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EuroCharity and Leading Technology Institute AIT to Co-Organise Sustainability Forum 2012

05.21.2012 - 05:11PM

A training, networking and professional development event
Friday, October 5, 2012
AIT campus, 19th km., Markopoulo Avenue, GR-190 02 Peania, Athens, Greece

EuroCharity in collaboration with AIT (Athens Information Technology), an internationally-renowned, non-profit education and research centre of excellence, are pleased to announce their co-organisation of the Sustainability Forum 2012, a training, networking and professional development event that is scheduled to take place at AIT's state-of-the-art venue in Peania, Athens on October 5.

Internationally-acclaimed speakers and experts will share their hands-on expertise and experience with the delegates of this forthcoming, multi-stakeholder Forum.

The basic goal of this one-day Forum, which will have an educational character and focus on sustainability, is to showcase new prospects in these challenging times. The Forum aims at providing knowledge, developing abilities and exchanging best practices as well as experiences related to sustainability through parallel, expert workshops that focus on:

Core principles of sustainability
Sustainable smart cities / Environment
Green ICT / Footprint
Communicating Sustainability
Sustainable facilities and infrastructure systems
Creating a sustainablity strategy
Sustainability reporting assurance
Calculating and offsetting CO2 emissions
Sustainability and social media

Who should attend?

The Forum is aimed at all professionals involved or interested in sustainability, CSR Practitioners & Managers, HR Managers, PR Specialists, Marketing Managers, environmentalists, investors, third sector leaders, and others. Confirmed workshop tutors include Derwin Johnson, an independent senior communication consultant with more than 30 years of experience as a journalist, communication executive and educator who has served as U.S. Director of Media and Communications Training for one of the largest global public relations companies and spent seven years at Columbia University as Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Journalism, as well as Dr. Annie Pearce (www.mlsoc.vt.edu/users/apearce), an Associate Professor in the Myers-Lawson School of Construction at Virginia Tech specialising in sustainable facilities and infrastructure systems. Throughout her career, Annie has worked with practitioners in both public and private sectors to implement sustainability as part of building planning, design, construction, and operations.

As a LEED Accredited Professional, Annie brings the latest in green building methods, technologies, and best practices to the classroom. Her specific areas of interest include metrics of sustainability for built facilities, green building materials and systems, cost modeling to support sustainability implementation, and in situ performance of sustainable facility technologies. Along with others in the Myers-Lawson School, Annie is pioneering a new paradigm of construction research, education, and outreach that combines and synergises inputs from stakeholders in the construction industry with new technologies and research efforts to promote sustainable innovations. This educational ecosystem approach builds upon the principles of biomimicry to offer benefits to all entities within the system while tapping the resources they can offer to one another, all while moving the industry toward the goal of greater sustainability.

For further information on the Forum, event programme and participation form, please contact EuroCharity at info@eurocharity.org. Tel.: +30 210 927 1110-29.

About AIT

A leading technology institute that offers world-class education and research in the fields of information technology, telecommunications, and innovation management, AIT (Athens Information Technology) was founded by the INTRACOM Group in 2002. In creating AIT, INTRACOM's purpose was to build on the track record of excellence set by Greek scientists and engineers both in Greece and abroad, and to enable Greece to play a significant future role in these fields.

AIT collaborates with 58 leading European universities, research centres and ICT companies. The non-profit organisation has been internationally recognised through, among others, its pioneering co-operation with the Information Networking Institute (INI), a department of the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the educational partner of Carnegie Mellon Cylab, U.S.A.; via its Executive Training Programmes in Leadership, Negotiation and Strategy in collaboration with the Kokkalis Program on Southeastern and East-Central Europe at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, U.S.A.; and through its strategic collaboration with Aalborg University, Denmark.

The largest privately-funded education and research centre in South-East Europe, AIT utilises its state-of-the-art facilities, conveniently located near the Athens International Airport, affiliations with world-renowned universities and range of academic programs and scholarships to offer the finest advanced learning for professionals and executives and first-class education and career placement to an internationally diverse group of students from all walks of life.

AIT's mission is to:

Establish and maintain a centre of excellence for research and education in the areas of software engineering, telecommunications/networking, embedded systems and electronics;
Foster the development of top level competitive information and communication technology professionals capable of creating technological breakthroughs and skilled in technology and innovation management;
Continue to provide the education to meet future ICT trends;
Continue to provide education opportunities to gifted students through scholarships.

For further information on AIT, please visit www.ait.gr or download a PDF presentation at www.eurocharity.eu/publish/ait_presentation.pdf.

Registration Opens for BSR Conference 2012: Fast Forward, October 23-26 in New York

05.21.2012 - 08:00AM

Registration opens today for the BSR Conference 2012: Fast Forward. This is BSR’s 20^th anniversary Conference—the preeminent platform for business leaders to network, share best practices, and commit to strategies and actions for a sustainable future.

Participants can register online for the Conference, which will take place at the Grand Hyatt New York, October 23 through 26.

“Two decades after BSR was founded, there is a great deal of progress to celebrate,” said BSR President and CEO Aron Cramer. “Sustainability has entered the mainstream, with companies, NGOs, and governments collaborating toward sustainable well-being for all of the world’s people. But much remains to be done to turn our vision of a sustainable future into a reality. This year’s BSR Conference will provide both the inspiration and practical advice to make an even greater impact over the next 20 years.”

The 2012 Conference will bring together a global community of more than 1,000 leaders from business, civil society, and the public sector. This year, the event will feature more than 75 speakers from around the world in 35 diverse sessions that will address the need for business to fast forward progress toward a more just and sustainable world. Through a wide variety of formats, from plenary addresses to intimate one-hour conversations, the 20^th BSR Conference will help companies innovate and create lasting change over the years to come.

To register and receive updates on speakers, sessions, and more, visit www.bsr.org/conference. Members of the media interested in a complimentary press pass to attend the BSR Conference 2012 should contact Communications Manager Eva Dienel at edienel@bsr.org.

About BSR
BSR works with its global network of nearly 300 member companies to build a just and sustainable world. From its offices in Asia, Europe, and North and South America, BSR develops sustainable business strategies and solutions through consulting, research, and cross-sector collaboration. Visit www.bsr.org for more information about BSR’s more than 20 years of leadership in sustainability.

The Most Advanced Course on Sustainability and CSR Topics

05.14.2012 - 11:44AM

The Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) is hosting its next global Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Trainings in New York (May 31-June 1) and Toronto (June 14-15). The training provides a global perspective on the most relevant frameworks and best practices of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, enabling professionals to lead their organizations, teams, and projects.

For these courses only, CSE is offering a FREE brief organizational assessment using the methodology and framework of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

Participants will benefit from:

Gaining advanced knowledge and learning to use a comprehensive approach to create effective strategies and reports based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) guidelines
Maintaining high levels of confidence among organizational stakeholders
Learning how Sustainability can form a strong business case through updated and relevant case studies, videos, and exercises
Being a part of a small, yet highly intensive group setting
Understanding of Carbon Footprint and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) strategy
Becoming globally recognized and accredited as a Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner

To date, CSE has certified more than 300 participants from leading organizations and diverse sectors. Executives from Fortune 1000 companies and universities including Supervalu, Unilever, ABM Industries, Lockheed Martin, Baker Hughes, Noble Energy, United Airlines, and others have participated in CSR-Practitioner trainings across the globe.

Following the workshop, professionals have the opportunity to complete a Final Assignment, which allows them to qualify for certification and earn the CSR-P Certification and CSR-P Seal. CSE is an Approved Training Provider under the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment.

For more information, visit CSE's Sustainability Practitioner page at www.sustainability-practitioner.org

Limited seating available for all courses!

May 31-June 1: New York, NY http://sustainability-practitioner-ny.eventbrite.com
June 14–15: Toronto, ON, Canada http://sustainabilitypractitioner-toronto2012.eventbrite.com

QUOTES:

“It changed the way I think about CSR and gave me clear insight on how I may apply this to my organization.

Andrew Ruehl, VP, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Associated Bank,

Chicago workshop, 2012

“A sophisticated take on the concepts of CSR. The presenter was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

Robert Harris, CEO, Altruvest, Toronto workshop, 2011

“A very impressive ‘how to’ program, providing valuable information and background on CSR implementation and development.”

Gloria Barone-Rosanio, CIGNA Health Insurance, New York City workshop, 2011

“Incredible knowledge shared. Great mix of presentations and group assignments.

Jeff Rehm, Sustainability Manager, WW Grainger, San Francisco workshop, 2011

10th Anniversary Cause Marketing Forum

05.10.2012 - 02:00PM

Cause marketing is now widely recognized as one of the most powerful marketing strategies for both companies and causes with conservative estimates quantifying corporate cause sponsorships at $1.68 billion in 2011.

The annual Cause Marketing Forum is the must-attend conference of the year focusing solely on this increasingly important marketing approach and subset of corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. Appropriate for both novice and seasoned cause marketers, the annual Cause Marketing Forum covers a wide range of topics featuring expert cause marketing speakers and discussion group leaders. From legal considerations to forming the perfect corporate-nonprofit partnership to harnessing the power of social media for your cause marketing campaign, no cause-related marketing topic is left uncovered.

Attendees will hear from executives, marketing and corporate social responsibility professionals from companies including Zynga, Procter & Gamble, Campbell’s Soup Company, Whirlpool, ANN Inc., Yum! Brands, The Coca-Cola Company, AOL/Huffington Post Media Group and others.

Nonprofit speakers include executive and cause marketing representatives from U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, KaBoom!, ACCION, World Wildlife Fund, DoSomething.org, March of Dimes, Adopt a Clasroom and others.

Highlights include:

A behind-the-scenes look at the integrated cause-related marketing effort, Arctic Home, partnering The Coca-Cola Company and World Wildlife Fund and lessons learned from this major initiative.
Keynotes by U.S. Fund for UNICEF’s President and CEO Caryl Stern and Procter & Gamble’s Group Vice President for North America Melanie Healey
The Great Breast Cancer Debate – a panel discussion of this cause marketing poster child that generates more corporate funding and more controversy than any other in the field.
Digital sessions offering trends on crowdsourcing and the gamification of cause marketing. - A practical cause marketing Legal Update from Attorney Ed Chansky
The Perfect Pitch - A new, edutational session starring three cause marketing pros pitching a single nonprofit to a panel of judges and
The Cause Marketing Halo Awards – the brightest and best examples of 2011 cause marketing campaigns from 9 individual categories. Hear lessons learned from two of this year’s winners in Halo Spotlights.
A frank conversation about how to bridge the divide between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Cause Marketing efforts.
Networking receptions, including our festive Opening Reception, sponsored by .ORG, the Public Interest Registry.
A lively celebration of Cause Marketing Forum’s 10th Anniversary year, including the 10th Birthday Bash, sponsored by MSLGROUP Americas.

PR News' SEO Webinar: Day-to-Day SEO Tactics to Amplify All Your PR Messages

05.09.2012 - 10:13AM

Join PR News on May 16 for this tactics-packed webinar that will make you a master at understanding search and how best to optimize your content.

This SEO webinar will show you how to select effective keywords that resonate with your intended audiences and have an impact on search results; how to optimize video, photos, images and social media for search; develop content grounded in SEO principles that does not conflict with Google's guidelines; write SEO-driven copy that turns readers' heads without turning them off; and measure the results of your efforts to take back to senior management.

Boston College Offers Corporate Governance Program For Directors, Senior Executives

05.08.2012 - 12:43PM

Corporate governance has grown increasingly important and challenging as directors respond to the dynamic economic, political, cultural and regulatory environment in which today’s companies operate. To help business leaders respond to this challenge, the Boston College Law School and the Center for Corporate Citizenship at the Carroll School of Management are presenting the second annual Directors' Intensive Program on Corporate Governance, June 20, on the Boston College campus.

Board directors are being held more accountable than ever before and are expected to understand and fulfill their fiduciary duties with the rigor and wisdom necessary to both ensure legal compliance and promote sustainable, long-term value. The Directors’ Intensive Program on Corporate Governance is designed to help directors and executive leaders perform their duties of oversight at the highest level.

The program provides perspectives and knowledge from leading practitioners and scholars about current and emerging issues and practices in corporate governance. It will be relevant to both new and continuing directors, as well as those executives responsible for supporting the board and for leadership decision-making for their firms.

Noted experts from business, law, finance, and academia, will contribute to the program, including keynote speaker Frank Partnoy, bestselling author of "Wait! The Art and Science of Delay" and "F.I.A.S.C.O., Blood in the Water on Wall Street", and Robert Khuzami, director of the Division of Enforcement of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. A full list of speakers is available on the Center for Corporate Citizenship website.

