Posts Tagged Los Angeles

Kellygreen Home Exhibits Two California Store Locations at San Francisco Green Festival

Nov 2

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Green Home Goods Company Exhibits in Booth 839 at San Francisco Green Festival

SAN FRANCISCO – November 2, 2012 Kellygreen Home is exhibiting at San Francisco Green Festival, November 10-11 at the SF Concourse Exhibition Center. Kellygreen Home will be located in booth 839, sharing fun and functional home decor.

Kellygreen is all about helping our customers consume with a conscience when it comes to functional, decorative goods for the home, family and everyday lifestyle. We like to think of ourselves as a general mercantile for green home goods and want to make it easy to shop and feel comfortable knowing that each product has been carefully researched and considered, hence our tagline: “High Design / Low Impact”.

Visit Kellygreen at their following store locations:
ECHO PARK 2149 West Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026
SANTA MONICA 2525 Main Street, #102 Santa Monica, CA 90205

Find Kellygreen Home online:
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Jewelry Recycling for a Greener Earth: Recycle Your Diamonds and Old Metal into New Jewelry

Oct 30

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By Jewelry by Liza Shtromberg

Because the choices you make as a consumer have an effect on the world and express your values, consider recycling your old or unwanted metals and gemstones into new jewelry. Over the years most of us accumulate jewelry which we’ve been gifted or no longer wear, and by recycling these pieces you can have a dramatic effect on reducing the ecological footprint.

Mining can have a taxing effect on the environment, and by recycling your gold and gemstones you can reduce the mining of these materials and thus reduce negative environmental impact.  Additionally, you can further reduce your ecological and global footprint by mindfully selecting jewelry made with 100% post-consumer recycled metals and sustainably sourced gemstones.

Looking to purchase a new diamond?  Consider re-purposed or recycled diamonds as an option to buying a new diamond.  Choosing a re-purposed or recycled gemstone is a socially-conscious choice which helps reduce new diamonds from being mined.

Your diamonds carry sentimental value which can live forever, but their setting doesn’t have to!  Whether you want to keep that wonderful gift but let go of the memories, or keep the memories and revamp the gift, you can easily honor your diamond by designing a new setting that fully compliments your character and personal style.

In addition to the personal benefits of owning a custom diamond setting you love to wear, there’s the added advantage that you will wear your new piece proudly knowing that resetting your diamond into a  recycled metal setting was an environmentally conscience alternative to mining for new diamonds.   An affordable choice, a reset diamond can also provide you an opportunity to test your creativity in its reinvention.

As a jewelry brand with a green mindset, our mission at Jewelry by Liza Shtromberg is to elevate our planet and our jewelry to a beautiful and sustainable aesthetic.  All our pieces are handcrafted locally by socially-responsible designer Liza Shtromberg, and we exclusively use post-consumer recycled metals and responsibly sourced gemstones.  As a part of our own effort to reduce negative environmental impact, we offer several green options including our precious metal recycling program where we provide you with store credit in return for your unwanted gold or platinum jewelry.  We also recently introduced our beautiful “Re-treasured” Gems Collection, which is made with recycled gemstones previously set in estate jewelry from the 1800s.  Additionally, we are happy to reset your own diamonds and gemstones into one of our designs or a custom piece.  By using sustainable practices and providing eco-friendly choices, we are able to offer a variety of ways to make thoughtful jewelry selections to work towards a greener earth.

Participate in the Jewelry Trade-In Program: Recycle Your Diamonds and Old Metal into New Jewelry at LA Green Festival with Jewelry by Liza Shtromberg.

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Good Food Festival & Conference Returns to Los Angeles Nov. 2-4, 2012 to Support the Good Food Movement

Oct 25

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Events Include Urban Barn Raising with Will Allen at John Muir High School, Sustainable Food Panels at LACMA and Farm-to-Fork Localicious Celebration at Annenberg Community Beach House 

SANTA MONICA –  Oct 9, 2012  The Good Food Festival & Conference (GFFC) returns to Los Angeles for the second year Nov. 2-4, 2012. Produced by FamilyFarmed.org in cooperation with the Santa Monica Farmers Markets, the conference focuses on regional and national issues that are integral to building local and sustainable food systems and educating people about the Good Food Movement.

