Greenpeace Campaign is Asking Facebook to Unfriend Coal and Befriend Renewable Energy

Greenpeace has been peacefully defending the planet since 1971, now they are asking Facebook to unfriend coal by Earth Day on April 22, 2011.

Greenpeace has played a pivotal role in huge environment victories including:

- Commercial whaling moratorium
- Ban on toxic waste exports to less developed countries
- Bans on dumping radioactive and industrial waste at sea
- 50-year moratorium on mineral exploitation in Antarctica
- An end to large-scale high-sea driftnet fishing
- Establishment of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary
- Ban on all nuclear weapons testing

Today, the fight to save the planet has grown more serious than ever. The threat of global warming, destruction of ancient forests, deterioration of our oceans, and the threat of a nuclear disaster loom large. Greenpeace is actively working to address these and other threats.

Greenpeace's newest campaign is encouraging Facebook to drop coal and commit to 100 percent renewable energy, cutting its carbon footprint and helping in the struggle to prevent catastrophic climate change.

Facebook announced in February 2010 that it is building a massive data centre in Oregon, using the latest energy efficient computers. But the Facebook data center will run on electricity made by burning coal which is the dirtiest source of energy and largest single source of global warming pollution in the world.

Greenpeace wants Facebook to run their massive data-centres on renewable energy, and ‘Unfriend’ dirty coal and dangerous nuclear. Greenpeace also wants to see Facebook be a climate leader and push for strong clean energy and climate policies in the US and around the world.

According to Greenpeace, Facebook uses about 55 percent coal power while Google uses 34 percent and Yahoo uses just 12.7 percent.

Join others in demanding that Facebook commit to stop using coal and choose renewable power for all its servers as soon as possible.

To support this campaign, join Greenpeace's Facebook group and help Greenpeace to get the social networking website to go green. You can also share this post on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites.

Greenpeace is also trying set a Guinness World Record by getting more than 50,000 comments for Renewable Energy in 24hrs on April 13, 2011. Add your comment by simply following the steps below:

1. To comment on this post you must first ‘Like’ Greenpeace's Unfriend Coal Facebook page.

2. Click here to leave comments for Facebook staff, in support of renewable energy.

3. Repeat! You can comment more than once - it is still counted in the record attempt!

4. Share this note on your profile to spread the word among your friends!

Greenpeace is displaying your comments today directly outside FB headquarters in California. The best 50 commenters worldwide will get a ‘Facebook Unfriend Coal t-shirts. For more information on this campaign click here.

UPDATE

Greenpeace International has succeeded in setting a world record for getting the highest number of comments on one of its Facebook pages in a single day. According to an email blast to subscribers/members, the world record consists of no less than 80,000 comments in at least 11 different languages on the Facebook Unfriend Coal page. The initial target of 50, 000 comments was met just 11 hours after the call for posting comments on the page was sent out to members.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Zotos Earns a Place on the EPA’s Top 20 On-Site Power Generation List

Many expect to see names like Walmart and the US Airforce on the EPA’s Top 20 On-Site Generation List, but lesser known companies like Zotos, (a manufacturer of hair care products), are also earning recognition for their sustainable energy efforts.

According to the American Wind Energy Association, the Zotos Wind Project is considered to be one of the top on-site wind projects currently being undertaken by a manufacturing company in the US.

“It was a sizable investment to purchase the wind turbines, but it was a small price to pay when compared to the major benefits it creates for the community of Geneva, NY, and our environment,” says Anthony Perdigao, Zotos Chief Sustainability Officer.

With approximately 6.5 million kWh of electricity produced annually, the Zotos wind turbines will provide more than 50 percent of organization’s energy requirements and are expected to reduce overall CO2 emissions by 50 percent in 2011. Zotos’ energy goal is to utilize 100 percent renewable energy by 2012.

