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Brighter Planet makes it easier for anyone to get involved in the fight against climate change. Simply put, we help people manage their environmental footprint.

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We believe in the power of community. Our web-based campaigns, such as the 350 Challenge, Climate Matters video contest, and #earthtweet tweet-a-thon, are fun ways for people to share and engage. We partner with a diverse range of organizations-large and small, for profit and non-profit-all united to support solutions to the climate crisis.

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Our roots trace back to a Middlebury College environmental economics class project. Class ended, but Professor Jon Isham and students Andy Rossmeissl and Jake Whitcomb continued shaping the concept. Summer of 2006, Brighter Planet was founded. Fall of 2006, veteran executive Patti Prairie joined the cause as CEO. Since launching in November 2007, more than 100,000 people in all 50 states have used our products and services.

At Brighter Planet, we're proud to be pioneers of a new environmentalism: one that is accessible to everyone, fits easily with one's lifestyle, and is fun to share. We invite you to sign up and join our growing community!

For more information, please visit us at brighterplanet.com.

Wise Energy and Sustainable Economic Diversification and Development Project $5000

Mar 9, 2010 6:58 AM CST

(Justmeans.com / CSR News) - Appalachia, VA

A Project Fund project proposed by meegee

The Wise Energy and Sustainable Economic Diversification and Development Project (WE SEDD) is a citizen led effort to diversify the coal dependent mono-economy of Wise County, Va by promoting economic and environmental sustainability, local and worker ownership, community-owned renewable energy systems and local economic skills. Together, in community, we seek to rebuild sustainable Appalachian communities.

Wise County, in Southwest Virginia, is one of a handful of coal-producing counties in Virginia. Already, over 25% of the County’s landmass has been destroyed by strip mining and mountaintop removal, and the coal industry’s hunger for ever higher profits promises the destruction of more of our community’s mountain heritage.
In the face of this destruction, Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards (SAMS) and other groups, have

dedicated themselves “to stopping the destruction of our communities by surface coal mining, to improving the quality of life in our area, and to helping rebuild sustainable communities.” The Wise Energy and Sustainable Economic Development and Diversification project is an effort to achieve the final part of SAMS’ mission statement: to rebuild sustainable Communities in Wise County and Southwest Virginia.
Inspired by our friends and allies across Appalachia, like Coal River Mountain Watch, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Appalachian Community Economics and others, we are undertaking a collaborative effort to identify the skills and potentials inherent in the Appalachian spirit of self-sufficiency and self-determination. WE SEDD will promote these natural Appalachian talents in order to foster a new model of economic development in Southwest Virginia that can break the mono-economic stranglehold of outlaw mining and fossil fuel dependency that today whittles away at the hope we hold for a brighter future.

Already we have held three “Wise Energy Forums” to discuss the challenges facing our regional economy, and to identify the possibilities for sustainable development. From these forums, we have taken the step of

creating a directory of locally owned businesses, and identified an initial group of Wise County citizens dedicated to continuing the work of diversifying our local economy. From here we hope to identify skills already existing in our communities, connect the individuals with those skills to others across our communities, and connect them to trainings, funding and support to develop their own entrepreneurial passions.

By creating and promoting economic alternatives in the coalfields of Wise County, we will rise to the challenge so often heard in our community organizing efforts here: “I work on the strip mines because there isn’t anything else here. Show me something that can provide for my family, and I will stand with you for our mountains.” By encouraging the growth of sustainable, economic systems, we will ensure the long-term viability of our communities, and play our rightful part in the global struggle for Climate Justice and a brighter planet for our children.

We are asking for $5000 to jump start the Wise Energy and Sustainable Economic Development and Diversification Project

Materials Printing – $1000

Advertising – $500

Events – $500

Stipends -
Marley Green, Coordinator – $1000

Volunteer and Intern Support – $2000
Local Travel – $750
Regional Travel for outreach and networking – $500
Food – $750

• WE SEDD Goals:

To Advance, Support and Achieve the second part of the SAMS Mission Statement: to help rebuild sustainable communities.

To Support and connect groups, individuals, businesses and communities working to develop diverse, sustainable and healthy economic opportunities in Southwest Virginia

To support the creation of new, sustainable and viable jobs that can be models of the kind of economic opportunities we need in Southwest Virginia as we begin to transition away from dependence on the coal industry.

To connect existing skills, assets, funding and interest together to create new, local and sustainable jobs.

Objectives
The intern(s) and volunteers (members of SAMS and other community members) will help to achieve the above goals by working on the following objectives.

Research
• Other organizations and communities developing diverse and sustainable economies
• Organizations, universities and individuals in our area working on these issues
• Whats a green job, examples of diverse and sustainable economic opportunities world wide.
• Statistics on potential jobs, current jobs, poverty, overall economic loss from exporting all our coal and resources away
• Start up grants, loans, and governmental money available for the creation of new, sustainable jobs.

Materials
• Press releases, posters and advertisements to promote economic opportunity in Appalachia.
• A pamphlet or brochure to promote sustainable economic opportunity in Appalachia
• Stickers, signs or other materials to promote sustainable economic opportunity in Appalachia
• A Website promoting sustainable economic opportunity.

Listening and Visioning
• A series of listening projects and interviews across the communities that SAMS works with (Roda, Derby, Stonega, Inman, Appalachia, Big Stone, Keokee, Norton, Wise and further) to identify a collective vision of a Sustainable Appalachia.
• work to identify what kind of economic activity is already happening in our communities that is sustainable, healthy and diverse and that could be scaled up in a way that could provide more jobs, if connected to funding, financing, or other opportunities.
• Work to identify the needs of our communities, the skills that are already here, and the skills that people would want to pursue if they could that could help develop a sustainable and diverse economy in Southern Appalachia.
• Holding forums and events to craft and promote a vision of a sustainable Appalachia.

Events
• Organize events that promote community based visions of sustainable economies.
• Promote or help to organize events which might develop the skills in our communities needed for a sustainable economy, potentially workshop series or other events to develop and share skills for a diverse economy.

Funding
• Research and apply for funding (grants, foundations, individual donors, etc.) to support the long term success of this program.
• Research ways to connect people interested in starting sustainable businesses with people and institutions that want to fund sustainable businesses.

Citizens Board/Council
• Connect and develop a Citizens Board on sustainable economic development that can include non SAMS
• Promote partnerships between businesses, citizens, and organizations who wish to promote sustainable economic opportunity in Southern Appalachia. members, in order to increase the reach of this project.

Timeline

January 2010
Begin interviews and listening projects.
Draft materials
First meeting of citizens advisory board/council. To meet once a month.

February 2010
Continue interviews and listening projects (10 interviews a month)

March 2010
First event to mark the public launch of the project
Launch Website.

April 2010
Continue interviews and meetings.

May 2010
Second event or forum

June 2010
Hands on service event (weatherization or similar project with a community owned building to support efficiency and sustainability.)

July 2010
Picnic, Potluck or other fun, open event to promote economic sustainability.

August 2010
Hands on Service Event (See above)

September 2010
Begin potential workshop series
Hands on Service Event

October 2010
Continue workshop series (1-2 days of workshops per month)
Last hands on Service Event

November 2010
Continue Workshop series
Identify 5 community economics project to promote and connect with funding.

SOURCE Brighter Planet