Is the Green Dream really just a dream?
More and more, I’m beginning to feel that this is not the case!
In 2008, O.A.R. launched this new program, The Green Dream, to accompany our summer tour. We called it the Green Dream, as it was a hope as much as it was a goal, to help inspire people who were a part of our audience to live with an environmentally-friendly mindset, and of course green our concerts. We felt that providing recycling options on tour would show how important this was to us as a band, and individuals. Even more, we sought to show how effective it could be to do this ourselves, as some venues at this time had no recycling initiatives in place. The thinking was that maybe we could even influence these venues we performed at to become more green. Well, with a little elbow grease, many thanks to Anthony Patterson at Red Light Management, a rack of volunteers, and some expert advice/guidance from SAIC, Reverb, the E.P.A., and GBB (my Dad’s company), we were able to get this program off the ground.
Last year, we faced a fair share of difficulties but that wouldn’t deter us. We knew anytime you start something new, you hit snags, however we believed that any green activities were better than none. Engaging our audience with the program proved to be worthwhile; a supporter won our art contest helping us brand the Green Dream. Also, many fans came out to volunteer at the concerts, helping us deal with the waste, diverting it from the trash to recycling centers all over the country. Collectively, throughout summer 2008, we were able to account for almost one ton of recyclables. This effort did not go unnoticed (in case you didn’t notice); we actually won an award from the EPA for this; the Environmental Quality Award.
This year, we are Powered by SAIC. They have brought real sponsorship dollars, manpower, and professional assistance to the table to make this program happen. We’ve recycled our recycling containers from last year (so you can recycle at all of our summer concerts again). We now have a dedicated employee, Erik Grosfeld, coordinating the many individuals who are volunteering and ‘greening’ our tour. Look for Erik and our GD volunteers at our Green Dream Eco-Village, where you can receive awareness information about greening, and also win signed O.A.R. memorabilia!
Now the fun part…I get to tell you a little bit about this year’s experience and the evolution of our program. We’ve had good, great and disappointing moments so far. The great were very enjoyable, the good were good, and the disappointing proved to be obstacles to overcome and learn from.
The high point, for me so far, was in Bonner Springs, Kansas. The venue, Sandstone Amphitheatre, was so environmentally friendly it made me realize there are those who always must lead, and those who must follow. Our recycling containers were unnecessary in Bonner Springs, because the venue already provided them. The coolest thing they had were cups made of corn that were bio-degradable, instead of normal plastic, or non-recyclable materials, which still get used in many places we travel. They even went so far as to move their own to-be-sold products into one freezer, in order to save energy. Even more, the staff was accommodating and courteous to our program, so to them we say a BIG thank you!
One place we really had to overcome some obstacles was Columbus, Ohio at Lifestyles Community Pavilion. This venue did not have any recycling in-house. What’s up with that? What year is it? The weird thing is that all their products were recyclable? Running things this way is sure to change, as Erik and our volunteers set up our initiative and made it work. Recycling over 26 large bags of cups/materials was a sign of how much waste this place could be diverting from landfills at every event. Wake up Columbus!
Just want to point out that I am pointing fingers only to relay the message that there are people/places doing a lot in this world we live in, and then there are those that are making no effort. Hopefully this blog, and our program, will raise the bar for everyone without getting my band in any trouble for caring about our planet.
My favorite moment, relating to the Green Dream this tour, was when speaking with a young boy who volunteered with his mother. I asked him, “Why is recycling so important?” His answer, “Because if we don’t put the recyclables where they belong, they’ll go out to sea, with the trash, and the fish will get sick from them.” This speaks to so many issues, and shows that our youth are really becoming aware at an early age of the dangers our world faces. Hearing this made me realize that this mindset we seek to inspire in others is already there in so many! And some so young that there is hope for a better world with generations to come.
Go Green!
Benj Gershman
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