http://www.cchange.net Covering the transformations to social, environment and economic sustainability Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:26:44 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Sea Change Radio covers the transformations to social, environmental, and economic sustainability. Change is accelerating in positive and negative directions: the clock is ticking in the race to see which will tip first—the problems or the solutions. Join Sea Change's Host, Alex Wise, as he provides in-depth analysis to help our audience understand possible remedies and potential pitfalls. Sea Change interviews sustainability experts including Paul Hawken, Stewart Brand, Bill McKibben, Van Jones, Lester Brown, and many others. Sea Change airs on over 30 radio stations around the country. Alex Wise clean Alex Wise awise@cchange.net awise@cchange.net (Alex Wise) 2007-2011 Making Connections for Sustainability Sustainability, Climate Change, Human Rights, Environment, Corporate Responsibility, Socially Responsible Investing, Accountability, Stakeholders, Clean Tech, Renewable Energy, Green Jobs, Wealth Divide http://www.cchange.net/wp-content/uploads/cwr-images-archive/SeaChangeRadioTAG_square144_sm.jpg http://www.cchange.net Weekly http://www.cchange.net/2011/10/11/environmental-journalist-jeff-goodell-on-politics-policy-coal/ http://www.cchange.net/2011/10/11/environmental-journalist-jeff-goodell-on-politics-policy-coal/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 03:51:46 +0000 Alex Wise http://www.cchange.net/?p=3843 http://www.cchange.net/2011/10/11/environmental-journalist-jeff-goodell-on-politics-policy-coal/feed/ 0 alex wise,clean coal,coal,jeff goodell,Obama,rolling stone,sea change radio Journalist Jeff Goodell speaks with Alex Wise about his recent Rolling Stone piece on 10 things the White House should do for the environment (http://www.cchange.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/JeffGoodell-150x150.jpg)If you could get the President’s attention for just long enough to tell him the ten things you’d like him to do to save the planet, or at least put us on a more sustainable path, what would you say? This week on Sea Change Radio, host Alex Wise (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Wise) talks with environmental author and journalist, Jeff Goodell (http://jeff-goodell.com/).  He expounds on his list (http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/environment-ten-things-obama-must-do-20110914), recently published in Rolling Stone (http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/environment-ten-things-obama-must-do-20110914), of the ten things President Obama could do now, without having to wrestle with Congress, which would have a significant positive environmental impact.  He also shares a small bit of the wisdom contained in his 2006 book, Big Coal (http://www.amazon.com/Big-Coal-Secret-Behind-Americas/dp/0618319409), helping debunk the myth of “Clean Coal,” elucidating the perils of mountain-top removal coal mining, and discussing the role that railroad companies play in energy prices in the United States. Alex Wise clean http://www.cchange.net/2011/02/15/the-future-of-electricity/ http://www.cchange.net/2011/02/15/the-future-of-electricity/#comments Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:27:22 +0000 Alex Wise http://www.cchange.net/?p=3181 http://www.cchange.net/2011/02/15/the-future-of-electricity/feed/ 1 alex wise,danny kennedy,future of electricity,globama,grid technology,Obama,smart grid,solar panels,sungevity,ted howes This week on Sea Change Radio, sustainability consultant Ted Howes explains smart grid technology and Sungevity founder, Danny Kennedy, talks about the "Glo-bama" campaign to re-install solar panels on the White House. (http://www.cchange.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/TedHowes-150x150.jpg)(http://www.cchange.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Danny-Kennedy-e1276650517467-150x150.jpg)In 1880, Thomas Edison patented a system for the distribution of electricity that within 2 years was providing power through a grid to parts of lower Manhattan. How far have we come since then? According to this week's guests, not far enough. This week on Sea Change Radio, host Alex Wise (http://www.cchange.net/about/alex-wise/) first talks to sustainability consultant Ted Howes who explains the direction utility companies should be taking to work smarter, not harder, and why this smart grid technology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_grid) is meeting with some resistance. Then we hear from Danny Kennedy, the founder of Sungevity (http://www.sungevity.com/), one of the solar companies whose "Glo-bama (http://www.solaronthewhitehouse.com/)" campaign successfully advocated for the re-installation of solar panels on the White House. He talks about the powerful statement that is made when a US president decides to install solar, or, in the case of Ronald Reagan, reject it. Alex Wise clean http://www.cchange.net/2009/02/18/viewpoint-don-bartlett-on-a-federal-reserve-for-health-care/ http://www.cchange.net/2009/02/18/viewpoint-don-bartlett-on-a-federal-reserve-for-health-care/#comments Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:14:57 +0000 Bill Baue http://www.cchange.net/?p=578 http://www.cchange.net/2009/02/18/viewpoint-don-bartlett-on-a-federal-reserve-for-health-care/feed/ 0 don bartlett,george polk award,jim steele,Obama The investigative reporting team of Don Bartlett and Jim Steele has been looking under the hood of issues vital to Americans since 1971. One of these has been health care. Their 2004 book, , examined How Health Care in America Became Big Business — and... (http://www.cchange.