Wangari Maathai, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 talks about civil rights and changing opression in the U.S.   Read more...

Though Nike has long been seen as an opponent of more environmental and fair labor standards, the company is now attempting to walk the tight rope to redemption. Last week the brand revealed a more eco-friendly line of products, hitting high notes as sustainable and made from recycled materials, all with the hope of reaching high profits in a more concerned world.

Titled "Nike Considered," the world's largest shoemakers know that spending is on the down turn, but these new kicks, with efficient design patterns, less and easy to recycle materials and use of nontoxic chemicals and sustainable cork and organic cotton, will definitely keep customers rolling in. With 15 percent of the company's spring lineup as part of the "Considered" label, Nike's deliverance into a sustainable future isn't far off.   Read more...

Juan Enriquez (2008) Pop!Tech Pop!Cast from PopTech on Vimeo.

I recently watched this presentation (via the web) that was happening at Pop!Tech in Camden, Maine. Mind you, for three solid days there were dozens of presenters and all of them were incredible - Benjamin Zander, Clay Shirky, Malcolm Gladwell, Imogen Heap, Saul Griffith - and so many more. But this particular presentation was so timely, poignant and real that it has stuck with me and will likely affect my behavior for the perceivable future. It was by Juan Enriquez. He spoke about the economy, how we got to where we are and what it will take to fix it. I encourage you to watch it with this warning: it's not easy to take, but it's honest and real.   Read more...

According to a recent study by Javelin Strategy and Research, bank customers want green banking. 43 percent of customers polled said they would rather do business with a bank that seems more “green.” But many big banks are trying to paint themselves green simply by promoting an online billing system.

It is true that monthly paper statements have a big impact on the environment. If every household in the US were able to switch to paperless billing, this would save an estimated 16.5 million trees per year or about 46,000 acres (averaging 360 trees per acre). Trees protect watersheds, support wildlife habitats, and build soil fertility while sequestering carbon (deforestation is now the second leading cause of global warming).   Read more...

Globalization turns the world's attention to our Presidential election. Ode's founder and editor, Jurriaan Kamp, gives us his thoughts on why Obama is so well-liked, a true citizen of the world.   Read more...

If knowledge is power, then greater fuel efficiency has to be King.

In today's hustle and bustle, everyone in their own cars driving to their jobs without even looking to the carpool lane, conserving fuel is a tricky matter. So, Ford has announced they will be installing SmartGauge with EcoGuide instruments in the Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids, coming in 2010. And while that might seem a bit to the future, it's only because Ford wants this new gadget to be the way of the future. The SmartGauge provides real-time information on the hybrids' fuel economy and allows drivers to select what level of detail they want displayed. From a short easy to check "Inform," which shows fuel level and battery change status, to "Enlighten, "Engage" and "Empower," each level adds more information on the car. But the best part is how long-term fuel efficiency is displayed

Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra has been a long-time advocate for embracing life's possibilities. Recently, he spoke a the audience at a Pop!Tech conference where the audience watched, amazed as Zander performed a transformative music lesson with a 15-year-old cellist.   Read more...

What do you do after earning degrees at Princeton and Berkeley? Well, you lead the development of Java and service as chief technology officer and corporate executive officer at Sun Microsystems, Inc. of course! ...But after that? You go to Google, become a CEO and reintroduce a vision for green energy. Eric Schmidt is doing just that. As a CEO of Google, he also sits on the Princeton University board of trustees and is a member of the board of directors of Apple, Inc.   Read more...

Free platforms are the best forms. Giving the world more opportunities to give is just the ticket our world is calling for. And Amazee, a philanthropic collaboration platform, knows that. Within the last weeks the Zurich, Switzerland-based internet start-up website has launched two free tools to help promote non-profits all around the globe: Amazee Camp and Amazee Bucket.

Founded in fall 2007 Amazee hopes to stand for social collaboration just as Google stands for online search and Facebook for social networking. Their mission is social collaboration for the greater good, and their method is online network geared at those willing to help, but without the opportunity to do so. By adding the Camp and Bucket features, where Camp offers courses n learning how to use the web to boost activity and results, and Bucket, which donates up to $5,000 to the Amazee project that has the most members come January 22, 2009 with the second and third place winners receiving $3,000 and $2,000 each.   Read more...

Craig Venter wants to cure us of our oil addiction, and like all addictions this will be a hard one to break. Venter has hope that we can use microbes to create alternative fuels. He wants to create a designer microbe from scratch and add genes culled from the sea in order to turn crops such as switch grass and cornstalks into ethanol.   Read more...