Alternative Channel | David Martel Latest Videos

Energy and Transportation: World Centric Film Series Fall 2010

World Centric hosts a weekly series of films (many of them critically acclaimed and award winning) & speakers to increase our awareness of the many issues confronting our planet - issues of globalization, environmental destruction, economic and social justice, peace, consumption, biodiversity, sustainable alternatives etc.

September 17 -- Energy Crossroads – This award winning film exposes the problems associated with our energy consumption and offers concrete solutions. The film features passionate individuals, entrepreneurs, experts and scientists at the forefront of a new energy future.

Free Friday Night Film Series at World Centric, 7:30 - 9:30 P.M.

World Centric Community Space Wheelchair Accessible
2121 Staunton Court, Palo Alto, CA 94306

About World Centric

World Centric products are made with annually renewable resources like corn, sugarcane and wheat straw fiber. Sugar cane and wheat straw fiber are also discarded by-products of the agriculture industry, and it uses this discarded fiber to make sustainable alternatives to plastics and styrofoam.

World Centric is committed to becoming the model of how sustainable enterprises should be run. In 2009, for example, they offset all their carbon emissions and gave 25% of their profits (before taxes) to grass root social and environmental organizations. World Centric hopes to one day give away 100% of their profits. The overall mission, vision and values of World Centric have remained consistent since their founding - to make a difference and create a more just and sustainable world.

WC8683 Contact Information: World Centric http://www.worldcentric.org Traycee Roberson pr@worldcentric.org (650) 283-3797

VolunteerMatch Challenges Stephen Colbert To Ice Cream Taste-Off

To support the work of VolunteerMatch.org, Ben & Jerry's and Target have created a new ice cream flavor, Berry Voluntary, sold exclusively at Target Stores. Today, VolunteerMatch issued a challenge to Stephen Colbert – star of the Comedy Central show "The Colbert Report" and the inspiration for the Ben & Jerry's flavor Americone Dream – to see who has the better tasting and more popular ice cream.

"I challenge Stephen Colbert – man to man and spoon to spoon – to see who has the ice cream flavor that people prefer," joked Greg Baldwin, president of VolunteerMatch. "Anywhere. Anytime. Any tongue."

"We trust the judgment of a nation of volunteers and the Colbert Nation to pick the winner," added Baldwin. "He's a leading personality on Comedy Central and VolunteerMatch is the leading resource for finding great volunteer opportunities. We think we have what it takes, and we want Stephen Colbert to put his ice cream where his mouth is."

This challenge was presented today to the New York City studio audience of "The Colbert Report" as they waited to see the live taping of the program. They were given sample sizes of Ben & Jerry's Berry Voluntary. This was accompanied by a written challenge to Colbert and the show's producers, as well as a video of Baldwin that can be seen at http://colbert.vmchallenge.com.

People are encouraged to try both flavors and then go to http://colbert.vmchallenge.com to vote for the flavor they prefer.

The ice cream flavor was developed by Ben & Jerry’s for Target's Scoop It Forward campaign, in cooperation with VolunteerMatch. As part of the ongoing efforts by Target to encourage interest and participation in education-related volunteering, Scoop It Forward raises awareness by featuring VolunteerMatch.org on the labels of two new flavors of volunteer-themed ice cream.

To learn more about the VolunteerMatch Ice Cream Challenge:
http://colbert.vmchallenge.com

To learn more about Scoop It Forward:
http://www.volunteermatch.org/scoopitforward

About VolunteerMatch
VolunteerMatch is the oldest, largest and most popular volunteer engagement network, strengthening communities by making it easier for good people and good causes to connect. Its award-winning online service, www.volunteermatch.org, is the #1 search result for 'volunteer' at Google, Bing and Yahoo, and the preferred recruiting source for more than 70,000 organizations that depend on the time and talent of those who care. In addition to its free public Web service, VolunteerMatch also provides many of the nation's most recognized businesses, campuses and organizations with solutions to facilitate and track volunteer engagement at local and national levels. VolunteerMatch is a nonprofit social enterprise based in San Francisco, Calif.

