Of course we all know the buzz words associated with global warming: gas emissions, toxic waste, recycling and so on. We also know that we need to respond to the growing crisis of the earth’s depleting natural resources which we rely on so heavily to sustain us in our increasingly complicated lives. But both are big concepts and we sometimes fail to personally connect. There are innumerable articles and blogs (including my own) that address learning how to conserve, improving the environment, and going more green. We offer examples and advice for do it yourselfers and even recommend businesses that specialize in helping us live a more green life, practically doing it for us! So let’s not allow ourselves to become too far removed from the issues, problems and consequences and let’s start by really appreciating the very beautiful world that we are trying to save! Day in and day, out as we travel the fast paced consumer lane of life, we feel immune to natural disasters that hit, twirl and shake the world, always “there” and never “here”.

Change, real change, takes place because we believe so deeply in something that we acknowledge the threat that it will likely go away unless we act. Until the pain of not changing pushes us, we won’t change.

So here’s an idea for the Memorial Day weekend which commemorates the many who have served making the ultimate sacrifice in order to preserve the freedoms of our beautiful country: why don't we dust off our old camping gear, campfire grills, hammocks, and pocket knives and re-connect with our beautiful green earth? If you’ve never camped or haven’t in years, now’s the time to start. No need to travel far, just get out there and enjoy! Experiencing the overwhelming awe of morning dew or a starry night or even witnessing the last sun burst before a multicolored sunset could even spark a new personal commitment to preservation and conservation.

I assure you that once you expose yourself to camping and the great outdoors, all that is going on in this world will matter more to you. Then "going green" won’t be only for "those greenies from the 70's", but will include you, me and everyone around us!

So I offer a heartfelt thank you to each of you who has served (and of course those of you who are currently serving) our country. Let’s do our part in preserving the land that has so courageously been protected for us. Happy Holiday!

To read more of my green blogs, please check out: Simply Green with Emme

I had the pleasure and honor of presenting the Clara Barton Award with fellow New Jerseyite Frankie Negron.
Clara was a teacher, nurse, activist and humanitarian. She created New Jersey’s first free public school in Bordentown, where attendance grew to 600 students under her leadership. With the start of the Civil War, Barton’s tireless work as a wartime nurse earned her the title “Angel of the Battlefield.” After the war, she founded the American Red Cross and devoted much of her later life furthering the rights of women.

New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine, Honorary Chairman

Fellow inductees: (we were pleased to see many family members accept on their behalf!) Thomas Edison Albert Einstein Buzz Aldrin Malcom Forbes Robert Wood Johnson II Frank Sinatra Bruce Springsteen Meryl Streep Yogi Berra Bill Bradley Vince Lombardi Toni Morrison General Norman Schwarzkopf Harriet Tubman

Mayor Cory Booker as always a source of inspiration! La Bamba and the Hubcaps rocked the house, Phoebe Snow brought back so many memories, Jersey Funny guy Joe Piscopo left us laughing, and leave it to THE BOSS to get us on our feet to end the evening with a bang!

Check out my personal slide show of the evening!

First Juice was my wonderful sponsor!!! Training wheels for healthy eating! Specifically designed for toddlers and infants. Naturally low in sugar and better for you juices. Offering parents a healthy juice beverage. All organic, natural and quickly coming to most stores near you! Apple+Carrot, Banana+Carrot, in 8oz sippy tops and 32 oz multi serve/refills check out www.firstjuice.com I will have founder and president David Glasser on a podcast in two weeks so check back! check out First Juice

The Expo is sure to inform, inspire and ignite interest this weekend Friday-Sunday. Practical tips will abound! Click on image for more information!

Hope to see you there! REMEMBER TOMORROW IS EARTH DAY, one little change can make a huge impact! check out our slide show...

So good to see New York's financial powerhouses stepping up and helping out fellow New Yorkers going through tough and rough times.

I learned that the food banks are seeing more and more families and college, high school and advanced degreed individuals coming in for a meal or for food from the pantry. Hard times are on us.

Should you know of where a food pantry is in your neighborhood, pick up an additional bag of groceries the next time you go food shopping and drop them off at the shelter/food bank. You will never know how much it helps. Then make it a regular drop off visit, you will most certainly earn angel wings!

No child in the U.S. should EVER go hungry with all the wealth and prosperity (no matter what financial down turn we are currently in) in our free and democratic country. If everyone sent in 10 dollars to a hunger bank or food program, the residual affects would be ten fold...get involved and make a difference in the lives of your fellow Americans, one hungry mouth at a time.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 15, 2008 – Momentum continues to build for Earth Hour 2008, as World Wildlife Fund announced today that four major US cities will take part in a global effort to turn off the lights on March 29, 2008 to demonstrate concern about climate change.