To learn more about the efforts of Zotos International, speak with the company's Chief Sustainability Officer Anthony Perdigao.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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EPA’s Top 20 On-Site Power Generation List

EPA’s Top 20 On-Site Power Generation List

The Top 20 On-site Generation List represents those partners generating and consuming the most green power on-site within the Green Power Partnership. The combined on-site green power consumption of these organizations amounts to more than 618 million kilowatt-hours of green power annually, which is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power nearly 54,000 average American homes each year.

This list represents those partners generating and consuming the most green power on-site within the Green Power Partnership. (Purchase figures are based on annualized Partner contract amounts (kilowatt-hours), not calendar year totals. These rankings are updated on a quarterly schedule):

1. Kimberly-Clark Corporation
2. City of San Diego, CA
3. U.S. Air Force
4. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. / California and Texas Facilities.
5. BMW Manufacturing Co. / Greer, SC Facilities
6. City of San Jose, CA
7. Nassau County, NY
8. SC Johnson & Son
9. City of San Francisco, CA
10. Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
11. City of Portland, OR
12. Kohl's Department Stores
13. City of Ann Arbor, MI
14. Macy's, Inc. / California and Hawaii Stores
15. Encina Wastewater Authority
16. City of Tulare, CA / Wastewater Treatment Plant
17. University of Iowa
18. Zotos International
19. Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
20. Safeway Inc.

The Green Power Partnership works with a wide variety of leading organizations — from Fortune 500 companies to local, state and federal governments, and a growing number of colleges and universities.

These green power purchases help reduce the environmental impacts of electricity use and support the development of new renewable generation capacity nationwide. Purchase amounts reflect U.S. operations only and are sourced from US based green power resources. Organizations can meet EPA purchase requirements using any combination of three different product options:

(1) Renewable Energy Certificates.
(2) On-site generation.
(3) Utility green power products.

Find out how your organization can partner with EPA.

Here are EPA links to some of the leading green energy organizations in the US by category:

Current and Past Partner Lists
National Top 50
100% Purchasers
Top 20 Retail
Fortune 500
Top 10 Federal Government
Top 20 Local Government
Top 20 College & University
Top 20 Printers
Top 20 On-site Generation
Top 20 K-12 Schools

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Leadnow's Declaration For Change

Leadnow.ca wants to help Canadians move beyond today's political division and short-term thinking, and get to work on the shared challenges of our time. Across geographies and generations, in local communities and online, thousands of Canadians are coming together to create a new kind of politics.

Based on more than 80 local gatherings across the country and an online engagement initiative, Leadnow has issued a “declaration for change," a call for politicians across the political spectrum to co-operate for progress on some of the major challenges facing Canada.

The declaration for change, calls for political cooperation to build a stronger democracy that protects te environment and creates economic opportunity. It also calls for equality, and guarantees that everyone receives the care they need.

Those who sign the declaration of change commit to support action and vote for the politicians who will:

-Establish climate legislation to meet international and science-based targets
-Invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency and home retrofits
-End subsidies to fossil fuel companies

-Establish a plan with clear targets to reduce poverty and provide affordable housing
-Improve access to high quality post-secondary education and reduce student debt
-Ensure access to affordable quality child care and early childhood education

-Create an open government plan to increase transparency and accountability
-Initiate a citizen-led process for a referendum on electoral reform
-Make it easier for people to participate directly in government decision-making

-Ensure universal access to high quality and publicly administered health care
-Invest in programs that prevent illness and promote wellness
-Create a national strategy to increase mental health support

Leadnow is providing Canadians with information, analysis and tools to ask politicians whether they support these priorities, what measures they would take to give them life, and how they would pay for them.

Click here to sign the Declaration for Change.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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The Environmental and Economic Implications of a Government Shutdown

On Friday April 8, 2011, Republicans came within minutes of shutting down the federal government. A federal government shutdown would have directly affected the economy and the environment. Although lawmakers would have continued to get a paycheck, 800,000 federal workers would not, this includes government officials charged with the responsibility of protecting the environment.