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/donaldbarlett.jpg)The investigative reporting team of Don Bartlett and Jim Steele (http://barlettandsteele.com/index.php) has been looking under the hood of issues vital to Americans since 1971. One of these has been health care. Their 2004 book,  (http://barlettandsteele.com/books/critical.php), examined How Health Care in America Became Big Business — and Bad Medicine, as the subtitle of the book goes. One recommendation they made in the book was for a new independent independent agency, to manage health care. The idea of a Federal Reserve for health care (http://barlettandsteele.com/blog/?p=10) is gaining some currency now in the Obama administration. Bartlett and Steele called their proposed agency the U.S. Council on Health Care, or USCHC. Donald Bartlett and Jim Steele have won numerous awards for journalism, inlcuding the George Polk Award and 2 Pulitzer Prizes.  The Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism at Arizona State University established the Barlett and Steele Awards (http://www.businessjournalism.org/barlettsteeleawards/) in 2007 in recognition of their contribution to investigative reporting and to foster in-depth journalism by the media. Given annually, the first-place prize is $5,000 with a runner-up prize of $2,000. Bill Baue clean http://www.cchange.net/2009/02/11/envisioning-a-green-economy/ http://www.cchange.net/2009/02/11/envisioning-a-green-economy/#comments Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:22:58 +0000 Bill Baue http://www.cchange.net/?p=550 http://www.cchange.net/2009/02/11/envisioning-a-green-economy/feed/ 0 Clean Tech,Climate Change,economic security,Green Building,green business,green economy,Green Jobs,Green Living,greenbiz,joel makower,john harrington,Obama This week, green business guru Joel Makower encourages us to envision success in creating a clean, sustainable economy that averts climate catastrophe and improves our environment, communities, and lives.  And shareholder activist John Harrington urges... (http://www.cchange.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/joelmakower.jpg) This week, green business guru Joel Makower (http://www.makower.com/) encourages us to envision success in creating a clean, sustainable economy that averts climate catastrophe and improves our environment, communities, and lives.  And shareholder activist John Harrington (http://harringtoninvestments.com/johnharrington.aspx) urges banks bailed out with Troubled Asset Relief Program funding to make sure they stabilize US economic security. Green is the buzzword of the day, when it comes to business and the economy.  But what is a green economy, and how do we distinguish between a coat of green painted on the old, now failing economy -- and a truly clean, sustainable economy?  These are the questions Joel Makower has been asking for decades.  He founded the Green Business Letter in the early 1990s, and then launched GreenBiz.com (http://www.greenbiz.com/) in the early 2000s.  The Associated Press calls him the "guru of green business."  His latest book, (http://www.makower.com/book.html), came out this year.  Joel spoke with Sea Change Radio Co-Host Bill Baue from San Francisco on the heels of the release of the annual State of Green Business (http://www.stateofgreenbusiness.com/) report from GreenBiz. Makower started by discussing the good news, how business is greening in amazing ways, often under the radar screen of mainstream media.  Makower calls this effect "greenmuting," a term coined by Bob Langert of McDonald's (http://www.crmcdonalds.com/publish/csr/home/_blog.category.2254307.html), and he notes the irony that companies like McDonald's may be greening more than most individuals.  Makower also discusses the bad news -- that business is not greening enough, or fast enough, to avert environmental, social, and economic crises such as climate catastrophe, human rights abuses, and the financial meltdown. Baue poses the specific example of GE to illustrate this paradox of good and bad news.  Makower consulted on GE's Ecomagination (http://ge.ecomagination.com/) initiative, encouraging the company to set rigorous standards.  The conversation expands to the broader issue of standards for a green economy, and Makower opines that green jobs, which currently lack clear definition, may be the next greenwash (http://readjoel.com/joel_makower/2009/02/will-green-jobs-become-the-new-greenwash.html). Makower ends with inspiration, using the example of Obama's campaign of hope as a launching pad for encouraging us all to envision what success would look like in achieving a green economy (http://readjoel.com/joel_makower/2009/01/obama-and-the-vision-thing.html)that not only saves the world, but also improves our lives. Bill Baue clean 29:30 http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/28/after-capitalism-prout-as-a-sustainable-democratic-economic-model/ http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/28/after-capitalism-prout-as-a-sustainable-democratic-economic-model/#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:14:18 +0000 Bill Baue http://www.cchange.net/?p=470 http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/28/after-capitalism-prout-as-a-sustainable-democratic-economic-model/feed/ 0 Alternative Economic Models,Clean Tech,Climate Change,climate policy,Climate Progress,Community Economic Engagement,corporate governance,corporate social responsibility,EPA,greenhouse gas emissions,joe romm,Lisa Woll Today, Dada Maheshvarananda meditates on the alternative economic model of Progressive Utilization Theory, or PROUT. Joe Romm of Climate Progress analyzes the climate resolve of the Obama Administration. Lisa Woll of the Social Investment Forum propose... (http://www.cchange.