SEATTLE, WA - April 3, 2008 - Green Festival, the nation's largest green living event, will make its Pacific Northwest debut when Seattle becomes the fourth city in the festival circuit this April 12 - 13, 2008 at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center.

A joint project of Global Exchange and Co-op America, two leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to environmental and social justice for over twenty-five years, Green Festival is a forum to explore and build sustainable solutions for our communities and the environment. With an expected attendance of 30,000, Seattle's Green Festival will host 150 visionary speakers, 300 local and national green businesses, and dozens of community and non-profit groups. The Seattle Host Committee of nearly 200 community leaders helped design the event for local focus.

For two days, Green Festival attendees will explore the latest in clean technology, green building, socially responsible investing, eco-fashion, renewable energy, green careers and green collar jobs, natural foods, groundbreaking films, eco-tourism, green building, and more. The wide selection of workshops, speakers and panelists will cover topics ranging from "Green Home Remodeling 101" and the "DIY Energy Audit," to "Building the Green Economy" and "Grassroots Solutions to Climate Change."

"With something for everyone, the green in Green Festival encompasses it all- environmental and community health, social and economic justice, fair trade, education and inspiration," says Global Exchange's Co-Founder Kevin Danaher. "You'll see people from all backgrounds and communities leading and exploring pathways to a sustainable future."

Seattle residents are invited to learn more about their city's and county's environmental initiatives and resources at the City of Seattle and King County interactive education pavilions where experts will provide tips and demonstrations on all aspects of urban green living - from local transportation and volunteering, to greening your garden and exploring local foods. Mayor Gregory J. Nickels, founder of the U.S Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement, will welcome attendees on Saturday and provide remarks on the city's environmental successes, innovations and challenges ahead.

Before organizing the event, Green Festival leadership went to the local First Nations peoples to ask for permission to hold the event on tribal lands. With spoken word, song and dance, the Duwamish and the Suquamish tribes honor the event by providing an official welcome.

"We are honored to be working so closely with the City of Seattle, King County, First Nations, the Seattle Host Committee and the many local green businesses and community leaders who are bringing together such innovative ideas, technologies, products, and services from the Puget Sound region," says Co-op America Executive Director Alisa Gravitz.

Since the first event in 2002, Green Festival has remained a model of environmental and social leadership, consistently providing authentic information for consumers on every aspect of green living. A stringent screening process ensures all exhibitors and sponsors meet the best practices and highest integrity standards for environmental and social responsibility. While many events and tradeshows are notoriously wasteful, Green Festival demonstrates an unmatched commitment to reducing environmental impact by walking its green talk and reusing, recycling or composting 95 percent or more of show waste. To further reduce the footprint of the event and its attendees, those who arrive by bicycle are offered reduced admission along with valet parking. Green Festival also provides carbon offsets for the entire event and its participating staff and organizers.

Now in its seventh year, Green Festival's circuit includes San Francisco, Chicago and Washington, DC and saw over 100,000 combined attendance in 2007. The next festival will take place in Chicago in May, 2008 with Washington, DC and San Francisco to follow in November 2008.

Seattle Green Festival Highlights

• First Nations programming including speakers Billy Frank, Jr. and the Honorable Cecile Hansen.


• Nationally renowned speakers such as Seattle's Mayor Greg Nickels, Amory Lovins, Amy Goodman, Frances Moore-Lappe, Paul Stamets and Jim Hightower


• Fair-Trade and Eco-Shopping


• Green Careers and Education Area


• King County and City of Seattle Environmental Pavilions


• Organic Valley Green Kids Zone


• Socially Responsible Investing


• The Fair Trade Café and Organic Beer & Wine Pavilion


• Power Foods Pavilion


• Eco Tourism and Eco Fashion


• Environmental Film Festival


• Community Action Center


• Green Home Pavilion featuring 40-minute workshops


• Bike Valet


• Natural Pet Care

About Co-op America

Co-op America (www.coopamerica.org) is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1982, providing the economic strategies, organizing power and practicing tools for businesses and individuals to address today's social and environmental problems. Its Green Business Network is the largest national network of businesses screened for their social and environmental responsibility.

About Global Exchange

Global Exchange (www.globalexchange.org) is a membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world. Since its founding in 1988, Global Exchange has successfully increased public awareness of root causes of injustice while building international partnerships and mobilizing for change.

Green Festival Partners

Bainbridge Graduate Institute, bgreen, Care2, City of Seattle, Clif Bar, Fetzer Wines, Honest Tea, Interra, Kimpton Hotels, King County, KOMO, KPTK, KUNS, Entercom Radio/1 Thing, PCC Natural Markets, Planet Green, Puget Sound Energy, Seattle Climate Action Now, Shore Bank Pacific, tsDesigns

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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