Bunchland likes to give props to families who are going that extra mile to save the planet. The ones who really knock our organic, pesticide-free cotton socks off get our coveted Gosh Darn Green! Award.
- City: Toronto, Ontario
- Who we are: Rick, Environmental Defence executive director/author of Slow Death by Rubber Duck. Jennifer, Friends of the Greenbelt communications manager. Zack, 6, introspective fan of lightsabers. Owain, 3, tornado of energy. Muffin, cat.
Rick Smith is the co-author of the eye-opening best-selling book about the toxins found in common housebold products, Slow Death by Rubber Duck: How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health. His wife Jennifer fights to protect Ontario’s Greenbelt, and their two kids, Owain and Zack, have grown up attending rallies.
Last fall, Rick’s organization, Environmental Defence, put together a campaign called Moms Against Climate Change. The campaign featured a controversial anti-global warming TV commercial, starring 100 child actors — and Zack and Owain. All 250 people involved in the production donated their time. In the spot, called “Demonstration,” the environmental crusaders are kids, and they are gangsta. The message (that climate change ultimately affects our children) was intended to ring in the ears of Canadian politicians as they headed to December’s climate change summit in Copenhagen. Some viewers reacted with shock (“What a disgusting abuse of children!” fumed one Youtube commenter).
We had many questions. For example, how can moms and dads teach their kids about freaky concepts like climate change without scaring the bejeezus out of them? And, short of punching riot cops in the stomach, what can kids do to help the planet? Rick tells us:
“Especially when it comes to global warming, the subject matter can be frightening for kids, so we try not to lay it on too thick or be preachy. We try to frame it in a hopeful and uplifting fashion. We teach our kids to do small but important actions, such as recycling and eating local food.”
So how did Zack and Owain feel about filming such a dark TV ad? Says Rick:
“They had a good time, and they got to meet a lot of other kids. The kids never saw the spot on TV because they go to bed at 7:30 at night and it airs late, but they got a kick out of showing it to their friends on YouTube. It wasn’t intended to be consumed by children. It was meant to engage people in discussion.”
Watch the making-of video featuring an interview with Rick.
Congrats, Rick, Jennifer, Zack and Owain. You win our first ever Gosh Darn Green! Award for making climate change a family issue.
Is your family so green it hurts? Maybe you guys are Gosh Darn Green! material. Email amanda@bunchfamily.ca.
