New Zealand’s new face of environmental activism
May 23, 2009
The respectable faces of environmental activism have plucked eyebrows and discreetly applied lip gloss.
Their names are listed at the end of television shows and the start of company reports.
On a rainy Auckland Tuesday, nobody is scaling a coal-fired power station or storming a whaling ship. But they are pushing an environmental message. The rich, the famous, the as-seen-on-Shortland-Street have gathered in a Mt Eden film studio to convince government to act faster against climate change.
Actors Lucy Lawless and Keisha Castle Hughes are here. So is former vodka mogul Geoff Ross, The Warehouse founder Stephen Tindall and recently sacked Niwa scientist Jim Salinger. Roll out the green carpet the celebrity activist has something to say.
“There is no Planet B,” says Lawless.
“The science is bloody obvious,” says Salinger.
They take their place in front of a video camera, on the gaffer-taped mark on the floor, and prepare to take Greenpeace where it’s never been before: the middle market.
Over the next seven months, local celebrities will attempt to convince 300,000 Kiwis to sign-on to a call for a 40 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. It’s the biggest and most mainstream public mobilisation the usually radical environmental movement has attempted.
“We believe government does not feel it has a clear mandate to take strong action on climate change,” says Greenpeace. “We need to change this perception.”
In December, world leaders will gather in Copenhagen for the United Nations climate change conference. The Danish government is calling it the “crucial conference” where the aim is global agreement on a plan to reduce the total quantity of greenhouse gas emissions generated by human activity. New Zealand has committed to a 50% reduction on its 1990 emission levels by 2050.
That’s not fast enough, says Greenpeace executive director Bunny McDiarmid.
“Most of the people in government won’t be around in 2050, so they won’t be held accountable. If you’re being a responsible government, what happens in the next 10 years on climate change is going to be what counts.”
McDiarmid was a 28-year-old deckhand when Greenpeace protest ship the Rainbow Warrior en route to protest nuclear weapons testing was bombed in Auckland harbour by French secret service agents
Climate change is, says McDiarmid, “the biggest thing humanity has faced”. Bigger than nuclear bombs?
“As long as we didn’t push that button we were OK. But we have pushed this button already.
“In my 25 years of working in the environmental movement I have never felt so scared and motivated by what is at stake for all of us… this is an issue that will touch every single person’s life, if it hasn’t already.”
McDiarmid says the Greenpeace target is based on work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Implementing a 40% cut in emissions, in a country where half of those emissions come from agriculture, would, she acknowledges, require “a transformation of the way we’re doing our farming”.
Why bother when, as a nation, we contribute to less than half a percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions?
“The world economy is already being affected by climate change. To think our little economy is going to survive and be different because we choose not to participate in these negotiations at the level at which we should…
“We’re all in the same little boat. There is a lot of work going into what the impacts will be for countries like New Zealand, but I would argue we’re probably already seeing them in terms of our droughts, and the cost of those droughts, here and internationally. You’re talking millions and millions of dollars and people’s livelihoods and lives being wiped out, and that has to be weighted against the cost of acting now.”
In March 2008, six Greenpeace climate change activists were arrested when they took to sea to stop a coal ship leaving Lyttelton harbour. In October, four protesters were arrested when they chained themselves to forestry equipment near Tokoroa.
No one was arrested in the making of the new celebrity Sign On campaign. Has Greenpeace gone soft?
“Hopefully we always remain a little unpredictable,” McDiarmid says. “This may be the necessary and unpredictable strand of this campaign.
“The more diverse the Kiwis are who are saying this is important, the better.
“They almost need to be an odd bunch of bedfellows.”
Lucy Lawlessthe Warrior Princess turned eco-Queen gets “one, maybe two” requests a week to endorse products and causes.
“I just can’t get that jazzed about getting a free, I don’t know, washing machine. How do I choose what I support? By my gut and by the integrity of the organisation.”
She says she has inherited a planet that has been rubbished. “I’m pissed at former generations for having been ignorant and stupid and greedy, but it’s our job to start cleaning up.”
