I always thought Midnight Oil's hit single had "climate change theme song" written all over it. Here it is.....



Courtesy dkomm and TckTckTck.

Has a new era truly begun? The clarity of direction and concrete details being issued by President-Elect Obama would certainly indicate it.

In a video address, Obama committed to putting the US back at the climate change negotiating table and to begin playing the role as leader that they always should have. He's promising a federal cap and trade system with targets to bring US emissions down to 1990 levels by 2020 and to reduce them a further 80% after that.

"Few challenges facing America, and the world, are more urgent than combating climate change. The science is beyond dispute and the facts are clear. Climate change and our dependence on foreign oil, if left unaddressed, will continue to weaken our economy and threaten our national security."

In the lead up to the announcement, 350.org created a global petition to urge Obama to join other countries and bring atmospheric CO2 down to 350 ppm - the level generally agreed to be sustainable and safe by world experts. Powered by Biro Creative - a talented shop here in Vancouver who also helped in our recent landslide win for new mayor Gregor Robertson - the petition drive uses an interactive "Get on the Globe" world map that asks supporters to sign on, send the new President a letter, and upload their own supporter videos and pictures to promote action on climate change. The effort led to nearly 50,000 sign ups.

Add your name to the Globe, and see Obama's announcement below.

The municipal campaign is hitting high gear in Vancouver and online outreach a key part of the strategy to make Gregor Robertson the next Mayor of Vancouver.

Today we launched The Vision Map, an interactive city map that gives every voter the chance to have their voice heard and to show their support for Gregor Robertson and a new era of change at Vancouver City Hall.

More than a simply an online device, it is a front line call for change that lets visitors drop their name onto their local neighbourhood and send a strong message about the issues they care about the most. It's a clear message from the community to the Peter Ladner that business as usual is unacceptable and that the people of Vancouver want better.

Stop by, have a look, and if you live in Vancouver sign on and tell a friend.

Well, here we go again. Despite the overwhelmingly progressive values of Canadians, and the general unpopularity of the Conservative Party, Stephen Harper is back in the saddle for another minority term as "our" PM.

Opposition leadership has never looked shakier with Stephane Dion heading out the door tomorrow, Elizabeth May failing lead her party to Ottawa despite a modestly bigger share of the popular vote, and Jack Layton failing to make greater gains in seats because he doesn't realize that attacking the Conservatives, not the Liberals, is the NDP's ticket to success.

In offering some solutions I'd like to go back to a post I wrote back in August of 2006 - Why the Green Party Loses - as it's even more relevant now than it was then. Specifically the following passage:

The number one priority of every Green Party in Canada, both provincial and national, is to ensure that the upcoming referendum on electoral reform is passed in BC. The referendum date is set for the next provincial election in 2009, and if passed it would put BC on the road to electing a proportionally representative government in the election to follow. Based on current voting patterns, that would mean almost 10% of the seats in government going Green. If electoral reform is successful in BC, it is very likely that similar initiatives will take hold in other provinces, clearing the way for the Green Party to become a genuine political force in Canada and for progressive values to gain a stronger voice in Canadian government. But that all depends on the success of this first step.

The date of that referendum is May 17th, and in the wake of a disastrously unrepresentative results from our Federal Election I renew the call that this needs to be the top priority for our country. Progressive organizations and individuals nationwide - first and foremost the federal and provincial Green parties - need to work to ensure that this referendum gains the public support it needs to pass.

Electoral reform is an idea that is gaining traction, with papers across the country beginning to call for serious discussion. BC can give that process a massive boost this spring by being the first in the country to start down the road.

The Canadian Federal election is an admittedly frustrating affair that is puncuated by poor leadership on one side, and leadership in entirely the wrong direction on the other.  Despite the chaos, there's one thing we all can readily agree on - a Harper majority would bode poorly for everyone outside of the oil sands.  

I've been substantially away from the home front news for quite awhile, but this is worth mentioning on both a national and personal note.

On June 18, Canada became the first country ever to be brought to court for failing to comply with its legal commitments to combat global warming, specifically its failure to meet (and perhaps more to the point, their failure to do anything about) their mandatory legal obligations under the Kyoto Protocol.

The lawsuit itself is being argued by a coalition of groups - most notably my former workplace, Ecojustice Canada - and seeks a declaration from the Court that the government has not complied with the law, and an order requiring it to do so. A decision is likely to occur in the coming months.

