“A Cap on Carbon Will Solve America’s Oil Addiction: A Communications Competition”

The backs of three small children of various racial backgrounds stand together facing a carnival midway scene in front of them. On their left, an intricate, industrial-looking roller coaster ride is in full swing. It has two-person cars that resemble real vehicles hooked together in strings of four or five going along at various stages along the track. People in each of the cars have fear etched on their faces as they take the wild ride. At the uppermost points of the roller coaster track, smokestacks belch smoke and the sky above is grey and terrible. The ground below is sandy and barren. An oil derrick pumps out front.  An intense carnival barker beckons the children to come take this ugly ride. He holds up a “Ticket to Ride” in his right hand and the index finger of his left hand is up as if to say, you just need one of these to ride.  The roller coaster dwarfs the size of a Fun House decorated with a red, white and blue theme over on the right-hand side of the scene. The Fun House has trees and flowers around it. There are just a few smokestacks rising from the back of the Fun House, but the smoke emitted is much less than what is coming out of the roller coaster ride, and it makes pleasant clouds.  A smiling, relaxed Uncle Sam character greets the children with open arms. The archway over the entrance to the Fun House reads “Freedom.”  The tagline below the children reads, “Free the Future. Cap Carbon Emissions.”