According to CNN, 368 National Park Service sites were closed during the last government shutdown which lasted 21 days and prevented 7 million people from being able to visit US national parks. A government shutdown would have had an adverse economic impact in states across America. As reported on Yahoo! News, states like Indiana, would have closed three national parks and 30 national natural landmarks, deterring 2 million visitors with an annual spend of more than $51 million.

A government shutdown also has very serious economic implications beyond important tourist dollars. As reported in the New York Times, The last shutdown shaved a full percentage point off the nation's productivity.

An April 8, 2011 a Grist article by Christopher Mims reviewed several ways the environment would be harmed by a Republican shutdown of government.

A shutdown would have been very disruptive to everything from small business to renewable energy. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a memo, "For the American people, a shutdown of the Department of the Interior's services would disrupt everything from family vacations and small businesses that rely on tourism to renewable energy projects.”

Important environmental cleanups would have been abandoned and hazardous sites including mines, oil and gas production facilities, dams, aqueducts, nuclear power plants, would have gone without inspection. The Washington Post reported that toxic waste cleanup work was halted during the last shutdown. 609 sites reportedly stopped their cleanup projects, and 2,400 Superfund workers were furloughed.

Almost 18,000 EPA employees would have been furloughed and their cleanup activities would have been suspended. Climate research including NASA, NOAA, NSF would have shut down which would have in turn hurt contractors, and small firms that provide goods and services to these scientific research organizations.

National Parks would have been shutdown and protection of natural areas would have lapsed leaving these lands vulnerable to poachers and polluters. The last time there was a government shutdown there were also serious problems at national zoos across the country.

On the bright side, if Republicans had succeeded in shutting down government, it would have given the Democrats an opportunity to stand up against some of the Republicans' most egregious cost cutting efforts including attempts to strip the EPA of many of its key regulatory powers.

While a government shutdown was narrowly averted, we can expect to see another showdown over the 2012 budget. The cuts Republicans seek in environmental oversight would harm the planet and the health of Americans. The cuts Republicans seek in education and other programs would undermine the future competitiveness of the American economy. Republicans continue to put their party interest ahead of national interest.

Republican's cost cutting tenacity is proof of the Tea Party's influence, and as they move ever further to the right of center they are abandoning any hope for functional government.

America may have dodged a bullet this time, but Republican obstructionism does not bode well for the looming 2012 budget. With high unemployment and a fragile economy, this is a very bad time for Republicans to pull the plug on government.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Republican's Fail in their Bid to Defund the EPA

The President and the Democrats managed to stave off a government shutdown as well as exclude some far flung Republican riders like the one that called for the defunding of the EPA.

Despite major concessions from Democrats, Republicans came within minutes of shutting down government on Friday April 8, 2011.

In a statement shortly after the budget agreement was reached, Obama called it “the largest annual spending cut in our history.” Discretionary spending for the rest of FY 2011 is nearly $39 billion less than had been budgeted for the previous year and $79 billion less than Obama had wanted for 2011.

Riders that were defeated include the Republican's controversial attempts to eliminate federal funds for the EPA's regulation of greenhouse gases linked to global climate change. One of the riders that did make it through prevents the use of federal or local funds to pay for abortion services in the District of Columbia.

A rider, also known as 'pork,' is an attachment that is added to a document in order to modify it. However, the Republicans use riders to add entirely new, unrelated laws. These riders reveal much about the Republicans political agenda. Republicans attempted to introduce unpopular fiscal changes that would otherwise have attracted public protest. Republican riders were a blatant attempt to sneak through unpopular measures like the elimination of abortion funding.

“Some of the cuts we agreed to will be painful. Programs people rely on will be cut back. Needed infrastructure projects will be delayed. And I would not have made these cuts in better circumstances,” he said. “But beginning to live within our means is the only way to protect those investments that will help America compete for new jobs – investments in our kids’ education and student loans; in clean energy and life-saving medical research. We protected the investments we need to win the future.”

“In the end, Boehner got far more than he gave up, and far more than Obama, [Senate Majority Leader Harry] Reid and the Democrats were initially willing to offer,” write John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman at Politico.com. “It sets the stage for a stronger hand for Boehner as he enters politically perilous fights to raise the debt ceiling and pass 2012 spending bills.”

