GreenPepper Blog

Just how helpful will the new Alaskan polar bear habitat be?

By Ann Barlow, GreenPepper

I’m sure you’ve seen the same pictures that have haunted me over the past couple of years – exhausted, hungry polar bears paddling long distances between ever-smaller ice floats.  So I was pretty excited to read on Friday about the proposed habitat in Alaska that would protect the endangered polar bear.  The Interior Department has said that the new habitat won’t deter commerce, because oil and gas companies can still drill.

That might even work, and what could be better than finding a way to meet the needs of both humans and our fellow inhabitants of the earth? (Don’t misunderstand – ultimately the drilling for oil and gas needs to move toward other, cleaner energy solutions.)   But what I don’t understand is how this helps solve the underlying problem that is putting polar bears in so much danger – melting ice.  Apparently, the Endangered Species Act is not meant to address climate change, even when it’s the principle reason for a species’ potential extinction.  Well why the heck not?

To me, if there is such a link between the two, it’s time to modify the Act so that it addresses the underlying cause.  Because clearly, just setting aside land – albeit a full 200,541 square miles of coastal Alaska – is only a finger in the dike.  I’d like my great grandchildren to see pictures of healthy polar bears in the wild in the present, not the past. If that means sticking our own necks out further to more directly challenge those who would stand in the way, so be it.  The images of those exhausted, hungry bears should give us all the bravery we need.

International Day of Climate Action

By Beth Starkin, GreenPepper

Readers to this blog likely already know tomorrow is the International Day of Climate Action.  Taking this day as an impetus, we decided to do a little experiment here at Peppercom, and declare today Peppercom No Impact Day as another way to improve our green footprint.

I call it an experiment because as I drafted an email to our staff encouraging them to participate and offering helpful hints like try biking to work and forgo the convenience of the grocery store for the local farmer’s market, I wasn’t really sure what kind of response or participation level I would get.  After all, we’ve already taken away paper cups and plastic spoons (sending germaphobes into a panic), sent persuasive emails asking everyone to shut down their computers at night (causing workaholics to wonder how they can access their desktop from home in the wee hours of the morning) and begged folks to print double sided (you’d be amazed how much confusion this caused when people couldn’t “find” the second page of a document).  Could we continue to push folks to do more?  What I found was green champions I had no idea existed and an overall willingness from my coworkers to do their part.  After sending out my little note, I received excited responses from across the agency, and from some, additional suggestions.

But what I really discovered, is continuing to push harder on green issues and ask more of people is becoming more accepted by many.  With tiny green steps behind them, people are more willing to take larger ones, but sometimes just need a little prodding.  It’s exciting to see so many mindsets changing, and ears open for suggestions. 

Different Shades of Green

By Ann Barlow, GreenPepper

Today, our colleagues at RepMan and Pepperdigital wrote about a month-long series the latter, in conjunction with Upstream Asia, has begun concerning social media across cultures.

Turns out, not totally surprisingly, that while strong affinity groups have been created across cultures on everything from soccer to folk music, there are some strong differences, too.  Of course, those differences aren’t just from country to country, but region to region within those countries.

For all communicators, this has some pretty serious implications – no less for those focused on environmental issues.  We see this first hand with our global clients.  What is considered progress in one part of the world is positively antediluvian in another.  And what motivates one culture toward climate action – from an awakened sense of responsibility to business growth opportunities – varies widely.  What we’ve learned is that overarching themes and messages can be universal, but submessages and tactics must fit the market.  Ironically, this is where the rise of microtargeted media can actually help.  That’s not to say, as the Pepperdigital team points out, that traditional media aren’t equally important.  It’s more a case of understanding how we can use all forms of media to inform, persuade and engage people.  When it comes to the environment, getting this right is not just important.  The world depends on it.

The Blue-Green Angels

By Matt Sloustcher, GreenPepper

Watching The Blue Angels soar over the San Francisco skyline this weekend was an amazing sight, one that I look forward to annually. This year, however, there was a new sound in the air. Since practice sessions began on Thursday, greenies have been grumbling about wasted jet fuel and the general environmental degradation caused by the event. I witnessed most of this online, but others mentioned it as we stood on my roof watching the sky. It should come as no surprise; in this new era of social responsibility, everything is being called out. There was tremendous fallout last week when the President and first lady took separate jets across the Atlantic to lobby on behalf of Chicago’s Olympic bid, for example.

On gut reaction alone, my feeling is that the tradition should live on. In addition to pure entertainment value, arguments can be made that the show boosts the Navy’s recruiting potential and inspires people to think about public service. But I wonder, shouldn’t the Navy use this opportunity to educate people on the efforts it is taking to clean up its act? For example, the Navy is pouring millions into researching alternative fuels and other forms of energy, but the Website makes no mention. If I had my way, the Navy would showcase its current efforts and make a pledge that they will work to make the event carbon neutral within a decade. That’s leadership.

The Waste in Healthcare

By Beth Starkin, GreenPepper

When we think of waste in the healthcare industry it is typically in terms of waste associated with actual treatment - too many tests, too much unneeded medication and too many wasted hours in the waiting room.  While all those are indeed true and in need of reform, it's rare anyone looks at the waste in our healthcare system with regards to the environment.

For five days last week, I sat by my boyfriend's bedside at the hospital, as we experienced the above mentioned waste firsthand.  As he got better, and the test results all came back negative, I started focusing my attention on a different kind of waste - the individual plastic cups with two blister packed pills inside that were delivered three times a day; the 10 paper cups brought by the nurse each day with as many straws; the linens that were changed twice a day and the many, many towels that were brought and washed each day.  At the end of it all, his consumption had easily tripled during that short visit to the hospital - and he wasn't really a model for sustainable living beforehand.

My point here, and yes, there is a point, is that when we are looking improving our carbon footprint, we have to look across all sectors, not just the usual suspects of manufacturing, transportation and energy.  There are multiple opportunities to find efficiencies in the service sector as well, and it is critical we broaden our views.  The time for reform has come.