15th April 2007

Effects of Global Warming Or Not: Colder Weather Now?

Will Mother Earth Make Up Her Mind?
by Laura Thieme

It’s cold and gray here in Columbus, Ohio today.  I returned from the SES New York 2007 conference on Saturday, as opposed to Friday night as previously scheduled.  I am glad to be home.  However, I would like warmer weather as I’m missing out on some valuable golf time.  According to the news last night, it’s 20 degrees colder than average right now.

I had some time on the plane to catch up on magazine reading.  Vanity Fair has its second annual green issue, which was a great read.  I was surprised to learn about some environmentalist leaders, and some products I did not know much about.

For example, those of you who know I tested positive for eating poppy seed bread back in 1996 on a company drug test, might enjoy knowing that Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, formerly of Seinfeld (remember when she tested positive in that ‘96 episode for eating poppy seed muffins?) and now of Old Christine on TV, is an environmentalist activist.  She raised millions for Natural Resources Defense Council, Waterkeeper Alliance, and Trust for Public Land.  On Old Christine, her character drives a hybrid, as she also does in real life. 

Lonnie Thompson of Ohio State University was also mentioned.  He is a glaciologist at OSU.  I’ve linked to his CNN profile.

I was interested in Barry Sternlight, of Starwood Capital Group (think Starwood Preferred Guest hotel program), who is helping to create luxurious, eco-friendly hotels with the brand “1″.  The first “1″ will open next year in Seattle, and will follow in New York, Washington, LA, Paris, Ft. Lauderdale, and Scottsdale.  “1″ comes from the mission to preserve the planet is job number one.

If you shop Target, you know this brand: Method - it’s in the cleaning aisle.  If you shop Whole Foods, you know this product line:  Seventh Generation.  It’s also in the cleaning line and includes recycled paper products.  I always wondered about the name.  Seventh Generation comes from the Great Law of Peace of the Iroquois Confederacy - “…we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.” 

Robert Redford, who has always been a favorite of mine, and whom I’ve seen speak at Ohio State University at a lecture, was also featured.  He was just 24 years old when he invested $500 in two acres of land in Utah.  He now owns 5,000 acres, which hosts the infamous Sundance Festival.  Redford speaks out on sustainable, clean and renewable forms of energy.   You can now see “The Green” on the Sundance Channel, which is dedicated to environmental and green-themed documentaries .

Simran Sethi, who produces news stories for TreeHugger, hosted Ethical Markets, a PBS special on sustainable business practices.  She is co-hosting “The Green” on the Sundance Channel.  Martha Stewart and Oprah Winfrey turned to Sethi for advice on eco-friendly living.

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