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A fad is a fad but it can be a good fad 

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Some time ago I signed up to the Blog Action Day - which encourages blogers to unite for oneday to raise the issue of the enironment. The most interesting thing for me is not the environment per se, that's just a fad, but the way the web can get over 16,000 people to write about something.

I'll spare you my thoughts on whether digital marketing is more green than traditional etc etc (it probably is but not by any significant amount so who cares?).

We are undoubtedly in a green era. My friend's mum used to collect rain water when we were teenagers. I thought she was a bit mental - in a fun way - like she was preparing for the apocolypse or something. Now, I look at my drainpipe and wonder how I could collect rain water to water the plants. (Growing tomatos, and herbs). But it' a fad, an industry and politically motivated fad. Most fads pass - remember aerobics in the 80's? - now half the country is clinically obese. Whether greenness continues might well depend on whether his royal greenness, Dave Cameron, gets in or not. I think he might and that may influence a whole generation to come.

But when talking to Florian about this he gets very German. "There are no people dropping cigarettes in Germany, there are no plasic bags in German supermarkets and if you do get coke in a plastic bottle you take it back in a tray to be cleaned out. And there are no people drinking alcohol on the streets and dropping bottles and cans. This is not a fashion, this is how it is."

How do we get to that stage? I have a hunch it will take more than Dave but a loose collaboration of bloggers from around the world with something to say could be the start.

Comments

October 15, 2007 1:06 PM
 
"Some time ago I signed up to the Blog Action Day" As did I. "The most interesting thing for me is not the environment per se, that's just a fad, but the way the web can get over 16,000 people to write about something." I'll have to disagree a tad there. I only engaged because of the environment, and really hope it is not as you so definitively suggest... a fad. However, what is interesting as we are discussing blogs and motivations and stuff, is that I had forgotten all about it until I clicked on my BR email and saw you blog flagging it highlighted. And then I found out it was today! Ooops. It's OK as I blog on matters green and mostly unpleasant (my site does the nice, fun stuff), so I am on brief, if by accident. In fact, just by cutting and pasting this across! Of course green marketing is greener in delivery (or is it... all that need for PCs and servers and juice, etc just to read it), but effective? Hmnn. I needed a prod. Green only passes as a fad if there is no substance, or indeed need to stay with it. I would maintain there is. But then you need to be on board with a climate caution. For what it's worth mine is man-worsened climate change as a sort of 'best not to assume it isn't, because if it is then being proven wrong doesn't really seem so bad (unless you're a climate optimist, in which case being proven wrong means we're toast if your views have prevailed)'. What I don't go for is scare stories, fines and the whole green tsunami things, where you get bombarded and have to go with it all. So, as you raise it, how obesity got equated to climate change I have no idea. That seemed daft. Good on Florian. I wish we in the UK could be more like him. Thing is, his government and businesses are helping him a lot more, both with systems and incentives and logistics and clear communications in complement. Here we have quangos on bonuses if we recycle more, and almost no joined up e-systems at all when we do. Plus a bunch of dodgy pols trying to grab our vote depending on whether the Guardian or Daily Mail can scare up a frightening fact pro or con that day. So yes, as one of those bloggers I hope it may be a start, but I have to go off and now wonder how I forgot all about it. Ta for the heads up.
 
 
October 15, 2007 6:54 PM
 
When I say fad I mean it is currently in vogue. There is no denying that, surely? I hope it becomes more than a fad - but at the moment I honestly believe it could go either way.
 
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Three Minute Happiness

What the hell is going on around here? A digital creative director tries to find out
 

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James Cooper

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Member since: 03 Jun 2008

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