The GFFC begins with an “Urban Barn Raising” with Farmer, Founder and CEO of Growing Power, Inc. and Author of “The Good Food Revolution,” Will Allen, on Friday, November 2 at John Muir High School, continues with The Good Food Conference, a day of informative panel discussions at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) featuring speakers such as Will Allen (The Good Food Revolution), Laura Avery (Santa Monica Farmers Markets), Andrew Kimbrell (Center for Food Safety) and Evan Kleiman (Good Food/KCRW) on Saturday, November 3 and culminates on Sunday, November 4 with Localicious, an evening of food and wine tasting on the beach with 30 chefs and 30 farmers at the Annenberg Community Beach House. Programming for GFFC will focus on issues that matter to Californians, such as community building, safe, healthy and economically viable food jobs and the California GMO labeling measure, Proposition 37.

“We received such an overwhelming response from the farmers and community last year, FamilyFarmed.org is pleased to bring our efforts to Los Angeles again this year,” said Jim Slama, president and founder of FamilyFarmed.org.  “We have an exciting lineup of speakers, events and chefs and hope to raise awareness for the movement.”

On Friday, November 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., MacArthur Genius and Will Allen will host an “Urban Barn Raising” at John Muir High School in Pasadena. Members of the community, high school students and Allen’s team will construct a season-extending hoop house that will foster year-round education on food, agriculture and nutrition. The day’s activities will include workshops, farm fresh cuisine and one-on-one conversations with Allen and other influencers in the industry.

On Saturday, November 3, from Noon – 6 p.m., LACMA will co-host a series of panel discussions on building organic and sustainable food systems. Topics include: Building Community with Good Food, Good Food=Good Jobs, Is GMO Labeling Coming to California?

Confirmed speakers include: Andrew Kimbrell (Center for Food Safety), Arran Stephens (CEO Nature’s Path), Evan Kleiman (KCRW-FM/Good Food), Kelly Meyer (Teaching Garden), Laura Avery (Santa Monica Farmers Markets), Michael O’Gorman (Farmer-Veteran Coalition), Paula Daniels, Senior Advisor to the Mayor of Los Angeles specializing in Food and Water Policy and Will Allen (Growing Power, Inc.).

Beginning at 10:30 a.m. and throughout the afternoon on Saturday complimentary tours of works of art related to food and dining in LACMA’s collection will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis (Trade and the Changing Palette of the Dutch and The European Table Transformed, Dining Out in 19th Century France and The Age of Elegance).  Admission to LACMA will be free of charge to GFFC ticket holders on November 3.

Localicious will serve as the culmination of the Good Food Festival & Conference on Sun., Nov. 4, 2012 from 6-9 p.m. at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica. Guests will savor the freshest and best of the season with signature dishes prepared by Los Angeles’s leading culinary talents, paired with farmers from the Santa Monica Farmers Markets including: Coleman Organics, See Canyon Fruit Ranch, Fat Uncle Farms, Peacock Family Farms, Shiitake Happens, Weiser Family Farms, Harry’s Berries, Carpenter Family Farms, Schaner Family Farms, Phillip Green, Gloria’s, Flora Bella Farms, Windrose Farms, Rutiz Family Farms, Life’s A Choke Farms, Pudwill Farm, McGrath Family Farms, Jimenez Family Farms, and Tutti Frutti Farms.  Confirmed chefs include: Alex Moreno of Border Grill, Akasha Richmond of Akasha, Nyesha Arrington of Wilshire Restaurant, John-Carlos Kuramoto of Michael’s Santa Monica, Laurent Elmerich of Church and State, Jeremy Strubel of Rustic Canyon, Christina Olufson of Lucques/AOC/Tavern, Tin Vuong of Abigaile Restaurant, Benny Boehm of AMMO, Ray Garcia of FIG, Sassan Rostamian of Sauce on Hampton, Roxana Jullapat of Cook’s County, Brandon Boudet of Dominick’s/Tom Bergins, Gianfranco Minuz of Locanda del Lago, Paul Shoemaker of Savory, Bradley Miller of Inn of the Seventh Ray, Matt Dickson of FEED, Vardan Abgaryan of Public Kitchen, Sal Marino of Il Grano, Matt Biancanello of Roosevelt/Library Bar, Rich Mead of SAGE, Rian Brandenburg of Tender Greens, Mark Cannon and Elliott Rubin of The Curious Palate, Stefano DeLorenzo of La Botte, Collin Crannell of The Lobster and Joe Miller of Joe’s/Bar Pinxto.

The GFFC is produced by FamilyFarmed.org in cooperation with the Santa Monica Farmers Markets, support from the City of Santa Monica and the City of Pasadena and sponsored by Chipotle Mexican Grill, The California Endowment, LACMA, Whole Foods and Nature’s Path. Proceeds benefit FamilyFarmed.org. For more information, visit http://goodfoodfestivals.com/LA. Tickets and additional information can be found at http://2012goodfoodla.eventbrite.com/.