While Obama wants to protect investments that America needs to "win the future," Republicans can be expected to doggedly pursue cost cutting in an effort to pander to their base.

The fight over this bill is tangible proof of the tea party's far-right influence on the Republican party. This does not bode well for the real showdown looming over the budget for 2012. While a government shutdown may have been avoided this time, it may prove unavoidable in the next couple of months.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Video: Leadnow Interview on CPAC

In this March 3rd 2011 interview, Leadnow co-founders Jamie Biggar and Adam Shedletzsky appear on CPAC's Prime Time Politics. As discussed in the interview, young people are increasingly apolitical, but Leadnow wants to put the power of social media to work to encourage young voters to exercise their democratic rights. Although Leadnow is a nonpartisan organization, their efforts could significantly change the political landscape. As Chantal Hébert, said in Le Devoir, on april 4, 2011, "In Canada, the current Conservative Party would have much less chance of coming back to power and almost no chance of winning a majority if the youngest portion of the electorate voted in large numbers on May 2."

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Leadnow: Voting for Change in Canada

To help auger political change in Canada, Jamie Biggar and Adam Shedletzky are spearheading a new organization called Leadnow. The duo was inspired by Canadian national elections scheduled for May 2, 2011. They are seeking greater political involvment from Canadians. With the ruling Conservative government failing to heed the views of Canadians on issues like climate change, the need for change in Ottawa is urgent.

Leadnow is a grassroots movement that seeks to bring Canadians together to hold politicians accountable and take action for a cleaner future. Leadnow is Canada’s embryonic answer to Moveon.org, the US site that helped put Barack Obama in the White House in 2008.

In Leadnow's online surveys, thousands of Canadians are ranking the environment as the issue they most care about. According to these surveys the environmental issues that are most pressing to Canadians include:

-Establishing climate legislation to meet international and science-based targets
-Putting a price on global warming pollution
-Ending subsidies to fossil fuel companies
-Investing in renewable energy, energy efficiency and home retrofits
-Investing in creating sustainable economies in resource dependent communities
-Investing in public transportation and rail networks
-Protecting half of Canada's wild land and ocean areas

Using the revolutionary power of social media, the non-partisan site leadnow fights against voter apathy and generates debate about national values. At their site, users can rank policy issues, then pledge support to the party leader who conforms to the values of Canadians.

According to Leadnow, it's time to work together for change to combat toxic politics and divisions that are holding Canada back and hurting Canadians and the planet.

According to former Clerk of the Privy Council Alex Himelfarb, Leadnow.ca is exactly what Canada needs. “Leadnow addresses what has arguably been an infrastructure deficit: they provide the much needed opportunity to work with others from every region and sector of the country, to influence the political agenda by defining the Canada we want based on environmental stewardship, equality and justice," Himelfarb said.

“Our federal government is dividing us, damaging our democracy and failing to address the major challenges that face our country,” said Jamie Biggar, co-founder and Executive Director of Leadnow.ca. “Whether we’re talking about the lack of action for our environment, the unequal economic recovery, or the erosion of democratic values – this government is failing to take action on the issues that matter to Canadians. It’s time we work together for change.”

Canadians are coming together in support of political cooperation. Canadians are creating the Declaration for Change—a call for politicians to work together for progress on the major challenges facing our country.

A nationwide event took place from March 6-12, 2011, it was titled (Re)Generation: Voices for Canada. Canadians from across the country participated in face-to-face gatherings to discuss their hopes and ideas for their country and their future. Dozens of Canadian cities hosted events from coast to coast.

Through Leadnow, thousands of Canadians are sharing their values and ideas for Canada and politicians should take notice. The Declaration for Change has identified four major areas: reforming our democracy, protecting our environment, promoting equality and economic opportunity, and improving our systems of care. See the Declaration for Change online values survey.

Many of the people working with Leadnow.ca started organizing in the youth climate movement, and they have participated in many 350 events. They are excited because they know that if Canadians work together, they can change Canadian politics.

