“A New Sound: Green For All”

Video description

The dirty energy economy has brought pollution and poverty to too many. But a clean-energy economy can bring opportunity, health, and wealth to struggling communities. Weatherizing homes, installing solar panels, manufacturing wind turbines – these jobs of a clean energy economy will put millions of people to work in their own communities.

A new green economy will provide opportunity to people who have been left out of the old economy. That is the promise of Green For All.

Watch the video. Take Action. Share A New Sound with your friends and family.

The Art of Hula

Program Description

From June 27th to July 2nd, 2009, the Hawaiian EDventure team implemented an intensive Hula  program led by Kiwala`o Taylor (Aloha Hula Arts partner) who thaught our EDventurers the necessary knowledge and techniques to Honor Pele, the goddess of volcanoes (see the video). The program was filled with hands-on activities (kupee making, preparing Ho`okupu …etc) and introduced different places of the Hawaii Island; the pilgrimage indeed ended up to the sacred Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This EDventure definitely shared some of the Hawaiian culture based on respect, well being, art and gaiety!

The Art of Hula Video

Summit Camp 2009

HAWAIIAN EDventure SUMMIT CAMP & TRAVEL

The University of Hawaii at Hilo EDventure program participated in coordinating the 2009 Summit Camp on the Hawaii Island for 7 days. The collaborative program brought boys and girls (ages 15-24) to:

• Enjoy Lili`uokalani Park and its Hip Pop activities (see video)
• Explore the universe at the Imiloa Astronomy center
• Relax at Coconut Island with recreational activities
• Visit the beautiful Akatsuka Orchid Garden
• Learn Hawaiian History (tsunami, plantation, kings…etc)
• Walk around the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park and Rainforest
• Spend a full day with our Kupunas to experience the true Hawaiian Culture !!!

Hope you enjoyed the experience as much as it looked like !!! Please let us know !

(See pictures here)

Aloha and A hui hou

Do you believe in the new G8 ambitions?

Introduction

“The annual Leaders’ Summit is the highest-profile and most important event in the G8 process, but that process does in fact cover the whole year, with meetings at the ministerial and ranking functionary levels. The main issues on the Italian Presidency’s agenda are: a response to the global economic and financial crisis; the restoration of grassroots confidence and a boost to growth on a more solid and balanced basis, also through the definition of new, shared ground rules for economic activities; a focus on the social aspect of employment, to help the weaker sectors of society both in the industrially advanced countries and in the poorer countries; the struggle against protectionism and the deregulation of world trade for everyone’s benefit; the resolution of regional crises; food security and safety; and the struggle against climate changes. To debate these issues, the Italian Presidency has organized a G8 Summit which will be unique in terms of the number of countries attending, comprising as it will both the emerging countries, Africa and the main International Organizations. Some 90% of the world’s economy will be represented at the Summit in the expanded working sessions. ”

http://www.g8italia2009.it/G8/Home/G8-G8_Layout_locale-1199882116809_Summit.htm

Concerns

07/08/09- The G8 (Canada, the Russian Federation, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States) met at Aquila, Italy in order to establish balance in the world (economically, socially, environmentally, legally, and equitably). What a challenge and ambition ! It really sounds like that the G8 is thinking more sustainably ! This is probably the result of numerous anti-globalization protests during previous G8 summits (June 2007 in Rostock, Germany for instance). Even if the G8 formulated a promising outline, focused on poorer countries (best way to mother world balance), no real progress have been made (to today 07/10/09)

Progress

07/10/09- “Developing nations are prepared to make concessions on climate change targets if the G8 fulfils its side of the bargain in the run-up to the climate change talks in Copenhagen in December, a key negotiator told the Guardian today.
The developing countries want the G8 nations to sign up to a 40% cut by 2020, but that figure is off the radar of the EU and, given the unwieldy legislation laboriously passing through the senate, not a possibility for the US.
In important forward steps this week, the G8 agreed to cut its emissions by 80% by 2050 and said worldwide emissions should fall 50% by the same date.
However, the value of this pledge has been reduced by the lack of an agreed start date from which the emission cuts should be measured, making it a distant promise.”
See full article (HERE)

Short summary

Even though the Aquila G8 summit and the coming one in Copenhagen (Denmark, Dec. 11, 2009) definitely show a concern in environmental, health and economical issues specifically for poorer countries, the G8 still does seem to have much trust from the public opinion anymore. Indeed, the Heads of State and Government Leaders of the world’s major industrially advanced democracies have been meeting on an annual basis since 1975 to debate the most important economic and political issues on the global agenda, but never really make any major revolution.
DO YOU THINK THE WORLD AND G8 IS CHANGING? DO YOU FEEL THAT IT IS THE RIGHT WAY TO WORK ON INTERNATIONAL COHESION?