For readers unfamiliar with Ecojustice (formerly Sierra Legal Defence Fund), I strongly recommend them as a worthy organization to support (I do so myself). For my American readers, think Earthjustice.

"The present era is rampant with the five forms of degeneration, in particular the red ideology (....)

"In future, this system will certainly be forced either from within or without on this land that cherished the joint spiritual and temporal system. If in such an event we fail to defend our land, the holy lamas, including the "triumphant father and son" will be eliminated without a trace of their names remaining; the properties of the incarnate lamas and of the monasteries along with the endowments for religious services will all be seized. Moreover, our political system will be reduced to an empty name; my officials, deprived of their patrimony and property, will be subjugated like slaves by the enemy; and my people, subjected to fear and miseries, will be unable to endure day or night. Such an era will certainly come!"

These were the words of Thubten Gyatso, the 13th Dalai Lama of Tibet, spoken two years before his death in 1931 (pictured above). With the exception of the demise of the Dalai Lama himself (the 'triumphant Father), all that he stated has come to pass. The scope and power of the prophecy culminated in 1995, when at the age of 6, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was kidnapped by the Chinese government mere days after being recognized as the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet (i.e. the 'son' and second most important leader in Tibetan culture). Nobody has seen him, nor his parents, since.

I am writing now from Dharamsala, India - home of the current Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile - where the lead up to the Olympics, the complete lack of tangible support from other governments, and the combined weight of 59 years of Chinese atrocities are the central issues of daily life for the town's Tibetan population.

Since China's invasion in 1949, an estimated 1.2 million people have lost their lives through murder, starvation and disease. Six thousand monasteries were destroyed and the Chinese have continued with an unabated policy that seeks the destruction of Tibetan culture ever since.

It is against that historical backdrop that the International Olympic Committee awarded the 2008 Summer Games to China. The move is sometimes compared to the 1936 Games in Nazi Germany; however, Germany was awarded those games in 1933 prior to Nazi control of government, and the games were held prior to the Nazi invasion of Austria and prior to their systematic extermination of Jews. By comparison, China was granted the games after being the demonstrable perpetrator of an invasion against an independent nation and the systemic annihilation of a culture.

In the 59 years since the Chinese invasion the western response and characterization of China's policy has become increasingly miasmic. It is enlightening to return for a moment to 1960, when a report by the International Commission of Jurists called the Chinese invasion and actions in Tibet what they always have been - genocide. To quote:

"According to the Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, which was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December, 1948, human groups against which genocide is recognized as a crime in international law are national, racial, ethnic and religious. The committee found that acts of genocide had been committed in Tibet in an attempt to destroy the Tibetans as a religious group..."

Further, we often hear about "human rights abuses" committed by China. That is a television friendly phrase that sheds little light on what has been perpetrated against the Tibetan people. Again, the Jurists' report leaves little room for speculation,

"The Committee came to the conclusion that the Chinese authorities in Tibet had violated the following human rights,

Article 3 - the right to life, liberty and security of person was violated by acts of murder, rape and arbitrary imprisonment.

Article 5 - Torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment were inflicted on the Tibetans on a large scale.

Article 12 - Rights of privacy, of home and family life were persistently violated by the forcible transfer of members of the family and by indoctrination turning children against their parents. Children from infancy upwards were removed contrary to the wishes of the parents.

Article 16 - The voluntary nature of marriage was denied by forcing monks and lamas to marry. (Allow me to paraphrase so as to ensure we are being crystal clear here. Buddhist monks and nuns who had taken voluntary and spiritual vows of celibacy were forced to fuck, sometimes each other, by Chinese authorities.)

Article 18 - Freedom of thought, conscience and religion were denied by acts of genocide against Buddhists in Tibet and by other systematic acts designed to eradicate religious beliefs in Tibet.

Article 26 - The right to liberal education primarily in accordance with the choice of parents was denied by compulsory indoctrination, sometimes after deportation (see Article 12), in communist philosophy.

Article 27 - The Tibetans were not allowed to participate in the cultural life of their own community, a culture which the Chinese have set out to destroy."

I could go on. Those were merely the most harrowing of the 16 human rights violations China was found guilty of.

