Finally it is here! The green festival! Not only do we have a whole weekend to learn about green products and services (and get lots of freebies and samples), but “Green Week” leading up to the weekend is full of cool stuff.

In fact, I feel kind of silly that I did not know about “EcoTuesday”, a professional network for people in sustainable business. I am correcting that today, but unfortunately can not make it to tonight’s event which you might find interesting! Speaking tonight – Brad Liljequist, Project Manager for the Zero Energy Townhomes project in the City of Issaquah. This ambitious project will create 10 attached market rate housing units with numerous lofty environmental goals, the most impressive one being Net Zero Energy usage. You have until 5 PM tonight to register for this presentation.

There is a LIVE BLOGGING ZONE at this year’s green festival. Since I cut my teeth live blogging at the Built Green Conference on March 6th I thought I would bring my netbook and post some informational and entertaining observations this weekend. I was going to go both days, but my sister is going to be in the area on Saturday and I don’t get to see her or my little niece Abigail very often, so we’re going to make a nice lunch and have a long visit. So you can find me there on Sunday. If you are there and have mobile email drop me a note and maybe we can meet IRL! I managed to score free tickets from someone handing them out at the West Seattle Farmers Market on Sunday.

Don’t forget – one of the features of this event is having a zero carbon footprint. We are asked to bring our own dishes and silverware, and by now you should be packing your own water in a Klean Kanteen, right? There will be large water dispeners to refill your container. Now if you do not bring your own stuff you will still be able to eat BUT this is an opportunity to practice the ultimate in self-sustaining conference-going. Give it a try and don’t forget to pack your linen napkin!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SEATTLE HOSTS GREEN FESTIVAL FOR SECOND YEAR

Nation’s Largest Green Consumer Event Returns to Leading City in Sustainability As Our Economy Transitions, Political Interest in the Environment Increases and Numbers of Green Consumers Grow, Green Festival Stands Out as a Vital Resource

March 28 & 29, 2009
Seattle, WA (March 2009): Green Festival, the fastest growing green consumer event in the country, returns to Seattle for the second year on March 28 & 29, 2009. The Washington State Convention and Trade Center provides the space for the festival to take its platform and bring the most cutting-edge people, ideas, and organizations on the green scene to Seattle residents and the surrounding community. Co-hosted by the city of Seattle, the 2009 Green Festival will introduce sustainable options for a transitioning economy, growing consumer consciousness, and evolving environmental policy. This year, the Green Festival will have specialized programming to address the current state of the economy with extensive discussions and information on the growing sector of green jobs.

A joint project of Global Exchange and Green America (formerly Co-op America), two leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to environmental and social justice for more than twenty-five years, Green Festival is a forum to explore and build sustainable solutions for communities and the environment. The Seattle Host Committee of over 140 community leaders, elected officials, local businesses, and activists include Richard Conlin of the Seattle City Council, Stella Chao of the Department of Neighborhoods, and Janice Mathisen of Seattle Parks and Recreation, have all contributed to design the event with a local focus. With special appearances by Mayor Gregory J. Nichols and eco-conscious actor Danny Glover, the Seattle Green Festival will host 125 visionary speakers, 350 local and national green businesses, and dozens of community and nonprofit groups. All exhibitors must meet strict standards set by Green America, guaranteeing the highest level of social and environmental responsibility in all participating organizations. Each business is thoroughly vetted by Green America to ensure they are authentically sustainable. If the first few months of 2009 are any indication, this year has the potential to be a turning point in American history for environmental issues, social justice and economic redevelopment. All of these topics come together at Green Festival with programming that provides realistic options for people all shades of green, from how to improve household energy efficiency to building a greener economy to environmental education initiatives geared toward children.

This year, Green Festival welcomes one of America’s most influential chefs, Alice Waters, to discuss the local organic food revolution she begin in 1971. In “An Edible Education,” Waters will be joined by film director Chris Taylor to share her vision of potentially greening the White House to create a national model and expand the sustainable narrative school systems. Seattle-specific programming ranges from interactive panels on “Undriving Stories: Getting Creative About Getting Around” and “What Does Green Art Look Like” to Alisa Gravitz’s nationally relevant “Green Fixes for the Economic Mess” presentation. “In addition to bringing a diverse and exciting program to Seattle for the 2009 Green Festival, this year’s show will also provide insight into one of the most pressing issues of our time: economic stability,” says Alisa Gravitz, executive director of Green America and cofounder of Green Festival. “Through the many talks and exhibits at the Green Festival, participants will be able to experience first-hand that one of the ways out of this mess is to go green in their careers, investments, and lifestyle. Sustainability does, and always has, made perfect economic sense.”