The Directors’ Intensive Program on Corporate Governance will offer valuable support to corporate leaders who recognize that the best companies achieve excellent performance and reputation by effectively managing risk that may emerge from a shifting operating and regulatory context, and create sustained value over the long-term by aligning business strategies with changing circumstances. Topics in this full-day program will include:

Emerging regulation of directors’ duties, especially under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Protection Act of 2010 and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Managing intellectual property rights in the U.S. and across international borders
Managing labor pools in a global economy
Balancing the long- and short-term views on building enduring shareholder value
Benefits and risks of pursuing corporate interests through participation in the political process post the Citizens United Supreme Court decision

The Directors Intensive Program on Corporate Governance will be held in Fulton Hall at the Boston College Carroll School of Management, Chestnut Hill, Mass., June 20, 2012, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration fee includes program admission, course materials, continental breakfast, lunch, breaks, and closing reception.

The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship at the Carroll School of Management is a membership-based research organization committed to helping business leverage its social, economic and human assets to ensure both its success and a more just and sustainable world. As a leading resource on corporate citizenship, the Center works with global corporations to help them define, plan and operationalize their corporate citizenship. Through the power of research, management and leadership programs, and the insights of its more than 400 corporate members, the Center creates knowledge, value and demand for corporate citizenship. www.BCCorporateCitizenship.org

Free Dance Party on the East River with FAB & Solar One in Celebration of Shop Your Values Week

05.04.2012 - 09:50AM

This Friday from 6:30-11pm Solar One and Fourth Arts Block (FAB) will be hosting a Dance Your Values Party in celebration of Shop Your Values Week and its efforts to get New Yorkers to put their money towards real systemic change for a better NYC economy.

The night will be accompanied with great music, awesome giveaways, a cool outdoor setting by the river, tons of tasty food and beer, and the opportunity to help align the moral compass for a better world. The Dance Party will kick off at 6:30pm with live music from electro pop band Strega and $3 beers to anyone who’s taken the online pledge at www.shopyourvaluesweek.com.

The music will then be handed over to a Sea to Sun DJ where he’ll pump up the bass, and get the party bumping. At 7:30pm the Dance Your Values Dance Off! will begin. The Dance Off! will be a tap-to-award contest where a SYVW team of judges will be going around and tapping people on the shoulder to inform them that they’ve been dancing their values off. Everyone who is tapped will be asked to meet up at 8:30 and will be awarded one of several prizes.

The prizes include:

1 yr membership to the 14 st Y
3 Davis Worshow Kohler Shower Heads
Babeland adult toys (at the end of the evening)
- Lyla rechareable vibrator by lelo
- bottle of babelube
- Pair of workshop tickets

The event will be held at the Solar One, the ciy’s first solar-powered “Green Energy, Arts, and Education Center.

Directions to Solar One:

L train to 1st Ave

Walk north to 20th St., east to the FDR Drive. Cross under the highway and walk north through Stuyvesant Cove Park to the Solar 1 building.

6 Train to 23rd St.

Walk east to the FDR Drive. Cross under the highway and walk south to the Solar 1 Building.

About Solar One

Solar One, the City’s first solar-powered “Green Energy, Arts, and Education Center,” inspires New Yorkers to become environmentally responsible city dwellers. They do this through a variety of unique programs that seek to reach out to broad sections of the New York City population in order to connect people to the urban environment around them. They provide in-school, education, job training, outreach and cultural programs while also maintaining one of New York’s most unique public spaces at Stuyvesant Cove Park

About Fab

Fourth Arts Block (FAB) is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 by cultural and community groups to establish and advance the East 4th Street Cultural District, between 2nd Avenue and Bowery. FAB provides a variety of services to its member organizations including leading the development and conversion of 100,000 square feet of cultural space, marketing and promotion of the district, as well as offering discount ticketing and other community events and programs.

About Shop Your Values Week

Shop Your Values Week is a week-long citywide sustainable shopping and business initiative that seeks to encourage consumers to shop with their hearts by pledging to shop locally, ethically, and sustainably. Currently 216 local and sustainable businesses have signed on to participate in Shop Your Values Week. These businesses are offering a wide range of incentives such as free samples, storewide discounts, and free admission to special events across NYC free to anyone who takes the online pledge at www.shopyourvaluesweek.com.

Boston College brings Institute on Corporate Citizenship to Minneapolis, June 13-15

05.03.2012 - 03:00PM

Community involvement professionals have a critical role to play in making their companies better corporate citizens. Boston College’s Institute on Corporate Citizenship can help those professionals take steps to ensure that community involvement is aligned with the larger corporate citizenship vision and strategy.

This program will be presented in Minneapolis by Boston College’s Center for Corporate Citizenship, June 13-15. It translates the complex concepts, ideas and language of corporate citizenship into practical and useful models and tools. Through exercises, lectures, examples, case studies and small group interactions, this 2 ½ day program provides a solid foundation of corporate citizenship and enhances community involvement professionals’ ability to contribute effectively to their firm's success.

Participants in the Institute on Corporate Citizenship will:

Get grounded in principals of good corporate citizenship and assess their company's stage of corporate citizenship development
Leave with management tools to better assess the stakeholders and issues material to their businesses
Connect – and share insights and learning – with managers from other companies who are wrestling with similar community involvement management challenges
Improve their ability to secure buy-in and engagement from executives and others inside the company who are critical to their success.

For more information, visit the Center’s website to learn about how the Institute on Corporate Citizenship can make corporate citizenship professionals more effective in their role.

Register by May 11 to take advantage of a special Early Bird offer and save $100 on the cost of tuition (enter Early Bird in the comments area to receive the discount). The program will be held at the W Minneapolis -The Foshay hotel. A special $199.99 hotel rate is available until May 22.

The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship at the Carroll School of Management is a membership-based research organization committed to helping business leverage its social, economic and human assets to ensure both its success and a more just and sustainable world. As a leading resource on corporate citizenship, the Center works with global corporations to help them define, plan and operationalize their corporate citizenship. Through the power of research, management and leadership programs, and the insights of its more than 370 corporate members, the Center creates knowledge, value and demand for corporate citizenship. www.BCCorporateCitizenship.org

Ethikus Presents Shop Your Values Week to Encourage Consumers to Shop with Their Hearts

05.03.2012 - 11:48AM

Recently, silicon-alley startup Ethikus set out to make it fun and easy for New Yorkers to align their purchases with their values, and support NYC stores and restaurants that ‘do good.’ The effort began in September with a pilot program in the East Village that successfully connected conscientious consumers with local stores and restaurants that were giving back to the community, employees, and the environment.

Ethikus realized that to really advance sustainable consumption, they would have to amass the purchasing power of thousands of concerned New Yorkers in a short period of time. They had to create a movement towards sustainable consumption – that movement has become Shop Your Values Week, and it’s moving fast!

“New Yorkers always strive to be the best at things,” said Jeff Hittner, Co-founder and CEO of Ethikus, “and SYVW is a great example of how the city is leading the fight for an ethical, sustainable, and local economy by putting their hearts where their money is.”

Shop Your Values Week is a citywide “do good” event encouraging consumers to shop with their hearts by pledging to shop locally, ethically, and sustainably. As of today, 211 local & sustainable businesses have signed on to participate in Shop Your Values Week by offering incentives to anyone who takes the online pledge. These incentives range from free samples & storewide discounts, to free admission to special events across NYC.

By signing the pledge, participants agree to the following:

● Pledge to shop with their hearts from May 3rd – 10th in NYC.

● Receive discounts at participating stores across NYC & free admission to special events.

● Help make NYC the flagship example of a local, sustainable, and ethical economy.

Yesterday Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer announced that he fully supports Shop Your Values Week’s initiative towards aligning the moral compass for a better world. Stringer will be in attendance for the May 2nd VIP Kick-off Party.

"New York is a world-class city when it comes to the quality of our local businesses," said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. "Our local businesses owners work hard to support their employees, the community and our environment, and the Shop Your Values initiative helps us support these businesses, by aligning our purchases with our values. I urge all New Yorkers to support the stores and restaurants participating in this effort, so we can maintain our City's position as a leader in sustainability and locally-focused economic growth."

Council Speaker Christine Quinn also endorsed her support for Shop Your Values Week today. “At the Council we understand that small businesses are the backbone of our City and that we must work to ensure that more and more New Yorkers are shopping locally,” said Council Speaker Quinn.

“New Yorkers always strive to be number one in everything we do and now we need to lead the charge and set the standard high as America’s most healthy and sustainable local economy. I applaud all the businesses involved and the Shop Your Values Week campaign for their efforts to incorporate sustainability and community concerns into their business models and hope that more of our city’s businesses will follow their lead.”

Shop Your Values Week also has several community partner organizations that have helped bring this movement to fruition. Some of the major contributors include Meatless Monday, Just Food, BSR, Eco Biz NYC, Green Map NYC, Fab NYC, Solar One, Realty Collective, Social Innovators Collective, Nona Brooklyn, M &M Pest Control, Green Mountain Energy, ThinkEco, Just Food, GrowNYC, Epicurean Management, 14 th Street Y, IOBY, Brooklyn Food Coalition, Eat Well Guide, Restaurant Opportunities Center of NY, COMMON, and the Bard MBA in Sustainability.

Shop Your Values Week will be running from May 3rd - 10th, 2012. More information can be found at http ://www .shopyourvaluesweek .com.

About Ethikus:

Ethikus surveys and maintains a database of local NYC establishments based on their day-to-day practices in community engagement, employee care, product sourcing and environmental mitigation. With Ethikus, conscientious consumers can find and choose local businesses that share their values, from composting to energy efficiency, employee healthcare to community donations, and more. The intention of Ethikus is to inspire a movement towards sustainable consumption on a large scale by removing the primary barriers to better purchasing decisions - lack of information, perceived higher prices and complacency.

World Energy Forum Taps Infinite Resource: Intellectual Capital

05.02.2012 - 09:00AM

The World Energy Forum is holding a high-level international conference of leaders from all energy sectors commemorating the 2012 United Nations International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. This historical event will take place October 22-24, 2012 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, with a three-day program of high-level round tables, plenaries, network events, World Energy Awards, country pavilions and exhibitions, and visits to Dubai’s smart buildings.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arabs Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, all interested parties and stakeholders are invited. “We in the UAE greatly value this opportunity to share with the world leaders and decision makers, our vision for peace, stability and sustainable development,” His Highness said.

Participants including Heads of State and Energy Ministers of the United Nations member states, international organizations, and business leaders, will exchange new ideas on global energy issues of paramount importance. The discussions will highlight national and international policies, technological innovations, and business and industry opportunities while exploring ways to strengthen public-private partnerships across diverse sectors of energy.

The conference will also serve as a unique opportunity for all energy sectors to work together toward social responsibility for the underserved, including an estimated one and a half billion people without electricity. Often in areas where energy services are available, millions of poor people are still unable to pay for them.

“Energy is fundamental to the hopes and aspirations of all humanity,” said Dr. Harold Hyun-Suk Oh, Chairman and Founder of the World Energy Forum. “Poverty eradication largely depends on energy availability. Access to modern energy services is essential to economic and social development across the globe.”

A comprehensive gathering of this kind is critical in a world where distribution of energy varies dramatically, and availability of solar, wind, fuel, gas, biomass, and hydropower is geographically diverse. Because energy is so broad of a discipline, it will take this wide range of participants from all walks of life to reach the full potential for understanding and solving complex issues. While tapping into many energy sources is critical to a healthy future, the top priority of the World Energy Forum is to harness an untapped infinite resource: intellectual capital.

“I welcome you, whether in the area of energy, water, health, education, innovation, planning, policy or technology, to participate and share your ideas with others at the World Energy Forum for a more affordable, cleaner, and safer energy mix,” said Dr. Harold Oh.

Today’s global energy community presides over an important juncture in human history when we are facing serious planetary challenges. Economic, social, and environmental choices we make now will greatly impact those who will inherit the Earth after us. The world is searching for new ways to guide us to the future. The World Energy Forum will help provide the road map.

The World Energy Forum 2012 international conference and exhibition is designed to be inclusive, offering an opportunity to all participants to showcase new ideas and achievements. For more information please email World Energy Forum or call 212.759.3185. Register here

Subscribe to the World Energy Monitor for updates on the event, and other ways to participate in this important conversation.

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San Francisco's Tech, Entrepreneur, Design Talent and Tenderloin Community Come Together to Improve Lives of Residents During Collaboration Weekend

04.27.2012 - 04:34PM

Collaboration Weekend, which kicks-off tonight and runs through Sunday, brings together some of the City’s brightest technologists and entrepreneurs with established members of the Tenderloin District to develop new community-driven tools that will help make aspects of residents’ lives more efficient, creating greater opportunity for economic improvement. The Weekend serves as the launch event of Creative Currency, a six-month initiative produced by the digital culture nonprofit, Gray Area Foundation for the Arts (GAFFTA) and the social enterprise convener and incubator, The Hub Bay Area, in partnership with The San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Civic Innovation, and American Express. More than one hundred City residents will convene and break-off into project teams to brainstorm and develop solutions for Mid-Market. The initiative will continue beyond the weekend with a public Demo Day planned for August. Top projects will continue development over a six-month period allowing for further solidification, integration into the community or evolving into operating independent initiatives.

