Oct. 7, 2010
The Federal Trade Commission released proposed revisions to the Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, or Green Guide, to prevent companies from "greenwashing" products with misleading claims of environmental friendliness.The proposal calls for the elimination of vague claims that cannot be substantiated, like "green" and "eco-friendly;" for details and facts about degradable, compostable and recyclable materials; perimeters for labeling a product as made with renewable energy or materials, "non-toxic" or "free off" harmful substances.
The well funded, well organized and coordinated efforts of climate denialists on the internet pose a significant obstacle to the climate scientists and decision makers dedicated to educating the public about the realities of global warming.
One of the most effective social media initiatives against climate denialism has been Peter Sinclair’s “Climate Denial Crock of the Week“, the YouTube series that confronts and calls out climate deniers, deftly dissecting fossil funded disinformation and propaganda. Sinclair will illustrate the science with video clips, discuss what works, and what doesn't in climate communication, and relate stories from the media wars that have shaped coverage of the most important issue of the millennium.
The Erb Speaker Series is open to the public. Co-sponsored by: Erb Institute, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, Michigan Environmental Council, and Ecology Center
Sinclair website: http://climatecrocks.com/
Ever wonder how people understand and make sense of climate change? Ever wanted to convince people that the issue is important? Co-sponsored by: Erb Institute and Screen Arts & Cultures. This contest is open to U-M students and has a prize pool of $7,500.
Now is your chance!
The Erb Institute, in collaboration with the department of Screen Arts & Cultures, is hosting a competition to create the best student-produced video aimed at engaging the public in climate change. With a prize pool of $7,500, and four prizes to be won, this is your opportunity to show off your skills and make a difference.
We’re looking for public service announcement (PSA) videos, 30 to 90 seconds in length, that will capture the attention of diverse audiences and inspire positive action on climate change. We’re especially looking for PSAs that will increase social engagement, raise awareness about climate change solutions, encourage individual action, and/or provide people with an inspiring vision of what a sustainable future could look like. Winning PSAs may also be submitted for consideration of a Student Production Award by the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (the organization that awards Emmys).
The contest is open to students from:
- The Erb Institute
- School of Natural Resources & Environment
- Ross School of Business
- Screen Arts and Cultures or students who have taken production courses in SAC
- Program in the Environment
- Other students who have taken environment-related courses
Actors and participants in the video may include individuals from outside the UM community and other departments.
Free pizza (but register first!!!)
RSVP | DETAILS:
The Erb Institute, in collaboration with the department of Screen Arts & Cultures, is hosting a competition to create the best student-produced video aimed at engaging the public in climate change.
The U-M Community is invited to a presentation by Monica Ellis, CEO of the Global Water Challenge. The special event features a lecture, panel discussion, and Q&A session.Around the world today, nearly 800 million people lack access to safe drinking water and 2.5 billion people lack basic sanitation. Clean water and sanitation form the cornerstone for healthy, sustainable communities. They are also drivers for progress for a range of critical developmental needs in emerging markets, including education, economic growth, nutrition, environmental conservation, and gender equality. The private sector has an important role to play as a provider of sustainable solutions in the clean water and sanitation field. This talk focuses upon the linkages between clean water, sanitation and growth in emerging markets and will highlight some innovative social enterprises that are successfully addressing the global water and sanitation challenge in the developing world.
About Monica Ellis:
Monica Ellis is the Chief Executive Officer of the Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF), a leading not-for-profit foundation that advances sustainability through public-private partnerships. Founded in 1988, GETF partners range from Fortune 100 companies and water technology start-ups to the Executive Branch agencies, private foundations, and multi-lateral donor organizations.
A primary focus of GETF’s work is helping to build sustainable communities through clean water and sanitation. To that end, GETF manages a $100MM plus portfolio of clean water and sanitation programs in over 32 developing countries. GETF manages the Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN), an effort funded by The Coca-Cola Company and its partners to bring safe water to at least 2MM people in Africa by 2015. The Foundation also manages the Water and Development Alliance, a global water stewardship-focused partnership between USAID and The Coca-Cola Company. Ms. Ellis has worked with The Coca-Cola Company on its water risk and stewardship platforms since 2004.
Ms. Ellis also serves as CEO of Global Water Challenge (GWC), an action-oriented coalition of major corporations, NGOs and other organizations committed to achieving universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation (WASH). GWC’s mission is to accelerate the delivery of safe water and sanitation throughout the world. GWC has sponsored path-breaking WASH projects in Africa, Central and Latin America and India.
In 2012, GETF launched the US Water Partnership under the leadership of then Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The Partnership is a public-private coalition that is mobilizing the best of U.S. expertise, resources and ingenuity to address global water challenges, with a special focus on developing countries where needs are greatest.
Active in the sustainability arena for over 20 years, Ms. Ellis has worked throughout the world on global natural resource issues, with particular attention to the clean water and energy sectors. Her passion is helping communities in the developing world gain clean water, sanitation and ultimately, economic opportunity. She is the creator of numerous organizations and partnerships dedicated to clean water and sanitation.
Ms. Ellis is a founding member of GETF, helping build the Foundation’s programs since the early 1990s. She is also the founder of a small business which offers sustainability, communications and government relations expertise. Prior to starting her own company, she helped establish a successful Internet software development company which was sold in 1997.
In her early career, she worked as a journalist and then as a speechwriter and strategic planner for the Chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. While at the Corps, she was responsible for developing the World Engineering Partnership for Sustainable Development, an international coalition representing 12 million engineers dedicated to sustainable economic development. For this effort, she developed and published a book on the topic entitled, “The Role of Engineering in Sustainable Development.”
Ms. Ellis and her husband have three children and live in Virginia. She serves on a variety of boards, including that of GETF, Water For People, the John Hopkins University Global Water Advisory Board and the IRC Triple-S International Advisory Group. Ms. Ellis is a graduate of the University of Missouri – Columbia.