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				<channel><title>Company Reports</title><link>http://www.justmeans.com/showcompanyreports </link><dc:creator>Justmeans</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:22:17 GMT</pubDate><generator>http://www.justmeans.com</generator>
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													<title>Climate Counts Nov 2009 Score Summary </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Climate-Counts-Nov-2009-Score-Summary/523.html</link>
													<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:04:20 GMT</pubDate>
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													<title>Climate Counts Company Scorecard Report, Nov 2009 </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Climate-Counts-Company-Scorecard-Report--Nov-2009/522.html</link>
													<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:02:20 GMT</pubDate>
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													<title>Brooks Brothers Learns about Eco-Friendly CO2 and &quot;Wet&quot; Cleaning at Green Apple Cleaners. </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Brooks-Brothers-Learns-about-Eco-Friendly-CO2-and--quot-Wet-quot--Cleaning-at-Green-Apple-Cleaners-/521.html</link>
													<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:13:40 GMT</pubDate>
													<description><![CDATA[BROOKS BROTHERS LEARNS ABOUT ECO-FRIENDLY CO2 AND "WET" CLEANING AT GREEN APPLE CLEANERS.

 Submitted by:Green Apple Cl [...]]]></description>
													<content:encoded><![CDATA[

BROOKS BROTHERS LEARNS ABOUT ECO-FRIENDLY CO2 AND "WET" CLEANING AT GREEN APPLE CLEANERS.

	Submitted by:Green Apple Cleaners 

	Categories:Business Ethics , Sustainability 

	Posted:Sep 09, 2008 - 11:59 PM EST

	NEW YORK, NY. - September 9, 2008 - As the garment industry leans toward environmental sensitivity, they are pleasantly surprised to find that earth-friendly is also more fabric-friendly. Fashion leaders are discovering that traditional harsh detergents and dry cleaning techniques may wreak as much havoc on fabric as they do on the environment. Yet, in Lodi, New Jersey the home of New York City's only truly green dry cleaning plant, Green Apple Cleaners claims that it's the customers they care most about. "We founded the company to provide a safe and healthy way to clean clothes that doesn't pose a health risk to the people who wear them," says David Kistner, Founder and CEO of Green Apple Cleaners.

	DRY CLEANING INDUSTRY TEAMS UP WITH FASHION DESIGNERS.

	However they look at it, Green Apple Cleaners is happy that non-toxic cleaning has caught the eye of the world's top clothing manufacturers. Last month, they co-hosted a workshop with America's Best Cleaners especially for the Brooks Brothers technical design team on the benefits of CO2 dry cleaning and H20 "wet" cleaning as it pertains to the care of Brooks Brothers garments after the sale. The team brought various garments to test in the Green Apple Cleaners systems, including its new Solvair machines. Among them, a leather jacket with horn toggles, a leather line knit sweater, and various other garments from the upcoming line.

	"Brooks Brothers is world-famous for meticulous attention to detail, from the company's environmental impact, to the threads they choose, to the life of the garment when it leaves the store," says Christopher White of America's Best Cleaners (ABC) who organized the event. "When the design teams create new product, they need to know how it will respond to all cleaning techniques." Through workshops, America's Best Cleaners helps manufacturers take into consideration where the dry cleaning business is going before they develop a new line.

	AMERICA'S BEST CLEANERS SETS NEW STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE.

	ABC has a rigorous certification process and only a few make the cut. Green Apple Cleaners qualified last year. "Environmental stewardship is just one of the many criteria that qualifies a dry cleaner to be recommended by America's Best Cleaners," says Christopher White, ABC's Director of Business Development. "We first look at quality of cleaning and finishing, customer service, and delivery systems among other factors."

	To maintain ABC accreditation, Green Apple Cleaners must send a fabric swatch from their cleaning plant in New Jersey each month to The Hohenstein Institutes, an independent testing lab in Germany. The swatch is tested for residue, luster and quality. After all, a top priority of dry cleaning is to get the clothes clean while protecting the integrity of the garment. With so many fibers, trims, and techniques used today including rayon, cotton, silk, blends, velcro, leather, linen, wool, alpaca, braiding, beading, embroidery, lace, felt and new threads like bamboo and hemp-- it's a challenge. Then, there are the seemingly infinite numbers of dyes and fabric applications to consider.

