World Bank to Spend 28% of Investments on Climate Change Projects

by Fiona Harvey, Environment correspondent, The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/07/world-bank-investments-climate-change-environment

The World Bank has made a “fundamental shift” in its role of alleviating global poverty, by refocusing its financing efforts towards tackling climate change, the group said on Thursday.

The world’s biggest provider of public finance to developing countries said it would spend 28% of its investments directly on climate change projects, and that all of its future spending would take account of global warming.

At last year’s landmark conference on climate change in Paris, the World Bank and its fellow development banks were made the linchpins of providing financial assistance to the poor world, to enable countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the effects of global warming.

“Following the Paris climate agreement, we must now take bold action to protect our planet for future generations,” said Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank Group.

“We are moving urgently to help countries make major transitions to increase sources of renewable energy, decrease high-carbon energy sources, develop green transport systems and build sustainable, livable cities for growing urban populations. Developing countries want our help to implement their national climate plans, and we’ll do all we can to help them.”

John Roome, senior director for climate change at the World Bank, told journalists: “This is a fundamental shift for the World Bank. We are putting climate change into our DNA. Climate change will drive 100 million more people into poverty in the next 15 years [unless action is taken].”

At least $16bn a year, from across the World Bank group, which includes other development and finance institutions, will be directed to climate change projects, including renewable energy and energy efficiency. The group will aim to mobilise $13bn in extra funding from the private sector within four years, for instance through joint funding programmes. By 2020, these efforts should amount to about $29bn a year, nearly a third of the $100bn a year in climate finance promised by rich countries to the poor as part of global climate change agreements.

As part of the institution’s new strategy, it will help to fund the construction of enough renewable energy to power 150m homes in developing countries, and build early warning systems of climate-related disasters - such as storms and floods - for 100 million people.

The bank will also target “smart” agriculture systems, which use less water and energy and retain soil fertility, and will help countries develop their transport and urban infrastructure to produce much less carbon. All projects considered for funding - including health, education and other development priorities - will be screened for their vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.

The World Bank has attracted strong criticism in the past for backing the construction of high-emissions infrastructure, chiefly coal-fired power stations, and had already made moves away from such investments. Roome refused to rule out fossil fuel investments in the future, but said they would be subject to strict criteria, to do with their necessity, ensuring the most efficient technology was used, and investigation of alternatives. For instance, he said, gas could provide a “transition” away from high-carbon fuels for countries struggling to build new renewable energy capacity.

President Unveils 'Obama Climate Pollution Test' for Future Energy Projects

Keystone XL demonstration (Josh Lopez)

by Philip Radford, Executive Director, Greenpeace, on Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/philip-radford/president-unveils-obama-c_b_3498712.html

Today, in his speech at Georgetown University, President Obama challenged us to answer the essential question for every future energy policy decision we face - what will the net climate impact be if this project goes forward?

It was a bold, monumental speech, the best by not only this president, but any president to date on the climate crisis.

Greenpeace supporters have told Obama for years that the longer he waited to take sides, the worse climate change would get. Today's speech showed that the time has clearly gotten late enough for him to publicly side with the people, not the fossil fuel industry.

We proudly stand with the President in the fight against carbon pollution, but we know that this fight won't be won with words alone.

The president framed the Keystone decision this way: Our national interest will be served only if this project does not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution.

The net effects of the pipeline's impact on our climate will be absolutely critical to determining whether this project is allowed to go forward.

Within this frame, it's clear there's no room in our future for the Keystone pipeline, fracking, Arctic drilling, or giving away our public lands to the coal industry.

Each of these projects will have a significant negative climate impact and not be in our national interest.

* Oil Change International reported earlier this year that "the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline would, if approved, be responsible for at least 181 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) each year, comparable to the tailpipe emissions from more than 37.7 million cars or 51 coal-fired power plants." Climate impact? You betcha.

* Fracking? Once you account for the impacts of extraction and not just burning natural gas, the climate impact of methane pollution from natural gas has the potential to be an even more severe driver of climate change than carbon pollution from oil and coal. That means it's a bridge fuel to nowhere.

* In the Arctic, the climate impact isn't as obvious as the impact of Shell's oil rigs on Alaskan islands, but it's coming more and more into focus every summer. If we continue to extract and burn oil and gas from the vulnerable Arctic region, the region itself will continue to disappear at an astonishing rate, short-circuiting our planet's natural cooling system and making the vicious circle of climate disaster much much worse.

* And giving away publicly owned coal for pennies on the dollar? That's a big climate lose. The expansion in US coal exports has the potential to release as much if not more carbon pollution than any other new fossil fuel project in the United States.

As the president said today at the end of his address: And someday, our children, and our children's children, will look at us in the eye and they'll ask us, did we do all that we could when we had the chance to deal with this problem and leave them a cleaner, safer, more stable world? And I want to be able to say, yes, we did. Don't you want that?

Yes, Mr. President, we do. And we're thrilled to know that you do too.

Greenpeace Campaign: The Polar Bear and the Warship

Hello readers,

The following email was sent to me earlier today by Nick Young, Head of Digital at Greenpeace NZ. This is a vital campaign, please support it in every way you can!

Cheers,

Robert.

The Zeitgeist Is Changing

http://thezeitgeistischanging.blogspot.com

Join us to secure the Arctic as a global santuary for all life on Earth before it's too late. Sign up at www.savethearctic.org

Dear Robert,
This time last year I was aboard one of the Greenpeace ships in the Arctic. I saw things there that will remain with me for the rest of my life. From the stark beauty of an Arctic sunrise, to the horrible wrongness of a dirty oil rig amongst the icebergs and the simple bravery of my crew-mates who took action against it in that harsh environment, it’s all unforgettable. But the one image in particular that haunts me is of a warship bearing down on a young polar bear sitting alone on the sea ice. For me it captures the plight of the Arctic in one frozen moment. Our captain warned the warship of the bear’s predicament in time for them to alter course, so catastrophe was averted on that particular day - but the bear’s plight continues. Global warming, retreating sea ice, a looming oil rush and increased militarisation all spell doom for the polar bear and many creatures like it that live in the Arctic. To put it bluntly, polar bears are dying out and global warming threatens them with extinction while Shell aims to invade their home and drill for oil in extremely risky conditions where a spill would be impossible to contain. It’s up to us to draw a line in the ice and say no. That’s why we have launched one of our biggest global campaigns ever. We aim to create a global sanctuary in the high Arctic - making it off limits to oil drilling and other industrial activities. Folk like Paul McCartney, 'One Direction' and our very own Lucy Lawless - as well as over 200,000 others have already added their names to our “Arctic Scroll” in the first week! Can you join them now by adding your name and help us create a global sanctuary in the high Arctic where polar bears and the other living creatures that call it home will be protected? Big oil companies like Shell - who have played a major part in creating this environmental crime - are now ready to take advantage of the retreating sea ice. It’s up to us to keep offshore oil drilling out of the Arctic and save the polar bears' home. We can only do this with your help. Act now! Click here: http://www.savethearctic.org Your name, together with the first million Arctic defenders, will be added to a scroll we'll plant on the North Pole seabed together with a Flag for the Future to demand world leaders declare the Arctic off limits to oil drilling and industrial fishing and create a global sanctuary in the area around the North Pole. Thank you very much for your support, Nick and the whole crew at Greenpeace PS When we first launched savethearctic.org so many people went to the site all at once it overloaded and crashed - so apologies if you found it not working but it is all working perfectly now so please do try again.
GREENPEACE AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND 11 Akiraho Street, Mount Eden, Auckland, New Zealand 0800 22 33 44 | info@greenpeace.org.nz

ANNOUNCEMENT: Pearls of the Planet

Image via WikipediaHi readers,

Below is a special announcement of an exciting project from explore.org. I'm sure you'll find it fascinating.

