Tag Archives: Chris Jordan

Kickstart A Sea Change

2 Replies

Let me start by saying that this post probably wouldn’t be happening if I wasn’t on Midway right now. Why? Well, simply put…I wouldn’t have an attachment to this place. It sounds strange, but it’s because of all the things that have happened during this last month or so that I’m able to write this with such conviction.

Remember Chris Jordan? I’m willing to bet that most of the people reading this blog have some inkling of who that dude is. He’s the “Running the Numbers” guy yes, but most recently, he’s turned his sights on this tiny atoll in the middle of the Pacific. Not that I need to say it again, but we’ve got a bit of a plastic problem here. Bizarre? Yes. Wrong? Totally. Which is why Chris Jordan’s latest project is so damned exciting:

MIDWAY : trailer : a film by Chris Jordan from Midway on Vimeo.

And did I mention that he’s here, filming right now? Cue dance of joy. I feel like the luckiest person ever, to not only be able to come out to Midway and see for myself what’s going on, but then to meet the person whose art I’ve been using as a tool to get people interested in plastic pollution! Not only that, but I’ve also had the distinct pleasure of meeting, eating dinner with and peeking over the shoulders of part of the Midway Journey film crew, which has been an incredible opportunity. One morning last weekend, us volunteers voluntarily (see what I did there?) got up at the crack of dawn to tail the crew as they filmed albatross and the sunrise. On another day, my boss Pete and I helped them film a scene for their end credits. I got to touch a very, very expensive camera and about died of excitement. Luckily, I remained composed enough to not knock the camera over. ;-)

Jan Vozenilek and Jim Hurst getting set up.

The point of all of this is that before meeting Chris and the crew, I was interested in the Midway Journey project but now I feel a personal connection to the story. Something changed when I realized that these were real people with real stories and real lives. This movie is their work and something that they are all totally passionate about. If given the opportunity, shouldn’t we try to help them continue to do what they love to do?

Chris, Jan and Jim doing their thing.

This movie isn’t just about plastics in birds on Midway, it’s much more than that. It’s a way to connect people with an issue that’s too big to handle and comprehend. The only way we can start a sea change is if we care about the issue at hand and this movie could prove to be just the tool we need. All you have to do is watch the trailer, check out their Kickstarter and pass it on. Believe me when I say that the Midway Journey crew will be filled with gratitude. :)

Toyota Ideas for Good

1 Reply

I know I said my next post would be about my message for the 5IMDC, but I wanted to first examine a commercial I recently viewed. It relates to plastic, I promise!

Here’s the gist: Toyota asked us, keepers of the earth, to come up with ideas, using Toyota technology (Solar-Powered Ventilation System, Hybrid Synergy Drive, etc.) that would make our lives and world better. The concept is really quite fantastic and you’ve probably seen a few of these ideas on TV, in commercial form. This one has to do with solar panel technology:

Maybe you’re wondering why exactly I’m singling out this particular idea…solar power is fantastic, the Prius is a really cool car, and anything that helps victims of disasters is great, right?

First and foremost, I have no issue with this ad. I think this idea is fantastic, as are most things that involve Prius technology. What I have a problem with in this commercial is the last bit: the girl drives this Prius to the site of a disaster, with this solar-powered ventilated tent in the background…and starts pulling stacks of bottled water out of the car. I watched this with my roommate and she wondered, out loud, what other solutions exist to deliver fresh water to natural disaster victims.

This really made me think: people have come up with this great idea using Toyota technology, but they’ve focused on one big problem: natural disasters. All that bottled water in the trunk is adding to many other problems: pollution, waste of resources, social injustice, just to name a few. So what do we do about this? Disasters happen all the time and in most cases, people will need access to clean, safe drinking water. Is bottled water really the easiest and most efficient way to do this? Do we truck in large containers of water or start distributing Klean Kanteens to all victims?

To be completely honest, I’m a little baffled myself. Which is why I thought I’d poll you, the audience and generate some discussion. What do we do about issues such as this one? Are we supposed to take the good with the bad when it comes to things like natural disasters? Or could there be a way to cover all problems…how about solar-powered medical tents and access to clean water that doesn’t come from a plastic bottle!

Discuss. Share. Think! :)

Chris Jordan – “Running the Numbers”