“San Francisco is known as the Innovation Capital of the World',” said Jay Nath, Chief Innovation Officer for the City of San Francisco, “yet there are concentrated populations within our own city that don’t have access to the very digital tools that most of us have become so accustomed to.”

Creative Currency: New Tools for a New Economy from GAFFTA on Vimeo.

Many San Francisco residents probably can’t remember life before the existence of mobile apps to help them find the fastest route to a destination, or using computers or ATMs to retrieve information and execute financial transactions. But many Tenderloin residents wake up at 4 a.m. just to begin their search for the next night’s bed.

“The causes of poverty are many and far-reaching, and any step towards facilitating better care and support for the people who need it most is progress for all of us. Technologies that respond to the unique diversity and complex challenges faced by our residents hold great potential for affecting positive change in our communities.” said Lillian Mark, Operations Manager, Community Building Division at GLIDE Foundation, a community organization working in the Tenderloin for more than 45 years.

To ensure that projects developed are relevant to and informed by the local community, the Creative Currency team conducted in-depth interviews with 16 local service organizations and nonprofits, and surveyed 37 businesses and 155 residents over two months. This extensive community outreach is the first of its kind for a hackathon-style event, and an evolution of GAFFTA’s experience connecting technology solutions to social issues and neighborhood challenges in Mid-Market. Participants in this weekend’s Collaboration Weekend had access to the brief in advance to familiarize themselves with the community’s unique needs and start brainstorming ideas. The HUB Bay Area’s history of accelerating enterprises focused on delivering both social and financial returns, will bring business development and ROI expertise to project teams.

“After years of fostering these types of innovative collaborations, we’ve found the best solutions emerge from teams that are diverse, inclusive and locally driven,” said Josette Melchor, Co-Founder and Executive Director of GAFFTA. “Building on the community’s input and institutional knowledge is essential for us to help build tech-based tools that are useful and meaningful to local residents.”

Creative Currency will also draw on new concepts that are already transforming systems of exchange in both the U.S. and abroad including peer-to-peer sharing, crowdfunding platforms and alternative currency, among others. American Express’ Serve technology, one such alternative payment system, will be available for participants to incorporate into their projects.

“We believe there is tremendous potential for mobile money to help serve different income levels,” said Dan Schulman, American Express’ president of enterprise growth. “Together with our partners, we plan to support, mentor and evolve unique prototypes that will be truly impactful to residents of San Francisco’s Mid-Market.”

Ideas resulting from this weekend will have opportunities for a portion of $15,000 in seed funding to support development of their projects. Mentors from the areas of business, investment, technology, design and community development will be available to participants throughout the initiative, starting with on-site input at Collaboration Weekend. Project teams will have opportunities to showcase their work to the public at Demo Day in August and among peers at SOCAP 12 in San Francisco on October 1-4, 2012.

“Through the broad set of relationships represented in our collaboration we hope to nurture projects and partnerships in the community that will serve its residents for years to come,” said The Hub Bay Area’s CEO, Cory Smith.

For more information, to access the Community Brief and to see some of the ideas proposed to address the unique challenges of Tenderloin residents, visit www.creative-currency.org.

About HUB Bay Area
HUB Bay Area is a place-based membership community that develops and deploys solutions for a better world. Hubs exist in more than 20 international locations and Hub Bay Area consists of San Francisco and Berkeley, soon to be expanding into Oakland and Silicon Valley. Aspiring people find the support they need at the HUB to reach their goals faster in a community that makes everyone smarter and more effective. Existing organizations establish satellite presences at the HUB to join the community and create value-exchange. The HUB Bay Area is designing workspaces, events, education, and media as tools to drive acceleration and collaboration.

About Gray Area Foundation for the Arts (GAFFTA)
Gray Area Foundation for the Arts (GAFFTA) is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to furthering the use and advancement of creative technology for social good. In this capacity, we maintain relationships with the world’s top academic researchers, innovative corporations, visionary artists, and civic leaders. By continually engaging and connecting this diverse community with challenges and opportunities, we extract forward-thinking technological solutions with proven capacity to create positive change.

About The San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Civic Innovation
The City and County of San Francisco is recognized the world over for its innovative spirit. From our leadership on medical care with the country’s first universal healthcare program to our recent ban on plastic bags, we often set the pace for the rest of the nation.

In the Mayor's Office of Civic Innovation, our mission is to introduce new ideas and approaches to solve long-standing challenges. We believe that government needs to think like a lean startup: agile, scrappy and customer-focused.

About American Express
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, foursquare.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/companies/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

Dow Inspires Interest in Science at USA Science & Engineering Festival

04.27.2012 - 02:55PM

The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) is encouraging youth to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math – known collectively as STEM – through its sponsorship of and participation in this year’s USA Science & Engineering Festival, taking place April 28-29 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Dow’s support is part of a long-term commitment to creating an innovative and competitive workforce, and building a knowledgeable society that values science and technology.

The USA Science & Engineering Festival is the country’s only national science festival. It was launched in 2010 with the goal of raising awareness of the importance of science. This year, the expanded event will grab the public’s attention through hands-on activities, stage shows, and well-known personalities including Bill Nye the Science Guy.

“Based on our science and technology expertise, sustainability focus, and global network at Dow, we are positioned to inspire future generations to understand, appreciate, and practice science,” said Bo Miller, global director of Corporate Citizenship and president of The Dow Chemical Company Foundation. “Dow’s presence in the Festival shares our passion for science and long-standing commitment to STEM education to generate enthusiasm among young people for the creative future of science.”

Dow is part of a select group of exhibitors invited to participate in Sneak Peek Friday on April 27, when students and teachers from underserved schools, homeschoolers, military families, government officials and their staffers, and members of the press will have the opportunity to tour the Finale Expo at Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Also on Friday, Carrie Houtman, senior Government Affairs manager at Dow, will provide opening remarks on the Company’s commitment to enhance STEM education in the United States.

Dow is working to build an innovative and competitive workforce, and create a knowledgeable society that values science and technology, through its support for STEM education and careers. As an advocate for innovation, Dow is supporting transformational initiatives that make a difference for students, educators, and academic institutions.

Dow’s current commitments to promote STEM education include the sponsorship of the 44th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), scholarships for experienced teachers to attend workshops at the Keystone Center and The National Science Resource Center (Smithsonian Institutes), funding NSTA’s New Science Teacher Academy for second- and third-year teachers. Since 2008, these programs have impacted more than 11,500 teachers and 1.5 million students in the United States alone.

For more information on Dow’s commitment to STEM education, please visit: www.dow.com/education.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: Dow) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2011, Dow had annual sales of $60 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 197 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

PR News' Platinum PR Awards - It's Time to Enter!

04.25.2012 - 10:00AM

PR News' Platinum PR Awards recognize the year’s most outstanding communications initiatives and programs in the highly competitive and dynamic PR arena. The industry-known awards program set the benchmark for excellence across all areas of PR. The winners of the Platinum PR Awards are from corporations, agencies and nonprofits large and small who took chances, made tremendous strides and understand the power of public relations. The entry deadline is Friday, May 11, 2012 and winners along with honorable mentions will be honored on September 14 in New York City.

For more information on the Platinum PR Awards, visit PR News online at http://www.prnewsonline.com/platinum/.

The Platinum PR Awards are open to all individuals and teams worldwide at for-profit and non-profit organizations including: corporations, PR firms, public affairs and IR agencies, publicity firms, associations, government, and NGO teams, and sole practitioners. Vendors are also eligible to compete on behalf of client.

To enter online, visit http://www.prnewsonline.com/platinum/.

Winners and honorable mentions will be awarded in the following categories:

Anniversary
Annual Report
Blog
Branding
Cause-Related Marketing
Community Relations
Crisis Management
Employee Relations
Event Marketing
External Publication (print or online)
Facebook Campaign
Financial/Investor Relations
Firm of the Year
- Large PR Firm of the Year
- Midsize PR Firm of the Year
- Small PR Firm of the Year
Global PR Campaign
Green PR Influencer Communications
Internal Publication (print or online)
Marketing Communications
Media Event
Media Relations
Multicultural Campaign
On a Shoestring Campaign
Online Communications
Online Press Room/Media Center
Podcast and/or Videocast
Press Release
Pro Bono Campaign
Product Launch
Public Affairs
PSA
Re-Branding/Re-positioning
Research & Measurement
Satellite Media Tours
SEM/ SEO Initiatives or Campaign
Social Media Campaign
Speeches
Trade Show/Event PR
Twitter Campaign
Video Program
Word of Mouth/Viral Campaign
WOW! Award

For more information, visit http://www.prnewsonline.com/platinum/.

PR News' Platinum PR Awards is a great opportunity to get recognized for outstanding communications initiatives and to shine the spotlight on those driving an organization’s PR success.

For questions regarding the Platinum PR Awards, contact PR News Assistant Marketing Manager Laura Berdichevsky at lberdichevsky@accessintel.com. For sponsorship and exhibit information, contact PR News Senior Vice President & Group Publisher Diane Schwartz at dschwartz@accessintel.com.

The PR News family of products also includes the weekly PR News publication, The Digital PR Summit, Media Relations Forum and PR Measurement Conference, PR Webinars and Workshops, PR Guidebooks, Platinum PR Awards, PR People Awards, Nonprofit Awards, 15-to-Watch and more. Visit PR News online at www.prnewsonline.com.

Major Investors and Companies Tackle Climate Change and Sustainability at Ceres Conference in Boston

04.25.2012 - 12:00AM

Companies and investors are tackling climate change and other global sustainability threats head-on—and are finding it profitable to do so. That’s the clear message emerging at the Ceres Conference 2012: Igniting Innovation, Scaling Sustainability at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel.

The conference’s opening day was marked by numerous company announcements and the release of a new Ceres/Sustainalytics report evaluating 600 leading US companies on their progress – or lack of it – on sustainability.

“Don’t let the weak economy and election-year rhetoric fool you, the Ceres conference proves sustainability is gaining traction and is making businesses more profitable,” said Mindy Lubber, president of Ceres.

Among the day-one highlights:

Wells Fargo: Announced substantial commitments to accelerate the transition to a ‘green’ economy, including $30 billion in loans and investments by 2020 to support green technologies such as energy efficiency, renewable energy and other environmental innovations.

SAP: Delivering on commitments made at last year’s Ceres conference, SAP announced the positive impact of new and enhanced energy-saving software solutions for its clients around the world. For manufacturers alone, these solutions led to 5.7 million tons of carbon pollution reductions and $500 million in energy savings in 2011.

Evaluating 600 Companies on Sustainability: Ceres and research firm Sustainalytics announced a new report assessing 600 U.S. companies on their progress on sustainability. The report findings – based on an analysis of how companies are responding to environmental and social challenges such as climate change, water scarcity and supply chain conditions – shows individual examples of strong leadership, but significant need for overall improvement.

Levi Strauss & Co: At last year's Ceres conference, Levi Strauss & Co. announced a bold commitment to improve factory and worker conditions in its global supply chain. The company's efforts to date on the project, done in close collaboration with Ceres, are outlined in a new white paper. The company is piloting the project at five factories in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Egypt, Haiti and Pakistan.

Bavaria Award: Tessa Tennant, president and co-founder of The Ice Organisation, has been awarded the fourth-annual Joan Bavaria Award for Building Sustainability into the Capital Markets. The Bavaria Award is presented annually by Ceres and Trillium Asset Management to an inspiring leader working to move capital markets toward a system that balances economic prosperity with social and environmental concerns. The award’s name honors Joan Bavaria, a pioneer of social investing who founded Ceres and Trillium Asset Management. Bavaria passed away in 2008.

Lisa Jackson, administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency will close the final day of the conference at 2:00 PM on Thursday, April 26.

A full agenda can be found at: http://www.ceres.org/conferences/program. Reporters interested in attending the event are asked to contact Peyton Fleming, 617-733-6660, fleming@ceres.org

Follow Ceres on twitter @CeresNews and the conference #Ceres12

About Ceres

Ceres is an advocate for sustainability leadership. Ceres mobilizes a powerful coalition of investors, companies and public interest groups to accelerate and expand the adoption of sustainable business practices and solutions to build a healthy global economy. Ceres also directs the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR), a network of 100 institutional investors with collective assets totaling more than $10 trillion.

For more information, visit http://www.ceres.org and http://www.incr.com.

Tessa Tennant, Sustainable Investing Pioneer on Several Continents, Wins Annual Joan Bavaria Award

04.24.2012 - 06:30PM

Tessa Tennant, President and co-founder of The Ice Organisation, has been awarded the fourth-annual Joan Bavaria Award for Building Sustainability into the Capital Markets. The announcement was made at Tuesday’s opening reception of the Ceres annual conference, which runs April 25-26 at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel in Boston, MA.