Cheers, Robert.

Dear Explorers,

I want to personally thank you for supporting the LIVE POLAR BEAR CAM. I call this initiative Pearls of the Planet, and the mission is simple: I want people to fall in love with the world again. I believe that by simply observing the natural world, we will develop an emotional connection that will allow us to become responsible stewards of the planet we live on.

Pearls of the Planet is a decade old dream of mine, but what makes it so special is the purity of spirit in which all of you write your comments. They are invaluable and immeasurable in any dollar amount.

Please share in the beautiful photographs and film clips on our first ever Polar Bear Wall of Wisdom.

As much as we will miss our beloved polar bears, let's rejoice that they are going home where hopefully the food will be plentiful. Until they return, please know that several new Pearls of the Planet Live Cameras will be available so we can all study the natural world we love.

Please consider explore.org your extended family and home.

Sincerely,

Charles Annenberg Weingarten
Explore.org / Pearls of the Planet

ANNOUNCEMENT: 'Controlled' Power Cuts Likely as Sun Storm Threatens National Grid

By Steve Connor, Science Editor, in Boulder, Colorado - on The Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk

'Controlled' Power Cuts Likely as Sun Storm Threatens National Grid
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/controlled-power-cuts-likely-as-sun-storm-threatens-national-grid-2296748.html

Officials in Britain and the United States are preparing to make controlled power cuts to their national electricity supplies in response to a warning of a possible powerful solar storm hitting the Earth. In an interview with The Independent, Thomas Bogdan, director of the US Space Weather Prediction Centre, said that controlled power "outages" will protect the National Electricity Grids against damage which could take months or even years to repair should a large solar storm collide with the Earth without any precautions being taken.

To read more, go to: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/controlled-power-cuts-likely-as-sun-storm-threatens-national-grid-2296748.html

The Great Debate at the Biomass Forum

Biomass Energy Generator - Image by Andrew Ciscel via FlickrBy Michael Theroux

Introduction

The California Biomass Collaborative staged a two day conference on Biomass in the middle of UC Davis 2011 Energy Week, addressing a rapt audience of about 100 people ... many of whom already knew each other, the usual suspects who have been hammering away at improving biomass utilization over the years. Shoulder-rubbing was encouraged, and just enough actual progress was reported to keep everyone listening.

The highlight of the event was the "Urban Organic Residuals' Place in California's Low Carbon Fuel and Renewable Energy Standards" Panel. The audience was reminded at the beginning that the building was equipped with fire sprinklers, and to put our electronics under out tables if Panel sparks set off the in-door rainfall. And then the Fight Began... Not really, folks; everyone was cool and civilized. Well, almost. But that's the story of the Great Debate.

The Great Debate

Like I said, the Really Big Fun was the four-way moderated brawl between representatives for Covanta, Plasco, CEERT and CAW over what sort of MSW (municipal solid waste) conversion Is and Is Not, Should and Should Not, MUST NOW or NEVER CAN be considered "renewable".

Let's break it down: The moderator had given each combatant Four Questions in advance (we didn't get to know the queries until Show Time). And pardon the paraphrasing, 'cause I still don't have the Exact Questions in hand as this is written up ...

Q1: Are thermal Conversion Technologies (CTs) ready for Prime Time implementation, renewable energy certification and permitting as acceptable resource recovery methods in California, and if not, why the &%@*! not?? (I warned you that I'd be paraphrasing ...)

Q2: Do CTs offer improved green house gas (GHG) reduction for MSW management, compared to constantly paying to stomp our resources into a Big Hole, frantically trying to catch the methane that's escaping, and then forever paying to maintain the whole pile? (oh wait, they called that "Landfilling")

Q3: In California regulations, direct combustion of MSW is considered "transformation", and as such the electricity generated is not considered "renewable". California now seems to favor gasification over combustion WtE. Is this approach Good, Bad or Ugly?

Q4: What is "Zero Waste", now and in the future? How does this concept play out for carbon management, environmental impact minimization, GHG reduction, recycling, composting, packaging, manufacturer's responsibility, the Inconvenience of Change to societal habits ... and what does it all mean, Alfie?

I'll tell ya, the back-and-forth got me seriously dizzy, the detailed responses had us all tuned in, and the room temperature went up like at a Saturday Night bar-fight. Nobody left the room.

Now, given the Players, you might rightly guess the jist of an awful lot of the responses; everybody pretty much stuck to their Party Line. Yet these guys are nobody's fools, all very experienced and deeply committed, and some excellent insight came from each in turn. Let's just hit some of the better zingers, by the Numbers.

Q1: CTs for Prime Time

CEERT expressed honest suspicion that there was always a lot of over-promise, and under-performance, and that when it came down to it, cleanliness was always a matter of the daily Operations & Maintenance (We agree: you can run any system well, or poorly).

Covanta reflected that with the rash of new EPA regs landing on the Industry, the tableau was changing toward a far more tightly controlled framework, establishing clear differences between older technologies and advanced, state-of-the-art conversion.

CAW voiced the common concerns that (a) implementing CTs would disadvantage our Recycling Industry, and (b) that the difference between "incineration" and "gasification" was in reality only going from One-Step Burning to Two-Step Burning. (we sorta agree, but wish CAW had followed up with some thought about what happens between Step One and Step Two ... the ability to intercept, test and modify that syngas prior to final use - combustive or otherwise - makes ALL the difference in the world, and defines "conversion").

Plasco offered that of course CTs are ready for the Big Time, but much remains to be done; piping that syngas to feed a Fuel Cell would take the currently minor emissions down to almost Zero.

Q2: CTs and GHG Reduction

CAW made it clear that both thermal and microbial conversion technologies offer better GHG control than landfilling, but that with 15% of our MSW being Food Waste, we need to put the current focus on getting anaerobic digestion systems up and running. The next most common biomass in MSW is wood, and it will always be a good candidate for thermal conversion (of course, waste-sourced wood is an EPA sore spot right now).

CEERT agreed that AD was best for food waste, but cautioned that we need more attention to both the data and the assumptions: CTs may be best for energy, and still not be the best answer overall. There was reminder to Reduce, then Reuse, then Recycle, before we consider last-step alternatives to disposal (Alternatives like, perhaps Waste Conversion for Resource Recovery?).

Plasco argued for heuristics: CTs fit in at Community Scale, and greatly reduce transport impacts and costs, while everything else requires a whole lot of send-it-over-there. When we manage the post-recycling residuals locally, at scales of maybe 200 to 400 tons per day, we avoid shipping tonnage to those remote Big Holes in the Ground.

Covanta laid down the bet that once we really take a holistic approach and internalize all the associated impacts, cradle to grave, local conversion will come out on top.

Q3: Conversion, Transformation, and the Adequacy of State Standards

Covanta led in with the simple statement that you can't tell if our standards are inadequate or not, because they just keep changing. Developers and Agencies alike can never tell whether what is proposed today will meet the standards by the time it is built, because our regulatory platform is build on shifting sand.