How to build perfect transparency? The future of Web 2.0?

Facebook’s introduction

Information has never been so easy to share around the world since the invention of writing (in Mesopotamia/ or very old Irak). Nowadays, almost everybody can travel the world via internet (or other medias) and know what’s going on abroad; as a result, the world has slowly become one. Web 2.0 permits each of us to provide critical information and starts on new way of recording and building History. For Instance, internet allowsed transparency on the situation in Iran, therefore the world knows and can react (we will see what happen tho). Web 2.0 (web based communities) is so powerful (= strength of NGOs to generate actions), and could permit us to build sustainable groups… Don’t you think so?

Do you think that Governement intervention is a good way to implement Sustainability?

Starting conversation on Facebook

HawaiianEDventure:

- In this blog, Ecogeek, there is a nice conversation about the Hawaiian law which required new building to install solar panel ! Is it abuse? A trampoline action? Hopeless? …etc
You might have your own opinion, but do you have any arguments ? Don’t be afraid to share them, cause like it is said in the movie “thank you for Smoking”  when you have a solid argument you are never wrong !!! Plus, your comments will open different ways of looking at the subject !
For me I would state that government once helped in the great depression (New Deal)… Indeed, politician and economist had recognized the power of John Maynard Keynes theory, who simply said that government is here to help and stabilize eco when needed !!! Our eco definitely needs help and stabilization!!! Remember that it is a personal argunment and not necessarily truth !!!

Jules Ung:

It’s so contraversial as to whether government intervention is required to encourage innovation in renewable energy and sustainable practices. However, when public utilities (such as the electric grid) are regulated by government, it then becomes the government’s responsibility to correct and imbalances in the market.

The way forward seems to be capitalism with a conscience – people, planet, and profit. There is no stronger incentive than a free market to foster innovation, and efficiency.

HawaiianEDventure:

Very good point ! Market does foster better innovations through competition. However, a market will grow only if there are large profit incentives. Right now the cost of going “sustainable” is too expensive to build a market competitive enough to work by itself. Therefore, government could act as a great stimulator and regulator for the “green Market” ! just as a reminder, laws gave birth to capitalism (to protect ownership …); more laws could permit Capitalism to Sustain itself (Transparency, Social and environmental obligation). Like one song said: “Without justice there will be no peace”.
To be continued !!!
Aloha

Role of the United Nations in International Sustainability

Brief description of the United Nations

How could not we mention about the United Nations, while talking about international Sustainability? The UN is, probably, the most famous international organization facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achieving world peace. The UN was founded in 1945 after World War II to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars between countries, and to provide a platform for dialogue.

Since the UN was meant to facilitate international dialogue, the organization appears as a major element in the development of international Sustainability; let’s see if the United Nation could be a major player for the development of International Sustainability?

Starting conversation published by Hawaiian EDventure on Facebook

As the most powerful countries in the world recognized during the London G-20 meeting, international trades, which are the roots of the ECONOMICAL CRISIS, need regulations (Tax Heavens, Bonuses, over night speculations by laying off…etc). In fact, globalization  has never really be regulated … Tough to establish international authority … especially since the UN and international organizations (WTO for instance) have slowly lost credential during these past years (e.g. UN veto on the Iraq which didn’t have any influence). However, the UN still carries the notions of hope and international collaboration (after World War II). How come we’ve lost faith in an international system that could protect weaker countries and establish international equity?
How the UN could get more influence (again)? Maybe with the UNEP (the United Nations Division for Sustainable development)

The UNEP (the United Nations Division for Sustainable development), will issue its third draft (10-Year Framework Programme) on sustainable consumption and production (SCP) for developing countries.
The process, which started in 2002 during the Johannesburg Summit, has been very challenging. Indeed, the main objective of the 10YFP, which is to set up a framework for action on SCP that countries and other stakeholders can endorse to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production patterns, has to fit developing countries as well as developed ones (tough).
Take a look at the site, http://esa.un.org/marrakechprocess/index.shtml, the UN is on it !!!