Leadnow is enriching Canada's democracy encouraging people to participate in a new kind of politics that asks people to lead. Click here to join the process online, share your views with politicians and see what Canadians want for Canada.

As explained by Jamie Biggar, "Our goal is to create a new way for Canadians to come together online to talk about their hopes and priorities for the country and create a really strong voice that's going to be heard in Ottawa. Today is the beginning of a new type of politics in Canada. We will no longer wait to be told who and what we should vote for. Leadnow.ca will enable people to take politics into their own hands - by coming together around shared values, and telling our politicians what they can do to earn our vote...We will be a united force in the next election, strengthening the voices of thousands of Canadians who want a different type of politics in Ottawa.”

See Leadnow on Facebook or follow them on Twitter. For more information, contact: Jamie Biggar, Co-Founder & Executive Director (jamie@leadnow.ca, 778-847-8205 - Vancouver) or Adam Shedletzky, Co-Founder (adam@leadnow.ca, 647-213-6591 - Toronto).

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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350.org and Business

Bill McKibben and 350.org have some ambitious plans to get the business community involved with efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. The business community is responsible for a large amount of the CO2 being pumped into the atmosphere, if we are to achieve necessary reductions business people have a critical role to play in shaping a more sustainable economy.

Many business people know that regulatory standards send clear market signals to investors and entrepreneurs about new opportunities. The current climate of uncertainty does not serve the business community. Numerous product innovations, clean energy investments and new service offerings will flow from a consistent EPA effort to regulate greenhouse emissions. As many states across America have demonstrated, policies that address greenhouse-gas emissions do not impair economic growth. To the contrary, they enhance it by attracting venture and institutional investors and new high technology and manufacturing companies.

In a conference call with Bill McKibben and the 350 team, The Green Market's Richard Matthews asked what 350.org is doing to help support the business community to combat climate change. Bill McKibben answered the question by saying, "it is really important to get businesses and business people involved that is why we are getting chambers of commerce involved." He went on to say, "capitalism is supposed to be innovative flexible and creative,[and] most business people are prepared to consider energy powered by the sun and the wind."

McKibben wants to get businesses to sign up to support efforts to combat climate change through a campaign that targets the US Chamber of Commerce. Rather than represent small businesses, the Chamber is actually a giant lobbying machine, spending more money to influence the political process than anyone else in Washington.

As indicated on the 350.org site, "The Chamber is controlled by big polluters, poisons politics with its dirty money and opposes every single effort to curb climate pollution."

As well known author and New York Times journalist Thomas Friedman said, "All shareholders should be asking CEOs why they still belong to the Chamber."

The Chamber has opposed every piece of legislation designed to slow the onset of global warming—in recent months it has tried to block the EPA from enforcing the Clean Air Act, arguing that global warming would be “on balance beneficial to humans” because fewer people would freeze to death and that in any event “populations can acclimatize to warmer climates via a range of range of behavioral, physiological, and technological adaptations.”

The US chamber of commerce spent 132 million dollars on lobbying in 2010. The Chamber gets more than half of its funding form 16 anonymous corporate donors. Of the companies that donated to the Chamber, $1 million came from the Fox Broadcasting Network. Fox host Glenn Beck urged his viewers to donate to the Chamber—and a US Chamber official called in to his program to thank him for his support.

Of the 32 million dollars the US Chamber of Commerce spent on the 2010 midterm election, 90 percent went to Republican candidates who are climate deniers.

Historically the Chamber has been on the wrong side of some major issues. They supported Joseph McCarthy in perpetuating the red scare, they also fought against American involvement in World War ll, civil rights, disabled rights and now clean air.

Local business chambers are increasingly at odds with the US Chamber. Local chambers of commerce have cut their ties in cities like Seattle, New York, and San Francisco as well as states like Florida, South Carolina, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Washington.