“I can’t think of anyone more deserving to win this year’s Bavaria Award,” said Mindy Lubber, president of Ceres. “Tessa is an inspirational leader who has worked tirelessly for more than 20 years integrating environmental and social concerns into investing and business decisions. She has taken Joan Bavaria’s original vision of advancing socially responsible investing and expanded it to the markets in Europe , and now Asia, creating real impact beyond the U.S.”

Tennant co-founded The Ice Organisation (myice.com), which encourages consumers to purchase more sustainable products and services from a wide range of retail partners, mobilizing mass consumer purchase power to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. She also co-founded the UK's first equity investment fund for sustainable development in 1988, now called the Jupiter Ecology Fund.

She was Chair and co-founder of the UK Social Investment Forum, which promotes responsible investment and other forms of finance that support sustainable economic development. She also co-founded the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), which has enabled hundreds of companies and investors to better understand, report on and mitigate risk from carbon pollution and climate change.

In 2001 she co-founded the Association for Sustainable & Responsible Investment in Asia (ASrIA) and remains on the Board. Based in Hong Kong, ASrIA is a leading nonprofit organization promoting sustainable investment practices in Asia, including fostering SRI products and services and providing training, research and other resources.

The Bavaria Award is presented by Ceres annually to an inspiring leader working to move capital markets toward a system that balances economic prosperity with social and environmental concerns. The award’s name honors Joan Bavaria, a pioneer of social investing who founded Ceres and Trillium Asset Management. Bavaria passed away in 2008.

“Tessa has been instrumental in elevating sustainability as a business and investor issue across the globe,” said Trillium CEO Matt Patsky. “She has created multiple funds and organizations that are driving sustainable investment behavior and having a real impact on business, the environment and the global economy.”

In the early nineties, Tennant served as a member of the UK Government's Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment, and helped develop HRH The Prince of Wales's Business in the Environment initiative, which educates senior business executives on practical ways to integrate social and environmental solutions into their business operations. She is also Chair of the Global Cool Foundation. She has served as a World Wildlife Fund UK Ambassador and is a Fellow of the Schumacher Society.

"I'm deeply honored.” Tennant said in her acceptance speech. “This award is as much for the people in Hong Kong at the Association for Sustainable & Responsible Investment in Asia, and for the people in London at the Carbon Disclosure Project and other initiatives I've been involved with, as it is for me. Joan Bavaria has been a complete heroine of mine all my working life. She gave me that confidence to just go out and do it." (View her entire acceptance speech here)

About Ceres

About Trillium Asset Management

With a history spanning three decades, Trillium is the oldest independent investment advisor focused exclusively on sustainable and responsible investing. Trillium manages over $1 billion in assets for clients including high net worth individuals, foundations, endowments, religious institutions, and other non-profits. To learn more about Trillium, please visit http://trilliuminvest.com

Missing Voices: Visionary Eco-preneurs Share Lessons Learned

04.23.2012 - 08:06PM

Join a lively discussion with founders and leaders of socially and environmentally responsible businesses as we explore the opportunities and obstacles of growing an equitable green economy for all.

The event will feature key members of triple bottom line (people, planet, profit) business organizations sharing valuable experience from the field, as we discover together new ways for socially responsible enterprises to engage in Rio+20, and the future we want. Featured participants include members of:

American Sustainable Business Council
B Lab
BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies)
CSRwire
Green America
Social Venture Network
Temple of Understanding

Space is limited. RSVP to jkirby@templeofunderstanding.org.

When: Tuesday May 1, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Where: Church Center at the United Nations, 10th floor, 777 UN Plaza, New York

*Sponsored by CSRwire, the most trusted source for quality corporate social responsibility and sustainability news, views and trends.

Shop Your Values Week

04.23.2012 - 07:02PM

Shop Your Values Week (http://shopyourvaluesweek.com) is a NYC-wide event to encourage all New Yorkers to buy from local, ethical, and sustainable businesses from May 3 - 10th, 2012.

Take the pledge to enjoy free events & discounts across NYC.

Major partners of the week include Meatless Monday, Green Table, Just Food, BSR, Eco Biz NYC, Green Map NYC, Fab NYC, Solar One, Realty Collective, Social Innovators Collective, Nona Brooklyn, M&M Pest Control, Green Mountain Energy, ThinkEco, Just Food, GrowNYC, Epicurean Management, 14th Street Y, IOBY, Brooklyn Food Coalition, Eat Well Guide, Restaurant Opportunities Center of NY, COMMON, and the Bard MBA in Sustainability.

Business Must Grasp Opportunities Of Delivering Global Growth With Managing Scarce Food, Water And Energy Resources

04.23.2012 - 11:02AM

The international business and finance community must take the lead in solving increasing food, energy and water scarcity as population growth and economic development puts greater strains on the planet’s resources.

The call to action was issued today by Re|Source 2012, a new initiative created by the University of Oxford, its Smith School of Enterprise and Environment and The Rothschild Foundation to tackle resource scarcity and highlight the business opportunities of sustainable management.

Sir David King, co-director of Re|Source and former chief scientific adviser to the UK government, said: “The growing demand for food, energy and water by our growing and increasingly wealthy population is creating unprecedented pressures on our finite natural resources.

“The associated risks represent major opportunities for innovative business communities. Managing resources efficiently and effectively in a way that protects the environment and meets rising demand is the only productive way forward.”

The need to better manage the challenges of resource scarcity is now rising rapidly up the agenda for governments, investors and businesses alike, as well as environmental leaders and organisations. It has become a critical security issue for corporate leaders trying to ensure a reliable supply of water and energy to manufacture products and for governments concerned about energy or food supplies.

The world is expected to grow from seven billion people today to nine billion by 2050 - to meet this growth it will need to produce 70 per cent more food – which will place consequential demands on water and energy. More than 40 of the world’s top 100 economies are companies. Only eight per cent of the world’s fresh water is used by individuals – the rest is used by agriculture and industry.

Sir David, director of the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment at Oxford University, continued:

“Managing issues arising from resource scarcity and management is one of the over-riding issues of the first half of the 21st century. It is not just a matter of empty threats and negativity.

“There are huge advantages and opportunities for business, finance and government in responsible resource management. Companies and investors can enjoy far greater returns and rewards by effective resource management.

“This can be a win-win for everyone if we can engage the financial, business and environmental communities together to tackle these issues.”

To help drive this change Re|Source is bringing together 250 of the world’s most influential thinkers and leaders at Oxford University in July to start a new conversation on managing natural resources, longer-term thinking and aligning people and profit.

They will address key questions including: how will resource scarcity and volatility affect political, business and military planning? How can the financial community change to encourage CEOs and investee companies to rise to these global resource challenges? And how will capitalism evolve in a resource constrained world?

Key speakers include:

President Bill Clinton, Founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and 42nd President of the United States
Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, on the investment opportunities in tomorrow’s economies
David Nabarro, the UN’s Special Representative on Food Security and Nutrition
Peter Brabeck, Chairman of Nestle, the world’s largest food company, and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of the Environment and Water Resource in Singapore, speaking on the business and political risks of water security
Jeremy Grantham, founder of GMO, one of the world’s largest investment funds, on commodity pricing and volatility and Nobel Laureate economist Amartya Sen on the economics of resource scarcity
Rt Hon David Miliband MP, former UK Foreign Secretary, on the role of government and Lord Browne of Madingley, former CEO of BP energy and now partner of Riverstone Holdings LLC, on private sector leadership
Plus senior military figures including Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti, Climate and Energy Security Envoy of the UK Ministry of Defence and FCO, and high-ranking officials from NATO (to be confirmed)
In addition, James Cameron, internationally acclaimed film director, environmentalist and explorer, will give a special presentation at a dinner at the Ashmolean Museum.

Notes to editors:

Re|Source 2012 is hosted by the University of Oxford and its Smith School of Enterprise and Environment, in co-operation with The Rothschild Foundation. It will take place on July 12-13. For more information please visit: www.resource2012.org and follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/resource2012

Journalist invites and accreditation details will be sent out closer to the event and you are invited to send requests for information to the media contacts below.

This Earth Month, Seventh Generation Empowers You to Make a Difference With a Live Like The Lorax Sweepstakes

04.21.2012 - 08:48AM

This Earth Month, the leading brand of green and eco-friendly household and personal care products, Seventh Generation, is inspiring people across the country to make a difference in their own communities through the Live Like The Lorax Sweepstakes.

The sweepstakes, hosted on Seventh Generation's Facebook page, asks users to "like" the Seventh Generation page and provide their contact information in order to be entered to win the Green Your Town Makeover prize package. The prize package includes:

$5,000 for a Green Home Makeover from Gaiam.com
$5,000 for a Green School Library in their community
500 Seventh Generation Green Cleaning Starter Kits for their neighbors

The sweepstakes also consists of a weekly prize, where 500 winners will win Green Home Starter Kits, including Seventh Generation's eco-friendly cleaning products.

The Lorax speaks for the trees and Seventh Generation acts for them and wants to empower others to do the same. If every household in the U.S. replaced just one 12-pack of 300-sheet virgin fiber bathroom tissue with Seventh Generation's 100% recycled bathroom tissue, we could save 1,900,000 trees.

"The Lorax was created to inspire and at Seventh Generation, we're here to help turn that inspiration into reality," says Chris Miller, director of Corporate Consciousness at Seventh Generation. "Not everyone has the resources to take on a major green initiative within their community, so it is our hope that this promotion is a start in providing individuals with the inspiration and tools they need to do so -- we hope it will help people understand that one small change done by many can make a big difference."

The Green Your Town Sweepstakes runs through on July 31, 2012.

About Seventh Generation

Seventh Generation is committed to being the most trusted brand of household and personal-care products for your living home. Our products are healthy solutions for the air, surfaces, fabrics, pets and people within your home -- and for the community and environment outside of it. Seventh Generation also offers baby products that are safe for your children and the planet. The company derives its name from the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy that states, "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." Every time you use a Seventh Generation product you are making a difference by saving natural resources, reducing pollution, and making the world a better place for this and the next seven generations.

For information on Seventh Generation cleaning, paper, baby and feminine personal care products, to find store locations, and explore the company's website visit www.seventhgeneration.com. To read more about Seventh Generation's corporate responsibility, visit the 2010 Corporate Consciousness Report.

CWT's "Impact on the Gridiron" Event Wins PR News Corporate Social Responsibility Award

04.19.2012 - 04:37PM

Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT), a global leader specialized in managing business travel and meetings and events, has been recognized nationally by PR News’ CSR Awards in the Event: CSR/Green Focus category.

In 2011, CWT decided to shift the focus of its annual client event toward a greater purpose that would create meaningful stakeholder connections, and “Impact on the Gridiron” was born. CWT partnered with Habitat for Humanity to create a “celebration with intention,” that allowed participants to become fully engaged in the cause.

The interactive event, which was planned and executed in partnership with CWT Meetings & Events, took place at Sports Authority Field in Denver during the Global Business Travel Association’s (GBTA) annual convention last August. Participants had the opportunity to engage with Habitat, make their mark on the home being built by CWT, and even meet the local family who would soon live in the home.

“CWT’s partnership with Habitat solved a business as well as a community need in an innovative way. It was designed to influence the greater good and increase our capacity to give more, while impacting the communities where our employees live and work,” said Barbara Barnard, senior vice president, CWT U.S. Corporate Clients. “We received an overwhelmingly positive response from all involved in the event, and look forward to expanding upon CSR efforts in the future.”

CWT addresses CSR issues both internally and on behalf of its clients and partners by upholding a focus on community involvement, diversity and the environment.

PR News’ CSR Awards honor the most influential socially responsible green campaigns. Winners of these awards represent corporations, agencies and nonprofits who have taken remarkable strides and understand CSR’s important function to an organization’s success. CWT is honored to be among a truly amazing group of winners, which include Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods, The Campbell Soup Company, Best Buy, and many more.

About Carlson Wagonlit Travel CWT is a global leader specialized in managing business travel and meetings and events. CWT serves companies, government institutions and non-governmental organizations of all sizes in more than 150 countries and territories. By leveraging both the expertise of its people and leading-edge technology, CWT helps clients derive the greatest value from their travel program in terms of savings, service, security and sustainability. The company is also committed to providing best-in-class service and assistance to travelers. CWT services and solutions comprise Traveler & Transaction Services, Program Optimization, Safety & Security, Meetings & Events and Energy Services.

In 2011, sales volume for wholly owned operations and joint ventures totaled US$28.0 billion. For more information about CWT, please visit our global website at www.carlsonwagonlit.com. Follow us on Twitter @CarlsonWagonlit and @CWTNorthAmerica.

Earth Day New York Calls on the Public to do Their Part!

04.19.2012 - 03:08PM

Calendar of Earth Day Earth Week Events, April 19th through 21st includes details on Friday’s CO2 E Drive and Fashion Show in Times Square and three days of Exhibitions at Grand Central Terminal

Earth Day New York called on the public to do their part, on Earth Day and every day. A call to action to educate themselves about ways to make a difference on the many environmental challenges we face.

