Conservation Law Foundation to Host Climate Solutions Event at RISD on Monday, October 25

Special Event Features Providence Premiere of Carbon Nation, followed by Q&A with Director Peter Byck and Panel of Climate Experts

Local Businesses to Showcase Climate Solutions ‘Made in RI’

CONTACT:
Karen Wood, CLF, (617) 850-1722
Kim Twist, CLF, (401) 351-1102, x 10

PROVIDENCE, RI  October 19, 2010 – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), in conjunction with WBRU 95.5 and ClimateCounts.org, will host a special evening dedicated to climate solutions on Monday, October 25 from 6-9 PM at the Metcalf Auditorium at the Chace Center at RISD. The evening will feature the Providence premiere of the acclaimed documentary, Carbon Nation, a 90-minute film with a cool point of view on a hot topic. Proclaiming itself as the film that “doesn’t even care if you believe in climate change,” Carbon Nation is an
optimistic, solutions-based, non-preachy, non-partisan, big tent film that shows tackling climate change boosts the economy, increases national and energy security and promotes health and a clean environment.

Immediately following the film, audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions of Carbon Nation director Peter Byck and a panel of environmental experts and activists, including: Seth Kaplan, VP, Policy and Climate Advocacy, Conservation Law Foundation, Sunshine Menezes, PhD, Executive Director, The Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting at University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography and Michael Roles, Co-Coordinator, Rhode Island Student Climate Coalition. The discussion will be moderated by environmental journalist Peter Lord.

From the students who wrote its new climate action legislation to entrepreneurs to established companies, Rhode Island is home to a wealth of climate heroes. Local businesses Newport Biodiesel and Toray Plastics will be on hand at the event to talk about their climate solutions – innovative products and services aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

The event is open to the public. Tickets are available online at discounted prices until noon on October 25. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $5 for students. An additional $5 will be charged for all tickets purchased at the door.  All proceeds from ticket sales will go toward covering the costs of the event.

More About Carbon Nation
Called “entertaining, endearing and exceptional” by the Huffington Post, Carbon Nation focuses on solutions – and the real, very engaging and hopeful people already putting them in place around this country. The film tells the stories of a rancher bringing new life to a Texas town through wind farming, government employees working to make the military more energy efficient, farmers using innovative, low-carbon growing methods and many more. Such notable figures as Richard Branson, Thomas L. Friedman, former CIA Director James Woolsey and Van Jones provide the commentary. Director Peter Byck’s first feature documentary, “Garbage,” won the South By Southwest film festival. The Christian Science Monitor wrote about “Garbage:” “One part ‘Roger and Me,’ one part ‘60 Minutes,’ and one part ‘This Is Spinal Tap,’ stitched together with a sense of witty serendipity.”

The Conservation Law Foundation (www.clf.org) works to solve the most significant environmental challenges facing New England. CLF’s advocates use law, economics and science to create innovative strategies to conserve natural resources, protect public health and promote vital communities in our region. Founded, in 1966, CLF is a nonprofit, member-supported organization with offices in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

ClimateCounts.org is a non-profit campaign that scores companies annually on the basis of their voluntary action to reverse climate change. The Climate Counts Company Scorecard helps people vote with their dollars by making climate-conscious purchasing and investing choices that put pressure on the world’s most well-known companies to take the issue of climate change seriously. Launched by organics pioneer Stonyfield Farm, ClimateCounts.org believes everyday consumers can be the most important activists in the fight against global warming.