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/dadamaheshvarananda-150x150.jpg) Today, Dada Maheshvarananda meditates on the alternative economic model of Progressive Utilization Theory (http://www.prout.org/), or PROUT. Joe Romm of Climate Progress (http://climateprogress.org/) analyzes the climate resolve of the Obama Administration. Lisa Woll of the Social Investment Forum (http://www.socialinvest.org/) proposes (http://www.socialinvest.org/documents/ObamaAdministrationFINAL1.14.pdf) an Office for Innovation in Corporate Social Responsibility to the Obama Administration.  And auto and environment expert Jim Motavalli (http://www.jimmotavalli.com/index.html) comments on the significance of President Obama's executive order (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090126/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_greenhouse_gases) directing the EPA to reconsider its refusal to grant California a waiver allowing it to regulate greenhouse gases from autos. Capitalism, in the highly deregulated form currently practiced, is showing signs of collapse.  What happens After Capitalism?  Dada Maheshvarananda meditates on this very , which outlines the alternative economic model of Progressive Utilization Theory, or PROUT.  Maheshvarananda directs the PROUT Institute of Venezuela (http://www.priven.org/).  Last Thanksgiving, he visited our studios, soon after he had published a commentary (http://vcr.csrwire.com/node/11848) entitled "The Human Cost of Economic Meltdown and Its Alternative." Bill Baue clean http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/28/newsanalysis-lisa-woll-proposes-federal-office-of-csr-innovation/ http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/28/newsanalysis-lisa-woll-proposes-federal-office-of-csr-innovation/#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:14:05 +0000 Bill Baue http://www.cchange.net/?p=467 http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/28/newsanalysis-lisa-woll-proposes-federal-office-of-csr-innovation/feed/ 0 Clean Tech,Climate Change,corporate governance,corporate social responsibility,government accountability office,human rights,kenan institute,Lisa Woll,Obama,Renewable Energy,Shareholder Engagement,shareholders The Social Investment Forum (SIF) submitted a letter to President Obama listing a series of policy proposals, from proxy access allowing shareholders to nominate board candidates to "say on pay" giving investors a vote on executive compensation. (http://www.cchange.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/lisawoll.jpg)The Social Investment Forum (http://www.socialinvest.org/) (SIF) submitted a letter (http://www.socialinvest.org/documents/ObamaAdministrationFINAL1.14.pdf) to President Obama listing a series of policy proposals, from proxy access allowing shareholders to nominate board candidates to "say on pay" giving investors a vote on executive compensation.  SIF also urges the Obama Administration to establish an Office for Innovation in Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR.  This idea dates back to the early 2000s, propounded (http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/article1251.html) first by Susan Aaronson at the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, and supported by a Government Accountability Office report (http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/1817.html) finding major lack of coordination on federal CSR initiatives.  SIF CEO Lisa Woll explains the rationale behind the recommendations, and how they will promote advancement toward sustainability. Bill Baue clean http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/21/viewpoint-francesca-rheannon-modest-proposal/ http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/21/viewpoint-francesca-rheannon-modest-proposal/#comments Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:24:04 +0000 Bill Baue http://www.cchange.net/?p=429 http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/21/viewpoint-francesca-rheannon-modest-proposal/feed/ 1 Alternative Economic Models,bob pollin,Clean energy,Climate Change,Community Economic Engagement,Green Living,Obama,Sustainable Innovation,Sustainable Public Policy Sea Change Co-Host Francesca Rheannon has a modest proposal for building demand for energy efficiency: a Home Energy Savings Equal Opportunity Program. - The home energy audit guy came the other day. You know, (http://www.cchange.