Global Inheritance - Misplaced Pages

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Global Inheritance is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles, California seeking to reinvent activism for today's young generation. The group taps the power of creativity to engage specific subcultures in pushing for social change without conflict. Founded in 2002 by Eric Ritz, Global Inheritance has specializes in reaching the youth audience to communicate on issues like environmentalism, sustainability, and nuclear proliferation. Because they tailor their work to each specific subculture and event individually, they have been uniquely successful in reaching their "Generation Y" audience.

The organization is especially known for their work in making major cultural events like Coachella, Stagecoach, and the X Games more environmentally friendly. They use a variety of programs from artist-designed recycling bins to carpool incentives and human-powered DJ booths to help events like these lower their environmental impact and to raise awareness among attendees.

Initiatives

Global Inheritance accomplishes its goals of promoting environmental sustainability and peaceful social action through a variety of projects. Since each one is tailored to the specific event and audience for maximum impact, there is a wide variety of projects. Below are some of the group's most popular or well-known initiatives.

TRASHed :: Art of Recycling

This program brings art and recycling together to inspire interest and bring new attention to the practice of recycling. Artists redesign recycling bins into eye-catching works that Global Inheritance places at events across the country. Coachella alone has gotten up to 110 of these bins, designed by artists who compete to have their work featured at the event. Past artists have included everyone from Hunter S. Thompson to Blink-182 and Fugazi.

TRASHed :: Recycling Store

The Recycling Store is another project that has been very successful at reducing the environmental footprints of events by encouraging people to help clean the grounds of recyclables. Much like tokens at an arcade, the store takes recyclable bottles and cans in exchange for prizes. These range from purses and t-shirts to skateboard decks and autographed memorabilia and can vary depending on the interests of the venue.

Tour Rider

Global Inheritance partered with Bill Silva Presents and Andy Hewitt to bring Tour Rider to LA's Hollywood Bowl. Concertgoers who took public transportation to the venue can stop by the Tour Rider booth to receive prizes in exchange for their environmentally friendly behavior. The Metro offers several options to get to the Bowl, including a direct connection to the Hollywood Bowl, making public transportation an even more convenient option. Prizes range from museum and event passes to environmentally friendly clothing and accessories. Recent and upcoming concerts that featured the Tour Rider program include Morrissey, John Mayer, Roger Waters, Kings of Leon, and many more. Tour Rider rewards concertgoers for helping the environment and decreasing congestion, which is especially valuable considering the famously bad traffic around the Hollywood Bowl.

Alternative Energy Fuel RC Racing

Energy FACTory

Global Warming Chess

Public Displays of Affection

In another combination of environmental sustainability and the arts, Global Inheritance partnered with bands and musicians to reward public transportation riders. The organization invites bands to play concerts at junctions in the city of Los Angeles that are easily accessible by public transport, and anyone with a Metro ticket or bus pass is admitted free of charge. The project aims to prove that public transportation is a viable alternative to LA's car culture. Past concerts have included Ladytron at Hollywood and Highland and the Secret Machines at Union Station.

Environmentaland

This pop-up theme park and environmental museum aimed to expose people of all ages to environmental issues and sustainable living through games, competitions, and interactive exhibits. Stationed in LA's Hollywood and Highland landmark in the summer and fall of 2009, Environmentaland is the first park of its kind. In addition to exploring the impact of global warming in desert mini golf and touring the eco-planetarium, visitors could participate in the energy playground, which featured equipment like a seesaw and Tour de Energy bicycles that generated power. Environmentaland also facilitated adventures in self-powered activities, like milkshakes made on bike-powered blenders and a hand-crank Pearl Jam listening station.. Environmentaland also featured numerous events throughout its existence. In one program, the Bigger Picture, the venue hosted a series of social activist documentaries.

History and Origins

Founded as "FashionPeace" in 2002, Global Inheritance was envisioned by Eric Ritz as "an NGO advertising agency for mother earth and the improvement of mankind." Ritz had been frustrated with other environmental organizations that could not connect with a broader audience, and wanted to see one that could connect with people from every walk of life. In addition, he wanted to tap the power of music and art to inspire people, rather than focusing strictly on money as others had in his experience. Ritz wanted an organization that would bridge the gap between environmental causes and everyday people, hoping to use creativity to spark an interest in the issues and inspire action.

The early organization partnered with clothing companies and designers to repuropose old clothing into designer outfits. Although that particular program is only one of many today, the spirit of using creativity to encourage and even glamorize living sustainably remains. Early partner companies included Diesel, Levis, Miss Sixty, American Apparel and more.

Soon, Ritz was traveling to events to install environmentally aware performance art like the Jiffy Pop tree at Coachella and more. By the summer of 2009, Global Inheritance was able to hire two paid employees for the first time, and today the group is run by a small staff and a cadre of interns and volunteers.

Today, Global Inheritance runs approximately 25-30 programs a year for a variety of festivals, events, and companies.

References

http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/04/08/trashed-coachella-recycling-bins-art/ http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-treehugger21jan21,0,1480961.story http://planetgreen.discovery.com/work-connect/global-inheritance-coachella.html http://www.coachella.com/updates/news http://www.greennexxus.com/gnx.aspx?name=tonic-themepark http://www.coachella.com/event/sustain http://www.dailybruin.com/articles/2009/10/19/eco-friendly-theme-park-comes-l/ http://liveearth.org/en/node/3257 http://liveearth.org/en/liveearthblog/coachella-get-on-the-train-with-global-inheritance http://liveearth.org/en/liveearthblog/coachella-continues-with-green-initiatives http://liveearth.org/en/liveearthblog/environmentaland-rewards-top-scores-each-day-with-festival-passes http://www.environmentalleader.com/2008/01/25/global-inheritance-marketing-green-to-gen-y/ http://www.wired.com/listening_post/2008/04/coachella-wants/ http://www.miller-mccune.com/science-environment/music-festivals-offering-a-greener-listening-experience-13562/ http://www.metro.net/news/Simple_PR/metro-052307/ http://disney.go.com/environmentality/xgames/summerxgames13/xrider.html http://www.causecast.org/news_items/9056-environmentaland-global-inheritances-eco-theme-park http://planetgreen.discovery.com/feature/instrumental/environmental-theme-park-oregon.html http://disney.go.com/environmentality/xgames/summerxgames13/trashed.html http://corporate.disney.go.com/environmentality/xgames_recycling_store.html http://www.treasureislandfestival.com/2009/greening.php http://www.juxtapoz.com/20326-preview-trashed-at-coachella