Another Earth Day has come and gone, passing with little public fanfare—much like Doughnut Day, which is observed on the first Friday of June. But this year was different and infuriating, according to columnist Catherine Ford. A self-important superstar captured media attention and made a mockery of the day, a mockery of conservation, concern, and climate change.
The Stunt That Overshadowed Earth Day
In Toronto, a giant installation of 3,500 ice blocks was staged by Drake, who announced the date of his newest album, titled Iceman, was frozen inside one of the blocks. The Toronto crowd went nuts, coming prepared to attack the ice and find the message. Earth Day in Toronto was overshadowed by official attempts to get rid of the ice installed in a downtown parking lot.
Ford writes: "Why would this bother me so much? Because the optics were so disorienting. The news wasn't about the real problems facing our world, but the river of water caused by the Toronto Fire Department's efforts to melt the ice." She points out that the flood of water was likely potable water from Toronto's taps.
A Waste of Precious Resources
The world is drying. Parts of countries, even countries themselves, are running out of water. And one celebrity believes it's a good stunt to dump a few tonnes of ice in downtown Toronto. The media flocked to the story, fans came armed with pickaxes and blowtorches, and half the city held its breath that no one would be injured.
Ford argues that the real furor should be saved for the flood washing over the pavement as the city's fire department—paid for by taxpayers—worked to melt the ice. She suggests sending the bill to Drake's management team.
The Sobering Reality of Earth Day
Earth Day is usually awash in somber opinions and analysis, and as each year passes, it gets more serious. Only the numb of heart and weak of brain fail to recognize that our world is changing. Fire, floods, and landslides across Canada have joined the Four Horsemen—Conquest, War, Famine, and Death—in slowly taking over the only planet at our disposal.
Ford concludes by questioning whether celebrities like Drake have no shame, no conscience, or live in a bubble of privilege, unaware of reality. The stunt, she says, hijacked the seriousness of Earth Day and turned attention away from the real problems facing our world.