Hawaii and Sustainability

Do you think that Hawaii could be one of the best example for international sustainability?

What Hawai`i means to you?

For us, it means a natural treasure (culture, history, environment, people, uniqueness and fragility…etc) ! That is why Hawai`i strongly believes in Sustainability as a way to share and preserve this treasure! As a matter of fact, the State of Hawai`i aims at being fully Sustainable by 2050 through its 2050 Sustainable plan.

This Group is meant to talk about different aspects of sustainability (related to Hawai`i or not) … good or bad … inspirational or worrisome…
in order to share info about sustainability and international tourism to inspire, warn and help each other to rebuild trust and collaboration!

By doing right we can do good, and in the long term. “nobody is smarter than all of us” then, let’s inter-being !!!

Aloha

What Do you think about our new website?

To celebrate our 20th anniversary, the Hawaiian EDventure program’s website has been made over!!!

The left picture LINKS you to our first attempt , while the one on the right one displays our new home (but you probably already know this by now:)

Please leave us comments below to help us determine if we are meeting your needs.

Your comments will help both of us make the website easier to navigate for you!

Aloha and Mahalo

Partnership theory

Fresh Ideas For Event Partnerships

Let’s see if this sounds familiar: you come up with a great idea for an event; sell the concept to supporters and the community; coerce friends and family to help; work the week leading up to the big day fueled only by caffeine and sugar; hear a snippet of your PSA on the radio and cringe when they don’t mention your sponsor; catch the laughter of a child enjoying a moment you created; rush to take care of an emergency; gather stacks of publicity to read later; struggle to pay the bills; remember to thank everyone; and eventually fall into an exhausted heap.

Then, optimist that you are, you pick yourself up and do it all over again. And the second year is even better. You repeat the process and the third year breaks all records.
But somewhere along the way, usually between the third and the sixth year, the winds begin to change. The economy stumbles, your volunteer coordinator moves to another city, your title sponsor changes its business strategy, and your event suffers. Like all good products, events can grow stale without an infusion of new ideas that keep things fresh and keep audiences clamoring for more.
So, what’s a dedicated event organizer to do?

First, take an inventory of all that you do for your event. Include EVERYTHING no matter how small – from picking up the trash to running through the sound check, from distributing the tickets to surveying your volunteers and sponsors. By conducting a thorough examination of your operations you create a great planning tool. Be sure to record the information in a way that can be easily shared with key members of your team and then ask for their input. By making time for a collective brain dump you document your history, and create the start of a detailed succession plan, insuring that when changes do occur you are ready.

Next, identify the key partners who support each segment of your event. Those can include sponsors, committee chairs, volunteers, and community groups. Or, take it a step further and create separate categories listing your key partners in each. Once you complete this step, you’ll begin to see the holes, and where there is white space, there is opportunity. Highlight the areas where you need to expand your partnerships or secure additional resources.

Third add notes and ideas related to each of those inventory details. Those may include, but are not limited to: identifying problems that need to be fixed, viewing a specific segment from your customer’s perspective, learning more about the new businesses that have opened in your community in the last year and looking for ways to include them, or dreaming of creative ways to capitalize on the success of a specific activity. Pull out your magnifying glass (for hard-hitting scrutiny of what works and what does not), your magic wand (for all of those things you would love to do if only you had a fairy godmother and mountains of money), and your telephone book (for the details and contacts) and let your imagination run wild.

Remember that no one experiences your event the same way you do, and each member of your team views it through a slightly different lens. By engaging a diverse group in the process, you build camaraderie, provide an avenue to air and address concerns, and help to alleviate burn out.

And if everyone is engaged in the process then they all take ownership, allowing you as the event organizer to release some of the stress.

Five Creative Ideas to Enhance the Things You Already Do

Sound Check – Check one . . . check two . . . turn this “must do” into a check for you!