	"CO2 and "wet" cleaning are better for the clothes, hands down," says Green Apple's founder David Kistner. "When the Brooks Brothers team handed us the linen and leather garment, we put it through our Solvair cleaning system and it came out exactly how it went in, but cleaner." This is without the use of the toxic chemicals that once gave dry cleaning a bad rap for their health risks, and for polluting groundwater and other natural resources.

	What exactly is the dirt that cleaners must remove? Oil, food, wine, milk, grease, cosmetics, creams, deodorants, juice, coffee, sweat, salt, bacteria, perfume, pollen, grime, dust, nail polish, paint, odors, gum, and the residue left by other cleaners, "A truly professional dry cleaner doesn't follow the cleaning instructions on the label," says Kistner. "They do better than that. Like a good chef, they look first at ingredients. Our skilled technicians handle each garment individually and can get almost anything out without harming the garments."

	The best designers take cleaning into consideration at the early conception stage. More and more of them are going one step further to ask themselves how it can be cleaned in an environmentally sustainable manner. "It's great news for everybody that the fashion industry is looking at overall impact on the environment. In fact it's become trendy to be green," says Kistner.

	NEW YORK RECOGNIZES BUSINESS LEADERSHIP ROLE OF GREEN APPLE CLEANERS.

	Green Apple Cleaners is a founding member of the Sustainable Business Network of New York City (SBNYC.org) and an active participant in projects involving the United Nations, Riverkeeper, "Go Green" children's education programs in NY and NJ schools, eco-fashion events and all things green. This month, the company became 100% powered by wind and became a finalist in The New York Enterprise Report for Small Business Award for Best Green Practices.

	Its signature black garment bags are re-used, and deliveries take place to over 600 residential and commercial buildings and more than 10,000 clients via smart cars, pedi-bikes, and hybrid and bio-diesel ready vans, a welcome sight in the Big Apple where the Mayor's plan for a greener, greater New York is in full swing. Though the bulk of Green Apple's business is pickup and delivery, there are now three storefront locations in New York and three in New Jersey with two more planned this year. New York City's storefronts are located in the West Village at 92 Greenwich Avenue between 7th and 8th Streets, and in Midtown at 1187 2nd Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets, with a new Upper West Side location celebrating its opening this week.

	NEW STOREFRONT OPENS ON UPPER WEST SIDE.

	This Saturday, September 13th is the Grand Opening of the new Green Apple Cleaners storefront on the Upper West Side at 322 Columbus Avenue between 75th and 76th Streets. From 10-5pm, the event will feature organic treats from The City Bakery, special offers, and their "green fleet" including NYC's only dry cleaning delivery 'rickshaw' and the chance to sit behind the wheel of their newest 'smart car.' For more information visit www.greenapplecleaners.com or call 1-888 I LUV CO2 (1-888-458-8262).

	 

Links:
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 http://www.csrwire.com/members/profile/9774-Green-Apple-Cleaners
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/?category=1
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/?category=34
 http://www.greenapplecleaners.com/
 http://www.greenapplecleaners.com/
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													<title>Green Apple Cleaners is turning the Big Apple green </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Green-Apple-Cleaners-is-turning-the-Big-Apple-green/520.html</link>
													<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:09:30 GMT</pubDate>
													<description><![CDATA[GREEN APPLE CLEANERS IS TURNING THE BIG APPLE GREEN

 Submitted by:Green Apple Cleaners 

 Categories:Environment , Cor [...]]]></description>
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GREEN APPLE CLEANERS IS TURNING THE BIG APPLE GREEN

	Submitted by:Green Apple Cleaners 

	Categories:Environment , Corporate Social Responsibility 

	Posted:Jan 31, 2008 - 02:02 PM EST

	 Ad appearing in Green Guide, National Geographic's new magazine 

	New York, NY - January 31, 2008 - New York State has filed lawsuits against at least three companies for groundwater and soil contamination that they attribute to perc, the dry cleaning chemical perchloroethylene (PCE) used by over 90% of all drycleaners. In California and recently proposed in New Jersey, the use of perc in dry cleaning will be outlawed within the decade. Not only bad for your health, it turns out that harsh dry cleaning chemicals and traditional finishing methods can also be harmful to clothing by dulling the finish, breaking fibers and leaving residues on the garments.