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/francescarheannon.jpg)Sea Change Co-Host Francesca Rheannon has a modest proposal for building demand for energy efficiency: a Home Energy Savings Equal Opportunity Program. The home energy audit guy came the other day. You know, the deal where your local utility pays an energy expert to come and tell you where all that cold air is seeping into your house? Here in Massachusetts, it’s called “Mass-Save ( http://www.masssave.com/)”. Well, it didn’t help me save a whole mass of energy. The first time I was the beneficiary of the program, back in the 1980’s, the Mass Save guy was like Santa Claus. From his pack, he brought out a voucher for some rolls of fiber glass insulation for my leaky attic, a door sweeper, and a whole mess of other goodies to make my house tighter. When I moved to my current apartment in 2002, the energy audit guy gifted me with enough florescent lightbulbs to replace all my incandescents and another couple of rolls of insulation for the attic. This time, all I got was a refrigerator brush and a few packets of foam inserts for outlets--barely enough for one room, let alone my entire, tiny apartment. Oh yes, I managed to wheedle out of him some spare strips of door insulation, enough to seal one of my two outside doors. And it’s not as if I didn’t get much because my house is all that tight. The audit guy suggested improvements that would cost me a couple of hundred dollars--as a renter. OK, folks, this is pathetic. It’s widely understood that home weatherization is a major low-hanging fruit (http://finance.senate.gov/hearings/testimony/2007test/022707drtest.pdf) for cutting carbon emissions. It benefits consumers, utility companies, and the planet. At a time when many Americans are having to choose between heating and eating, weatherizing homes would be a quick way to provide some meaningful economic stimulus that would benefit the entire economy. It would boost consumer spending with those dollars spared from home fuel costs — and provide jobs. The problem is the up-front costs. If you can barely pay your monthly heating bill, you can’t pay for serious weatherization of your home. Especially since those who have less usually have older, much less efficient houses. Energy efficient replacement windows, high R-value wall and attic insulation, efficient furnaces--these cost thousands. Even replacing incandescent light bulbs and plastic sheeting on windows is beyond the budget of many. And it isn’t just the poor. Plenty of middle class people are being squeezed. After the mortgage payment, the health insurance premium and the college tuition, there isn’t much left in the kitty for home weatherization. Currently, the federal government has plans to weatherize only 140,000 homes (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/30/us/30weatherize.html?_r=1)--a drop in the bucket. President Obama has said he’ll raise that to 1 million. That’s nice, but it’s still nowhere near enough to make a real dent in carbon emissions. Congress has added $250 million to the current budget for weatherization. That’s million with an “m”–not anything like the hundreds of billions taxpayers have poured into the pockets of the banks this year. And those billions ended up not as loans to businesses and consumers, but as dividends and executive bonuses (http://endthebailouts.com/2008/11/07/86-of-bailout-money-used-for-executive-bonuses/). So here’s my modest proposal for a real fiscal stimulus. It would work something like the earned income credit–starting high at the lower end of the income spectrum and phasing out the higher you went. It could cap, say, at 300% of the poverty level ($62,000 for a family of four). At that level of annual income, the program would include about half of all Americans. It wouldn’t take all that much, per household. As economist (and Sea Change guest) Bob Pollin reports in “Green Recovery Bill Baue clean http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/19/blog-top-corporate-social-responsibility-news-of-2008/ http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/19/blog-top-corporate-social-responsibility-news-of-2008/#comments Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:53:49 +0000 Bill Baue http://www.cchange.net/?p=419 http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/19/blog-top-corporate-social-responsibility-news-of-2008/feed/ 1 http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/14/change-we-cant-believe-in/ http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/14/change-we-cant-believe-in/#comments Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:28:04 +0000 Francesca Rheannon http://www.cchange.net/?p=317 http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/14/change-we-cant-believe-in/feed/ 0 cap and trade,Climate Change,climate policy,global warming,new york times,Obama,stimulus,stimulus package Barack Obama has said time and again that change comes from the bottom up at least as much as from policy directives from on high. He's right--and he seems to be giving signs that pressure from below is going to be needed to keep him true to his own ca... (http://www.cchange.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/cropped-moi21-150x150.jpg)Barack Obama has said time and again that change comes from the bottom up at least as much as from policy directives from on high. He's right--and he seems to be giving signs that pressure from below is going to be needed to keep him true to his own campaign promises. This past Sunday, I opened the New York Times to the front page headline: Economy May Delay Work on Campaign Pledges (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/us/politics/11obama.html?_r=1&hp). Obama’s campaign pledges, of course.  