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In case you haven't heard, Zombieland, the much-anticipated "post-apocalyptic zombie comedy," opens in theaters tomorrow. Starring Woody Harrelson and rumored to feature a cameo by Bill Murray, the film promises to be a box office hit this fall.
Zombies, along with pirates and pop stars, form a solid cornerstone of American pop-culture. In a few ways, they are also green-living role models. They are supreme examples of a reuse-driven lifestyle. Also, they eschew cars and walk (lumber, really) everywhere they need to go. Zombie's environmentalism, unfortunately, ends there.
With their insatiable appetite for living flesh, zombies don't win points with vegetarians and all the mindless wandering, while carbon-friendly, doesn't leave much time to campaign for bigger issues like fighting climate change. Indeed, zombies may be fun in movies but they are not very useful for environmentalists.
At least they weren't, until now.
Introducing the Zombie Walk
A zombie walk is an organized gathering of people dressed in zombie costumes. Once assembled, the zombie mob begins walking towards some predetermined destination. It's a lot of fun but it can accomplish a lot of good, too.
Zombie Walks for Climate Change
Socially conscious organizers have used their zombie walks to promote blood drives, collect food, and raise money for a variety of causes. Most charity-focused zombie events have played to the characteristics of the walking dead: obtaining blood, satiating hunger, and so on. It makes sense but it doesn't mean that these are the only possible issues a zombie walk can address.
Organize your zombies to march to the local recycling center, collecting cans, bottles and cardboard along the way. Order them to march to a local park to donate money raised to plant trees and expand local green space. Lead them to the Capitol to present a petition calling for an increased gas tax or a cap-and-trade bill.
After all, if nothing is done to stop climate change, we will all be in danger of becoming walking dead.
