More companies are embedding greenwash into their marketing campaigns–including the 70 companies that have lined up to cash in on the classic Dr. Seuss eco-fable The Lorax.
Uncle Sam Says Garden…and Eat Vitamin Donuts
Eat Vitamin Donuts, Save Sugar, Garden More, Eat More Fish. These are just a few of the recommendations of the U.S. government over the past century. One they forgot: don’t take money from food companies.
Lord of Recycling: An Eco-parody
“You Shall Not TRASH!” So sayeth Gandalf in the newest epic, “Lord of Recycling.” Watch it at Transforming Cultures and see a great new eco-parody of “The Lord of the Rings” and a powerful example of viral social marketing.
Mickey Mouse’s Iconic Role in Modeling Consumerism
Do Disney cartoons lead viewers to believe in and act out Disney’s consumeristic fantasy? What about modern icons like the Disney Princess and the iPod? Can you sing M-I-C, K-E-Y, C-N-S-U-M?
Making Borscht Cool Again
I read recently about how the Gold Pure Foods Product Co. is trying to make borscht cool again. Considering how healthy and sustainable borscht is, I applied the Transforming Cultures formula to see how we could normalize borscht consumption once again in the U.S. Read on to learn what ultimate fighting, baby food, cartoon mascots, and skyrocketing grain prices have to do with the future of borscht.
A 4th of July that Truly Celebrates Independence
It’s almost the 4th of July and if we’re going to commemorate Independence Day here in America, why not celebrate it in a way that actually makes us more independent–of fossil fuel companies, coal companies, factory farms, and all the other toxic industries destroying our country and planet?
The Princess and the Product Placement
A review of Disney’s The Princess and the Frog: A great fairy tale if the embedded product placements for everything Disney could be extracted. At points I thought I was watching Disney’s fantasy world, rather than a fantasy world created by Disney.
What Would You Sacrifice for a Secure Future?
Sacrifice has become a dirty word in environmental politics. But we sacrifice all the time. Two-thirds of Americans have sacrificed their waistlines and lifespans for cheap food and high profits for food companies, often without actively making this choice. Is there a way to reclaim the word to get people to start “sacrificing” to sustain a healthy relationship with Earth—or to at least stop sacrificing to the modern god of growth?
Baby Carrots: Eat ‘Em Like Junk Food
Typically, you hear me railing about inappropriate marketing, particularly to children, but here’s an effort I can get behind. A bunch of farmers of “baby carrots” have gotten together and applied the lessons of junk-food marketing to their tiny carrot offerings. While not perfect, it’s a great start. And if refined, it could play an important role in transforming children’s dietary norms.
