This Saturday we encourage you to drop all plans, grab your circle of friends and family, and join the big circle, our global community, in action for 1% for the Planet Non-Profit Partner 350.org‘s International Day of Climate Action. Voice, act, dance, paddle, ring, play, sing, whatever you can offer, in show of your support for the number 350, representing 350 parts per million, the scientifically backed “safe upper limit” for CO2 in our atmosphere. With creative events and gatherings across the globe, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved with this powerful message that affects us all. Click here to find out what’s happening nearest you.
How are we celebrating? You can find us at Vermont’s 350 Dance Party at Higher Ground in Burlington. Headlined by 1% for the Planet member Barefoot Truth (member since Jan. ’08) the show will be simulcast online and on cable throughout the state so all can join.
1% for the Planet will also have a presence in New York City, circumnavigating Manhattan Island with a group in kayaks stenciled by area students.
Calling all 1% for the Planet members, if you’re participating in a 350 action this Saturday, please write me at kate@onepercentfortheplanet.org. We’d be happy to share your support with updates to our blog post here!
Our greatest congratulations go out to longtime 1% for the Planet members Reusablebags.com (member since 2006) and Grounds for Change (member since 2003) for making the final round in Green America’s People’s Choice Award as the “Green Business of the Year”. “A celebration of the leaders of the green economy, and a challenge to corporate America to follow their path”, we encourage you to show your support to these committed businesses by voting through this link. Voting closes Thursday October 8th!
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About the call:
2009 could mark the most significant year in climate change history as world leaders meet in Copenhagen this December to tackle a new plan for curbing global greenhouse gas emissions.
Currently, our atmosphere carries over 387 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide – the leading cause of global climate change. Our top climate scientists (James Hansen, Nicholas Stern, Rajendra Pachauri, and Al Gore) have indicated that a safe climate future rests at 350 ppm (or less). Actions across the globe will take place on October 24th - the International Day of Climate Action – to help spread awareness around this number and the forthcoming release of the United Nation new international climate change treaty.
Join 350.org’s Bill McKibben this Thursday for a briefing on this historic time in climate change and how you (and your organization) can get involved.
The call is open to everyone, so please spread the word!
Reserve your spot now for the Bill McKibben and 350.org climate change briefing on Thursday, September 24th, at 1:00 p.m. (EDT – New York time)
Space is limited, so sign up early! We’ll send you a confirmation email and the call-in information before the call, as well as information on upcoming events (you can always unsubscribe from future emails with one click).
About Bill and 350.org:
An American environmentalist and writer, Bill McKibben is the founder of 350.org, an international climate campaign. This October 24, 350.org is organizing the 350 International Day of Climate Action, with thousands of events planned at iconic places around the world. Bill frequently writes about global warming, alternative energy, and the risks associated with human genetic engineering. Beginning in the summer of 2006, he led the organization of the largest demonstrations against global warming in American history. McKibben is active in the Methodist Church, and his writing sometimes has a spiritual bent. More about Bill here →
About the 1% Brown Bag Lunch Series:
This new conference call series from 1% for the Planet aims to help educate our 1% community — members, partners, and friends — about the latest environmental topics that experts in the 1% network are working on. We’re currently looking into the topic of climate change and how individuals and organizations alike can get involved. Earlier this summer, 1% non-profit partner Clean Air-Cool Planet led our first 1% Brown Bag Lunch Series call to brief us on climate and energy legislation in the U.S. For upcoming calls, please submit your ideas to brownbag@onepercentfortheplanet.org.We are picking upcoming topics based on your requests.
Last week 1% CEO Terry Kellogg interviewed with marketing extraordinaire Lynda Resnick for her first Ruby Tuesday: Pick of the Week of the fall. Terry helped start the season off with a colorful Vermont bang. Titled “Doing Well by Doing Good: 1% for the Planet Lives the Message”, Lynda concludes the interview with a line we love: “If you’re not doing something for the planet, you don’t deserve to be in business. It’s basic to your being. So, I think what you’re doing is fantastic. I wish the very best for you.” Read the full interview on Lynda’s blog by clicking here.
Mountain Khakis has been listed in Inc.’s top 500, ranking #404 in all and #34 in the Consumer Products and Services Industry. Their growth, clocked at 638% from 2005 to 2008, can be attributed to the exceptional focus and quality of their product – a hardy pant.