Since that time, they have been condemned by other nations and NGOs for subjecting Tibetan women to forced sterilization and abortions and for systematically denying employment, health care and education to Tibetan citizens. Those who have escaped to India tell more graphic tales of torture including crucifixion, vivisection, disemboweling, dismemberment and burning. Women have been electrocuted on breasts and in their mouths and vaginas while other individuals were buried alive.

On August 8th, the nation that perpetrated these crimes, and that continues to engage in wide spread human rights abuses, will be hosting the world in the 29th Olympiad, an event that supposedly honours "universal fundamental ethical principles". The Beijing games are an offense that strikes the very core of these human values.

Having granted China the games, the IOC will do nothing to oppose them. Nor will there be a boycott from any of the 200 nations slated to compete in them. Action on this issue rests with us.

So in keeping with the themes I began several weeks ago in Generosity, Non-Violence and Non-Cooperation, here are a few meaningful actions that you can take in protest of the Beijing Games.

Athletes - You are the key individuals in the games. Without you there are no games. Given that governments will not boycott you can do so yourself. The higher profile you are, the bigger news it will be, and the more attention it will draw to the Tibetan cause. This legitimately may not be possible in light of corporate sponsorship deals. In this case, compete, and if you win a medal leave it behind on the podium or do not show up to accept it. Academy Awards have been refused. You can do the same with your medals.

In addition to dreams of victory, you may also have dreams of bringing home the medal itself, of displaying it proudly in your home, or making it an heirloom for you children. If so, know that the gold, silver or bronze of your victory was mined through the deforestation, pollution the destruction of the Tibetan environment while the Tibetan people received little to no economic benefit. Is this the heirloom you would leave your children? Or want around your neck?


Viewers - You are the second most important group of people. Through the sale of television rights the IOC has generated $2.5 billion in revenue. That is money networks anticipate getting back in spades through the sale of advertising time. But that is only a smart investment if people actually watch.

You are directly responsible for the profits that are realized by television networks from the games. Do not watch them. Don't watch an event, don't even watch the highlights. If you see your favorite newspaper, or magazine, with a cover story on the outcome of an event do not buy it.

If you think this sacrifices too much of your entertainment time, then I ask you 'what do you value in your life'? What values do you intend to communicate to your children? How important is this single entertainment event when you live in a world brimming with entertainment opportunities? Will you play your part in generating profits in an Olympics being held within a regime condemned for acts of genocide? Will you let your children watch that event? Is entertainment more important than the future of a peaceful culture and the lives of 6 million people? You can also ask yourself how much you remember from the last games, or better still the ones before that. Probably not much.

I am an avid sports fan and have followed every Olympics since 1984. I will not watch a minute of these games.


Shoppers - Olympic memorabilia and authentic Olympic sporting goods will be plugged mercilessly from now through Christmas. There is a fully functional and equivalent alternative available through competing brands for whatever equipment you need. Choose the alternative. Especially if it is a gift for your child. It is a chance to show them how their actions impact the lives and survival of others in the human family.

After your purchase, send a note along with the sales receipt to your National Olympic Committee (links available through the map here), and your national TV network, explaining why you didn't watch the games and why you are not supporting them as a consumer. If you are feeling extra motivation, send another copy to your Minister of Sport, Prime Minister or President.

Pass it on - individual action accumulates weight and effectiveness with numbers. Share these actions with friends, family, fellow students or workmates. If you are taking part in protests or actions, make these actions a part of your communications efforts. A two hour protest will leave little impact unless each individual who attends is empowered to take meaningful action in their own lives.

Most importantly, add your own ideas to the list above. These are only the actions that came immediately to mind and is by know means exhaustive.

Finally, if you feel that your actions do not matter, or won't amount to anything, then I leave you with the words of His Holiness the current Dalai Lama,

"It is therefore part of our responsibility towards others to ensure that the world we pass on is as healthy, if not healthier, than when we found it. This is not quite such as difficult proposition as it might sound. For although there is a limit to what we as individuals can do, there is no limit to what a universal response might achieve. It is up to us as individuals to do what we can, however little that may be. Just because (our action) seems inconsequential, it does not mean that we should not do it."

postscript - Incidentally, in light of recent protests do you know the history of the Olympic torch relay? It has no precedent in ancient Greece. It was introduced as a propaganda stunt to embrace other nations around the totalitarian ideology of, you guessed it, Nazi Germany.