More than a thousand businesses have also abandoned the Chamber, they include a wide range of companies from small businesses to international corporations like Apple, Nike, Microsoft, Levi-Strauss, Best Buy, and General Electric. For a map of businesses who are saying that the US Chamber of Commerce does not speak for them click here.

When Nike relinquished its position on the Chamber's board of directors it said, "We fundamentally disagree with the US Chamber of Commerce on climate change." When Apple resigned their position on the Chamber's board of directors they released the following statement, "Apple supports regulating greenhouse gases, it is frustrating to find that the Chamber at odds with us in that effort." Click here for a complete list of statements from those who disagree with the US Chamber of Commerce.

For more information read Bill McKibben’s Huffington Post piece on the US Chamber “The Gang That Couldn’t Lobby Straight”

Its time to develop a national movement and strong political voice for sustainability-minded companies. Responsible and sustainability minded companies can play a major role in making the argument that emasculated regulatory agencies, corporate oil and gas subsidies and tax cuts for millionaires will neither generate jobs nor foster a competitive economy. Join 350.org in standing with small business owners, local chambers of commerce and people all over the country. Sign up to the 350 campaign to say, "The US Chamber of Commerce Doesn't Speak For Me."

Become part of the American Sustainable Business Council to help build a more vibrant, just and sustainable American economy or join the many other organizations that are working at the national, state and local level.

To find out more about what businesses can do click here. You can also start or join a local team and recruit local businesses to declare, “The US Chamber Doesn’t Speak For Me.”

See the facebook page for The US Chamber of Commerce Doesn't Speak For Me and post the following Tweet on Twitter The US Chamber Doesn't Speak For Me http://t.co/i7jbw0v.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Bill McKibben and the 350 Team's Global Strategies for 2011

Bill McKibben and the 350 team's conference call on April 3, 2011, involved organizers from all over the world including Brunei, Ghana, Sweden, Spain, England, the Maldives, Italy, Canada, India, Germany, Abu Dhabi, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Georgia, Burundi, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and South Africa. During this call, the 350.org team also shared their regional strategies for 2011.

Sarah Rifaat, the mideast coordinator based in Cairo, and the newest member of the 350.org team, said "this is a very exciting time for Egypt." The aspirations of the 350 team are truly global in scope. As Rifaat explained, "Everyone, no matter where they come from have common desires," she said in the conference call. She went on to say that this is an opportunity for more social movements to happen in Egypt and other countries in the Middle East and around the world.

In additon to the "Moving Planet" campaign, The 350 team has plans for various regions around the globe in 2011. Chaitanya Kumar from Hyderabad, India, described the 350 goal of putting pressure on governments. The South Asia 350 coordinator indicated that their goal is to encourage grassroots activism against coal fired power emissions as well as redefining development.

African initiatives will urge people to take to the streets. Due to the fact that Africa has some of the highest unemployment rates in the world, the emphasis will be on climate jobs and local significance of 350.org.

All regions including the Pacific and Europe are pushing for renewable energy laws and sustainable transportation.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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350.org: International Day of Climate Change Action Events350.org: International Day of Climate Action

Bill McKibbon and the 350 Team's "Moving Planet" Campaign

On April 3rd, 2011, Bill McKibben and the 350 team gave organizers advanced insight into the new campaign known as "Moving Planet" in a global conference call. As explained by McKibben, it is time to get moving because governments around the world have failed to take legislative action curtailing carbon dioxide (C02). this new day of global action scheduled for September 24, 2011.

The lack of climate change legislation in the US is the single biggest obstacle to global action. Mass action is required as a counter-force to the fossil fuel industry which is aggressively lobbying US lawmakers.

Bill McKibbon joined the conference call from his home in Vermont. Bill started by thanking everyone, he went on to say that he expects this year to be "the most exciting year yet," in global efforts to reign in climate change causing CO2.

The 350 team has organized some remarkable events over the last two years including last year's Global Work Party and a solid understanding of the science behind the number 350 as the upper safe limit for CO2.

