Gen Plus

Many readers will get this after tonight’s State of the Union, so I decided I wouldn’t talk about what I hoped and expected to hear, other than in relation to my thoughts after attending  an incredible conference yesterday.  The VerdExchange Green Marketers Conference was held for a select group of entrepreneurs, manufacturers, government officials, financial investors, sustainability managers and environmental stewards…all with a vested interest in emerging business opportunities regarding green and clean energy solutions.  I was able to attend two segments…both panel discussions with some very high level participants in a fairly intimate setting.  The frank points of view highlighted passion across the board for saving our planet…counterpointed by the frustrations most of them feel from the global community.   A few panelists impressed me greatly.  Perhaps the one whose words had the most impact on me was Peter Beattie, former Premier (for 9 years) of the Australian state of Queensland, and now, Trade Representative for the Americas on behalf of Queensland.  (For more details on the overall conference, see press release below.)

Beattie is a passionate proponent of saving our planet, coupled with the need of his country to sell coal to Japan — it puts Australia in the same situation as the US with our dependance upon oil.  The equally passionate and insightful Mutsuyoshi Nishimura (Special Advisor to the Prime Minister’s Cabinet; Former Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for Climate Change), made it clear to this audience that each country had limitations on how it could reduce their carbon footprint even though they were greatly supportive of enforcing emissions limitations.  Japan, tiny Japan, currently must burn coal as it has no other resources (and purchases its coal from Australia.)  Both Beattie and Nishimura embrace the need for clean coal (Japan has just opened its first Zero Emissions coal-burning plant) and face two realities. 

1. Japan will continue to burn coal for decades; and
2. In 20 or 30 years, coal will not be a viable energy source.

The other panelist who very humbly shared the incredible strides her company is making with investing in alternative energy was President and CEO of Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC)Vicky Sharpe.  Sharpe explained that for any alternative energy solution to grow and flourish, it had to be scaleable. Her company was invested almost a billion dollars in 181 alternative energy start-ups, with 34 of them commercially viable.  What that means is that SDTC has created partnerships with multinational corporations (think FedEx, Dupont, Toyota) who would be incorporating the technologies and using them worldwide. 

With Copenhagen still fresh, and each of these panelists very compelling positions and directions, Beattie’s voice kept ringing through to me, echoing statements from almost all of the other panelists. 

The United States needs to set the stage for carbon emission reduction and alternative energy. 

Beattie felt that Obama has already done a great deal for changing the world public opinion of the US, but he also stated that in terms of leading the charge on the renewable energy front,  he yet to see true evidence of an Obama backbone.  If the US takes the lead and creates a technology that will surpass the value of fossil-fuel, then that will allow China and India to leapfrog the fossil-fuel era they claim to need in order to develop their economies. 

[There is a...] lack of leadership in the US.  The private sector is the only way forward unless President Obama has a backbone that he hasn’t seen yet…

That is the statement got me.   Obama had raised World Public Opinion of the United States.  A very strong positive. 

Domestically, however, Obama’s goals for change haven’t really seen him dramatically take this leadership role…or at least not in a way that resonates with the American people or in the World Public Opinion.  Bi-partisanship can only go so far, especially when it is a failing concept in the current political climate.  We can’t just all get along.  We need clear direction and decisive and swift action.

I was excited to see what he would say in his State of the Union tonight.  And I wasn’t disappointed. 

He took a strong position, called out where he had to, put the focus on the American people and jobs in a big way.  He laid out the need to take the lead and be the #1 country in the race for sustainable energy innovation.  He called out the politics of politics and basically laid the framework — pushing through with a majority and having the Republican party vote “no” just for the sake of politicking — that is not leadership and leadership is what he intends to provide the people in the years ahead. 

The only thing that would have made me even happier would be to see him say he’d trash the health care reform bill as is and just move to Medicare for all with optional plans available (like the way the plan works for seniors.)  But that would really not be bi-partisan…would it?

But he reminded me of why I voted for him.  And I liked the backbone.

I hope Mr. Beattie was pleased.

*******************************

Driving the Alternative Energy Marketplace at the VERDEXCHANGE Conference

Business and Policy Leaders Advance Global Clean Tech Opportunities and Cutting-edge Policy

LOS ANGELES – With the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen top-of-mind and the State of the Union address forthcoming, government and business leaders from the Western region and around the world gathered in Los Angeles at the VERDEXCHANGE Conference to advance the growing and fast-evolving markets for green and clean technologies.