Plasco lit into the PRC "criteria", calling for performance based, not prescriptive, set of standards and conditions... then announced their New Baby: both CalRecycle and CEC had pre-certified their conversion technology for their Salinas Valley project as an "eligible renewable energy generation facility".
CAW offered the ominous if obscure opinion that "if you want Diversion Credit, you are going to have to go Above and Beyond" ... (beyond what, please tell us)

About here, CEERT showed signs of Angst ... "What is the Policy Basis? WHO KNOWS??" ... and gave the Dire Warning of the Day: "The Environmental Community is Loading Up, and this isn't gonna be any fun, no fun at all ..." (watch Teru Talk for more on this, fo' sure)

To which Plasco (God bless 'em) replied, "Oh, I don't know ... I happen to think it's gonna be a whole lotta fun ..." (queue Wild Cheering).

Q4: Zero Waste

After the confetti began to settle, Covanta offered that Zero Waste must be a community-specific determination taking into account real-world local economics as well as lofty societal goals.

Plasco asked, where do you draw the line? When is the cost of returning that last drop of resource back into the marketplace by Reduce-Reuse-Recycle just too much? Perhaps in these crunch times, most communities are already past that magic line. Right now, we need "every arrow in our quiver" to get to Zero, and that has to include CTs.

CAW met Covanta's earlier bet, that on an LCA basis, Recycling still is less costly than Conversion, and upped the ante with the need to put less in that Black Bin in the first place.

CEERT agreed on that point: Make Less Waste. Oh, and while we're at it, remap the entire MSW management scenario for this state. Then came the Reality Check, one a lot of us recognize in our Heart of Hearts - this is a political decision, and we just don't know yet what our New Governor is going to do.

Parting Shots

Take it to the Street- Clearly, we have needed to get these differences of opinion out in the open; they've festered in the dark and damp recesses for far too long. Kudos are due to the CBC for the whole Magilla, but especially for the Great Debate. And honestly, folks, I have to hand it to all four Panel Contestants... ah, Participants. Well done, one and all.

© JDMT, Inc 2011. All rights reserved. You are free to reprint and use this article as long as no changes are made to its content or references, and credit is given to the author.

About the author: Michael Theroux is the editor of Teru Talk, an online publication of JDMT, Inc with the goal of opening the dialogue and providing current news and commentary on issues and successes associated with waste conversion to renewable energy, biofuels and other bio-based products for resource recovery.

You are invited to sign up for our newsletter at http://www.terutalk.com. See the full report with all links intact and names named at http://www.terutalk.com/TERU-Reports/Back-from-the-Biomass-Forum.html.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Theroux
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Great-Debate-at-the-Biomass-Forum&id=6192480

Car Scrapping and Charity: How Giving is Paving the Way for Greener Roads in the UK

                                           Image via Wikipedia

Hi all,

Here is a fantastic initiative from an organisation in the UK called Giveacar at: http://wwww.giveacar.co.uk. This is a really impressive project created by some great lateral thinking so have a look and get on board!

Car Scrapping and Charity: How Giving is Paving the Way for Greener Roads in the UK

The damage caused to air quality by old, inefficient, cars has been well-documented, and though there is clearly much left to be done, advances are being made all the time in the production of hybrid and electric motors. But the question remains about what is the best way to handle end-of-life vehicles coming off the roads, as these too can pose a serious environmental threat.

Giveacar began operating in 2010. It’s a new social enterprise that arose partly from what its 24-year-old founder Tom Chance saw as a need to reduce the environmental impact of old and end-of-life cars. Inspired by several schemes operating in the US, such as CharityCar.us (which donate the funds generated by car scrapping to good causes) he saw the opportunity to combine car junking with charitable giving - a largely untapped market in the UK.  

Giveacar provides a free-of-charge service to its customers, arranging for the collection and environmentally responsible recycling of end-of-life vehicles. Once the cars have been scrapped, Giveacar then donates the proceeds (after administrative costs) to the charity or charities of the car owner’s choice on their behalf.

As one charity they work with, The Children’s Trust, tweeted, it’s a “Win win” process, providing a service that end-of-life vehicle owners are in need of, creating a new revenue stream for charities, and all to the benefit of the environment.  

Working with Britain’s leading car salvage agents - in cases where a car is not of auction-worthy value - Giveacar ensures that it is recycled and scrapped to the highest environmental standards; this is what happens to approximately 90% of the vehicle donations Giveacar receives.

Some 1 million cars come off British roads every year without being properly disposed of. Many of these end up abandoned in driveways or by roadsides, leaking hazardous waste, heavy metals and toxins into the soil, while oils and fluids are poured into sewers and down drains. Others are cherry-picked of their valuable parts by unscrupulous car scrappers before being abandoned. An additional concern is that of cars - which have been supposedly scrapped - being brought back onto the roads illegally, thus posing considerable pollution, not to mention safety, problems. 

Through guaranteeing to process car scrappage only at one of the UK’s  1,617 Authorized Treatment Facilities, or ATFs (where pollutants are safely recovered and disposed of) Giveacar ensures that all the hazardous materials are removed without impacting negatively on the environment. The shell of the car is then sent off for recycling.

Since its inception, Giveacar has managed to raise over $300,000 for over 250 charities, and has taken thousands of end-of-life vehicles off the roads for good.

Living Planet Report by WWF on Biodiversity

Image by ponChiang via FlickrBy Celeste Maxine Yates

Climate change is a natural process of the earth, any mammoth or dinosaur would be able to tell you that, however the rate at which it is currently happening is unnatural.

If you were to think of a process your body goes through when a mosquito bites you; you get an itchy-bite, for a few days have a small red bump and then eventually it goes away. This is a natural process if it was left alone. But we don't leave things alone; in fact humans have a reputation of development, change, growth and get involved in things when perhaps sometimes things should just be left alone. So we itch, we scratch, we infect. The itchy-bite turns an angry red and develops into something a lot more severe than it should have been.

The year 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, the year that new species continue to be found, but there are more tigers in captivity than there are in the wild. Here in Africa our trademark beast, king of the jungle, the lion is now an endangered species, with experts predicting its extinction in 20 years. These are events happening in our life-time.

According to the Living Planet report in 2007 alone man-kind used 2 planets worth of resources. We already over-shoot the biocapacity of our planet by 50% in 2007 and the carbon footprint has increased by 11 fold since 1961. 71 countries are experiencing stress on blue water sources and here in South Africa we are already predicting water-shortage issues and some rural and small towns are already experiencing them.

As per the ripple effect, biodiversity loss has an impact on ecosystems, causing damage, degrading and eventually leading to a complete collapse. Threats of habitat loss, alteration and fragmentation, over-exploitation of wild species populations, pollution, climate change and invasive species in turn destroy the services that ecosystems give humans for free; regulating services of natural processes, such as water filtration, waste decomposition, climate regulation and crop pollination. Services such as support for regulation of basic ecological functions and processes for example nutrient cycling, photosynthesis and soil formation.

"Crucially, the dependency of human society on ecosystem services makes the loss of these services a serious threat to the future well-being and development of all people, all around the world" - Living Planet Report; 2010.

Globally there has been a 30% decline in biodiversity. A few examples of individual species include the blue-fin tuna, a fish made famous not only for tuna salad and pasta but by the recent threat of its breeding ground caused by the BP Gulf oil spill earlier this year, has decreased in population by 5.8%. Another example is the leatherback turtle, another species affected by the BP Gulf oil spill, which has declined by 20.5%.

