MFR is currently on the 15th installment of the Vans Warped Tour this summer as an official non-profit partner. The tour started in Pomona, California on June 26 and will hit 46 cities across America where almost 100 MFR volunteers will be spreading the word about MFR and its incredible work. During this tour, MFR volunteers and staff, as well as various band members, will be wearing t shirts donated by Revenge Is.
MFR is a grassroots effort comprised of musicians, music industry professionals and fans. MFR was formed in 2005 by members of the band Linkin Park to provide aid for those affected by the tsunami tragedy in South Asia. (Linkin Park’s news release about Revenge Is and its donation to MFR is posted under “Featured Review”). MFR’s mission is to respond to natural disasters and help victims recover and rebuild with an emphasis on housing, education programs and resources. MFR also recognizes the environmental consequences of global warming and its second goal is to prevent and decrease future natural disasters by reducing greenhouse gasses, seeking renewable forms of energy and educating the public about climate change. To learn more about MFR and the great work it does, click here.
“If the U.S. fails to adopt an economy-wide carbon abatement program, we will continue to cede leadership in energy technology to other nations. The U.S. is now home to only two of the ten largest solar Photo-Voltaic producers in the world, two of the top ten wind turbine producers and one of the top ten advanced battery manufacturers. That is, only one-sixth of the top renewable energy manufacturers are based in the United States. To lose our advantage in technologies that were pioneered in the U.S. may cost us dearly if not reversed.”Memorandum dated May 20, 2009, The President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board
Or as NY Times columnist Thomas Friedman puts it: “imagine how poor the US would be today if U.S. firms did not dominate the top 10 Internet companies.”
China is emerging as a leader in renewable energy technology through extensive financial investment and focus on green technology as a new economic powerhouse industry. At the same time as China is striving to dominant the industry and required its utilities to generate a significant portion of their power from renewable sources several years ago, the US Congress is dithering about passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (the “Waxman-Markey” bill) and weakening the provisions that would likewise require US utilities to incorporate renewable energy in their power sources. The disparity in China’s efforts compared to that of the US led Friedman to worry in a recent NY Times column that China will “clean our clock” in environmental technology.
According to Business Week, China has emerged has an incubator of clean technology because of the need to solve its own environmental problems. Two-thirds of China’s rivers and lakes are too polluted for industrial use, much less agriculture or drinking. Just one in 100 of China’s nearly 600 million city residents breathe air that would be considered safe in Europe. Poisoned floodwaters have ruined productive fields and last year China passed the US to become the world’s largest source of greenhouse gases. The World Bank has estimated that damage from pollution saps nearly 6% of China’s gross domestic product each year. However, Friedman points out that China sees green technology as the next great global industry and wants to be on board. And China has experienced significant success:
China plans to increase the share of electricity from renewable sources to 23% by 2020, from 16 % currently, which is on target with Europe. The US has no standards at this time.
China is currently the second-largest market for wind turbines and is on track to pass the US as the world’s largest market for wind turbines this year after doubling wind-power facilities in each of the past four years. Wind turbines are being constructed at such a rapid pace that it is anticipated that it will have 30,000 megawatts of wind energy by the end of this year, which had been its target for 2020.
China is already the largest producer of photovoltaic solar panels, but historically has exported 95% of the panels produced. However, a glut in PV panels have pushed prices down by more than 30% and domestic installation is expected to increase. Chinese energy policy agency recently proposed a new program to provide huge financial incentives for more solar farms and rooftop panels.
China’s BYD Auto has already launched the first mass-produced hybrid that plugs into electrical outlets and is priced at $22,000 US. They plan to roll out a version in the US in 2011. The Chevy Volt is expect to cost twice as much and won’t be out until 2010. Beijing recently hiked China’s auto mileage standards to a level the US is not expected to reach until 2020.
Meanwhile, back in the USA, the Waxman-Markey bill is being battered by that dysfunctional body known as Congress until it remains a mere shadow of its original self. Read more here.
The European division of McDonald’s has embarked on a pilot program to significantly improve the welfare of its suppliers’ farm animals and produce higher quality products. Seven suppliers (to be increased by six more this summer) provide amenities to their farm animals unheard of in the US. (From the International Herald Tribune, June 20-21, 2009)
A Netherlands dairy farmer provides his 200 cows with water beds to increase their sleep time and blood flow. The animals also get weekly foot baths to reduce lameness. The farmer claims that happier cows live longer and produce more milk. About 95% of eggs used by McDonald’s in Europe are reportedly from non-caged birds, but a British supplier of free-range eggs went even further and planted trees in the fields around his hen houses to encourage them to spend more time outdoors. He believes this leads to better-feathered, healthier birds that lay more eggs. For more information about McDonald’s EU program, click here . Since McDonald’s buys more than 200,000 tons of beef, 150,000 tons of milk and one million tons of potatoes in Europe each year, the chief supply officer of McDonald’s EU asserts that the flagship farms have the potential to change the entire industry and not just their own supply chain.
While McDonald’s EU Flagship Farm is forward-thinking and a significant advance in humane animal welfare, we wanted to see what McDonald’s is doing here in the US. We scoured its website looking for stories about US cows sleeping on water beds and getting foot baths. We found none. Read more here.
Linkin Park
July 16, 2009
Music for Relief on Vans Warped Tour!Music for Relief is out on the Vans Warped Tour this summer as an official non-profit partner!
Over the 46 tour dates over 100 MFR volunteers will reach out to an estimated 20,000 fans per tour date. We will all be working together to fundraise for MFR’s current project SEND DIRT to save the depleting Louisiana Wetlands.
Thanks to Revenge Is…, a cause based apparel company committed to social activism, MFR volunteers, staff, and supportive touring band members will be wearing specially donated SEND DIRT t-shirts.
These eco-friendly Revenge Is… shirts are made from a unique, super soft blend of organic cotton and recycled plastic bottles that promote environmental responsibility while inspiring concert attendees to get involved in MFR causes.
Thank you to our supporters, and to Revenge Is… for donating these amazing SEND DIRT shirts!
We welcome your comments and suggestions for articles and features to include in our newsletter. Please send them to us at info@revengeis.com and visit our store.
Marilyn
Making Activism Fashionable
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