Bioneers Gathers Leading-Edge Environmental Innovators to Address Key Social Issues

Annual Conference Creating a Revolution at the Intersection of the Environment, Health and Justice

Air quality. Water. Environmental Justice. Global warming. There has never been a more important time in the history of our planet to find the solutions to such critical environmental issues. The Earth could reach an irreversible tipping point in less than a decade unless we quickly change our ways, warns NASA climate scientist James Hansen. And there is only one organization that is on the cutting edge of the science and innovation behind these solutions. Bioneers.

Bioneers (http://www.bioneers.com), the source for forward-looking ideas and education that use nature as a guide to create sustainable societies and a healthy planet, will kick off its annual conference at the Marin Center in San Rafael, CA on October 17th-19th. In its 19th year, the Bioneers annual conference presents the world's leading scientific, technological and social innovators who are part of the global shift to help people live in a way that is inspired by nature.

The conference is a multi-media forum that presents solutions for the planet's most vital issues, and connects countless visionary leaders with engaged citizens -- who are all making a very real difference to create a future environment of stability and hope. From green collar jobs, to clean energy, to green building and solutions for global warming, the Bioneers conference is addressing what is on the minds of people everywhere. Attendees will experience exciting workshops, special events, and hear new ideas from leading-edge speakers such as Naomi Klein, Bill McKibben, and Alexandra Cousteau.

Conference highlights include:

-- Janine Benyus -- Nature's 100 Best: Top Biomimicry Solutions to Environmental Crises -- This naturalist, author of "Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature," and founder of the Biomimicry Institute reminds us that our prime directive as living beings is always to seek to create conditions conducive to life. What are "Nature's 100 Best?" (her book-in-progress), spells out revolutionary solutions to the world's most vexing challenges.

-- David Orr -- Some Like It Hot, But Lots Don't: The Changing Climate of US Politics -- One of the nation's most important architects of environmental literacy in higher education and a leading light in the sustainability movement, this visionary educator will outline a national climate-change policy for the incoming administration developed by the Presidential Climate Action Project (PCAP).

-- Rebecca Moore -- Google Earth: Visualizing Change, Mapping the Future -- Google Earth's mapping and visualization technologies are powerful tools for public-interest purposes, from environmental justice to climate change, biocultural preservation, land conservation and creating a sustainable society. This software engineer turned public-interest advocate founded Google Earth Outreach, and her efforts are dramatically leveraging the crucial work of NGOs, communities and indigenous peoples worldwide.

"Bioneers" are social and scientific innovators from all walks of life -- from policy-makers, to scientists, to activists -- who have peered deep into the heart of living systems and who are dedicated to solving critical issues affecting people and the planet.

Even though Bioneers is a New Mexico-based organization, the annual conference has been held each year in the Bay Area to tap into the region's collective hunger for newer and better ways of living. Broadcast via satellite to 18 sites across the nation to cities spanning Anchorage, Cleveland, Houston and Seattle, the Bioneers conference draws over 10,000 people together who find the tools and inspiration to be catalysts for change in their own communities.

There has never been a more important time in the history of our planet to find the solutions to critical environmental issues. From Leonardo DiCaprio's "11th Hour" -- with Bioneers founder Kenny Ausubel as lead advisor -- to Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth," the state of the environment -- and what the everyday person can do to participate -- is on the minds of many.

About Bioneers

Bioneers (www.bioneers.com) promotes practical environmental solutions and innovative social strategies for restoring the Earth and communities, catalyzing and connecting networks of restoration in the areas of environment, health, social justice and spirit. Our programs include:

-- The Bioneers Conference, the foremost and largest annual interdisciplinary environmental conference in the nation, its 19th year in 2008;

-- Beaming Bioneers, a program of satellite conferences to be held in approximately 18 communities in the U.S. this year;

-- The Bioneers Youth Initiative;

-- The Bioneers Moving Image Festival;

-- The award-winning radio series Bioneers: Revolution from the Heart of Nature;

-- The Bioneers anthology book series;

-- Bioneers in the media (articles, appearances, interviews);

-- The Bioneers Community Network including an online community;

-- The Ecological Food and Farming Programs;

-- And more.

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