VM8871 Contact Information: VolunteerMatch http://www.volunteermatch.org Robert Rosenthal news@volunteermatch.org 415.241.6865

Cone Recognized as Leader in Sustainability Communications

Cone is pleased to be recognized as a leader among sustainability communications providers in “Green Quadrant: Sustainability Communications Agencies,”conducted by independent research firm Verdantix. This is the second commendation for Cone’s Corporate Responsibility (CR) discipline this year, as it was earlier named a top five corporate responsibility agency by CR Magazine. Cone formally launched its CR discipline in 2006.

The Green Quadrant report evaluated 18 PR and marketing agencies that offer CR and sustainability communications, and notes Cone is one of only two that “have market-leading approaches that provide their clients with breakthrough sustainability communications strategies.” The report goes on to explain that although most firms focus on a company’s existing initiatives and past accomplishments, Cone goes further and creates brand platforms that specifically engage consumers to partner with companies to solve social and environmental issues.

“Expectations regarding a company’s responsibility on various issues are on the rise,” says Jonathan Yohannan, senior vice president of Cone’s CR discipline. “Stakeholders are demanding greater transparency and information, and consumers want to know not just about company’s operations but their efforts to address today’s pressing issues.”

Cone’s current roster of CR clients includes, among others, CVS Caremark, PayPal, Nestlé Waters, Timberland and Sambazon. ”In working with clients, our primary objective is to identify the best way for brands to communicate to and engage with their stakeholders, especially consumers and employees, while promoting a sense of shared responsibility for the pressing issues that impact all of us,” says Liz Gorman, Cone’s vice president of Corporate Responsibility. “In doing so, Cone’s approach often involves comprehensive issues or materiality assessment, stakeholder mapping and engagement, partnership development, communications and transparency.”

About Cone
Cone LLC (www.coneinc.com) is a strategy and communications agency engaged in building brand trust. Cone creates stakeholder loyalty and long-term relationships through the development and execution of Cause Branding, Brand Marketing, Corporate Responsibility, Nonprofit Marketing and Crisis Prevention and Management initiatives. Cone is a part of the Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com).

About Verdantix
Verdantix Ltd (www.Verdantix.com) is an independent research firm located in the United Kingdom, providing independent and objective strategic, financial and business advice based on rigorous research.

CONE8814 Contact Information: Cone www.coneinc.com Andrea List alist@coneinc.com 617.939.8418

Even As Cause Marketing Grows, 83 Percent of Consumers Still Want To See More

September 15, 2010 - Forty-one percent of Americans say they have purchased a product in the past year because it was associated with a social or environmental cause (41%), a two-fold increase since Cone first began measuring in 1993 (20%). But even as their purchasing power grows, consumer appetite for socially conscious shopping has yet to be satiated. A full 83 percent of consumers want more of the products, services and retailers they use to benefit causes, according to the new 2010 Cone Cause Evolution Study, the nation’s only 17-year benchmark of cause marketing attitudes and behaviors.

Recession Didn’t Alter Expectations
The nation’s ongoing economic woes have not deterred Americans’ social sentiment, nor their expectations that companies will benefit society. Eighty-one percent said companies should financially support causes at the same level or higher during an economic downturn. It appears business rose to this challenge – nearly two-thirds (64%) of consumers believe companies responded well to social and environmental issues during the recession.

Americans’ enthusiasm for cause marketing also emerged from the turmoil fully intact and continues to strongly influence their purchase decisions:

88% say it is acceptable for companies to involve a cause or issue in their marketing;
85% have a more positive image of a product or company when it supports a cause they care about; and,
80% are likely to switch brands, similar in price and quality, to one that supports a cause.

Not only are consumers willing to switch among similar brands, they are also willing to step outside their comfort zones. When it supports a cause:

61% of Americans say they would be willing to try a new brand or one unfamiliar to them;
46% would try a generic or private-label brand; and,
Nearly one-in-five consumers (19%) would be willing to purchase a more expensive brand.

