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President Obama's Earth Day Address: Action on Climate Change Cannot Wait (Video)

April 25, 2015 Add Comment Edit

On Earth Day April 22 President Obama visited the Florida Everglades for Earth Day and spoke about the urgent need for action on climate change. The President called on Congress to support the Land and Water Conservation Fund. He spoke about the importance of providing access to nature and announced that he will be providing free access to America's national parks.

"I cant think of a better way to spend Earth Day than in one our nations greatest national treasures the Everglades" the President said. "Action [on climate change] can no long be delayed."

Here are some excerpts of the President's comments:

This [climate change] is not a problem for another generation. Not anymore. This is a problem now. It has serious implications for the way we live right now. Stronger storms. Deeper droughts. Longer wildfire seasons. The world’s top climate scientists are warning that a changing climate already affects the air that our children are breathing. The Surgeon General and I recently met with doctors and nurses and parents who see patients and kids grappling with the health impacts. The Pentagon says that climate change poses an increasing set of risks to our national security.

So climate change can no longer be denied. It can’t be edited out. It can’t be omitted from the conversation. And action can no longer be delayed. And that’s why I’ve committed the United States to lead the world in combating this threat.

The steps we’ve taken over the last several years are already making a difference. We’re using more clean energy than ever before. America is number one in wind power, and last year we generated 20 times more electricity from sunlight than we did in all of 2008 -- 20 times.

We’ve committed to doubling the pace at which we cut carbon pollution. China, in part because of our actions, has now committed for the first time to limit their emissions. And this means that there’s new hope that this year the world will finally reach an agreement to prevent the worst impacts of climate change before it’s too late.

We’re wasting less energy, with more fuel-efficient cars that save people money at the pump, and more energy-efficient buildings that save us money on our electricity bills.

So more clean energy, improved energy efficiency -- these steps can help us avoid some of the worst effects of climate change down the road. But we also have to prepare for the effects of climate change that we’re already too late to avoid. If you think about it, this is like we’re hitting the brakes on a car, but the car is not going to come to a complete halt right away. So some of these changes are already happening, and even if we take the right steps, we’re going to have to make some adaptations.

And that’s why we’ve been working with cities and states to build more resilient infrastructure and restore natural defenses like wetlands. And today, I want to announce new actions to protect our national parks and our public lands, and the communities that rely on them.

First, we’re releasing a report showing that every dollar invested in the National Park Service generates $10 for the economy. In 2014, almost 300 million visitors to our national parks spent almost $16 billion and supported 277,000 jobs. So protecting our parks is a smart thing to do for our economy. That’s why I’ve set aside more public lands and waters than any administration in history.

We’re also working with farmers and ranchers and forest land owners to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions. I’m going to keep doing everything I can to prepare and protect America from the worst effects of climate change, including fighting for clean air, clean water.

...you do not have time to deny the effects of climate change...This is not some impossible problem that we cannot solve. We can solve it if we’ve got some political will. And we can solve it in a way that creates jobs. We can solve it in a way that doesn’t disrupt our economy but enhances our economy. And it’s a bipartisan issue.

On the way in, I was talking to some folks about the fact that Teddy Roosevelt, he’s a Republican -- started our National Park System. Richard Nixon started the EPA. George H.W. Bush was the first President, globally, to acknowledge the impacts of climate change and that we needed to do something about it. This is not something that historically should be a partisan issue.

Five years ago, local leaders down here, Republicans and Democrats, formed the bipartisan Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact -- an agreement to work together to fight climate change. (Applause.) And it’s become a model not just for the country, but for the world.

It’s the type of mission that Americans from all walks of life are taking on -- from the CEOs of some of our biggest corporations and utilities, to student organizations across the country. Because they know that simply refusing to say the words “climate change” doesn’t mean that climate change isn’t happening.

And we know that in our own lives. If you’ve got a coming storm, you don’t stick your head in the sand; you prepare for the storm. You make sure our communities are prepared for climate change. And that’s an economic imperative. Protecting the one planet we’ve got is what we have to do for the next generation...That’s what we do as Americans, take responsibility and leave behind for our children something special.

And we are blessed with the most beautiful God-given landscape in the world. It’s an incredible bounty that’s been given to us. But we’ve got to be good stewards for it. We have to take care of it.

...it’s our turn to ensure that this remains the birthright of all Americans for generations to come. So many people here are active in your communities, doing what’s needed. The young people who are here, the next generation, they’re way ahead of us in understanding how important this is. Let’s make sure we don’t disappoint them. Let’s stand up and do what’s right before it’s too late.

Related
Responding to Grist's Anti-Earth Day Rants
Earth Day Review of American Environmental Attitudes
The Importance of Science and Nature on Earth Day
Earth Day Activities and Actions in the US and Canada
Earth Day 2015: The Marriage of Economic Growth and Sustainability

Responding to Grist's Anti-Earth Day Rants

April 23, 2015 Add Comment Edit

Each year Grist likes to condescendingly whine about all the things they hate about Earth Day. This year in an article titled, Why Earth Day Doesn't Matter Anymore, they argue that the day has "lost its relevance." This could not be further from the truth. As we head towards a global climate agreement at the end of the year in Paris popular support for environmental action has never been more important. While Grist does provide a lot of great content, their anti-Earth-Day diatribes create divisions that are harmful to the growth of the environmental movement.

In their own self-righteous style they are speaking to their readership and offering what they deem to be poignant commentary (their audience is largely composed of deep greens who relish showering disdain on those who are not quite as ecologically pure). However, their righteous indignation and highfalutin derision is unproductive.

Here is a Green Market Oracle article written in response to another derisive anti-business Earth Day hate-fest:

Earth Day is an important day for business, collectively companies are spending tens of millions on Green marketing. But others have expressed their concerns that Earth Day constitutes little more than another over-commercialized marketing event. As Natalie Zmuda writes in an AdAge.com article, "It's Earth Day: Time to consume more to save the planet."

Others are even more cynical, "My concern is that some companies just view [Earth Day] as a marketing event, like Thanksgiving or Christmas," said Larry Light, chairman-CEO of Arcature, a management consulting firm. "Then they've fulfilled their obligation for the rest of the year. The whole issue of sustainability means that a commitment also has to be sustainable. If it's only for one day, then it's a marketing event."

Some are resolute in their dismissal of Earth Day. "Earth Day's usefulness has passed," said Alex Steffen, executive editor of World Changing, a sustainability blog. "The idea that we're going to direct our attention to the planet for a day or a week ... is not a sufficient response anymore. An awful lot of people view Earth Day as the time to express the idea that they are sympathetic to change. We need to move from being sympathetic to change to actually changing things."

