"Sure - the gas company's in it for the environment - that's like a hooker saying she loves you for you," said Laughing Liberally comedian Lee Camp.
Downstairs from the floating burlesque show at The Tank, the social activist organization Living Liberally teamed up with NYU's Earth Matters environmental club to present an evening of ecofriendly entertainment. The event aimed to put the "social" back into socially-responsible as part of the ongoing Earth Week festivities and included the Living Liberally subgroups Laughing Liberally, Eating Liberally and Screening Liberally.
Living Liberally's national program associate Josh Bolotsky said that the evening was one example of how the organization attempts to encourage people to lead progressive lifestyles and "try to get people involved in social activism and reform through social settings."
Anchored by a screening of "Everything's Cool," the event was NYU's first collaboration with the "Liberallys." The feature is a documentary about closing the gap between scientific knowledge and popular understanding of the climate crisis, in the film's own terms, tracing "the seismic shift in what the public comprehends about climate change."
According to Earth Matters secretary and film coordinator CAS sophomore Alex Neinast, the NYU club was contacted by Screening Liberally about cohosting the event and showcasing the documentary at an Earth Week film screening.
"As long as there was seemingly disagreement on the issue, the public didn't see the need to bother," the film's narrator said, spelling out a key initial problem facing the environmental lobby.
But the "Liberally" organizations say they are out to help promote awareness and conscientious action to deal with the world's considerable climate change. On his recent trip to America, even the pope discussed environmentalism, labeling littering as a sin.
Comedian Harry Terjanian opened the evening with Camp and noted the progression in social thought this represented.
"I never thought I'd agree with the Pope on something, let alone my political issues," Terjanian said. "I mean, since when have Catholics been wrong? What, with astronomy and evolution and all ..."
"Tonight represents a great cross-pollination to bring all the Liberallys together and involve NYU," said Kerry Trueman, co-founder of Eating Liberally.
Trueman's organizational materials declare, "Free Yourself From the Fossil Fuel Food Chain," and the event provided eco-inspired dishes like Greenhouse Gaspacho and Pasta Low Carbonara.
Eating Liberally co-founder Matt Rosenberg summed up the evening and his organization by saying, "You vote with your fork."
At last night's screening, the Liberallys and Earth Matters attempted to show participants that they hoped that people would also make use of their eyes and their laughter, too.
Hilary Tuttle is a staff writer. E-mail her at campus@nyunews.com.