In the report's biogeographical realms, South Africa is part of "Afrotropical" which shows signs of recovery since the 1990's where the Living Planet Index was at minus 55%. The statistics differ for each country as in America and Arab Emirates need 4.5 planets to keep up with carbon emissions and consumption used. In India they need less then 50% of a planet.

In an attempt to find 'greener' fuel by using bio-fuel, palm oil crops have increased by 8 fold over 20 years, converting 7.8 ha by 2010. This land conversion included forests on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, the home of the Orang-utan. Their population has decreased by 10-fold in two species populations as a result of the deforestation and habitat degradation.

However the report does say that all is not lost. The minimum criteria for sustainability based on available biocapacity of the planet and the human development index "indicates that it is in fact possible for countries to meet these criteria, although major challenges remain for all countries to meet them."

Minimalist architecture moto "Less is More" approach is needed, not only in architecture and art but from the individual, to nations, to the world. The balance needs to change us getting everything and nature nothing, to nature getting more, more in protected areas, more in conservation, more in investment to recover the damage that has been created over the years and us to getting less and rather using the resources we have already captured.

Policies need to be put into place, renewable energy needs to be improved and implemented and sustainable developments in sectors such as agriculture, mining and fisheries need to grow.

Humans might 'itch, scratch and infect' but we also have the ability to learn from past events and use our skills to create ointments to heal.

Celeste writes for South African biodiversity, a media company focusing on conservation and the environment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Celeste_Maxine_Yates
http://EzineArticles.com/?Living-Planet-Report-by-WWF-on-Biodiversity&id=5431620

"Everything Must Go" and Jerry Garcia's environmental message

Image via WikipediaHi dudes,

Here's a posting from a really connected guy. It's related to a new comedy movie called "Everything Must Go". Video clips of the movie are available at the following URL: http://www.everythingmustgothemovie.com/videos. Check it out - if you're interested in the environment, hippie culture and having fun, you've got to see this.

Below, there is a post about Jerry Garcia and his dedication to environmental issues. Please leave comments - I'd love to see what you think!

11-28-10 LEN'S BLOG -- First posting: December 1, 2010

I became friends with Garcia in 1980 and 1981 during the production and especially the editing of "Dead Ahead," the classic concert film shot at Radio City in New York.

He sent me a board tape in the summer of '84, and this is when I first heard the Weir-Barlow tune "Throwing Stones." What a great and original song, and how amazing was it that a big popular band like the Dead would take on such a serious subject as the destruction of the environment.

A live version of the song was included in the next full-length video I produced for the Dead, which came out in 1987 and was called "So Far." A little-known factoid: Garcia actually co-directed "So Far" with me.

"So Far" went on to become the best-selling concert video of 1988 and it won the American Film Institute's award for best full-length music film of that year.

Also in 1988, Grateful Dead decided to give a benefit concert at Madison Square Garden in NYC to help save the rainforest. They asked me to create visuals that would directly address rainforest destruction, to show on the live reinforcement screens hanging above the stage while they played drums/space/Throwing Stones.

While prepping for that, I met Randy Hayes of Rainforest Action Network and other egg-heads and activists who would be the beneficiaries of the concert, and this is how I first learned about climate change in a serious way. It blew my mind.

Members of the Dead gave a press conference at the U.N. to announce the Benefit and to talk about the trouble ahead and raise awareness of ecological issues.

Ever since then, I have been very focused on the issue of climate change, and I've been able to stay involved through my work with a private family foundation that was started by my father-in-law in the 1990's.

Meanwhile, I had been dreaming about making my own "story" film since I can remember--I went to NYU film school--and when I finally had the time and the means to do it, it was clear to me that my film should be about climate change. But far from being serious, the movie is darkly comic and the story is entertaining because I felt that would be the best way to get the message across. The film is called "Everything Must Go."

Garcia's insightful statement at the U.N. press conference never left my mind over all those years--he was a very smart guy, on top of all his other accomplishments. Of all the problems we face, climate change is such a huge and unknowable threat that it must be seen as a priority. If the earth becomes unlivable for us humans, we certainly can't work on any of our other problems.

I hope you enjoy the film, and I'd love to hear your comments.

Watch this space for further journal entries in the future, and I hope to be adding new and interesting clips from my archive on a regular basis.

--Len Dell'Amico, November 23rd, 2010

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Department of Energy and Climate Change Faces Budget Reduction

By Marcus Gallon

Recently, there have been cuts regarding low-carbon technology in the UK, according to the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Basically, the Carbon Trust has received funding for promoting a low-carbon economy, one that would increase the budget for green technology, gas supplies, energy, dual fuel, etc. in most cases, but it appears that there are fewer funds available than there were just a year ago. In addition, the offshore wind capital grants will also be decreased, which in the long run will save government money.

By cutting the low-carbon technology from the central government, by utilizing this technology, nearly 2.9 pounds sterling can be saved. After the final funding measured to support bio-energy has been calculated, roughly 4.7 pounds will saved. Moreover, the Energy Saving Trust also will close a bit early, according to the department. All of these cutbacks are essential to the budget, but it is unfortunate the cuts will directly affect the environment.

Unfortunately, the government is cutting its resources for green industries and jobs when they are needed most. There is no immediate plan for economic growth-just more cuts. Perhaps it is time for a green energy revolution, but vital support is being robbed of the people and their resources, which are all suffering. Oddly enough, more stringent Carbon emission protocols are in place, but it is becoming more difficult to achieve these marks.

Spokesman, John Sauven, explains that there is now an opportunity to grasp future industries, with regard to green gas supplies, renewable energies, etc., but it is essential that the government step on-board. Otherwise, this sensitive timeframe will slip away, creating a more difficult time for drastic transitioning into a green world in the future. All of the renewable resources, namely hydro and wind, have dropped dramatically this year, yet promises discussing ways in which to end the use of fossil fuels and other emissions have increased.

All of these decisions to cut funding for green technologies promise to have negative results, and similar technologies will confront criticism against sectors that have been encumbered with immense capital costs; this urgent front has been dismissed by government. Although some cuts were mandatory, most government officials agree that there is a strong economical foundation for investing in renewable technology at whatever cost. So the government will be faced with a number of important decisions, but the reduction plan needs to allow for some kind of allowance that can be delivered into renewable energies.

Marcus Gallon is a dual fuel advocator who writes articles on green energy, environmental issues, energy security and the renewables sector.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcus_Gallon
http://EzineArticles.com/?Department-of-Energy-and-Climate-Change-Faces-Budget-Reduction&id=4760755

ANNOUNCEMENT: WaterAid 'Rewind' Cannes Young Lions 2010 Competition

Hello everyone,

Here is a message I received from Charlotte, one of my readers.

"This video has been made for WaterAid as part of the YouTube Cannes Young Lions Ad Contest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8umr3CQ0CjY

Just wanted to also say a massive thankyou to all the people who helped me: Kerr Nimmo, Dom Britt, Sophie Fagleman, Sam Behar, Charlotte Johnson and Anna Gilthorpe".

Have a look - it's a powerful message.

Gulf Oil Spill Needs Government Aid to Help Clean-up Efforts

By Melissa Rubin

The US government decreed the oil spill that took place on April 20th, 2010 that killed 11 workers as an incident of national significance. The oil is spilling out at over 5,000 barrels a day due to the three breaks in the well pipes and hit the Louisiana coastline late Thursday night, nine days after the initial spill.