	The timing couldn't be better for health conscious Green Apple Cleaners, the only environmentally friendly dry cleaner in Manhattan. At the Green Apple Cleaners plant in New Jersey, trained specialists using state-of-the-art CO2, Wet Cleaning and European Finishing equipment, treat garments with gentle handling. The special care they give to the clothes, and to the customers, has been recognized by Green Apple Cleaners' acceptance into the elite group of prestigious cleaners - "America's Best Cleaners(TM)". Their care for the planet has placed them among New York's top green businesses and they are one of the founding members of the Sustainable Business Network of New York.

	Taking care of the environment was the brainstorm of entrepreneur David Kistner and his partner Christopher Skelley who founded the business in 2006. When Mr. Kistner's wife announced they were having twins four years ago, he vowed to keep hazardous chemicals not only out of reach, but also out of their home. In searching for safer dry cleaning in New York, he found no alternative solutions. Two years later, Green Apple Cleaners is now servicing over 450 buildings in Manhattan and over 9,000 clients, including the big apple's most celebrated personalities. Though the bulk of their business is pickup and delivery, they have already added two storefront locations last year with four more planned for 2008.

	The popularity of Green Apple Cleaners is a sign that New York City is serious about going green. Another boost for the brand is that more people are catching on to the misleading "organic" signs cropping up on dry cleaning windows all over town. As the CEO and founder David Kistner says, "If clothes could talk they'd tell you that "organic" means volatile organic compounds - pretty tricky!"

	On another environmental front, Mayor Bloomberg's new plastic bag recycling law will require over 2,000 stores in Manhattan, including many large dry cleaning operations, to take responsibility for their plastic bags. "It is important to take as many steps as we can to recycle plastic bags," Bloomberg says. "They are not biodegradable, but instead break down into small pieces that pollute the water and soil. Due to their light weight, plastic bags can easily escape from our sanitation system..." Green Apple Cleaners supports waste reduction with its signature black garment bags used to transport dry cleaning to and from their customers in eco-friendly vehicles. Any disposable bags they use are 100% biodegradable.

	Early on, Green Apple Cleaners founders secured the telephone identity 1-888 I LUV CO2 to tout CO2 as the key to cleaner cleaning, and wrote the company motto themselves: The Cleaner Dry Cleaner. Get the real dirt on dry cleaning by visiting www.greenapplecleaners.com 

	 

Links:
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 http://www.csrwire.com/members/profile/9774-Green-Apple-Cleaners
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/?category=5
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/?category=23
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/press_release/14725-Green-Apple-Cleaners-is-turning-the-Big-Apple-green
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/press_release/14725-Green-Apple-Cleaners-is-turning-the-Big-Apple-green
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/press_release/14725-Green-Apple-Cleaners-is-turning-the-Big-Apple-green
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/press_release/14725-Green-Apple-Cleaners-is-turning-the-Big-Apple-green
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/press_release/14725-Green-Apple-Cleaners-is-turning-the-Big-Apple-green
 http://www.greenapplecleaners.com/
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													<title>New York Goes Green: Earth Advertising Sees Boom for Green Business in 2008 </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/New-York-Goes-Green--Earth-Advertising-Sees-Boom-for-Green-Business-in-2008/519.html</link>
													<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:44:17 GMT</pubDate>
													<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK GOES GREEN: EARTH ADVERTISING SEES BOOM FOR GREEN BUSINESS IN 2008

 Submitted by:Earth Advertising 

 Categor [...]]]></description>
													<content:encoded><![CDATA[

NEW YORK GOES GREEN: EARTH ADVERTISING SEES BOOM FOR GREEN BUSINESS IN 2008

	Submitted by:Earth Advertising 

	Categories:Environment , Events 

	Posted:Dec 07, 2007 - 09:40 AM EST

 Mayor shares plans for greener New York with Global Green USA on Dec 3, 2007 

	NEW YORK, NY - December 7, 2007 - Mayor Bloomberg's plan for a greener and greater New York is enjoying a healthy growth spurt with the GoGreenExpo scheduled for April 26-27, 2008, the biggest environmental event in New York history. With free tickets provided to all Con Ed customers who switch to wind power on their bills, the turnout should be earth shaking.