Uh, oh, I thought. I hope climate change policy isn't on that list. But it was. The Times reports that Obama may "put off" restricting carbon emissions and initiating a cap-and-trade program. The President-Elect has put some terrific climate crisis-savvy people on his team for energy matters (Stephen Chu) and science (John Holdren and Jane Lubchenco). But if they are to be more than mere window dressing, Obama needs to remember that climate change policy isn’t a frill. It’s basic. While I personally think a tax on carbon is best (combined with comparable cuts on payroll taxes and subsidies for consumer use of renewable energy and conservation), an effective cap and trade system is at least a step in the right direction. Moreover, Obama seems a bit cheaper than his word when it comes to the funds allotted for clean energy in his stimulus package, as Joe Romm noted January 9th on his blog Climate Progress (http://climateprogress.org/2009/01/09/senate-dems-unhappy-with-level-of-energy-spending-in-obama-stimulus-plan/#more-4612). The plan offers a measly $10 billion in an overall package of $300 billion. Heck, Obama was willing to throw almost three times that much---no strings attached--to the Detroit boys who helped put us in this mess--and who continue to fight tooth and nail (http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/04/07/auto-alliance-lobbying-state-legislatures-in-co-sub-2-sub-fight/) against (http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/03/25/automakers-and-ethanol-producers-fight-minnesota-emissions-rules/) controlling the greenhouse gases spewed (http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0412/p04s01-wogi.html) by their products. If Obama ends up putting off his campaign promise to control carbon emissions, it would indicate a disturbing lack of judgment. He would be subscribing to a the bankrupt idea that the economy and the environment play a zero-sum game. In fact, their fortunes go hand-in-hand. If he thinks we are "running out of time" to fix the economy, he ought to consider that we are running out of time on the climate crisis (http://climateprogress.org/2008/11/09/stabilize-at-350-ppm-or-risk-ice-free-planet-warn-nasa-yale-sheffield-versailles-boston-et-al/), with far more devastating results--to the economy and everything else. The current recession will look like the days of wine and roses when compared to the lean and barren years ahead as we try to cope with crop losses due to megadrought, infrastructure damage due to extreme weather, loss of life and property, lack of potable water and the staggering costs of disease and resource wars that are sweeping down on us on the back of the climate catastrophe. New Orleans was the first major U.S. city to be devastated by global warming. Think about New York and Boston (http://www.climatechoices.org/ne/resources_ne/nereport.html). There is literally no time for delay. So I’d like to quote some words of wisdom about the climate crisis to Mr. Obama from someone he knows very well: “The science is beyond dispute… Delay is no longer an option. Denial is no longer an acceptable response.” Those words, Mr. President-Elect, are yours. And for the rest of us: it's up to us to keep Mr. Obama's feet to the fire. --Francesca Rheannon Francesca Rheannon clean 3:14 http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/07/the-transition-to-sustainability/ http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/07/the-transition-to-sustainability/#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:06:16 +0000 Bill Baue http://www.cchange.net/?p=287 http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/07/the-transition-to-sustainability/feed/ 0 Charlie Cray,Clean Tech,Climate Change,climate policy,EPA,Green Jobs,hunter lovins,Obama,paul hawken,Renewable Energy,sustainability movement,Sustainable Business Today we talk with Hunter Lovins, founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions, about the Presidential Climate Action Project.  The Sea Change ViewPoint comes from Charlie Cray of the Center for Corporate Policy. - For many people, Today we talk with Hunter Lovins, founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions, about the Presidential Climate Action Project.  The Sea Change ViewPoint comes from Charlie Cray of the Center for Corporate Policy. For many people, the election of Barack Obama as the US President stoked hope for big change.  The transition to the Obama Administration brings promise of shifts to government regulations and policies to promote sustainability.  Long before the election, though, a group of influential sustainability leaders gathered to brainstorm recommendations to the incoming President on tackling climate change.  The Presidential Climate Action Project was born, midwived by the University of Colorado School of Public Affairs in Denver.  The P-CAP Advisory Committee hashed out a plan with over a hundred recommendations for the incoming President on climate policy. (http://www.cchange.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/new_pcap_cover.jpg)Advisory Committee member Hunter Lovins also authored a separate report for P-CAP to map a broader survey of the current sustainability landscape.  Lovins helped pioneer the sustainability movement by co-founding Rocky Mountain Institute in the 80s with Amory Lovins. They also co-authored Natural Capitalism in the late 90s Paul Hawken.  Earlier this decade, she founded Natural Capitalism Solutions.  We caught up with Lovins between commitments in California, where she teaches at the Presidio School of Management.  