The deeming of the situation as an incident of national significance means a National Response Team composed of 16 federal agencies will coordinate a federal response. The oil company that owns the oil drill, BP, is completely responsible for the cleanup, although Obama and his office is enforcing environmental reforms, saying they will help the clean up in any way they can, including giving the aid of the Department of Defense, if necessary.

The National Coast Guard has approved an experimental plan by BP to apply chemical dispersants underwater to help stop the oil spread, and the federal government is sending as much help as they can:

• There are over 50 boats and aircraft deployed from the Department of Homeland Security to help the spill
• The DHS also put out 174,060 feet of absorbent foam booms and recovered 18,180 barrels of an oily mixture from the gulf's surface
• Interior Department deployed SWAT teams to inspect 30 other drilling rigs in deepwater sections of the Gulf of Mexico
• DHS is setting up a headquarters in Alabama as well as the already stationed Louisiana post
• Navy is sending 66,000 feet of inflatable boom and seven skimming systems
• Navy is offering its base in the region as a staging area for the operation
• National Guard troops are mobilized and ready to assist

This spill comes at an inopportune time for Obama and his administration, who just last month stated they would continue in their efforts at finding less environmentally damaging ways of getting oil and said they were opening up over 150 million acres of water property for oil drilling. The White House is now saying there will be no new offshore drilling until the investigation as to why the explosion occurred is finished.

This spill is predicted to be the largest oil spill in US history, larger than the 1989 spill from Exxon Valdez that spilled 11 million gallons of oil into an ecologically sensitive area of the Prince William Sound. The difference between the spills is that in 1989 the cause was an oil tanker which holds a finite amount of oil; this spill is tapped to an underwater oil well which is predicted to spill for up to 3 months.

Melissa Rubin is a senior copywriter and Web developer at OTO Networks, a digital marketing company located in Baltimore, Maryland. Her primary responsibilities include SEO, link building and creating content for multiple sites. A preview of a site on which she has worked, http://www.AGreenRetirement.com, is available with this article.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melissa_Rubin
http://EzineArticles.com/?Gulf-Oil-Spill-Needs-Governmental-Aide-to-Help-Cleanup-Efforts&id=4208170

World Energy Outlook - The International Energy Agency (IEA) Report

By Kathy Heshelow

The International Energy Agency (IEA) acts as an energy policy advisor to 28 member countries, within the framework of the Organization for Economic Co-operation (OECD) in Paris. It was initially set up in 1973 to coordinate measure in times of oil supply emergencies, but their mandate broadened to incorporate energy security, economic development and environmental protection. The IEA publishes their "World Energy Outlook" each year, and the latest report was released at the end of 2009. Some of the key points in the report are:

* Even though the past year has been difficult and full of upheaval in the energy markets, the challenges for the future remain urgent. World energy demand fell with the economic contraction in 2009 - for the first time since 1981 on any large scale - but no one is sure how fast the recovery and rebound will occur. With current policies in place, energy use will resume its long-term upward trend with the economic recovery.

* Energy-related carbon-dioxide emissions in 2009 will be well below that of the previous years. Countries could take the opportunity to develop low-carbon technology to work in concert with fossil fuels - but will they?

* Fossil fuels remain the dominant source of primary energy worldwide, and accounts for more than 3/4ths of the increase in energy from 2007 to 2030. Coal will see the largest increase in demand, followed by oil & gas. Oil, though, remains the single largest fuel in the primary mix to 2030. Oil demand is projected to grow by 1% per year on average, from 85 million barrels per day to 105 million barrels per day by 2030, with the most growth from non-OECD countries. The transport sector will account for 97% of the increase in oil use.

* The main driver for coal and natural gas will be power generation, as world electricity demand is projected to grow at a rate of 2.5% annually.

* The use of non-hydro, modern renewable energy technologies such as wind, solar, geothermal, etc. will see an increase, especially for power generation. World output is expected to rise from 2.5% in 2007 to 8.6% by 2030, with wind power seeing the largest increase.

* Because of the economic collapse, the difficult financing environment and the general overall crisis, new investment into oil and gas fell last year. Energy companies are drilling fewer wells, cutting back on refineries, pipelines and power stations. Ongoing projects may have been cancelled or postponed. Investment in renewables also fell. This delay and reduction in energy investment will have far-reaching consequences, risking a future shortfall in supply. This could lead to surging prices in future years, when demand has recovered, and this could in turn constrain economies.

* Lower fossil fuel prices now are actually undermining attractiveness in clean energy investments.

* Cutbacks in energy infrastructure or maintenance of the infrastructure (due to economic stress) could cause problems in the future.

* Natural gas will play a key role in the future. With an assumed resumption of global economic growth from later 2010 onwards (or when the economy recovers), demand for natural gas should resume its upward trend. The power sector is expected to remain the largest driver of gas demand. The low carbon content relative to coal and oil is noteworthy.

* The unexpected boom in North America of unconventional gas production (especially horizontal drilling and fracturing of shale), combined with the economic decline and difficulties, contributed to a glut of the natural gas supply in 2009 and will continue for the next year or two. The world's remaining resources of natural gas are large enough to cover demand to 2030, but the cost developing and accessing some of the reserves is high. Rates of decline in existing fields now indicate that nearly half of the world's existing capacity will need to be replaced by 2030.

* ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) will play an increasingly important role in global energy markets. (ASEAN members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam). ASEAN energy demand is expected to expand by 75% between 2007 and 2030, or an average annual rate of 2.5% - faster than the average rate in the rest of the world. Coupled with the emergence of China and India on the energy scene, the trends point to a refocus of energy activity in Asia.

IEA member countries are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States.

Kathy Heshelow writes about the energy industry. Her book, "Investing in Oil and Gas: the ABCs of DPPs (Direct Participation Programs)" also covers the history and background of oil and discusses Peak Oil and renewable energy. http://www.ticbook.com - Her new freelance writing website will be available shortly.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathy_Heshelow
http://EzineArticles.com/?World-Energy-Outlook---The-International-Energy-Agency-(IEA)-Report&id=3809635

2010 Is the International Year of Biodiversity - What Are You Going to Do to Help?

By Anne Erasmus

2010 will be a year of celebration of the biological diversity of Earth, its value for our lives, and a chance to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity. From micronutrients in soil, to big predators like sharks and humans, each species on earth, and its habitat, affects the lives of other species, and of humans.

Biodiversity is the life support system of our planet, and change to the dynamics of that system affects more than just the participants in each system. Population decreases and species loss in animals threatens the existence of their ecosystems. The replacement of naturally diverse vegetation that supports a vast array of plants, insects, birds and animals by single crop farming has far-reaching consequences that threaten human existence too.

Protecting biodiversity includes:
- protecting wildlife, especially rare and endangered species
- preventing the extinction of individual species
- protecting the biodiversity of different regions
- protecting ecosystems

Climate change drives the loss of biodiversity, as is being seen in the polar regions where polar bears and penguins are threatened by the melting of their habitat and feeding grounds. At the same time, the deterioration of habitats and loss of biodiversity worsen the effects of climate change, and in some instances contribute to it. Fighting global warming and protecting biodiversity is a responsibility we all share, as it is human activity that has done more to damage our planet than any other factor.

What Can You Do?