The press conference held in Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall launched Earth Day New York’s events and marks the official opening of exhibits taking place in Vanderbilt Hall, Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Avenue and Times Square. The events are designed to introduce attendees to the many ways they can get involved and engaged on environmental issues and make better greener choices every day.

“New York City has become a global leader for what it means to be ‘green,’ and through sweeping programs like PlaNYC we are building a more sustainable city,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “It’s just as important for New Yorkers do their part and these exciting Earth Day events are an opportunity for us all to build on our City’s progress, and make ‘greener’ choices throughout the year."

President and Executive Director of Earth Day New York, Pamela Lippe spoke about the upcoming events and the Earth Day Organic Indoor Learning Garden, a portable indoor garden for classrooms. She was joined at the conference by John T. Shea, CEO, Division of School Facilities of the New York City Department of Education, who talked about the importance of Sustainability in schools.

Mr. Yoshihide Fujii, Chairman and CEO of Toshiba America, Inc. highlighted the company’s visionary ideas for technologies that could someday help people live in closer harmony with the Earth and talked about their long time support of STEM education of youth. Toshiba will be introducing their new virtual game Smart Ninja at their exhibit in Vanderbilt Hall that will help kids discover eco-friendly innovative ways to build a better tomorrow.

Lippe introduced The Earth Day Organic Indoor Learning Garden a program that has been introduced to over 120 classrooms in New York with the support of Anvil Knitwear. Caterina Conti, EVP, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel of Anvil Knitwear Inc. talked about the importance of education around food and nutrition with a focus on organics. Artist Erwin Dazelle presented Earth Day New York with a print of artwork he created for the Earth Day Organic Indoor Learning Garden.

“The launch of the Earth Day Organic Indoor Learning Garden is a wonderful example of how public-private partnerships are supporting our schools with innovative resources to teach our children,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “ Anvil Knitwear is leading the way by donating over 120 indoor organic gardens to classrooms in New York City public schools. I encourage other companies and individuals to support this innovative learning program”.

Lippe thanked Earth Day 2012 partners including: Toshiba, Anvil Knitwear, Metro, New York Post, Home Depot, Bridgestone, Toyota and ConEd. A listing of Earth Day 2012 Events was announced:

Grand Central Indoors in Vanderbilt Hall
Thursday April 19: Exhibits 10am-7pm
Friday, April 20: Exhibits 10am-7pm
Saturday, April 21: Exhibits 10am-5pm
Featuring exhibits from Toshiba, Anvil Knitwear, SodaStream, 3D Systems, and Odwalla with three days of children’s and family programming.

Grand Central Outdoors on Vanderbilt Avenue
Friday, April 20: Exhibits 12pm-7pm
Saturday, April 21: Exhibits and Live Concert 11am – 4pm
Two days of exhibits and a concert on Saturday featuring: Nightmare River Band, Conveyor, Annie and the Bee Keepers, FlyinFisch, The Whispering Tree, Push Method, Kinetics & One Love

CO2 E Drive and Green Car Fashion Show -Time Square Broadway (43-44)
Friday, April 20: 10:45am-12:00pm
Press opportunity featuring Bridgestone, Toyota, and Bob Lutz the creator of the Chevy Volt and Board Member of VIA Motors followed by a Green Car Fashion Show at 11:10am.

Earth Day at Time Square Broadway (42-44)
Friday, April 20: Exhibits 11am-5pm
Exhibits from Bridgestone, Home Depot, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Nissan and SodaStream. Performances from Voca, Sistas The Musical, My Sinatra, Sami the Great, Alec Gross, Amber Rubarth, Melissa Wrolstad and Lisa Jaeggi.

For more information, visit www.earthdayny.org.

For media interviews: Joanna Black | 646-912-2681 jblack@earthdayny.org.

The Future of Corporate Social Responsibility - For Good or For Profit?

04.13.2012 - 01:25PM

Next week the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) will assemble some of the best minds in CSR and social value corporate citizenship for a moderated debate, “The Future of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – For Good or For Profit?” The debate will be the closing session at BCLC’s annual three-day National Conference: Forecast: Corporate Citizenship and America’s Future.

Officials from Aspen Institute, Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP), Corporate Responsibility Officers Association (CROA), Ethisphere Institute and FSG will join two leading corporate citizens, Intel and PwC, for the debate. Additionally, two foremost CSR media influencers are co-moderating the session – Aman Singh, Editorial Director of CSRwire, the leading source of CSR news, and Emilio Sánchez of VOXXI, the voice of the Hispanic 21^st century.

Those interested in participating can watch the debate live via webcast on BCLC’s website and follow the tweet chat at #debateCSR.

A recording of the debate will also be available for viewing after the conference.

Debate: The Future of Corporate Social Responsibility – For Good or For Profit? (webcast)
Download the National Conference agenda with speakers and session times

WHEN:

April 18, 2012, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EDT

WHERE:

BCLC’s National Conference: Forecast – Corporate Citizenship and America’s Future

Find details regarding the debate webcast on the National Conference website

Join the conversation via Twitter using the hashtag #debateCSR and #BCLCinUS

WHO:

Alex Brigham, Executive Director, Ethisphere Institute
Margaret M. Coady, Director, Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy
Richard Crespin, Executive Director, CROA
Maryann Holsberg, Corporate Responsibility Director, PwC
Michael Jacobson, Director of Corporate Responsibility, Intel Corporation
Kyle Peterson, Managing Director, FSG
Chris Pinney, Senior Fellow, Aspen Institute

Moderators: Aman Singh, CSRwire and Emilio Sánchez, VOXXI

RSVP:

BCLC is streaming this panel via webcast, available here.

About the Business Civic Leadership Center

BCLC is the U.S. Chamber’s resource and voice for businesses’ social and philanthropic interests. Its mission is to advance the positive role of business in society. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. http://bclc.uschamber.com

Yoga Community Excited to Welcome World-Class Beachside Festival, Tadasana, on Earth Day Weekend, Bringing Top Teachers, Kirtan and World Music Artists, Speakers and Much More

04.11.2012 - 02:52PM

The global yoga community has eagerly embraced the new Tadasana Festival of Yoga & Music set for Earth Day weekend, April 20 – 22 in beautiful Santa Monica, California, the mecca of American yoga, just steps from the beach.

Backed by Live Earth Producer, Kevin Wall, Tadasana touts the participation of top yoga teachers including Shiva Rea, Seane Corn, Bryan Kest, Baron Baptiste, and Elena Brower plus the support of respected yoga media - Elephant Journal, Yoganonymous and The Daily Love.

In 5 tents sponsored by Subaru, Yogaworks, Gaiam TV, Kevita and Namaste Interactive, the festival will feature classes from world class yoga teachers with live musical accompaniment from deeply respected world music artists including tabla master, Karsh Kale, Malian guitar virtuoso Vieux Farka Touré, Israeli superstar Idan Raichel, revered DJ, Cheb I Sabbah, Grammy-nominated Kirtan leader, Jai Uttal, and many more.

On Saturday, April 21^st, The Yogaworks tent will host a special class benefiting, Off the Matt, Into the World, taught by Seane Corn, Lisa Walford, Kathryn Budig, Kia Miller and Joan Hyman with live music by Jai Uttal, Masood Ali Khan and Sheela Bringi. Festival sponsor Subaru will also donate $50, towards the goal of raising $17,500, for each test drive Tadasana attendees make at a Southern California, Southern Nevada or Arizona Subaru dealership until June 30, 2012.

“It’s an honor to be in a position to support Off the Mat, Into the World as it inspires the yoga community to take the benefits that they receive from their practice and turn it into powerful programs for positive activism around the world,” says Tadasana co-founder Tommy Rosen.

In addition to the incredible yoga classes, Tadasana features a speaker series produced by The Daily Love, a noted blog with 500k+ followers on twitter, and includes thought leaders in spirituality, personal transformation and sustainability such as Barbara Marx Hubbard, Mariel Hemingway, Mallika Chopra and Chris Paine. In addition, Facebook phenomenon, Positively Positive, will host a not-to-be-missed panel of women who have overcome extraordinary challenges moderated by five-time Emmy winner, Giselle Fernandez.

In the evenings, Tadasana will bring its incredible musicians to a variety of venues around Santa Monica, encouraging an even larger public to experience these deeply moving spiritual performances. The highlight of the evening events will be The Sounds of Tadasana Concert, taking place April 21^st at the Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club where Karsh Kale and Cheb I Sabbah will take attendees on an incomparable sonic journey.

In addition to Tadasana’s myriad of top yogis, musicians and presenters, the festival will also be an exciting destination of sights, sounds, tastes and experiences including an eco-markeplace (open to the public for free), The Beauty Bar for organic body treatments, organic cuisine, The Temple Tea Hut with tea servings offered by an authentic tea master, the Tadasana Repair Shop for onsite bodywork, the Tadasana Airport for AcroYoga, a visit from the mobile media wagon known as The Buzz Bus, and more. All this will take place in a near-zero-waste zone next to one of the most popular beaches in sunny Southern California.

“The goal is bringing a community together, strengthening them with a positive experience, and inspiring them to be even better than they were before,” says co-producer Fabian Alsultany. “The wellspring of inspiration comes from our outstanding yoga teachers, incredible musicians and, most importantly, the community of participants coming together.”

Yoga now has over 20 million practitioners in the US. Tadasana will revolutionize yoga festivals by bringing together the leading lights of this popular and growing field in an unforgettable Earth Day weekend event.

About Tadasana Festival

Tadasana’s mission is to create powerful events that build community, promote yoga and support the lifestyle of health and wellness in order to inspire people to reach their highest potential. The inaugural festival creates a forum for direct interaction with incredible teachers and amazing musicians from around the planet. The fully improvised collaborations between yogis and musicians, many of whom have never met before, are certain to produce lasting bonds and powerful experiences for everyone in attendance. Tadasana Festival takes place April 20^th through 22^nd beachfront in Santa Monica at 2600 Barnard Way, Santa Monica, CA 90405 near the corner of Ocean Park Blvd and the beach. For more information please see http://www.tadasanafestival.com.

To connect with Tadasana please go to http://www.tadasanafestival.com/contact, https://www.facebook.com/TadasanaFestival, or https://twitter.com/TadasanaFest.

The Greening of the Cosmetic & Personal Care Industry Gathers Pace

04.11.2012 - 12:40PM

Cosmetic and personal care companies are investing in sustainability as they look to shore up their green credentials. The beauty industry has historically received negative media publicity for unethical business practices, however green appears to have become the new black.

A number of 2012 industry lists show how far beauty companies have come on the green road. Seven cosmetic companies were in the recent World’s Most Ethical Companies List by Ethisphere Institute, up from four in 2011.

Another assessment study by Corporate Knights named Natura Brasil as the second most sustainable corporation in the world. The Corporate Knights methodology involves evaluating corporations on a number of environmental, social and governance performance measures.

Corporate Knights praised Natura Brasil for its energy and waste productivity performance. The Brazilian cosmetics company has been carbon neutral since it introduced its carbon management plan in 2007. It is using the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) standard to calculate its carbon emissions, and then reducing and offsetting by investing in projects that have positive social / environmental impacts. Procter & Gamble, Henkel, L’Oreal and Unilever and were also listed in the top 100 sustainable corporations list.

Sustainability is becoming an integral part of the business of major personal care companies. Procter & Gamble has set ambitious 2020 Sustainability Goals that involve reducing packaging, waste, reliance on synthetic chemicals, and greater use of renewable energy. It rates its suppliers via a sustainability scorecard that helps improve their environmental performance. Unilever has set similar targets via its Sustainability Living Plan, whilst Johnson & Johnson has launched its Healthy Futures 2015 initiative.

As will be shown in the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit (www.sustainablecosmeticssummit.com), one of the major issues companies face is measuring the environmental footprint of their products. Many cosmetic companies like Procter & Gamble and L’Oreal are using lifecycle analysis (LCA) tools; however, they are discovering multi-ingredient personal care products often have complex footprints that are difficult to accurately measure. The lack of traceability in supply chains is leading new certification trading schemes to emerge.

Some cosmetic companies are going beyond green formulations and ingredients when considering sustainability. The American cosmetic giant Avon has implemented an ‘efficiency drive’ to utilize its’ resources more effectively. By reducing packaging, paper usage and investing in green buildings, it has lowered its environmental impact and improved its margins.

With a growing number of cosmetic and personal care companies receiving accolade for their green initiatives, questions about benchmarking are emerging. Do initiatives tackling climate change take precedent over biodiversity and ethical sourcing? Do formulations containing natural ingredients take priority over the principles of green chemistry? Lastly, with industry lists only considering large publicly-listed companies, how do privately-owned natural / organic cosmetic companies compare? Such issues will be debated at the North American edition of the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit.

