Friday, December 12, 2014

Peru Climate Talks Address Troubled Green Climate Fund (Again)

More than 190 nations at international climate talks in Lima, Peru, continued Dec. 10 to work on overcoming a serious rift over the aid richer nations are to give to developing nations under a 2015 global climate deal (again).

The U.S. and other rich nations pledged $100 billion-a-year in climate aid to poor countries beginning in 2020.  There is also a question about how individual countries should provide more detail on any climate aid they are considering when they prepare formal emissions-reduction pledges that will anchor the global climate accord to be signed a year from now in Paris.

Industrial nations first pledged the $100 billion-a-year aid at the 2009 Copenhagen climate summit and soon after set up a new Green Climate Fund (GCF). Pledges to the GCF hit what many heralded as a significant $10 billion threshold during the United Nations negotiations in the Peruvian capital, with pledges announced Dec. 9 from Belgium ($60 million) and Australia ($165 million). 

The 2015 deal to be finalized in Paris would commit developed and developing nations alike to actions to address greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2020.

The underlying rationale for providing the climate aid is that developing nations are far more likely to take on actions and sign on to the global climate deal if industrialized nations help them prepare for rising sea levels and other climate impacts caused largely by the emissions of developed nations.
The late-2015 Paris accord, if agreed to, would be the first truly global climate accord to cut greenhouse gas emissions and slow the rise in global temperatures.

But there are other disputes over climate finance, including whether only the U.S., the European Union, and other industrialized economies should be ponying up such funds given that many rapidly developing nations are now major emitters.

China, which overtook the U.S. years ago as the world's top emitter, has been silent on offering a contribution to GCF even as a number of smaller developing nations have come forward to make pledges, albeit relatively modest sums.  (Bloomberg, 12/11/2-14)


Tuesday, December 09, 2014

Compton To Catalina Island Program Trip 6

AAEA conducted its 6th Compton To Catalina Island Trip on Friday, December 5, 2014. The trip included the following participants: Dimond Williams, 15, King Drew High School, Jasmin Bumpas, 15, King Drew , Jessica Cortez,10, Ritter Elementary School, and Jaela Bumpas, 17, King Drew High School.


The trip included a tour of the Southern California Edison Pebbly Beach electricity power plant and submersible underwater tour of Avalon Bay where they observed numerous fish species and submerged aquatic vegetation. An interesting footnote is the the sea kelp were totally wiped out by recent storms.




Jaela Bumpas aspires to be a marine biologist and she was particularly impressed by the experience.

Monday, December 01, 2014

Briefing on Lack of Diversity at Environmental Groups

Public Briefing: Environmental and Non Profit Leaders Discuss Lack of Diversity in Mainstream Environmental Movement on December 9 at National Press Club

Nonprofit and environmental leaders outline solutions to diversity problem in the mainstream environmental movement  

Tuesday, December 9, Green 2.0 will convene a public briefing for media and stakeholders on the steps mainstream environmental organizations can take to increase diversity in the highest levels. Speakers will discuss the challenges that make bridging the diversity gap more urgent than ever, and what some are doing to solve it.  

The State of Diversity in Environmental Organizations report released by Green 2.0 garnered much press  and support this past summer.  The report found that although people of color now account for more than a third of the U.S. population, they have not, on average, broken the 16 percent “green ceiling” in mainstream environmental organizations, with the numbers being worse at the leadership levels.  

On the heels of this report, Green 2.0 launched a groundbreaking partnership with GuideStar and D5, a first-of-its-kind effort to collect and make transparent diversity data from NGOs and foundations in a standardized way.  Many environmental nonprofit and foundation leaders have already voiced support for this effort to help the sector to track whether progress is being made.   

