2008 Woodie Awards
Green Goblins stress going green
Jennifer Heimburg
Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: News
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In between a horde of all-terrain vehicles and a semi-truck of sorority members emerged an unlikely float: a gang of green-clad bicycle riders led by a plug-in hybrid car provided by the Physical Plant Center for Energy and Sustainability.
The Green Goblin Bicycle Brigade was Focus the Nation's contribution to the UCF Homecoming Parade Saturday morning. Instead of the usual truck or car transporting depictions of the Homecoming theme, FTN paraded 14-deep with an electric car, three on foot and 10 on bicycles.
Using the color green to represent sustainability, Focus the Nation joined the festivities to spread their message to a broad group of UCF students.
Parade-goers' responses to the bicycle brigade varied between screams of "I love fossil fuels!" and "I hunt baby ducklings!" to supportive shouts of "Go green!" and praise for being "the only positive message in the parade."
Parade regulations kept FTN's vision smaller than they hoped. They originally envisioned 30 to 40 bicycle riders plus a foot clan to pass out fliers and carry banners.
"I'm really glad we went out, even though we could only have 10 bikes," said Gabriela Othon, research specialist in the Office of Global Perspectives and staff adviser for Focus the Nation at UCF. "It shows that there is room for bikes in parades, and if there's room for bikes in parades, there's room for bikes on the road."
The bicycle brigade's intent was to enhance the presence of FTN on campus, get students involved in upcoming events and educate people that climate change is a shared problem that everyone can create solutions for, Othon said.
"We wanted to attract a different type of audience," said Natalia Paredes, a UCF alumna and event organizer for FTN. "Homecoming attracts a different crowd that we could reach out to."
Focus the Nation is a non-partisan, university-led mobilization to raise awareness of climate change and demand solutions. The group is the brainchild of Lewis and Clark College economics professor Eban Goodstein and their work will culminate in a nationwide summit on Jan. 31, 2008.
The Green Goblin Bicycle Brigade was Focus the Nation's contribution to the UCF Homecoming Parade Saturday morning. Instead of the usual truck or car transporting depictions of the Homecoming theme, FTN paraded 14-deep with an electric car, three on foot and 10 on bicycles.
Using the color green to represent sustainability, Focus the Nation joined the festivities to spread their message to a broad group of UCF students.
Parade-goers' responses to the bicycle brigade varied between screams of "I love fossil fuels!" and "I hunt baby ducklings!" to supportive shouts of "Go green!" and praise for being "the only positive message in the parade."
Parade regulations kept FTN's vision smaller than they hoped. They originally envisioned 30 to 40 bicycle riders plus a foot clan to pass out fliers and carry banners.
"I'm really glad we went out, even though we could only have 10 bikes," said Gabriela Othon, research specialist in the Office of Global Perspectives and staff adviser for Focus the Nation at UCF. "It shows that there is room for bikes in parades, and if there's room for bikes in parades, there's room for bikes on the road."
The bicycle brigade's intent was to enhance the presence of FTN on campus, get students involved in upcoming events and educate people that climate change is a shared problem that everyone can create solutions for, Othon said.
"We wanted to attract a different type of audience," said Natalia Paredes, a UCF alumna and event organizer for FTN. "Homecoming attracts a different crowd that we could reach out to."
Focus the Nation is a non-partisan, university-led mobilization to raise awareness of climate change and demand solutions. The group is the brainchild of Lewis and Clark College economics professor Eban Goodstein and their work will culminate in a nationwide summit on Jan. 31, 2008.