• reuse and recycle wherever possible
• save water, energy and fuel
• remove invasive species from your garden
• plant a water-wise, indigenous garden
• build a pond, bird boxes and plant wildflowers to attract wildlife, birds and insects into your garden
• grow your own organic vegetables
• use environmentally friendly pesticides and household cleaning products
• buy products that support sustainable development projects
• support local initiatives like river clean-ups and wetland restoration
• use renewable energy sources
• don't buy hardwood products from unsustainable sources
• when on vacation, don't buy coral, shells and ivory or animal skins
• visit nature reserves - your entrance fee helps sustain the reserve
• support wildlife conservation organisations, with donations of time or money
• petition against unfettered development and industrial creep
• report pollution to the relevant authorities

Make 2010 the year you get actively involved in preserving our planet and teach your children about it too.
For more green tips, products, services and news, get to http://www.green-community.info today. Make 2010 the year you get involved in saving our planet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Erasmus
http://EzineArticles.com/?2010-Is-the-International-Year-of-Biodiversity---What-Are-You-Going-to-Do-to-Help?&id=3441861

ANNOUNCEMENT: Great New Site from Explore.org

Hi everyone,

Explore.org has just developed a new website and it has some of the most stunning photography and environmental messages you would ever want to see. If you want to be inspired to save our wildlife, environment and the whole planet, visit: http://explore.org.

I will periodically be featuring videos from the site on The Zeitgeist is Changing and I would love your feedback.

Here is a taste:

http://explore.org/videos/player/cr-tortuguero

Stunning!

Here's some more information about explore.org:

explore™ (http://explore.org) is a multimedia organization that documents leaders around the world who have devoted their lives to extraordinary causes. Both educational and inspirational, explore creates a portal into the soul of humanity by championing the selfless acts of others.

http://explore.org.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Kofi Annan launches 'Beds Are Burning' Global Musical Petition to demand climate justice with Melanie Laurent and Havas Worldwide CEO, David Jones and The:Hours

PRESS RELEASE

Kofi Annan launches 'Beds Are Burning' Global Musical Petition to demand climate justice with Melanie Laurent and Havas Worldwide CEO, David Jones and The:Hours

• First ever global musical petition created to mobilise people to pressure their leaders to agree a climate justice deal at the UN's Copenhagen Climate Change Summit in December.
• Produced by The:Hours, 60+ international music stars and celebrities collaborated for free to show support for climate justice deal and the 'Tck Tck Tck: Time for Climate Justice' campaign
• Midnight Oil specially re-write lyrics to 1987 hit, 'Beds Are Burning' to highlight greatest humanitarian challenge facing mankind today.

PARIS (1 October 2009) – Kofi A. Annan, President of the Global Humanitarian Forum, was today joined by Melanie Laurent (star of Quentin Tarantino's 'Inglorious Basterds') and David Jones (Global CEO, Havas Worldwide) for the launch of a specially re-recorded version of Midnight Oil's 'Beds are Burning' as a global musical petition to demand climate justice at the UN's Copenhagen Climate Change Summit in December. The song is also set to become the soundtrack of the Climate Justice movement.

'Beds Are Burning' was produced by The:Hours, and is to be made available on all major music download platforms for free. It will also be available on the campaign's own website: http://www.timeforclimatejustice.org.

The song has been supported by over 60 international music stars and celebrities including Duran Duran, Mark Ronson, Jamie Cullum, Melanie Laurent, Marion Cotillard, Milla Jovovich, Fergie, Lily Allen, Manu Katche, Bob Geldof, Youssou N'Dour, Yannick Noah and many more.

Every download will count as a unique digital petition with people adding their names to demand world leaders reach an ambitious, fair and global deal at the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen. Already, more than 1.3 million people have signed up to the campaign.

The Global Humanitarian Forum's 'Tck Tck Tck; Time for Climate Justice' campaign was created by Havas Worldwide and was launched earlier this year at the 56th Cannes International Advertising Festival.

Climate justice has, at its heart, the principle that emissions have a price and greenhouse gas emitters must pay. The countries, and peoples, who are suffering the worst impact of climate change – both now and in the future – have done the least to cause it.

Mr Annan said:

"Climate change is the greatest humanitarian challenge facing mankind today. And it is a challenge that has a grave injustice at its heart. It is the major developed economies of the world which contribute the overwhelming majority of global greenhouse emissions. But it is the poorer and least developed nations that are hit hardest by its impact".

"This is, I believe, a critical moment in the campaign to mobilise people around the world to demand climate justice. Already, over 1 million people have signed up to our 'Tck Tck Tck: Campaign for Climate Justice.'"

"By downloading 'Beds Are Burning' for free from major music download platforms on the internet, people from around the world will be adding their names to this growing global petition – joining the campaign for climate justice and becoming a climate ally".

"This will be the first time ever that a musical petition has been created to demand decisive action from our world leaders. I believe it can become the Band Aid for the internet generation. Together, we can create such a noise that our leaders will not be able to ignore it when they meet in Copenhagen this December to agree a new post-Kyoto climate agreement. Good leaders are also good followers."

Mr Annan was joined at the launch by Melanie Laurent, star of Quentin Tarantino's latest blockbuster, 'Inglorious Basterds'. Ms Laurent said:

"The next Kyoto agreement is hugely important to get right because the last one got it so wrong. The single greatest contribution to the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is not the burning of fossil fuels by the transport sector, nor is it industrial pollution, it is deforestation. The one provision of the original Kyoto proposal that may have helped this situation that wealthy countries would be able to offset their carbon footprint by paying poorer countries to maintain their forests, was derailed, and the forests have been burning since".

"I'm supporting Kofi Annan's initiative and hope this song will be heard by as many people as possible in the world before Copenhagen. This campaign will help secure a better future for our planet and upcoming generations. The time has come."

David Jones, Global CEO of Havas Worldwide the network who created the campaign for Mr Annan's Global Humanitarian Forum said:

"Our industry excels at changing people's behavior. I believe that we have not only an opportunity but also an obligation to use our creativity to address some of the biggest issues facing the world. To get a meaningful outcome at Copenhagen requires everyone putting pressure on their leaders to agree on a fair post-Kyoto deal. This is precisely the aim of the campaign, and the advertising and marketing communities have a crucial role to play."

Alexandre Sap, CEO of The:Hours, who assembled the artists and produced the soundtrack said:

"Music is the universal language, capable of transcending cultures, generations, religions and races. A song or an artist truly has the power to translate a message or a movement more than any politician or world leader can on a global scale. This is why we believe that by producing a song for Mr. Kofi Annan and the 'Tck Tck Tck: Time for Climate Justice' campaign, we will be creating a voice for all of us who deserve to have a say leading up to Copenhagen in December. The goal is to draw enough attention to an event that will affect everyone’s lives on the planet."

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Pete Bowyer, Apex Communications: + 44 7725 063377 (pete.bowyer@apexcommunications.com)

Branimira Radoslavova, Apex Communications: +44 7867 532339 (branimira@apexcommunications.com)

The song is downloadable for free on itunes, by going to:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewalbum?i=332754461&id=332754130&s=143442&uo=6

Global Humanitarian Forum

Founded in 2007, the Global Humanitarian Forum is led by Kofi Annan and brings together stakeholders, including government, business, international organizations, civil society and the general public, to help solve humanitarian challenges. Located in Geneva, the Forum's current focus is to increase awareness on the human face of climate change and to boost support to vulnerable populations worst affected by global warming: http://www.ghf-geneva.org.