For years Grist has derided Earth Day, two years ago David Roberts was complaining about it, noting that it wasn't enough, saying “The time for "small steps" is long past. It's time for people to wake the hell up.” This year Grist unveiled a campaign titled Screw Earth Day. The purists behind Screw the Earth think that we do not do enough to get the message across. They feel we need to do more to protect the environment. As they explain, “It’s not about a single day, dude, it’s about living green every day.”

Grist's Roberts points out, "Green is all the hype everywhere. So you might think that the public would be engaged in this push....polls find public interest as low as ever, and opinion about climate and energy policy is as inchoate and incoherent as ever. There are no rallies. There are no emails and letters and phone calls streaming into Congressional offices. There is no real social movement behind energy/climate action. There’s nothing to push a recalcitrant member of Congress in the right direction."

Although Mr Roberts may be correct about the hype surrounding Earth Day, he is wrong on just about every other count. Earlier this year, one Billion people around the world turned out their lights to vote for climate change action during Earth Hour and today another billion are expected to get involved with Earth Day events. The social momentum of environmental interest is obvious and irrefutable. This is an important period of transition, and although the mediums by which this interest will express itself are not yet fully formed, the mechanisms of change are coalescing.

Contrary to Mr Robert's assertions, public interest in the environment is not low, studies are finding that despite the recession the interest in Green continues. Early in 2009 Joel Makower pointed this out as the one constant from the polling data on consumer environmental attitudes, "Vast majorities of consumers say they have adopted greener habits in their daily lives, and shop for at least some products with a keen eye on their environmental provenance and energy and climate impacts. In other words: the marketplace is getting greener -- way greener."

At least one criticism is well founded. As more companies and marketers jump on the Earth Day bandwagon it is evident that some are guilty of masking environmentally destructive practices under the guise of environmental sensitivity. This practice, commonly referred to as greenwashing, dilutes the integrity of Green branding efforts. And this prompts concerns that consumers will stop paying attention to Green altogether.

Earth Day is not only an opportunity to move product, such events also exert pressure on companies to improve their environmental record. All companies who promote sales in conjunction with Earth Day open themselves to scrutiny. Unsubstantiated Green claims or associations will be exposed and this could prove detrimental to a company's reputation. Although some companies are guilty of greenwashing they will be punished by consumers and legislators.

The business community is an important contributor to the environmental crises we are confronting and they are an equally important part of the solution. Forward looking companies understand that greenwashing is simply counterproductive, these companies know that the best and most enduring way to position themselves is through earnest environmental initiatives that have integrity. That is why many companies are already looking well beyond events like Earth Day and emboldening their commitment to sustainable business practices.

For business, Earth Day is a marketing opportunity, and as such an opportunity to grow profits and increase market share, but businesses are also using Earth Day to fund environmental projects and raise awareness about the environment. If the world is to change, people's attitudes must change and public events like Earth Day are an important part of the transition to a Greener world. Earth Day engages people and helps to transform the wider culture.

Although it is easy to respect the dedication of many Green activists, it is sometimes difficult to understand the approach of certain eco-purists. The anger they vent as they rail against popular movements like Earth-day seems at times incomprehensible. It is easy to appreciate the purists' roles as watchdogs and stalwart activists, even their impatience has its place, but at times their comments detract from the urgency of the Green message.

As a force within the broader efforts eco-purists serve a valuable purpose, but when they hijack the mainstream discussion, they foster anger, apathy and cynicism. Environmental extremists may attract a core of misanthropes, but they alienate the general public and send businesses looking for loopholes instead of contributing to the discussion. Thankfully many corporate leaders are participating in finding solutions, and many more appear ready to follow.

Are eco-purists trying to help the planet or as it sometimes appears, do they prefer distancing people with unproductive vitriol? Some purists go so far as to call for a revolution that does away with capitalism and the whole free market system. However, it is clear to almost everyone that these nihilistic reveries do not serve people or the planet.

More reasonable approaches envision ways of bringing about change without bloodying our streets. It seems obvious that the most expedient change will occur by working within our system. For example, proposed climate change legislation in the US would put a price on carbon emissions and unleash the power of free markets expediting an efficient transition to a carbon restricted world. Perhaps the most reasonable approach involves sending a loud message to our elected representatives.

As purists rue the popularity of Earth Day, Green businesses are taking advantage of the opportunity to highlight their Green initiatives and eco-entrepreneurs are hopeful that events like Earth Day will expedite the task of bringing their innovations to market. Earth Day is effectively turning the wheels of our free market economy.

Sadly some green-purists appear confused, they fail to understand that sustainable consumerism is not the enemy it is the goal. Their cynical rants further serve to illustrate that their approach does not engage the public nor influence politicians.

Admittedly, Earth Day is a highly commercialized event, but those who criticize should remember that commerce is the language of action. If we are to see a Greener world, businesses must not only be amongst those who contribute solutions, they must lead.

For businesses and consumers, Earth Day is about more than a point on a calendar. The Earth Day event has amplified a message that will reverberate throughout the year.

Related
Earth Day Review of American Environmental Attitudes
The Importance of Science and Nature on Earth Day
Earth Day Activities and Actions in the US and Canada
Earth Day 2015: The Marriage of Economic Growth and Sustainability

Earth Day Review of American Environmental Attitudes

April 22, 2015 Add Comment Edit

A review of polling results reveals the sad truth about US attitudes on climate change. Despite the plethora of science and media coverage American attitudes on climate change are the same today as they were in 1989. Americans claim they want greener products and services and they also claim that they want corporations to be greener, however this is not reflected in their actual buying behavior.

In an article titled "Earth Day and the polling of America 2015" Joel Makower comments on the theory that a strong economy lends itself to greater environmental concern. However, he observes the opposite appears to be true, as Americans feel more economically secure the level of environmental concern has decreased or remained static.

His review of public opinion polls over the last eight years leads him to conclude that the level of environmental concern has stalled in the US. Americans appear to be enamored with the fossil fuel boom in the US and less than preoccupied with the associated environmental impacts.

Although Americans are somewhat concerned about clean air and water, they are relatively unconcerned about climate change, declining biodiversity and even species extinction.

According to the most recent Gallup poll the number of Americans that believe global warming is happening already or will happen in their lifetime is 65 percent. That is exactly the same percentage as in 1989. The Gallup poll is corroborated by research from the Pew Research Center’s annual policy priorities survey in which the Environment ranked 13th and global warming ranked 22nd (next to last).

However other polls have produced different results. A 2014 poll by Tiller LLC, suggested that Americans have a "deep and growing concern for the environment.” This poll indicated that climate change ranked abouve terrorism and global epidemics as the greatest long term threat to their health and well being. The Tiller LLC survey found that women are more concerned about the shape of the environment than men.

According to a November 2014 University of Texas Energy Poll, young Americans are more likely to vote for a candidate who wants to address climate change. A study conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of Avaaz reveals that almost all (94 percent) of high school students believe in the veracity of climate change and 80 percent attribute it to human activity.