	Earth Advertising supports the GoGreenExpo by enhancing the experience of vendors, sponsors and the public with green-proof trade booths, innovative media platforms, eFlicks, social marketing, and sales tools designed to push the potential of the New York green economy to its limit.

	Find out more about special early rates and marketing opportunities available now to showcase your business or organization at GoGreenExpo by contacting Shannon Logue at (212) 933-1391 or shannon@earthadvertising.com .

	NOMINATE A GOGREENEXPO SPEAKER!

	Recommend someone you know who is helping New York to become the greenest city in America, by contacting GoGreenExpo President and CEO, Bradford Rand atbrand@gogreenexpo.com .



Links:
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 http://www.csrwire.com/members/profile/9931-Earth-Advertising
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/?category=5
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/?category=22
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/press_release/14997-New-York-Goes-Green-Earth-Advertising-Sees-Boom-for-Green-Business-in-2008
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/press_release/14997-New-York-Goes-Green-Earth-Advertising-Sees-Boom-for-Green-Business-in-2008
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/press_release/14997-New-York-Goes-Green-Earth-Advertising-Sees-Boom-for-Green-Business-in-2008
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/press_release/14997-New-York-Goes-Green-Earth-Advertising-Sees-Boom-for-Green-Business-in-2008
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/press_release/14997-New-York-Goes-Green-Earth-Advertising-Sees-Boom-for-Green-Business-in-2008
 mailto:shannon@earthadvertising.com
 mailto:brand@gogreenexpo.com
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													<title>New York City's Network Of Locally Owned Businesses, Joins BALLE National Initiative To Support Local Living Economies </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/New-York-City-s-Network-Of-Locally-Owned-Businesses--Joins-BALLE-National-Initiative-To-Support-Local-Living-Economies/518.html</link>
													<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:40:42 GMT</pubDate>
													<description><![CDATA[SBNYC, NEW YORK CITY'S NETWORK OF LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES, JOINS BALLE NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT LOCAL LIVING ECO [...]]]></description>
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SBNYC, NEW YORK CITY'S NETWORK OF LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES, JOINS BALLE NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT LOCAL LIVING ECONOMIES.

	Submitted by:Earth Advertising 

	Categories:Sustainability , Community Development 

	Posted:Sep 02, 2008 - 08:00 AM EST

	NEW YORK,NY. - September 2, 2008 - A major milestone toward becoming the world's greenest city, New York City's new network of sustainable local businesses has gained international clout. The Sustainable Business Network of New York City founded in January 2008 has been accepted as a member to national BALLE-- Business Alliance for Local Living Economies.

	"SBNYC was founded to support what has always made NYC distinct-- its locally owned and operated businesses. These give meaning to our daily lives, offering a sense of community and local jobs," says Sandi Franklin, Director of the Center for Urban Environment, which is the headquarters for SBNYC. "Acceptance to BALLE gives members in NYC's five boroughs access to a wealth of resources designed to help them prosper, network, mentor one another, and build the kind of leadership we need for a strong and sustainable local economy."

	To welcome New York City as BALLE's newest member, Judy Wicks from Philadelphia's White Dog Cafe and Foundation addressed SBNYC and affirmed the importance of local business, the "backbone of a just society." BALLE, which now has over 50 networks and 30,000 members nationwide, is the brainchild Ms. Wicks and other members of the Social Venture Network.

	SBNYC founders, members and staff attended the 6th Annual BALLE Conference in Boston on June 6 where hundreds of independent business owners, local government officials, and community leaders gathered for four days to share strategies and ideas on how to grow community wealth through strong locally-owned businesses. Among the speakers were Majora Carter, Sustainable South Bronx founder and the author of _Greening the Ghetto_, and Bill McKibben, founder of Step It Up and the author of _Deep Economy_.

