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More than 15,000 Attended Washington, DC Green Festival

More than 15,000 Attended Washington, DC Green Festival

Published 10-25-04

Submitted by Green America

WASHINGTON, DC--The Green Festival, a two-day party with a serious purpose, came to Washington, DC for the first time September 18 and 19. The event drew 15,334 participants and over 500 volunteers from all over the country and internationally. A joint project of Global Exchange and Co-op America, the DC Green Festival featured more than 350 exhibitors, speakers, community leaders, green businesses and artists that support the emergence of a new economic paradigm that supports safe, healthy communities, strong local economies, social and economic justice, and environmental sustainability.

"The event was a huge success and exceeded all of our expectations," stated Alisa Gravitz, Executive Director of Co-op America. "It is clear that Washington, DC residents care about social and environmental issues and want to support companies that are doing good for people and the planet. We look forward to keeping the momentum going," Gravitz said.

The Green Festival not only supported the people and companies working for a new economy, it also made the event as sustainable as possible. For the first time ever at the Washington DC Convention Center, recyclables and compostables were collected throughout the weekend and kept out of landfills. All of the carbon emissions from the convention center and travel to the event by exhibitors and speakers was also off-set by Native Energy Green Tags.

According to Georgia Malki, Green Festival Operations Director, the sustainability program was wildly successful, "The resource recovery figures were amazing - over 5,850 gallons of compost were delivered to a local compost/farm facility and 30 cubic yards of plastic bottles, cardboard, paper, glass and aluminum were recycled. In the entire two-day event less than four cubic yards of waste could not be recycled."

Kevin Danaher, Co-Founder of Global Exchange said, "We are always looking for ways to decrease our environmental impact. We hope the Convention Center will encourage future events to follow our lead to reduce waste from large events like these."

The Green Festival encourages everyone to take steps every day to create a more just and sustainable society. Check out the Green Festival web site www.greenfestivals.org to get the tools and information for green living, purchasing and investing 365 days a year.

For a complete list of exhibitors and events, visit www.greenfestivals.org.

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Green America

Green America

Green America is United States' leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems. Green America's green economy programs encourage corporate responsibility, tackle climate change, build fair trading systems, advance healthy, local communities, and provide green purchasing and investing information for families and businesses. To receive Green America's popular publications, including the Green American and the National Green Pages™, participate in Green Festivals, or to get its free e-newsletter, providing the latest green news, green discounts, and opportunities to take action for a green economy, visit http://www.GreenAmerica.org, email info@GreenAmericaToday.org, or call at 800-58-GREEN.

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