I remember watching the MTV Video Music Awards last year and hearing them announce that the environment was the top issue their viewers cared about and being really excited. In my opinion, they are doing a great job of building awareness through education about leading a more green life. So, it came as no surprise when I learned today that the next season of the Real World will take place in an eco-friendly house. The producers aim to reduce or completely neutralize emissions associated with producing the series through efficiency measures and carbon offsets.
I can only imagine what next season's testimonials will be like: "Matt really annoyed me because he didn't buy unbleached paper towels," or "Chris needs to stop drinking bottled water--doesn't he understand how wasteful that is?! I mean, WTF?!! What does he think, Fiji is right next store?!"

I may be dating myself, but Puck and Pedro taught me a lot about being a good roommate-let's hope the new crop helps some people learn a thing or two.

Labels: MTV, Real World, sarah

MTV Tackles Climate Change in a Big Way!

by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 06.15.07

When the largest television network in the world with a potential audience of 1.5 billion people in 162 countries decides to make global climate change a top priority, it is time to sit up and take notice. In fact, the MTV SWITCH campaign launched yesterday aims to target people between the ages of 15 to 25 who happen to live in countries with high carbon emissions. The aim is to connect with them and lead them to question their high consumption lifestyles, hopefully raising their consciousness of the environment in general and the fight against global warming in particular at the same time. The organizing principle behind all of it is the idea that when large groups of individuals choose to begin taking small actions on their own it can add up to massive results. To help get youth involved they will be targeting them with public service announcements, television programs, and online resources accessible via the MTV Switch website. And you can bet they will be incredibly effective at making the connection inside of kids minds with them too. It seems that in the strange and wacky world of teenage minds our friends at MTV have made themselves a more trusted source of news than CNN. Go figure!

Labels: MTV, treehugger