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About FamilyFarmed.org

FamilyFarmed.org’s mission is to expand the production, marketing and distribution of locally grown and responsibly produced food in order to enhance the social, economic and environmental health of our communities. FamilyFarmed.org is nationally recognized for “growing the market” for local and sustainable food and works with many of the country’s largest buyers of local and sustainably grown food. The Good Food Festival and Conference was created to link some of the best local farmers and family-owned producers of food and farm products with the public, trade buyers and leaders in the field to foster relationships that facilitate the growth of local food systems.

About Santa Monica Farmers Markets

The Santa Monica Farmers Markets are committed to promoting healthy eating and sustainable agriculture in California by providing fresh agricultural products direct from small farms to urban customers, thereby building community and preserving California farmland. It has since grown to be one of America’s leading farmers market programs with four weekly markets. An estimated 900,000 shoppers visit the markets each year. For More Information, please visit www.smgov.net/portals/farmersmarket

CALENDAR LISTINGS/ SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

To Purchase Tickets:

http://2012goodfoodla.eventbrite.com/

 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 – 10  a.m. – 5 p.m.

Urban Barn Raising, Muir High School- FREE

1905 Lincoln Avenue, Pasadena, Calif., 91103

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3 – 10:30 a.m. -6 p.m. 

Good Food Conference, LACMA – $45, $35 for students, seniors and LACMA members

5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, Calif., 90036        

 

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4 – 6 p.m. -9 p.m.

Localicious- $125 Annenberg Community Beach House

595 Pacific Coast Highway,Santa Monica,Calif.,90405

 

PRESS CONTACTS       

Kim Koury                            Susan Haymer

Kim@spinprgroup.com      susan.ecomediagals@gmail.com

310.497.6324                      323.252.5554

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FASHION MANUFACTURER MISS ME DONATES NEARLY $1 MILLION TO FRIENDS OF THE LOS ANGELES RIVER TO GIVE TO CITY OF LOS ANGELES FOR ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION FEASIBILITY STUDY

Oct 12

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Donation Closes Funding Gap Needed to Complete City and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Joint Project

LOS ANGELES – October 12, 2012 Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR), Miss Me, Inc. and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced a donation of close to one million dollars to The City of Los Angeles that will complete funding of The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) massive, multi-year LA River Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study.

Prior to the Miss Me gift, given to FoLAR to donate to the City of Los Angeles, the City had fulfilled its 50% cost-sharing commitment for the study totaling $4,850,000. While President Obama’s FY2013 budget requests additional funding for the Corps to continue the feasibility study, FoLAR and Miss Me’s $970,000 donation will enable the Corps to complete the study sooner.

The donation was announced at a press conference today at North Atwater Park in Los Angeles, overlooking the Los Angeles River.
“With the generous donation from Miss Me we are one step closer to revitalizing the Los Angeles River,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraiagosa. “A revitalized river will be the spine of the City – a liquid network of parks, nature trails, pedestrian walkways and bike paths that will connect our communities.”

Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council in Environmental Quality, a participant in the press conference commented, “The restoration of the L.A. River exemplifies the goals of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, which include expanding access to outdoor resources, restoring the health of our rivers, and promoting green spaces in urban communities. Meeting the goals of this restoration effort will provide valuable outdoor assets to Angelinos and promote the health and economic vitality of Los Angeles communities.”

“As we celebrate today’s milestone in our nation’s dedication to clean water, I want to reaffirm our commitment to the LA River,” said Col. Mark Toy, Los Angeles District commander. “If authorized by Congress, this study will showcase ecosystem restoration in an urban environment, creating important aquatic habitat and ecologically connecting the Santa Monica and San Gabriel mountains. The Corps of Engineers is well positioned to lead the way in transforming 20th century concrete infrastructure into sustainable, 21st century urban waterways that continue to provide flood damage reduction benefits.”

“This generous donation is important to the health of the Los Angeles River, the health of the environment, our neighborhoods and our families who live, work and play here,” said Councilmember Ed P. Reyes, who spearheaded the City’s Los Angeles Revitalization Master Plan. “Completing the feasibility study is a major step in restoring the L.A. River, an effort projected to deliver significant environmental and socioeconomic benefits, including the creation of 19,000 new jobs. I thank Miss Me, FoLAR and our partners at the federal level for making this possible.”