It's one of a handful of new MBA programs with sustainability embedded in its DNA. The Economic Case for Climate Action (http://www.natcapsolutions.org/publications_files/PCAP/PCAP_EonomicCaseForClimateProtection_04xii07.pdf) by Hunter Lovins Natural Capitalism Solutions (http://www.natcapsolutions.org/) Bill Baue clean http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/07/viewpoint-transition-brings-opportunity-corporate-campaigners/ http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/07/viewpoint-transition-brings-opportunity-corporate-campaigners/#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:43:45 +0000 Bill Baue http://www.cchange.net/?p=298 http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/07/viewpoint-transition-brings-opportunity-corporate-campaigners/feed/ 0 business ethics,Charlie Cray,corporate accountability,corporate governance,Labor Rights,Obama,Shareholder Engagement,Sustainable Public Policy Charlie Cray of the Center for Corporate Policy gives his take on the opportunities -- and dangers -- of the transition to the Obama Administration. Corporate campaigners can call on the new team to shift power away from the corporate stranglehold and... Charlie Cray of the Center for Corporate Policy gives his take on the opportunities -- and dangers -- of the transition to the Obama Administration. Corporate campaigners can call on the new team to shift power away from the corporate stranglehold and back into the hands of the people and their government. However, this is no time for complacency, according to Cray.  Corporate lobbyists remain deeply embedded in DC, pushing for business-as-usual when it comes to corporate regulation and accountability. This ViewPoint is produced in partnership with BEN, the Business Ethics Network, a consortium of corporate accountability activists. The Center for Corporate Policy (http://www.corporatepolicy.org/) Business Ethics Network (http://www.businessethicsnetwork.org/article.php?list=type&type=176) Bill Baue clean 4:06 http://www.cchange.net/2008/12/24/the-future-of-climate-policy/ http://www.cchange.net/2008/12/24/the-future-of-climate-policy/#comments Wed, 24 Dec 2008 22:07:00 +0000 Bill Baue http://www.cchange.net/2008/12/24/the-future-of-climate-policy/ http://www.cchange.net/2008/12/24/the-future-of-climate-policy/feed/ 0 Climate Change,climate policy,Harvard,HSBC,kyoto protocol,Obama Over the weekend, President-Elect Barack Obama appointed John Holdren as his Science Adviser, a move applauded by many environmentalists. Holdren is director of the Woods Hole Research Center and teaches at Harvard. Over the weekend, President-Elect Barack Obama appointed John Holdren as his Science Adviser, a move applauded by many environmentalists. Holdren is director of the Woods Hole Research Center and teaches at Harvard.  Corporate Watchdog Radio has featured him twice. We aired part of his opening address at the 2008 UN Investor Summit on Climate Risk. And in September 2006, he talked with us about the pros and cons of nukes as a low-carbon solution to the climate crisis.  This week, we reprise these shows to give a sense of Holdren's opinions. John Holdren (http://www.whrc.org/about_us/whos_who/CV/jholdren.htm) John Holdren's Presentation at the 2008 UN Investor Summit on Climate Risk: "Global Climatic Disruption: Risks and Opportunities" (http://www.ceres.org//Document.Doc?id=282) CWR March 26, 2008: "Field Report from the UN Investor Summit on Climate Risk" (http://corporatewatchdogmedia.blogspot.com/2008/03/field-report-from-un-investor-summit-on.html) CWR September 6, 2006: "Will Nuclear Power Save Us from Global Warming?" (http://corporatewatchdogmedia.blogspot.com/2006/09/will-nuclear-power-save-us-from-global.html) CWR News Analysis: Nick Robins of HSBC Analyzes the Poznan Climate Talks and the EU Climate Legislation -- As head of the Climate Change Centre for Excellence at the major UK bank HSBC, Nick Robins (http://www.hsbc.com/1/2/newsroom/news/news-archive-2007/hsbc-hires-specialist-to-head-up-new-climate-change-centre-of-excellence) attended the recent climate talks in Poznan, Poland. This was the last step for the Kyoto Protocol before talks in Copenhagen in late 2009 negotiate post-Kyoto climate agreements. And, as world leaders met in Poznan, European Union Commissioners hammered out new climate legislation. Robins, co-author with Cary Krosinsky of the new book Sustainable Investing, weighs in on these as well from the HSBC offices in the UK. CWR ViewPoint: Real or Fake -- Christmas Tree, That Is! Ellipsos Study: Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Artificial vs Natural Christmas Tree Bill Baue clean 29:32 http://www.cchange.net/2008/11/26/how-the-rich-are-destroying-the-earth/ http://www.cchange.net/2008/11/26/how-the-rich-are-destroying-the-earth/#comments Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:27:00 +0000 Bill Baue http://www.cchange.net/2008/11/26/how-the-rich-are-destroying-the-earth/ http://www.cchange.net/2008/11/26/how-the-rich-are-destroying-the-earth/feed/ 1 carbon disclosure project,china,cornucopia institute,enron,EPA,greenbiz,Herve Kempf,jonathan weil,Obama,rubinomics,walmart While some view the negative impacts of economics and environment as separate, Herve Kempf sees financial inequality and environmental destruction as inextricably linked. The author of , Kempf explains how the wealthy of the world are living unsustaina... While some view the negative impacts of economics and environment as separate, Herve Kempf sees financial inequality