The time is now for the green economy

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Dear Daniel A Stafford, We've got lots of exciting news from all sectors of the green economy. But first ... if you haven't already, please vote for our Clean Energy Victory Bond proposal in the final phase of the competition for a big $200,000 grant.  Please vote right now – the competition ends on April 7.   From our Climate Action Program comes the good news of a big victory against mountaintop removal coal mining.  Green America's climate action plan calls for a moratorium on coal, and for years our Green America members have taken action with us to stop mountaintop removal – the most destructive form of coal mining.  The Bush administration had relaxed restrictions mountaintop removal, but just last week a federal judge voided the Bush-era process. This is a huge victory for clean water, clean air, Appalachian communities, and our environment. From our Better Paper Project, we are proud to announce our Earth Day partnership with Barnes and Noble.  Titles from our honor roll of magazines using environmentally preferable paper will receive preferable placement in Barnes & Noble stores throughout the month of April.  We're also proud to announce two magazines that are upgrading their use of recycled paper after consultation with our Better Paper project – Tricycle and The American Prospect.  From our Fair Trade Program comes news of a major chocolate company – Cadbury – beginning to offer Fair Trade Certified™ chocolate.  This is good news for cocoa farmers, as more companies learn what the members of our Green Business Network™ already know – that it's possible to run a successful company while providing a living wage to workers across the supply chain.  So far, Cadbury's Fair Trade chocolate is only available in Europe.  Cadbury needs to hear from Green Americans that there's demand for Fair Trade chocolate here too.  Finally, from our Green Business Network™ comes this month's green business interview with the Green Bride Guide.  Says green entrepreneur Kate Harrison: "I think this is the best time in thirty years to start a green business. Consumers are looking for alternatives, and the new administration is behind us."  We agree!  The is the time for the green economy to take the lead. Thanks for all you do, Alisa Gravitz, Executive Director, Green America P.S.  Please help us earn a big $200,000 grant for our Climate Action work.   If you haven't already voted for our Clean Energy Victory Bonds proposal at JustMeans.com, please take a moment to do so before voting closes on April 7.    Action: Tell Cadbury to offer Fair Trade in the US Because of Cadbury's market share, the announcement of its entry into the Fair Trade marketplace in England will likely boost Fair Trade to the point of representing 15 percent of all chocolate sold in that country. This is huge for Fair Trade, and yet none of Cadbury's products in the US are currently Fair Trade Certified™.  Especially with spring celebrations coming soon, when millions of Americans will be purchasing Cadbury's popular crème eggs and other chocolate products, Cadbury needs to hear two messages from Green Americans:  1)  Thanks for offering Fair Trade in England, and 2)  Please offer it in the US as well. Please take a moment to sign our letter to Cadbury, and when you're looking for Fair Trade chocolate this spring, use our online Fair Trade directory <link>.  Companies like Sweet Earth Organic Chocolate and Divine Chocolate are 100-percent Fair Trade, and also offer products like chocolate eggs and bunnies for your seasonal celebrations. Sign our letter to Cadbury » News: Our Better Paper Project Partners with Barnes & Noble When you visit one of Barnes & Noble's top 240 stores during the month of April, you'll see their partnership with our Better Paper Project on display, with recycled-paper magazines singled out for special recognition.  This month, the titles recognized by our Better Paper promotion include:  Ode, Mother Jones, Make, Herb Companion, Organic Spa, Mother Earth News, Natural Home & Garden, and Nick.  What's more, the Buddhist bi-monthly magazine Tricycle, and the progressive politics monthly The American Prospect will soon be switching to "better paper" after consultation with our Better Paper Project. "We always look forward to the Better Paper bookstore promotion, as it bumps our newsstand sales dramatically," says Robyn Griggs Lawrence, the Editor-in-Chief of Natural Home magazine, a recycled paper leader. "The promotion gives us visibility and lends credence to our green message. It's a great vehicle for letting readers know that Natural Home is walking its talk."   Resources: Our April Interview with the Green Bride Guide One of our newest Green Business Network™ members, the Green Bride Guide offers one-stop advice for green weddings.  "Weddings in this country are a $70 billion dollar industry, and a lot of that money is spent on one-time-use disposable items," says Kate Harrison of the Green Bride Guide.  "The goal of my business is to show couples and their guests that there are hundreds of ways to decrease the impact of an event and save money at the same time – without sacrificing style. In fact, I have found that across the board, couples can save up to 40 percent off the cost of their weddings by going green!" Find out more from Kate, when you read our April interview, and don't forget that you can always ask your own questions at the end of our monthly interviews.   For example, readers of last month's interview with Mr. Ellie Pooh wanted to know more about the process "from pooh to paper," and we give you the "scoop" in our update this month… Read our interview with the Green Bride Guide » Read our update with Mr. Ellie Pooh »

April 7, 2009 Action · Tell Cadbury to offer Fair Trade in the US News · Our Better Paper Project parterns with Barnes & Noble (plus, more mags making the switch) Resources · Our April interview with the Green Bride Guide LAST DAY TO VOTE! Please help us win a $200K grant for our Clean Energy Victory Bonds proposal. Voting ends April 7. Vote now » (member advertisement) Raise money for your school or froup and promote Fair Trade. Try Divine Chocolate's Fundraiser with a Heart » (member advertisement) Visit us for natural, recycled & organic cotton totes, string bags and dozens of other eco-friendly products. ECOBAGS®: The Original Reusable Bag Company since 1989™ » (member advertisement) (member advertisement) (advertisement) Green Cities Florida Sustainable Solutions for Business and Government May 19-21, 2009 » On April 16 at 3pm, join our Green Business Network™ for our first, free, "No Green Business Left Behind" Webinar.  This series is designed to help green businesses improve their marketing and financial planning, and learn access points to stimulus dollars. The first session is "Success Factors for Business Survival in the New Economy." With the economy down, but green consumer awareness up, this is a critical opening to usher in a new, green economy. Send an e-mail now to abelanger@ greenamericatoday.org to add your name to the invitation list. All supporting members receive subscriptions to Real Green and the Green American, as well as a copy of the National Green Pages™ and our Guide to Socially Responsible Investing. Don't miss out on these resources for green living, and for shifting our economy "from greed to green."   Join today.

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