“When price and quality are equal, we know most consumers will choose the product benefiting the cause,” explains Alison DaSilva, executive vice president at Cone. “But cause alignment can have an even bigger influence on consumer choice, pushing them to experiment with something different and unfamiliar. Cause branding is a prime opportunity for companies to extend beyond their traditional market and increase exposure to potential new consumers.”

Moms and Millennials: Most Cause-Conscious Consumers
By all measures, moms lead the way as the demographic most amenable to cause marketing. In fact, moms virtually demand the opportunity to shop with a cause in mind. A staggering 95 percent find cause marketing acceptable (vs. 88% average), and 92 percent want to buy a product supporting a cause (vs. 81% average). They are also more likely to switch brands (93% vs. 80% average), so it is hardly surprising that moms purchased more cause-related products in the past year than any other demographic (61% vs. 41% average).

Millennials (18-24 years old) are close on moms’ heels as they also shop with an eye toward the greater good. Ninety-four percent find cause marketing acceptable (vs. 88% average) and more than half (53%) have bought a product benefiting a cause this year (vs. 41% average).

A company’s support of social or environmental issues is also likely to influence this group’s decisions outside the store, including where to work (87% vs. 69% average) and where to invest (79% vs. 59% average).

Engage Consumers Beyond the Vote
At a time when consumer voting campaigns have emerged as the cause marketing tactic du jour, a majority (61%) of consumers say they would prefer to see a company make a long-term commitment to a focused issue rather than determining themselves which issue the company supports in the short-term. This does not suggest they do not want to be engaged, however. Buying a cause-related product (81%) continues to be the leading way consumers want to support a company’s efforts, but they also seek other higher-touch opportunities, such as lending their voices through ideas or feedback (75%) and volunteerism (72%).

“Putting the charitable dollars in the hands of consumers has, no doubt, been the standout cause strategy of the last two years. But although these campaigns are notable, they are not building long-lasting brand equity,” explains DaSilva. “They are big and bold today, but in one year, or five or 10, they won’t have clearly defined what the company stands for, and it may be hard to gauge social impact. This will require greater focus and more meaningful consumer engagement beyond the click of a button.”

Dual-Role of Employees
Consumers are the primary audience for most companies’ cause branding programs, but businesses should be wary of overlooking employees as a key participant in their efforts. Sixty-nine percent of Americans consider a company’s social and environmental commitments when deciding where to work. The correlation does not end once they are employed. Employees who are involved in their company’s cause efforts are much more likely to feel a sense of pride and loyalty toward their employer:

93% say they are proud of their company’s values (vs. 68% for those who are not involved); and,
92% say they feel a strong sense of loyalty to their company (vs. 61% for those who are not involved).

Employees may translate their experiences and knowledge as participants to their role as front-line ambassadors for a company’s cause efforts. Seventy percent of consumers say a knowledgeable employee may drive their purchases or donations. And when consumers do not receive the details they need to make an informed cause-related purchase, whether through employees, on-pack messaging or other channels, 34 percent will either choose another brand or walk away.

Issues Stand Test of Time
Even as businesses face a set of complex new issues, consumers remain steadfast in their expectations of what companies should address. They continue to want companies to prioritize support of issues close to home, in local communities (46%) and in the U.S. (37%), but they are gradually recognizing the need for companies to address issues globally, as well (17%). The leading causes consumers want companies to support include:

Economic development – 77%
Health and disease – 77%
Hunger – 76%
Education – 75%
Access to clean water – 74%
Disaster relief – 73%
Environment – 73%

Americans may feel some of these issues personally, but they also recognize the impact a company can have when it supports a business-aligned issue. They are equally likely to say that a company should consider supporting an issue that is important in the communities where it does business (91%), as well as one that is aligned with its business practices (91%).

“Cause branding is standing the test of time, but leadership companies must continue to innovate to ensure their programs offer an original consumer experience, tackle tough emerging issues and make bold new commitments,” says DaSilva. “Those that are most successful and meeting the competing needs of many stakeholders are aligning issues with the business for mutual benefit and integrating these efforts into a larger corporate responsibility strategy for maximum impact.”

