Imagine seeing beautiful vivid moving images of nature scenes while walking through the grey city streets. How wonderful a reminder that well beyond the suburbs, life continues on, battling it out in her own ways. Watch this video from IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature – a new biodiversity message challenging communicators to talk about nature in terms that people want to listen to.
We need green marketing, yes. It has its place. But seeing the problem beyond green (or environmentalism) is needed more than ever. ‘Feeling connected to friends family and community’ is the number one sustainability issue according to The SHIFT Report. This video is successful in getting to the heart of environmental issues through positive reasoning and unearthing that sense of wonder about nature that we all share. Sure, we get to see the doom and gloom scenes but only to prove the point that they don’t necessarily work in connecting us to the issues.
As a new mom, I found the part about the importance of children’s relationship to animals and nature and the connection that will have on their sense of agency quite moving. Makes sense.
Pssst, RT this Vocal Globalists!
I agree that fostering an emotional connection to nature among children is critical. I still remember going to the Museum of Science and Industry in L.A. when I was a kid and checking out an exhibit that featured live chickens hatching from their eggs. What absolute cuties. And seeing the struggle they had to go through to get out of their shells sent a very strong message indeed. I think the idea of wildlife imagery on “billboards” is interesting, and I’m wondering if it could be taken a step further. Why not bring actual animals onto the streets? Macy’s in San Francisco essentially does this every holiday season, in partnership with the local animal shelter, the SPCA. They devote their window displays to temporary, holiday-themed dioramas that feature real, live, adoptable kittens and puppies. SPCA volunteers are on hand to take care of adoptions on the spot. The sidewalks are always crowded around the windows. I can see something like this with other types of animals. And I can see corporate sponsorship playing a big role. The SPCA also sets up temporary adoption centers in different neighborhoods and at farmer’s markets. Why not create “pop-up” nature centers, in concert with various brands? How great would that be? Thanks for the vid.
Edward.. check this out! Flocks of yellow sheep hit the streets in London!
http://www.ecouterre.com/flock-of-yellow-sheep-kick-off-londons-inaugural-wool-week/
Thanks for the thoughtful comment.