it?
TreeHugger and Seventh Generation, Inc., want you to put your money—or at least your time and a video camera—where your mouth is, by inspiring and inciting your peers to take action against global warming.
We call the contest “Convenient Truths” ($25,000 value in prizes!) as an ode to Al as he has called the contest "a great way to spread the word and bring the issue into our daily lives."
Convenient Truths, launches today (11/21) and is intended to create an open forum for Americans to motivate others to take action and address this hot (pun intended) topic. It’s a way of encouraging next steps: we’re clear on what the problem is, now it’s time for the solutions. Grab a video camera and tell the world about the steps you and your peers are taking to stop global warming, in two minutes or less!
If any additional motivation is needed, we’re dangling sustainable prizes valued at $25,000 in front of your nose like an organic, locally grown carrot. They include: an all-expense paid trip for two to the Alaskan wilderness from Alaska Wildland Adventures, travel gear from Patagonia, a green home makeover from EcoHome Improvement , Seventh Generation home products, E-V Sunny Bicycles from Thera-P-Cushion, Voltaic solar backpacks, a Zipcar membership, and carbon offsets.
Winning entries will be determined by both web viewers and expert judges, including Laurie David, Founder of stopglobalwarming.org; Arianna Huffington, Co-Founder and Editor of The Huffington Post; Dr. Heidi Cullen, Climate Change Expert for The Weather Channel; and Daryl Hannah, Actress and Environmental Advocate. Winning videos will also broadcast on various outlets, including weather.com's climate change site One Degree. The Top 10 videos will be packaged on a DVD and distributed by Ironweed Films.
.
And to put their money where their mouths are, the contest sponsors are offsetting the carbon expended to make all this possible, ensuring that the whole endeavor will be responsibly carbon-neutral.
For more information, visit www.truths.treehugger.com and watch the inaugural video at www.inspiredprotagonist.com/.
Inconvient truth on DVD. great. So why for the price of the DVD does it not come with some form of carbon neutrality to offset the purchasing and making of the DVD?
Actually:
"The DVD is packaged to make the smallest possible environmental footprint - it is made of 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper, no excess materials, and absolutely no plastics. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this DVD will benefit the bipartisan climate effort, The Alliance for Climate Protection."
And from Variety, the film trade paper:
"The eco-friendly packaging for Al Gore's docu about global warming advises purchasers to share or donate the disc, leaving space for them to address their beneficiary. There are no special seals or toll-free numbers to call if one acquired the disc through a third party...'We want individuals to watch the DVD and share with family and friends, then pay it forward and donate it to schools,' explained Paramount Home Entertainment...To drive the eco-message home, the studio sent mailers in biodegradable packaging embedded with basil seeds. The disc's packaging, which is virtually plastic-free, outlines ways to help stop global warming. Among the suggestions: Turn off electronic devices such as TVs and DVD players when not using them."
i have been doing an ecological restoration on a forest (the bush) here in new zealand for three years now,
i have been doing little bits of video , and intend to video blog the progress and the tasks that are involved to do this ,
it is an idea that i have had for a while, to help create a template that others can use, to help them also start similar projects .. and to find funding to do such projects, from others whom may also see, that it's a great way to spend some coin and create some time, that is then invested into the future of our wee planet.
i am also rather lucky to have found bliptv and their wonderful blogging and video tools , also the democracy player which has pretty much become my tv
now i see this contest is for the usa only .....
http://richie-b.blip.tv/
blog
https://ecologicalnz.wordpress.com
cheers Richard