and environmental destruction as inextricably linked. The author of , Kempf explains how the wealthy of the world are living unsustainable lifestyles, and everyone else is trashing the earth too trying to keep up with the rich Joneses. The solution? Move away from materialism and growth. CWR News Analysis -- The Greening of Wal-Mart?: Sources: --CSRwire: "Wal-Mart Celebrates Thanksgiving by Sourcing Local Food, Supporting Hunger-Relief, and Buying Wind Power" (http://www.csrwire.com/News/13837.html) --GreenBiz: "Wal-Mart's New CEO: What Does it Mean for Green?" (http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2008/11/21/wal-marts-new-ceo-what-does-it-mean-green) --The Green Wave Marches On: Wal-Mart in China (http://www.andrewwinston.com/blog/2008/11/the_green_wave_marches_on_walm.php) --Grist: "Wal-Mart Comes to the Farmers Market" (http://www.grist.org/comments/food/2008/07/11/) --Press Release: "Walmart Gives Consumers Opportunity To Support Local Economies Through Locally Grown Program" (http://www.csrwire.com/News/13827.html) --Cornucopia Institute: Wal-Mart Organics: Market Expansion or Market Delusion? --Press Release: "Wal-Mart Makes Major Commitment to Renewable Wind Power" (http://www.csrwire.com/News/13784.html) --Wal-Mart Carbon Disclosure Project Response, 2007 (http://www.cdproject.net/responses/public/WalMart_Stores_Inc_7808_Corporate_GHG_Emissions_Response_CDP6_2008.asp) --Lee Scott Message in Wal-Mart Sustainability Progress report, 2007 CWR ViewPoint: Bloomberg Columnist Jonathan Weil, the first journalist to expose Enron's cooked books in 2001, recently criticized President-Elect Barack Obama's appointments to the Transition Economic Advisory Board, pointing out that almost half hail from companies that fried their financial statements or fueled the market meltdown -- or both. CWR Co-hosts Bill Baue and Francesca Rheannon chat with Weil about his critique. "Obama's Bailout Bunch Brings Us More of the Same" (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aNCFKvAMUQ6w&refer=columnist_weil) "Rubinomics Recalculated" (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/us/politics/24rubin.html) Bill Baue clean 29:42 http://www.cchange.net/2008/11/19/a-global-green-deal/ http://www.cchange.net/2008/11/19/a-global-green-deal/#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:14:00 +0000 Bill Baue http://www.cchange.net/2008/11/19/a-global-green-deal/ http://www.cchange.net/2008/11/19/a-global-green-deal/feed/ 0 bruce kahn,business ethics,Climate Change,deutsche asset management,energy economy,gary gardner,global warming,green economy,Green Jobs,michael renner,mitch anderson,Obama At the G-20 Summit addressing the global financial crisis this weekend, the government leaders of the world's largest economies essentially twiddled their thumbs, punting on setting ambitious goals until April 2009 -- when the Barack Obama Administrati... (http://www.worldwatch.org/brain/images/staff/mrenner.jpg)(http://www.dbadvisors.com/deam/dyn/meta/bios/loadImage.do?dispatch=executeLoadImage&empId=2371) At the G-20 Summit addressing the global financial crisis this weekend, the government leaders of the world's largest economies essentially twiddled their thumbs, punting on setting ambitious goals until April 2009 -- when the Barack Obama Administration, which is dedicated to addressing the financial crisis and the climate crisis, is in office. Before the Summit, Worldwatch Institute Senior Researchers Michael Renner and Gary Gardner proposed that the G-20 enact a Global Green Deal, evocative of FDR’s new deal but more audacious in scope and vision. CWR co-hosts Francesca Rheannon and Bill Baue speak with Renner about the proposal's 5 strategies, including transitioning to a renewable energy economy, launching an efficiency revolution, and investing in green infrastructure. And speaking of green infrastructure, Deutsche Asset Management issued a report calling for the establishment of a “green” National Infrastructure Bank. Bill Baue speaks with Deutsche Climate Change Investment Research Director Bruce Kahn about the report, a followup on the Investing in Climate Change 2009: Necessity and Opportunity in Turbulent Times report CWR covered recently. Listen (http://www.cchange.net/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/CWR-2008-11-19.mp3) "Building a Green Economy: It’s Time for the G20 to Focus on a Global Green Deal" (http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5935) Michael Renner (http://www.worldwatch.org/user/117) Report: Green Jobs: Towards decent work in a sustainable, low-carbon world (http://www.unep.org/labour_environment/features/greenjobs.asp) Bruce Kahn (http://www.dbadvisors.com/deam/dyn/meta/bios/indivBio.jsp?empDetailID=8993) Deutsche Asset Management Report: Economic Stimulus: The Case for “Green” Infrastructure, Energy Security and “Green” Jobs (http://www.dbadvisors.com/deam/stat/globalResearch/1113_GreenEconomicStimulus.pdf) CWR News Analysis: Listen (http://www.cchange.net/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/CWR-Headlines-2008-11-19.mp3) News Sources: --Pew Research Center on the People and the Environment "A Deeper Partisan Divide Over Global Warming" (http://people-press.org/report/417/a-deeper-partisan-divide-over-global-warming) --Schwarzenegger Blames Global Warming for Elongated Fire Season (http://www.businessandmedia.org/printer/2008/20081117131633.aspx) --BBC: "Emissions up in developed