I recently learned about a UN public awareness campaign on climate change called Seal the Deal.  In December, more than 190 representatives from governments from around the world will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark to discuss climate change.  It’s been 12 years since the Kyoto Protocol was negotiated, and now is the time to negotiate a comprehensive post-Kyoto climate change deal for the period after 2012 when the commitment of the first Kyoto Protocol expires.

Several public awareness activities are planned over the next several months with lots of opportunities for all of us to get involved:

1.  Sign the petition.  Go to www.sealthedeal2009.org

2.  September 21-25 is Global Climate Change Week.  Many cities around the world will host a variety of activities.   You can plant a tree, wear green to raise awareness, or bike to work. In particular, Wednesday the 23rd is “Go Carbon Neutral Day.”  Can you power down for one day?

3.  Spread the word!  Host an awareness party and plant trees, volunteer at a recycling center, or work with your employer to reduce the carbon footprint at work.

4.  Leverage social media sites.  Twitter and post Facebook announcements about the events.  Encourage your friends, colleagues and family to get involved.

5.  Don’t sit idle.  Talk about climate change.  You don’t need to be an expert to affect change.

With rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and more severe storms and droughts then ever before, I have no doubt that all governments need to come together in Copenhagen and sign the new agreement.  Just look at the weather in Seattle this past year for proof of climate change.  We had severe snowstorms socking in the city for more than a week last December, and this summer we had several days with scorching temperatures above 100 degrees.   I don’t need any more proof than that.

I’m off to sign the petition and Seal the Deal!

Leslie

Yesterday I drove by something that almost made me drive right off the road.  A Hummer that was wrapped with information promoting a local printer.  I couldn’t believe it.  With so much press about paper waste and how print shops and other direct mail houses can be wasteful and not conscientious enough about the environment, why would a print shop advertise itself on a Hummer?  A Prius yes, a Hummer no!  The first thing I thought of when I saw it was, I sure hope it’s not an FSC-certified shop!

Making steps towards sustainability begins at home, or in this case at work.  A little advice for the print shop…take out a ZipCar or bicycle instead of the Hummer.  I don’t think you’re doing our industry any favors.

Last week, I took some time off for the 4th of July holiday.  I made a promise to myself, and others, that I wouldn’t work.  I wanted to make a concerted effort to take a breather, just for a few days.

I made it one day without checking email.  I swear I could hear the buzz of the emails coming in while I slept.  This little exercise got me thinking about how important and healthy it is for us to back away from our smartphones.  When you wish your phone would accidentally fall out of your car window on the freeway, it’s time to rethink your relationship!  With that being said, I’ve decided to take a little break from my iPhone, we’ve been too codependent!   I thought it would be easier, less confrontational if I write the phone a letter.  Below is an excerpt from my “Dear iPhone” letter:

Dear iPhone:

You’ve been great, supportive and loyal, but I think we need to spend some time apart…just for a while.  It’s not you, it’s me, really!  This isn’t goodbye, but rather just a little time for some needed distance.

We’ll always be friends!

~Leslie

Since the untimely death of Michael Jackson the news programs have been covering little else.  Before Jackson’s death was even confirmed, rumors swirled about how he died, who was with him, whether or not he was the father of his three children, who would be the executor of his will, etc.  Did any of that really matter in the immediate hours after his passing?  It’s no secret that he led an eccentric life, riddled with public debate and legal problems.  Whether you were a fan of Jackson’s or not, it has to be acknowledged that he and his family were pioneers.  They broke through racial barriers in the music business and beyond, and paved the way for countless others.  All of that aside, I have to ask, did Jackson’s eccentric life predicate the type of media coverage that would ensue after his death?

I believe that we are fortunate to live in an era where news is delivered immediately.  Look at the grassroots coverage that’s been coming out of Iran over the past few weeks.  If it weren’t for cell phone video and the Internet would we even know what’s happening there?

There is so much information being reported about Jackson’s life and death, it’s almost impossible to disseminate what’s true and what’s hearsay.  People are coming out of the woodwork to comment about his life and speculate about his death.  Wouldn’t it be better to wait until all of the facts were gathered and verified?  If it is hearsay, say it is.

Here’s what I think Michael Jackson would say…did you know there were more bombings in Iraq last week,  and there was a coup in Honduras yesterday, and Bernie Madoff is getting sentenced to 150 years behind bars for the biggest Ponzi scam in history?  Did you know any of this?

Just my two cents.

~Leslie