CLERMONT, FL, January 9, 2009: Imagine a complete turnkey, eco-friendly, cost-efficient fuel storage system, that would actually pay for itself in savings when purchasing tanker loads of fuel. Imagine a fuel system that will store everything from high-octane jet fuels to biofuels, safely staying within all government rules and regulations. Stop imagining—it’s here!
The envirosafe™ ABOVE-GROUND FUEL SYSTEM is the future of fuel storage and dispensing. The envirosafe™ ABOVE-GROUND FUEL SYSTEMS are constructed specifically to be affordable while meeting customers specifications and EPA guidelines. The envirosafe™ ABOVE-GROUND FUEL SYSTEMS typically range from 500 gallons through 30,000 gallons with capacity to build up to 50,000 gallon systems. The envirosafe™ can be constructed horizontally or vertically in two different configurations.
First is the envirosafe™ Fireguard UL-2085, which offers the safety of steel and the convenience of lightweight thermal insulation which is fire-, impact-, and ballistic-tested. Compared to a concrete-encased model fuel tank, the envirosafe™ Fireguard UL-2085 is up to 70% lighter. The envirosafe™ Fireguard UL-2085 is very light, inexpensive to transport and install, and easy to move if necessary.
Second, the Flameshield, a double-walled system which has been tested for 2-hour fire resistance, built-in secondary containment with interstitial monitoring. This system gives the secondary containment that the EPA recommends.
All of envirosafe™ fuel systems are manufactured by Memco Inc. and backed by a 30-year, written warranty from the Steel Tank Institute.
For further information please visit www.envirosafetanks.com.
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ENVIROSAFE: THE GREEN CHOICE FOR FUEL STORAGE
HOW GREEN IS YOUR COMPANY? NEW GREEN PERFORMANCE INDEX UNVIELED BY LBG ASSOCIATES
51 corporate participants in landmark environmental survey include AT&T, Dow, FedEx, Ford, IBM, Intel, LL Bean, Patagonia, Starbucks, Steelcase, Timberland, Toyota, Yahoo, among others
STAMFORD, CT January 7, 2009: Do you know how green your company really is? Philanthropic consultancy LBG Associates has created a proprietary rating system to help you find out. The Green Effect: How Community Involvement Is Embracing Environmentalism, a new research study, reveals not only the top environmental trends and practices among 51 of today’s leading corporations, but also includes a self-diagnostic tool that helps determine if a company is a Peridot (becoming green); a Jade (green in many business and community involvement practices); or an Emerald (extremely green). The report is now available for purchase at www.lbg-associates.com. LBG Associates is also holding a one-day conference on February 12, 2009, in New York City to discuss the research findings.
“We believe a company can be truly green only if its environmental practices extend to community outreach,” says Dr. Linda Gornitsky, President and founder of LBG Associates. “Our new performance index encompasses both environmental business practices and green community involvement factors.” The Green Effect research report uncovers today’s major green business trends, showing, for example, that:
84% of the respondents believe being green is part of their corporate culture;
86% measure/reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
74% have environmental requirements for suppliers;
73% have the environment as a focus area for charitable giving;
78% say senior managers sit on green NGO boards.
The Green Effect report also includes more than 25 examples of how research participants are “walking the talk” and executing their environmental commitment—in both operations and in community involvement activities. From Con Edison’s “green roof,” to Applied Materials’ sustainability card game, to PG&E’s “Solar Schools” initiative, to AT&T’s” Cell Phones for Soldiers” program, to TD Bank’s Friends of the Environment Foundation, The Green Effect study shows how companies are embracing – and embodying – environmental community outreach.
The “How Green Is Your Company?” conference on Feb. 12, 2009, in New York City will highlight the major findings of The Green Effect research study and feature speakers from IBM, The Timberland Company, Con Edison, AT&T, Alcoa, and the Environmental Defense Fund. To register, please visit www.lbg-associates.com or call 203-750-0500. You can order copies (print or PDF) of The Green Effect: How Community Involvement Is Embracing Environmentalism online at www.lbg-associates.com.