One of the moments I've most looked forward to in the early part of travel is visiting Rwanda. The genocide that the nation survived is a defining event in the modern era and, touching closer to home for myself, it was Canadian General Romeo Dallaire who led the UN effort here while maintaining a near solitary voice for further intervention - a call that was patently ignored until the genocide was over and nearly 1,000,000 people had died.

We're told that the genocide was the culmination of tribal conflicts between warring Hutus and Tutsis that stretch back far beyond European colonization. In reality, this is a bald faced lie designed to protect the conscience of the developed world while stopping us from understanding the true nature of the killings, and the integral role of the west in bringing them about.

The Germany was the first nation to first to colonize Rwanda during the late 1800s. At that time they found 18 distinct tribes living in relative peace. The labels "Tutsi", "Hutu" and "Twa" did not identify distinct tribes, but rather represented the social standing of individuals within tribes, much like the labels 'doctor', 'lawyer' or 'labourer' might describe a person's status and occupation today.

More importantly, there was nothing about this distinction that was fixed or hereditary, and an individual's standing changed with changes in their personal circumstances. Hutu would become Tutsi if their personal wealth increased through building larger herds of cattle, and a Tutsi who lost livestock through drought or disease would fall in status to Hutu.

This changed in 1932 when the Belgians gained control of the area. Seeing an opportunity to gain a more rigid control of the local population, the Belgians moved to make these distinctions permanent. Anyone who possessed 10 head of cattle at that time were declared
"Tutsi", and those with less were labeled "Hutu". These distinctions remained unchangeable and hereditary, and they were further reinforced by an identity card system that labeled each Rwandan according to their "tribal" status.

Through class distinction and bureaucracy, the Belgians ruled the colony through the Tutsis until the Rwandan independence movement began in the 1950s. At that time, the the Belgians found it to their political advantage to switch their allegiance to the Hutus. As the Hutus moved into power, Belgian support continued despite increasingly oppressive anti-Tutsi policies that included massacres, job quotas, limits on education, and an increasingly sophisticated and coordinated propoganda campaign. In the decades leading up to the genocide thousands of Tutsi died and 700,000 fled into Uganda and other neighboring countries to escape persecution.

By the time the genocide commenced in April of 1994, the doctrine of "Hutu Power" and the plan for the extermination of the Tutsis was well rehearsed and tightly organized. Between 1990 and 1993, Hutu extremists had initiated eight separate trial massacres in preparation for the launch of 'final solution'. During these warm up phases, the French government was fully aware of the situation and continued to guarantee loans to the Rwandan government for arms deals with French companies.

Near the end of the 1994 genocide Rwanda erupted in civil war. The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) led by Tutsi general Paul Kagame eventually took control of the country, but not before 100 days of slaughter and the death of 800,000 Tutsis and Hutu moderates.

But despite this violence, Rwanda has made a startling recovery.

After becoming President in 2000, Paul Kagame instituted new stability and national cohesion. Tutsi and Hutu class distinctions are now strictly forbidden. All citizens are now known only as "Rwandans". Assuming that mass violence is far less likely to be initiated by women, the new government has also mandated that 39% of representatives must be women, the highest level of female representation in the world. Corruption has nearly disappeared. There is a building boom occuring throughout Rwanda. And though understandably guarded, the people are open, friendly and welcoming, even though there is scarcely a soul who was not touched directly by the genocide. Equally startling is that there does not appear to be a scrap of litter anywhere in the country - a huge difference from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania where old plastic bags collect like snow drifts.

The most striking aspect of the country is the national recognition of the events of 1994. Driving through the impossibly steep farms of Les Milles Collines (land of 1000 hills), there are countless signs marking mass graves and sites of wholesale slaughter. The look and feel of these memorials is ghostly and rarely do they mark a place where less than hundreds died. The most stirring of all is the Genocide Memorial in Kigale where more than 258,000 people been interred so far, including the parents of the young man who guided us through these memorial grounds. As new buildings go up around the country, more graves are constantly unearthed, and it will be decades before all of the phantoms are finally put to rest.

These are but a few words, and in truth it is impossible to capture the emotion and scale of what occurred here....even 13 years later.

Some readers well versed on the history of the region may point out that the summary above ignores the ethnic clashes between Hutus and Tutsis that took place in bordering countries, especially in neighbouring Burundi where several killings of Hutus occurred at the hands of Tutsi forces throughout recent decades. This omission was intentional.

