Sierra Club Pushes Federal Way, Washington To Become More Environmentally Friendly

"The push is under way to make Federal Way more environmentally friendly and conscious about global warming.

The Sierra Club, a grass-roots environmental conservation group operating in the United States, sent Federal Way Mayor Michael Park an e-mail Sept. 4. In the message, the club urged him to make Federal Way a Cool City — one that agrees to the terms of the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and carries out an action plan to decrease greenhouse gas pollutants such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous dioxide.

The Sierra Club has spent the past two years investing in its Cool City Campaign. The club contacts U.S. city mayors and requests the city make a commitment to decrease its contributions to global warming by signing the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and enacting a four-step process to achieve the goals the agreement encompasses.

Once the agreement has been signed, the city is on its way to becoming a Cool City."

Australian Prime Minister Urges Others To Fight Against Global Warming

"Prime Minister Stephen Harper is warning major economies on the Pacific Rim to factor adequate climate change policies into their business development strategies, in order to prevent serious consequences for life on Earth.

In a speech prepared for delivery today, Harper urged political and business leaders at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation summit to lay the groundwork for a new and effective global climate change agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

On Wednesday, the Australian government announced it is joining the U.S.-led Global Nuclear Energy Partnership. It also urged Canada to use its influence as a major supplier of uranium to help set rules for the industry and to ensure the technology is used for peaceful purposes. Canada, however, has not yet indicated whether it will participate in a meeting of the partnership later this month."

Global Warming May Pose Threat To Heart

"If global warming is not controlled, it could lead to a surge in cardiovascular diseases in next few years, doctors warn.

Since it is a common belief that people have more heart problems when the temperatures begin to rise, experts at the European Society of Cardiology's annual meeting in Vienna this week said the issue of global warming deserves more attention."

Sustainable Brands Conference to be Held in New Orleans

"The countdown to Sustainable Brands ’07 continues, as more big brands and new green brands alike make plans to gather in New Orleans September 26-28. They are coming to support the rebuilding of New Orleans, honor the reality of corporate contribution to climate change and discuss rapidly emerging best practices associated with turning environmental and social responsibility into a new driver of brand value.

Dozens of well-known corporate brands such as AMD, Bosch/Siemens Home Appliances, Clorox, Dell, Nestle/Purina, IDEO, and Behr Paints are joining PR/Brand/Creative agencies and media companies like Leo Burnette, Celery Design and BBMG to learn from a stellar line up of presenters at SB07. More than three-dozen of the most experienced leaders in making sustainability pay are set to share their experience with the growing audience assembling for this landmark conference.

Rand Waddoups, Sr. Corporate Director Strategy and Sustainability, Wal-Mart and Act Now EVP, Judah Schiller whose sustainability collaboration is featured in the current Fast Company issue, are just two of those speaking.

Those interested in up-to-the-minute details on the event, including links to the complete list of speakers, the conference program, hotel and travel information and a look at who else is coming, should visit: http://www.sustainblebrands07.com">

"Sustainable Brands '07 is more than just a green marketing and PR conference," says KoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz, founder of Sustainable Life Media, the B2B media company organizing the event. "Truly sustainable brands take into account more than what you say, how you say it, and to whom. They start with an honest look at who you are, what you do and how you do it." SB07 was designed to help companies jump ahead to success in this rapidly evolving arena by developing a deeper understanding of the issues and opportunities involved, and how to take action.

WHY GATHER IN NEW ORLEANS? New Orleans was selected as the right backdrop for the launch of Sustainable Brands ’07 for two key reasons. First, it is centrally located, a fantastic destination and inexpensive to get to from both coasts. The French Quarter and the newly renovated Ritz Carlton New Orleans are open for business, better than new, and represent the travel bargain of the year. With airfares available for under $300 from many parts of the US, and room rates of $169/night at one of the country’s top hotels, it’s much cheaper (and more fun!) to visit NOLA than major metro areas.

Secondly, Hurricane Katrina was a major catalyst for many companies to think seriously about their impact on climate change, and New Orleans serves as a great reminder of the impact, positive or negative, business will have on our future. By holding the conference there, participants will have the opportunity to reconsider their own connection to our shared future, and to support the restoration of the NOLA economy."
CSRwire.com - News from Sustainable Life Media, Inc.: Countdown to Sustainable Brands '07 -- Early Reg. Deadline Friday. AMD, AT&T, IDEO, Kimberly Clark, HP, Nestle/Purina, More Join

Deputy Director of LSU's Hurricane Center Blames Army Corp of Engineer For The Levee Flowing Doing The Hurricane Katrina Disaster

"Ivor van Heerden, deputy director of the LSU Hurricane Center, blamed Katrina's catastrophic flooding on decades of errors by the corps, saying some of the mistakes were so basic that "a first-year engineering student" shouldn't have made them."
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World Dams Are Contributing To Global Warming

"International Rivers Network executive director Patrick McCully today told Brisbane's Riversymposium rotting vegetation and fish found in dams produced surprising amounts of methane - 25 times stronger than carbon dioxide.

"Often it's accepted that hydropower is a climate friendly technology but in fact probably all reservoirs around the world emit greenhouse gases and some of them, especially some of the ones in the tropics, emit very high quantities of greenhouse gases even comparable to, in some cases even much worse than, fossil fuels like coal and gas," Mr McCully said.

He said when water flow was stopped, vegetation and soil in the flooded area and from upstream was left to rot, as well as fish and other animals which died in the dam."

World's dams are 'contributing to global warming' | NEWS.com.au

Building Green with LEED

"LEED is a voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. USGBC's members, representing every sector of the building industry, developed and continue to refine LEED. LEED addresses all building types including new construction, commercial interiors, core & shell, operations & maintenance, homes, neighborhoods, and specific applications such as retail, multiple buildings/campuses, schools, healthcare, laboratories and lodging.



Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive system offering project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources."

Energy Efficiency Federal Tax Credits

"Tax credits are available to buyers of hybrid gasoline-electric, diesel, battery-electric, alternative fuel, and fuel cell vehicles. The tax credit amount is based on a formula determined by vehicle weight, technology, and fuel economy compared to base year models. These credits are available for vehicles placed in service starting January 1, 2006. For hybrid and diesel vehicles made by each manufacturer, the credit will be phased out over 15 months starting after that manufacturer has sold 60,000 eligible vehicles. For vehicles made by manufacturers that have not reached the end of the phase-out, the credits will end for vehicles placed in service after December 31, 2010."

Visit the IRS website for more information.