The People's Lobby

From the folks who brought you "The Story of Stuff" a few years back comes a new video—just in time for the international climate talks set to convene in Copenhagen next week. Called The Story of Cap & Trade, the 9-minute, animated video was made in partnership with Climate Justice Now!—an alliance of more than 160 environmental organizations that want to give people outside congressional hearing rooms a thorough grounding on the approach that many international leaders are mulling as a way to reduce carbon emissions worldwide.

The filmakers' goal: an informed citizenry is one that can act/decide/challenge. And in this case? The film's backers want to crowd-source some public opposition, on the belief that complex "cap and trade" schemes create more political bluster than solution.

You may or may not agree or even like the video, but it will give you a better sense of one of the core issues to be discussed in Copenhagen. And at the very least? Story of Cap & Trade is just the latest example of a rising Web trend: viral "story briefing" videos about issues being put before governmental leaders to decide—a kind of 21st century lobbying technique that combines the power of stories with the vast reach of social networks wired to the Web.

Have a look:

The Story of Cap & Trade from Story of Stuff Project on Vimeo.

(Illustration by istock.com)