A national survey conducted by KSV, revealed that Hispanics and African-Americans are almost twice as likely to be interested in energy efficiency as their white counterparts.

The Tiller survey said that more than three quarters of Americans (78 percent) believe it is important to “purchase products from a socially or environmentally responsible company.” And 43 percent said they have declined to buy a product over the past year out of concern for the effect the product or its packaging might have on the environment.

In the same survey Americans attributed the behavior or environmentally responsible corporations to regulatory or competitive reasons rather than altruistic motives. However, 72 percent of respondents indicated that they do not care why a company goes green as long as they do so.

Makeover commented on these results saying, "a number of environmental polls suggest that most Americans are ready and willing to make purchasing, investing and career choices based on their high levels of environmental concern, even if their actual choices don't reflect such high levels of commitment."

Related
President Obama's Earth Day Address: Action on Climate Change Cannot Wait (Video)
Responding to Grist's Anti-Earth Day Rants
The Importance of Science and Nature on Earth Day
Earth Day Activities and Actions in the US and Canada
Earth Day 2015: The Marriage of Economic Growth and Sustainability

The Importance of Science and Nature on Earth Day

April 22, 2015 Add Comment Edit

One scientist and sustainability expert suggests we should go outside and play so that we can connect with nature on Earth Day.

Meg Lowman, is the Chief of Science and Sustainability at the California Academy of Sciences. She pioneered the science of canopy ecology which earned her the monikers, “Real-Life Lorax,” "Canopy Meg" and “Einstein of the treetops.” She is also a biologist, educator, and ecologist. Her personal mantra is “no child left indoors.”

In a Net Impact article, Lowman laments the scientific illiteracy of most American, particularly children. Never have we needed to understand science and appreciate nature more than today, she explains.

Understanding the science of climate change, biodiversity loss, species extinction, resource depletion, ocean acidification and other environmental concerns is essential if we are to forge a more sustainable relationship with our planet.

Lowman references the well-known book "Last Child in the Woods," by Richard Louv. In this book Louv analyzed the societal problems that have arisen in American youth who have generally lost contact with natural science. This leads to a condition Louv calls “nature-deficit disorder” as the human cost of alienation from nature, including diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, and higher rates of physical and emotional illnesses.

"For Earth Day this year, why not pledge to enjoy the natural world and – if you can – take a kid with you? Climb a tree, watch a spider build a web, photograph spring flowers, download the iNaturalist app, or simply bring some leaves indoors. You don’t really have to get muddy while you’re at it, but why not? If anyone asks, tell them a scientist told you to do it."

As Rachel Carson said, “Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”

In an era where life on earth is threatened by climate change, people need to understand science so that they can make responsible decisions in their own lives and at the ballot box.

We need to oppose those that seek to deride science to serve their own partisan interests. We need to confront the lies from the anti-science advocacy of the fossil fuel lobby and their political minions that threaten the future of civilization.

If we are to cultivate a passion for nature and the science which explains it, we need to get outdoors and be part of it.

Related
President Obama's Earth Day Address: Action on Climate Change Cannot Wait (Video)
Responding to Grist's Anti-Earth Day Rants
Earth Day Review of American Environmental Attitudes
Earth Day Activities and Actions in the US and Canada
Earth Day 2015: The Marriage of Economic Growth and Sustainability

Earth Day Activities and Actions in the US and Canada

April 22, 2015 Add Comment Edit

Earth Day activities include a full slate of sustainability-conscious events and conservation efforts. This includes contests, awards, petitions, marches, parties, lectures, discussion groups, bike rides, tree planting, trash collection, film screenings and art projects.

While Earth Day is officially celebrated on April 22, there have been a number of actions that have taken place in the month of April and throughout the year. As part of an annual program called "One Billion Acts of Green," there have been well over one billion pledges and the goal is two billion.

Earth Day Activities and Actions in the US

In the US there are a range of activities promoted on Earth Day. One of these projects is called the Canopy Project. This initiative work with tree planting organizations around the world to ensure our trees are reaching people who need them most. The Canopy Project is an official partner of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Billion Trees Campaign

There is also a climate petition that seeks to tell local, national and international leaders to phase out carbon. Another endeavor seeks to encourage Congress to fund environmental education. People are also being asked to pledge to reduce their energy consumption.

To search Earth Day activities and actions in the US click here.

Earth Day Activities and Actions in Canada

In Canada Earth Day annually garners the support of more than six million people. Earth Day Canada is a platform for a wide range of events that celebrate environmentally sustainable lifestyles and promote actions and behavior that actively tackle climate change.

Events in Canada include things like Clean Your Commute. Other Canadian activities include the Earth Day Everyday Campaign, 2015 Earth Flag.

While Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 it is actually espouses environmentally responsible behavior year round. The "Earth Day Every Day" campaign includes a new user-friendly tool that is being launched on April 22nd. It is designed to help people make good green choices year round. This online, mobile-friendly platform supports your commitment to green acts, tracks your carbon progress, and encourages you to share and be recognized for your achievements.

The 2015 Earth Flag project is a national petition signed by people who are committed to making Earth Day Every Day and are doing their part to reduce carbon emissions 20% by 2020. The 2015 Earth Flag will be taken to the COP21 International Climate Conference in Paris this December.

To search Earth Day activities in Canada click here.

Related
President Obama's Earth Day Address: Action on Climate Change Cannot Wait (Video)
Responding to Grist's Anti-Earth Day Rants
Earth Day Review of American Environmental Attitudes
The Importance of Science and Nature on Earth Day
Earth Day 2015: The Marriage of Economic Growth and Sustainability

Earth Day 2015: The Marriage of Economic Growth and Sustainability

April 22, 2015 Add Comment Edit

Each year Earth Day celebrated on April 22 and 2015 marks the 45th anniversary of this international environmental protection event. Earth Day is the largest civic observance in the world today. All around our planet a billion people will participate in thousands of events. Almost 2 billion "acts of green" will take place on and around the day to demonstrate support for a healthier environment and a sustainable life. Earth Day was first celebrated in the US in 1970 and now more than 192 countries are involved. The inaugural event saw 20 million Americans showing their support for the environment. The movement contributed to the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.
For more information on the history of Earth Day click here.

Ocean Frontiers the Movie

June 07, 2013 Add Comment Edit

At a time when conservation is equated with job destruction and our nation is paralyzed by a code of no-compromise, a new film called Ocean Frontiers is returning common sense to these troubled times.

Ocean Frontiers takes a balanced, bipartisan approach to both the problems we face in managing our oceans and the solutions at hand. The film features on-the-ground reporting from places across the country that are at the forefront of implementing promising new approaches to ocean and coastal management.

Industrial shippers and whale biologists, pig farmers and wetland ecologists, sport and commercial fishermen, reef snorkelers and many more–are embarking on a new course of cooperation, in defense of the seas that sustain us.