“This is my third VERDEXCHANGE Conference,” said the Chair of the California Air Resources Board Mary Nichols. “Each time I think it gets better because we’ve gone beyond generalizations about the importance of climate change and opportunities for the business community into really concrete discussions about areas where investments may be appropriate and ways in which government can do more to help promote opportunities and create jobs within California as well as nationally.”

The 26 expert panels focused on sharing the “game changing” impacts of new regulations and attitudes towards environmental sustainability, climate change and energy conservation efforts shaping the global, trillion dollar green marketplace.

During the event’s first panel Congressman Earl Blumenauer (Oregon) said, “I come to California for inspiration for what we are doing in Washington D.C.” He added that “government policy does in fact work and drive energy policy.”

The conference is a noteworthy occasion bringing together the financial professionals, politicians and the utilities important for increasing energy security and making a new economy, remarked Member of the German Parliament Hans-Joseph Fell.“It is important for all parts of the world to avoid rising oil prices and provide new jobs. When we make new policies like feed-in tariffs, capital will be invested. This conference is a good place for discussions like this,” said Fell.

Regarding a regional low-carbon economy, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas declared, “We’ve begun to see the long-term payback of green infrastructure. What’s good for the environment can be good for business.”

VERDEXCHANGE, in collaboration with strategic partners the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, Southern California Edison, AECOM, SoCalGas/Sempra Energy, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Craton Equities, and the consulates of Canada, German and Japan, once again hosted an unmatched opportunity to learn from and network with global, national, and subnational climate change leaders, elected officials, environmental stewards, investors, and financiers.

Participating speakers also included: Chair of the California Energy Commission Karen Douglas; Western Director of the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Felicia Marcus; Former Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for Climate Change Mutsuyoshi Nishimura; President of the California Public Utilities Commission Michael Peevey; President and CEO of Sustainable Development Technology Canada Vicky Sharpe. For the full list of speakers, visit: http://www.verdexchange.org/conference/speakers.

About VerdeXchange, LLC:
VerdeXchange, LLC is an environmental think tank and publisher created to inform and  strategically advise green innovators wishing to diffuse green technology and innovations in the marketplace. http://www.verdexchange.org

Are you trying to figure out next steps in dealing with the recession?  A major national publication is LOOKING FOR THREE GENERATIONS LIVING UNDER ONE ROOF!

The number of three-generation households has increased as a result of the recession. Have you and your spouse and/or kids moved into your parents’ home? Or have your kids recently moved back into your house?  

A national magazine is looking to talk to three generations who have recently decided to live together for a story on coping with this kind of arrangement. You will have to disclose some financials that relate to the situation (how mortgage costs are shared, etc.), but you will also get targeted financial advice from one of the country’s top financial planners about making this kind of transition work. If you’ve recently moved in with parents, had parents move in with you, or have been thinking about such a transition, send an email to Lauren_Kelleher@moneymail.com, telling us why it happened and how it’s been working.

Include a recent photo of all three generations, along with your names, ages, occupations and household income.

Please let me know if you connect with Lauren.  If you get published, I’ll be happy to post a link to the article here on Gen Plus, too!

Have an event, product or service that you want Gen Plussers to know about?  To promote activities of interest to Boomers and 50 Plussers, send an email to Janet at  wspiegel@genplususa.com and we’ll include you on the Gen Plus List.  Not all submissions will be included.  Please allow 3-5 days for your listing to appear.

A producer I’m acquainted with is casting the 7th season of a very funny MTV show called “Parental Control” — She’s looking for families with college-age kids and asked me to put the call out…

WHAT THE SHOW’S ABOUT:
Most parents are unhappy with who their son or daughter is dating.
On this show, the parents get to set up their kid on two new handpicked blind dates…
The parents interview all of the potential suitors in advance, and choose their favorite two for the dates.
When the dates are done, their kid gets to choose between their parents’ new picks or the old flame.

PAY:
If you get picked for the show, each person will be paid $250! — plus additional $500 to the family if we shoot the final scene at your house.

WHO WE NEED:
Parent #1: biological, mom or dad.
Parent #2: can be bio, step, boyfriend/girlfriend, fiancee, or love interest parental figure.
Son or daughter + their significant other (serious or casual is fine): must appear to be between age of 18 – 21.