About the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit

The aim of the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit is to encourage sustainability in the beauty industry by bringing together key stake-holders and debate major sustainability issues in a high-level forum. The North American edition will take place at InterContinental New York Barclay hotel on 17-19th May 2012. More information is available from www.sustainablecosmeticssummit.com

About Organic Monitor

Organic Monitor is a London-based specialist research, consulting & training company that focuses on the global organic & related product industries. In 2011, we celebrated 10 years of encouraging sustainable development. Since 2001, we have been providing a range of business services to operators in high-growth ethical & sustainable industries. Our services include market research publications, business & technical consulting, seminars & workshops, and sustainability summits. Visit us at www.organicmonitor.com

The SRI Conference

04.10.2012 - 03:56PM

The SRI Conference on Sustainable, Responsible, Impact Investing (formerly SRI in the Rockies) is the premier annual gathering of investors and investment professionals working to direct the flow of investment capital to enhance the common good in the United States and around the world.

The 600+ attendees at The SRI Conference will include licensed investment professionals serving investor clients; representatives of SRI mutual fund companies, asset managers, social research organizations, and other product/service providers to the industry; and non-profit organizations, community development financial institutions, faith-based organizations, and other groups working with the SRI community on various social change issues.

The 23rd annual SRI Conference will once again feature a stellar, inspiring and provocative agenda, its legendary networking opportunities, and excellent access to sponsors in the Exhibit Hall.

Dates: October 2 - October 4, 2012

Location: Mohegan Sun Conference Center, Uncasville, CT

Pay Tribute to Veterans and Active Military With Free Thank You Cards From Wreaths Across America

04.10.2012 - 12:34PM

(Marketwire - Apr 10, 2012) - Wreaths Across America (WAA), a nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman, Morrill Worcester, in 1992, today announced its specially designed military appreciation thank you cards are now available. The organization has been designing and printing the cards since 2010, and is challenging its supporters to distribute one million cards during National Military Appreciation Month in May. The cards are available for the cost of shipping and handling and can be ordered online at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

"There are so many occasions in life where we wish we had the time -- and the right heartfelt words -- to thank a service man or woman who has put their life on the line to protect our freedoms," said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America. "We created these cards to make it easier to approach veterans when the opportunity arises -- they provide the perfect excuse to step forward and express your gratitude. We're excited to be a part of reaching one million deserving men and women with a special message of thanks this May."

The business card-sized military appreciation cards feature a scene of wreaths placed at Arlington during the holiday season. On the back of the card, below the organization's stated mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach, is space for the card-giver to sign their name as a way to personalize the note. Many card-givers present several appreciation cards with each exchange, so the recipient may also share in the experience of giving.

Earlier this year, WAA announced the creation of a virtual Honor Wall on its official Facebook page, creating a place for users to submit personal stories and post photos of veterans or members of the active military to share with family and friends. The appreciation cards and Honor Wall are examples of WAA's year-round mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach about the service and sacrifice of our veterans, a mission that culminates each December with wreath-laying ceremonies at more than 700 participating locations all across the nation.

Follow Wreaths Across America on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/WAAHQ and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/WreathsAcross.

About Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman, Morrill Worcester, in 1992. The organization's mission, Remember, Honor, Teach, is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as hundreds of veterans' cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. For more information, to donate or to sign up to volunteer, please visit www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.

America's Future From The Perspective Of Business And Civic Leaders

04.10.2012 - 10:15AM

Atlanta is the first-time venue for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center’s annual three-day National Conference. The National Conference is an established convening for America’s foremost voices on corporate social responsibility and business social innovations. With a focus on business-based solutions at work in society today, the conference will consist of speeches, panel discussions, webcasts and tweet chats and robust Q&A sessions. Attendees will represent executives and social practitioners from large and small companies, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.

National Conference: Forecast – Corporate Citizenship and America’s Future (Agenda)

WHEN:                    April 16 – 18, 2012
WHERE:                  Westin Peachtree Plaza
                               210 Peachtree St
                               Atlanta, Georgia 30303
                               Join the conversation via Twitter using the hashtag #BCLCinUS

WHAT: Session Highlights include:

How Business Creates Social Change (webcast)
Debate: The Future of Corporate Social Responsibility – For Good or For Profit? (webcast)
Small Business Innovation in American Society (webcast)
Business Support for Our Troops (webcast)
Business Solutions for Education, Health and Wellness, Community Development, and the Environment
Creating Shared Value in America’s Inner Cities
Deploying Corporate Volunteers in Response to Disasters
Announcement of 5^th Annual Siemens Sustainable Community Award Winners
Download full agenda with speakers and session times
Release of Edelman's goodpurpose®study (webcast)

WHO: Speaker Highlights Include:

Interface, Inc.: Daniel T. Hendrix, President and Chief Executive Officer (KEYNOTE)
Aflac: Joe Bohling, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer
ARAMARK: Rick Martella, Vice President
Capital One: Carolyn Berkowitz, Vice President, Community Affairs
Case Foundation: Jean Case, Founder
CSRwire: Aman Singh, Editorial Director
Edelman: Carol Cone, Global Practice Chair, Business + Social Good
First Lady’s Let’s Move! Initiative: Larry Soler, President and Chief Executive Officer, Partnership for a Healthier America
Georgia-Pacific LLC: Bill Frerking, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer
Home Depot Foundation: Fred Wacker, Director and Chief Operating Officer
IBM: Ann Cramer, Director, Corporate Community Relations
ING: Rhonda Mims, President, ING Foundation, Head of Corporate Responsibility
Intel: Michael Jacobson, Director of Corporate Responsibility
Points of Light Institute: Michelle Nunn, Chief Executive Officer
Siemens Corporation: Alison Taylor, Chief Sustainability Officer, Americas
Southern Company: David M. Ratcliffe, Retired Chairman, President and CEO
UPS Foundation: Joe Ruiz, Communications and Training Manager
U.S. Chamber BCLC: Stephen Jordan, Founder and Executive Director
Viacom: David Katz, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility

RSVP: Credentialed members of the media are invited to attend some or all of the National Conference at the Westin Peachtree Plaza. RSVP by 10 a.m., Monday, April 16, to Bailey Gilchrist, External Relations Manager, 202-230-1877 or bgilchrist@uschamber.com. Unable to attend in person? Join the conversation via Twitter using the hashtag #BCLCinUS.

About the Business Civic Leadership Center

Book Launch at FHI 360 Globe Theater of Rippling: How Social Entrepreneurs Spread Innovation

04.09.2012 - 09:56AM

Beverly Schwartz, VP of Global Marketing at Ashoka, will hold the official release of her new book-length work, Rippling: How Social Entrepreneurs Spread Innovation, on April 11, 2012 at the FHI 360 Globe Theatre in DuPont Circle.

The event, hosted by FHI 360 and Ashoka in partnership with Politics and Prose, will feature a discussion and Q&A moderated by Gregory R. Niblett (Chief Strategy Officer of FHI 360) with Schwartz, Bill Drayton (Founder and Chair of Ashoka), and Aleta Margolis (Founder of the Centre for Inspired Teaching). The discussion will be followed by a reception and book signing. http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2590901456

Urgent social and environmental challenges require a collective re-imagining to foster widespread, systemic change. By drawing on a wealth of insights offered by some of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs, Schwartz provides a colorfully illustrated blueprint for visionary thinking, and demonstrates how everyday people can drive meaningful change.

Schwartz cites five time-tested principles that define successful models of changemaking for both organizations and individual leaders, including 1) restructuring industry norms, 2) changing market dynamics, 3) using market forces to create social value, 4) advancing full citizenship, and 5) cultivating empathy. She demonstrates how these principles work with moving accounts about social entrepreneurs who are applying them and literally re-structuring the world, creating a powerful, positive effect. Each section includes reflections from thought leaders such as Arianna Huffington, Geeta Rao Gupta, Esther Dyson and Peter M. Senge.

“Rippling’s concepts are relevant and accessible for business of all sizes, from individual entrepreneurs to global corporations. Organizations that tap into the changemaker vision can spark innovation, engage employees, and better meet customer needs while improving the bottom lines for business and society as a whole,” explains Ronald L. Sargent, chairman and CEO, Staples, Inc.

The book clearly demonstrates that when empathy, creativity, passion, and persistence are combined, significant, life altering progress is indeed possible. To learn more go to www.ashoka.org/rippling

About Ashoka

Founded in 1980, Ashoka is the world’s working community of nearly 3000 leading social entrepreneurs. It champions the most important new social change ideas and supports the entrepreneurs behind them by helping them get started, grow, succeed, and collaborate. As Ashoka expands its capability to integrate and connect entrepreneurs around the world, it builds an entrepreneurial infrastructure that is supporting the fast-growing needs of the citizen sector. Ashoka’s vision is to create change today, for an Everyone A Changemaker™ society to become the reality of tomorrow. For more information, visit www.ashoka.org.

About FHI 360

This nonprofit human development organization is dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in education, health, nutrition, economic development, civil society, environment, gender, youth, research and technology – creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 60 countries and all U.S. states and territories www.fhi360.org

Politics and Prose

This is the most respected independent book store in the Washington DC area. Politics and Prose offers superior service and unusual book choices while also serving as a gathering place for people interested in reading and discussing books. The owners pride themselves in having built a community and having the community build the store www.politics-prose.com

Major Investors and Companies Tackle Climate Change and Sustainability

04.03.2012 - 01:35PM

Don’t let the weak economy and election-year rhetoric fool you: companies and investors across the United States and around the world are tackling climate change and other environmental challenges head-on—and are finding it profitable to do so. They are investing in solutions, deploying new technologies and adopting game-changing business models that are building a globally sustainable economy.

Ceres Conference 2012: Igniting Innovation, Scaling Sustainability will bring together 400-plus leaders from business, the investment community, government and the nonprofit sector to highlight some of the world’s biggest sustainability problems, present groundbreaking solutions, and create a forum for sharing best practices.

The event, to be held in Boston April 25-26, will feature sessions such as:

Smart Utilities: Investing Capital Amid Historic Uncertainty and Risk
Building a Sustainable Supply Chain
Building Sustainable Cities
Last Call at the Oasis: Solutions to the Water Crisis
The Road to 2020: Charting the Progress of the 21^st Century Sustainable Corporation

As population and resource demands increase, major investors and corporations know that sustainability is essential to long-term success. The conference will highlight the latest ideas, trends, and achievements in sustainable business worldwide.

A full agenda can be found at: http://www.ceres.org/conferences/program. Reporters interested in attending the event are asked to contact Peyton Fleming, 617-733-6660, fleming@ceres.org

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator
U. S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, Massachusetts’ 5^th District
Michael Kobori, Vice President, Social and Environmental Sustainability, Levi Strauss & Co.
Suzanne Fallender, Director of CSR Strategy and Communications, Intel Corporation
Sarbjit Nahal, Head of ESG, SRI & Sustainability Research, BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research
Steve Corneli, Senior Vice President, NRG Energy Inc.
Anne Stausboll, CEO, California Public Employees’ Retirement System
Robert Eccles, Professor, Harvard Business School
Sean Kidney, Chair, Climate Bonds Initiative
Jeremy Rifkin, President, Foundation on Economic Trends and Author
Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, Chief Executive Officer, Green For All
Mindy Lubber, President, Ceres

When:

April 25-26, 2012

8:00 AM – 8:00 PM ET (day one)

8:00 AM – 3:00 PM ET (day two)

Where:

Westin Boston Waterfront

425 Summer St, Boston, MA 02210

About Ceres

For more information, visit http://www.ceres.org and http://www.incr.com.

FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Conference & Awards

04.03.2012 - 12:13PM

The FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Conference is the major event on sustainable finance for industry leaders, corporate decision makers and financiers from around the world.

Now in their seventh year, the Sustainable Finance Awards reflect the growing role that the financial sector plays in addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges, including climate change and environmental degradation, social exclusion, food security, improving access to finance and using technology to better serve the world's poor.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

H.R.H Princess Maxima, Netherlands
Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO, Women's World Banking
Sara Akbar, CEO, Kuwait Energy Company
Runa Alam, CEO, Development Partners International
Ladi Balogun, Group Managing Director / CEO, First City Monument Bank plc
Alan MacKay, CEO, Hermes GPE LLP
Dominic Scriven OBE, CEO, Dragon Capital Group Limited
Rachel Kyte, Vice President and Network Head, Sustainable Development, World Bank

Visit www.ft-live.com/sustainablefinance for more information.

PR News' Media Training Webinar: Media Training Essentials for PR Pros & All Brand Spokespeople

03.28.2012 - 08:57AM

In just 90 minutes you’ll learn the tools and tactics you need to be a more effective spokesperson and to train your executives to shine in the media spotlight.

Join PR News on April 24 for this must-attend media training webinar that will show you how to craft sound bites that resonate with your audience; field difficult questions and bridge to your core message; and take control of your nonverbal communications habits.