Ocean Frontiers shows unlikely allies coming together and crafting solutions for the good of ecosystems and industry, while not sugarcoating the conflicts or the sometimes-difficult road to the end result. The film shows the groups as true partners in the process.

NATIONAL OCEAN POLICY

On July 19th 2010, President Obama established our nation’s first National Ocean Policy in order to protect, maintain and restore our ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes natural resources for present and future generations. The National Ocean Policy was formed through a multi-year process that included stakeholders from commercial and recreational fishing, shipping and ports, energy developers, conservationists, scientists, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Homeland Security and other ocean users with diverse interests.

OCEAN FRONTIERS

The stories in Ocean Frontiers help audiences understand key principles of ecosystem-based management and coastal and marine spatial planning, which are the cornerstones of the National Ocean Policy. These complex concepts come to life and are easy to grasp through the stories and people featured in Ocean Frontiers.

OCEAN FRONTIERS OUTREACH

A broad range of organizations, agencies, businesses, and ocean user groups are partnering to host screenings across the country to build support and take action for a new era in ocean stewardship. Find a screening where you live or host a screening.

Production of Ocean Frontiers was made possible by: The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and The Lazar Foundation.

For more information click here.

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On June 8 Make a Promise for the Ocean

June 07, 2013 Add Comment Edit

World Oceans Day is June 8th and this is our planet’s biggest celebration of the ocean. The world is increasingly waking up to the fundamental importance and absolute beauty of the oceans. There are many ways that you can show your support for World Oceans Day.

Join us via Thunderclap, or just make a post about World Oceans Day on social media and tag one friend. If they repost and tag a friend, ~ the wave ~ will spread across the globe. Click here to do the wave!

World Oceans Day is holding an Ocean Promise drive. Promise to do ONE thing for the ocean, and send us a photo or post on social media with the tag #WorldOceansDay.

Click here to check out an oceans oriented social stream.

While there are a number of great events and online activities taking place on June 8, the importance of this day is about finding ways we can reduce our impacts on the oceans throughout the year.

Click here to explore the ideas, resources, and information about how you can get involved in support our oceans throughout the year.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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A New Environmental Movement Breeds Hope for the Future

February 19, 2013 Add Comment Edit

Something is happening to the environmental movement that is giving us reason to hope that we may succeed in changing our current trajectory. On Sunday February 17th, 35,000 people came together to demand action in the face of a growing climate crisis. Part of this burgeoning climate activism is attributable to people's first hand exposure to extreme weather. Droughts, hurricanes, snowstorms and wildfires are forcing people to recognize that our climate is changing and they are increasingly coming to the understanding that we must act now.
As Greenpeace director Philip Radford wrote about those gathered at the Climate Forward Rally, "a new, diverse coalition of Americans," are coming together to demand climate justice.

The nation is rallying around the President and demanding that he keep the promises he made in both his inaugural address and his State of the Union speech. However, if he is to keep his word he will need the support of the American people. Powerful interests are arrayed against us, trillions of dollars are at stake and those who seek to keep the old energy economy alive are proficient at manipulating the public trust.

Supporters of climate legislation were defeated in the President's first term but we cannot afford to allow that to happen again in the next four years.

We cannot succeed in changing the national direction without changing public opinion, and the climate rally in Washington D.C. may be the first step towards four years of unprecedented climate action in the US.

It is becoming increasingly obvious that we cannot sustain the current rate at which we burn fossil fuels and we certainly cannot add to the carbon catastrophe by exploiting even more of Alberta's tar sands. If we are to have a livable future we must end our addiction to fossil fuels and redouble our efforts to develop more sources of renewable energy.

Change will only come if President Obama can muster the courage and summon the political leadership to amend his "all of the above" energy strategy. It starts with the politically difficult decision of rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline. If he can garner the support of the American people the President may move on to arrest Arctic drilling, stop coal exports and perhaps even end the nations growing reliance on fracking for natural gas.

The new environmental movement gives us reason to hope that we may be able to bring about the kind of change we so desperately need.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Blog Action Day 2012: The Power of We

October 15, 2012 Add Comment Edit

In 2012, Blog Action Day takes place on October 15. This year the theme is the Power of We. According the Blog Action Day organizers, Community, Equality, Transparency/Anti-Corruption and Freedom, and People Power are sub-themes of the event. Blog Action Day is the one day of the year where thousands of people come together to focus on one important global topic, and help raise awareness.

Founded in 2007, Blog Action Day brings together bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, data producers and social media users. Hundreds of thousands of people take part in Blog Action Day from a hundred countries all over the planet. They will cover a wide range of interests in dozens of languages. On this day everyone comes together to address one important global topic all on the same day.

Previous topics have included water, climate change, poverty and food. This year the topic is the Power of We, it is a celebration of people working together to make a positive difference in the world.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Next: How We Can Leverage Businesses and People in Our Efforts to Combat Climate Change

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The Growth of Sustainability as Revealed by 3 MIT Reports

September 25, 2012 Add Comment Edit

According to three reports published in the MIT Sloan Management Review, businesses continue prioritize sustainability to be more competitive, improve their brands and be more profitable. The first study cited indicates that businesses are still investing in sustainability despite a sluggish economy. The second shows they are doing so to gain a competitive advantage and enhance their brands. And the third demonstrates that an increasing number of businesses are deriving a profit from integrating sustainability into their corporate strategies.

A 2011 article in the MIT Sloan Management Review, showed that despite the economic crisis 42 percent of businesses indicated that they are spending more to improve sustainability and 46 percent said they would spend more in 2012. A total of 17 percent said that they had made significant increases in spending on sustainability. While everyone else said they had not changed their spending, only 1 percent indicated they would spend less.

Another 2011 MIT Sloan Management Review study suggests that companies are simply responding to consumer demand. The report “New Sustainability Report: The Embracers sieze the advantage” indicated that the greenest of the lot, known as "Embracers" saw sustainability as a matter of gaining a competitive advantage. A second group of companies mentioned in the report are called the "Cautious Adopters." They claim to be using sustainability mainly as a strategy for reducing costs. Both Embracers and Cautious Adopters indicate that investing in sustainability enhances their brand.

