Fueling Students with the right eco-Information

I'm excited to be attending yet another spoke on the Fuel wheel -- a reception with a rare appearance by Sir Richard Branson in support of the curriculum that was created from the movie Fuel. Though it's part of the events for Climate Change NYC week, and attended by folks like Council Member Jim Gennaro of Queens (seen here with Green Drinks NY founder, Margaret Lydecker), this will be a national green curriculum.

Designed to meet national educational standards, the curriculum came about from strong requests by FUEL theatergoers. I know. I was one of them, asking about that at the very first screening in NYC. Education is key. For now... For sustainability... For kids to grow into a "business as usual" frame of mind about living green. I was so passionate about what I learned when I saw the film at its NY premier, that I blogged twice about algae, tweeted about it, etc. It's eye-opening and keenly important.

The reception kicked off with Josh Tickell introducing The Climate Group CEO Steve Howard who talked about how "if I were a young person, but I'm not" --"yes you are!," interjected Sir Branson -- he'd want to improve and visualize the world a better place..." ...to the point of zero impact flights.

"That's why this is such an inspirational endeavor. It's about giving hope to kids."

Then Josh talked about how personal a journey making Fuel was for him, growing up in a toxic area of the south. It didn't begin with a global awareness, but rather a personal one. Fuel is the story of his search for alternative solutions for the past 23 years.

"But it's also an allegory for us taking the journey... and learning to live together peaceably and sustainably."

Rebecca Harrell explained how the curriculum was developed, which included having students build their OWN working bio-fueled cars. Since this curriculum wasn't required, they created a Web site of open source knowledge. She and Josh presented Sir Richard Branson with the first ever award for earth educator, who talked about how Steve Howard told him "inconveniently" about climate change. He realized he needed to take action. We have a "major task to try to tackle global warming:

"For the film to have moved into an education basis is fantastic because there's so much missing information," he said.

Josh introduced Council Member Gennaro has been instrumental in inspiring the people of NYC to collect and use veggie fuel, for one thing. he wrote and passed NYC's climate change bill with a mandate of 30% reduction in overall sector by 2030. Now we're trying to retrofit all of NYC's stock of buildings to be greener.

At that point, we headed outside to the waiting Algaeus, the world's first algae gas powered blug in hybrid, which was the first to cross the U.S. powered by green critters! They poured the final gallon of alternative fuel into the car.

Then we got to tour the van made famous by the Sundance winning movie and Letterman -- the Veggie Van!

It was a great event. See Jon Vachon's pix (better than mine!) here.

Reminds me that a green curriculum isn't just for kids.

Fueling Disney

In a recent blog, I wrote about a terrific documentary, FUEL, and what I'd learned from it about biofuels.

Yesterday Disney released its most comprehensive corporate responsibility report ever, and in the section on the environment, I saw this:

They are running their little theme park trains on vegetable biodiesel! Go Disney. They also list "Long-Term Goal #7" as:

Inform, empower and activate employees, business partners and consumers to take positive action for the environment Through the years, Disney's environmental efforts have touched the lives of millions of people directly and indirectly. Going forward, we will seek not just to build awareness but to empower and activate employees, business associates and consumers to take positive action for the environment.

It's really key to green from the inside out. Educating employees will make them aware, and influence the changes they make and home, which will educate and influence their families, which will educate and influence friends....and so on. And as we ramp up that eco-education on an ONGOING basis (this is not a static situation), we'll ramp up a new generation of eco-evangelists. And they'll tell two friends, and they'll tell two friends..... (Loved that Breck commercial.)

To get started, bring me in to do an eco-education seminar and/or produce ongoing internal green communications!

Fuel

I was all set to write some thoughts/tips about a Clean Start to the New Year with office greening ideas, etc. But last night, I was stopped dead in my tracks by attending a screening of an amazing new documentary. I was privileged to be among the first New Yorkers to attend this invitation-only screening as the film makes it way to theater circuit...thanks to rabid recycler and professionally funny friend, Robin Gelfenbien. She got the invite and when she heard the topic was biofuel she immediately called me. (Either she thought of me because I was the only sucker she could find to go see a film on that subject or my "brand position" of eco-consciousness has sunk in.)
I am indebted.
FUEL is a must see. Funny, educational, depressing and inspiring. Maybe it hit home because the film takes you from director Josh Tickell's early efforts to promote his all-vegetable-oil-run Veggie Van, from the back-story of the pollution created by the Oil Companies like totally mucking up towns like MOSSVILLE, Louisiana...to shining a light on purported cover-ups that would humble Michael Moore. But he describes it as "More a movement than a movie."

If you're in NYC, it will be playing in one small theater, opening 2/6, on 12th st. But here's the scoop: Robin and I...and pretty much all the other 25 people in the room last night, all drank the Kool-Aid and are working on creating screening opportunities from living rooms to corporate offices. If you have the space and want to host a screening before 2/13, call or write to me and we'll bring the popcorn and a copy of the DVD!
whoops: Looks like you can't play the trailer from here, so here's another link:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/fuel/

Why: It's on the "short list" of 15 others before they narrow the Academy Award noms down for the category of Best Documentary. We need to help them gain buzz and word-of-mouth because it's THAT IMPORTANT. One version of it won Sundance...and the updated version, with the twists and turns that happened since then, is even better. (It even has more of a "beginning, middle and end" kind of story than An Inconvenient Truth for the plot-driven fans among us.) Twists and turns in a documentary about energy? Believe it or not. For example, did you know:

• Oil is finite. We have maybe 30 years left to last us. Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes gotta happen NOW to break the addiction.
• The alternative, of biofuels (see Veggie Van), can power ANY diesel engine without any conversions necessary and seemed promising til it got bad press in timing that was spookily coincidental to the GOOD press and award the film got, that may have scared the bejeezus out of the oil folks...
• But there are still issues with veggie biofuels, especially ethanol...so Josh researched and promotes an alternative to the alternative, that even folks like Sir Richard Branson and Robert Kennedy, Jr who are featured in the film, are totes behind! One of those alternatives? Algae biofuel...which he actually tastes some of in the film....(I'll stick to Spirulina.)

At the end he does a great job of explaining it'll take a whole combo of alternative energies from wind and solar and whathaveyou...and yes, even some (operative word, some) oil to get us through.



Bravo. Hope you win, Josh. We need fuel like this to spark action right now.

So, let us know if you want to donate screening space for an evening before 2/13, or want to be in the loop on screenings. (We'll try to create a Facebook page for it.) Worst case, ya'll can come over for a screening and Robin and I will host you if need be!
Want to help more? Check with Josh or producer Rebecca at: http://thefuelfilm.com/contact