LBG Associates is a woman-owned consulting firm focused on designing implementing, and managing corporate citizenship and community outreach programs and initiatives. Founded in 1993 by Dr. Linda Gornitsky, LBG Associates drives social change through expert advice; implementation of strategies, programs, policies, and procedures; and training that equips practitioners with the knowledge and skills to grow and advance in the field of corporate community involvement. Find more information at: www.lbg-associates.com
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Alastair Campbell at Ecobuild: 'We don't do green'
Alastair Campbell, New Labour's Director of Communications and Strategy until 2003, will share his views on why 'we don't do green' in the Arena at Ecobuild on 03 March 2009. In a discussion chaired by Roger Harrabin, BBC Environment Analyst, Campbell will tackle the political, behavioural and marketing obstacles to our adopting a greener way of life, and explore the strategies that might just make us 'do green' after all.
Campbell joins a raft of high-profile speakers in the Arena at Ecobuild 2009, including Michael Portillo on behavioural change as the single most important factor in reducing global carbon emissions, and Germaine Greer stirring up debate by asking 'Do eco buildings have to be ugly?'
They will join John Beddington, Bjorn Lomborg, Dan Cruickshank, Tony Juniper, Sunand Prasad and more, participating in debates, interviews and keynotes covering design, politics, science, philosophy, art and the environment. Sessions will be hosted by the best in their field, including James Naughtie, Matthew Parris, Mark Lawson and Roger Harrabin.
The Arena is part of an extensive programme of events at Ecobuild which includes more than 100 free conference and seminar sessions (including the inaugural UKGBC conference), a dozen interactive attractions and an exhibition showcase featuring 800 suppliers of sustainable construction products and services. The event will attract in excess of 30,000 visitors to Earl's Court between 03 - 05 March 2009.
For more information and to register for your free invitation go to www.ecobuild.co.uk
Ecobuild runs from 3 - 5 March 2009 at London's Earls Court
Ecobuild is the world's biggest event dedicated to sustainable design, construction and the built environment.
Having started life in September 2004 as a small 'green building' conference at The Truman Brewery in London's Brick Lane, Ecobuild grew steadily year on year and moved - along with its sister event, Futurebuild - to London's Earls Court in 2006, where it has more than doubled in size and attendance every year since.
Ecobuild is organised by International Business Events (IBE) Limited, a small independently owned business based in London. IBE also organises the Futurebuild event which focuses on innovation in construction and takes place alongside Ecobuild every year.
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Ugandan Rebels Kill Rangers in Garamba National Park
NAIROBI, Kenya, January 7, 2009 (ENS) - The headquarters of Garamba National Park in the village of Nagero, northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, was attacked Friday by the Ugandan rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army. Despite resistance by park rangers together with elements from the Congolese Armed Forces, numerous casualties and material damages occurred.
A first report says eight people were killed, including two park rangers and two wives of wardens, and 13 people were injured, most by bullets. The attack uprooted 3,500 local residents, according to United Nations sources.
Ten rebels were also killed in the battle that lasted four hours, Garamba Park authorities report via WildlifeDirect, a nonprofit conservation organization based in Kenya.
It will take several days before these figures are confirmed, once the management team has completed the final assessment.
Several essential headquarters buildings were destroyed, along with many items of transport and communications equipment, and stocks of fuel and food.
"The headquarters in Nagero are in a state of havoc," said Garamba Chief Warden Bernard Iyomi, who directed the resistance during the attack and who narrowly escaped death. "The heroic behavior of our rangers and wardens has prevented an even heavier death toll."
This attack was part of the three week old multinational assault on LRA strongholds in northeastern Congo, which by some accounts has gone wrong. The multinational military offensive against the LRA, which is sanctioned by the United Nations, has not been executed well, according to local media and sources on the ground.
Military and humanitarian assistance are being deployed to secure the area and to help the people displaced by the attack.