Lights. Camera. Action. “Hi, I’m Robyn Malcolm… Cliff Curtis… Peter Gordon… Emily Barclay… Toni Potter…”
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Look who’s coming to Green Cities™ Florida
May 16, 2009
On May 20th, the Orange County Convention Center will open its doors to Florida’s top business, community and government leaders who are gathering to attend the first ever Green Cities™ Florida conference. The event is designed to create, connect and facilitate meaningful business dialogues while providing educational platforms for business and government with practical steps, strategic plans and appropriate tools for getting started down the path of sustainability.
This is no ordinary ‘green’ conference. Designed specifically to address the economic and environmental challenges and opportunities that Florida faces, Green Cities™ provides 60 of the nation’s sustainability experts speaking on 7 separate educational tracks including: Growing Florida’s Green Economy; Greening your Business A-Z; Green Government; Wise Business Choices in a Changing Economy; Green Events Planning and Production; Understanding and Responding to Climate Change; Green Cities Planning, Design and Construction and a training track.
“Florida has the opportunity to emerge a leader in green business,” states Mayor Richard Crotty. “This event is geared for motivated businesses and government leaders who desire to be more pro-active with ‘green practices’ in order to realize the savings and opportunities associated with this new shift in doing business. Orange County is proud to support this conference because it enables business and government leaders to gain the knowledge they need to implement opportunities to help protect the environment, build community quality, and increase economic opportunities.”
Some of the speakers include:
- Gil Friend – Founder, President and CEO of Natural Logic, Inc., providing advisory services in strategy, design, operations, and information systems that help clients build economic advantage through exceptional environmental performance.
- Mike Italiano – President & Chief Executive Officer for Market Transformation to Sustainability and founder of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
- Dr. Jennifer Languell – Founder and President of Trifecta Construction Solutions and nationally recognized leader in green building education.
- Jerome Ringo – President of the Apollo Alliance, a coalition of business, labor, environmental, and community leaders working to catalyze a clean energy revolution in America.
- Tim Center – Director of Sustainable Florida – Collins Center, an alliance of private and public partners committed to identifying, supporting and communicating sustainable best practices.
- John Lushetsky – Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency for the U.S. Department of Energy, with responsibility for all solar technology development, grid integration, and market transformation activities under the Solar America Initiative.
- Steve Cochran – Internationally-recognized and nationally-prominent leader, speaker, writer, and advocate and practitioner in the field of sustainable enterprise.
Green Cities™ Florida participants will have the opportunity to network with business and government entities through professional and social networking integrated throughout the 2 day conference. In addition, attendees will take part in an historic event: the “Flip The Switch” ceremony for the largest solar array of its kind in the Southeast. The one-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) system is currently being installed atop the Orange County Convention Center and will be turned on for the first time the morning of May 20th during opening ceremonies for Green Cities™ Florida. Both Mayor Buddy Dyer of Orlando and Mayor Richard Crotty of Orange County will be on hand along with Senator Lee Constantine to “turn on the sun” – putting Florida on the map as a leader in sustainability.
Contributing Sponsors include: Advanced Solar Photonics, OUC and Permapave; Media Sponsors are EcoFactory, CSRwire, Sustainability: The Journal of Record and ENS.
ABOUT GREEN CITIES™ FLORIDA
Green Cities™ is produced by Seven-Star, Inc., an EPA award winning green event and green education expert. Green Cities™ Florida offers ideas, products, and services that provide business and government with the necessary tools and resources to make a shift toward sustainable practices. Topics range from green building to clean technology; organic agriculture to green investments; fair trade to the sustainable supply chain; and, integrating sustainability into corporate culture.
For more information, please visit www.greencitiesflorida.com
Orange County Mayor Supports Green Cities
April 15, 2009
In an effort to support Florida’s sustainability initiatives and bolster Florida’s green economy, Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty endorses Green Cities Florida!
Dear Business and Community Leaders:
I am writing to share with you an exciting new conference that will take place at the Orange County Convention Center on May 20-21, 2009. GreenCities Florida will be a catalyst for green economic development, promoting green businesses and advancing government sustainability initiatives.
Florida faces unique challenges related to climate change, energy, water, biodiversity, construction, tourism, jobs and health care. GreenCities Florida addresses these issues and serves as the catalyst for sustainable innovation in Florida.