“The Los Angeles River is this city’s beating heart, and this new infusion of funds cannot come at a better time.” said Councilmember Tom LaBonge. Lilly Kim, legal counsel and company spokesperson for Miss Me said, “As we are interested in protecting the natural beauty of the Los Angeles River, we are pleased we can play a part in restoration efforts by helping the Army Corps of Engineers complete their feasibility study.”

Lewis MacAdams, president of FoLAR, said “We’re here today to celebrate a wonderful example of corporate citizenship by business leaders dedicated to the community. We thank Miss Me for their generosity and urge other companies to follow their example.”
The Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study (nicknamed the ARBOR study – Area with Restoration Benefits and Opportunities for Revitalization) focuses on the mostly soft-bottomed Glendale Narrows, an 11-mile stretch of the river from the north tip of Griffith Park to downtown Los Angeles. It will identify opportunity sites where ecological value and aquatic habitat connectivity can be restored to the river, potentially removing some concrete while maintaining adequate flood protection. This study will further the benefits of many Los Angeles River revitalization projects. Project construction will create jobs in Los Angeles.

Charged with local oversight of the study, the City’s Bureau of Engineering and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will continue to provide regular status reports to the City’s Ad Hoc River Committee. In coming months, the two partner agencies will present to the public several alternatives, including ideas that have been received from a broad range of community stakeholders.

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About Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR)
Friends of the Los Angeles River is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization whose mission for the past 25 years has been and remains to protect and restore the natural and historic heritage of the Los Angeles River and its riparian habitat through inclusive planning, education and wise stewardship. FoLAR’s goal is a swimmable, fishable, boatable Los Angeles River bordered by a greenway from the mountains to the sea.
About Miss Me
Miss Me® launched its first collection in the Spring of 2001 – with the single purpose to dress the modern girl who was no longer definable, but multi-dimensional in character and style. With this recognition and appreciation, Miss Me® designs for those who hold a multitude of passions, personas and cultures. Successfully capturing the many identities of a woman, Miss Me® creates two lines to provide versatile pieces that represent every facet of the Miss Me® woman – from casual wear, formal wear to nightlife styles. Miss Me® has grown to be everyone’s favorite piece in the closet, never compromising comfort for style.

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LOS ANGELES GREEN FESTIVAL TO HOST ECO-ACTIVISM SOCIAL MEDIA EVENT FEATURING FRAN DRESCHER, SHARON LAWRENCE, MALLIKA CHOPRA AND MORE

Sep 24

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Green Festival and The HUB LA Invites Californians to Engage with Industry and Community Leaders Online and In-Person to Encourage Social Change

WHAT: Green Festival, the nation’s largest and most trusted environmental consumer showcase, kicks off Social Media Week in a celebrity filled hybrid event intended to evoke social change across environmental and sustainable movements. The event, “Eco-activism goes social – Saving Our Earth One Click at a Time,” will provide a unique forum hosted at The HUB LA for partners and friends of the Green Festival to connect with thought-leaders such as Fran Drescher, Sharon Lawrence, Mallika Chopra and Karl Burkart in person, on Skype, video and through various social media networks.

WHO: The all-star lineup, moderated by The Organic Authority’s Laura Klein, will engage through various social platforms and stream on www.greenfestivals.org/la. Virtual attendees can interact using the following:

• Fran Drescher, Trash Cancer: In Partnership with Humana. (The Nanny, Happily Divorced) @CancerSchmancer #trashcancer

• Sharon Lawrence (Heal the Bay, Women In Film, Akasha Restaurant. Drop Dead Diva, Greys Anatomy, One Tree Hill, NYPD Blue) @sharonlawrence

• Mallika Chopra, Founder/CEO Intent.com @CoFounder (“The Well” on Youtube with Gotham and Deepak Chopra) @mallikachopra @choprawell

• Karl Burkart, Mother Nature News Network/TckTckTck.org @tcktcktck @greendig

• Mud Baron, School Garden Advocate, Twitter coach and Shorty Awards winner @Cocoxochitl

• Event hosts Green Festival @GreenFestivals and The HUB LA, @TheHubLA #SMWGreenFestival #Green Fest

• Social Media Week #SMWLA #SMW12

WHERE: The HUB LA: 830 Traction Avenue, 3rd Floor, Los Angeles, California 90013. Join the livestream online at www.greenfestivals.org/la

WHEN: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012: 7:30 pm-9:30 pm

Schedule:
• 7:30 pm – Refreshments and Community
• 8:00 pm – Panel followed by Conversations and Networking

About Green Festivals:
A joint project of Green America and Global Exchange, Green Festival is a non-profit event that celebrates a ten-year milestone with over one million attendees in eight cities.