"We strongly condemn this attack launched by the LRA, and request the military authorities of the region and the international community to continue their involvement in solving this problem caused by the rebel group for so many years," said Cosma Wilungula, the head of the DRC government agency Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation. The ICCN is in charge of management and conservation of the country's protected areas.
"Our immediate concern is for the safety and wellbeing of our people, particularly those that are injured. Thereafter we will immediately begin rebuilding the administrative base and staff morale, both of which are essential for the continued management of this important park," said Peter Fearnhead, the executive director of African Parks Network, which manages Garamba National Park.
A private foundation based in Johannesburg, South Africa, African Parks officially assumed the management mandate for Garamba National Park on November 12, 2005, in partnership with ICCN.
Garamba National Park is located in Orientale Province, along the DRC's border with Sudan. The park was established in 1938 by Belgian royal decree as one of the first national parks in Africa and it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. In 1996, Garamba was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Garamba National Park is surrounded by three game hunting reserves - Azande to the west, Gangala na Bodio to the south, and Mondo Missa to the east. The total area of the Garamba complex is 1,2427 square kilometers, which includes 4,900 sq. km. covered by the park itself.
The park's expanses of savannahs, grasslands and woodlands, interspersed with gallery forests along the river banks and the swampy depressions, are inhabited by elephants, giraffes, and hippopotamus. The park also has a small population of critically endangered white rhinos, of which only about 30 animals remain.
Forces led by Uganda and including Congolese and South Sudanese soldiers began bombing LRA bases in the park on December 14, 2008 after the rebel leader Joseph Kony again failed to sign a deal to end his rebellion against Uganda's government.
Although Ugandan and Congolese officials have said the offensive is going well, coalition forces have so far failed to locate Kony, who along with two deputies is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
In response to the coalition attacks, Kony's rebellion is now waging a campaign against local villagers. One person has described the outcome of the coalition's military offensive against the LRA as the equivalent of "stirring up a hornets nest."
To date, between 400 and 500 civilians have been killed in attacks in towns of Doruma and Faradje, which had been left undefended by coalition forces.
On Tuesday, the United Nations refugee agency reached the towns of Tadu and Faradje in Orientale Province.
Faradje, which lies 100 kilometers west of the DRC's border with Sudan and Uganda, was attacked on December 25-26, leaving over 70 people dead and displacing nearly 40,000 others. Those who fled the town and local organizations told the UN High Commission for Refugees that more than 80 women were raped during the two-day period.
UNHCR said that people in the district are shocked and traumatized by the attacks. "Our mission found Faradje pillaged and destroyed by fire," agency spokesperson Ron Redmond told reporters in Geneva.
According to UN estimates, more than 50,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since mid-December, on top of 50,000 others in the region who were displaced by an earlier escalation of clashes between September and November, 2008.
Redmond said the agency has received a preliminary report of another attack Monday on the village of Napapo which claimed up to eight lives. "An unknown number of people were reportedly kidnapped," he said, adding that there are reports that this incident has uprooted even more people.
The UNHCR team has met with local nongovernmental organizations and the newly displaced are currently being registered in Tadu, Faradje and neighboring villages.
Key needs include food, shelter and medicine, Redmond said. "However, the area remains highly volatile and insecurity is a key obstacle for access by us and other agencies."
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Pupil at St Gerard's Roman Catholic School wins Sustrans Bike It competition
Six schools across Birmingham were challenged to run their own 'Bike to School Day' by their Sustrans Bike It Officer, Rachel Hallett. A total of 320 pupils took part, with an average of 53 pupils cycling to school. Every child who cycled their way to school earned themselves a raffle ticket which was entered into a prize draw to win a bike.
The lucky winner, Alix Sandford from St Gerard's Roman Catholic School, was given the opportunity to choose her own bike, courtesy of the Sustrans Bike It project.
The Bike It project works directly with pupils, parents and staff to help them overcome whatever it is that is preventing them from cycling to school - by organising cycle training, helping to install new bike sheds, contributing to classroom work and providing information about safe routes to schools. Participating schools across England have seen levels of cycling treble within a year- bucking the trend in declining numbers of children cycling to school.