WHERE:
Greater Los Angeles area — north to around Ventura, east to the desert and Riverside, south throughout Orange County.

WHEN:
Now! We start taping shows on February 1st

Anyone interested should email me TODAY and I’ll pass the info along.  You can reach me at wspiegel@genplususa.com

Good luck!

• Did you know that the next two weeks (Jan 24 – 29 and Jan 31 – Feb 5, 2010) are Restaurant Week in Los Angeles? A whole string of restaurants offer up three course meals at prices that will get you revved up about going out again. Lunches range from $16-28 and dinners from $26-44.  For more info and a list of participating restaurants, head to the discover LA site. 
• Golden Globes just came and went and the rains are falling in LA…so if you want to get out of the rains and really enjoy a flick, my vote is for Avatar, in IMAX, 3D.  See what the future of filmmaking is going to be about.
• If you’ve never been to Vitello’s, tonight you can enjoy John Pisano’s Guitar Night with Ulf Wakenius from 7:00 – 10:00 PM
  Vitello’s – Downstairs, 4349 Tujunga Ave. , Studio City, 91604
• Opening this weekend at the MOCA, Mi Casa es Tu Casa — a land project, at the Geffen Contemporary.

Have an event, product or service that you want Gen Plussers to know about?  To promote activities of interest to Boomers and 50 Plussers, send an email to Janet at  wspiegel@genplususa.com and we’ll include you on the Gen Plus List.  Not all submissions will be included.  Please allow 3-5 days for your listing to appear.

Like most of the people in the rest of the world, I’m devastated by the aftermath to our human race that the tragic earthquake in Haiti has wrought.  I was watching Anderson Cooper on CNN last night as he was talking with Sanjay Gupta about the night Sanjay had spent after operating on a 12-year old girl (no doctor was available and Gupta was contacted through CNN and flown over to operate) and then watching over 25 critically ill survivors in a make-shift hospital, after the team of Belgian doctors that were there had been ordered to leave due to fears for their safety.   

Their conversation questions how organizations are getting help to Haiti and just not understanding so many of the challenges, when they were able to hop a flight to the Dominican Republic and drive across the border to Haiti.  They don’t talk about the heavy equipment that is needed (and that IS a challenge getting in due to the destruction of the roads), but question why truckloads of antibiotics can’t be easily brought in.  Bottom line is we aren’t there…we’re watching clips from the eyes of the reporter.  But if you haven’t watched this segment, then you should.

Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta talk about bringing commonsense to bringing aid to Haiti.

Laura Lee Carter aka The Midlife Crisis Queen, is this week’s Blogging Boomers Carnival host.  We are all so saddened by the devastation in Haiti…and that made it tough this week to really talk about anything else.  All the same, there were some newsworthy items that our group picked up on, so please take a few minutes and join the carnival.  Thank you Laura Lee for graciously hosting this challenging week.  http://www.midlifecrisisqueen.com/2010/01/18/blogging-boomers-carnival-145/

Sunday,  January 17, 2010

If you are in LA, some cool happenings today, pulled from LA Weekly:  http://www.laweekly.com/calendar

• From Mose Allison, to the 19th Annual International Los Angeles Photographic Art Exposition  at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, tons of great events to get you out and about.  Don’t forget Target Sundays at CAAM

Date/Time:     Sun., January 17, 1:00pm
Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Price: free

As part of Target Sundays at CAAM, Jeffrey Anderson Gunter and Harlem Lee co-host this Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration featuring live music, performances and film screenings.

CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM
600 State Dr.
L.A., CA
(213) 744-7432
http://www.caam.ca.gov

If you are in NY and want to catch a last minute show, head over for your 1/2 price tickets before you pay full retail:  http://www.nyc.com/arts__attractions/tkts_halfprice_tickets_theatre_development_fund.2012/editorial_review.aspx

And in Chicago, same idea — find some great prices on last minute theater tickets:  http://www.hottix.org/

Let me know what cities you want info on and I’ll try to get it for you! 

Have an event, product or service that you want Gen Plussers to know about?  To promote activities of interest to Boomers and 50 Plussers, send an email to wspiegel@genplususa.com and we’ll include you on the Gen Plus List.  Not all submissions will be included.  Please allow 3-5 days for your listing to appear.