After spending months reading the histories, and now after speaking to Rwandans first hand, I'm convinced that the story we hear in North America and Europe is one that has been purposely focused on so called "ethnic tensions" in order to spare our collective conscience from confronting our own responsibility. The distinctions between Hutus and Tutsis were consciously established, cultivated and maintained by western powers for their own political advantage. They knowingly ignored the threat of genocide, they armed genocidaires for their own profit, and when the killings began they did nothing to stop them.

If we truly want to stop such a thing from occurring again, our efforts need to begin by accepting responsibility for our role in the genocide. Otherwise it can, and inevitably will, repeat.

The question only is when.

Yahoo has awarded a top prize of $250,000 to the city of Hastings, Nebraska for being America's greenest city. The award was announced today as Hastings is recognized for winning Yahoo's Be a Better Planet - Greenest City in America contest. The money will go towards funding green projects within the municipality.

The month long Be a Better Planet campaign sought to empower citizens to make key changes to their lives to help fight global warming. Every time a resident of an American municipality signed up, points were given to their home town. The town with the most points was the winner.

In addition to the $250,000 grand prize, Yahoo is also sending thousands of compact fluorescent light bulbs to each of the top five cites. The list of top green cities is:

1. Hastings, Nebraska
2. Pelzer, South Carolina
3. San Carlos, California
4. Mill Valley, California
5. Topeka, Kansas
6. Dover, Delaware
7. Spring, Texas
8. Lawrence, Kansas
9. Walnut Creek, California
10. Fairfax, Virginia

The official recognition of Hastings happens tonight at a Yahoo-hosted Nebraska-style BBQ and celebration at 6:00pm at Hastings' Chautauqua Park. Residents are invited to join Mayor Matt Rossen and Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy, and other local and state officials at the public event.

Congratulations to all of the contest participants!

Regular readers of The Conscious Earth will recognize DeSmogBlog as a frequent link and source for breaking news. The Vancouver based blog was launched last year when local PR professional Jim Hoggan decided to throw his expertise into the global warming debate and fight the ongoing campaign of disinformation being waged by deniers and big oil.

DeSmogBlog exists to clear the PR pollution that is clouding the science on climate change. An overwhelming majority of the world’s climate scientists agree that the globe is warming - the world's climate is changing - and that the indiscriminate burning of fossil fuels is to blame. We know that the risks are incalculable and, increasingly, we understand that the solutions are affordable.

DeSmogBlog is an invaluable resource for global warming information and the integrity of public debate. Now they are planning to establish a full presence in the United States and are asking for your support to make it happen.

Visit their fundraising page to help raise the $10,000 they need to get Desmog USA up and running. It's money well spent.

London music group Vega4 have joined the fight against global warming with a contest that will offer one lucky fan two tickets to the Live Earth concert in San Francisco later this summer.

Fans and concerned citizens are being asked to film their own earth conscious video or slideshow featuring the band's latest single "Life is Beautiful". The best video gets the tickets.

Conserving energy, using public transport, driving fuel efficient cars, petitioning local governments and demanding that they support bills and laws that hold companies accountable for their actions, and supporting those who are actively changing their corporate policies to make this rock under our feet a better, safer place for us now and in the future.

Completed videos can be uploaded to the Vega4 Youtube Group prior to the contest deadline of May 31st. Visit the group's MySpace page for more info, and click the player below to hear the contest single "Life is Beautiful". It's a great track.






About Live Earth: Live Earth will bring together more than 150 of the world's top musicians for 24-hours of music from 9 concerts across all 7 continents. Live Earth will bring together an audience of more than 2 billion at the concerts and through television, radio, film, and the Internet. That audience, and the proceeds from the event, will create the foundation for a new, multi-year global effort to combat the climate crisis led by Vice President Al Gore. Kevin Wall, Worldwide Executive Producer of Live 8, is producing Live Earth.

A pair of dire warnings on climate change were issued today from two of the world's leading charities - Christian Aid and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The report from Christian Aid, titled Human Tide: The Real Migration Crisis, is predicting that forced migration due to global warming will result in more than a billion homeless people by 2050, while the WWF report, Climate Solutions, predicts that we have just 5 years to put in motion the actions and policies needed to avert catastrophic climate change.

The silver lining comes from the WWF report. According to their analysis, sustainable energy and technology can curb climate change and meet projected growth in demand for energy - but action is needed by 2012 to ensure success.