A third MIT Sloan Management Review Report titled “Sustainability: Nearing a tipping point” was released in January 2012. According to this report most managers indicate that sustainability is on their companies strategic planning and many are saying that they are turning a profit from their investments in sustainability.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Sustainable Business Methods, Strategy, Management and Reporting
Sustainable Successes and Failures
Cost Benefit Analysis of Sustainable Business
Sustainable Practices are a Strategic Priority for Business
The Overwhelming Logic of Sustainable Business
Sustainability is an Unstoppable Megatrend
Cooperation Between Environmental Organizations and Businesses
Best Green and Sustainable Business Twitter Feeds
10 Sustainability Business Pledges
10 Great Companies Who Were Green Before It Was Cool"
Ten Things New Sustainability Managers Need to Know
Best Practices for Sustainable Businesses
Best Practices for Communicating Sustainability
Best Practices for Engaging Employees in Sustainability
Sustainable Supply Chains
Environmental Revolution: Leadership and Morale
Environmental Revolution: Technology Certification
Environmental Revolution: Building and Operations
Innovation and the Development of Sustainable Products or Processes
An Integrative Approach to Eco-Innovation
10 Steps to Sustainability-Driven Innovation
Sustainability is a Catalyst for Innovation
Social Media Driving Corporate Environmental Sustainability
Green's Bottom Line: Staying Competitive in Volatile Economic Times

Data Shows that Sustainability Pays

September 25, 2012 Add Comment Edit

A large amount of data is now available as investors are increasingly demanding more transparency and greater corporate responsibility. A large and growing pool of data indicates that sustainability is a profitable endeavor. According to an article in the Harvard Business Review by Gerrit Heyns, a partner at Osmosis Investment Management in London, England, companies that invest in sustainability do better financially. According to the data cited by Heyns, sustainability focused companies outperform the market.

The data indicates that resource efficient companies (those who use less energy and water and create less waste in generating a unit of revenue), tend to produce higher investment returns than their less resource-efficient rivals.

Resource-efficient companies also display high levels of innovation and entrepreneurship, pushing core value metrics above the average large cap global business.

What these findings suggest is that an investment strategy based on resource efficiency not only outperforms global benchmarks, it also identifies forward thinking management teams that are preparing for a resource constrained economy.

As Heyns states in the concluding remarks of his article, "Resource efficiency is a leading indicator of economic performance and one that every investment manager should be tracking. It's about time that the financial community woke up to this fact and started to take advantage of the data."

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Climate Protection and Environmental Sustainability (Course)

September 24, 2012 Add Comment Edit

From Monday September 24 to Sunday December 9, 2012, an online course will take place that involves a systems engineering approach to develop and implement a Strategic Plan for climate protection and sustainable practices. This is an elective course in the Certificate Program in Environmental Management and an elective course in the Certificate Program in Sustainable Business Management.

In the "Climate Protection and Environmental Sustainability" (ENGRCEE X468) course participants will explore the forces driving sustainability change, the application of sustainable practices. They will also be guided through an analysis to develop a vision and plan for implementation.

Topics covered include:

understanding the forces driving change,
developing a Strategic Vision,
identifying options and analyzing sustainability solutions,
developing and communicating a Sustainability, Climate Protection, or Impact Reduction Plan.

Learn a systems approach to developing a sustainable business or community - whether to affect the bottom line for energy usage, develop new markets, or "Go Green".

For more information click here

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STIHL Tour des Trees 2012 Fundraising Event in Oregon

July 15, 2012 Add Comment Edit

The STIHL Tour des Trees is a cycling fundraising event that will take place in Oregon on Aug. 5 to Aug. 11, 2012. Participants cycle more than 500-miles visiting historical trees and planting new ones for future generations. Participants in this year's event will cycle and plant trees along the Columbia River Gorge, vineyards, the high desert and Mt. Hood.

This event is America's largest fundraiser for tree research and benefits the Tree Research and Education Endowment (TREE) Fund whose mission is to support sustainable communities and environmental stewardship by supporting research, scholarships and education programs essential to the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge in the fields of arboriculture and urban forestry.

The TREE Fund has supported research that has led to important developments in:
• Understanding air pollution reduction and carbon sequestration by trees
• Determining the costs and benefits of urban trees
• Improving conditions for tree growth in difficult sites
• Strategies to manage diseases and pests that affect urban trees

For more information about TREE Fund click here.

Riders for the full week-long Tour commit to raising $3,500 for the TREE Fund. The 2012 Tour marks the 20th Anniversary of the first Tour des Trees, in which 13 cyclists pedaled nearly 1,000 miles from Seattle to Oakland in a week to raise money for tree research. The Tour will feature a one-day Ride for Research on Aug. 11 in Portland, and conclude with a Finale Celebration at the International Society of Arboriculture’s annual International Tree Climbing Championship. Local and recreational cyclists are invited to join the Tour for the day and celebrate its legacy during this ride through one of America’s best cycling cities.

Last year’s STIHL Tour des Trees raised a record-breaking half million dollars and planted 45 new trees during its week-long trek from Virginia Beach to Washington, D.C. To date, the Tour has raised more than $5 million to support tree research and education and funded a variety of projects including improved strategies for pest and disease control, new techniques for increasing the post-planting survival rate of street trees, and development of safer equipment and practices for tree care professionals.

Click here to go to the Tour des Trees site or click here to see photos and videos from previous Tours.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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May 05, 2012 Add Comment Edit

Lancaster, USA -- Students Hold Dots Amidst Tornado Wreckage

Mad River, Vermont -- Wreckage from Hurricane Irene

Marianna, United States -- Showing the Drought Caused by Climate Change

Strong Body of Evidence for a Changing Climate

May 05, 2012 Add Comment Edit

Each year the temperature is getting warmer and the weather is getting more extreme. Storms are more frequent and more ferocious including increasing numbers of deadly tornadoes and floods. The extreme heat is also causing droughts, forest fires and insect infestations. Extreme weather in on the increase in places where they are habitually prone, but unusual climatic events are also showing up in unexpected places. Even in places that have not been hit with extreme weather there is evidence of climate change. Here is a quick review of some of the research evidence indicating that climate change is driving the increased number of extreme weather events.

Here are some articles that make the connection between extreme weather and climate change:

Extreme Weather Makes a Convincing Case for Climate Change
Hurricane Irene and the Staggering Costs of Climate Change
Deadly Tornadoes in Massachusetts
Tornadoes and Floods Underscore the Costs of Global Warming

Here are some posts from THE GREEN MARKET on extreme weather and climate:

Extreme Weather and the Costs of Climate Change
State of the Climate Global Analysis Nov 2011
Floods in the Philipines Underscore the Deadly Toll from Climate Change
The Costs of Global Warming
Science and Pernicious Ignorance of Climate Change Denial
The Effects of Global Warming
Top Four Climate Studies of 2011
State of the Climate Global Analysis Nov 2011
Debunking CO2 Myths and The Science of Climate Change
Primer on CO2 and other GHGs

Here is some of the information relating extreme weather and climate change from 350.org:

Bill McKibben on Connect the Dots Events
Interactive Map Reveals Warmer Spring
100 Global Activities for Climate Impacts Day
The World “Connects the Dots” Between Extreme Weather & Climate Change
Business and Climate Impacts Day
Bill McKibben on Connect the Dots
Connect the Dots End Fossil Fuel
Extreme Weather
McKibben Attributes Extreme Weather Events to Climate Change
24 Hours of Reality

Bill McKibben on Connect the Dots Events

May 05, 2012 Add Comment Edit

Today is Climate Impacts Day and as 350.org founder Bill McKibben said earlier today, "5/5 is no normal day — it’s the day that people around the world are coming together to Connect the Dots about climate change."

