I’ve found that in recent weeks I’ve tended to write about very heavy topics when it comes to enviromental issues. The reality is I should be doing just that as raising awareness for some of the bigger challenges that exist seems to be a never ending quest. Just for tonight I thought I’d focus on something a little less intense and not just as an excuse to show women in bikinis!

The bracelet made from recycled flip-flops as I mentioned.....

The NFL of course holds huge marketing appeal in addition to managing the football league itself and part of the multi-million dollar advertising attack revolves around the official cheerleader squads that are associated with each franchise. The Philadelphia Eagles like all teams (I think?) have their own cheerleaders who are making an environmental statement by building a theme on their new official calendar ‘Saving The Oceans‘. The calendar is released this week and to celebrate that the entire squad will be getting their hands dirty and pulling assorted trash and debris from the banks of the Delaware River in Philadelphia this evening. It’s supposed to be in nearly 100f when the event begins so a muddy river bank in Philadelphia will not be the ideal place to be. Volunteers are encouraged to join and they hope turnout will be high to help promote the launch of the new calendar.

Each member of the team will be wearing T-Shirts emblazoned with “There Is No Planet B” as they take time to pull refuse from the river. The goal is to removed 300lbs of trash that would otherwise follow the river down to the Atlantic Ocean, an honourable effort which is symbolic of the work needed on rivers and streams everywhere. Oceanic pollution is not being curtailed anywhere near as aggressively as changes to air quality, whether its because so much of the impact occurs hundreds of miles offshore or is perceived as harder to measure and resolve is unclear. The cheerleaders are not new to raising eco-awareness as they have had ‘eco-sexy’ photo-shoots for the last few seasons; featuring bikinis and accessories made from a variety or recycled material. In the most recent photo-shoot a cheerleader wears a bracelet made from flip flips that had washed up on a beach. Another bikini being worn has been constructed from recycled nylon fishing nets.

The effort does more than increase awareness this year as 10% of proceeds will be directly donated to the Gulf Restoration Network, who are working frantically to reduce the impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster. The calendar will be launched towards the end of next week and you can secure your copy via their website.

For more information about the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders Calendar and eco-event click here.

For information about ordering the 2010/11 calendar please click here.

To visit the Gulf Restoration Network site or donate please click here.