	Membership to SBNYC is open to locally owned and operated businesses who recognize their role as agents of change and who are dedicated to creating innovative solutions that result in lasting improvements to local and global communities. Membership in New York City has grown to 65 businesses with concentrations in areas such as renewable energy, local manufacturing, local font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">For more information, please contact:

Martha Shaw Earth AdvertisingPhone: 212-933-1391

	For more from this organization:

Earth Advertising 


Links:
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 http://www.csrwire.com/members/profile/9931-Earth-Advertising
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/?category=34
 http://www.csrwire.com/press/?category=2
 http://www.sbnyc.org/
 mailto:info@sbnyc.org
 mailto:info@earthadvertising.com
 http://www.csrwire.com/members/profile/9931-Earth-Advertising
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													<title>Sustainable Amazon - Brazilian Eco-preneurs Launch Rainforest Goods to help Save Planet </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Sustainable-Amazon---Brazilian-Eco-preneurs-Launch-Rainforest-Goods-to-help-Save-Planet/517.html</link>
													<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:31:39 GMT</pubDate>
													<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK, NY - May 20, 2008 - The wonders of the Amazon come to life at the AMAZONIA BRASIL EXPO at South Street Seapor [...]]]></description>
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	NEW YORK, NY - May 20, 2008 - The wonders of the Amazon come to life at the AMAZONIA BRASIL EXPO at South Street Seaport through June 22. Visitors experience the magical charm of the Amazon and discover ways to protect the rainforest through sustainable economics. Eco-friendly products from the region are offered by Sustainable Amazon, a new mission-driven brand created by Fabio Interaminense and Davis de Luna Tenorio of Grupo Eco Negcios Sustentveis (Eco Group). These Brazilian eco-preneurs have been awarded major socio-environmental awards in Brazil, as well as the American Chamber of Commerce Eco Award (AMCHAM), also bestowed on Gro Bruntland and Al Gore.

	Sustainable Amazon products are inspired by the lush biodiversity, rich history, and enchanting beauty of what may be the world's most important ecosystem. "The sale of these goods helps to build a sustainable economy in a region of the Amazon at risk of burning and clear-cutting," says Fabio Interaminense. "We are creating a viable market for innovative local products, to bring prosperity to the region. This way, the people can continue to thrive on the natural bounties of the land, rather than sell out to developers." The products reflect the deep culture of the native people, allowing them to share their artistic talent and traditional livelihoods with the rest of the world.

	Those who miss the Sustainable Amazon gift shop at the AMAZONIA BRASIL EXPO can visitwww.sustainableamazon.com . Among the most popular items are natural cotton shirts, bags and backpacks featuring unique designs that integrate images of roots, seeds, bird nests, and legends passed down for centuries in the magical world of the Amazon. Other products include utensils certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), toys made with Miriti fiber, Baniwa Tribe handmade basketry, cultural books, decorative items, stationery, CDs, DVDs, Amazon cosmetics and Bio-Jewels.

	The sale of Sustainable Amazon products help to support non-profit organizations that are making a difference as the indigenous people of the Amazon fight to survive as the world encroaches upon their resources. Among the recipients is the PSA- Health and Happiness Project that brings medical doctors by boat to remote regions of the rainforest. Seewww.saudeealegria.org.br 

	The company reflects a trend among socially responsible businesses toward sustainable economics in the parts of the world that need it most, not just for the native people, but for all living things. The company is committed to the growth of healthy enterprise that respects both local culture and the environment, thereby creating a more just society for all.

	Sustainable Amazon seeks partners, venues, private label opportunities and distribution channels in the United States to showcase and sell their products. For more information, contact:fabio@sustainableamazon.com 

	 

Links:
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 http://www.sustainableamazon.com/
 http://www.saudeealegria.org.br/
 mailto:fabio@sustainableamazon.com
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													<title>Alcatraz Cruises Awarded International Award for Sustainability Efforts </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Alcatraz-Cruises-Awarded-International-Award-for-Sustainability-Efforts/516.html</link>
													<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:58:14 GMT</pubDate>
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													<title>Alcatraz Cruises reduces its Impact with Respect Our Planet </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Alcatraz-Cruises-reduces-its-Impact-with-Respect-Our-Planet/514.html</link>
													<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:28:38 GMT</pubDate>
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													<title>Alcatraz Cruises Celebrates 2nd Anniversary with Two of the Greenest Boats on the Bay </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Alcatraz-Cruises-Celebrates-2nd-Anniversary-with-Two-of-the-Greenest-Boats-on-the-Bay/513.html</link>
													<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:23:41 GMT</pubDate>
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													<title>Next Banking Revolution: Microfinance Isn't Just About Loans </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Next-Banking-Revolution--Microfinance-Isn-t-Just-About-Loans/511.html</link>
													<pubDate>Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:56:06 GMT</pubDate>
													<description><![CDATA[To most people, microfinance means microcredit, or lending to the owners of very small businesses in the developing wor [...]]]></description>
													<content:encoded><![CDATA[

