Comments on: Oprah gained weight — and confused the public about renewable energy

By: Electric Cars Gal

Electric Cars Gal — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:50:54 +0000

Oprah really got stung when she stuck her neck out about the BSE issue (mad cow disease). I wonder does that explain her reluctance to get involved in taking a stand on global warming? If she took the matter to heart and became an environmental advocate, she could make a difference—-she got Obama elected didn’t she? Well, at least that is going to be something positive for the environment. I feel genuinely optimistic about the green agenda since January 20th 2009! But Oprah, if you’re reading, come and help us on the environment too….there’s work to be done and time’s gettin’ scarce!

By: Gail

Gail — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:14:49 +0000

As you point out, Oprah has “her legion upon legion upon legion of fans” that will loyally purchase, read, support anything that is bestowed with the Oprah blessing ( thus deriving the infamous “O Effect” of virtually guaranteed success).

I have long thought that if someone could work with Oprah to help her fully understand the catastrophic and all-encompassing nature of the global warming problem and get her to agree to host numerous shows that would boldly relate this message to her viewers, the O Effect could begin to work it’s magic to bring widespread understanding and the passion to participate in bringing necessary change.

Oprah’s viewership – women – are a most appropriate and important demographic for reaching out to. Women are most often concerned with the health and welfare of their families and their children’s future. They are also in charge of making purchasing decisions and determinations of how the home operates. They are on the front lines of changing they way we do things.

(Oprah has done a show or two in the past that touched on the topic, but lacked the kind of meaningful connection and powerful messaging to really make that notorious Oprah bond with her viewers).

….. Anyone got Oprah’s ear?
(We really do have more to worry about that our bulging waistlines)

By: jtberman

jtberman — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:31:21 +0000

Joseph – do you think you could get on the show? Or get Al Gore to do one show a month where people get updated on the latest science and policy and where some of the exciting new developments are profiled! As far as I know, Oprah has only done two shows on global warming – one with Leo DeCaprio and one with Al Gore.

By: Roger

Roger — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:27:14 +0000

Approaches to weight gain are like approaches to climate change. “Oh, so what if I eat this today; I can diet tomarrow.” And with the climate, “Oh, if this really gets to be a problem, we can deal with it then.” Yeah, until it’s too late, that is. The obese person dies of a premature heart attack. The earth’s atmosphere is overcome with a runaway greenhouse effect. People are too tuned to instant gratification and fail to consider the long-term effects of their actions. We’ve become a passive society who sits and eats and watches dumb shows on TV; where’s the spunk that created the protests for civil rights, woman’s sufferage, anti-slavery, and the Vietnam War?

By: bc

bc — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:09:10 +0000

Oprah’s been late to the issue, but she did do an episode of her show with Al Gore on climate. This just shows how specialists need to carefully communicate with the general public, as everything will be reinterpreted by often well-meaning generalists (or in this case, lifestyle magazine editors) who just don’t have a full grasp of the issue and will put it in their own frame of reference to sell their own point.

And there’s always going to be the folks who say you can help with climate by bringing your shopping bag to the store. It’s not false, it doesn’t get to the heart of the solution, but might just get somebody hooked on doing something. That’s how I started 17 years ago.

By: cari from ditch diets live light

cari from ditch diets live light — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:11:04 +0000

Hey, I’ve got on idea…. maybe we could invent little energy storing panels that not only capture the sun, but also the wind and energy we create while walking that we then sell back to the National grid. Sure would give us something new to focus on instead of trudging along thinking what a bore and a chore walking is, we could be striding out challenging ourselves to see how much green power we can generate with each month.

By: jorleh

jorleh — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 07:04:02 +0000

Your Oprah seems to be a madam with average brains, we must read this kind of stuff overall.

In the town of Utsjoki there was 6,3 degrees C warm last night. Utsjoki is situated on the beach of Arctic Sea.

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 06:24:00 +0000

well I’d be much more inclined to walk somewhere if there wasn’t 2 feet of snow and ice on the ground. Conveniently enough global warming will be taking care of that little snow and ice problem and I’ll be getting in great shape any day now.

By: Michele M.

Michele M. — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:01:35 +0000

Fitness groups, bootcamps, and other “get in shape” programs should utilize some of the human energy spent working off unnescessary flab in mindless gym workouts and redirect it in an organized effort to replant and reforest local sites. Urban and suburban “enviro-bootcamps” could spring up everywhere; the cost of participation would include a few saplings and the means to plant them. Urban dwellers could plant rooftop gardens or other eco-sensitive projects. Too much energy is created by overeating, only to be burned off in a (high carbon footprint) gym. Let’s harness (or create) some human muscle and put it to good use.