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Pitch

I believe in the promise of a consciously evolving humanity. I also think there is a lot of power to be harnessed through entertainement.


Description

Summary

I propose increasing support and development for envirotainment. I think we can reach a disparate and sizeable new demographic if we make climate action sexier. That's why I created a persona who is both a climate action goddess and a dominatrix, Kali the Conductress. So far I've done episodes featuring Stanford Professor Mark Z. Jacobson highlighting his Wind, Water, and Sunlight research and The Solutions Project. They believe we can go 100% renewable for our energy needs by 2050. I also did an episode about Earthships, The New Urbanism Film Festival, and The Hyperloop. Kali could become a household name and do a lot to change how people view our precious habitat. Most people don't know what's possible, but if the material is presented in a short, informative, comedic way, I believe more people will be converted into activists for this pressing cause. 


What actions do you propose?

The main inspiration behind this idea is Mark Jacobson and The Solutions Project (Mark Ruffalo, Mark Jacobson, and Josh Fox from Gasland). I think if we listen and implement the policy changes that Mark Jacobson has already presented we will be successful in going 100% renewable by 2050. For example, Dr. Jacobson has collected a lot of data concerning wood burning cook-stoves in Africa. He's come up with policy solutions to mitigate air pollution there.  If we could delve deeper into these solutions using envirotainment I think more people would vote for these changes. 


Who will take these actions?

If we could engage government leaders like Congressman Blumenauer (who screened my transportation documentary in D.C. Trainsforming America) and Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to collaborate with Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, and Elon Musk that would combine policy with entertainment leaders and a visionary tech superstar and the possibilities would be endless!  


Where will these actions be taken?

These changes will start in the US and we will lead by example to encourage China and India to follow suit. The best outcome would be for China and India to decide they want to go 100% renewable, too, because it's the popular thing to do. 


How will these actions have a high impact in addressing climate change?

If we could remove social hubris from Americans and have individuals take responsibility for their own actions the synergy created will significantly impact our future. If we do nothing and continue to usher in our own extinction we will seal our fate and humanity will be history. I truly believe everyone should be dedicating their energy into preventing this and use their talents to spread the word. 


What are other key benefits?

What won't benefit from making climate action sexier? There is no downside here. Sending a hopeful message in a lighthearted way, instead of trying to scare everyone with stories of doom could be the missing link. It could actually break the tension that has been building in the energy sector this whole decade. Imagine that!  


What are the proposal’s costs?

The cost of implementing a high scale production and marketing plan for Envirotainment Tonight could be done with a mere $50,000.00 budget. The ROI could be great when it goes viral or gets picked up. 


Time line

The best thing about Envirotainment is that it's already begun. We would be highlighting actions that are already being taken and new companies and technologies that are already off the ground, like The Hyperloop. So, in the near future if we have more people backing these things because they heard about through ET it will fast track already existing plans and move projects that would be done in 15 years up to 5 years. This is an outreach campaign. 


Related proposals


References

http://thesolutionsproject.org/ 

https://web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/jacobson/

Envirotainment Tonighthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgpjJhNeA_c&list=PLeWkOwofvptgCokeNHkBkCyiflRQn9IK9&index=4