WHAT: Public Briefing on “The State of Diversity in Environmental Organizations:
            Mainstream NGOs, Foundations & Government Agencies"

WHEN: 12:30 – 2:00 PM (Lunch will be served at 12:15 PM))
            Tuesday, December 9, 2014   
WHERE: National Press Club
              529 14th St NW, 11th Floor
              Washington, DC 20045

WHO: 
  • Rhea Suh - Incoming President, NRDC/ Former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior
  • Kelly Brown - Director, D5 Coalition
  • Jacob Harold - President, Guidestar
  • Roger-Mark DeSouza - Director, Population, Environmental Security and Resilience, Wilson Center
  • Robert Raben - Founder, The Raben Group and Green 2.0
 
For more information or to RSVP please contact Beth Lynk at blynk@rabengroup.com or 202-223-2848.  
# # #

Friday, November 28, 2014

EBONY Magazine Explores if Race Still Matters

In the report, EBONY identifies statistics related to race in the areas of economic disparity, education, entrepreneurship, health and well being, and protection under the law.  

The findings from the study revealed the following:

1.    62.3% of African-American homes were affected by predatory lending practices, versus 38.2% of White homes 
2.    The household income for African-Americans in 2013 was $34,598 versus the household income for whites at $58,270
3.    Of the $98.2 billion awarded in federal small business contracts in 2012, Black-owned firms received only 7.2 percent
4.    From 2010-2012, Black males between the ages of 15 and 19 years old were 21 times as likely as their White peers to be killed by police
5.    Under New York City’s Stop and Frisk practice, 14,549 (53 percent) Blacks were detained versus only 3,363 (12 percent) Whites. 
However, EBONY not only reports the statistics, but also offers solutions from experts such as Dr. Steve Perry, Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., Wes Moore and Attorney Paula Penn-Nabrit.
To supplement the feature, EBONY.com is featuring five videos on race relations interviews with thought-leaders including Dr. Ben Carson, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, Melissa Harris Perry, Rev. Al Sharpton, Julian Bond, Dr. Cornell West, Marian Wright Edelman, Don Lemon, Julian Bond, and many others. 
Readers can read the remaining results in the December issue of EBONY magazine, on newsstands now.  
About EBONY:
EBONY is the No. 1 national consumer lifestyle magazine targeting the African-American community. As the longest-running Black publication, EBONY has the largest reach in the African-American print space, reaching nearly 20 million readers annually. EBONY features the best thinkers, trendsetters, celebrities and next-generation leaders of African-Americans. EBONY ignites conversation, promotes empowerment and celebrates aspiration. Available nationwide on newsstands and on all digital platforms, EBONY is the heart, soul and pulse of African-Americans.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

EBONY Power 100 List for 2014

EBONY MAGAZINE UNVEILS ITS 2014 EBONY POWER 100 LIST
 Honorees on the 29th Annual List Include Gabrielle Union, LeBron James, Shonda Rhimes, Pharrell Williams, Kevin Hart and T.D. Jakes, 
Music Impresario Quincy Jones will receive the EBONY Achievement Award
 Gala Celebration in Los Angeles on November 19
EBONY Magazine unveiled its annual EBONY Power 100 list, which salutes the remarkable achievements of African-Americans in 2014. Among the game changers honored this year are NBA player LeBron James, Sam’s Club CEO Rosalind Brewer, television producer Shonda Rhimes, music producer Pharrell Williams, actresses Audra McDonald, Gabrielle Union and Laverne Cox, comedian Kevin Hart, ballerina Misty Copeland and Bishop T.D. Jakes.  
Quincy Jones –composer, record producer, artist, film producer, arranger, conductor, instrumentalist, TV producer, record company executive, magazine founder, multi-media entrepreneur and humanitarian –will receive the EBONY Achievement Award. The gala celebration will take place in Los Angeles on November 19, at the AVALON Hollywood.  
The EBONY editorial team selected the 100 most influential African-Americans in the country.  These achievers have made noteworthy accomplishments over the past year.  The list of outstanding leaders highlights individuals from a variety of fields, including business, medicine, sports, media, religion, the creative arts and more. As the curator of the African-American experience, EBONY is proud to showcase these individuals.  
These leaders are honored and recognized for changing the course of history and making an enduring and lasting impact in their communities and the world. 
The 2014 Power 100 list will appear in the December issue of EBONY, on newsstands the week of November 10. The full list of the EBONY Power 100 can also be found at EBONY.com here.
The December EBONY is also dedicated to the topic of race.  The publication looks at race relations in America today, and provides an opinion on why race still matters.
To supplement the feature, EBONY.com will also feature five videos on race relations interviews with thought-leaders including Dr. Ben Carson, Marc Lamont Hill, Melissa Harris Perry, Al Sharpton, Julian Bond, Dr. Cornell West, Marian Wright Edelman, Dr. Steve Perry and many others.  
About EBONY:
EBONY is the No. 1 national consumer lifestyle magazine targeting the African-American community. As the longest-running Black publication, EBONY has the largest reach in the African-American print space, reaching nearly 20 million readers annually. EBONY features the best thinkers, trendsetters, celebrities and next-generation leaders of African-Americans. EBONY ignites conversation, promotes empowerment and celebrates aspiration. Available nationwide on newsstands and on all digital platforms, EBONY is the heart, soul and pulse of African-Americans.  
Salutation
First Name
Last Name