This year's "Moving Planet" campaign emphasizes the need to be in motion, it asks people to move with purpose to deliver a global demand for action on climate change. For 24 hours on September 24th, people will be in motion with a common message designed to make things move in the fight against climate change.

A variety of low carbon transportation mediums will be used for this event including bicycles, skateboards and canoes. Whether you walk, run, cycle or ride, people are asked to move with purpose. The campaign will also explore the meaning of 350 in specific places all around the world.

This has got to be the year when we get that motion underway. The effort to engage the battle against climate change is the biggest fight we have ever faced and solidarity is extraordinarily important

As this is an advanced preview, the "Moving Planet" website is not yet up and running but it will be up in a couple of weeks, at which point everyone can sign up for the 2011 campaign.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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The Next Big Thing from Bill McKibben and the 350.org Team

On Sunday, April 3rd, 2011, The Green Market's Richard Matthews joined Bill McKibben and the 350 team in a global organizing conference call. During this hour long call, Bill McKibben and the 350 team shared their biggest, most ambitious plan yet, the next big idea for the climate movement in 2011.

The 350.org team has organized some extraordinary things in the last couple of years including The International Day of Climate Action in 2009, which CNN called "the most widespread day of political action the world has ever seen" and last year's 10/10/10 event.

350 is an independent non-profit global movement that derives its name from the upper safe limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Scientists say that 350 parts per million (ppm), is the number humanity needs to get below as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. 350's goal is to spread a scientific understanding of the climate crisis and a shared vision for equitable solutions.

The "Next Big Thing" will take this movement to the next level. This event calls for an unprecedented wave of climate action that includes a clear set of ambitious demands.

To become part of the movement, visit www.350.org/signup, become a fan of 350.org on facebook.com/350org and follow them on twitter by visiting twitter.com/350.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Green California Summit Education Program

The largest conference devoted to green government, the Green California Summit & Exposition is coming up on April 19 & 20 (pre-summit workshops on April 18) at the Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento, California. The general session, keynotes and the exhibit hall with over 200 vendors are free.

The Green Market is a media sponsor for the event and our readers qualify for a 20% discount on the entire Summit which includes the education program.

The world watches California’s strategies, from green economic development at the local level, to the new CalGreen building code which is now mandatory, to a wide range of vital green initiatives. The Summit provides the unique opportunity for those in government, education, non-profit and the private sector to exchange ideas and to learn together.

Keynotes and featured speakers include:

-Terry Tamminen, who served as Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency and architect of the state’s landmark Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.

-Margret Kim, Deputy Secretary and Special Counsel for Green Business Development and International Partnerships at CalEPA, will address global competition for green innovation and jobs.

-Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson will discuss the new Greenwise initiative which aims to “transform Sacramento into the Emerald Valley.”

-Elton B. Sherwin, Jr., the Senior Managing Director of Ridgewood Capital and author of "Addicted to Energy—A Venture Capitalist’s Perspective on How to Save our Economy and Our Climate."

Pre-summit full-day workshop topics on April 18 include how to run a green building, LEED project management and a half-day seminar on the CalGreen building code. There will be 15 expert educational panels addressing topics including water management, renewable energy, facilities management and green purchasing.

For information or to register go to www.green-technology.org/gcsummit or call 626-577-5700. Green Market readers enter promo code GRMARKET when registering to recieve a 20% reduction.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Ten Videos from the 2011 Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo

Renewable Energy World North America Conference & Expo is the leading event for the renewable industry and has been for eight years running. Here is RenewableEnergyWorld.com's video coverage of the event:

Emissions Regulations Create Opportunities for Renewables

A roundtable discussion on how emissions controls regulations will boost the market for renewables. To see this video click here.

Can the U.S. Compete in Clean Energy Manufucturing?

Jonathan Iovino, VP of Complete Energy Systems, talks about how the U.S. can compete in clean energy manufacturing. To see this video click here.

Company Showcase: AETI

In this company showcase video, AETI's John Skibinski shows off the company's new 900 kW to 3 MW scaleable wind converter. To see this video click here.