In an early morning e-mail Bill recounted what he has heard about the first action that took place in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. For this Connect the Dots event people dove down for an underwater rally on their threatened coral reef.

Bill describes this event as, "a giant seminar on the topic: What does global warming look like in its early stages? And if we can put a human face on climate change it will help immeasurably in all our campaigning in the years ahead. You’re that human face."

If you are looking for an event near you, click here for the Climate Impacts Day event locator. The site will be scrolling the uploaded images of the events taking place around the planet.

You can also upload your photos from your events to ClimateDots.org! There are full instructions on the website, but the basic idea is to attach your single best photo and email it to photos@350.org — and make sure to put the location of the photo in the subject line and the the story behind the photo as the text of the email.

Interactive Map Reveals Warmer Spring

May 05, 2012 Add Comment Edit

Here is an interactive map that enables you to see exactly how the weather has gotten warmer in the US this spring. Eastern North America has had an early spring with record breaking temperatures stretching for thousands of kilometers. When we put the climate data together we see that over the past several decades, with the exception of the Southeast, spring weather has indeed been arriving earlier.

In the interactive below, you can see how much earlier spring has arrived state-by-state, measured by the date of first leaf. As you hover over any state, it’ll display two boxes—a gray box that represents the day spring used to arrive (based on the 1951-1980 average) and a colored box that represents how much earlier spring has arrived (based on the 1981-2010 average).

Nationwide, the date of “first leaf” has clearly shifted—arriving roughly 4 days earlier now on March 17 (1981-2010 average) from March 20 (1951-1980 average). This shift affects all sorts of biological processes that are triggered by warmer temperatures—not just flowering, but animal migration and giving birth and the shedding of winter coats and the emergence from cocoons.

An earlier spring may disrupt the intricate natural balance between the tens of thousands of species that depend on each other for food, reproduction and ultimately, survival.

The data behind the map comes from an index for the onset of spring developed by Mark D. Schwartz (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) and USA National Phenology Network colleagues. The index, based on temperature variables measured at individual weather stations, estimates the first day that leaves appear on plants in a given state. To come up with a US estimate as a whole, they took the average change across 716 weather stations spread across the lower 48 states.

To use the map’s interactive features, click here.

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McKibben Attributes Extreme Weather Events to Climate Change
Extreme Weather Makes a Convincing Case for Climate Change
Hurricane Irene and the Staggering Costs of Climate Change
Deadly Tornadoes in Massachusetts
Tornadoes and Floods Underscore the Costs of Global Warming
Extreme Weather and the Costs of Climate Change
State of the Climate Global Analysis Nov 2011
Floods in the Philipines Underscore the Deadly Toll from Climate Change
The Costs of Global Warming
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100 Global Activities for Climate Impacts Day

May 05, 2012 Add Comment Edit

May 5th, 2012 (5/5/12) is a 350.org event known as Climate Impacts Day. This is an opportunity for people to "connect the dots" between extreme weather and climate change. Activities are taking place all around the world to show the various ways that climate change has impacted their lives. Here is a summary of more than one hundred activities from Africa, the Pacific, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, Europe and North America:

Africa

· On the outskirts of Bujumbura, Burundi, students will gather with victims of recent flooding in the village of Gatumba that destroyed over 500 homes this March.

· In Northeastern Kenya, representatives from three districts will gather in Garissa to highlight how the ongoing drought in Eastern Africa has impoverished their communities and threatened their survival. `

· In Dakar, Senegal, students will hold dots on the beach to highlight the threat of sea level rise and storm surges to their city.

· In the Seychelles, people are organizing a moonlight “mutia,” a traditional dance that is often used as social protest, to lament the impacts of rising seas on their islands.

· In Contonou, Benin, organizers will host a panel discussion on the failure of rich countries to provide appropriate climate financing for adaptation and mitigation efforts and point to a number of innovative sources of financing.

· In Livingston, Zambia, a local drama group is hosting a play to educate the community about the impacts of climate change and local solutions.

· In Mzuzu, Malawi, the Northern Youth Network will march through the city with posters showing how young people were affected by flooding in the Karonga District.

· In Lome, Togo, the Young Greens Togo organization will host a climate dot event focused on the problem of erosion caused by increased rainfall and flooding.

Pacific

· In Palau, organizers will hold dots in taro patches that suffered from saltwater inundation and at coral reefs that are suffering from the warming and acidification of the oceans.

· In Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands, 350.org supporters will be amongst those first to see the sunrise on May 5 and greet the new day with large dots held to the sky. Another team will dive underwater to dying coral reefs to take a photo with a banner that reads, “Connect the Dots: Your Carbon Emissions are Killing our Coral.”

· In Nauru, citizens will hang a giant dot banner on the island’s desalination plant to represent how the community struggles to generate enough water during an increasing number of droughts.

· In American Samoa, the 350 Environment Club will run a “Connect the Dots” billboard design competition across every high school on the island. The five winners will have their work displayed on billboards around the island.

· In Melbourne, Australia, activists will roll a giant dot around downtown and stop at offices and buildings connected to companies, banks and institutions driving “extreme energy,” like tar sands and coal seam gas.

· In Sydney, Australia organizers will unfurl a giant dot banner on the banks of the Parramatta River which is increasingly eroded from extreme weather events.

· On the shorefront in Aukland, New Zealand, activists will build a Human Wall of Dots representing the height of the sea-wall that will be necessary to prevent the inundation of the city by rising oceans.

· In Adelaide, Australia, 350.org supporters are hosting a “Dry Creek Regatta” in the Gawler and South Australian rivers to raise awareness about climate change and the threat of drought.

· In Hobart, Australia, people are gathering to form a giant dot on the eroded area in front of properties on Roches beach to show the impact of climate change on the community.

· In Wellington, New Zealand, people will hold dots in places around town that will be affected by sea level rise.

· In Rotorua, New Zealand, organizers will use old painted 33 LPs to highlight local or global extreme weather events and their connection to climate change.

· In Golden Bay, New Zealand, organizers will form a dot at the site of a house that was buried by a landslide from a “Once in 500 Year” Rain event last year.

Asia

· In Pakistan, the Pakistan Sustainability Network will host street theater in regions affected by the terrible flooding in 2010 and unfurl dot banners in communities still struggling to recover.

· On the beach in Orissa, India, famous artist Sundersan Pattanaik will create a sand sculpture that depicts the extreme heat facing India and connect the dots to climate disruption.

· In Delhi, India, students will tour government ministries with dots representing the different ways climate is impacting India’s agriculture, economy, environment, and health.