Orange County is honored to be a GreenCities Florida Partner, and is excited to participate in this historic conference on building the local, regional, and statewide green economy. Orange County is committed to supporting sustainable innovation, clean technologies, green business, and proactive responses to climate change.
GreenCities Florida will provide members of the private and public sector with insight, inspiration, tools, and resources to create and implement sustainable solutions. Florida’s greater business and government community are invited to learn about sustainable initiatives and help plan the next phase of Florida’s economy. This conference will inspire innovation and provide functional, practical and interactive experiences to equip and empower businesses and governments with sustainable decision making. The conference producers are Seven-Star, Inc., America’s oldest and most reputable green event producers.
Florida has the opportunity to emerge a leader in green business; from clean tech, to green building, to organic lifestyle products. This event is geared for motivated businesses and government leaders who desire to be more pro-active with “green practices” in order to realize the savings and opportunities associated with this new shift in doing business.
Orange County is proud to support this conference because it enables business and government leaders to gain the knowledge they need to implement opportunities to help protect the environment, build community quality, and increase economic opportunities.
With the creation of statewide event like GreenCities Florida, we believe that we can succeed and build a better future for our children, our residents, and the world. We hope that you will join us as a sponsor, speaker or attendee at this unique and historic conference.
Sincerely,
/s/
Richard T. Crotty
Orange County Mayor
Check out the Gil Friend / Natural Logic podcast where he discusses his inspiration for founding Natural Logic, the urgent need to act on climate change, how his martial arts training keeps him centered each day and much more.
Listen to this interesting and informative podcast at http://greencitiesmedia.com/2009/03/podcast-gil-friend-interview/.
Gil Friend is the founder, president, and CEO of Natural Logic Inc., providing advisory services in strategy, design, operations, and information systems that help clients build economic advantage through exceptional environmental performance – Sustainable performance you can take to the bank™.
He will be a speaker at Green Cities Florida in May! For more information on the conference, visit http://greencities.com/usa/florida/orlando/2009/greencities-florida.
Sustainable Development Podcast by Alex Hinds
April 1, 2009
Check out Alex Hinds’ sustainability podcast where he talks about why he hopes the Obama administration keeps the ‘yes we can’ attitude towards green building, sustainable development, and making sustainability a core practice of building.
“Its time, in my opinion, to rewrite our zoning codes, our building codes, our health and public work codes to really address what’s needed to have more renewable energy. Less use of fossil fuels, and to take into account how climate change is going to affect our public health systems, our agriculture, and infrastructure.” – Alex Hinds
Visit http://greencitiesmedia.com/2009/02/podcast-alex-hinds-interview/ to listen to this green podcast!
Alex Hinds is the president of the board of the California Planning Foundation and is currently the Interim Director for the Center for Sustainable Communities at Sonoma State University in California.
Alex will be a speaker at Green Cities Florida! To learn more, visit http://greencities.com/usa/florida/orlando/2009.
Eco Friendly Building Podcast by Dr. Jennifer Languell
March 30, 2009
Check out Jennifer Languell’s podcast where she discusses being ahead of the Green curve, incentives for building eco friendly, the human element of global climate change, and her part in the Discovery Channel’s environmental series Discovery Project Earth.
Visit http://greencitiesmedia.com/2009/02/podcast-jennifer-languell-interview/ to listen to this green podcast!
Dr. Jennifer Languell is the Founder and President of Trifecta Construction Solutions and is a nationally recognized leader in green building education.
She will be a speaker at Green Cities Florida! http://greencities.com/usa/florida/orlando/2009
“My interest is in really looking at the cities and helping the officials look at what they do… and help them learn how to create incentives for people, builders, developers to really start considering the environment more in their future growth.” – Jennifer Languell
Vote EARTH March 28, 2009 during Earth Hour!
March 27, 2009
VOTE EARTH!
This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s largest global election, between Earth and global warming.
For the first time in history, people of all ages, races and nationalities all over the world have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, and leaving them on is a vote for global warming.
WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to the world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.
This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming. Earth Hour is YOUR chance to make your voice heard!
We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, and for future generations.
VOTE EARTH tomorrow, March 28, 2009 from 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. by simply switching your lights off!
To view the full article, visit http://www.earthhour.org/about.
Source: WWF
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