	To most people, microfinance means microcredit, or lending to the owners of very small businesses in the developing world. In recent years, though, efforts to extend a wider range of financial services to reach the nearly three-quarters of the world's population with per-capita incomes below $3,000 -- the so-called "base of the pyramid" -- have gained significant traction.]]></content:encoded>
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													<title>Next Step: Microinsurance for the Poor </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Next-Step--Microinsurance-for-the-Poor/510.html</link>
													<pubDate>Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:25:43 GMT</pubDate>
													<description><![CDATA[PROTECTING WHAT OUR CLIENTS BUILD: Microinsurance as a Next Step. ACCION knows that to alleviate poverty, we must think [...]]]></description>
													<content:encoded><![CDATA[

	PROTECTING WHAT OUR CLIENTS BUILD: Microinsurance as a Next Step. ACCION knows that to alleviate poverty, we must think holistically about the needs of our clients - which is why ACCION is pioneering microinsurance for the entrepreneurial poor. We interviewed Jose Luis Agela Palmieri, ACCION Resident Advisor, who is developing this product in Colombia.]]></content:encoded>
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													<title>Social Media For Sustainability Carbon Offsets </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Social-Media-For-Sustainability-Carbon-Offsets/509.html</link>
													<pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:07:41 GMT</pubDate>
													<description><![CDATA[Brighter Planet Offsets Justmeans Social Media for Sustainability Conference [...]]]></description>
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	Brighter Planet Offsets Justmeans Social Media for Sustainability Conference]]></content:encoded>
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													<title>Equal Exchange on Slow Money – Part II: What Co-ops Have to Offer </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Equal-Exchange-on-Slow-Money--Part-II--What-Co-ops-Have-to-Offer/508.html</link>
													<pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:48:45 GMT</pubDate>
													<description><![CDATA[By Rodney North, rodney@equalexchange.coop 

 _(The 2nd of two articles in response to Marcia Stepanek's November 6th _ [...]]]></description>
													<content:encoded><![CDATA[

	By Rodney North, rodney@equalexchange.coop 

	_(The 2nd of two articles in response to Marcia Stepanek's November 6th __post on Slow Money_ _.)_

	Because we at Equal Exchange worry about good, small, mission-driven businesses being unable to grow _and_ remain independent - and that their special character is often diminished or diluted after the company is sold - and because there are other characteristics we'd like to see in firms (like a greater role for workers, farmers, consumers) we think it isn't always enough for capital to be patient. Therefore we ask that socially responsible investors and anyone wanting to reform our food system to give a look at a business model that has been around for 150 years - co-operatives.

	We think the co-operative model achieves much of what Slow Money founder Woody Tasch is striving for and maybe more. Here are some examples:

	▪ Organic Valley and Deep Root are just two of countless farmer owned co-ops that are doing great work to restore our soils, provide great, safe, organic foods, and that are structurally protected against selling out.

	▪ Our own 23-year old worker co-operative which is already putting about $8 million of equity capital to work through our ever-growing Fair Trade partnerships with co-ops of small-scale organic farmers in 20+ countries. We're owned by us, the 100+ employees, and have a no-exit clause in our by-laws that removes any temptation to sell by committing any net proceeds from a sale to be given to another organization in the Fair Trade movement.

	▪ Hundreds of consumer food co-ops nationwide (who, by the way, are among the original pioneers of the whole food, local and organic food movements) represent a great example of investing locally in supporting a sustainable, connected food system. What's more local than where you buy your organic milk? Plus, each store constitutes an investment that will stay in your community and that will not be bought out five or ten years down the road.

	To make it easier and more attractive to invest in co-ops Equal Exchange is working with the National Cooperative Business Association (www.NCBA.coop ) to create a model mutual fund where folks could buy shares knowing that their money would only be used by co-operatives. Stay tuned for more on that as it develops.