Make the sound check with your headline entertainment into a pre-event for one of your major sponsors and build that exclusive benefit into a request for additional support. Everyone wants to see “behind the scenes” and have “an exclusive engagement” and this initiative gives your sponsor the opportunity to spread his enthusiasm for your event with his staff and customers, who then become your new resources for additional partnerships. And if you can get the entertainer to sign autographs and take photos, even better. For example a ballet company recently marketed its dress rehearsal of The Nutcracker as a private holiday party for the corporation located directly across the street. This corporation had never been a sponsor before. Their benefits package was tailored so that the corporation’s employees and their families could experience this holiday classic before it opened to the general public. It was the first time that the corporation had opened up their holiday event to their entire staff as well as their families. And best of all, the funds didn’t come out of the corporation’s traditional community sponsorship or marketing budgets, but out of the company’s year-end celebration funds. So even during challenging times when budgets are being shifted, there may be more than one pool of funds to draw from within a single corporation.

Trash Collection

Being green is the new gold. – Events create trash, and what you do with it matters. Institute recycling, redemption and composting competitions between school and community groups at your event. The Boy Scout troop who collects the most cans wins! Partner with recycling and redemption centers, local farms and garden centers as well as your state and county agricultural extension agents. All of them can provide expert advice and materials to set up your collection stations for optimum use. Many may be untapped sponsors as well, as they may have outreach funds for just this type of community partnership. Bring in your media sponsors for year-round exposure featuring a series of stories on the number of tons recycled and redeemed immediately following the event, the amount of compost created six months later and the products that were grown using that compost by community groups three months later. Once your “Turning Trash into Cash” plan is up and running, you can even create multiple new revenue streams. Some include: the redemption value of cans and bottles, selling compost labeled under your event to gardening enthusiasts, and selling produce, flowers and other value-added products (like jellies and jams) at your event which were nurtured by the previous year’s trash. Or turn the bounty of your green harvest into a new community partnership with your local food bank or Meals on Wheels distribution center.

Child Care

Bring in the experts and provide outstanding value-added service for your customers. – Evening entertainment is a wonderful way to cap off your event’s excitement. But a constant concern for people with children is child care. Partner with your local day care centers and sell premium tickets that include the evening event, parking, and child care all for one price! Most child care centers are closed at night, and in these tough economic times everyone is looking for innovative ways to increase their revenues. And, if the tickets can be marketed and distributed at the child care centers, you may tap into a whole new audience. Or if your performance venue allows, set up a satellite day care center on site. Then Mom and Dad can
escape for a little reconnection time without worry. And school service clubs and senior volunteers can provide the extra hands and eyes you need to take care of the children on-site.

Pamper Your Volunteers

Remember that everyone loves a little R&R. You’ve bought t-shirts, meals and hosted an annual thank you event, but still your volunteer numbers dwindle. Why not create an exclusive area for volunteers with much more than the basics? Partner with massage schools, spas and nail salons for an on-site lift. The salons and spas receive marketing, visibility and access to potential customers and your volunteers receive the royal treatment. Who wouldn’t be ready to head back into the fray after a 15-minute chair massage, or a foot soak, or a cooling eye mask in the heat of the day? And salons, spas and massage schools can be great partners for ticket distribution and event promotions, tapping in to new audiences. And if you conduct your volunteer surveys while your volunteers are relaxing and being pampered, just imagine your return rates! For key volunteers who may not be able to take advantage of the day-of activities, provide follow up gift certificates for a day of decadence.

New Kids on the Block – Reach out and touch someone.

Every day your local Chamber of Commerce, government business registration division, and phone book company receive leads on new businesses in your area. Partner with these agencies and be the first in your community to extend the welcome wagon to these newcomers! Let them know about your event, discover what they have to offer, and work together to find a marketing or sponsorship strategy that is win-win. They’re excited, they’re hungry and they’ll be incredibly appreciative that you took the time to help nurture their endeavors and introduce them to your audiences, volunteers and other sponsors.

Finally, use the network that IFEA provides and share your success stories and your missteps with your colleagues from across the world. Just because an idea doesn’t work in your area this year, doesn’t mean it won’t be a great fit for another festival and event. And they’ll return the favor. Working together we can create a world of celebrations!

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