In between the exciting presentations, festival participants can explore the show floor and experience a sustainable marketplace with local and national exhibitors providing the best in fair trade and eco-friendly wares. The Green Home Series offers eleven diverse 45-minute workshops to drive the sustainable movement home, with how-to’s ranging from “Bringing Home Baby” to “Composting for Apartment Dwellers.” The Fair Trade Café will provide participants with an extra jolt of energy from natural tea and coffee. The Organic Food, Beer and Wine Pavilion will satiate even the staunchest environmentalist with local eateries, breweries, and vineyards.

Not just an event for grown-up green enthusiasts, the Seattle Green Festival provides engaging activities for the next generation of budding activists in the Organic Valley Green Kids’ Zone. Kids can explore the insect world through song, story and dance in “Don’t Squish That Bug!” with Creepin Critters or learn about climate change in a “Shrinking Big Foot Performance.” Hosted by the Fair Trade Sports and Wilderness Awareness School, the Kids’ Movement Zone will feature eco-soccer games, yoga stretch breaks, and wilderness activities.

Since the first event in 2002, Green Festival has created a model of environmental and social leadership, consistently providing authentic information for consumers on every aspect of green living. A stringent screening process ensures all exhibitors and sponsors meet the best practices and highest standards for environmental integrity and social responsibility. While many events and tradeshows a
re notoriously wasteful, Green Festival demonstrates an unmatched commitment to reducing environmental impact by walking its green talk and reusing, recycling, or composting 97 percent or more of show waste. Green Festival was referenced as a model for “how it should be done” by USA Today for the festival’s commitment to producing a reduced carbon footprint experience. To further lower the impact of the event on the environment, those who arrive by bicycle are offered reduced admission along with valet bike parking. Green Festival also provides carbon offsets for the entire event and its participating staff and organizers.

“For eight years Green Festival has been bringing the most up-to-date information on the growing green movement to communities around the country,” explains Kevin Danaher, executive director of Global Exchange and cofounder of Green Festival. “As this movement continues to grow and evolve, Green Festival remains in the forefront as the most relevant source of information on a eco-friendly, fair-trade lifestyle. “

Green Festivals take place in Seattle, Denver, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, DC and saw over 125,000 guests in combined attendance in 2008.

Seattle 2009 Green Festival Speaker Highlights:
Nationally renowned speakers such as Alice Waters, one of America’s most influential chefs, Waters created a revolution in 1971 when she introduced local, organic fare at her California restaurant, Chez Panisse; Jerome Ringo, president of the Apollo Alliance and National Wildlife Federation’s Chair of the Board; Bryan Welch, publisher and editorial director of Mother Earth News, Natural Home, Utne Reader, and GRIT; Paul Stamets, who runs Fungi Perfecti, a family-owned, environmentally friendly company specializing in the use of gourmet and medicinal mushrooms; Amy Goodman, award-winning journalist, host of Democracy Now!, and coauthor of The Exception to the Rulers and Static; and many more

Seattle 2009 Green Festival Program Highlights:
Organic Valley Green Kids’ Zone
Community Action Center
Green Home Series
Fair Trade Pavilion
Music Stage Featuring Local Acts
Socially Responsible Investing
Organic Food, Beer & Wine
Eco Fashion
Eco Tourism
Green Careers

Event Details: Washington State Convention and Trade Center, 800 Convention Place, Seattle, WA.
Saturday, March 28: 10:00AM – 7:00PM
Sunday, March 29: 11:00AM – 6:00PM $15 for two days/$10 for union members, seniors, students, and all who arrive by bicycle
FREE: Children 18 and under, Green America or Global Exchange members

FRIENDS OF THE GREEN FESTIVAL – With a donation of $75 you’ll receive:
Full Green Festival admission
A coupon for two free drinks at the Organic Beer & Wine Garden
20% off at the Green Festival Store and the BetterWorldBooks Book Store
Exclusive tour of the Greening Operation at Green Festival – witness how we achieve 95% resource recovery
Visit with Alisa Gravitz of Green America and Kevin Danaher of Global Exchange and receive autographed book – The Green Festival Reader and Building the Green Economy.
Regular Executive Producer Updates about the Green Festivals from Global Exchange and Green America

Green Festival Partners: Better World Books, Clif Bar, Greener Printer, Honest Tea, Pangea Organics, Seattle Climate Action Now, Simple Shoes, T Mobile, KOMO 4/ KUNS

For more information on Seattle or any other Green Festival event visit: http://www.greenfestivals.org/

About Green America (formerly Co-op America): Green America (http://www.greenamerica.org/) 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 (http://www.globalexchange.org/) 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.

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Contact:
OrganicWorks Marketing
212.253.0474
Katie Hunsberger
katie@organicworksmarketing.com
Courtney Greenwald
courtney@organicworksmarketing.com