	Also, Equal Exchange and others have already contributed financially to the relatively new Co-operative Capital Fund (CCF), a socially responsible investment fund that invests in New England cooperatives in the form of "patient capital," or equity-like financing. CCF helps the regional cooperative industry to grow and flourish by providing capital that acts like equity without requiring co-ops to give up control over their own management and destiny, as traditional venture capital might. 

	I'd be remiss if I didn't mention another Slow Money-esque innovation that we're involved in. Wainwright Bank (well-known for their commitment to sustainability, social justice and community investing) helped us create a progressive alternative to the ubiquitous but generic Certificate of Deposit. It's called the "Equal Exchange CD ". It pays a competitive rate, but unlike the typical CD where your funds go who-knows-where 90% of these funds are dedicated to creating a line of credit reserved for our worker co-op to use to help finance the purchase of millions of pounds of Fair Trade, organic coffee every year from 26 farmer co-ops around the world. While a transparent, socially responsible CD like this has created another financial tool for our own co-op and hundreds of depositors, it's a model that we hope social enterprises of all types can explore.

	Lastly, because small-scale organic farmers, and their co-operatives, in places like Peru and Guatemala need financing, too, but have none we need innovative organizations like Root Capital (US) and Shared Interest (UK) who are working hard to meet that need. However, they first have to raise their own funds from socially responsible investors at home before they can re-distribute that capital abroad.

	In the end, we welcome the launch of Slow Money and any new interest in financial models and instruments, like those listed above, that restore capital to its rightful role as a tool to serve _everyone's_ needs, and not just the needs of those who possess it. 

	 

Links:
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 mailto:Erodney@equalexchange.coop
 mailto:rodney@equalexchange.coop
 http://www.justmeans.com/Slow-Money-A-New-Movement-for-Social-Enterprise/5166.html
 http://www.organicvalley.coop/our-story/invest/stock-prospectus/
 http://www.deeprootorganic.com/
 http://www.equalexchange.coop/investing
 http://www.ncga.coop/
 http://www.ncba.coop/
 http://www.coopcapital.coop/coopcapital
 http://www.wainwrightbank.com/
 http://www.equalexchange.coop/eecd
 http://www.rootcapital.org/
 http://www.shared-interest.com/
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													<title>Equal Exchange on Slow Money - Part I </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Equal-Exchange-on-Slow-Money---Part-I/506.html</link>
													<pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:27:49 GMT</pubDate>
													<description><![CDATA[ [...]]]></description>
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													<title>Executive Order 13514 Focuses on Federal Agency Emissions </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Executive-Order-13514-Focuses-on-Federal-Agency-Emissions/505.html</link>
													<pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:08:46 GMT</pubDate>
													<description><![CDATA[EXECUTIVE ORDER 13514 FOCUSES ON AGENCY EMISSIONS

_Federal agencies must now become sustainable and put in place measu [...]]]></description>
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	EXECUTIVE ORDER 13514 FOCUSES ON AGENCY EMISSIONS

_Federal agencies must now become sustainable and put in place measures to cut down their carbon emissions, after President Obama signed a recent executive order._

Federal agencies received a sharp reminder of the new broom that is being wielded by Pres. Obama as he seeks to change the focus of attention within government departments. President Bush was not known for his support of climate related issues in general and Obama's new executive order now places the issue of agency emissions front the center.

The order, routinely tagged as 13514, specifies that each agency must produce a plan and submit to the executive branch in short order. The plan calls for the declaration of a percentage reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the next 10 years. 

	Obama has left it up to each head to analyze its own agency emissions and to decide what percentage reduction is most appropriate. This will call for a considerable effort by the agency management, as it is widely believed that the government does not have a clear idea of the size of its carbon footprint to start off with.

The United States government is believed to be the largest user of energy within the entire country and thus can be accused of being the biggest polluter in terms of agency emissions. This is a weighty problem to carry around and one which must be addressed, even as Congress debates introducing far-reaching legislation to force commerce and industry itself to comply. 

	While there is some doubt as to when or whether such legislation may pass, or whether indeed it might be watered down or not, Obama recognized that he could implement change by himself in areas over which he has direct control.

In order for agency emissions levels to be completely understood, each agency and department within must conduct a full lifecycle analysis and get to grips with the true cost of each asset within its control. It will no longer be permissible to let the "status quo" remain in place, as if an asset is not operating at peak efficiency there can be no hope of achieving true sustainability.

