Time’s a-tickin!  Tonight marks the first presidential debate between President Obama and Governor Mitt Romney and Election Day is but five weeks from today!  Are you registered?  Are you informed?  Are you ready?

This fall, 1% for the Planet is partnering with Patagonia to help spread the word about their Vote the Environment (VtE) campaign.  VtE is  a campaign that encourages Americans to do three things: register to vote, educate yourself about your congressional representatives’ environmental voting records, and vote the environment on election day!  The VtE campaign is engaging the realm of social media via a Twitter hasthtag, #becauseilove, which enables voters to integrate a personal statement into the political discussion about why they love the environment.

Who’s involved?  Who’s Tweeting?  I am (@bnunnink)! Along with @1PercentFTP, @paulinejstevens, @leahpcameron, @bfriedsam and… you?!  New Belgium Brewing (@newbelgium) eagerly hopped aboard to spread the word to their network, Jack Johnson (@jackjohnson) has been a huge advocate for the campaign and even Ascenta Health hailed us from Canada to see how they could help, recognizing that, regardless of being in a different country, we all inhabit the same planet and if we are to achieve the most beneficial and sizable changes, collaboration across borders is essential.

5 weeks left!!  Ready to get involved?  See how in three easy steps:

1. Start Tweeting!  Share with your friends and followers why you vote the environment!  Tweet from your personal Twitter account and your organization’s Twitter account.

Fill in the blank with the name of your favorite place or outdoor activity and then tweet your completed sentence: “I vote the environment #becauseilove _____________.”

**Bonus Points**

Attach a photo to your Tweet (photos are worth so much more than 140 characters!)

Print out this VtE sign, fill it out, take a photo of yourself holding it, and TWEET!  Tag @1PercentFTP and we’ll retweet you!

2. Bring your website’s traffic into the VtE conversation by using this widget.  Let us know the average website views your site gets per month (voteenviro@onepercentfortheplanet.org), and we’ll get you the embed code for the VtE widget, which allows any visitors to your website to tweet then and there.

3. Join us!  On 10.11.12, show up to your computer (or iPad, or smartphone…) for a Twitter Party and let’s get a Twitter storm underway about why we vote the environment.  10:00-11:00 am PDT on 10.11.12! 

Questions?  Comments?  Please send them to voteenviro@onepercentfortheplanet.org

49southphoto is a very small business, headquartered at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia.  They design field guides that are ideal companions for any explorer of the remote and natural landscapes in southern South America.

49southphoto’s owner, Diego Punta Fernández is a photographer, naturalist and active conservationist. He is involved in a number of conservation and environmental education projects- including his main project that is related with the Hooded Grebe, an endemic Patagonian bird that is critically endangered. Diego told us that he believes “in using businesses to effect positive changes, and [his] hope is to inspire other local and regional companies to become part of this great organization. [He is] really proud of being part of this fabulous movement.” Diego, we’re proud to have you!

Our next shout-out goes to a tasty beverage company based in Australia. Beyond was one of the first coconut water brands to hit Australian markets.  Their coconut water comes straight from young coconuts in Thailand and is bottled completely as is, without any additives. Beyond coconut water is stored in a clean and elegant airtight glass bottle for freshness and convenience and it eliminates any chance of being popped or pierced like their tetra carton competitors.

Beyond coconut water is not just a great tasting and hydrating drink, but in fact there are numerous health benefits associated with drinking 100% natural coconut water. It is a wonderful source of electrolytes while being free of fat, cholesterol, added sugar, sodium or flavoring!  Beyond was inspired to join 1% for the Planet in order to have the opportunity to fundamentally give back to the earth that allows them to create this natural beverage.  Beyond understands and embraces the notion that the sustainability of the natural environment is vital to the sustainability of any business!

We look forward to working with these new members and if you find yourself in Patagonia or Melbourne, we hope that you choose to support them! And if you find yourself in Vermont, you should take advantage of these fun, free, foliage filled activities, or take a drive up Route 17 over the Appalachian Gap and see what I see on my daily commute…