Bike It Officer, Rachel Hallett said: "I would like to congratulate all the schools that took part in the very successful 'Bike to School Days'. It was tremendous to see so many pupils, parents, and staff all getting involved and cycling to school. Over the next year we will be working together to remove or reduce barriers that are currently preventing children from pedalling to classes. Cycling to school has so many benefits for pupils such as improved health, confidence and concentration as well as the obvious benefits for the environment in which they will grow up in."
Bike It officer, Rachel Hallett has received £271,000 of funding from the Big Lottery's Health and Well-being fund and currently works with 12 schools across Birmingham.
Bike It is a nationwide scheme, managed by sustainable transport charity Sustrans. Nationally the project is funded by Cycling England, and the cycle industry through the Bike Hub, locally Bike It is supported by the Big Lottery Fund and Birmingham City Council.
Staff, parents and teachers who are interested in promoting cycling and walking in their school are encouraged to call the Sustrans School Travel Team on 0117 915 0100 for free information and advice.
Further information about Sustrans and Bike It, including other news releases, is available via the website: www.sustrans.org.uk
Source: Sustrans
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Waste not! Want not!
Found things that might come in handy
by Michael Smith
While I am definitely one of those that picks up all those things that may come in handy, and in my day job quite a few things come my way, there is certainly one problem with that philosophy. The problem is that one tends to run – sooner or later, and often it is sooner rather than later – out of storage space for it all and things can get rather cluttered.
The things that one can find, however, are, as I have said before, and can be, rather amazing; from the lost single glove or even a complete pair, over other items of clothing and here especially woolen hats, top abandoned bicycles. And then there are all the things in between.
While the “waste no – want not” attitude and philosophy is rather a green one the results of which can rather take up a lot of space and many of us want to live a life that is less cluttered, as this is also seen by many as one that is more friendly to the environment. I am not, necessarily, convinced as to that, however.
Personally I cannot see that we have an impact on the environment with regards to the stuff we have rescued and stored at home for use the “just in case” event. Those items that are – maybe – cluttering up my place or yours and which have been rescued from ending up in the trash and finally in landfill do less harm with me or you than they do in the landfill. And, given time, there may come the day that we can, indeed, make use of them.
Those of us that are recycling craft orientated do, I am sure, have a way or even ways, of turning many of such items into useful things for this or that purpose and even for sale.
I have a collection, as it could be called, of clothes that were found that are mostly children's sizes and I am looking at a way of giving those to those in need. The aim is to link up with trusted folks that will pass those to children that can make use of those and who will appreciate them.
This is one way of dealing with such found items of clothes that one cannot use oneself or that cannot be used by those that we know, maybe.
Other items, obviously, find their own uses and others lend themselves to be recycled into this or that usable thing. All that is needed, as I have said in previous articles on recycling, is the imagination to envision what this or that could be used for.
Only drawback with this all is that, until such a time that either you find what to use it for and turn it into or just simply find a use and user for it, you end up having to store it somewhere. It also requires the time to actually make this or that out of the items that you have thus acquired.
“Waste not – want not” also applies to other things, that is for sure and I can vouch for the clutter that creates as well. There are the computers that I hate to let go into the waste – anyway it all has to go to special recycling nowadays and rightly so – as they might just be upgraded for little money and then be turned into Linux workhorses. As long as the RAM can be upgraded to something useful, that is to say 256MB or higher than processor and processor speed will hardly matter.
While such computers are no longer of any use with Microsoft Windows they can be fast and powerful using the various Linux distros or other Open Source operating systems, such as BSD, for instance. It does not have to be Windows.
It is the likes of Microsoft – and as far as computers are concerned it is Microsoft – who build in obsolescence into computers and other things. Most computers that can no longer run the latest version(s) of Microsoft Windows are very happy indeed running this or that Linux or other Open Source operating system. Does it really always have to be the latest hardware? No, it does not.
But, I digressed a little again...