Power 100 Category 1
Ms.
Rosalind
Brewer
President and CEO of Sam's Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.. As of 2014, she is listed as the 64th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes
Power Brokers
Ms.
Jekalyn
Carr
Evangelist, entrepreneur & gospel artist - 17yrs old
Young Leaders
Mr.
Charles
King
Partner/Agent in the Motion Picture Department at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment (WME)
Power Brokers
Mr.
Kevin
Hart
Actor and comedian.
Innovators
Ms.
Viola
Davis
Oscar Nominated Actress (Doubt and The Help)
Cultural Influencers
Ms.
Denise
Young Smith
Apple's vice president of Worldwide Human Resources, responsible for attracting and retaining top talent at Apple
Power Brokers
Ms.
Nicole
Bernard
‎SVP, Audience Strategy at Fox Group, Fox Entertainmet
Power Brokers
Ms.
Zola
Mashariki
Senior Vice President
Power Brokers
Ms.
Shonda
Rhimes
Screenwriter, director, and producer. Rhimes is best known as the creator, head writer, executive producer and showrunner of Grey's Anatomy and Scandal
Innovators
Mr.
Jason
Collins
Professional basketball center for the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA & openly gay basketball player
Firsts
Ms.
Brittney
Griner
Basketball center with the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA
Firsts
Mr.
Levar
Burton
Actor & Executive Producer of Reading Rainbow
Community Crusaders
Dr.
Neil
Degrasse Tyson
Astrophysicist, author, and science communicator.
The Thinkers
Ms.
Gabrielle
Union
Actress (Being Mary Jane)
Cultural Influencers
Mr.
Roland
Martin
Journalist & TV Host (TV One & News One Now)
The Thinkers
Mr.
Keegan-Michael
Key
Comedian & TV Show Producer (Key & Peele TV Show)
Cultural Influencers
Mr.
Jordan
Peele
Comedian & TV Show Producer (Key & Peele TV Show)
Cultural Influencers
Mr.
Kevin
Frazier


Ms.
Lena
Waithe
Writer & Producer (YouTube series “Dear White People)
Cultural Influencers
Mr.
Kwasi
Ennis
NY Teen Accepted To All 8 Ivy League Schools - 17yrs old
Young Leaders
Mr.
Ron
Davis
Activist (Parents of teenager Jordan Davis)
Community Crusaders
Mr.
Phillip
Agnew
Executive Director of Dream Defenders
Community Crusaders
Dr.
Elmira
Mangum, Ph.D.
11th president of Florida A&M University (FAMU)
Firsts
Ms.
Erika H.
James
Emory University's new dean of Goizueta Business School, making her the first African American female to hold that position in the school’s history.
Firsts
Dr.
Valerie
Montgomery Rice
1st female CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine
The Thinkers
Ms.
Lucia
McBath
Activist (Parents of teenager Jordan Davis)
Community Crusaders
Ms.
Oprah
Winfrey
Media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropis
Power Brokers
Rev.
Jesse
Jackson, Sr.
Civil rights activist and Baptist minister
Dream Keepers
Ms
Elizabeth
Dozier
Principal of Fenger High School (Chicago)
Community Crusaders

The Chicago Robinson West Team

National Little League Champions
Young Leaders
Mr.
Will
Packer
Filmmaker & Producer (Ride Along & No Good Deed)
Cultural Influencers
Mr.
Steve
Harvey
Comedian & TV Host (The Steve Harvey Show)
Cultural Influencers
Mr.
Norman
Francis
President of Xavier University of Louisiana since 1968
Dream Keepers
Mr.
Larry
Wilmore
Writer & Actor (The Daily Show)
Cultural Influencers
Ms.
Stephenie C.
Hill
Vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s] Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS) Civil business & she was named the 2014 Black Engineer of the Year
Power Brokers
Mr.
Michael Andrew
Owens
President of The Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit & Vicinity, Inc
Community Crusaders
Mr.
Stephen
Henderson
Journalist & 2014 Pulitzer Prize Winner for Journalism
Cultural Influencers
Mr.
Kain
Colter
Football Running back and Wide Receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL
Innovators
Ms.
Maya
Moore
Basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx of the WBNA & the Shanxi Flame of the Chinese league
Champions
Ms.
Laysha
Ward
President of Community Relations for Target and a member of its executive committee
Power Brokers
Mr.
Arnold W.
Donald
President & CEO
Power Brokers
Mr.
Ron
Johnson
Prominent figure in the aftermath shooting of Michael Brown
Community Crusaders
Mr.
Jaylen
Bledsoe
Technology entrepreneur - 16yrs old
Young Leaders
Ms.
Paulette
Brown
President of the American Bar Association. The first woman of color to lead the nation’s most influential lawyer’s group.
Firsts
Mr.
Floyd
Mayweather
Pro boxer, Undefeated as a professional and is a five-division world champion
Champions
Ms.
Claire
Sulmers
Journalist & blogger of 1#  destination for multicultural fashion.
Socia Media Influencers
Mr.
Pharrell
Williams
Grammy Award winning musician/entrepreneur Pharrell Williams is a creative force, using music, fashion, and design to express his distinctive style
Innovators
Ms.
Audra
McDonald
Actress and singer. Six time Tony Award winner. Won more than any other actor of either gender, and is the only person to win all four acting categories for either gender
Firsts
Dr.
Danielle
Allen, Ph.D.
An American classicist and political scientist, and UPS Foundation Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study
Firsts
Ms.
Laverne
Cox
Actress, reality television star, television producer, and LGBTQ advocate (co-stars in Orange Is The New Black)
Firsts
Ms.
Michele A.
Roberts
Executive director of the National Basketball Players Association. She is the first woman to hold that position and the first woman to head a major professional sports union in North America
Firsts
Ms.
Sherrilyn
Ifill
President & Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc.
Dream Keepers
Ms.
Natasha
Eubanks
CEO of TheYBF.com
Socia Media Influencers
Ms.
Alexis
McGill Johnson
Chair, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)
Community Crusaders
Ms.
Chimamanda
Ngozi Adichie
Writer of African literature
The Thinkers
Ms.
Kara
Walker
Contemporary artist
The Thinkers
Mr.
Shaun
T.
Entrepreneur, celebrity fitness trainer & choreographer
The Thinkers
Ms.
Wendy
Willams
TV Show Host & Producer (The Wendy Williams Show)
Cultural Influencers
Mr.
Michael
Strahan
Talk Show Host & NFL Hall of Famer
Cultural Influencers
Ms.
Misty
Copeland
American Ballerina
Cultural Influencers
Ms.
Sasheer
Zamata
Actress & Comedian (Saturday Night Live)
Cultural Influencers
Ms.
Lupita
Nyongo
Oscar Winning Actress (12 Years A Slave)
Cultural Influencers
Ms.
Bevy
Smith
TV Personality (Fashion Queens)
Cultural Influencers
Ms.
Courtney
Kemp Agboh
TV Show Producer (Power)
Cultural Influencers
Ms.
Ericka
Pittman
Vice President
Cultural Influencers
Mr.
Theodore  V.
Wells, Jr.
The National Law Journal named Ted one of “The Decade’s Most Influential Lawyers” and over the years has repeatedly selected him as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America
Power Brokers
Mr.
Dean
Baquet
A Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist and the executive editor of The New York Times. He is the first African-American to serve as executive editor, the highest-ranking position in the paper's newsroom
Power Brokers
Ms.
Shante
Bacon
Founder of 135th Street Agency, runs one of the top agencies in the country. With a client list that includes the Oprah Winfrey
Power Brokers
Ms.
Kathy
Thornton-Bias
President of Bang & Olufsen America, the Danish provider of premium, high quality audio and video products
Power Brokers
Rev.
Al
Sharpton
Baptist minister, civil rights activist, television/radio talk show host
Dream Keepers
Ms.
Beyonce
Knowles
Entertainer & Producer
Cultural Influencers
Ms.
Joy-Ann
Reid
Jounalist & Managing Editor of TheGrio.com and an on-air contributor on MSNBC
Dream Keepers
Mr.
Rickey
Smiley & Morning Show Crew
Comedian, Radio/TV Host & DJs (Morning Show Crew)
Cultural Influencers
Mr.
LeBron
James
Basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA
Champions
Dr.
Victor
Garcia
Founder of Buckle Up Campaign
The Thinkers
Ms.
Gale V.
King
Content Partnerships Director at Google where he is in charge of premium film, TV and new media partnerships for YouTube
Power Brokers
Mr.
Michael
Coleman
Mayor of Columbus, OH, the longest active African-American mayor of a major city
Power Brokers
Mr.
Marc Lamont
Hill
Political Pundit, Author & Distinguished Prof. of AA Studies at Morehouse College
Dream Keepers
Bishop
T.D.
Jakes
Apostle/Bishop of The Potter's House, a non-denominational megachurch, 30,000 members
Faithful Few
Mr.
Michael
Sam
Football defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys organization & first openly-gay pro football player
Firsts
Ms.
Tamela
Mann
Actress and gospel singer
Faithful Few
Mr.
Russell
Wilson
Football quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks in NFL
Champions
Mr.
Richard
Sherman
Football cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL
Champions
Ms.
Mignon
Clydburn
Commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission since she was nominated by President Barack Obama on June 25, 2009, and sworn in on August 3, 2009.
Cultural Influencers
Admiral
Michelle
Howard
First woman and African-American woman to achieve the rank of admiral in the Navy
Firsts
Mr.
Ta-Nehesi
Coates
American writer, journalist, and educator
The Thinkers
Mr.
Gilbert
Campbell
Founders of Volt Energy (Green Technology Company)
The Thinkers
Mr.
Simon Antonio
Francis
Founders of Volt Energy (Green Technology Company)
The Thinkers
Mr.
Steve
McQueen
British film director, producer, screenwriter, and video artist. (Oscar winner for 12 Years A Slave)
Firsts
Ms.
Alexis
Wilkinson
The first African-American to be at the helm of the "Harvard Lampoon" since its creation in 1876
Firsts
Mr.
Andre Romelle "Dr. Dre"
Young
Record producer, rapper & entrepreneur. founder & current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment & Beats Electronics.
Firsts
Mr.
Derek
Jeter
Baseball shortstop in 20th and final season in MLB for the New York Yankees
Champions
Mr.
Kevin
Durant
Professional basketball player with the Oklahoma City Thunder
Champions
Bishop
Noel
Jones
Senior pastor of the City of Refuge Church in Gardena, CA,  17,000 members
Faithful Few
Mr.
John Silvanus
Wilson
11th President of Morehouse College
Dream Keepers

#BringBackOurGirls
Obiageli Ezekwesili
On April 14th, 230 School girls were kidnapped from the Chibok Government Secondary School by Boko Haram Terrorists in Nigeria. All 230 are still missing.
Socia Media Influencers
Mr.
Carlton
Haywood
Faculty - Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics
The Thinkers
Ms.
Mo'Ne
Davis
Female Little League baseball pitcher Philadelphia, PA
Young Leaders
Mr.
Chadwick
Boseman
Actor (42 & Get On Up)
Cultural Influencers
Mr.
Kanye
West
Rapper & Producer
Cultural Influencers
Mr.
Usher
Raymond
Entertainer & Judge/Mentor (The Voice)
Cultural Influencers
Mr.
Jesse
Williams
Actor (Grey's Anatomy), Activist (Civil Rights)
Cultural Influencers
Ms.
Danielle
Lee
Creator of the Urban Scientist Blog
Social Media Influencers