The Green Facts on Facebook's 10th Birthday

It has been a decade since the social media phenomenon known as Facebook first opened its doors. In that time Facebook has succumbed to public pressure from Greenpeace’s Unfriend Coal campaign and has been moving quickly in a more environmentally sustainable direction.

In addition to greener facilities Facebook hosts a vast assortment of Groups and Facebook pages related to green business, social entrepreneurs, and nonprofit activism.

Powerful New Tool Analyzes Website Sustainability

Mightybytes is a Chicago-based company that is working to help green the digital space. They are pioneers in the often overlooked area of digital sustainability. They have launched a free innovative web-based app called EcoGrader that helps companies to assess and improve the carbon footprints of their websites.

As a certified B Corporation and a three-star certified Eco-Andersonville green business, Mightybytes has sustainability woven into their DNA. They embrace an imperative for sustainability and apply that passion to their work, their office environment, and their personal lives. They are committed to making a social impact with their work and they are equally passionate about environmental stewardship.

Mightybytes helps organizations to solve communication, design, and technical problems, build online brands, create software-based business solutions, nurture and support customer communities, reach new targeted audiences and develop digital products that meet specific marketing goals.

Top 25 Sustainable Brands on Twitter

Here is Triple Pundit's list of 25 for-profit businesses who are using Twitter to support their advocacy of people, planet and profits.

1. @SCJgreenchoices: Daily tweets from SC Johnson’s Global Corporate Affairs, Communication & Sustainability team on environmental topics, tips & green choices.
2. @Unilever: Sharing new content and engaging topics like marketing, business strategy, results, and sustainable living.
3. @SustainableSAP: Tweeting general sustainability and CSR info, and news about SAP’s sustainability solutions/efforts.
4. @CiscoCSR: Sharing resources for nonprofits & NGOs as well as global corporate social responsibility news & updates from Cisco.
5. @WalMartGreen: WalMart believes that together, we will create a more sustainable world to help people live better. 6.

Sustainable Learning Online: UNESCO's Young Masters Programme

In 2011 UNESCO inaugurated a global online education programme for 16–18 year-old students to learn about sustainability issues and solutions. The Young Masters Programme (YMP) is a free global web-based education and learning network about sustainable development. The programme is open for secondary students and their teachers from all over the world.

Extensive on-line teaching material gives the students a thorough understanding of sustainability issues and preventive environmental strategies. The students can also put their knowledge into practical use by starting sustainability projects in their local community.

Free Online Education

Distance learning is part of a growing trend that makes it easier for people to learn online, often in very flexible formats that accommodate busy schedules. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) is amongst a number of educational institutions that are offering free education online. Others include Academic Earth, Khan Academy and the Open University (OU). These schools provide a number of courses in a great many different disciplines including those that relate to the environment.

On-Line Sustainability Training Opportunities from the SLC

The Sustainability Learning Centre's (SLC) new e-learning Sustainability Education Series has over 50, 15 minute modules that focus on Green Core Competencies. The 50 modules range from Sustainability Planning to Green Fleet and Supply Chain Management.  Each module is 15 minutes, self-directed and complete with “tests for understanding”.  Participants can gain recognition toward sustainability learning certification.

The University of Vermont's Advanced Certificates in Sustainability

The University of Vermont is now offering sustainability training that is designed to lead your organization to sustainability and profitability. The University of Vermont online sustainability certificate programs provide a flexible and convenient way for today’s organizations and busy professionals to learn the latest in sustainable operations models and maximize their current sustainability skills.

Success of #EndFossilFuelSubsidies Twitter Storm Directed at Rio+20

On Monday June 18, climate change activists used Twitter to send a message to end fossil fuel subsidies that has echoed around the world. People all over the planet understand that it's simply wrong to be spending tax dollars off to the richest industry in the world, an industry that's wrecking the atmosphere and endangering our shared future. The 24-hour "Twitter storm" garnered the support of hundreds of thousands of people and was the top ranked tweet of the day. According to the Guardian this was the top trending topic in the  US and second place globally while Topsy.com reported that it was the #1 story in the world. Politicians have also joined the storm, with messages streaming in from Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi in the US and former Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand.

India's GreenMela Website Business Resources

GreenMela is a new website that focuses on a panoply of green elements including green business. The site claims to be India'a No.1 green online platform. GreenMela aims to unlock India's green potential and help green to grow and grow clean.

Video: Introduction to 24 Hours of Reality

Between September 14th and 15th, the event 24 Hours of Reality saw people around the globe calling attention to the climate crisis and working to solve it. By the time former Vice President Al Gore finished his presentation on the evening of September 15th, the 24 hour long event had 8.6 million views.

24 Hours of Reality

This event is a 24-hour worldwide marathon all about the reality of the climate crisis. 24 Hours of Reality will be broadcast live online, over 24 hours, representing 24 time zones and 13 languages. The Climate Reality Project will host the live streaming event, which begins on September 13 at 8 p.m. EDT and ends at the same time on September 14.

Green Training Modules From Green Education Online

Green Education Online provides green educational modules for the adult learner. Here are 21 green training modules:

Cyber Monday 2010

In 2010, Cyber Monday takes place on November 29, and it is the biggest online shopping day of the year. On this day buyers are shopping online to take advantage of the deals offered on the web. This year a record breaking one billion dollars was spent online.

Online shopping is generally a greener way to shop, this is due to the fact that trucks can deliver goods efficiently and it takes a lot less energy to run a warehouse for boxes of goods than a mall.