Proper media training for your organization’s spokespeople and senior leadership is not an option or a luxury—it’s a must in a media-saturated environment where off-message comments can go viral in a matter of seconds. If you are your organization’s lead spokesperson or you are responsible for media training your top executives, you need to know the latest best practices in crafting and disseminating messages on camera, in print and across social media platforms.

Sustainable Investing in Action

03.23.2012 - 05:38PM

This event offers a unique opportunity to network with leaders of sustainable and responsible investing, to hear from leading investors, CEOs and policymakers, and to learn about new approaches, trends and policy developments in the field.

The conference will attract representatives of investment management and advisory firms, research firms, financial planners and advisors, broker-dealers, community development institutions and asset owners such as pension funds and foundations, along with policymakers and corporate leaders.

The Green Business Entrepreneurs Success Summit

03.14.2012 - 02:17PM

The Green Business Entrepreneurs Success Summit is a week long alternative Green MBA – a virtual event designed to take you through the stages of green entrepreneurship, while providing you with practical strategies, tactics, and tools to succeed. Whether you are an aspiring green entrepreneur or have a sustainable business you want to take to the next level, you will get valuable information just by attending this event series.

Who This is For:

* Established green business owners and green business professionals
* Mission driven entrepreneurs who believe in sustainability
* Green marketers & green product designers
* Forward thinking intrapraneurs driving corporate sustainability initiatives
* Early stage green startup entrepreneurs
* Aspiring green and social entrepreneurs researching innovative business ideas
* Changemakers seeking to unite purpose, passion and profit

What You Will Learn:

The Green Business Entrepreneurs Success Summit will take you through step by step through the 5 stages of eco entrepreneurship.
* Evaluating the Marketplace
* Identifying Your Business Idea
* Raising Capital
* Growing Your Business
* Marketing Your Business

Monday April 16th | Track 1
The Growth of the Green Economy
Here we cover the state of the sustainable economy and socially responsible markets. We are going to look at the size of the LOHAS market and uncover the hottest market opportunities. We will discover extraordinary companies that are solving the world’s most pressing concerns. and learn how they succeeded.

Topics covered include:
* What will it take to co-create a green economy
* Social capital investment trends
* LOHAS market state of the union
* The hottest opportunities in the green economy

Tuesday April 17 | Track 2
From Visionary Business Idea
How do you create a profitable business out of your passion to make the world a better place? How do you transition from a corporate job to entrepreneurship? How do you find investors to fund your socially responsible business?

This series will help you identify your unique genius, leave your day job, create a business plan, and embark on your journey to financial freedom. From business plan competitions, to online fundraising tools and social venture funding, we also look at some funding options for social entrepreneurs and what it takes to attract investors.

Topics covered include:
* How to make the entrepreneurial leap Attracting success through the entrepreneurial mindset
* The art of attracting your perfect fit clients
* Who’s funding what in the social capital marketplace
* How to hack social enterprise business plan competitions
* What it takes to find and attract angels and VCs
* How to launch a successful crowdfunding campaign
* Funding sources you’ve never heard about

Wednesday April 18 | Track 3
To Thriving Green Enterprise
How do you highlight your environmental commitment without being guilty of greenwash? How trustyworthy are eco labels? Can certification both help you walk your talk AND make more sales? Green marketing experts also show us how we can commit to ethical standards, design innovative earth friendly products, & tell our sustainability story with authenticity.

Topics covered include:
* 20 new rules of green marketing
* How to engage consumers in more responsible forms of consumption
* How can companies avoid greenwashing when marketing the green attributes of their products?
* Power networking tips for sustainable business professionals
* Online productivity tools every small business should know
* Web based tools to help you collect money faster, and keep your finances in order

Thursday April 19th | Track 4
Grow Your Good Business With Social Media Marketing
Many small businesses complain that social media marketing just doesn’t work for them. We say they are not using social media correctly. We are going to take a look at how a small organization can set up an effective social media command central, measure results, and show you examples of socially responsible businesses using social media to drive more traffic, leads, and sales.

Topics covered include:
* How to set up an effective small business social media command central
* Social media power tools for beginning, intermediate and advanced marketers
* Outsourcing your social media – how to avoid tearing out your hair
* Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube marketing for good business – campaigns that work
* Your small business social media command central
* How to build a 6 figure consulting business with LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter
* What it takes to build a 6 figure green blogging empire

Friday April 20 | Track 5
Internet Marketing for Green & Socially Responsible Businesses
How do you reach more customers with a bootstrap budget? What kind of advertising campaigns make sense for company with a modest marketing budget? How can you get more visibility in search engines? How do you reach more customers with social media marketing?

Topics covered include:
* Link building for small business budgets – what works, doesn’t work, and what will get you penalized
* WordPress SEO – themes, plugins, and the power of blogging
* Turning visitors into customers through email marketing & a website that converts
* Local SEO strategies and tactics that put your small business on the map
* Green affiliate marketing strategies for merchants and affiliate marketers

VERGE DC

02.27.2012 - 07:38PM

On March 14-16, GreenBiz presents the VERGE DC conference in Washington, DC.

VERGE DC focuses on the convergence of four technologies -- energy, information, buildings, and transportation. Join key thought leaders, policy makers and corporate leaders to discuss how VERGE will transform our businesses, our leisure time, and our everyday lives.

Learn more and register here: http://www.greenbiz.com/events/2012/03/verge-2012

Weekend in Boca V Civil Society Leadership Symposium

01.26.2012 - 10:13AM

"Innovation and Collaboration – The Keys to Non-Profit Sustainability"

March 22, 23, and 24, 2012
Wyndham Garden Hotel- Boca Raton

Presented by the Office Depot Foundation in a continuing effort to help non-profit organizations learn how to operate more efficiently and make the greatest possible impact as they serve the needs of people and communities.

In collaboration with the Sagamore Institute, the SCORE Foundation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center.

As a participant in Weekend in Boca, you'll gain insight and knowledge from nationally prominent speakers as well as your peers from other organizations. You will have ample time to network and explore opportunities to collaborate with other non-profits. You'll hear about best practices and how to incorporate them into the important work you do every day.

There is no charge to attend the Symposium, which is open to all non-profit organization executives and staff, board members,volunteers, business and civic leaders, government officials and anyone with a strong interest in the civil society sector.

Featured speakers and panelists include:

•Joe Sibilia, CEO, CSRwire, Springfield, Mass.
•Rick Baker, former Mayor of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Author, "The Seamless City"
•Robert A. Birman, Chief Executive Officer, Louisville Orchestra, Louisville, Ky.
•Erin Carlstrom, Director of Education Programs, Feed The Children, Oklahoma City, Okla.
•Dr. Robert Corbin, Vice President of Learning Experiences, Discovery Place, Charlotte, N.C.
•Dr. Noah Manyika, President, NeXus Global Serve, Charlotte, N.C.
•David Roth, General Director, Kentucky Opera, Louisville, Ky.
•Lois Savage, President, The Lodestar Foundation, Phoenix, Ariz.

Please note: Advance registration is required. It will not be possible to register on-site at the Symposium.

Australian Global Reporting Initiative Conference on Sustainability and Integrated Reporting

01.24.2012 - 07:31PM

Australia’s opinion formers and leaders will join the sustainability conversation on 26-28 March 2012, as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), with the support of its strategic partner the Australian Government, holds its first ever Australian conference in Melbourne, Australia.

The GRI is a non-profit organization that provides all companies and organizations with a comprehensive sustainability reporting framework that is widely used around the world. The GRI’s first ever Australian conference aims to to explore, shape and advance the field of Sustainability and Integrated reporting in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

With a central theme of Innovate – Integrate – Collaborate, the conference will communicate GRI’s thinking on integrated reporting and the latest iteration of its Sustainability Reporting Framework, the G4.

Up to 300 hundred representatives from business, government and civil society are expected to attend, making the Australian GRI Conference on Sustainability and Integrated Reporting the place to be for any organization aiming to position itself as a leader in the fast-growing field of sustainability and integrated reporting. Australian sustainability leaders who have taken up sponsorship include BHP Billiton, KPMG, Westpac, CPA Australia, ANZ, and Wesfarmers amongst others.

Head to www.australiangriconference.org for more information or to register.

Event details at a glance:

Event: Australian Global Reporting Initiative Conference on Sustainability and Integrated Reporting

Hosted by: Global Reporting Initiative

Aim: to explore, shape and advance the field of Sustainability and Integrated reporting in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

Date: 26-28 March 2012

Location: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Website: www.australiangriconference.org

Estimated attendance: 300 executives, directors and senior managers in sustainability, accounting, finance, policy and public affairs, as well as report writers

Business Sustainability and Organization Development

12.30.2011 - 09:00AM

Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility strategies are increasingly considered key components in the creation of a sustainable business. This month's program will feature Aman Singh, Editorial Director of CSRwire.com, a widely-respected source for corporate social responsibility news, Kara Hurst, Vice President of BSR, and Victoria Zelin from Deloitte's Sustainability & Climate Change practice.

The speakers will share their point of view on the key trends in business social responsibility and describe the role of organization development in this space.

Event details:

Time: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Where: Pfizer - Tudor Room, 235 E. 42nd St., 2nd Floor, New York, NY. Photo ID needed.

Registration: ODNNY Members - included in dues; Non-members pre-registration $25. No refunds.

To register: http://odnny.org/civicrm/event/info?id=2340&reset=1

2012 NBPCA Annual Congress - The Power of Prepaid

12.09.2011 - 10:00AM

Richard Cordray, Director, CFPB and The Honorable Robert Menendez (U.S. Senate) Invited to Speak at 2012 NBPCA Annual Congress - Power of Prepaid

The NBPCA is proud to invite you to attend their inaugural Annual Congress, the Power of Prepaid™. This unique platform has been developed to bring together Prepaid’s key decision-makers, influencers and prospects, to educate, advocate, protect and promote.

Download the brochure at www.prepaidevent.com/brochure

As the Prepaid industry continues to adapt to an ever-changing business landscape, this event will serve as a forum for peers and partners to gather and engage in meaningful discussions. The most pertinent issues of the day will be addressed by only the most relevant and engaging speakers, to drive attendance from those you need to meet to advance your business.

You'll hear straight from legislators and regulators including the CFPB's Director Richard Cordray and Deputy Assistant Director for Card Markets, Marla Blow, as well as The Honorable Robert Menendez, United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, in addition to C-level executives from leading issuers, processors, program managers, and networks.

Please find listed below a small selection of our stellar faculty. To review the full speaker list, download the complete event brochure

Brett Adams                                 Dan Henry
Lead, U.S. Prepaid Products         Cheif Exectuive Officer
Mastercard                                   NetSpend Corporation

Anil Aggarwal                              Jeremy Kuiper
Chairman and CEO                      Managing Director, Payment
TxVia                                          Solutions Group
                                                  The Bancorp Bank

This event is expected to be over-capacity. Several hundred industry stakeholders are already confirmed to attend and we're proud to feature enthusiastic support from the who's who of our industry including: The Bancorp Bank Inc., Blackhawk Network, Discover Network, Galileo Processing, Green Dot Corporation, i2c Inc., inComm, MasterCard, Meta Payment Systems, TSYS Loyalty & Prepaid, VISA, Citi, First Data, Loeb & Loeb, Brightwell Payments, FIS, Katten Muchin Roseman LLP, TxVia, US Bank, Bryan Cave LLP, Fiserv, R&P Group and Western Union. Reserve your place now at the prepaid event of the year.

CSRwire members are entitled to a 10% when referencing the code: CSR 10

Download the complete event brochure and register today for the preeminent prepaid event of the year. Call 1-888-593-7243, email us at prepaid@americanconference.com or visit us online at www.PrepaidEvent.com.

Energy Investment Forum

12.05.2011 - 10:48AM

Investors and industry players from around the country connect to discuss the most important topics facing the energy sector.

Join representatives from America's foremost family offices, foundations, pensions, endowments as they network with energy's leading innovators. Discussions on upcoming and current investment opportunities cover renewable energy investing, smart grids, oil and gas, green real estate, project financing, and other investment/financing opportunities.

In light of our current geopolitical climate, this conference is a necessary forum in which energy experts can inform and collaborate with the nation's largest institutional investors.

Sustainable Facilities Forum

12.01.2011 - 04:04PM

Sustainability is fast becoming a top priority in boardrooms across Corporate America. Sustainability for many industry leading companies is more and more becoming a business imperative that informs each decision they make as the tangible commercial benefits of implementing quantifiable sustainable processes and practices to manage carbon are being realized. Nowhere else are the challenges and opportunities more apparent and pressing than on the subject of Facilities/Buildings which account for over 39% of all energy used in the United States.

The Theme of the 2012 Sustainable Facilities Forum is: “Sustainable Facilities Management and the Triple Bottom Line.”