Havas

Havas (Euronext Paris: HAV.PA) is a global advertising and communications services group. Headquartered in Paris, Havas operates through its two Divisions, Havas Worldwide and Havas Media, in order to optimize synergies and further reinforce Havas's position as the most integrated of all of the major holding companies.

Havas Worldwide incorporates the Euro RSCG Worldwide network as well as agencies with strong local identities: Arnold in the USA, the UK and Italy, H and W&Cie in France, Palm+Havas in Canada. Havas Media incorporates the MPG, Arena, Havas Sports and Entertainment and Havas Digital networks.

A multicultural and decentralized Group, Havas is present in more than 75 countries through its networks of agencies and contractual affiliations. The Group offers a broad range of communications services, including traditional advertising, direct marketing, media planning and buying, corporate communications, sales promotion, design, human resources, sports marketing, multimedia interactive communications and public relations. Havas employs approximately 14,700 people. Further information about Havas is available on the company’s website: http://www.havas.com.

The:Hours

The:Hours is a music company founded in January 2008 by Alexandre Sap and Leslie Dubest, who also established Recall Records along with Fabien Moreau, an entrepreneur with strong expertise in communications and entertainment. The:Hours is a record label signed on with Universal for distribution worldwide, as well as a creative music-production and consultancy platform for brands.

In July 2008 the company became the first record label ever to be acquired by a major advertising network, creating a new business model. Euro RSCG Worldwide, the world's fifth-largest advertising network, now owns a 51 percent stake in the venture. The:Hours artist roster includes Dan Black, Cazals, Fires of Rome, Dada Life, Elbow, autoKratz, Via Tania and Casxio, among others: http://www.the-hours.com.

The Hours would like to thank:

Lily Allen, Heidy Allende, Amadou et Mariam, Andre, Bamboo Shoots , Alexandre De Betak, Sa Ding Ding, Dan Black, Brazilian Girls, Jamie Burke, Guillaume Canet, Casxio, Aurelia Chaplin, Marion Cotillard, Jamie Cullum, Youssou n’Dour, Duran Duran, Fergie, Fires Of Rome, Khalil Fong, Adam Freeland, Bob Geldof, Grand National, Chanel Iman, Milla Jovovich, Manu Katche, Angelique Kidjo, Klaxons, Melanie Laurent, Will Lee, Jet Li, Xing Li, Theophilus London, Suketu Metha, Midnight Oil, Yannick Noah, Overtone, Vincent Perez, Mark Ronson, Mick Rock, Serena Ryder, Scorpions, Jacques Seguela, Eric Serra, Michael Stevens, The All American Rejects, Olivia Ruiz, The Kin, Desmond Tutu, Via Tania, Hawksley Workman, Charlie Winston, Andrew Wyatt, Yodelice, Eglantina Zingg.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: The future of the rainforest is our future too - Please sign up at www.rainforestSOS.org; http://facebook.com/rainforestSOS; http://twitter.com/rainforestSOS

The PRINCE'S RAINFORESTS PROJECT LAUNCHES RAINFOREST SOS: PRP Teams Up with Leading Organizations and Well-known Faces to Send Out the World’s Biggest SOS for the Rainforests

PLEASE SIGN UP AT:

http://www.rainforestSOS.org
http://facebook.com/rainforestSOS
http://twitter.com/rainforestSOS

September 30, 2009 – The Prince's Rainforests Project (PRP) is launching their Rainforest SOS campaign today in an effort to send the world's biggest SOS on behalf of the rainforests before the international climate change meetings held by the UN in Copenhagen this December.

The PRP will kick off the campaign with a video message from Sting urging people to send their Rainforest SOS message to the world. Sting's support of the campaign coincides with the 30th anniversary of The Police's "Message in a Bottle." In celebration, the PRP will release a special video compilation of the "Message in a Bottle" song, featuring footage of PRP supporters sending personalized SOS messages and images of the rainforests – both alive and destroyed.

"Thirty years ago, I wrote 'Message in a Bottle.' Today, I'm joining forces with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and many others supporting The Prince's Rainforests Project to send an SOS to the world. Sending your SOS is easy, and can help create the climate for change. If there is one thing you do today, make it this," said Sting.

Building on the success of the public awareness phase of the project launched this May, which has seen over 4.2 million views of the campaign frog film, the PRP is now asking people across the globe to send a Rainforest SOS message from its website, http://www.rainforestsos.org.

The Rainforest SOS message takes the form of the supporter's name and an optional short message to show their support for emergency action for the rainforests. These messages will demonstrate the level of public support for action to be taken to stop rainforest destruction, as well as display the growing awareness of deforestation's link to climate change. Such a message is vital ahead of global climate change negotiations in Copenhagen this December.

Many of the world's biggest online portals and well-known brands are coming together to support the PRP's Rainforest SOS campaign. Partners will be sending information about the campaign and the sign up request through their customer and employee channels via dedicated homepages, email signatures, customer communications, website content and donated banner space.

The launch of the Rainforest SOS campaign will for the first time see organizations from all sectors join together to support this vitally important cause. From media leaders such as Turner AOL, Yahoo, Google, MySpace, Facebook, Treehugger and Greenopolis to leading companies including Boeing, Virgin, Dell, and McDonald's to NGOs such as Conservation International, NRDC and The Rainforest Action Network – these organizations are all uniting to help send the biggest SOS for the rainforests.

In addition to receiving substantial support from members of the general public, NGOs, and the business community, key well known faces ranging from Harrison Ford to the Dalai Lama are also rallying behind the PRP's efforts. The PRP's most recent supporters include Trudie Styler, Vivienne Westwood, Scooby Doo, and Rod Stewart, who have all recorded messages and added their voices to the cause. A video mash-up featuring PRP supporters from all of these key communities will also be released today to show the groundswell of support around the world for PRP and its efforts.

This level of support reflects a growing understanding that rainforests are critical for our survival as they regulate rainfall, preserve biodiversity and, most importantly, store vast amounts of carbon. Tropical deforestation is a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions. The burning of the rainforests produces more carbon emissions per year than the entire global transport sector. Without tackling this problem it will be impossible to avoid catastrophic climate change.

In a recent video message, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales said: "Rainforests are utterly essential in our fight against climate change. They absorb nearly a fifth of all our carbon emissions and yet they are being destroyed at the rate of a football pitch every four seconds. To solve the problem, we have to find ways to ensure the trees become more valuable alive than dead so there is no incentive to cut them down."

The Prince's Rainforest SOS campaign will culminate at a major rainforest event to be hosted by HRH The Prince of Wales in November. This event will include political leaders, NGO directors and top decision-makers from the business community. A representation of those who have signed up during the campaign will be given to the assembled group and will also be included in a special edition of a book of rainforest photographs to be given to world leaders before Copenhagen. The photographs were taken by the renowned photographer Daniel Beltra, who was this year's winner of the PRP Award at the Sony World Photography Awards.

To sign up in support of urgent action to end rainforest destruction and send a SOS message on behalf of the rainforests, visit http://www.rainforestSOS.org.

About The Prince's Rainforests Project

The Prince's Rainforests Project (PRP) was established in October 2007 by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to develop consensus as to how the rate of rainforest destruction might be slowed. Rainforests regulate rainfall, preserve biodiversity and, most importantly, store vast amounts of carbon. Tropical deforestation is a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions and without tackling this problem it may be impossible to avoid catastrophic climate change. The PRP is working with governments, international businesses and non-profit organisations to find a solution.