FOR A FREE COPY OF THE 2010 CONE CAUSE EVOLUTION STUDY, PLEASE VISIT WWW.CONEINC.COM/RESEARCH.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About the Research:
The 2010 Cone Cause Evolution Study presents the findings of an online survey conducted July 29-30, 2010 by ORC among a demographically representative U.S. sample of 1,057 adults comprising 512 men and 545 women 18 years of age and older. The margin of error associated with a sample of this size is ± 3%.

About Cone:
Cone LLC (www.coneinc.com) is a strategy and communications agency engaged in building brand trust. Cone creates stakeholder loyalty and long-term relationships through the development and execution of Cause Branding, Brand Marketing, Corporate Responsibility, Nonprofit Marketing and Crisis Prevention and Management initiatives. Cone is a part of the Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com).

CONE8926 Contact Information: Cone http://www.coneinc.com Sarah Kerkian skerkian@coneinc.com 617.939.8389

Cone http://www.coneinc.com Casey Brennan cbrennan@coneinc.com 617.939.8380

Enjoy Café Mujer and change the lives of Peruvian female coffee farmers!

TransFair USA

The act of raising a family alone is not easy, but being a women entrepreneur with only a small coffee plot to provide for your children is downright heroic. For Peruvian female farmers in this situation, Green Awakening created Café Mujer. The company works directly with cooperatives to source organically grown coffee, which results in an increase in farmer income by at least 30% when compared with farmer sales to importers.

For three weeks this summer starting today, TransFair USA will receive a $2.50 donation from every bag you buy from Green Awakening! Please help them give this gift to the Fair Trade movement. As a gift to you, any order with six or more bags will have free shipping. What a great way to stock up on coffee, change the lives of women in Peru, and support the Fair Trade movement directly.

Green Awakening is a savory, all-organic, 100% Fair Trade Certified™ coffee grown exclusively by small cooperatives in the mountains of Peru. Their motto? “Better Taste. Better Conscience.”

Let’s work together to make these women role models, inspiring young girls in Peru and America while having a Green Awakening with delicious coffee!

About Transfair
TransFair USA, a nonprofit organization, is the leading third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States. TransFair USA audits and certifies transactions between U.S. companies and their international suppliers to guarantee that the farmers and workers producing Fair Trade Certified goods were paid fair prices and wages. TransFair USA educates consumers, brings new manufacturers and retailers into the Fair Trade system, and provides farmers with tools, training and resources to thrive as international businesspeople. Visit www.transfairusa.org for more information.

About Green Awakening
Green Awakening, a brand of The Inclusive and Sustainable Group, LLC produces gourmet, organic, fair trade-certified, coffees. Their mission is to help improve the lives of cooperative-based coffee farmers in Peru while contributing to positive environmental and societal change. Green Awakening coffee sales fund a network of non-profit partners. As a certified B Corporation, Green Awakening has met and adheres to stringent operational guidelines in the support of and to promote corporate social responsibility business practices.

Buy the coffee: Green Awakening

Contacts:

For TransFair USA
Rachael Lee Holstein
Senior Manager, Resource Development
510-844-1419
rholstein@transfairusa.org

www.transfairusa.org
@fairtradeusa

For Green Awakening
Dario Agama
941-803-0610
dagama@green-awakening.com
www.green-awakening.com
@green_awakening

TFU7847

Video ReportAlert: Highlights Coca-Cola Enterprises CRS Report 2009

CorporateRegister.com, 3BL Media and Elaine Cohen of Beyond Business present highlights from Coca-Cola Enterprise's (CCE) Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Report released in June 2010. The full report can be viewed at crs.cokecce.com or www.corporateregister.com. Highlights include: 1) Energy conservation and climate change, 2) Water stewardship 3) Sustainable packaging and recycling, 4) Product portfolio/balanced and active lifestyle and 5) Diverse and inclusive culture.