*Research by McKinsey finds that most companies have options to reduce carbon emissions at negative cost – across the overall economy there is the potential to save as much as 12Gt CO2e, 25% of the global total annual emissions in this way by 2030. (*McKinsey & Co (2009) Pathways to a Low Carbon Economy)

The Sustainable Facilities Forum aims to act as a catalyst for Major Corporations across all sectors and industries to take advantage of these "low hanging" gains/benefits. In addition to this goal it goes without saying that Sustainable Facilities Management is an integral piece of the overall Sustainability puzzle and it can also have a solid impact on the bottom-line during these times of cut backs and austerity measures.

Event format: This cross industry Forum is by invite only for Senior Facilities Executives or those Senior Corporate Officers tasked with ensuring that their respective Organization’s structures/ facilities are built, operated and maintained in an environmentally and resource efficient manner throughout the buildings lifecycle. The event is a mix of case study conference sessions, think tanks, round tables, 1-on-1 meetings and networking functions.

Global Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Training in Atlanta

11.27.2011 - 04:59PM

Global Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Training Designing and implementing effective CSR strategies and reports

Atlanta: December, 6-7, 2011

Sustainability Practitioner Website

CSE is hosting its next global Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Training (IEMA Approved) in Atlanta. This is a successful certified training with more than 300 participants from leading organizations from all sectors. Executives from FT500 companies and universities including the Stanford University, Caldwell College, Supervalu, Cigna, ABM, Lockheed Martin, Baker Hughes, Noble Energy have joined the training over the past two years in New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Atlanta and San Francisco.

The training entails a global perspective on Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability enabling professionals to gain an international professional certification as CSR Practitioners and to lead their organizations, teams and projects towards Sustainability and Excellence. Successful Sustainability (CSR) Practitioners ensure that the commitment to Sustainability is deployed through the effective design and implementation of strategies and programs across organizations. At the end of the workshop professionals have the opportunity to complete a Final Assignment, which allows them to qualify for certification. Upon successful completion, professionals gain a CSR-P Certification and CSR-P Seal.

CSE has trained more than 5,000 professionals from all industry sectors in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Brussels. More than 300 professionals, from 5 continents and 25 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, have become Certified CSR Practitioners, having gained advanced knowledge and career progression through the globally recognized Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Training workshop. As an Approved Training Provider under the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, CSE offers intensive learning opportunities for professionals across sectors and industries on Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability - strategy, design, management, communication.

QUOTES:

"Great flow, interaction, and group knowledge for CSR concepts" - Fahmida Ahmed, Sustainability Officer, Stanford University, San Francisco workshop, 2011

"Incredible knowledge shared. Great mix of presentations and group assignments" - Jeff Rehm, Sustainability Manager, WW Grainger, San Francisco workshop, 2011

"Very good coverage and flow of key issues and concepts in CR. Good opportunity to be inspired with new ideas through presentations and group discussions" - Lilly Heinemann, CR Manager, Lloyds Banking Group, Brussels worshop, 2011

Run Walk Ride Fundraising Conference

11.16.2011 - 11:59PM

Harnessing the power of peer-to-peer fundraising progams is the focus of the 2012 Run Walk Ride Fundraising Conference. It's the not-to-be missed event for nonprofits engaged in thon fundraising.

Among the hot topics featured in keynote presentations, breakout sessions and roundtable discussions are:

The release of the Run Walk Ride Thirty, an annual survey charting the fortunes of the country’s top thon fundraising programs such as the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, the Heart Walk and Bike MS. (In 2010, more than 11.3 million people raised over $1.65 billion in the top thirty programs.)

A keynote panel discussion of emerging alternative events such as climbing down office buildings, mud runs, motorcycle “poker runs,” stair climbs and dog walks.

Expert presentations on fundraising tactics, sponsorship sales, mobile marketing and other hot topics.

The Run Walk Ride Fundraising Pacesetter Awards for outstanding programs and the Cash, Sweat & Tears Award for the year’s most inspiring volunteer participant.

To learn more and register, visit www.runwalkride.com or call (914) 921-3914.

Global Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Training Designing and implementing effective CSR strategies and reports

11.10.2011 - 01:01PM

Brussels: November, 24 – 25 2011

Sustainability Practitioner Website

CSE is hosting its next global Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Training (IEMA Approved) in Brussels. The training will be delivered for the 3rd time in Brussels and has attracted great interest from the business community. With European focus, this global training aims to provide participants with competitive skills and knowledge to implement sustainability within their organizations and become the leaders of a new era.

This is a successful certified training with more than 300 CSR Practitioners from leading organizations from all sectors. Executives from FT500 companies, international organizations and learning institutions worldwide are implementing the most advanced methodologies on CSR Strategy and Reporting, Stakeholder Engagement, Green Marketing and CSR Scorecard.

QUOTES:

"Great flow, interaction, and group knowledge for CSR concepts" - Fahmida Ahmed, Sustainability Officer, Stanford University, San Francisco, 2011

"With high demands and focused on results, CSE constitutes the leading consulting company for successful changes in every organization" - John Swannick, Executive Director, The Academy of Business in Society (EABIS), 2010

31st Annual E. F. Schumacher Lectures: Voices of a New Economics

10.25.2011 - 05:03PM

On Saturday, November 5th, the New Economics Institute will be presenting the Thirty-First Annual E.F. Schumacher Lectures in New York City, in honor of the 100th Anniversery of Small is Beautiful author E. F. Schumacher.

The Thirty-First Annual Lectures, to be held at the Community Church of New York, will feature leading voices for a new economics: Juliet Schor’s research over the last ten years has focused on issues pertaining to trends in work and leisure, consumerism, the relationship between work and family, women's issues and economic justice. Schor is a board member and co-founder of the Center for a New American Dream, an organization devoted to transforming North American lifestyles to make them more ecologically and socially sustainable.

Gar Alperovitz, Lionel R. Bauman Professor of Political Economy at the University of Maryland, and current NEI Board Member, is a Founding Principal of The Democracy Collaborative. He is a former Fellow of the Institute of Politics at Harvard and King's College of Cambridge University, and a former legislative director to the US House of Respresentatives.

We will also be joined by a Panel: "Voices of Today's Youth: Occupy Wall Street and Youth for a New Economy." In this forum we will hear directly from participants of the New York City Wall Street protest, as well as other youth activists who, in growing numbers, are rejecting our "broken economy system" and seeking to shape equitable, sustainable alternatives.

Regular ticket price is $50, Student tickets are $15 with advanced registration. Lunch is also available for an additional $17; otherwise attendees are asked to bring their own. Student discounts are not available at the door. Interested student groups should contact Nick Kacher at the New Economics Institute by phone at 413-528-1737 or by email at neweconomics@neweconomicsinstitute.org. Payment can be made by online at http://neweconomicsinstitute.org/event-registration or in the mail by sending a check to the New Economics Institute, 140 Jug End Rd, Great Barrington, MA, 01230.

Ethical Sourcing Forum NY 2012

10.25.2011 - 04:06PM

Special offer - $500 Corporate Pass

The Ethical Sourcing Forum (ESF) provides participants with an overview of how sustainability decision makers grapple with complex supply chain issues.

Think Different - Think Smart.

Small interactive sessions will focus on enhanced desicion-making processes. We examine ways of re-thinking sustainability issues and the "desicion paths" undertaken by leading organizations. Hands-on workshops deliver new techniques for examining challenges and opportunities and help uncover previously unseen perspectives and decision paths.

Global Oneness Day TeleSummit

10.19.2011 - 11:30AM

Imagine a world where everyone feels welcomed and wanted...

Imagine a world where everyone knows, deep in their hearts, that they belong...

Imagine a world in which we recognize we are one human family...

This world is not just a dream, not even a far off vision or possibility. This world is possible, now.

For millennia, we have felt the discord and destruction that comes from the polarizations we have created between nations, between religions, between men and women, and between those who have and those who have not. These artificial divisions have led to struggle and strife, violence and war.

What if, instead, we chose to create a society based on our deep interconnectedness... based on the truth that we are all one?

A culture of "oneness" encourages us all to share our greatest gifts and leads to peace and creativity, prosperity and joy.

What is Oneness?

Oneness is more than a beautiful word.

Oneness is the energy of love that lies within and connects all of life, enabling us to recognize ourselves in everything. The universe is one being and we are all its cells, all essential and responsible for the well-being of the whole.

Mystics of all traditions have experienced and spoken of the concept of Oneness throughout the ages.

And, now, this idea of oneness is being reinforced by leading-edge science. Scientists now tell us that we are connected in remarkable ways, from the genes we inherit to the air we breathe to the consciousness we share. The worldview in which we are competing for survival is giving way to one in which we are collaborating to thrive.

PRSA 2011 International Conference

10.15.2011 - 04:05PM

Imagine. Create. Inspire. Envisioning the Future of Public Relations. Become inspired by thousands of your colleagues at the industry’s most anticipated event — the PRSA 2011 International Conference, Oct. 15–18, in Orlando, Fla. With this magical city as the backdrop, learn the latest strategies in communications from the visionaries who imagine and create the most innovative techniques in the business. Imagine the impact of public relations on your bottom line. Deepen your understanding of its value. Create and define your three-day learning experience. Shape your agenda with rich knowledge from industry leaders. Inspire and network with a diverse group of industry colleagues. Expand your world of information exchange.

Boston's United Nations Day Luncheon - with Global Corporate Citizenship Honor Roll

10.13.2011 - 03:43PM

Celebrate 66 years of working towards peace, prosperity and justice!

The United Nations Association of Greater Boston's annual UN Day Luncheon engages individuals and companies in New England who are actively engaged in global affairs and who are interested in promoting solutions that create prosperous, sustainable and healthy communities.

On October 28, in honor of UN Day, 250-300 business leaders come together to network and dialogue on the importance of global citizenship in the 21st century in downtown Boston. Keynote speaker will be renowned UN expert Gillian Sorensen, Senior Adviser at the United Nations Foundation and former UN Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations.

In addition to featuring Gillian Sorensen's remarks on sustainable economies and successful private/public partnerships, we will also be introducing our first-ever Global Corporate Citizenship honor roll, recognizing the Massachusetts-based companies who have signed on to key business principles through the UN Global Compact, including the Principles for Responsible Investment and Principles for Responsible Management Education. See list of signatories here.

Join us in recognizing the leaders in our community making a difference around sustainable development and corporate citizenship.

RSVP to attend the Luncheon today! http://undayluncheon2011.eventbrite.com/

Current Luncheon Sponsors include:

British School of Boston
Clark University Graduate School of Management
GGA Software Services
New England College of Business and Finance
National Grid (2011-2012 Education Sponsor)
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
Acadian Asset Management
Bentley University
Cabot Corporation
CSRwire
MFS Investment Management.

For those interested in sponsorship opportunities, contact Kaitlin Hasseler at 617 482-4587 or kaitlin.hasseler@unagb.org.

Editor's Note: View the associated media alert here.

Birth 2012: Convergence Day

10.12.2011 - 02:08PM

As I’m sure you’re aware, there’s a lot of hype and hysteria about 2012. But what if instead of buying into apocalyptic visions we use this as a positive opportunity to come together, celebrate and amplify all our work - to help us make the shift to a new consciousness and culture in time?

That’s why we’re delighted to co-sponsor an unprecedented free virtual event this Saturday. It’s called Birth 2012: Convergence Day, and it features a dozen of the top evolutionary leaders in the world:

Michael Bernard Beckwith
Neale Donald Walsch
Jean Houston
Jack Canfield
Lynne McTaggart
and more - all joining with visionary Barbara Marx Hubbard to explore how we can co-create a collective shift in the next year.

Learn more and join the 37,000 people who have already been drawn to the vision - so we can build a critical mass together - at this link: https://shiftnetwork.infusionsoft.com/go/b201231027/CSRwire

For Saturday’s event, you’ll hear from each visionary leader - members of what they’re calling the “Welcoming Committee” - and you’ll have the opportunity to learn: How new social networks and models are coming together like a planetary nervous system, helping to create a global renaissance. The role you can play in shifting the consciousness of our world and how you can be involved in movements for peace, sustainability and creativity. If you’re intrigued to find out more, click here and spread the world: https://shiftnetwork.infusionsoft.com/go/b201231027/CSRwire.

We hope to see you this Saturday!

Social Enterprise Conference at Columbia University

09.26.2011 - 03:52PM

As we move into the second decade of the new millennium, we live in an increasingly networked world powered by technological innovations that are redefining connectedness and transforming business. For social enterprise, these changes have the potential to produce groundbreaking business models, introduce innovative approaches for scaling enterprises, reach new audiences and mobilize additional resources to improve society. Key questions to be addressed include:

How have social enterprises leveraged new channels to improve existing business models and create platforms to better enable, amplify and capture social, economic and environmental value?
What emerging technologies and ideas will drive the social enterprises of the future?
How can businesses better manage socially relevant issues in a ubiquitously networked world?

By bringing together industry experts, thought leaders and practitioners, the 2011 Social Enterprise Conference will examine how the social enterprise sector has and will continue to explore and capitalize on new avenues of business brought to light by technological innovation.

Click here to register now!