Another key to Mountain Khakis’ resonation with consumers is also indicated by their prominent waving of their 1% for the Planet membership logo, from the very beginning. Yes we are pleased to reveal that Mountain Khakis signed on as 1% member when they first launched the company in 2004.
A wonderful testament to the age old song, “you need to give in order to receive”, we learn with Mountain Khakis that this is indeed applicable in the world of business. Inc. concurs revealing, “If you want to know which companies are going to change the world, look at the Inc. 500″. For more information on Mountain Khakis’ success click here.
Our French members rendezvoused in celebration this week due to our recent post about 400 placements of 1% for the Planet posters in the Paris Metro this month. Touring the city together with props representing their businesses, we are absolutely jazzed with the results. We think you will be too! Click on any of the photos posted to be linked to the complete library documenting the day.
A round of applause goes to Emmanuel Donfut of Balao (member since Nov. ’06) pictured solo in front of the Eiffel Tower here. Thank you for the wonderful idea, for the fun, and for sharing with us all!
Some like it hot, but tonight on The Colbert Report acclaimed author and 1% for the Planet Non-Profit Partner Bill McKibben of 350.org will teach us all a thing or two about how we really, really need to cool it down. We encourage you to tune in to The Colbert Report on Comedy Central at 11:30 pm ET and PST, (or you can see the taped version on The Colbert Nation website here). Two brilliant men with a knack for hilarity, addressing a planetary issue with a clear call to action, this promises to be a great show.
Q: What do a farmer, a brewery, a musician, a couple of fly-fishermen and a custom bike builder all have in common? A: The planet. They all know that without it, the creativity, craftsmanship, travel, talent and fruits of the earth all wouldn’t be possible.
Next Q: What do these people all do about it? We are pleased to reveal the answer in our first 1% for the Planet short film, due out early this fall. For a tickle, check out a clip on our newly revamped YouTube Page or through the linked photo above.
Translation: I was cut down to make this poster, the least you could do was read it. Companies use natural resources. It is inevitable. The association 1% for the Planet encourages companies to give 1% of their sales to the protection of the environment.
Oui oui mon cherie, c’est vrai! We are pleased to share that with MediaTransports in France 1% for the Planet has 400 placements of the above creative in the Paris Métro posted now and up for as long as possible.
With such a reach into Europe’s second busiest metro system and a city that hosts an estimated 45 million tourists a year, we are honored to have this opportunity to encourage our global momentum and to highlight our 69 members in France on their home turf.
With our offices in Vermont, USA, we are sorry we won’t be seeing these posters but encourage those who do to take a snapshot and share with us all by posting on our Facebook Page.
To MediaTransports for their support, to our volunteer Caroline in France for her dedicated work, to our French members for their passion, and to all for spreading the word about 1% for the Planet across this very special globe, merci beaucoup!
On Tuesday, July 28 at 1:00 pm (EST), we will hold the first of our 1% Brown Bag Lunch conference call for our 1% community of 1% Member businesses and approved environmental organizations.
Our good friends and 1% Recipient organization, Clean Air–Cool Planet, will lead the first call of the series. For about an hour, we will learn about the latest in climate and energy legislation in Washington, D.C., the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), which currently resides in the Senate. The historic bill aims to put a price on the emissions of greenhouse gases created in the United States. The plan may transform the way we support our economy’s growing energy demands, use our transportation systems, and invest in businesses and technology.
If you are a 1% Member business or 1% approved non-profit partner, keep an eye out for call-in details in your inbox. Also, we’ll be sharing the the full-audio recordings right here, on the 1% for the Planet Blog, during the week following the call. And if you find yourself tirelessly trolling social networks for the latest news like we are, you can find and contribute to live updates of the call on the 1% Twitter page.
About the experts:
Clean Air-Cool Planet is a leading non-profit organization dedicated solely to finding and promoting solutions to global warming. CEO Adam Markham will lead with a brief overview of the organization’s work in practical corporate engagement in climate change solutions. President Rafe Pomerance will follow and answer your questions about the American Clean Energy and Security Act – also known as the Waxman-Markey Bill – and efforts in Washington to help develop new climate policies. Formerly Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Environment and Development and U.S. representative to Kyoto negotiations, Pomerance is also the founder of National Clean Air Coalition coordinator and Climate Policy Center.
