My friend, Beth of Fake Plastic Fish, sent me this inspiring video made by Four Year. Go, a campaign to change the world. It begs the question, where will we be in four years with all the problems we have on our plate today. With this Campaign, there is hope at the end of the tunnel?
According to the campaign, the next four years will determine Earth’s next 1000 years.
“The background context for the campaign is the belief that the extent of mounting crises for humanity is daunting—profound climate disruption, wide and deep poverty, global water shortages, loss of topsoil, depletion of fisheries, erosion of democracy, unsustainable population growth, mass extinction of plant and animal species, economic breakdown. And these crises are in fact completely inter-related.
More and more people are recognizing the urgency of the situation but seem unable to muster the vision and commitment needed to cause a change in course. It is now clear that the human species already possesses all the technologies and practical solutions required to resolve the crises confronting us. What is missing is a collective sense of possibility and the political and popular will to act—urgently, globally, collaboratively.
There is a limited window of opportunity, maybe just four years, to execute a great turning; four years for people to get motivated and involved; four years to apply the solutions we already know; four years that can determine the quality of life on this planet for the next 1,000; four years to get it right. And we need to start now, on a worldwide scale. The goal of FOUR YEARS. GO. is to cause a positive tipping point in unleashing humanity’s collective will, and to do it in the next four years.”
The Campaign ask each and everyone of us to join to make any small steps. Click on their map to see what steps others are taking. Check out what people are saying on the pulse. If you are an organization, join those who have become an ally.
But you wonder, how can you make a difference?
“Begin to map a journey for yourself—a personal journey toward a just and peaceful world. A personal journey that when combined with millions more will shift the ground on which we stand. You don’t need to clearly see your journey’s end or even the contours of your path. You just need the direction in which you’ll start. Each journey begins with each of us taking a first step… and then a next… and a next.”
Who is behind Four Year. Go? It is an alliance of “The Pachamama Alliance, a nonprofit organization, committed to building a just and sustainable global society; Wieden + Kennedy, the largest independent advertising agency network in the world (creators of Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign and Lance Armstrong’s “Live Strong” campaign); P:5Y—Peace in Five Years, a non-profit organization, committed to world peace; and the 2020 Fund, a non-profit organization and philanthropic platform.”
To be honest, I was puzzled as to how this Campaign will inspire others. I have seen a lot of campaigns over the last couple of years asking people to take small steps. Why is this campaign different? Is it because they are targeting so many issues that it will resonate with everyone?
But I am still left with questions which perhaps could have been answered by the organization. How are they going to inspire others? How will they get governments and NGO as well as individuals to work together? Is this campaign simply glossy without any backbone?
Will others be motivated by looking at the small steps taken by others?
Where is the action plan? Goals to obtain? Perhaps that will be rolled out in a couple of weeks? Months? Self direction does not work. It is kind of like some people are better off working at a job rather than being entrepreneurial. And government? Don’t go there.
Instead of the gloss give me some substance if you can.
Am I missing something?
Beth @ Fake Plastic Fish says
June 14, 2010 at 4:07 pmYou’re not missing anything. What I love about the video itself is just that the messaging is so different from what we see on TV on a regular basis. Instead of using slick advertising to sell shoes or cars or more stuff that will end up in a landfill, they are using the same methods to sell conservation and different ways of thinking.
I don’t think the video is meant to do more than inspire people to look at their lives and decide that they will start to change course. All of the organizations listed at the end of the video are promoting the methods for achieving those ends. But the video itself, I believe, is meant to inspire people to change.
The thing about so much environmental messaging is that it’s so negative and depressing that people just want to tune out and soothe themselves with more shopping and consuming. Videos like this can help people feel that doing the right thing can be uplifting and positive rather than a hardship.
That’s all. Plus the music is great.
🙂
Makayla Trotter says
November 5, 2010 at 1:58 pmLove this site, and the movement. Keep spreading the word!
http://sustainabilityseven.wor.....-years-go/