It is like that, however, with so many things and we can see that day in day out at the refuse centers, for instance. The things that people throw because of faults, very minor faults, is mind boggling. Nigh on brand-new bicycles are thrown away into the trash simply because they have nothing more wrong with them – and now hold on tight – a simply single puncture in the (back) tire. Stereo systems thrown out because the plug on the power cord has been torn off by some freak accident – as someone explained, having been trapped in a door. Erm, so? There are replacement plugs one can buy. We do not even have to talk about cycles with a flat tire. No one can be that stupid as to be incapable of fixing one of them. Well, apparently they are that stupid and also, more often than not, simply too lazy.
Well, as far as I am concerned, if they want to throw such things, although it hurts me to see that being done, I gladly take them and, if necessary, fix them up again, for own use and/or to give away or even sell.
The only problem is, and I said so before, where to store them all before they are fixed and then either put to use or passed on to another user.
In a perfect world people would just not even trash those things and would themselves continue to use them until replacement needed. The “must have new because there is a new one” is an attitude that is killing our planet and us, literally.
I rest my case...
© M Smith (Veshengro), January 2009
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Sustrans calls on local authorities to spend £17 million on safe routes to school
Sustainable transport charity, Sustrans, is calling on local authorities to apply for funding to develop safer and healthier routes to schools in their area. The £17 million for the 'Links to Schools' programme is part of £140 million announced earlier this year by the Department for Transport to promote cycling.
The 'Links to Schools' programme will extend the National Cycle Network, bringing it closer to schools and, by joining up residential areas to schools, make it easier for young people to walk or cycle. It is expected that more than 700 schools will directly benefit via funding to 300 schemes.
Sustrans' Chief Executive Malcolm Shepherd said: "Sustrans believes that every child in the country has the right to a safe walking and cycling route to school. This record breaking funding will mean that we can continue to work with local authorities to ensure this vision moves a step closer to becoming a reality.
"It is vital that we do whatever we can to support children and young people to cycle and walk to school. Cycling and walking has so many benefits for pupils such as improved health, confidence and concentration as well as the obvious benefits for the environment in which they will grow up in. We know that concern for children's safety is a major barrier to cycling and walking. The Links to School programme aims to address these concerns by putting in place safe walking and cycling paths to and from schools."
Transport Minister Paul Clark said: "We have dedicated £17 million through the 'Link to Schools' programme to encourage as many children as possible to walk or cycle and to feel safe doing so. Not only does this have a positive effect on health and fitness, it also helps cut congestion and improve air quality.
"Earlier this month I visited a successful walking bus in Whitstable, and saw for myself how these schemes can get children active and improve their understanding of road safety. If we work with Local Authorities to develop local schemes I am confident that we will continue to make great progress."
Staff, parents and teachers who are interested in promoting cycling and walking in their school are encouraged to call the Sustrans School Travel Team on 0117 915 0100 for free information and advice.
Further information about Sustrans including other news releases, is available via the website: www.sustrans.org.uk
Source: Sustrans
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Family bike ride provides ideal start to Straw Bear Festival
New and novice cyclists are being encouraged to pedal their way from Peterborough to this weekend’s Straw Bear Festival in Whittlesey.
Volunteer Rangers for sustainable transport charity Sustrans will lead a family bike ride along National Cycle Network Route 63 - a newly surfaced five-mile path which runs alongside the River Nene and crosses over the Shanks Millennium Bridge.
The ride aims to repeat last year’s success when more than 20 riders enjoyed a leisurely journey to the annual festival.
Sustrans Liaison Ranger Sue Flower said: “Cycling along the River Nene is a lovely way to get to the Straw Bear Festival. It’s easy to cycle because it’s flat, entirely traffic-free and the five-mile journey is much more direct than going by road. You can also chain your bike outside a pub on arrival which saves the hassle of trying to find a parking space.
“This ride will be a great chance for families with young children to get out on their bikes and hopefully it will also show people how great a commuter route we have between Peterborough and Whittlesey.”
