How do you make a difference in 2018?
If you watched the Rose Parade, you could say the answer is being a good steward of the Earth.
Being generous, I counted 12 floats with environmental themes gliding down Colorado Boulevard on Monday. Did you think that was a large number? I did. And I’ve seen every Rose Parade since 1978.
I wondered why float designers choose environmentalism? Certainly that is not the only way to fit in with the parade’s theme, “Making A Difference.”
But for much of the two-hour spectacle, we saw how difference-making is taking care of Planet Earth, by planting a garden, recycling, keeping the creatures of the ocean flourishing or just riding a bicycle.
Jonathan Parfrey, executive director of Climate Resolve, the Los Angeles-based nonprofit that works with cities on saving water, renewable energy and all sorts of creative green projects, said maybe all those environmental messages were really an antidote to the enviro-bashing coming out of the Trump Administration?
“There are so many brands that want to be identified with the resistance,” he said, saying he had no proof but was just thinking out loud. However, he has noticed advertisements on podcasts and television shows from companies that have subtly become more green. While the White House pushes mining in our national monuments and drilling for oil in our oceans, companies and service organizations are pushing back.
“These guys (corporations, cities, nonprofits) are trying to define themselves as being on the good side of history,” Parfey said.
Some floats were quite obvious and therefore were my favorites:
• Oceans of Possibility by Western Asset Management Co.: Dolphins swim through a school of angel fish (like I saw last year snorkeling in Kauai!), leading three humpback whales through colorful sea sponges and coral.
OMG! There’s so much to unpack here. Whales are amazing ocean mammals that need to be protected from plastic trash piles and oil spills. If you haven’t yet, go whale watching. Boats leave from Long Beach and Ventura.
Acidification of the oceans are bleaching coral reefs white, killing these living things. Just checked my Instagram: Thank you Kimo Morris for your great underwater shots of coral in Kauai! Will our grandkids get a glimpse of life in the oceans like God intended it to be?
• Protecting Nature, by city of Torrance: The resurrected Madrona March Preserve, a 45-acre urban oasis that is coming back to life because of everyday citizens who spoke out about saving wildlife in vernal pools in a state where almost 90 percent have disappeared. Their message included protection of the Monarch butterfly and egrets like you can still see in the San Gabriel River.
• San-Sational by city of Burbank: How we in the inland areas are the most responsible for keeping the oceans clean. We are the ones who leave stuff in the street, like dog feces, and don’t pick it up. So it ends up in the ocean, creating bacteria that causes disease in humans and kills the ocean life.
A big round of applause to Burbank for saying we can recycle instead of throwing plastic water bottles in the trash. It’s so simple.
• Panda-Monium by city of La Cañada Flintridge: As told with whimsy, the message is to protect near-extinct wild species. China, are you listening?
• Preserving Our Environment, Lions Clubs International: They said it all.
Honorable mentions to Trader Joe’s for putting the Fearless Flyer on a bicycle; The Forum for giving us Earth, Wind and Fire; Miracle-Gro for the story of backyard flowers creating spaces for hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. Bees need our help because pesticides and herbicides causing the worker bees to die off in what’s called Colony Collapse Disorder. I read that without bees, we would not have avocados.
Also to Amazon Prime for not burning any fossil fuels to move its three giant wheels (people power rules!); Rotary for showing us how to plant seeds of all kinds; China Airlines for “Caring for our Sea”; and Dole for Sharing Nature’s Bounty depicting the circle of life.
Was this greenwashing? You know, growing millions of flowers using herbicides and millions of gallons of water? I don’t know. I will say this: I am starting 2018 in a non-cynical fashion. Go make a difference.
Source: http://bit.ly/2D5bwmL