About Green America
Green America is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1982, providing the economic strategies, organizing power and practicing tools for businesses and individuals to address today’s social and environmental problems. Its Green Business Network is the largest national network of businesses screened for their social and environmental responsibility.

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

About Hub Los Angeles:
Hub Los Angeles is a new kind of membership club dedicated to the individuals and teams building the local, sustainable economy in Los Angeles and beyond. Focused on providing a curated member experience, Hub LA provides a much-needed outlet to an underserved demographic of modern day professionals, Impact Professionals, creating positive societal and environmental impact through their work in the world. Anchored by a physical space, the Hub offers members access to 4,000 square feet of creative industrial space in the heart of the Arts District to meet, work, collaborate, attend events, and socialize. In addition, Hub LA is creating programming, events and media tools for members. Hub Los Angeles was co-founded by Elizabeth Stewart and Nick Kislinger and opened in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles in September 2012. Website: www.thehubla.com, Twitter: @TheHubLA , Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheHubLA.

Press Contact: Erin Brunner
organicworks PR (212) 253 – 0474/gf@organicworkspr.com

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FOOD FORWARD SPREADS ITS FRUITY LOVE WITH NEW FARMERS MARKET RECOVERY PROGRAM

Sep 15

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOS ANGELES – In August and September, 2012 Food Forward, Southern California’s largest harvesting-­‐for-­‐the hungry non-­‐profit, will launch its brand new Farmers Market Recovery Program, at three of the LA-­‐ area’s largest and most robust outdoor markets in Santa Monica, Hollywood and Studio City.

Building on Food Forward’s “100% to the hungry” motto, volunteer “Glean Teams” culled from each of the surrounding communities will gather unsold high-­‐grade produce directly from farmers at the close of each market, and donate it to agencies within 5-­‐7 miles of each market.

Laura Avery, Santa Monica Farmers Market Supervisor says, “The farmers who come to the Santa Monica Farmers Market are pleased to share their fresh picked produce with Food Forward through this exciting and efficient new partnership. We are especially pleased that Step Up on Second, serving homeless and mentally ill individuals living in Santa Monica, who might not otherwise have access to California’s abundant and nutritious fruits and vegetables, will be the recipient of the bounty we have to share.”

With initial funding from The Rosenthal Family Foundation, The Plum Foundation and Jason & Lauren Morphew, Food Forward hopes to scale this pilot program from three markets in year one, to nine markets in year two, and will grow the program from there.

Meg Glasser, Managing Director of Food Forward says, “We are thrilled to be able to work with farmers markets in the same way that we work with local property owners— gleaning excess produce to donate to Los Angeles’ hungry. We also are excited to bring food enthusiast, Mary Baldwin on as the Program Manager and we welcome her to the small but ever-­‐growing Food Forward team.”

In addition to collecting unsold produce from farmers, Food Forward’s Glean Team will also be accepting customer and local homeowners’ fresh produce donations during the last two hours of each market (excluding Santa Monica). Gleaning will occur at Santa Monica (Wednesday from 11:30–2); Studio City (Sundays from 11:30-­2); and Hollywood (Sundays from 11:30­‐2). They will make their first collections beginning in mid-­‐August and by the end of September they expect to have all three market recovery sites up and running.

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Food Forward’s vision is to reconnect our community with the abundance of food already present in our everyday lives, while creating change around the issues of urban hunger, food waste and food justice. For information on the program, joining the Glean Team, or donating produce please check our blog at
http://foodforward.org/blog/ Email: fmrecovery@foodforward.org, or call 818-­‐530-­‐4125.

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Jewelry Trade-In Program: Recycle Your Diamonds and Old Metal into New Jewelry at LA Green Festival

Sep 6

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LA Green Festival Exhibitor Jewelry by Liza Shtromberg Provides Exquisitely Innovative Eco-Jewelry to the Green Consumer

LOS ANGELES – September 6, 2012 As an innovative source of original, handcrafted jewelry for the environmentally conscious consumer, Jewelry by Liza Shtromberg is a premier jewelry company which sets itself apart from the jewelry industry through its environmentally responsible practices. By applying a sustainable process, Jewelry by Liza Shtromberg offers a variety of ways to make mindful jewelry selections through an exclusive use of post-consumer recycled metals, non-conflict diamonds and responsibly sourced gemstones.