According to a 2007 survey done by Conservation International, more than one-third of consumers indicated they will shop more online and in catalogs to save on gas.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) said that 70.1 million people plan to take advantage of 2010 Cyber Monday deals. The NRF also estimated that 88% of retailers will have special deals. Web retailers offer big discounts, free gift cards, and free shipping in order to entice buyers.

Even prior to Cyber Monday, online shopping was on the increase. On Thanksgiving Day, Paypal showed a 25% increase in 2010 over 2009, and this may be an indication of increases for 2010 Cyber Monday sales.

In the UK, online retailers are bullish about the run up to Christmas with sales estimated to rise to £6.4bn in December, according to IMRG, the e-commerce trade association. Last December, consumers spent £5.5bn online – itself a 17 per cent rise on the year before. The IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index for October revealed the highest October growth since pre-recession levels.

Chris Webster, head of retail consulting and technology at Capgemini said: “The market continues to grow ahead of our expectations and this is a crucial time for e-retailers to beat the competition by using innovative strategies and tactical promotions in the run up to Christmas. The web is consistently seen as the place to go for bargains and retailers with an online presence should use this to their advantage.”

Bjorn Kvarby, European Managing director of Shopping.com, said: “2010 is proving to be an incredible year for online shopping, as consumers begin to realize just how easy, time-efficient, and cost effective it is to find what they are looking for online.

"We’re already predicting overall growth for Shopping.com at 23 per cent for December 2010, year-on-year, and believe it’s going to be a bumper Christmas for the online retail market.”

To shop for products made by companies that manufacture greener products, seeThe Nature Conservancy's Green Gift Monday site, which is part of a campaign to turn Cyber Monday in a sustainable direction.


Related Posts
Cyber Monday 2010
Eco Cyber Monday (2009)
Online Consumers and E-Commerce: Holiday Season 2009 and Implications for 2010
Green Shopping on Black Friday
Social Capitalism
Creative Capitalism: Market-Based Social Change
Consumer Demand for Green
The Greening of Cyberspace
New Year's Resolutions for a More Sustainable World in 2010
Hope for the Holidays
The New Normal
The New Normal and Sustainability
The New Normal and Implications for Business
Carrotmobs: Adding Incentives to the Consumer Arsenal
The Future is Green
Green's Coming of Age
People Remain Loyal to Green Even in an Economic Downturn
Green Drivers
Green's Bottom Line: Staying Competitive in Volatile Economic Times
Green Stimulus and Free Markets
Creating a Sustainable Future
An Open Model of Innovation
Silencing Earth Day Critics

The Green Market's Green Schools Series

Each year since 2010 The Green Market Oracle has published an annual series of posts on various aspects of green schools. To see GMO's green school posts in 2016 click here. To see a comprehensive summary of green school information and resources (2010 - 2015) click here.  The following installment was the first and it was compiled over the course of late summer and early fall 2010. It includes detailed reports on sustainable academics and green school buildings.

Here are the 60 posts that comprise the 2010 edition:

Green Student Resources

Green Education Options
Environmental Toolkit
Green School Buildings

The Growth of Green Education

Green School Census
Green Memes and Schools
Green Schools are Bridging the Knowledge Gap
Sustainable Education is Key to Accessing the Green Economy
Green School Rejuvenates Dying Town
Green Buildings Combat Climate Change

Green Masters Degrees

Leading the Green Job Market with a Sustainable MBA
The University of Oregon's MBA and Green Chemistry
Marylhurst's MBA in Sustainable Business
MODUL University's Sustainable MSc

Green Doctorate Degrees

UBC`s PhD in Resource Management and Environmental Studies
Prescott College`s Ph.D in Sustainability
PhD in Innovation and Governance for Sustainable Development
Columbia University's PhD in Sustainable Development
Walden University's PhD in Sustainability Online Degree

Green Undergraduate Degrees and Classes

Commonground University's Online Environmental Classes
West Michigan's Green Academic Offerings
Ferrum College's Climate Research Opportunities
Arizona State University's Sustainable Business Curriculum
Arizona State University and Green Supply Chains
Penn State's Online B.A. in Energy and Sustainability Policy
IMD and WWF's Sustainable Business Program
WWF's One Planet Leaders Program
CleanEdison LEED Building and Design Courses
Ecovillages Environmental Study Program
The Green Business League Sustainability Officer Training

Greenest Schools

Sierra's Top 100 Cool Schools
The Princeton Review Green Colleges Honor Role 2010
America`s Greenest School Contest 2010

Primary and Secondary Schools

NYC Public School's Green Initiatives
LAUSD Green School Initiatives
Da Vinci Arts Middle School in Portland

Green Schools in China and Asia

China’s Green School Project
The University of Hong Kong's Sustainable Development
China Europe International Business School's Green Campus
Sustainable Education at South China Normal University
International Community Schools China on Green Buildings
Green School in India: Shoolini University
The Green School In Bali

Green School Buildings

Green School Buildings Health and Performance Benefits Part 1
Green School Buildings Health and Performance Benefits Part 2
Green School Buildings: The Many Benefits of Natural Lighting
Green School Buildings: The Many Benefits of Ventilation
The Future of Green School Buildings
Green Building Social Benefits
Green Building Environmental Benefits
Green Building Economic Benefits
The Implications of the Growth of Green Buildings
Top 10 Green Building Trends for 2010
CleanEdison Building and Design Courses
The Green Building Focus Conference and Expo
2010 Green Schools Summit Workshop & Conference
Environmental Revolution: Building and Operations
New York's Leed Certified Universities

Sustainability Officers

The Growth of Green School Sustainability Officers
AASHE Survey of Sustainability Positions in Higher Education
How to Become a Sustainability Officer

Related
GMO's Annual Green School Series Review of Posts in 2016
Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources 2010 - 2015