Rebecca makes makes a good point, but considering that the focus of the "WE" campaign is climate change and advocating the passage of laws requiring the measurement and reduction of greenhouse gasses it is understandable that they would not address recycling.
However, one would expect that the WE campaign would take measures to quantify and disclose the carbon footprint of the campaign and discuss what steps they are taking to reduce it or credibly offset it... (one way of doing that might be recycling or through support of projects preventing the release of landfill methane.) If enough people ask about it, maybe they will.
I suggest going to the link below and placing a comment on their site asking when they are going to disclose the carbon footprint of the "WE" campaign and discuss what steps they are taking to reduce it or credibly offset it.
Also do you think that those running for political office should take steps to walk the talk on the issue of carbon footprinting and greenhouse gas emission reduction? What about accounting for the carbon footprint of their political ads?
If political candidates don't take making a full accounting of their carbon footprints seriously, do they expect anyone else to?
Current estimates are that over $4.5 billion will be spent on political advertising this year... makes me wonder what the carbon footprint associated with that is. I think it is an important question that deserves an answer.
Did you know that political candidates and their advocates will send out hundreds of millions of pieces of mail during the 2008 election season. According to a recent Pitney Bowes study that just the delivery of one piece of direct mail results in the emission of 20 grams of CO2. Delivering each 100 million pieces results in the emission of 2000 tons of CO2.. and that does not include the production or end of life aspects of their lifecycle.
Its a step in the right direction that both parties are making efforts to "green up" their conventions, but those events are just the tip of the iceberg. Political advertising is where the big spending is and where the biggest environmental footprint is.
If you think this is an issue that should be addressed, please take a minute to go to the Netroots Nation link below and comment on my post asking why neither of the 2008 presidential candidates has addressed the carbon footprint of their political advertising. My post is titled:
"An inconvenient political advertising truth: Lots of hot air and a massive carbon footprint"
I've issued a press release and sent invitations to both presidential candidates as well as to the heads of the DNC and RNC, but so far gotten no response. Perhaps viral grassroots interest will get their attention.
I welcome any comments and suggestions you may have.
Best,
Don Carli Senior Research Fellow The Institute for Sustainable Communication
Chairperson SustainCommWorld: The Green Media Show
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Subject: [GreenYes] WE movement Date: July 22, 2008 12:39:06 PM EDT
I just clicked on a banner ad for the We Can Solve It movement:
The We Campaign is a project of The Alliance for Climate Protection -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan effort founded by Nobel laureate and former Vice President Al Gore. Our ultimate aim is to halt global warming. Specifically we are educating people in the US and around the world that the climate crisis is both urgent and solvable.
I couldn't find even one mention of recycling as an action to take, individually, to counteract global warming.. I'm surprised by this.
Rebecca Jewell Recycling Programs Manager Davis Street Station for Material Recycling & Transfer A Waste Management company 510-563-4214
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