Mayors from Atlanta, Phoenix and San Francisco said they would join US flagship city Chicago and 16 cities around the world in urging individuals, businesses, and communities to turn off all non-essential lighting from 8 to 9 pm local time in a dramatic call for action on climate change that will cascade across all four time zones of the continental United States.
WWF officials said the goal of Earth Hour was to raise awareness of climate change and demonstrate how by working together, individuals can make a difference in the fight against this global issue. “Earth Hour is an opportunity for individuals, governments, businesses and communities around the world to unite for a common purpose, against a common threat that affects us all," said Carter S. Roberts, president and chief executive officer of World Wildlife Fund – US. “Turning off the lights for just one hour shows we can adjust the way we lead our lives. It is a simple action that can inspire people around the world to make a serious long-term commitment to reducing energy consumption.”

To darken some of the world’s most iconic skylines, WWF is working closely with city officials, local public safety departments, utility companies and private and public organizations to coordinate logistics in each of the 20 participating cities, which include Bangkok, Copenhagen, Manila, Sydney, and Toronto.

In the US:

Earth Hour 2008 was officially launched at a press conference this morning in Chicago, with Mayor Richard M. Daley declaring the event a major part of his environmental program “Conserve Chicago Together.” City leaders are working closely with local power company ComEd, advertising agency Leo Burnett and a group of local partners to darken Chicago’s famous skyline and other key landmarks throughout the Windy City.

· In Atlanta, Mayor Shirley Franklin signed on as a supporting city to complement her recently launched “Sustainable Atlanta” environmental initiative. WWF is partnering with the city of Atlanta, Georgia Power and other organizations in the Atlanta metro area to coordinate “the night the lights will go out in Georgia,” representing the US Eastern Time Zone.

In Phoenix, Mayor Phil Gordon and city officials will be working with the local utility APS and other corporate partners to coordinate efforts on this historic night, in which the city will officially represent the US Mountain Time Zone for Earth Hour 2008.

In San Francisco, Mayor Gavin Newsom’s office is teaming up with Pacific Gas and Electric Company and other corporate partners, to coordinate efforts to darken prominent landmarks throughout the city by the Bay.

Major corporations are lining up to join the Earth Hour movement as well, including HP, which signed on as the Earth Hour National Technology Partner. Additional sponsors will be announced in the coming weeks.

In addition to turning off lights, Earth Hour participants are being asked to replace older light bulbs with highly efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, and to pledge to take actions to reduce their energy consumption on a daily basis. WWF’s corporate partners will not only pledge to turn off all non-essential lights during Earth Hour, but agree to identify long-term ways to reduce energy usage.

WWF and officials from all the flagship Earth Hour cities emphasize the importance of celebrating Earth Hour in a safe and secure environment. Public safety lighting, including street lights and security lighting will remain on during the Hour. Hospitals, emergency services and electric power will not go dark.

More information about Earth Hour can be found at www.EarthHour.org.

Earth Hour – A Global Climate Change Event WWF’s inaugural Earth Hour took place in Sydney, Australia in March 2007 with more than 2.2 million people participating in an effort that darkened such iconic structures as the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge and resulted in a 10 percent drop in energy usage—double what had been predicted.

To date, 20 major cities in six countries around the world have been selected as official flagship cities, while individuals and organizations wherever they are located are encouraged to visit www.earthhour.org and participate in Earth Hour as a way to demonstrate their concern about climate change, and to commit to reducing energy usage in the years ahead. Cities participating in Earth Hour 2008 (as of February 15, 2008): · Aalborg, Denmark

· Aarhus, Denmark

· Adelaide, Australia

· Atlanta, United States

· Bangkok, Thailand

· Brisbane, Australia

· Canberra, Australia

· Chicago, United States

· Christchurch, New Zealand

· Copenhagen, Denmark

· Manila, Philippines

· Melbourne, Australia

· Odense, Denmark

· Perth, Australia

· Phoenix, United States

· San Francisco, United States

· Suva, Fiji

· Sydney , Australia

· Tel Aviv, Israel

· Toronto, Canada

About WWF For more than 45 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature. The largest multinational conservation organization in the world, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF's unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level, from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature. Go to www.worldwildlife.org to learn more.

Please go to Seventeen Magazine's Body Peace Treaty and sign the treaty! Also go to NEDAwareness Week Try to take this week off from body bashing or talking poorly to yourself or about other's bodies, shapes or appearances.

The session will be attended by the representatives of Member States of the United Nations and representatives of United Nations entities and of ECOSOC accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from all regions of the world.

ISSUES:

Financing for gender equality and empowerment of women (Monday 25 February 2008 – 3 to 6 pm and Tuesday 26 February 2008 – all day)

High-level round table on “Financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women” - Monday 25 February 2008, 3 to 6 pm High-level round table assignments Panelists

Interactive expert panel on “Key policy initiatives on financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women” - Tuesday 26 February 2008, 10 am to 1 pm Panelists

Interactive Expert Panel: “Capacity-building for mainstreaming a gender perspective in the development, implementation and evaluation of national economic policies and programmes and budgets” - Tuesday 26 February 2008, 3 to 6 pm Panelists

Expert Group Meeting on "Financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women" Related On-line Discussion (Final report of the on-line discussion)

Emerging issue

Gender perspectives on climate change (Thursday 28 February 2008, 3 - 6 pm)

All about a Mom on the Verge of Green!

Simply Green with Emme

--Helen Keller