· In Srinigar, India, young people will hold a giant dot on the banks of the river Jhelum which has dried to ⅓ of its flow over the years due to shrinking glaciers.

· In Kathmandu, Nepal, grandparents and their grandchildren will create a mandala that depicts the different ways that climate change is impacting Nepal.

· In Ayutthaya, Thailand Buddhist monks will hold dots outside the Ayutthaya temple that was damaged by last year’s epic floods.

· In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, organizers will hold dots on the banks of the Saigon River which is flooding more and more often due to higher tides and heavy rains.

· In Daegu, South Korea, students will gather with bags of rice and umbrellas to connect the dots between climate change, heavy rains, and the damage caused to South Korea’s rice crop.

· In Dumaguete City, Philippines, organizers will host a climate dots event to raise awareness about the connection between global warming and typhoons. Last year’s typhoon Sendong was the strongest typhoon ever recorded in Philippine history, impacting over 63,000 families.

· In Jakarta, Indonesia, 350.org volunteers will arrange photos of how climate change is impacting indonesia into a giant “350” and host a candlelit vigil.

· In Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, will create a dot in the city to highlight how climate change is leading to desertification in the country.

· In Singapore, organizers are hosting a 3 hour interactive workshop on how climate change is impacting Singapore and taking a giant dot photo.

Middle East & Central Asia

· In Iran, students will hike to the top of Mt. Tochal outside of Tehran to observe how polluted the city has become and unfurl a dot banner at the top.

· In Amman, Jordan, Friends of the Earth Middle East will be forming a climate dot on the shores of the Dead Sea to draw attention to how drought due to climate change has been shrinking the sea.

· In Herzliya, Israel, people will form a dot on the beach to stand in solidarity with island nations and coastal communities around the world that are feeling the impacts of climate change.

· In Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 350.org supporters are organizing a two-day exhibit of art and photography on how climate change is currently impacting Kygrzstan and surrounding areas.

· In Beirut, Lebanon, activists will converge on one of city’s busiest streets with umbrellas to form a giant dot.

· In Tripoli, Libya the Environmental Engineering and Sciences center at the Libyan National Academy will host a public presentation to educate the community, politicians, and media on how climate change threatens Libya.

· In Kutaisi, Georgia, volunteers are organizing a “Climate Photo Studio” in the city’s central park to create images that show how climate change is impacting their country.

· In Salalah, Oman, students are inviting their elders to share accounts about how climate and weather events differ today from times past.

· In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, students are creating dots to raise awareness about the many sand storms, wind storms, and flash floods that have been a common phenomenon during the past decade.

· In Garm, Tajikistan, staff with Cooperation for Development will conduct meetings with farmers, women, and youth on adapting traditional agriculture to the changing climate and take climate dot photos with farmers in their fields.

Latin America

· In Rio Branco, Brazil, the Instituto de Pesquisa Ambiental de Amazonia is organizing an entire day dedicated to connecting the dots between the terrible flooding that has impacted the region and the broader climate crisis.

· In Araranguá, Brazil, people are hosting an event to examine the ways civil society and government have worked together to recover from 2004’s Hurricane Catarina, the first tropical cyclone to ever hit shore in Brazil.

· In São Paulo, Brazil, activists are staging a big photo opp to connect the dots between climate change and deforestation to pressure President Dilma to veto the new forest code which is weak and full of loopholes for logging.

· In the Região Serrana area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, members of CARE Brazil and local 350.org supporters will create a climate dot in an area where heavy rains created landslides that led to death of many community members in the region.

· Outside of La Paz, Bolivia, members of Reacción Climática will create a climate dot on a retreating glacier to highlight the impact melting glaciers are having on the water supply to cities like La Paz and El Alto.

· In Monterrey, Mexico, people will host a climate dot event on the banks of the Santa Catharina river which were flooded out during 2010’s Hurricane Alex, an event that caused $1.8 billion in damage and Nuevo León governor Rodrigo Medina de la Cruz described as “the worst weather phenomenon in [the state’s] history.”

· In Carhuas, Peru, high school students from the Callejón de Huaylas region will form a dot in the main plaza of the town to show solidarity with farmers whose crops are being affected by the lack of rain.

·In Cartagena, Colombia, 350.org volunteers will collect garbage and plant trees along a canal that is increasingly clogged and flooding due to heavier rains. Their dot will be created with the garbage that they collect.

· In the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica, climate change ecologist Alan Pounds will give a lecture on how climate change is changing rainfall patterns in the forest and attendees will come up with 350 ways to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Europe

· In Copenhagen, Denmark, activists will unfurl a dot outside of the Canadian Embassy to connect the high carbon emissions from the Canadian tar sands to the global climate crisis.

· In Chamonix, France, climbers will create a huge red dot on one of the melting Mont Blanc glaciers.

· In Kiel, Germany, volunteers will invite pedestrians leaving one of the city’s subway stations to put their fingerprint on “Connect the Dots” banner as a pledge to stand in solidarity with victims of climate change.

· In Jaca, Spain, climbers will create a dot out of melting snow from the Pyrenees.

· In Lund, Sweden, students are collecting used and second hand bikes and forming them into a solutions dot before shipping them to Cape Town, South Africa.

· In London, United Kingdom, the London Occupy Movement will host a creative “twist” on the game of Twister, with participants using their bodies to connect the dots between extreme weather events and climate change — a large “dot” photo opp will also be taken in front of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

· In Kiev, Ukraine, activists will parade through the streets with dots representing the threat of climate change to different regions of Ukraine.

· In Riederalp, Switzerland, climbers will unfurl a giant dot on the Aletsch glacier, a UNESCO heritage site that is currently melting due to climate change.

· In Kydymkar City, Russia, indigenous people of Komi-Permyak will perform traditional shamanic rituals to find the “Hub of the Universe,” a sacred spiritual place connected with the state of the environment, and pray for an end to the wildfires that have devastated Russia in previous years.

North America

Canada

· In Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Citizens Climate Lobby is hosting a “Swimming for Survival” climate dots event to highlight the threat of rising seas to their communities.

· In Hamilton, Ontario people will gather with umbrellas to form a giant dot and highlight the 17 extreme rainstorms that have caused flooding in the city over the last eight years.

· In Nelson, British Columbia, organizers will hold dots in a forest decimated by the pine bark beetle that has been spreading across North America due to warmer temperatures.

· In Ottawa, Ontario, people will hold dots in the Rideau Canal, the world’s longest skating rink. In the 1970s, the canal was open for skating an average 70 days a year, but in the last decade the average number of skating days has shrunk to 55. Last year, the canal was open for only 24 days.

· In Winnipeg, Manitoba, organizers will host a community feast to welcome First Nations people and their supporters as they travel on a Freedom Train to challenge the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline and connect the dots between tar sands exploitation and climate change.

