Once the Pennsylvania legislature finally adjourned, PennFuture’s staff (most of them, anyway),

armed with video cameras and simple instructions (“use the tripod”), recorded a message of

thanks to you, our supporters.

Some joined with others to send their thanks; some expressed their gratitude individually; some

talked about the work we do; some talked about their New Year’s resolutions; and some simply

said “thank you.” (And some were too fast for our videographers, and managed to avoid our

cameras!)

What we lack in video skills, we more than make up in our commitment and dedication – and the

firm knowledge that you make all our work possible.

Thank you so much for your support in 2011.

PennFuture President and CEO Jan Jarrett with a thank you message for your help on Marcellus Shale drilling legislation – and the road forward.

On April 3, PennFuture hosted our annual global warming conference called "Clean Energy for a Cool Pittsburgh" at Duquesne University's Power Center. The event featured a number of local experts and business leaders in the fields of renewable energy, alternative transportation and green buildings, examining the ways that Pittsburgh-area organizations and businesses are succeeding at new ventures and new approaches that reduce Pennsylvania's contributions to climate change.

This podcast features U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D- PA 14), who spoke about the fight in Congress to combat climate change, and the prospects for change in the near future. He also introduced one of the other featured speakers at the event, Kate Gordon, vice president for energy policy at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C.

Representative Doyle’s comments include his family history in Pittsburgh and the impact of global warming on area industries, and how combating climate change will improve both the economy and the environment. Doyle opened his presentation with his one magic answer for cutting the gridlock in Washington on global warming.

To learn more about how you can join PennFuture's efforts to cool Pennsylvania's contributions to global warming and to promote and develop our reliance on clean, renewable energy options, visit our website. There you can also make a donation that supports our continued leadership on these issues. If you're in the Pittsburgh area, sign up for our Black & Gold City Goes Green campaign and track how your actions are helping to cut carbon and unhealthy air pollution.

Philadelphia has made extraordinary progress since 2007, when PennFuture and 130 other community, faith, environmental, business, and union organizations declared that the City of Brotherly Love could be the Next Great City if everyone worked together to create cleaner, safer & healthier neighborhoods.

To do that, the Next Great City Coalition (NGC) challenged all candidates for Philadelphia mayor to commit to 10 commonsense action steps that would improve the city. Since then, the coalition and Mayor Michael Nutter have accomplished nearly all the action steps outlined.

On St. Patrick's Day 2011, the Coalition launched Next Great City 2 -- bringing candidates for Philadelphia City Council into the NGC fold. This time, all City Council candidates are being asked to commit to 5 additional action steps.

This video podcast features that Campaign launch, which was held at the Academy of Natural Sciences, which is home -- as you will plainly hear -- to an African parrot who added its two cents to the event.

 

What a year this has been -- and what a challenge we have in 2011.

In this podcast, PennFuture's President and CEO Jan Jarrett explains some of our great victories, and what our hopes are for 2011, protecting and promoting Pennsylvania's environment and economy.

But we need your help to continue these victories. Your membership in PennFuture could make the difference. Please join today.

There is so much to do. First and foremost, we must protect our beautiful state from damage from drilling in the Marcellus Shale – we simply must succeed. We must move the state even faster into the great green economy, and create the jobs we so desperately need. And we must protect our air, our water, our land, and our fellow creatures as we do so. Because we know that a great economy and a clean environment go hand in hand.
Some of the environment’s strongest champions are now gone from public office. And with organizations that oppose environmental protection spending record amounts of money in campaign financing and lobbying this year – a total of $4 Billion nationwide – we know we will be facing attempts to weaken laws and regulations that protect our natural resources, communities and health.

Building Pennsylvania’s economy and protecting our environment are bipartisan issues. And we have worked for years across party lines, and will continue to do so. 

We’ve already begun reaching out to the new administration and the new leaders in the General Assembly to demonstrate to them why protecting Pennsylvania’s environment is essential for economic recovery and job creation. So while we are patiently laying the groundwork for the next two years, we will also be looking for opportunities to move some great policies forward.