Bring your unwanted gold and platinum jewelry to LA Green Festival and trade it in at the Jewelry by Liza Shtromberg booth for store credit! At the event, Jewelry by Liza Shtromberg will be weighing and testing your gold jewelry to provide you with an offer for store credit which can be used at the event or at the store location in Los Feliz. You can also reset your diamonds into post-consumer recycled metal settings, an environmentally conscious alternative to mining for new diamonds.

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LA County Home to US’s First Green Certification for Arts Orgs

Aug 17

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LOS ANGELES – August 2, 2012 When Joel Shapiro and Justin Yoffe oversaw the installation of solar panels on the roof of the Electric Lodge in Venice, California, in 2001, they may not have realized they’d also made the first step in what would become a countywide movement to make the arts into green businesses.

“I asked myself, ‘What is the purpose of a cultural organization in a community?’” Yoffe recalls. “I wanted to be part of setting the example.”

Their initial review of LEED certification led them to an eighty-page document of regulations whose upgrades and changes would cost tens of thousands of dollars —worthwhile investments that they are, unfortunately, out of reach for many nonprofit businesses.

Yoffe said the movement started off very small and grassroots. A voluntary coalition of galleries, theatres, and dance studios
came on board with an agreement to make small, incremental changes—adding recycle bins to their lobbies, changing some
light bulbs for example.

“What we realized is that by adapting these green practices, more people wanted to be at the Electric Lodge. Suddenly, we
had more demand for rentals, a larger audience, and people were more excited about what we were doing. And then our
donor base started to expand.”

From this modest beginning, the Arts:Earth Partnership grew. Yoffe and Shapiro connected with regional leaders, including
LA Stage Alliance, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and the City of Santa Monica to learn more about
how to establish a special certification for arts businesses—cultural facilities, theaters, museums, dance studios, art galleries,
performing arts companies, and individual artists—throughout the region. Each city has its own standards for the
certification, which makes Los Angeles County—with its 88 unique municipalities—challenging, but not impossible.

While Arts:Earth Partnership is a great step forward for Los Angeles County, it is also the very first recognized green business
association for the arts in the United States. For arts organizations, the certification often carries with it savings in energy,
water and waste expenses and access to rebates, and benefits that carry real impact on their ability to provide access to art,
performances, and education for members of their community.

AEP’s first big effort came from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, who tasked them with evaluating the
city-owned cultural facilities to determine how green their operations were. None of them could be immediately certified,
Yoffe recalls, partly because the pre-approved products managers could buy for their facilites were not green. However,
when the Department of Sanitation heard from AEP about how to make the small changes to extend access to greener
materials, the department came online to support AEP’s efforts. Because of this work, Yoffe stresses, all seven hundred cityowned facilities now have access to the same green products.

Now AEP provides, with support from Los Angeles’s Department of Cultural Affairs, an inexpensive pathway to cultural
organizations striving to become more green. As part of the consultation, which costs approximately $300 over two years,
AEP provides a list of upgrades necessary to achieve their green certification along with the costs and an implementation
plan based on the organization’s capacity. AEP can also provide a cost payback analysis to help the cultural organization
understand the long term impact of its changes.

Adam Meltzer came on board in May 2011 as the programs director for A:EP to help oversee this work. “When we green a
theater or a museum/gallery, you not only see a difference when you walk into the space, but you can quantify that difference
into making the world a better place,” Meltzer says. “Fewer toxins in the air, more recycled products, less waste, and reduced
CO2 emissions released into the environment due to reduced energy use.”

Seventeen businesses in Los Angeles County have received A:EP’s green certification: Art-In-The-Park, Barnsdall Junior  Arts Center, Canoga Park Youth Arts Center, Craft & Folk Art Museum, Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center, Lankershim Arts Center, Madrid Theater, McGroarty Arts Center, Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, rediscover Center, Ruskin Group Theatre Co., Santa Monica Museum of Art, the Electric Lodge, the G2 Gallery, the Miles Memorial Playhouse, and William Reagh/LA Photo Center. These are only the beginning, though, as A:EP continues to consult with more and more creative businesses to help them achieve the certification. “The more people we have on board, the more powerful the message is,” Meltzer says.

Yoffe believes this green movement is a way to establish the arts sector as truly innovative outside our own silo. “There’s a
meme in this country that states the arts are a dependent sector, a parasitic sector, that funding for the arts is objectionable.
But we are the visionaries. We’re the way out of contemporary problems.” Meltzer agrees. “We had to find a way to get
organizations to say yes to environmental sustainability instead of no, so we simplified the process of certification. Making it
simple and cost effective is the way to do that.” Arts:Earth Partnership’s work, they believe, will help ensure the arts have a
seat at the table when communities talk about sustainability.