The ride starts from The Key Theatre on Embankment Road, Peterborough, on Saturday at 11.30am and is scheduled to take one hour. It is weather dependant and cyclists are expected to make their own way back. Children need to be accompanied by an adult. For more information call Sustrans Regional Director Nigel Brigham on 07952 000054.
If you would like to find out more about becoming a Sustrans volunteer Ranger, visit www.sustrans.org.uk and click on ‘Support Sustrans’.
Further information about Sustrans, including other news releases and detailed online route mapping, is available via the website: www.sustrans.org.uk
Source: Sustrans
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WWF’S EARTH HOUR SPARKS WORLDWIDE UNITY
- 74 cities in 62 countries commit to Earth Hour 2009
- Earth Hour aims to reach one billion people in 1,000 cities around the world
- Economic downturn an opportunity to steer economy into safer sustainable future
74 cities in 62 countries are announcing their commitment to switch off for WWF’s Earth Hour in 2009. The campaign, which hopes to reach out to more than one billion people in 1,000 cities around the world, asks individuals, businesses and governments to switch off lights for just one hour on Saturday March 28 at 8:30pm to create a platform of support for action on climate change.
Earth Hour aims to demonstrate unprecedented solidarity and provide a visual mandate for action on climate change.
The lights out initiative, which began in Sydney in 2007 as a public awareness raising campaign, has grown significantly over the past two years and now has 74 cities ready to flick the switch in 2009. Cities already committed include Moscow, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, London, Hong Kong, Sydney, Rome, Manila, Oslo, Cape Town, Warsaw, Lisbon, Singapore, Istanbul, Mexico City, Toronto, Dubai and Copenhagen.
At 8.30 pm on Saturday March 28, the world will witness some of the most recognisable landmarks on the planet dim the lights in support of decisive action on climate change. Icons switching off include the world’s tallest building in Dubai – the Burj Dubai, the tallest free-standing structure in the Americas - the CN Tower in Toronto, Moscow’s Federation Tower and in Rome – Quirinale - the official residence of the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano.
Auckland’s Sky Tower – the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere will go dark, joined by Australia’s iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House and across in Cape Town, South Africa, the iconic Table Mountain will mark Earth Hour by turning off its flood lights.
Director General of WWF International Jim Leape said, “When leaders gather in Copenhagen in December 2009 to negotiate a new deal on climate they must feel that the eyes of the world are upon them.”
“Earth Hour provides an opportunity for the public to send a powerful signal that they are watching and expect action,” said Mr Leape.
Executive Director of Earth Hour Global, Mr Andy Ridley said, “Recent events have shown that the world can unite in a time of crisis. The global economic crunch is an example where, when it matters, decisive multi-lateral action by powerful nations has been shown to be achievable.”
Mr David Miller, Mayor of Toronto and chair of the C40 Large Cities Climate Leadership Group said, “The C40 Climate Leadership Group is about cities working together to drive down greenhouse gas emissions and that is why as Chair of the C40 I support Earth Hour. It's crucial that cities and the public come together to take action against climate change and Earth Hour provides a great platform to do that.”
Mr Ridley also said 2009 was the planet’s ‘destiny year’, with critical decisions needed to be made at the Copenhagen meeting on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“2009 is the year we decide the future of the earth. It is the year when the world meets to agree on a plan to reduce carbon emissions across the globe. This is the time to invest in new ways of doing business in a new low carbon economy. We must all step over the line together if we are to succeed.”
The extensive WWF conservation network also has more than 30 teams working in countries such as Brazil, Greece, India, Peru, Spain, Switzerland and France, ready to support a local Earth Hour roll out.
Earth Hour is a global WWF climate change initiative. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 8:30 PM to show their support for action on climate change. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. In 2008, more than 50 million people around the globe participated. In 2009, Earth Hour aims to reach out to 1 billion people in 1,000 cities.