United States

· In Nashville, Tennessee high school students will gather on their football field that was submerged in 2011’s historic floods.

· In San Francisco, California, aerial artist Daniel Dancer and the Center for Biological Diversity will work with hundreds of people to form a giant, moving blue dot to represent the threat of sea level rise and ocean acidification to San Francisco and other coastal communities.

· In Cincinnati, Ohio, dozens of people will join an flashmob to make a giant dot with umbrellas to represent the historic rainfalls in Ohio — 2011 was the wettest year on the record in the state.

· At the Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico, firefighters will take “dots” photo in a forest burned during the devastating fires that swept the southwest in the summer of 2011. The company will also be installing solar panels on their firehouse to do their part to combat climate change.

· In Aspen, Colorado, a “Climate Dots” event will connect climate change with pine beetle infestations, wildfires, and an increasing lack of snow with “The Climate Challenge Snowless Ski Race”, attendees wearing white to fill in for the missing snow, and a film screening of “Chasing Ice”.

· In Waitsfield, Vermont, 350.org founder and Vermont native Bill McKibben will join hundreds of people to connect the terrible flooding caused by 2011’s Hurricane Irene to the climate crisis.

· In Louisville, Kentucky, activists attired in dot themed outfits and derby hats will host an event outside of the Kentucky Derby to educate the public about climate change with horse names like “Florida Under,” “Missing Ice Cap,” “Crappy Crops” and more.

· In California’s Sierra Mountains, climbers will unfurl a giant banner on the Dana Glacier that reads “I’m Melting!”

· In Pensacola, Florida, activists will gather with dots on the bay front to recognize how climate disruption is already impacting coastal communities in Florida.

· In Miami, Florida, organizers will march with blue dots from Miami’s famous beach front to the spot where seas will rise by 2030 if global warming is left unchecked (about the second story of most “beachfront” real estate).

· In Honolulu, Hawaii, organizers will bring their dots to Waikiki’s beach front to raise awareness about the threat of sea level rise to the island.

· In Davenport, Iowa, students at Iowa State University will hold dots at a rally in front of the campus power plant to show how it connects to human health, climate change and other environmental challenges.

· In Winfield, Kansas, 350.org volunteers are hosting an event called, “Oz–Are we there yet?” where they will paint windows downtown with a state map and “dot” the location of recent tornadoes across Kansas.

· In Boston, Massachusetts, the Boston Climate Action Network will mark the 100 year anniversary of Fenway Park by organizing an event at the “Wake Up the Earth” festival in Jamaica Plain that focuses on how climate change is impacting important Red Sox locations: the Caribbean Islands (home to many top players), the team’s training camp in southern Florida, and at home in Boston.

· In Boston, Massachusetts, volunteers with the fictional “Metro Boston Climate Defense” agency will distribute “Change in Service” flyers to subway riders showing ferries replacing subway lines where flooding is anticipated due to rising sea levels.

· In Wayland, Massachusetts, citizens will gather with dots at their local library that was inundated by a major flood in the spring of 2010.

· In Belfast, Maine, volunteers will raise awareness about climate impacts by putting up Burma Shave style signs along a local highway that read, “DEER TICKS BITE/THEY MAKE US SICK/INVADING MAINE/TOO DARN QUICK/ CLIMATE CHANGE.”

· In Ada, Michigan, mycologists will organize a “mushroom count” to compare the number of spring mushrooms normally found in May to the number of summer mushrooms that are appearing sooner due to climate change.

· In Charlotte, North Carolina, activists will unfurl a giant dot banner in front of Bank of America headquarters that reads, “Climate Change Starts Here. BoA, Stop Funding Coal.” The event kicks off a week of action against the Bank for funding dirty energy projects.

· In Weirs Beach, New Hampshire, locals are getting out their umbrellas to form a dot to commemorate the impact of Hurricane Irene on the state and call for climate action.

· In Mahwah, New Jersey, local activists and members of the Ramapough/Lunaape Nation will hike to the proposed site of a Fracked Gas pipeline and create a “Dot” to connect the project to the broader climate crisis.

· In Sante Fe, New Mexico, people will form a giant blue dot in the drought-stricken Santa Fe River to represent the water that should be flowing there.

· In New York City, 3rd Graders at the Children’s Storefront School will be creating huge black dots with either red or green images on them showing problems (red) or solutions and things we need to protect (green) – demonstrating that all these things are linked to climate change.

· In Lower Manhattan, which sea-level rise is expected to wipe off the map, New Yorkers will hold up a giant blue dot that says “Underwater” and unfurl it in Battery Park with the Manhattan skyline behind them. Following that they’ll collect some of the water from Manhattan Island’s shores that will soon wash up to Wall Street’s doors, and dump it on the Bank of America headquarters as a reminder of what their investments in coal and oil are bringing about.

· In Saratoga Springs, New York, students at Skidmore College will be “dotting the night,” covering their campus with dots relaying extreme weather & climate related events.

· In Salem, Oregon, cyclists will bike to three different locations affected by a major flood in January 2012 to connect the dots between heavy rains and climate change.

· In Hood River, Oregon, activists will unfurl a giant red dot next to train tracks in town that increasingly see trains carrying coal to export facilities on the coast.

· In Portland, Oregon, organizers will host an umbrella decorating party to commemorate March 2012’s new all-time record for monthly rainfall with 7.89 inches.

· In Northumberland, Pennsylvania, concerned-citizens will attend a teach-in to connect the dots between fracking and climate impacts hosted by the Interfaith Sacred Earth Coalition of the Susquehanna Valley.

· In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, members of Clean Water Action will display at giant dot on the Smithfield Street Bridge to connect fracking and the climate crisis.

· In Dallas, Texas, a group of people will create dots showing the rising number of 100-degree days over the past few years and display them in a photo opp.

· In Richmond, Virginia, people will from across the commonwealth will hold a giant dot in front of Dominion Virginia Power’s headquarters to connect the dot between Dominion’s coal and the earth’s warming.

· In Virginia Beach, Virginia, activists will wade into the Atlantic Ocean for a photo-shoot featuring a big cutout of King Neptune submerged in the water — the famous statue is threatened by rising seas and storm surges.

· In Brattleboro, Vermont, that Flat Street Brew Pub will host a candlelight event to remember the impact of Hurricane Irene on the local business which had to shut its doors for 10 weeks after flooding wrecked their building.

· In Hoquiam, Washington, birders will hold dots at the Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge to mark how changes in the climate are affecting bird migrations and endangering the habitats of many different species.

· In Anacortes, Washington, community members will take their dots to the gates of the Shell Oil Refinery to protest Shell’s expansion of tar sands mining and drilling in the arctic.

· In Eau Claire, Wisconsin, students at the University of Wisconsin will create bright orange dots featuring different climate impacts and place them on the stumps of trees that were cut down to make way for steam lines from the university’s power plant.

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