Agency management must look to the introduction of specifically tailored software solutions and systems to help them comply with the terminology of this latest executive order. In a relatively short space of time, agency chiefs must gather the information necessary to enable them to compile a greenhouse gas inventory, judge the size of their carbon footprint and work out how they are going to reduce agency emissions over the next decade.

Executive Order 13514 will surely come to be known as one of Obama's most significant during his tenure at the White House. It remains to be seen how successful each agency is in its quest to become a good citizen and to do its bit for environmental protection and climate change. At the very least, the executive order will bring additional and considerable attention to the overall problem.

	ABOUT VERISAE, INC.
Verisae (www.Verisae.com ) helps measure, manage and monetize energy costs and carbon emissions. Their proven SRP solutions improve operational efficiency, make sustainability initiatives actionable, and reduce energy costs and emissions for distributed enterprises and related energy companies. They deliver a broad range of sustainability solutions to over 40 global clients with a service network of over 7,500 third-party suppliers/contractors consisting of 60,000 application users. Their integrated sustainability platform actively tracks over 2.1 million assets across 23,000 sites.

Links:
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 http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;div=ljgjecjjai&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2F216.17.87.203%2Fbasecamp%2Fwebdocs%2Fverisaedev%2F1corporatecommunications%2Fwww.Verisae.com&amp;esheet=6095549&amp;lan=en_US&amp;anchor=www.Verisae.com&amp;index=1&amp;md5=1bfaba5870d6cc862fb950e61582e6f8
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													<title>Cool Trends: Ten Things Cities are Doing Now to Reduce Greenhouse Gases </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Cool-Trends--Ten-Things-Cities-are-Doing-Now-to-Reduce-Greenhouse-Gases/504.html</link>
													<pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:49:20 GMT</pubDate>
													<description><![CDATA[During the summer of 2008 the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) set out to answer this quest [...]]]></description>
													<content:encoded><![CDATA[

	During the summer of 2008 the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) set out to answer this question for our members: What strategies can communities and municipalities in the developed world implement now to reduce greenhouse gases that can be easily retrofitted into an existing community (i.e., not require major redevelopment) that offer multiple benefits (social, economic and environmental)?

	Through a combination of research and interviews with experts in the field, ten strategies emerged. These are not the only strategies that are possible but instead are ones that seemed to be the most widely applicable while yielding significant carbon savings. We focused on energy, transportation and waste as major sources of greenhouse gases. Issues related to larger system issues like land use are implied but not addressed specifically.

	This research is in no way intended to be a prescription for a single path that all municipalities should take, but rather a simple toolbox filled with strategies that have worked for others and might just work in your city. This toolbox is primarily meant for municipalities, but can also be valuable to business leaders, sustainability professionals, or interested individuals.

	Many of the following suggestions benefit from the participation of all of these parties. It is also important to note that this report is neither the first nor the only report of its kind, and has no intention of asserting that it is more valuable or comprehensive than any other. Instead, it provides another set of tools and advocates for a more central, comprehensive, easily accessible database for such tools. Once a community decides that it is time for a change (and time for sustainability), such information must be readily available so they can take action.]]></content:encoded>
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													<title>Abbott Global Citizenship Report 2007 </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Abbott-Global-Citizenship-Report-2007/503.html</link>
													<pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:16:11 GMT</pubDate>
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													<title>Abbott Global Citizenship Report 2008 </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Abbott-Global-Citizenship-Report-2008/502.html</link>
													<pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:51:46 GMT</pubDate>
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													<title>Summer 2009 </title>
													<link>http://www.justmeans.com/reports/Summer-2009/501.html</link>
													<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:00:49 GMT</pubDate>
													<description><![CDATA[What is a green job?

 A Blue-Collar Job Upgraded To Respect The Environment?

 One That Pays A Family-Supporting Wage? [...]]]></description>
													<content:encoded><![CDATA[

	What is a green job?

	A Blue-Collar Job Upgraded To Respect The Environment?

	One That Pays A Family-Supporting Wage?

	An Organic Farm Worker? A Solar-Panel Installer?

	One That Includes Health Coverage?]]></content:encoded>
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