Today, Yahoo is launching a new green competition that will reward America's greenest city with a fleet of hybrid taxis. The launch is taking place today in Time Square by Yahoo cofounder David Filo, alongside actor Matt Dillon and Global Green USA CEO Matt Petersen.

Dubbed Be a Better Planet, the campaign is seeking to empower Americans make key changes to their lives and lifestyles that will fight global warming. To participate, individuals need to visit the Be a Better Planet website and take the actions listed below. The more green actions you sign up for, the more points go to your city and the closer it comes being America's greenest:

1. Answer a question on Yahoo! Answers (and take your shot at answering Matt Dillon’s question while you’re at it about the most effective yet simple ways people can save energy
2. Go to Yahoo! oneSearch on your mobile phone to type in green keywords like “organic food” and “public transport” plus your zip code to find relevant local resources
   
3. Pledge to take up to about 30 different planet-protecting actions in order to reduce your personal carbon emissions and track them on an interactive U.S. map to see the collective impact of everyone else who takes part

Participants will also receive a free energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), while supplies last. For it's part, Yahoo has kicked off the contest by donating a fleet of hybrids to the city of New York and has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2007.

Vancouver businessman Will Cole-Hamilton has begun a national initiative to place a copy of An Inconvenient Truth in every Canadian secondary school. Through his newly founded non profit group, the Learning Climate Educational Society, Cole-Hamilton and his partners are looking to raise $50,000 to fund the project.

In a few short weeks they have already raised $10,000. Now you can help benefit the project, Canadian students, and the global warming issue by donating online, or you can mail your cheque payable to the Learning Climate Education Society at the following address:


Learning Climate Educational Society
c/o 1834 B Napier Street
Vancouver, BC V5L 2N3


More updates to come as the campaign moves forward.

Update: Members of the public can contribute directly to the campaign with their financial contribution. Visit the Conscious Earth post here, or the Learning Climate Education Society for information on donating online, or mailing your cheque.


Calling An Inconvenient Truth a "life altering event", Vancouver businessman Will Cole-Hamilton has launched a fundraising campaign to pay for the distribution of the global warming documentary to every high school in Canada.

Through their recently founded Learning Climate Educational Society, Cole-Hamilton and his partners have already raised $10,000 of the $50,000 they need, and they are also working on an educational package to accompany the film.

"Young people are going to be dealing with the opportunities and the challenges of climate change for the rest of their lives. And I think that a film that can give them a clear and comprehensible introduction to the scope and shape of that challenge is something that they need as they head forward."

Their efforts have so far been welcomed, which is in stark contrast to the situation in the United States. Four months ago, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) created an uproar when they refused 50,000 free copies of the DVD. It was later revealed that Exxon-Mobil is among the NSTA's funders.

Though better than the efforts made down south, Canada still lags noticeably behind the world leaders. In Britain, the government is distributing the movie to every secondary school in the nation, and it is required viewing for all students in Norway and Sweden.

However, provided the initiative isn't derailed by irrational parents (as was the case in Washington State) Canada's students, and the education system, stand to be the better for Cole-Hamilton's efforts.

If anyone has information regarding how the public can support this fundraising drive, email me at odiyya@fastmail.fm

Many global warming initiatives are all talk and no action. But now you can turn your online chatting into dollars to help fight the climate crisis.

Microsoft has launched a new initiative that will send a portion of ad revenues from Windows Live Messenger to your cause of choice. You can ensure that revenue goes towards the fight against global warming by selecting StopGlobalWarming.org as your cause.

To join visit im.live.com - it's open to new and existing Messenger users. Once you register, Microsoft shares a portion of the program's advertising revenue with the organization of your choice. The more you chat, the more money they'll receive.

At the moment the offer is only available to those living in the United States.

StopGlobalWarming.org is the sponsor of the Stop Global Warming Virtual March. - a nonpartisan effort to bring citizens together in an online grassroots movement to declare that global warming is here now and that it's time to demand solutions. To date, over 650,000 people have joined the march, including Governor Schwarzenegger, Leonardo DiCaprio, The Barenaked Ladies, Sheryl Crow, Tony Hawk, Robert Kennedy Jr., Deion Sanders and a host of other prominent celebrities including my favorite Tenacious D.

Click here to start chatting for global warming solutions.