ANNOUNCEMENT: New Book Release - The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

Hi all,

I have just been emailed the details of an interesting new book which has just been released. Read on for the details.

"The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is the immensely engaging and inspiring true account of an enterprising African teenager who constructed a windmill from scraps to create electricity for his entire community.

William Kamkwamba shares the remarkable story of his youth in Malawi, Africa — a nation crippled by intense poverty, famine, and the AIDS plague — and how, with tenacity and imagination, he built a better life for himself, his family, and his village.

The poignant and uplifting story of Kamkwamba’s inspiration and personal triumph, co-written with Bryan Mealer, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind has already won ringing praise from former Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore, Paolo Coelho, internationally bestselling author of The Alchemist, and has often been compared to the international bestselling book Three Cups of Tea.

Here is the remarkable story about human inventiveness and its power to overcome crippling adversity. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind will inspire anyone who doubts the power of one individual's ability to change his community and better the lives of those around him, not to mention finding new ways to sustain our earth's resources.

If you are interested in a review copy, please email me your address. To find out more about William, watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arD374MFk4w

MEDIA RELEASE: Australian Company Sets Off to Offset World's Computer Carbon Footprint

BRISBANE - 17 September 2009

Australian company Little Green Genie (LGG) has embarked on a cause to help reduce the emissions created by the world's billion-plus computers through the introduction of world first computer carbon offset software.

Launched this week by the Hon Kate Jones MP, Queensland Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, the LGG is a program that calculates how much energy is being used by a computer, and then uses this information to buy a proportionate amount of carbon credits to offset this use.

LGG spokesman, Bruce Nelson, says with the manufacture and energy used to run computers creating as big a carbon footprint as the global airline industry, green minded computer users now have an option to offset their PC's carbon emissions.

"We think the public really feel a sense of duty to help offset carbon emissions, but many feel it can be too much of a hassle to really do anything," Mr Nelson says. "The Little Green Genie program is easy to download and calculates the computers emissions from energy use".

"It then automatically purchases carbon credits from Climate Friendly, a founding member of the international carbon reduction and offset alliance, which in turn supports renewable energy equal to the computers energy use."

For the average computer user this will cost roughly ten dollars a year with the simplicity of the program and its accuracy in calculating the emissions identified as major factors in its potential popularity with personal computer users as well as businesses.

Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones says her Government supports businesses that are making sustainable choices, because reducing our carbon footprint is everyone's responsibility.

"I congratulate Little Green Genie for developing such a simple and effective tool that can make reducing our carbon footprint easier," Ms Jones says.

Little Green Genie is part of a growing number of social entrepreneur businesses that recognise a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to organise, create and manage a venture to make social change.

Enquiry about the program has already been received from over 103 countries including Bangladesh, Slovenia and Lebanon, with subscribers already on board from 39 countries, proving the broad international appeal of carbon offset initiatives.

As computers become more and more crucial to the running of our everyday lives, Mr Nelson sees the LGG as an excellent opportunity to keep the green message in front of people's faces.

"We're already seeing other by-products of the initiative such as users reporting that the program is causing them to look at improving their environmental behaviours in other parts of their life," Mr Nelson says.

For more information or to download the Little Green Genie visit:
http://www.littlegreengenie.com

For all media enquiries contact Bruce Nelson on +61 (0)423 403 449.

CONSERVATION: Award winning photographer Daniel Beltrá takes powerful new images of The Amazon

London, 23rd June 2009

Award winning photographer Daniel Beltrá takes powerful new images of The Amazon

First images taken on The Prince's Rainforest Project and Sony assignment show the rainforests' glory and destruction

Daniel Beltrá, this year's winner of The Prince's Rainforests Project (PRP) Award at the Sony World Photography Awards has released some initial photographs taken on the first leg of his prize - a fully-funded assignment to document the three major rainforest regions of the world.

The Spanish photographer, now based in Seattle, beat off stiff competition from some of the world's finest environmental photographers to win the assignment on behalf of The Prince's Rainforests Project and Sony Europe.

"Travelling to the Amazon has been an incredible experience and I have been able to capture some powerful images that show the many different elements of the rainforest – the beauty, the wildlife, the local people and also the destruction", says Daniel. "It is has been an eye-opening journey so far and I'm looking forward to photographing the Central African and South East Asian rainforests on the next parts of my trip. I hope the photos I produce will make a strongly persuasive argument for emergency action to preserve the world's tropical rainforests".

The PRP, founded by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, recognises that every year, destruction of the Earth's rainforests releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than all the world's cars, planes and ships put together and aims to achieve consensus about how the rate of deforestation might be slowed. The PRP is working with governments, businesses and non-profit organisations around the world to find solutions to deforestation - and to find them fast - with the ambition of 'making the trees worth more alive than dead'. The project has also launched a global awareness campaign, asking people to sign up at http://www.blogger.com/www.rainforestSOS.orgto put rainforests at the heart of the climate change debate.

Environmental responsibility has been a significant part of the Sony ethos for many years and the PRP partnership is just one of Sony's many environmental initiatives. Sony Chairman and CEO Sir Howard Stringer recently filmed a video with the PRP animated frog in support of the partnership which can be seen on the PRP website.

Sony and the PRP are delivering a stunning interactive exhibition that will combine Daniel's new photographs with Sony technology to allow people to experience the glory of the rainforests and understand their plight. The exhibition will open at Kew Gardens, London on October 3rd 2009.

Media contact

Sony
Claire Mylchreest, Corporate Communications, Sony Europe
Tel: +44 1932 81 6000/ email: http://www.blogger.com/claire.mylchreest@eu.sony.com

PRP
Kim Shaw, Cake
Tel: +44 7791 717 720/ email: http://www.blogger.com/kims@cakegroup.com


Further information

• Daniel Beltrá is available for interview and images from his current PRP assignment are available through the PRP and Sony, contact details below.

• About Daniel Beltrá
Beltrá is the winner of numerous awards. Last year, he won awards in the NPPA Best of Photojournalism and the International Photography/Lucie contests. He is a fellow of the prestigious International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP). His Amazon work was awarded in the China International Press Photo contest in 2006 and the World Press Photo in 2006 and 2007. That same year, along with Sir David Attenborough, he received a Special Nomination from The International Forum on the Drought in Seville (Spain) for his dedication to the environment.

• The Prince's Rainforests Project
The Prince's Rainforests Project (PRP) was established in October 2007 by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and aims to achieve consensus as to how the rate of deforestation might be slowed and stopped. The PRP intend to leverage the convening power of HRH The Prince of Wales and work alongside governments, international businesses, non-profit organisations and the rainforests nations themselves to find a solution to mass deforestation and degradation of the rainforests, and make the trees worth more alive than they are dead.

If you're interested in finding out more about the PRP or to register your support to combat climate change through halting deforestation, please log-on to: http://www.blogger.com/www.princesrainforestsproject.org

• About Sony
Sony manufactures audio, video, communications and information technology products for the global consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, game and online businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be one of the world's leading digital entertainment brands. Sony recorded consolidated global annual sales of EUR 54.4billion (yen 7,730 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, based on an average market exchange rate for the same period of yen 142.0 to the EUR. It employs approximately 171,300 people worldwide. In Europe, the Sony Group recorded consolidated annual sales of EUR 14.0 billion (yen 1,987.7 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009.

• For more information about Sony's environmental initiatives go to http://www.blogger.com/www.sony.eu/eco