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DC Gets the Green Vote
DC Gets the Green Vote
Published 10-30-07
Submitted by Green America
WASHINGTON, DC - October 30, 2007 - Green Festivals, a joint project of Global Exchange and Co-op America, celebrated its fourth year in Washington DC with an unprecedented event attendance of 31,000. The world’s largest and most authentic green living event took place on October 6th and 7th at the Washington Convention Center.
For two days, more than 400 green businesses, 150 speakers, dozens of community groups and thousands of DC area residents came together to explore and celebrate what's working in our communities - for people, for businesses and for the environment. Attendees were invited to check out what's on the horizon for renewable energy, socially responsible investing, eco-fashions, green building, eco-friendly travel, organic foods, sustainable business and more.
Consumers representing all shades of green were given the opportunity to shop with their conscience and "vote with their dollars" as they either began or furthered a movement towards a sustainable lifestyle and a just and inclusive green economy.
"Our goal is to provide a two day party with a purpose, engaging attendees with a truly extensive green event to enlighten and educate the public on greener ways of living" says Co-op America Executive Director Alisa Gravitz. "The tremendous growth in attendance at Green Festivals reflects people's hunger to learn about the movement toward more sustainable lifestyles - and how much fun it is to go green."
While most events and tradeshows are highly wasteful, Green Festival is an exemplary model of environmental responsibility. As it does every year, the 2007 Washington DC Green Festival demonstrated its commitment to walking its green talk by reusing, recycling or composting 90% of all show waste.
To reduce the event's environmental impact:
With an ongoing commitment to giving back, Green Festival partnered with several organizations at the event to provide an opportunity for attendees to directly contribute to the local and global community. Through a partnership with DC's Conscious Alliance Food Drive, over 2,000 pounds in food donations were collected at the event. Additionally, the festival's partnership with social enterprise Better World Books successfully brought in over 1500 books as part of a book drive to raise funds for literacy initiatives locally, nationally and around the globe.
WASHINGTON DC GREEN FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED:
The next Green Festival in San Francisco on November 9th - 11th will bring together an estimated 35,000 attendees over three days and feature notable speakers Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Paul Hawken and Gary Zukav.
Green Festivals for 2008 include Seattle April 12 & 13 and Chicago May 17th & 18th., as well as Washington, DC and San Francisco in the fall.
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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