The
Official Search Engine
The Jason Mraz Art, Music and
The Environment Competition
Sponsor of The Technology Competition
Co-Sponsor: "Eating, Health and
The Environment" Competition
The Official Hotels of The Competition
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THE
FINANCE AND PUBLIC POLICY COMPETITION
Presentations
that address the potential for Environmental Solutions based
on creative financial policy, public policy and local, national
or global
"Eco-Activist"
service projects
A
Statement from Richard Greene,
Founder of The Environmental Solutions Competition
Some
people believe that economics control everything, that if you
really want to change things, you must do so through economics.
My History teacher, a few years back, told me that all wars
are fought over economics. I didn't believe it then, but I do
now. He, like many of your high school teachers, are wiser than
they may at first appear.
And
that bit of instruction from my teacher, Mr. Howard, is also
true for the creation of the most powerful and the most lasting
"Environmental Solutions". That is the essence of
this particular competition. The use of finance, economics and,
indeed, the free market to solve our most difficult challenges
- at Copenhagen at the global summit and right here in New York.
Understand
this and you will be way ahead of your fellow students. Help
educate others and influence policies that reflect this understanding
and you will help change and heal the world.
It
has been my passion since I ran for United States Congress,
on The Green Party, all the way back in 1992 and yet, because
of lack of understanding and selfishness and inertia, using
economics to solve environmental challenges has barely been
incorporated into public policy. Senators and Congresspersons
have told me, "Richard, you are right, but no one will
understand it".
That's
where you come in.
Research,
write and deliver a compelling 2 - 3 minute video about how
YOU would solve our environmental challenges through the marketplace,
using economics. It can be a bill you would introduce into Congress
or something you would have corporations do voluntarily to be
more "green" and better corporate citizens or a change,
perhaps, in how our economy delivers goods and services. It's
up to you. Be as creative as you want. If it is something that
is a bill, or can be a bill, I will personally submit it to
one of the leaders of the United States Senate and a top ranking
member of the United States House of Representatives and will
pay for you your parents to go to Washington to meet them.
In
addition to politicians, many others will see it and, perhaps,
you will be the one to explain this transformational understanding
in a way that no one else has before!
Here's
the principle. It couldn't be more simple, really.
When
you go to McDonalds and pay $2.95 for a Big Mac you are buying
something that REALLY costs far MORE than $2.95. What is NOT
included in that $2.95 price are many really important things
. . .
*If
we factored in the true costs of one pound of hamburger (according
to Dr. Mehmet Oz), it would cost $90 because of the loss of
the Amazon Rainforest, the damage to the environment from methane
gas from livestock, the water and soil pollution, the subsidies
given the beef industry, the costs to families and the nation
from childhood obesity and diabetes and poor health from eating
such fats, etc., etc.
Anything
less than $90 (or the true cost, whatever it is) is a subsidy
to McDonalds or the beef industry from the American public and
interferes with the free market, making it harder for less environmentally
damaging products, like fruits and vegetables, to compete. In
other words, until the real cost of a hamburger are factored
into the hamburger, people will think that other foods, including
healthier alternatives, are more expensive when, in reality,
they aren't.
When
people across America go to the gas station and buy gas for
$3.25 a gallon, they are buying something that really costs
far more than $3.25. What is not included in that $3.25 price
are many important things...
*If we factored in the true costs of one gallon of gasoline,
it would not be $3.25, but more like $11 or even much higher
as we honestly accounted for the cancers in Cancer Alley in
Louisiana because of all of the oil refineries, the costs of
climate change, the health costs of breathing toxic fumes, the
smog created around the world by burning oil, the geopolitical
costs (where does the $3 Trillion from Iraq come from? Why aren't
those costs included in a barrel of oil??) and many others.
In other words, until the real cost of producing and distributing
and using a gallon of gasoline are factored into the price of
a gallon of gasoline, people will think that other sources of
energy, including healthier, cleaner alternatives, are more
expensive when, in reality, they aren't.
These
are but two examples. Research these and others and create a
compelling video that will cause policy makers, in New York
City, New York State or Washington, to change the laws to help
solve our environmental challenges through Finance and Public
Policy and/or companies change the way business is done in America!
It
can be done and you can help!!
Some
Resources
The
Official Search Engine of The Competition: www.Bing.com
Websites:
www.Treehugger.com
www.PlanetGreen.com
www.CarbonWarRoom.com
Films:
Fuel: www.TheFuelFilm.com
Food,
Inc.: www.takepart.com
OK.
Now Go to HOW TO WIN for tips on how to
Research, Prepare, Deliver and Upload Your Speech
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