“People have committed to changing their organizations into places they can create art in a non-toxic environment and feel
good about working in partnership with the planet instead of taking a short term outlook,” Meltzer says. “That’s what keeps
me going.” After ten years of work, A:EP can now point to quanifiable results—not only for the organizations they serve, but
for all the residents of Los Angeles County.

For more information on Arts:Earth Partnership, visit their website at http://www.artsearthpartnership.org

 

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Stars Turn Out for Global Green USA’s 9th Annual Pre-Oscar® Party

Feb 23

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Event Launches Citizen Entrepreneur Contest for the 20th Anniversary Rio Earth Summit; Raises Awareness and Funds for Green Schools and Communities

Hollywood, CA - February 22, 2012 Global Green USA celebrated its 9th Annual Pre-Oscar® party on Wednesday night at the Avalon Hollywood, to raise funds for its national green school initiatives and to raise awareness about the upcoming 20th Anniversary Earth Summit in Rio this June.

More than 1,200 people attended the star-studded event which featured a headline musical performance by Sheila E! Notable guests included Adrian Grenier (Entourage), Emmy Rossum (Shameless), Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill), Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory), Kelli Garner (Pan Am), Alison Brie (Community), Ed Begley Jr. (Pineapple Express), Michelle Branch (Musical Artist), Anthony Denison (The Closer), Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother), and Dylan McDermott (American Horror Story), among others.

Global Green President Matt Petersen took the stage with event co-chair and Board member Sebastian Copeland to announce the kick-off of an online Citizen Entrepreneur Contest to identify local Green Heroes.

“As Hollywood prepares to celebrate their nominees for best performances and films down the street, Global Green is calling for nominations for the local green heroes who are tirelessly working to make their communities healthier and greener,” said Petersen. “Tonight we invite Americans to nominate a student, teacher, architect, or community activist greening their corner of the world, and to call on President Obama to represent our future by attending the Rio+20 Summit in Brazil in June.”

Many of the celebrity attendees recorded a video to promote the contest and also signed a letter calling on President Obama to attend the Earth Summit and bring a comprehensive action plan for the health of all Americans, the environment and people around the world. Anyone can add their name to the letter by visiting globalgreen.org.

Over a dozen celebrity guests arrived in the 2012 Chevy Volt electric vehicle which also played a starring role on Global Green’s carpet.  Attendees got a special sneak preview of the 2012 Chevy Volt featuring the new Low Emissions Package, which is now eligible for the coveted car pool lane sticker and $1,500 CA Clean Vehicle Rebate.

Guests enjoyed a night of eco-friendly entertainment including living wall installations by landscape designer Jamie Durie, an eco-couture collection by Hollywood fashion designer Oliver Tolentino, a Pureology Salon hairstyling station, creative organic food and drinks as well as Gardein’s new mini meatless sliders, and much more!  Evolve Motorcycles also debuted their new $55,000 electric Xenon bike that will be auctioned off to benefit Global Green.

Additional featured event sponsors this year included LAcarGuy, Lux & Eco, Office Depot, Revo, The Ambrose Hotel, Cline Cellars, Gardein, KeepCup, Lexington Social House, MKG, 7th Generation, Zimride, North Star Moving, Picore Worldwide, The Playlist Generation, Mulu, Sunset Marquis, Verdant Brand, J. Lohr, One Hope Wine, 360 Vodka, BWR, EcoFabulous, and SHFT.com.

About Global Green USA

For more than a decade, Global Green has collaborated with the Hollywood community to raise global awareness of Smart Climate Solutions — from celebrities driving green cars to the Oscars, to building green homes and schools, buying green products and voting for green political leaders. Global Green is the only national environmental group headquartered in Southern California and has offices in New Orleans, New York City and Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit www.globalgreen.org

About the Chevrolet Volt

The Volt has a total driving range of up to 379 miles, based on EPA estimates. For the first 35 – 50miles, the Volt can drive gas- and tailpipe-emissions-free using a full charge of electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas-powered engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 344 miles on a full tank. The EPA estimates 94 miles per gallon equivalent for the car in electric mode and 35 city and 40 highway miles per gallon in extended-range mode.

