Starbucks: Make a Difference. Take The Pledge.

Greenberg, Knight & Westersund (2011) propose that “it would be misleading to suggest that conservative-minded governments and oil companies are the only ones that use PR to influence the media, public and policy agendas.  In an effort to appear more politically relevant, environmental NGOs and activist coalitions increasingly utilize public relations techniques and rely heavily on corporate communication consultancies to assist them in reaching the hearts and minds of key publics and policy-makers” (p. 73).  To illustrate this point I would like to draw upon an example from the Starbucks Shared Planet campaign.  This video demonstrates how public relations techniques were used in order to create environmental awareness around consumption issues within the Starbucks community.  The campaign suggests that using a reusable mug will benefit the environment and those customers who will use a reusable mug will be rewarded with a free coffee on the selected day. I think this campaign affectively reaches the hearts and minds of key publics because it allows customer to feel as though they are making positive changes for the environment.

Communication of Extreme Weather

CBC News: Toronto floods leave power system 'hanging by a thread'

Good (2007) suggests that “extreme weather—hurricanes, storms, flooding, forest fires—is the way in which climate change is obtrusive, or manifest in people’s lives. The avoidance of linking these weather extremes with climate change is perhaps the most powerful way that the mass media do not, according to the media propaganda model, “merely protect the corporate system. [They also rob]the public of a chance to understand the real world” (p. 246). In the CBC news report of the extreme weather event that occurred in July 2013 did not make any explicit connections to climate change.  The news report focussed on the public transportation and hydro disturbances that Torontonians would experience.  Mayer Rob Ford was quoted in the report saying “Toronto has persevered; we have weathered the storm”.  The Mayor asked citizens of Toronto to reduce electricity use over the next 24 hours to relieve strain on the hydro system. The reports focus was on maintaining the status quo and restoring order within the city.

Amsterdam, Holland

Although a gloomy day in Amsterdam, stumbling upon this bicycle parking lot brightened my day. The city's infrastructure is impressively designed to have cycling as its main mode of transportation. Good (2007) suggests "the most important environment decision the court has issued in many years, clears the way for current and future federal administrations to set mandatory limits on motor vehicle emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases" (p. 245). A city like Amsterdam, equipped with bike lanes on every road, is what every city should aspire to.

 

Electronic Waste

One of the key messages in Living Beyond Our Means: Natural Assets and Human Well-Being states, “Everyone in the world depends on nature and the ecosystem services to provide the conditions for a decent, healthy, and secure life” (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, p. 3). The assessment further suggests that people are under the impression that we no long depend on natural systems because we rely so heavily upon human built structures, machines and technology.  If people are unaware of their consumption of the natural environment it is extremely difficult to ask people to reduce and preserve natural systems. The emergence of technology has created a disconnect between humans and nature.  An important issue raised in lecture is the common perception that people are saving paper by reading literature off of a tablet or laptop.  At a first glance this seems to be a wonderful alternative to printing documents however a further look into this issue shows that the amount of electronic waste is so overwhelming that it is becoming very harmful to the environment.  Above is a video from BBC news that identifies how there is an overabundance of E-waste and the issues that arise from this.  In The Unbroken Chain article, Cone acknowledges the ways in which new sources simplify issues of environmental concern and suggests that communication often takes one of two forms: scaring or boring the reader.  These two approaches generally result in the reader learning nothing of the issue at hand.   The BBC news clip on E-waste is oversimplifying what is a colossal problem.  The issue is addressed however there is no sense of urgency for the viewer to make a change.