Hi all — I have a request from a major US newspaper.  A top columnist is looking to interview folks who are at or near retirement about the challenges of looking for a job in this economy, even a part time job.  He’s particularly interested in chatting with folks who had retired but are now again looking for work for either for financial reasons or to simply stay active and involved.

I know many of you are looking for work because you lost your jobs, but this article is not about that.  He would love to find people who have found creative solutions, such as arranging with their employer to work part time rather than completely retiring.

If you fit the bill, or know someone who would be open to being interviewed, please email me asap at wspiegel@genplususa.com   and I’ll connect you with the writer.  Article deadline is Sunday.

If you are looking for a fast and easy way to get a donation to the victims of the Haiti earthquake, the Red Cross has set up a text message donation number.  Directly from the White House blog, http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/01/12/thoughts-and-prayers-haiti:

For those interesting in helping immediately, simply text “HAITI” to “90999″ and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill.

This just out from the Bureau of Consumer Protection/Division of Consumer and Business Education, The Federal Trade Commission (and if you do nothing else, watch the two videos  — a good one on debt collection, and an excellent one on scams/cons):

The FTC recently concluded the case that drew the largest ever imposed on a debt collection agency for allegedly threatening and harassing consumers; disclosing their debts to third parties, and depositing postdated checks early, in violation of federal law.  The FTC has also released this consumer education video on debt collection so that consumers can be aware of their rights and debt collectors can be aware of their responsibilities under federal law.  The video is also available in Spanish. 

Here is the full press release with details:

January 7, 2009

Debt Collection Supervisors Settle FTC Charges

New FTC Video Explains Consumer Rights

Concluding a case that drew the largest civil penalty ever imposed on a debt collection business, the Federal Trade Commission settled with the two remaining individual defendants who allegedly misled, threatened, and harassed consumers; disclosed their debts to third parties; and deposited postdated checks early, in violation of federal law. The settlement order requires each of these senior managers to pay a civil penalty and bars them from future violations.

“The FTC wants to remind debt collectors of their responsibilities and obligations under the law. Abusive collection actions are illegal, and if debt collectors use abusive tactics they could face legal action,” said David Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “At the same time, we want consumers to understand their rights if their debts go into collection. Money matters, and the more people know about managing their debt and dealing with debt collectors, the better off they will be.”

According to the FTC’s complaint, filed by the Department of Justice on the FTC’s behalf, the defendants participated in, or controlled, the actions of debt collectors whose unlawful practices included false or deceptive threats of garnishment, arrest, and legal action; improper calls to consumers; frequent, harassing, threatening, and abusive calls; and unfair and unauthorized withdrawals from consumers’ bank accounts. The complaint also alleged that the defendants failed to adequately investigate consumer complaints or discipline collectors, and collectors who were terminated for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) often were rehired within a few months.

In 2008, Academy Collection Service, Inc. and its owner, Keith Dickstein, paid $2.25 million to settle FTC charges that Academy collectors violated the FTC Act and the FDCPA while collecting debts, and that Dickstein failed to stop the violations. The settlement order announced today, negotiated by DOJ and the FTC, imposed civil penalties of $375,000 and $300,000, respectively, on Albert S. Bastian and Keith L. Hurt III, who oversaw Academy’s Las Vegas collection center. The judgments were suspended upon payment of $7,500 each, based on their ability to pay. The full judgments will become due immediately if the defendants are found to have misrepresented their financial condition.

The order bars Bastian and Hurt from making false, deceptive, or misleading representations in debt collection efforts, such as that nonpayment will result in garnishment of wages, seizure of property, or lawsuits, or that they or their agents are attorneys. They also are prohibited from withdrawing money from consumers’ bank accounts without their express informed consent, and from depositing or threatening to deposit postdated checks before the date on the check. In addition, the pair are barred from improperly communicating with third parties about a debt; communicating with a consumer at any unusual time or place, including the workplace; and harassing, oppressing, or abusing any person in connection with debt collection.

The Commission vote to authorize DOJ to file the consent decree was 4-0. The consent decree was entered in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.

The Commission has released a video, at www.ftc.gov/debtcollection and www.youtube.com/ftcvideos, explaining consumer rights regarding debt collection. Consumers with questions about their rights under the FDCPA should refer to Debt Collection FAQs: A Guide for Consumers at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm.

NOTE: This consent decree is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by these defendants of a law violation. A consent decree is subject to court approval and has the force of law when signed by a judge.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,700 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.