CONTACTS: Paulette Kam / Dina Rosenberg                                  Ruben Aronin

B|W|R Public Relations                                                  Global Green USA

310.550.7776                                                            (310) 581-2700

pkam@bwr-la.com / drosenberg@bwr-la.com raronin@globalgreen.org

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Can We Save the Planet for a Buck a Person? Kickstarter Campaign for "Big MaMa Earth & ME" Kid's Eco-TV Show

Feb 23

Posted by 7star.wwwmaster@gmail.com in News, Press Releases | Comments off

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FEBRUARY 22, 2012 – LOS ANGELES Is the Earth Day spirit still alive?  In today’s economy, will families donate $1 or more to save the Planet?  Mike Miller, co-founder of Big MaMa Earth Entertainment, is counting on it. Miller, known as Grandpa Mikey to his grand kids, is a TV infomercial producer, a past business consultant, and a devoted environmentalist his entire life. “Our environment is in peril – approaching a tipping point”, and, “our children, being the future of our planet, can show us the way”. To encourage everyone to take action, Miller and his team are developing the first Eco-Kids TV Show called, “Big MaMa Earth & ME”.

The TV show will engage, inspire, and empower children, teachers, and families to take action. It will teach them about environmental solutions they can implement in their homes, schools, and communities. The TV show will be a blend of a green Hannah Montana, Wild Kingdom, and Sesame Street.

The Big MaMa Earth “Learning Experience”, which is the hub of the TV show, has been portrayed by many as being an “Eco-Disney Act on Wheels”. Miller designed a cartoon-like solar powered 20’ trailer with a drop-down stage and a professional sound system . . . pulled by a new Ford  Eco-boost truck. To showcase the “Learning Experience,” Miller and one of his team members, the vocal artist Ross, auditioned children from local schools and theatre groups who were environmentally conscious – and formed the Eco-Earth Kids.  Original Eco-theme songs such as: Big MaMa Earth & ME, Big MaMa Earth is Crying Out, Go Green & Clean, Save the World, Change, and others are performed by Ross and the Eco-Earth Kids on the Big MaMa Earth stage. Big MaMa Earth Entertainment has 36 animated characters in the development stage of which Big MaMa Earth is the main character.  Her friends, “RainForest Tree-O”, “Sammy Sea,” and “Pukey Pollution” were released to support and interact with Big MaMa Earth at events and in the Eco-TV series. As the Eco-TV series grows in popularity, other animated characters will be released and additional walk-around theme characters will be produced to keep the Eco-TV series fresh, unique and exciting.

The Big MaMa Earth “Learning Experience” co-hosted 17 high-profile events in 2011 from the Aquarium of the Pacific – Kids Fun Run, Let Freedom Ring on July 4th at CBS studios, to ABC 7’s Spark of Love Toy Drive.  For 2012 they will be co-hosting the Dana Point Whale Festival on March 3rd & 4th and Earth Day at Balboa Park in San Diego on April 22nd. Miller enthusiastically invite the public to visit them at these important events. Miller believes the public will choose to support the creation of this TV show and has contracted with Kickstarter (an established social media funding platform that helps artist’s, companies, and entrepreneurs) to facilitate online pledges. To pledge $1 or more, go to the Big MaMa Earth Kickstarter website. Please watch the video and read the information.  On the top right side, you will see a button – “Donate $1 or more”.  Please click on it and begin a simple registration for Kickstarter and Amazon. You’ve just helped save our Planet.

Why should I care or pledge to create this Eco-Kids TV Show?: Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, humankind has over-consumed many of the earth’s natural resources to a point of exhaustion – with little regard for the long term effects on our planet and its inhabitants.  We must be good stewards of our planet and STOP this destructive cycle.  Our children are our future and they will learn through this TV Show.  Please do not think of it as a donation!  Think of it as an Environmental Protection Plan for future generations.  If you see the value in this TV Show, pledge – and be a part of History!

Are Miller and his team doing this only for the potential profit?  According to Miller, a large portion of the proceeds, which the show will generate through advertising, will be donated to the Big MaMa Earth Foundation to enhance environmental education in schools.

Big MaMa Earth is dedicated to empowering children and families everywhere to take action through the dissemination of factual and non-biased scientific information that is both enlightening and entertaining.  This initiative will bring about positive, incremental changes and will ultimately fuel humankind’s reconnection to Mother Earth.

Miller encourages kids, families, and corporations to review the website at www.bigmamaearth.org.  The “Events”, “Photo”, and “TV/Press” sections show how Big MaMa Earth and the Eco-Earth Kids are loved by children, families, and teachers – and how they inspire and empower others.

For more information about the Big MaMa Earth project, contact Mike Miller at 951-244-8444, or e-mail Mike at bigmamaearth@ca.rr.com

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