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with almost five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Source: WWF
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Ithaca Man Singled Out for Environmental Leadership
Honoree Receives Audubon/Toyota TogetherGreen Fellowship
New York, NY —An Ithaca man is the recipient of a new national fellowship designed to advance the work of individuals with outstanding potential to help shape a brighter environmental future.
Michael Burger is one of only 40 people selected from competitors nationwide for the TogetherGreen Conservation Leadership Program, part of a new conservation initiative of the National Audubon Society with support from Toyota. Fellows receive a small stipend, specialized training in conservation planning and execution, the chance to work with gifted conservation professionals, as well as assistance with outreach and evaluation. Each will also get funding for a community-focused project that can engage local residents in conserving land, water and energy, and contributing to greater environmental health.
Burger will focus his efforts on developing Audubon’s eastern states conservation alliance, a new network of national office, field operations, and field-level staff stretching from Maine to Florida. The group wants to increase collaboration with one another, as well as with local groups, to achieve more effective, more innovative and more measurable conservation results. Burger hopes his project will result in more people involved in conservation efforts, having a bigger positive impact overall on threatened species and habitats.
The Director of conservation and science for Audubon New York has been involved in conservation efforts for more than 10 years. He served as a forest ecologist and as the director of bird conservation for Audubon New York, and has helped individuals, communities and organizations to protect Important Bird Areas in the state—through methods as varied as land acquisitions, private and public land stewardship, and even zoning law changes. Burger’s extensive work with Audubon has proven he has insights into ways to improve the group’s effectiveness, and can lead the conservation alliance in becoming more strategic and collaborative.
“Michael is the kind of person who can make a real difference in the health of our environment and the quality of our future,” said Audubon President John Flicker. “Each of our TogetherGreen Fellows demonstrates exceptional environmental understanding and commitment, combined with tremendous potential to inspire and lead others. Together, they represent the talented and diverse leadership the environmental community will need to tackle the huge challenges and opportunities confronting us now and in the years to come.”
“Audubon has a rich and successful history of conservation in this country,” said Burger. “I’m honored to have been selected for this fellowship and given the opportunity to contribute to our future successes by nurturing even more effective collaboration among my talented and dedicated colleagues.”
Burger has been affiliated with Audubon New York since 2000. Half of the TogetherGreen fellows come from within Audubon’s far-reaching national network; half channel their environmental efforts through other organizations.
Burger received a Masters and a Ph.D. in natural resources and environment from the University of Michigan in 1998. He graduated cum laude from Wittenberg University. He has written or presented dozens of articles, many of which focus on the significance of Important Bird Areas as conservation tools.
Burger received the National Audubon Society ACE Award for Individual Achievement in 2002.
“Toyota believes in the power of grassroots efforts to develop the environmental leaders of tomorrow,” said Patricia Salas Pineda, Group Vice President, Toyota Motor North America. “These 40 TogetherGreen Fellows will receive invaluable training for the future while immediately making a difference today with on-the-ground community projects.”
A complete list of TogetherGreen fellows can be found online at www.TogetherGreen.org/fellows.
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Audubon and Toyota launched the five-year TogetherGreen initiative in spring, 2008 to fund conservation projects, train environmental leaders, and offer volunteer and individual action opportunities that significantly benefit the environment. As of October, volunteer days have begun in 40, tallying in excess of 11,000 volunteer hours. Funding totaling $1.4 million was recently awarded to innovative conservation projects nationwide, while www.TogetherGreen.org helps users take individual conservation action and share and celebrate success stories. The TogetherGreen initiative and grants programs are funded by a $20 million Toyota gift to Audubon, the largest in the conservation group’s long history.
Now in its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. Our national network of community-based nature centers, chapters, scientific, education, and advocacy programs engages millions of people from all walks of life in conservation action to protect and restore the natural world. Visit Audubon online at www.audubon.org.
Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants, with another under construction in Mississippi. Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Through its corporate initiatives, manufacturing operations and philanthropy, Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. In 2007, Toyota contributed more than $56 million to philanthropic programs in the U.S. For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving communities nationwide, visit http://www.toyota.com/community.
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