nations" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7734547.stm) --NY Times: "Pollution Has Leveled Off, but the Figures Have Holes" (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/world/18climate.html) --Pam Solo: "Saving Detroit from itself" (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/17/EDVF1467NS.DTL) --Marketplace: "Obama meant it about C02" (http://www.publicradio.org/columns/marketplace/offair/2008/11/remember_obamas_emissions_prom.html) CWR ViewPoint: Listen (http://www.cchange.net/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/CWR-Commentary-2008-11-19.mp3) The Top BENNY Award for 2008, given to activist campaigns holding corporations accountable by the Business Ethics Network (BEN), went to the Clean Up Ecuador campaign for bringing Chevron to justice for decades of pollution in the Amazon. The campaign is led by the Amazon Defense Coalition and Amazon Watch. Mitch Anderson of Amazon Watch has our commentary today, produced in partnership with BEN. Amazon Watch (http://www.amazonwatch.org/) ChevronToxico (http://www.chevrontoxico.com) Business Ethics Network (http://www.businessethicsnetwork.org) Bill Baue clean 29:59 http://www.cchange.net/2008/11/05/building-a-local-sustainable-economy-that-works-for-all/ http://www.cchange.net/2008/11/05/building-a-local-sustainable-economy-that-works-for-all/#comments Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:52:00 +0000 Bill Baue http://www.cchange.net/2008/11/05/building-a-local-sustainable-economy-that-works-for-all/ http://www.cchange.net/2008/11/05/building-a-local-sustainable-economy-that-works-for-all/feed/ 0 felice yeskel,hazel henderson,Nicolas Sarkozy,Obama,progressive utilization theory,sam pizzigati,sustainable economy,United Nations As icecaps and global markets melt down, localism is rising up as a solution to our ecological and economic crises. United for a Fair Economy and Class Action, two national nonprofits based in Massachusetts that address the inequitable distribution of... (http://lh3.ggpht.com/_F_bk0dTZ_NQ/RWsaifCuABI/AAAAAAAACrQ/KcaN1nCJ0M8/s220/13524046E%20-%20Prakash.jpg)(http://www.cchange.net/wp-content/uploads/cwr-images-archive/FeliceYeskel.tiff) As icecaps and global markets melt down, localism is rising up as a solution to our ecological and economic crises. United for a Fair Economy and Class Action, two national nonprofits based in Massachusetts that address the inequitable distribution of resources, are sponsoring a workshop entitled "Building a Local Economy that Works for All." Today, we speak with Class Action Executive Director and United for a Fair Economy co-founder Felice Yeskel, and current United for a Fair Economy Board Chair Prakash Laufer about how the workshop weaves together economic, social, class, and environmental solutions to build a local sustainable economy. We at CWR have spoken with Felice in the past about her book, Economic Apartheid in America. Prakash is former CEO of Motherwear, a catalog company providing clothing for breastfeeding mothers that he co-founded in part on the principles of PROUT, or progressive utilization theory, which envisions a post-capitalist economy that is sustainable and just. Class Action (http://www.classism.org/) United for a Fair Economy (http://www.faireconomy.org/) Building a Local Economy that Works for All (http://faireconomy.org/resources/events/building_local_economy) Listen to more of our interview with Felice Yeskel and Prakash Laufer (http://www.cchange.net/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/FelicePrakash.mp3) February 15, 2006 CWR w/Felice Yeskel and Sam Pizzigati: "Economic Apartheid and Excessive Executive Compensation" (http://corporatewatchdogmedia.blogspot.com/2006/02/economic-apartheid-and-excessive.html) CWR Headlines: "Barack Obama -- a Sustainable President?" --The Carbon Footprint of Obama's Campaign (http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=one-long-campaign-one-enormous-carb-2008-11-04) --Obama May Put Renewable-Energy Plan Ahead of Climate Package (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a.YTOC9grPB8&refer=home) --Obama's potential green team (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/oct/30/network) (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QHevrEMlQ40/R8AKltWm4LI/AAAAAAAAAAw/T--_4lWgxtY/s1600/henderson.jpg) CWR ViewPoint: On September 26, 2008, Nicolas Sarkozy,president of France and the European Union, said, "we must rethink the financial system from scratch, as at Bretton Woods.” On October 22, US President George Bush announced that Bretton Woods II, as it was called, would be held in Washington DC on November 15. The new summit seeks to fix the broken economic order created at the summit of world leaders held in a small New Hampshire ski town as World War II wound down. In today's ViewPoint, we speak with Hazel Henderson of Ethical Markets about her recent CSRwire commentary, "Advice for Summitteers on Reforming the Global Casino." This continues our series with Hazel commenting on the market meltdown. Hazel Henderson (http://hazelhenderson.com/) Ethical Markets (http://www.ethicalmarkets.com/) "Advice for Summitteers on Reforming the Global Casino" (http://vcr.csrwire.com/node/11567) Foreign Exchange Transaction System (http://www.hazelhenderson.com/fxtrs.html) United Nations Security Insurance Agency (http://www.hazelhenderson.com/financing_un.html) Bretton Woods II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bretton_Woods_II) Bill Baue clean 29:35