Please take a minute – now – and join PennFuture. Please go to our secure website and make a tax-deductible donation of $30 - $50 - $120 – or whatever you can spare. You can make a single donation, or spread your gift out quarterly or monthly.

Happy holidays!

Another speaker at the September 20 global warming event in Philadelphia was Michael Livermore, Executive Director of the Institute for Policy Integrity at New York University Law School. The Institute partners with advocacy organizations to use economics and law to ensure that the benefits of better protections are properly counted on environment, health, Internet access, and other issues.

PennFuture’s Director of Outreach, Christine Knapp, interviewed Livermore for this podcast. Livermore explained that, unlike today, environmental issues weren’t partisan issues, and Presidents Richard Nixon and George H.W. Bush – both Republicans – were instrumental in creating strong environmental protections on the Federal level.

And – hey we just found out we’re on the list! (Of course, we never had any doubt.) This list is one gathered by a contractor to the state to warn public safety officials and the drilling industry of possible danger. The whole list is pretty funny to read – it includes the circus, members of Congress, Governor Rendell, Cardinal Rigali and even the Executive Director of the Marcellus Shale Coalition.

But whether or not you made the list – you can join ours! Go to our secure website to join PennFuture, and make sure you sign up for our publications. And remember, you won’t miss any podcasts by subscribing to them through iTunes.

On September 20 in Philadelphia, PennFuture, the Academy of Natural Sciences and the American Cities Foundation hosted a standing room only event on climate destruction and why we need to act now, featuring Bill McKibben, world-renowned environmentalist, author and founder of the international 350.org climate campaign.

Before the formal program, PennFuture’s Director of Outreach, Christine Knapp, interviewed McKibben for this vidcast. Topics ranged from what 350 means to what the future was for the Clean Air Act to why Stephen Colbert is a little scary and David Letterman so scared.

And while PennFuture can’t protect you from Stephen Colbert this Halloween, you can join us to make sure that Pennsylvania’s environment gets lots of treats, and no tricks.  Go to our secure website to join PennFuture, and make sure you sign up for our publications. And remember, you can make sure you don't miss any podcasts by subscribing to them through iTunes.

And Happy Halloween from the staff and board at PennFuture!

 

Our Keep the Promise Tour traveled the state last month, speaking with citizens about the drilling for natural gas deep in the Marcellus Shale, and the need to make the drillers pay their fair share and play by our rules. Our last stop was in Uniontown, where we were joined by Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger.

For this vidcast, PennFuture’s western Pennsylvania outreach coordinator, Tiffany Hickman, interviewed Secretary Hanger about the importance of the severance tax to the environment, and what will happen to great programs like Growing Greener if the tax doesn’t pass.

Take action and let your Senator know that you expect her/him to Keep the Promise and pass a substantial tax on the drillers this session.

PennFuture works every day to make a difference for Pennsylvania’s environment and economy. Isn’t it time to join us and make a difference yourself? Go to our secure website to join PennFuture, and make sure you sign up for our publications. And remember, you can make sure you don't miss any podcasts by subscribing to them through iTunes.

PennFuture's Keep the Promise Tour has traveled the state, speaking with citizens about the drilling for natural gas deep in the Marcellus Shale, and the need to make the drillers pay their fair share and play by our rules. Everywhere we went, citizens were grateful for the information, and they wanted to speak out.

Today’s vidcast voice from the road is Tom Gilbert, who attended our Bucks County event. In this interview with Rachel Vassar, PF’s Philadelphia outreach coordinator, Tom makes the case that drilling must be safe and fair – with the drillers paying their fair share and playing by our rules

Take action and let your Senator know that you expect her/him to Keep the Promise and pass a substantial tax on the drillers this session.

PennFuture works every day to make a difference for Pennsylvania’s environment and economy. Isn’t it time to join us and make a difference yourself? Go to our secure website to join PennFuture, and make sure you sign up for our publications. And remember, you can make sure you don't miss any podcasts by subscribing to them through iTunes.