Idaho's Clean Energy Push

In this showcase video, Michael Rotchford of the Idaho Department of Commerce describes why Idaho is a good place for clean energy companies to invest. To see this video click here.

Looking Beyond the Treasury Grant Program

Greg Jenner, a partner with Stoel Rives, talks about how the industry will develop projects after the Treasury Grant Program expires at the end of this year. To see this video click here.

Achieving Financial Scale in Renewables

Jamie Boyd, the senior vice president of Cascadia Capital, talks about how to bring clean energy into the financial big leagues. To see this video click here.

Colleen Campbell on Building and Permitting for PV

Debra Vogler sits down with Colleen Campbell, Business Development Director with CH2M Hill to talk about the complex building and permitting issues that go hand in hand with PV project development. To see this video click here.

Nancy Hartsoch Gives CPV Status Report

PV World's Debra Vogler talks with Nancy Hartsoch of SolFocus and the CPV Consortium about the status of the concentrating PV market. To see this video click here.

Northern Power on Community Wind Farm Development

Stephen Lacey sits down with Parthiv Amin of Northern Power to discuss the importance of community wind farm development. To see this video click here.

National Hydropower Association on Wind and Hydro Integration

Hydro Review's Russell Ray talks wind and hydro intergration with National Hydropower Association former and current presidents. To see this video click here.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

PV America 2011

PV America is the foremost event for the solar photovoltaic industry in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region. This event features a lineup of recognized financial leaders and experts in the solar power field discussing solar project financing, best practices, and advances in technologies. PV America 2011 takes place April 3-5 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.

PV America is presented by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)® and Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) ®, whose combined efforts have created a world-class, regionally focused and vertically integrated event that engages a wide spectrum of industry professionals.

Established in 1974, SEIA is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA works to build a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the industry, SEIA cooperates with its 1,000 member companies to make solar a mainstream and significant energy source by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy.

SEPA is an educational non-profit organization dedicated to helping utilities integrate solar power into their energy portfolios. With more than 750 utility and solar industry members, SEPA® provides unbiased utility solar market intelligence, up-to-date information about technologies and business models, and peer-to-peer interaction. From hosting national events to one-on-one counseling, SEPA® helps utilities make smart solar decisions.

"We've drawn some of the most experienced thinkers and strategists in the PV business," says Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. "The Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region represents one of the strongest U.S. markets for current PV installations and one of the most promising for projected growth. This conference is designed to move regional businesses forward, giving company owners, managers and consultants the tools and strategies they need to make the most of this high-growth opportunity."

“The current utility PV market in the U.S., valued at $1 billion per year, has the potential to reach $8 billion by 2015 and the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region is a major player in this expansive growth,” says Julia Hamm, president and CEO of SEPA.

“The conference sessions provide excellent insights on important issues like overcoming interconnection challenges, working more productively with utilities, and how to best leverage SREC subsidies.” PV America sessions offer expert advice on the latest trends, issues, and legislation in the PV industry in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region.

PV America 2011 offers two general sessions. On Monday, April 4, the Leadership Perspectives session features Rhone Resch, president and CEO, SEIA, and Bob Gibson, vice president, Market Intelligence, SEPA. Resch presents analysis of some of the latest industry growth figures for the region and nation, along with inside tips for regional companies already in or looking to enter the solar business. Gibson highlights how utilities in the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast play leading roles in expanding the deployment of PV.

In a presentation, “Beyond the Point of No Return,” Erik R. Peterson, director of A.T. Kearney’s Global Business Policy Council and a senior adviser at CSIS, a Washington-based nonprofit think tank, discusses some of the most challenging global issues of our times.

On Tuesday, April 5, the second general session, entitled “Financing Solar Projects” features a panel of key players in the banking and financial services industries discussing and debating the state of financing in the solar industry. The session covers tax equity, debt, loan guarantees and other structured financing options. A series of 25 educational sessions cover topics in four tracks: Finance; Local, State and Federal Policies; Project, Market and Business Development; and Training the Workforce.

For registration information and fees visit PV America 2011.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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