Comment from Liz
July 1st, 2009 at 11:30 am

Congratulations to us all on this victory. The thing that struck me most about this video? "Damn, that's a lot of white people." How can we attract more minorities to this important work?

Comment from Art Cooley
July 1st, 2009 at 11:36 am

Dear EDFers: Thank you for the thank you. As a founding trustee of EDF, I have never been prouder of our efforts to improve the quality of the environment. The success in the House on global warming suggests we may just have the tools to succeed in the Senate; we cannot afford to fail. Please keep the requests for help coming; we will do all we can. Warmest regards, Art Warmest regards is not a pun!

Comment from carlos
July 1st, 2009 at 11:51 am

can i get one of those book on earth the sequel for free

Comment from Ivan
July 1st, 2009 at 12:11 pm

I think that Liz makes a good point; we might be a stronger influence if we get more visible diversity. I am a witness of several different ethnic groups in this country that do their part in the environment, but I think the way to get them to be noticed is through a friendly ambassador (like me) that is already within this organization and talk to them about it. That way they can join and be more noticed for something they have already been doing.

Comment from Mike
July 1st, 2009 at 12:12 pm

Nice video!

Comment from Silvia
July 1st, 2009 at 12:12 pm

please cut out the music from the video
one can hardly hear the words
otherwise – great work !
I have my solar panels for heating water and producing energy on my roof already, I am very proud of it, works perfect, even people ask me, why spend so much money
Silvia from Germany

Comment from Bob Muson
July 1st, 2009 at 12:33 pm

Thanks so much for the acknowledgment. The idea of personalizing it with the video was brilliant! I now have a relationship with the people behind the campaign and the emails you send out!
One note: The music running behind the video really gets in the way of not only hearing what people are saying, but it diminishes their greatness. The music stops for the duration of the last interview leaving nothing between me and the man talking to me.
Just let people speak so I can get the full impact of their generosity!

This idea of constantly having "music" behind people's speaking is all over the place on TV and in online videos. It's as if the people themselves aren't enough to hold the viewers attention. At a certain point it's not "music", it's just noise!

I want to be with the people, not with someone's "good idea" to add in noise to keep me awake. I'd like to hear the same video without the background "music".

Comment from Sam Parry
July 1st, 2009 at 1:30 pm

Thanks for the comments, folks. We really appreciate the support.

As to the music, we struggled with this. Without the music, the pace of the video seemed a bit slow. The music helped pick things up to reflect the celebratory mood. We actually cut the video 4 times with music at different volumes and thought this was the best balance between the background music and the speakers' voices.

As to the issue of diversity in our staff, it is an incredibly important issue for the entire environmental community, one that EDF has made a priority and that we have been addressing head on in our hiring guidelines and coalition outreach work for many years. As an example, just two months ago, we launched a Diversity Fellowship Program (http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=39576) in a new effort to continue to improve diversity within EDF. If you know qualified candidates, please send them our way.

While this video doesn't reflect it, we actually already have a fairly diverse staff, one that thankfully is becoming more so every year.

Comment from Wesley Black
July 1st, 2009 at 1:37 pm

THANK YOU ! ! !

Comment from Naomi
July 1st, 2009 at 1:41 pm

Thank you for acknowledging all of us who have provided a helping hand whether with signing petitions, contacting our elected officials to make a change or providing donations to the cause of protecting our planet. But it is you who deserve our thanks, by creating an organization which voices our concerns and desires when it affects our world. Continue and we will continue with you; to make a conscious effort in protecting our planet.

Comment from Wesley Black
July 1st, 2009 at 1:44 pm

THANK YOU, I'LL BREATH MUCH BETTER NOW ! ! ! .,.)

LET'S REINSULATE AMERICA TODAY…

MATERIALS MADE FROM HEMP ~ CELLULOSE ~ FIBERS – ARE cheaper TO PRODUCE AND RE ~ CREATE THAN ANY OTHER fiber NATURAL / OR / MAN MADE ! ! ! Even better than RECYCLED ! ! ! 100% HEMP FIBER CELLULOSE INSULATION…

WAKE UP AMERICA IF YOU WANT A PLANET TO LIVE ON…

INSULATION DOES NOT COST IT SAVES !! !! !! .,.)

Comment from Kathleen Golden
July 1st, 2009 at 1:54 pm

I am deeply encouraged to know we have so many caring and intelligent people organizing and working together for a more sustainable and humane future for ourselves and future generations.

Comment from Margaret Skoglund
July 1st, 2009 at 2:47 pm

You are the best! We all have to thank you for your great efforts on behalf of all of us. Thank you!

Comment from Mark Kraemer
July 1st, 2009 at 3:09 pm

Thanks for this video! It's great to see the people behind the EDF organization. The environmental movement is a fellowship, and it's wonderful to actually see you all–I consider you dear friends. Thanks for your great work, AND for the talking points we can use as we canvass the nation in preparation for the upcoming Senate vote. I can't wait to start phone calling!!

Comment from Robert M. Rivera
July 1st, 2009 at 3:12 pm

The ten dessenters will always be knot heads.

Comment from Wendy Frederick
July 1st, 2009 at 3:12 pm

Thanks!

Comment from Ann McCarthy
July 1st, 2009 at 3:23 pm

Onwards and upwards…
Thanks on behalf of the children's children's children, and me! Well done.

Comment from Deb
July 1st, 2009 at 3:26 pm

Thanks for saying thanks! This victory has been a long time coming and is through the hard work of many now and over the last few decades — congrats to us all, and onward to the Senate!

Comment from Donna Long
July 1st, 2009 at 3:36 pm

Thank you very much for everything you have done! One victory leads to another!

Comment from Georgia
July 1st, 2009 at 4:19 pm

Many thanks from Romania! I am sad for not being able to donate money for your cause but I will always support you. Because yes, I am one of radical environmentalists! And no, you do not have to thank us – we have to thank you for all your efforts… Ours is a very small one…
Keep up the good work and… "break a leg" in the Senate!

Comment from Wesley Black
July 1st, 2009 at 6:59 pm

LET'S REINSULATE AMERICA T O D A Y > > > …)

START @ H O M E ! ! !

Comment from Thomas Lee Boles
July 1st, 2009 at 7:09 pm

I notice those ten supremely silly comments all came from Publicans. Why are these rah rah superpatriot types so big on our continued dependence on oil from people who talk about the world "doing without" us (Ahmadinejad) and are probably building atomic bombs? Whose vast conspiracy is that?

Comment from Sophi Zimmerman
July 1st, 2009 at 11:12 pm

Thanks for your message! You have all articulated how important this is to my family and myself. As a Montessori teacher I teach my students that we are stewards of the earth. The makes me feel like I am setting a good example and have confidence in the work you do!

Comment from Jayatissa Gamlath
July 1st, 2009 at 11:40 pm

Thank You very much for every thing you have done.

Comment from Dr. James Singmaster
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:21 am

ACES does nothing as it has no program to reduce the overloads of energy and GHGs already in the biosphere. I urge readers here to check my comment #1 on the June 29 Greeninc, NYTimes blog on the posting concern the views of Sweden's Environment Minister, Carlgren. The report mentioned on the blog posted in New Scientist, June 21, indicates that the present levels of the overloads have momentums that will lead to an 80 ft sea rise by 4,000 AD. Dr. J. Singmaster

Comment from Zainab Faruqui Ali
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:40 am

i am positive this will bring a more renewables savy u.s.a. with resultant positive effects on the rest of the world.
_zainab faruqui ali

Comment from NATH
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:08 pm

I feel proud at this achievement.
A big THANK YOU to the TEAM
It is an achievement for the whole of the EARTH and UNIVERSE at large

Comment from rachel
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:16 am

thanks for the thanks…i was so hoping this was a short clip that would have broken down the issue in 3-4 minutes…i would have used it in my classroom…over and over…10 seconds of "thank you" would have been enough, then the rest, explaining this very complex issue! we cannot hear it/learn about the basics enough!

Comment from Victor Donnay
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:16 am

The upcoming debate in the Senate about the Carbon Cap bill provides a wonderful strategic opportunity to unleash the pent up energies/anger of the American people. A huge large scale demonstration in Washington DC and associated demonstrations around the country could bring pressure on the Senate to pass the bill (ideally the Senate would pass a tougher version that the House).

All the science, including the very newest report from the government about climate change, indicate that we are at a critical juncture. While Earth Day activities are fine, getting a bill passed by the Senate will force a change in large scale practices.

Has the national coalition of environmental groups discussed this idea? It really is a key opportunity to galvanize the populace and let politicians hear that we care more about keeping our planet habitable than we do about a few hundred dollars a year.

Sincerely yours,
Victor J. Donnay, Ph.D.

Co-Principal Investigator,
NSF START Project:
Energy, Environment and Sustainability Science: An Institute for 21st Century Teacher Leaders
Professor of Mathematics
Bryn Mawr College

Comment from caroline
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:07 pm

I would like to return the "Thank YOU" for being there to do what one individual often feels helpless about. This is the best opportunity we've had to protect the planet and this victory is great. As far as the music goes, I think its fine and does give a more continuous feel to the video.
Onward to the fight with the Senate. I wish us all luck.

Comment from Kelly
July 5th, 2009 at 12:15 pm

Surmised Indicta – Ne quis indicta causa condemnetur "No man should be condemned unheard." John 18:37 … so there is a BILL. That decision rolls over into Special Needs Assessments. You have 10 with idioms on the tip of their tongues for lack of anything better to say. An Energy Star needs assessment in their areas for housing of the lower income class (special needs) may help them redefine their broad statements. Special needs individuals usually need help representing themselves and cost the taxpayer a lot in upkeep.

Comment from Alia
July 6th, 2009 at 9:31 am

Great work, all! Now, let's do everything it takes to get it done in the Senate.

Comment from Patrick
July 6th, 2009 at 10:00 am

Boy this is fantastic! When can we expect the planet to start cooling off? I can't wait to se the results from this legislation.

Comment from Nicholas Pia
July 11th, 2009 at 12:54 am

I have no money but I love my kids so much how can I do more.