GreenLight Zine: Promoting Sustainability through Youth Empowerment
By Erin J., BackTalk Team
In the past five years, environmentalism has taken mainstream America by storm. The words "eco-friendly" and "green" not only invoke images of tie-dye clad hippies, Ralph Nader, and food co-ops. Instead these words have evolved into something more glamorous; think Loomstate Jeans, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Whole Foods. Oberlin College graduate Lora DiFranco and her friend Emma Bishop noticed that in the process, the modern environmental movement was losing its focus. In 2007, they created GreenLight Zine as a resource for Cleveland area young adults to discuss sustainability without the fluff. In addition, Emma and Lora also speak at local high schools about environmental awareness. I recently talked with Lora to discuss GreenLight and her views on environmental issues.
Why did you start GreenLight Zine?
I started GreenLight with my friend Emma after reading an article about how the sustainability movement was turning into more of a fashion statement than making a real difference for the environment. So we decided to make a zine about how to make a real difference without spending a lot of money.
What is your target audience?
Our target audience includes everyone from high school students to people in their mid-twenties. In addition to sustainability, GreenLight also aims to focus on cool things going on in the Greater Cleveland area so that young people can feel more connected to this city.
Overall, do you think that youth are taking environmental issues seriously?
Yeah, totally. I think that young people realize that it's an important issue, but it can be really overwhelming so people might not know where to start. That's where we come in!
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue that we face?
I think global warming is an issue that encompasses a lot of smaller issues that we need to face: everything from where we get our food to the cars we drive to where we get our energy. The interesting thing is that environmental issues are never just about the environment. They impact humans and our health, especially in low-income communities.
Do you think that President Obama will effectively address environmental issues?
Obama is definitely going to be an improvement over the Bush administration, but I think he still needs to be pushed by citizens to make all of the changes that are necessary for a sustainable society.
I noticed that GreenLight Zine is described as a " DIY environmental punk resource." How do you see punk rock music as a voice for youth and the environmental movement?
Punk music and culture has always been seen as a safe-space for alternative thinking. You might not see it on MTV or Rolling Stone, but punk can be music with a message.
Where is GreenLight sold and how can people get involved with the zine?
Mac's Backs on Coventry (Cleveland Heights) has a few copies, but you can also buy it through our Etsy page: loralovesohio.etsy.com. We also attend a lot of local concerts where we sell the zine along with band merchandise.
Describe GreenLight Zine in three words.
Informative, independent, community.
Also, check out Lora's interview with Think MTV: