Horses Find New Homes Through the Internet

Filed under: Pets 911, Press Releases - August 31, 2007

Horsemen and women looking for a new mount or companion can now search the Internet for adoptable equines, through a national horse adoption database launched by The Humane Society of the United States and Pets 911.

The website, available through humanesociety.org and Pets911.com, is a clearinghouse of available horses offered by a wide spectrum of rescue organizations. Any non-profit rescue with horses available for adoption is eligible to participate, and there is no charge to list or search for horses. More than 100 horses are currently posted on the site, and that number is expected to grow rapidly as more rescues avail themselves of this marketing outlet. Horse rescue groups interested in posting horses on the Horse Adoption Network should contact: .

“Pets 911 is always happy to team up with The Humane Society of the United States because of its commitment to the well-being of animals,” said Pets 911 Program Manager Tracyann Mains. “We are excited for the opportunity to promote horses as an important form of animal companionship in addition to household pets like cats and dogs.”

“This new service is in keeping with our philosophy that an adopted horse is an excellent choice for many horse enthusiasts – and that rescues should be one of the first places they look for a new prospect,” said Keith Dane, The Humane Society of the United States director of equine protection. “Many people only think of dogs and cats when they think of pet adoption. With this marketing search tool, more people can now consider adoption when deciding to bring a new horse into their lives. Rescued horses can have successful careers as competitors in the show ring, as recreational riding horses–and of course–as companion animals.”

Dane continued. “Through this joint project of The Humane Society of the United States and Pets 911, prospective horse owners can quickly ‘visit’ multiple horses without driving, sometimes hundreds of miles, from stable to stable. Once they find the horse that seems like a good fit for their goals and needs, they can then travel to verify that they have indeed found their ideal companion.”

About the Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization – backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at www.humanesociety.org.

About Pets 911
Pets 911 is the national pet lost and found database and is also one of the top pet adoption portals. Pets911.com provides other valuable information to pet owners, including locations of emergency clinics, veterinarians and shelters along with helpful advice on training, behavior and pet health.

Student Printz: Going Green: Recycling can be incorporated into daily life

Filed under: Earth 911 - August 28, 2007

By: Brandon Drescher and Jodie Jawor, Ph.D
Posted: 8/28/07

We’ve all heard about the concerns of global warming and the decline in overall environmental quality overall, and many people wonder what they can do to be more environmentally friendly.

One of the most important and influential things you can do to help the environment is to recycle. We have all seen advertisements telling us how good recycling can be. It is not hard and isn’t time consuming at all. It is very easy to incorporate recycling into your daily life.

The aluminum can is the most valuable material to recycle. Over 50 percent of aluminum cans are recycled, but that can always go up. It takes 95 percent less energy to make a new can from a used can. The amount of energy needed to produce one can from virgin aluminum ore can make 20 recycled cans. Recycling one aluminum can also produce 95 percent less air pollution and 97 percent less water pollution than making a can from new ore, and it can be back on the shelves within 90 days.

By recycling a singe can, you can save enough energy to run your television for three hours. For those who worry about soaring gas prices take this into account, throwing away one aluminum can wastes as much energy as throwing out half of that can’s volume of gasoline.
The tab of our soda can holds the purest aluminum available, and the Ronald McDonald’s House for Kids Foundation collects them. So even if you do not recycle the can itself, save the pop tab for another good cause.

Or, you could take your recycled aluminum cans to your nearest recycling center and earn some money. About 40 pounds of aluminum cans is worth roughly $20.
Paper is another material that is easily recyclable. Everyone uses a large amount of paper during the school year, but instead of throwing it away why not put it in a recycling bin? The production of a ton of paper requires 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water and more energy per ton than the production of glass or steel.

More than 40 percent of garbage being dumped each year is paper. More than 67 million tons of paper are used annually, which is about 580 pounds per person. In 1997 13,600 tons of paper were recycled, saving 231,300 trees and 95,200,000 million gallons of water. One tree can filter up to 60 pounds of pollutants from the air each year, so imagine how much pollution could be filtered from the air with that many trees being saved.

The Student Printz is the main newspaper read on campus. If you’d care to save a 40-foot fir tree, all you need to do is recycle a four-foot stack of the Printz. For every ton of newspaper recycled, enough energy is saved to power a TV for 31 hours.

It’s a new school year, time to establish new habits and interests and it’s time to take the facts concerning the health of our environment to heart. One way of helping is by making recycling a priority in each of our lives in order to better our environment and ourselves.

For more information on recycling, see the Web sites buyrecyled.com, oroloma.org or earth911.org, or go to a Sierra Club meeting on Tuesday nights at 5 p.m. in room 229 of the Thad Cochran Center.

Earth 911 Encourages Proper Disposal of DMX Merchandise

Filed under: Earth 911, Press Releases - August 27, 2007

Scottsdale, AZ – Expecting a backlash from animal lovers against rapper Earl Simmons, aka DMX, after his home in Cave Creek, AZ was raided on Friday and found with a dozen dogs that were not being properly cared for, the nation’s premier environmental resource Earth 911 would like to encourage any disposal of DMX CDs and memorabilia to be handled with the environment in mind.

The DMX case comes on the heels of the Michael Vick guilty plea today stemming from his involvement in an illegal dog fighting competition. Vick has already seen several of his national sponsorships pulled, leading to thousands of football jerseys and tennis shoes being removed from the shelves.

Both Earth 911 and its sister site Pets 911 are promoting an environmentally-friendly reaction to these incidents. If you feel the need to dispose of DMX-related material, either recycle it or donate to a second-hand store, both of which can be found at the Earth 911 Web site (http://earth911.org). At Earth911.org, visitors can search for locations in their area for recycling or donating for reuse compact discs, posters or other DMX merchandise that doesn’t belong in a landfill.

Both Earth 911 and Pets 911 are cause media channels of the parent company Global Alerts, based in Scottsdale. Earth 911 provides actionable content on recycling in addition to the only national recycling facility locator database. Pets 911 is the national pet lost and found database and also provides content on the safe treatment of animals.

About Earth 911
Earth 911 delivers actionable local information on the environment that empowers people to act locally, live responsibly and contribute to sustainability.

By simply entering a location or zip-code at the www.Earth911.org environmental portal or 1-800-CLEANUP, users can access the leading comprehensive resource for community-specific “actionable” information about:

These resources are provided at no cost to the user or taxpayer. Earth 911 centralizes information and resources into single user-friendly, neutral and non-governmental network. This Public and Private Sector Partnership combines the strength and action of America’s marketplace with local, current and high quality information to achieve economies of scale and scope and contribute significantly to sustainability through public service.

As Americans become increasingly engaged in environmental causes and responsible lifestyle, it is critical that local information empowering awareness, education, and action be made easily accessible and widely available. Earth 911 delivers these resources and in doing so, establishes a proactive and unparalleled solution to today’s environmental challenges.

Earth 911 Factoids

About Pets 911
The mission of Pets911.com is to provide a public service that will one day create an America where all pets are valued companions that have lifelong, loving homes. Since 1998, Pets 911 has brought together the nation’s premiere animal welfare organizations, local government animal control agencies, and animal service providers to create the most comprehensive resource for pet health and well-being on the web.

At any given time, Pets 911 includes listings for more than 30,000 adoptable pets at nearly 8,000 animal shelters, contact information for more than 6,000 veterinarians, and postings of more than 8,000 lost or found pets. For more information, go to Pets911.com.

About Global Alerts
Earth 911 and Pets 911 are divisions of the cause media company Global Alerts. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Global Alerts has been the leading Cause Media company since 1991.

Global Alerts creates and delivers a world-class Mass Notification System (MNS) platform and compelling websites and communities. Its highly popular Cause Media web portals include www.Amberalert.com, www.Earth911.org, www.Pets911.com and www.1800Cleanup.org. Patent-pending technology and award-winning content from Global Alerts enable everyone to “Know Now, Act Fast and Make a Difference.”

Islandpacket.com: Swimming Advisory Lifted for Hilton Head Island Beach

Filed under: Earth 911 - August 24, 2007

A swimming advisory issued for a section of Hilton Head Island beach, 200 feet above and below the beach access at Tower Beach off of Sea Pines Drive, has been lifted, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control announced today.

Test results from samples were within acceptable limits. DHEC inspectors sample ocean water twice a month from May through October.

For more information about beach water quality, go to www.earth911.org, or call DHEC’s Region 8 Environmental Quality Control office at 843-846-1030.

Lowell Sun: Motor oil can be recycled, too

Filed under: Earth 911 - August 20, 2007

08/20/2007

Do-it-yourself auto maintenance can save you time and money, but you should be careful with used motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze, dead batteries and other automotive waste.

Handled or discarded improperly, these items pose serious risks to your health and the environment. The state Department of Environmental Protection wants to help you do the right thing — motor oil can be recycled.

According to the EPA, more than 40 percent of our nation’s oil pollution comes from the improper disposal of used motor oil. Used motor oil should always be recycled — never thrown in the trash, dumped on the ground, or poured into the sewer or down the drain.

Currently, used motor oil can be reused one of three ways: reconditioning, reprocessing or re-refining. Seventy-four percent of all oil recycling in the U.S. is for burning in turbines, incinerators, power plants, cement kilns and manufacturing facilities.

Used motor oil may contain potentially toxic substances, additives, contaminants and carcinogens. Because of these impurities, used motor oil should be disposed of correctly to ensure the safety of the environment.

Collect oil in a clean container with a screw cap, such as the original container, or a clean, labeled plastic jug. Do not mix other lubricants, such as brake or transmission fluid. Cap container to keep out dirt and water. Do not bring oil in bleach or cleaner bottles, or containers that previously held chemicals. Clean spills with kitty litter, vermiculite or rags, place in a bag and dispose of in the trash. Dirty oil filters can be disposed of in the trash, as long as you take proper precautions. Remove remaining oil by puncturing the filter and draining over a container. Drain filters on a rack for 12 hours while they are hot. Add recovered oil to the oil you previously drained from your engine. Finally, wrap the filter carefully in a rag and throw it away.

Return used oil to the store where it was purchased. Retailers in Massachusetts are required to accept oil for recycling if there is a purchase receipt. AutoZone, Advance Auto and Consumer Auto Parts will accept up to 2 gallons of used oil per day, free of charge.

Check with your town for special collections. Household hazardous-waste days are held frequently. Lowell’s next event is Saturday, Sept. 29. There will be a collection in Chelmsford on Saturday, Nov. 3. Tewksbury offers oil drop-off for residents only on the third Saturday of every month at the DPW, 999 Whipple Road. The last Saturday of each month, Lowell residents can bring oil to the Duck Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, 451 First Street Blvd., from 8 a.m. to noon.

For more information, call the DEP used-oil hot line at (617) 556-1022. This number should also be used to report retailers who are unwilling to accept used oil.

For more on oil recycling, go to http://earth911.org. For links to your town’s recycling information, visit: www.MVRecycles.org. For questions or comments visit www.lowellrecycle.org or contact Gunther Wellenstein at (978) 446-7277 or e-mail recycle@lowellma.gov.

CNNMoney.com: COMEDY CENTRAL Cleans Up Its Act and Starts To Address The Mess With Pro-Social Initiative Geared To Reducing Waste and Reviving The Planet

Filed under: Earth 911 - August 17, 2007

Now that Pluto is gone as a back-up, COMEDY CENTRAL is poised to step up and Address the Mess. The network has launched a new pro-social campaign committed to showing viewers easy ways to reduce waste, improve their lives and help revive the planet, it was announced today by Michele Ganeless, executive vice president and general manager for COMEDY CENTRAL, part of Viacom’s MTV Networks.

The first phase of Address the Mess features a Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign designed to introduce the initiative and prompt a call-to- action to visit AddressTheMess.com (www.addressthemess.com) , an engaging, interactive and educational Web site that will inform visitors on a variety of environmental issues and provide links to partner sites such as the Natural Resources Defense Council, Earth 911 and GreenDimes that offer specific information about what people can do and how they can effect change by providing real, tactical ways to take action.

“Address the Mess takes on a critical issue at a critical time with a flexible and far-reaching approach,” said Ganeless. “The Address the Mess message will extend across multiple COMEDY CENTRAL platforms and will support people looking to make a difference not just on the national and global scale, but on an individual level and in their own communities.”

“A lot of people in the COMEDY CENTRAL audience want to do their part; they just aren’t sure where to begin. We want to help them find that starting point and inspire and move others to act as well,” said Kelleigh Dulany, vice president, public responsibility, COMEDY CENTRAL and Spike TV. “Environment concerns are especially relevant to our audience and we’ve made the message of this initiative accessible to them by putting it in the unique COMEDY CENTRAL voice. We can be direct and concise without appearing pushy or preachy.”

Address the Mess aims to help individuals identify their own carbon footprint and offer information on how to reduce it. Visitors to AddressTheMess.com will be invited to take a quiz to determine how large or small of an impact their footprint makes. Specific area of focus will be education on proper trash disposal of household items, motor oil and e-ware (COMEDY CENTRAL’s audience has one of the largest concentration of early- adopters to the latest and greatest gadgets — what’s the best way to dispose of that six-month old cell phone they now consider hopelessly outdated?), as well as ways to reduce the amount of junk mail cluttering mailboxes and claiming trees. Also on a personal and local level, Address the Mess will encourage action with community clean-up projects and the revitalization of neighborhoods and historic venues.

Along with its presence on-air and online, COMEDY CENTRAL will spread the message of Address the Mess through the network’s successful COMEDY CENTRAL Live stand-up tours, beginning with a college tour this fall which will include student involvement in recycling drives. The network is also in discussions with its national advertising and affiliate partners to build the reach and impact of the initiative (details to be announced at a later date). COMEDY CENTRAL has previously announced that, with the help of NativeEnergy, a national marketer of carbon offsets and renewable energy credits (RECs), this year’s “COMEDY CENTRAL Roast of Flavor Flav” was the network’s first-ever carbon neutral production.

COMEDY CENTRAL, the only all-comedy network, currently is seen in more than 91 million homes nationwide. COMEDY CENTRAL is owned by, and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of VIACOM Inc.’s MTV Networks. COMEDY CENTRAL’s Internet address is www.comedycentral.com. For up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs visit Press Central, COMEDY CENTRAL’s press web site at www.comedycentral.com/press.

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom , is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with 137 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 200 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

Just Dog Breeds Honors Pets 911 Website For Public Education

Filed under: Pets 911, Press Releases - August 16, 2007

Scottsdale, AZ – Just Dog Breeds has honored Pets 911 with its top honor, the 2007 Just Dog Breeds Website Award, for its work educating the public on adopting, raising and training dogs.

Just Dog Breeds awarded Pets 911 this honor after visiting the Pets 911 website (http://pets911.com) and admiring the services it provides. Pets 911 provides a zip-code based search database of lost and adoptable dogs throughout the U.S., as well as veterinarian listings for all of these areas and content on keeping dogs healthy.

“Pets 911 is honored to receive this distinction from Just Dog Breeds,” said Pets 911 CEO Jeffrey Rassás. “We believe in the well-being of all dogs and other pets, so we always appreciate the recognition from like-minded organizations.”

About Pets 911
The mission of Pets911.com is to provide a public service that will one day create an America where all pets are valued companions that have lifelong, loving homes. Since 1998, Pets 911 has brought together the nation’s premiere animal welfare organizations, local government animal control agencies, and animal service providers to create the most comprehensive resource for pet health and well-being on the web.

At any given time, Pets 911 includes listings for more than 30,000 adoptable pets at nearly 8,000 animal shelters, contact information for more than 6,000 veterinarians, and postings of more than 8,000 lost or found pets. For more information, go to Pets911.com.

About Global Alerts
Pets 911 is a division of the cause media company Global Alerts. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Global Alerts has been the leading Cause Media company since 1991.

Global Alerts creates and delivers a world-class Mass Notification System (MNS) platform and compelling websites and communities. Its highly popular Cause Media web portals include www.Amberalert.com, www.Earth911.org, www.Pets911.com, and www.1800Cleanup.org. Patent-pending technology and award-winning content from Global Alerts enable everyone to “Know Now, Act Fast and Make a Difference.”

About Just Dog Breeds
Just Dog Breeds provides the pluses and minuses of over 150 dog breeds, letting you quickly find out the good and bad points about every popular breed. Just Dog Breeds helps you discover whether the particular dog you are considering has the personality and physical characteristics you want in a dog. For more information, visit http://justdogbreeds.com.

PR Week: Comedy Central launches site to highlight environment issues

Filed under: Earth 911 - August 16, 2007

Randi Schmelzer
Aug 16 2007

NEW YORK: Comedy Central has launched a call-to-action effort to save the environment, one obsolete cell phone at a time.

The “Address the Mess” initiative is “about giving people the information and resources to reduce their own environmental impact,” said Tony Fox, EVP corporate communications for MTV Networks Entertainment Group, Comedy Central’s parent company. “It’s putting power in the hands of viewers, as opposed to a larger business or industry plan.”

Introduced August 10, initial campaign components include PSAs encouraging viewers to visit AddresstheMess.com, a Web site loaded with specific, actionable ways to decrease their carbon footprints. Some are as easy as recycling outdated mobile phones and properly disposing household trash, Fox said. The site also lists links to partner organizations including Earth 911 and Native Energy.

Other than the PSAs, early PR efforts focused on the launch itself, Fox said. He added, though, that Comedy Central is committed to spreading its “Address the Mess” message. In the fall, for example, a network-sponsored college stand-up tour will include student involvement in branded recycling drives. All PR is currently being handled in-house.

According to Fox, Comedy Central had been looking to engage in a long-term “prosocial” project for some time. But “because we make fun of things in so much of what we do, coming up with the [right concept] was a challenge,” he explained.

What the network knew for certain was that its primary audience – 18-34, educated, and affluent, Fox said – was “looking for information, and ways to make a difference.”

Based on research by an outside firm, Comedy Central also knew that among its core demographic’s most pressing concerns, “the environment was one that just kept coming back … this was what viewers were interested in.”

Still, Fox said, now that “Address the Mess” has launched, the network is considering ways to broaden its reach.

“Giving people information, empowering them to make personal changes,” can extend to issues beyond the environment, he said. That could mean topics such as education, literacy, or voter registration. Tackling the latter, in particular, would help “mobilize young people to have a say in the upcoming election,” Fox said, as well as “provide partnership [opportunities] with a lot of organizations.”

TV Week: This Mess Is No Laughing Matter

Filed under: Earth 911 - August 15, 2007

Comedy Central Launches Green Push

John Lafayette
August 15, 2007

Comedy Central is going green.

The network has announced an initiative called “Address the Mess,” designed to help viewers reduce waste and revive the planet.

The first phase of the Address the Mess program is a public service announcement campaign explaining the initiative to viewers and urging them to visit the Web site addressthemess.com.

The site will provide information about a variety of environmental issues and link to partners such as the National Resources Defense Council, Earth 911 and Green Dimes.

On the site, users will be able to identify their own carbon footprint and get information about how to reduce it. They also will be able to take a quiz on the impact their carbon footprint makes in affecting the overall environment.

Trash disposal issues also will be addressed. With Comedy Central viewers being early adopters of gadgets, knowing the best way to dispose of an outdated cell phone or computer is essential.

Addressthemess.com will encourage action with community clean-up projects.

In addition, Comedy Central will spread the Address the Mess word through its standup comedy tours, including a college tour that will try to get students involved in recycling drives.

The network said it is in discussions with its national advertisers and affiliates about adding to the reach and impact of the campaign.

“Address the Mess takes on a critical issue at a critical time with a flexible and far-reaching approach,” said Michele Ganeless, executive VP and general manager for Viacom’s Comedy Central. “The Address the Mess message will extend across multiple Comedy Central platforms and will support people looking to make a difference not just on the national and global scale, but on an individual level and in their own communities.”

The network said its recent roast of Flavor Flav was the network’s first carbon-neutral production.

This article is part of TVWeek.com’s Media Planner newsletter, a weekly source of breaking news, trend articles, profiles and data about media planning edited by Senior Editor Jon Lafayette.

Cleveland Daily Banner: Club notes

Filed under: Earth 911 - August 15, 2007

August 15, 2007 10:32 AM EDT

The Aldersgate Garden Club

The Aldersgate Garden Club held its monthly meeting on June 22, at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church with 11 members and one guest in atttendance. Charlotte Scott was the hostess for the meeting and displayed an assorted arrangement of Pink and yellow zinnia, calla liIly, purple dahlia and white impatiens from her garden.

Scott called the meeting to order. The devotion, “Seeking Christ and the Cross,” based on Hebrews 12:2-11, was given by Joan Steward. The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag followed.
She discussed her display board prepared on Litter and introduced her guest for the meeting, Dan Jones from Walker Valley High School. Jones presented an informative program on recycling. He informed the club of why he started a program at Walker Valley High School. There are only three drop-off facilities in Cleveland, which are located on Urbane Road, Bradley County Landfill and South Lee Highway. There are no means of collecting plastics or glass in the area.

Jones discussed a report called, “On-Campus Recycling,” prepared in April 2007 by Robert Brewer’s Environmental Science class at Cleveland State Community College. The purpose of the document was to encourage the faculty, staff and students at Cleveland State to re-implement a sustainable on-campus recycling policy. Recycling is believed to be a concept for maintaining the environment to support mankind now and in the future. They indicated that in order to have a successful recycling policy at the college, it would have to start with positive attitudes from everyone involved, public understanding, awareness and support, and the use of resources already available.

Their findings indicated the cost would be minimal because there are already recycle bins available and waste removal is currently being paid for. The biggest cost would be due to time and effort. Some of the benefits of a recycling program are the saving of resources and energy, the reduction of pollutants from entering the air and water and economic benefits. The class found their recycling facts, compiled from sources including the National Recycling Coalition, Environmental Protection Agency and Earth 911 Organization, indicated any waste reduction and recycling activity implemented by Cleveland State would make a difference.

Jones emphasized Cleveland does not have the means to recycle glass and plastic, but encouraged Aldersgate members to become pro-active in recycling aluminum cans, newspapers, cardboard and to practice proper disposal of household items. He suggested the club assist in promoting the reimplementation of the program in the city. Jones has implemented a successful recycling program at Walker Valley High School, he would like to see more schools, colleges and churches get involved in recycling. He also met with the Environmental Class at Cleveland State to discuss a recycling program.

Scott thanked Jones for addressing the group and gave him a certificate of appreciation.
After a short business session, Sheryl Gash gave thanks to the hostess and the meeting was adjourned. Other members in attendance were Barbara Brown, Kay Cox, Regina Piersaul, Edwina Robinson, Charlotte Timberlake, Margenia Todd, Lelia Ware and Jackie Westfield. Billie Blair was a guest.

Plenty Magazine: Lifestyles of the Green and the Famous

Filed under: Earth 911 - August 14, 2007

Red Carpet vs. Green Carpet

The Emmys pulled the rug out from under Fox TV’s plan to switch the proverbial red carpet to a green walkway to welcome celebs at the annual awards show next month. The network’s eco-agenda did get the TV Academy to agree to recyclable materials for invites, tix, and programs, hybrid/bio-fueled vehicles, alt-powered generators, local/organic food at the Governors Ball, and a literal interpretation of the eco-friendly greenroom.

“We are looking at every aspect of our Emmy season…making changes that will reduce our impact on the environment,” said Dick Askin, chairman and CEO of the TV Academy, who apparently stuck with a traditional red mat to match Macy’s ads. The rug will be made of recycled materials and be donated to a school or library afterwards.

On another not-so-eco-note, Charlie Sheen commented on the upshot of his show, Two and a Half Men receiving so many nods: “It is a really special day when so many of your cohorts receive a nomination that the idea of carpooling now becomes unrealistic.” Good luck, Chuck (and Jon Cryer) on Comedy Lead Actor. Perhaps the winner drives?

Color me comical: Comedy Central launched their version of a green campaign yesterday in its witty way by challenging viewers to “clean up their act.” What’s your issue? Home, car, or electronic waste? Watch snarky Stephen Colbert’s “The Convenientest Truth,” even videos from South Park and the upcoming Roast of Flavor Flav, the net’s first carbon-neutral show. Partnering with the NRDC, Earth 911 and Green Dimes, they’re doing their bit to reduce the damage with clever eco-ed.

At stand-up tours at colleges this fall they’ll distribute “Waste Sucks” reusable totes, the latest must-have fashion accessory. Since Comedy Central viewers are high consumers of new gadgetry, this effort will show just how unconscious they are with an amusing quiz and link to measure their emissions. Now, how about Cartman’s? As always, CC delivers the news that’s foot to print, proving doom and gloom can be fun to fix.

On Nightline to promote this weekend’s release of The 11th Hour, Leonardo DiCaprio got the standard interrogation about celebs not walking the talk. He responded, “Why shoot the messenger?” When it came to answering the proverbial “paper or plastic?” Leo said “Paper, of course.” Though his sisters, Nadia Conners and Leila Conners Petersen, the film’s directors/co-producers, chimed in unison: “Neither! Bring your own bag.” (See above “Waste Sucks.”)

Posted by Roberta Cruger on Aug 14, 2007

COMEDY CENTRAL Cleans Up Its Act With Address the Mess

Filed under: Earth 911, Press Releases - August 12, 2007

NEW YORK, NY - Now that Pluto is gone as a back-up, COMEDY CENTRAL is poised to step up and Address the Mess. The network has launched a new pro-social campaign committed to showing viewers easy ways to reduce waste, improve their lives and help revive the planet, it was announced today by Michele Ganeless, executive vice president and general manager for COMEDY CENTRAL, part of Viacom’s MTV Networks.

The first phase of Address the Mess features a Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign designed to introduce the initiative and prompt a call-to-action to visit AddressTheMess.com, an engaging, interactive and educational Web site that will inform visitors on a variety of environmental issues and provide links to partner sites such as the Natural Resources Defense Council, Earth 911 and GreenDimes that offer specific information about what people can do and how they can effect change by providing real, tactical ways to take action.

“Address the Mess takes on a critical issue at a critical time with a flexible and far-reaching approach,” said Ganeless. “The Address the Mess message will extend across multiple COMEDY CENTRAL platforms and will support people looking to make a difference not just on the national and global scale, but on an individual level and in their own communities.”

“A lot of people in the COMEDY CENTRAL audience want to do their part; they just aren’t sure where to begin. We want to help them find that starting point and inspire and move others to act as well,” said Kelleigh Dulany, vice president, public responsibility, COMEDY CENTRAL and Spike TV. “Environment concerns are especially relevant to our audience and we’ve made the message of this initiative accessible to them by putting it in the unique COMEDY CENTRAL voice. We can be direct and concise without appearing pushy or preachy.”

Address the Mess aims to help individuals identify their own carbon footprint and offer information on how to reduce it. Visitors to AddressTheMess.com will be invited to take a quiz to determine how large or small of an impact their footprint makes. Specific area of focus will be education on proper trash disposal of household items, motor oil and e-ware (COMEDY CENTRAL’s audience has one of the largest concentration of early-adopters to the latest and greatest gadgets — what’s the best way to dispose of that six-month old cell phone they now consider hopelessly outdated?), as well as ways to reduce the amount of junk mail cluttering mailboxes and claiming trees. Also on a personal and local level, Address the Mess will encourage action with community clean-up projects and the revitalization of neighborhoods and historic venues.

Along with its presence on-air and online, COMEDY CENTRAL will spread the message of Address the Mess through the network’s successful COMEDY CENTRAL Live stand-up tours, beginning with a college tour this fall which will include student involvement in recycling drives. The network is also in discussions with its national advertising and affiliate partners to build the reach and impact of the initiative (details to be announced at a later date). COMEDY CENTRAL has previously announced that, with the help of NativeEnergy, a national marketer of carbon offsets and renewable energy credits (RECs), this year’s “COMEDY CENTRAL Roast of Flavor Flav” was the network’s first-ever carbon neutral production.

Central Florida News 13: Earth911 Gives Tools For Going Green

Filed under: Earth 911 - August 11, 2007

August 11, 2007

Al Ruechel, News 13

If you want to do your part in protecting the Earth, News 13’s Al Ruechel has found an Earth-friendly Web site for your consideration.

The name of the Web site is Earth911.org. It calls itself the nation’s premier environmental resource.

On the home page you can put in what you want to recycle — from motor oil to grass clippings — and the zip code to find the nearest recycling center.

On the left under the heading “Think Globally,” you can find a list of topics from air quality to electronics. For example, how to recycle your old cell phones or your old computers. That is a big topic these days.

There is also the latest articles on climate change and how you can reduce your carbon foot print.

Stories include topics such as car recycling, water quality, eco shopping, renewable energy resources and how you can cut your power bill.

One section is just for kids with lessons on the environment based on age and grade level.

There is also a link designed for businesses that teaches how they can recycle better. It provides links to other businesses who have gone more green.

The center of the home page is dedicated to news stories about recycling. There is also a daily news section that keeps track of significant eco stories around the United States and the world.

Under the section labelled “Act Locally,” you will find listings of events happening in your own neck of the woods. To make that information search easier, you can select Earth911 events state by state. Just look at the listings under Florida.

If you are really energetic and want to get involved even more, you can register for e-mails, write articles for the Web site, volunteer to be a regional coordinator or even partner with Earth911 on its many projects. Now that’s taking your eco-concerns to the next level.

If you would like to see this story or other Your Technology stories, just turn to News 13 On Demand at no extra cost. You’ll find it on channel 313 on your digital cable.

KWCH Launches Campaign with Pets 911 to Promote Lost/Adoptable Pets

Filed under: Pets 911, Press Releases - August 10, 2007

Wichita, KS – Pets 911 announced today that it will partner with Wichita, KS CBS affiliate KWCH to provide a zip-code based search of adoptable pets and lost and found listings for the entire state of Kansas. As part of the partnership, KWCH will air public service announcements sending viewers to the pet search page (http://kwch.com/Global/category.asp?C=29878&nav=menu486_7_17). This page is part of a new pet section on the KWCH website. The new section will launch on August 17, 2007.

Pets 911 already features over 200 shelters in the state of Kansas in its search database, with information on lost and adoptable pets updated by shelter coordinators. However, with the expected increase in traffic from this upcoming promotion, Pets 911 is requesting that all Kansas shelters maintain updated information on their pets.

“Pets 911 is excited to launch this campaign with KWCH and inform the entire state of Kansas about lost and adoptable pets,” said Pets 911 CEO Jeffrey Rassás. “Working with the Kansas animal shelters, our goal is to reunite lost pets with their families and find a good home for all adoptable pets.”

If you work with a shelter and would like to update your shelter’s records and animals currently available for adoption on Pets 911, please visit http://pets911.com and login using the “Shelter/Vet Login button.” Pets 911 accepts text descriptions, photos and videos of animals available for adoption.

About Pets 911
The mission of Pets911.com is to provide a public service that will one day create an America where all pets are valued companions that have lifelong, loving homes. Since 1998, Pets 911 has brought together the nation’s premiere animal welfare organizations, local government animal control agencies, and animal service providers to create the most comprehensive resource for pet health and well-being on the web.

At any given time, PETS 911 includes listings for more than 30,000 adoptable pets at nearly 8,000 animal shelters, contact information for more than 6,000 veterinarians, and postings of more than 8,000 lost or found pets. For more information, go to Pets911.com.

About Global Alerts
Pets 911 is a division of the cause media company Global Alerts. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Global Alerts has been the leading Cause Media company since 1991.

Global Alerts creates and delivers a world-class Mass Notification System (MNS) platform and compelling websites and communities. Its highly popular Cause Media web portals include www.Amberalert.com, www.Earth911.org, www.Pets911.com, and www.1800Cleanup.org. Patent-pending technology and award-winning content from Global Alerts enable everyone to “Know Now, Act Fast and Make a Difference.”

About KWCH
KWCH was the first television station in Kansas and began broadcasting on July 1st, 1953 under the call letters KTVH. In 1983, KTVH call letters changed to KWCH. In September of 2006, Schurz Communications purchased KWCH and its satellite stations establishing the operation as Sunflower Broadcasting, Inc.

Since 1985, KWCH has been #1 in the Nielsen ratings in 6pm and 10pm News in the Wichita DMA. KWCH has remained dominant since that time and our Eyewitness News is the #1 rated news at Noon, 5pm, 6pm and 10pm in the Wichita market.

Consumer Reports: What to do with leftover paint

Filed under: Earth 911 - August 8, 2007

August 2007

You’ve probably got at least a few partially used cans of paint or stain sitting around your basement, garage, or shed. Should you hold on to them for touch-up jobs? Bring them to your municipal recycling center? Find an organization to donate them to?

You’re not alone in your predicament. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently estimated that as much as 69 million gallons of paint are left over annually in the United States. That’s enough paint to cover 27.6 billion square feet each and every year, or the five boroughs of New York City–some 303 square miles–more than three times. Keeping the paint is definitely a better move than tossing it in the trash; at least that way the paint stays out of the waste stream, where it could contaminate soil and groundwater. Or you could even use the paint for odd jobs around the house, say, painting your garage walls. But if you want to give the boot to those old cans, here’s what you can do:

Check the label. Paint made before 1978 might contain lead, and paint made before 1991 might contain mercury. Both materials should be listed on the paint label. If they’re not and you’re concerned the paint contains either of those neurotoxins, read Dispose of it. (For more information on the environmental health impacts of lead and mercury, use the Toxics search on Greenerchoices.org.)

Donate it for reuse. Some organizations will accept paint that’s in good condition, meaning it can be easily stirred to a smooth consistency and is uncontaminated. The paint should also be in an intact, labeled container. Check for donation options in your area by clicking on “Paint donation” at Earth911.

Recycle it. Some communities offer recycling programs for old paint and empty paint cans. Water-based, or latex, paint can be recycled into new paint or it can even be used to create nonpaint products such as cement. Oil-based, or alkyd, paint is usually used for fuel blending–meaning it’s burned to create energy at a power plant. To find out whether paint recycling is an option in your area, contact your municipal recycling or household-hazardous-waste center. You can also search for recycling options by ZIP code by clicking on “Paint recycling” at Earth911 or by calling the group’s free service line at 800-253-2687.

Dispose of it. If you can’t donate or recycle your paint, find out how to properly dispose of it in your area. Each municipality has different requirements, depending on whether the paint is oil- or water-based.

Oil-based paint is always considered hazardous and should be disposed of at a household-hazardous-waste collection facility. Water-based paint is treated as hazardous in only a few states–including California, Washington and Minnesota–and is still generally accepted at hazardous-waste facilities. To find disposal instructions for your area, contact your local household-hazardous-waste center. You can also search for options by ZIP code by clicking on “Paint disposal” at Earth911 or by calling the group’s free service line at 800-253-2687.

news-record.com: Mercury may lurk in your antiques

Filed under: Earth 911 - August 6, 2007

By Lex Alexander, Staff Writer
MONDAY, AUG. 6, 2007

GREENSBORO — Could your antiques poison you?

Possibly, if they contain mercury, a heavy metal that’s liquid at room temperature and linked to damage in several of the body’s organ systems. Some antique lamps and mirrors — and particularly barometers — contain the element.

The state will soon finish creating new guidelines on the handling of mercury, said state toxicologist Dr. Luanne Williams.

“We’ve learned a lot in the process, and we’ve seen that it takes very little mercury to have an elevated level in the home or school,” she said.

The acceptable level for homes or schools is 1 microgram per cubic meter of air, she said. Poisoning symptoms can appear at 23 micrograms per cubic meter of air. For that reason, a tablespoon is considered a large spill.

Mercury wasn’t always considered so dangerous. Its most common use in what are now considered antiques was in barometers. Those instruments, by measuring the weight of the atmosphere, could help sailors and fishermen forecast the weather and help geographers measure the height of mountains.

For that reason, barometers became highly sought-after. Researchers built and tried to perfect barometers for more than 200 years. Guilford County’s namesake, Francis North, Lord Guilford, helped make this research more common.

It is not clear how widespread the problem of mercury in antiques is, but the most durable or best-cared-for 19th-century barometers adorn mantlepieces even now.

And that can be a problem, said Anne Carlson of Greensboro’s Carlson Antiques. She said she used to import barometers from England but no longer does so.
She could recall one case years ago in which a mercury tube in a barometer broke. “We just buried (the mercury) somewhere,” she said. As knowledge has grown about the toxic effects of mercury, health officials have urged more caution in how mercury is handled, Williams said.

That’s because a small amount of mercury can split into many smaller droplets and can be cleaned up only with difficulty, Williams said. She cited one instance in a church in which parishioners walked through mercury in the church and tracked it into their cars, further spreading the mercury into car seats and carpets.

“Everything had to be removed — the carpet; the seats had to be taken out,” she said. “It was very expensive.”

Contact Lex Alexander at 373-7088 or lalexander@news-record.com
____________________________

WANT TO GET RID OF MERCURY?
If you want to dispose of an antique or other object that you suspect contains mercury, follow these steps:
- Double-bag the item.
- Place the bagged item in a box and seal the box.
- Call your local hazardous waste authority for additional instructions. In Guilford County, that number is 373-2196.
- Outside Guilford County, visit http://earth911.org and type “mercury” and your ZIP code into the search function for lists of facilities in your area that will accept household hazardous waste.

For additional information, call (919) 707-5900
Source: State toxicologist Dr. Luanne Williams

SYMPTOMS OF MERCURY POISONING

The acceptable level of mercury in homes and schools is 1 microgram per cubic liter of air. A leak of greater than a tablespoon is considered a large volume. At 23 micrograms per cubic liter, symptoms problems can develop within hours in someone’s nervous system, gastrointestinal tract or lungs.

In the digestive tract, those symptoms might include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

In the lungs, a person might develop shortness of breath, cough or chest tightness.
Nervous-system symptoms include headache, tremors, weakness and chills.

Longer-term exposure can lead to more severe effects in the nervous system that affect mood, such as irritability, shyness, aggressiveness and depression. Chronic exposure also can cause kidney failure. Hatmakers used mercury for more than 200 years in their work, from which comes the phrase “mad as a hatter.”

Source: State toxicologist Dr. Luanne Williams; http://www.seagrant.uconn.edu/HATTER.HTML

BusinessWire: Yellow Book Delivers Solutions to Businesses in St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Florida

Filed under: Earth 911 - August 3, 2007

UNIONDALE, N.Y. - It’s clear that local businesses in St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Florida see the value in advertising with Yellow Book. During the last five years, the number of new advertising display ads in the St. Petersburg - Clearwater Yellow Book grew an astounding 436%.

Gary Lynn, president of Structural Restoration, Inc., and a Yellow Book customer, agrees. “Last year, I pulled all display advertising from the other book and now only buy ads in Yellow Book, and we get all the inquiries we can handle,” said Lynn.

Yellow Book delivers low-cost leads—driving consumers to local businesses through print directories and through online search solutions, including yellowbook.com and search engine advertising.

This is good news for St. Petersburg and Clearwater area businesses, as Yellow Book’s advertising solutions provide them the opportunity to place their advertising where customers look—in print and online.

Area businesses not only benefit from Yellow Book’s advertising solutions, but also from the guidance provided by Yellow Book’s media consultants. This allows business owners to focus on what they know best – their business.

“Our Yellow Book ads cost less and performed better,” adds Lynn.

To learn more about Yellow Book’s advertising solutions, or to schedule an appointment with a Yellow Book media consultant, area businesses can call 727-450-8400.

About Yellow Book USA

Yellow Book USA is the #1 independent publisher of print and online yellow pages directories nationwide. Founded in 1930, Yellow Book published nearly 1,000 printed directory editions in its 2007 fiscal year with a circulation of approximately 123 million. The company’s online directory, yellowbook.com, reaches millions of users via computers and mobile phones through organic web searches and through Yellow Book’s network of partner sites. The company’s humorous advertising campaigns have made Yellow Book one of the nation’s most recognized brands. Yellow Book has approximately 6,000 sales employees, one of the largest media sales forces in the U.S. Over the past decade Yellow Book has made over 50 acquisitions and now operates in 47 states, plus the District of Columbia. Visit the company’s website at www.yellowbook.com.

Yellow Book asks you to please recycle your outdated telephone directories. Through its industry-exclusive partnership with Earth 911, you will find your community’s recycling locations in your local Yellow Book and at www.yellowbook.com/RecyclingInformation. You can also learn more about recycling and the environment at www.earth911.org.

eMediaWire: Environment Could Be the Loser in Change to Digital TV Broadcasting

Filed under: Earth 911 - August 1, 2007

Millions of analog television sets will become obsolete in the next 18 months. Legislators and concerned business leaders are acting to avoid an environmental emergency that could result if those sets and the toxic substances they contain end up in landfills.

Lewisville, TX - State and local lawmakers are fast becoming aware of a devil in the details of a federal mandate that takes place early in 2009. On February 17, 2009 - only 18 months from now - television broadcasts in the United States will be all digital.

This means big change for the tens of millions of Americans who receive over-the-air broadcast signals on one or more televisions in their homes. Televisions that receive only traditional analog signals no longer will be able to display broadcasts. To receive and view digital signals over the air, owners of these TVs will have to add a digital converter box or buy a new set equipped to receive digital signals.

Industry expert Keith Prather says digital televisions now account for virtually all sales of televisions 30 inches and larger in the United States. However, most smaller TVs sold - many of them second sets for the kitchen or shop - are inexpensive analog sets likely to be discarded.

Also, millions of households rely on over-the-air, broadcast signals. Because converter boxes do not offer the full image quality of a digital TV, indications are that a high percentage of consumers will opt to buy new digital sets instead of adding converter boxes to old ones.

This means millions of old TV sets could be scrapped in the next few months, which is the source of concern for legislators and landfill managers. “If people simply put the old TV sets out with the trash, damage to the environment could be severe,” Prather said. “Each cathode ray tube - the traditional ‘picture tube’ - contains several pounds of lead, as well as other toxic substances.”

Prather, president of Doctor Sound Home Theater, Inc., said his company is working to help keep old TVs out of landfills by encouraging recycling of older sets. “When people recycle electronics equipment they not only prevent pollutants from entering the ecosystem, they also make valuable materials available for re-use in new products.”

Some communities are making it easier to recycle old televisions by partnering with service clubs and opening special drop-off points for bulky items. State legislatures and municipalities are putting teeth into recycling laws. House Bill 2714 and Senate Bill 1324, pending before the Texas legislature, spell out specific requirements for recycling of computers. Legislators are being urged to broaden the law to include disposal of televisions, as well.

Doctor Sound and other conscientious retailers will have more definitive announcements in the near future. Meanwhile, Prather urges consumers to learn more about the importance of recycling electronic goods at www.earth911.org, and digital TV conversion at www.dtv.gov. He said his company will be glad to attempt to answer questions for consumers who send a message to info @ drsoundinc.com.

“The issue of electronics recycling will only get bigger,” Prather said. “The conversion to all digital broadcasting compounds an already huge problem. Industry estimates indicate that as much as 75 percent of obsolete electronics equipment, including computers and monitors, currently is being stored while owners figure out what to do with it. We owe it to our kids to get this done right.”