Greenpeace seeks earth-saving funds from Malibuites.
By Jody Stump/Special to The Malibu Times
“We cause trouble-good trouble … necessary trouble.”
There was a bit of brag and a lot of challenge to dig deep down into pockets when host Ed Begley Jr. launched an evening of fundraising for Greenpeace at Moonshadows restaurant last week. To be sure, the message of need sunk in, no partygoer was out of view or earshot from the dozen TVs running looped commercials warning watchers destruction of rain forests.
In a nice touch, the wines and liquor were organic. Relaxed by the spirits and soothed by fine “sustainable seafood” delivered in bite-size morsels, the crowd stood captive, hip-to-hip as we heard why we were really there.
Greenpeace needs funds and their partner in this event, ECO (Earth Communications Office), needs industry clout to air environmental action PSAs (public service announcements) during primetime so they can reach the masses of voters who can make a political impact.
The commercials are powerful and hit hard with painful statistics and a pulsing back-beat of urgency: “Every day 19 species disappear … 9,000 people die in L.A. every year from auto emissions … 4,000 truckloads of nuclear waste ply the Las Vegas highway every year to dump spent rods in Yucca Mountain.” In another 30-second spot, there are stark black-and-white images of a pristine contemporary American home being bulldozed, interspliced with trees being toppled and gorillas fleeing, a shocking allusion to destruction of homelands. The voice-over intones, “Every year the rainforest is diminished by the size of Britain and France combined.”
It would be hard for anyone with a conscience to say “no” in response to these ads and, in fact, an independent Pepperdine University public policy survey found one in five people who see the spots takes positive action. No doubt most of those in the room that evening found their pens and added a few more dollars to the cause.