Environment - Influence

Green Enterpise Unconference: Timely Gathering, Dec 3rd, Mountain View CA

Monday, November 24. 2008

The “Green Enterprise Unconference” we’re hosting on December 3rd is looking extremely timely and interesting.

It’s timely because integrating environmental factors into decision-making is likely to become a key issue in 2009 for businesses and governments. Timely – according to The Wall Street Journal’s “CEO Council”, recommending today that the new Administration pursue a variety of alterative energy technologies, and “mandate” improvements in energy efficiency – strong calls by corporate CEOs.

Timely also, in the words of Thomas Friedman. "We have exactly enough time -- starting now…", he writes, to make dramatic changes to avoid the projected doubling of CO2 levels by mid-century. I heard Friedman speak last week at the Atlantic Magazine’s “Green Intelligence Forum” about his new book, Hot, Flat, and Crowded. He makes pointedly clear that we must dramatically transform global energy technology, and that there is a need for the US to lead this (who else will?), and in turn restore its economy and standing in the world. (Agenda and speaker bios are available in PDF format. )

The folks attending the Green Enterprise Unconference are going to be a fascinating group – top executives and environmental/sustainability managers and consultants from a range of organizations:
Google
CarbonFlow
Cisco
Sun
Yahoo!
Random House,
GreenIT
Accolo
Resources for Environmental Protection
Positive Impact Partner, Inc
Sustainable Silicon Valley
Goodwill Industries
Acterra
Clean Tech Group, and many more.

See a fuller listing of attendee titles and organizations.

I’m also really looking forward to it because the "Unconference", an event format in which we the attendees shape the agenda – no death by PowerPoint, will be facilitated by Kaliya Hamlin, (just named as one of Fast Companies most influential women in web 2.0).

Hope you can join us: The “Green Enterprise Unconference”

Posted by Chris Wolz in Collaboration, Environment, Strategy, Technology at 21:58 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Conservation International - Live Interview with Primate Expert Mike Hoffman Aug 5 1 PM EST

Tuesday, August 5. 2008

Conservation International is hosting another of its "CI Live Discussions" today, Aug 5, at 1 PM EST with primate expert Michael Hoffman to discuss

Primates: Saving the Species: Around the world, primates are coming under increasing pressure. They are threatened by the illegal wildlife trade, the bushmeat economies, habitat loss and disease. Join us as we discuss what is being done to save the species.

You can submit questions and view answers during the live interview, or submit your questions in advance, and also check questions and answers *after* the event, all at http://discuss.conservation.org/

The "CI Live Discussions" use Forum One's very cool LiveInterviewsOnline service.

conservation international

Posted by Chris Wolz in Environment, Technology at 09:17 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Blogging in Wild Africa: Gorillas, Leopards, and Your Coffee

Monday, July 7. 2008

We're excited to see fascinating commentary and photos rolling in on the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF)'s new blog. These real-world, real-time testimonials connect global audiences to very on-the-ground experiences in rural Africa.

AWF blogging

We worked with AWF to plan this effort, so it is particularly useful to learn lessons along the way. After launching this WordPress blog in April, AWF dispatched staffer Paul Thomson, with laptop and Blackberry in hand, to tackle the technology, staffing, and storytelling challenges of reporting live from the field rather than from the home office.

Eight weeks later, Paul has sent us the following insights:

“I had no idea people would be so interested in my stories! It is been really encouraging. ExOfficio clothing company has even taken notice, and we're exploring ways to possibly work together.”

“Technology challenges inhibit the ability to post stories while they're still fresh in mind. For example, right now I'm in a really cool Lion research camp in Samburu District, Kenya. Would love to post but, in fact, I'm going to hike up a rocky hill just to see if I can get Blackberry connection to send this email.”

“We didn't think AWF field staff would like it, but many of them now want to start blogging more!”

“Uploading photos to WordPress is difficult when the remote internet connection is slow and cuts off frequently.”

And, this work also highlights an important challenge many of us face, how to make sure authentic staff blogging (genuine voices from the front lines!) stay in balance with the more formal communications and reporting responsibilities our organizations face. AWF seems to be doing a great job so far.

Good luck Paul and AWF team! We'll be watching.

Posted by David Strelneck in Environment, Strategy at 12:44 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)

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Influence covers innovations in communication, Internet technology and strategy to generate influence on important public policy issues. Chris Wolz manages this blog with the help of his colleagues at Forum One Communications, a web strategy/technology firm in the Washington DC area.