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If you're looking for an example of someone who walks their talk, Mike Lieberman would be your man. Best known as CanarsieBK on the web, this Brooklyn man is a living, breathing demonstration of how one can live sustainably, anywhere. He proves anything is possible, growing a thriving vegetable garden on his fire escape, and demonstrating actionable steps, daily, on how to be personally sustainable. And he's definitely not afraid to speak his mind.
Today Lieberman takes aim at those who don't seem to be walking the talk, balanced with options they could choose to align their actions better with their words. Do you agree with what he says? Have other views? Have other creative solutions for these and other organizations and globe trotting bands? Chime in, below.
With the green movement becoming more trendy, there are lots of high profile companies, organizations and individuals that claim to be green, but are they green hypocrites?
They talk the green talk, but they don't walk the green walk. Since they are in high profile positions they have the ear of people and are saying one thing, but their actions say otherwise.
U2
Arguably the biggest rock band of the past three decades, U2 has been vocal over the years about their stance on the climate and social injustice.
On their current "No Line on the Horizon" tour, their acts have demonstrated the opposite of what they've been saying. Due to the extravagant stage set, requiring 100 trucks, there is a massive crew (200 people) that need to travel with the band.
Carbonfootprint.com has said the tour's carbon emissions are equal to "the four band members traveling the 34.125 million miles from Earth to Mars in a passenger plane".
Carbonfootprint.com also says that the tour will also create as much waste as 6,500 average people in 1 year. To offset this, U2 would have to plant 20,118 trees simply to offset this one tour's dates.
The band has said that they would pay the carbon offset charges, but is that the solution to just throw money at it?
I think that this has a pretty simple solution - don't be excessive in your stage set. Yes, it's nice and great for the fans, but if you are going to talk the talk, walk it as well. Otherwise, it's just a PR stunt.
Oxfam America
Back in September, Oxfam America held The Human Countdown event in Central Park. Its purpose was to send a message to the world leaders that time is running out to act on climate change.
Volunteers, including myself, transformed ourselves into the planet earth, which trickled down through an hourglass, then formed the words “tck tck tck.” The purpose and intent of the event was great. It gathered a large group of people to "voice" their message to the world leaders.
With Oxfam organizing the event, you'd expect everything to be environmentally friendly especially since we were all joined to combat climate change. Unfortunately, this was not the case.
The ponchos that were given to the volunteers who made up the hourglass were made from thin throwaway plastic. The shirts and hats that were given to the earth volunteers were made in Haiti and Bangladesh, respectively.
I'm sure pulling off an event like that isn't easy. It's also difficult to do in an environmentally friendly manner as well, but you are saying we are here to combat climate change and on the other you are contributing to the problem.
A solution for this would be to solicit eco-friendly companies that would likely be willing to attach their names to such an event. Yes, companies aren't going to jump at the chance and several calls would likely need to be placed, but then the message that you are saying would jive with the message that you are sending.
NYC MTA
The NYC MTA prides itself on being environmentally conscious. When riding the subways there are ads in the cars saying how environmentally friendly taking the subway is. On their site they state, "Thanks in large part to the MTA, the energy consumption and CO2 output of New Yorkers is approximately a quarter of the national average." They even have an MTA Effect Calculator.
This is all fine and dandy, but then you go into the subway station and buy a MetroCard that is disposable. At some stations, notably the AirTrain station going to and from JFK Airport these cards come in plastic packaging as well. Seems like a lot of unnecessary waste to me.
Solutions to this could be to offer plastic recycle bins at the stations for the cards and packaging. Otherwise, they just go to the landfills. Ideally plastic wouldn't be used at all, but recycling is the next best option.
These are three groups and companies that are in the spotlight and are vocal about the "green" movement, yet their actions say something else. On one hand they are bringing awareness to the problem by talking about it, but they aren't showing people what can be done about it.
Are U2, Oxfam, and MTA being green hypocrites or is just them bringing awareness to the situations enough?
Ok readers, you heard him. Your thoughts? To me, it's a gray issue, as sometimes with events and companies, it's difficult to get all the moving parts in sync, all at once. For others, it's pure laziness, doing the minimum to get by. Some, they just don't know, and need to be made aware of inconsistencies. I'd say for all, it's acknowledging what's been done well, and encouraging, however it will most have effect and be listened to, that they keep going further. U2? I'm sorry, no excuse; to me that tour is ridiculously inexcusable, as it is now.
