We’ve heard from many of our business members who want to use their 1% contributions to assist recovery efforts—and we’re here to help you connect with groups making a difference.

Until we can get a comprehensive list of organizations doing work on the ground, we encourage you to support our partners working to reduce the chance of storms like Sandy happening in the first place.  Climate change is a reality that must be taken seriously. 

Please consider donating to the following organizations, and if you know of others that can use our help, let us know!

350.org is building a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis (350.org/mission). 350.org is known for pulling together massive groups of people worldwide who want to fight against the fossil fuel industry- our largest carbon emitters.  By solving the climate crisis, they are lowering the likelihood of storms like Sandy occurring as frequently. Along with asking for your support, they are asking Big Oil, Coal and Gas to help pay for the damage they have created.

Another organization that is doing great Sandy-related work is Climate Central, based in Princeton, NJ.  Climate Central conducts scientific research on climate change and informs the public of key findings (climatecentral.org/about). Climate Central is not an advocacy organization; they are conveying the scientific facts so citizens and policymakers can work to stabilize the climate and/or prepare for the impacts it will have on us. 

Please keep in mind that while you cannot count donations to unapproved organizations toward your 1% contribution, organizations like the Red Cross can always use your help during times like this. As news comes in we will be in touch via our Facebook and Twitter pages to share other ways you can help!

With production help from NewSong Recording, along with Sustainable Brands, Reverb Rock, The Sustainable Living Roadshow, America SCORES and 1% recipient 350.org, this EP is spreading a positive environmental message. So whether you are a diehard climate activist, or just interested in some great music, make sure to download your copy of this inspiring four song EP today!

Katie Herzig’s “Make A Noise”, Video by Steve Liptay

Continuing with this theme of connecting the dots, I challenge you to connect the dots between the following businesses around the world….

West Coast-  PlugOut, Spore Lore, Grass Roots Home Consulting,  California Solar Electric Company, Simply Straws, Green Bliss, Siempre Verde, The Greenfield Group, Skyline Eco-Adventures - Akaka Falls, Small Yellow Horses

East Coast – Hipcycle, The Whiteboard Team, EcoLogic Associates, Coast Toast Organics

Somewhere in the Middle – Nicey Treat, Simple Water, Bristol Family Law, Neighborhood Welcoming Committee, Lighthouse Conferencing, Sustainable Management Group

New England – Enriched Learning Center, North Country Enterprises, Naturesource Communications, Andy Duback Photography, OMBE, Atlantic Acupuncture

Canada –  GIVE Group, White Leaf Photographs

Japan – BeWet, Masahiro Terada

Scandinavia – SavetheC, Good Things International, MNML Agency

France – One Planet Surf, MBC Premium, Planetik

Netherlands – CleanSolutions, 7zerolab

United Kingdom – medical-artist.com

New Zealand- Safebottles

I’m sure that by now you have guessed that these are April’s 40 new 1% members! Welcome to our network, and I wish you all a very happy Green Up Day and hope you all find a way to get involved with cleaning up your local natural landscape!

Still, it’s hard to feel hopeless when you see people coming together to create the change we need so desperately. Yesterday, when news that the Keystone XL pipeline was once again a threat, 1% for the Planet nonprofit partner 350.org mobilized more than 800,000 people in just 24 hours to send Congress an emphatic NO. The message couldn’t have been clearer.

Last night Bill McKibben had the spotlight on The Colbert Report—check it out if you haven’t seen it yet.

The motivation that gets 800,000 to coalesce around something they care so deeply about is the same energy that motivates businesses to be part of the solution—they’re working hard to create a world that we all want to live in.

In the past two weeks we’ve seen another 16 companies sign on to 1% for the Planet. Our most recent new members are AdventSure, Alisma, Barbara Grant Consulting Group, BeeFlow, BIG Green Island Transportation, Eco-Armour, Executive Property Management, IPR Coaching, Kiyomo, Miquel MAXIME, Neat-os, Peaked Sports, Toast, Trendfinder Trading Systems, Wavergarden UK and Starbars—a warm welcome and many thanks from the crew at 1%!

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!

Bill McKibben (l) and Stephen Colbert (r)

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.