Contact:
Lisa Sohn, Fenton Communications
415.901.0111 - Lsohn@fenton.com

Ruben Aronin - Global Green USA
310.612.5663 - raronin@globalgreen.org

GLOBAL GREEN - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GLOBAL GREEN USA JOINED BY HAYEK, BLOOM, DICAPRIO TO HIGHLIGHT SUSTAINABLE DESIGN, SMART SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL WARMING

Green Design Event Raises Funds to Green New Orleans and Advance Sustainable Cities, Urban Schools, and Affordable Housing Across California and the US

SAN FRANCISCO, December 12, 2006: Global Green USA hosted its 2nd annual San Francisco event at the LEED certified Bently Reserve tonight, attended by Salma Hayek, Orlando Bloom and hundreds of supporters.  The event focused on green design solutions to combat global warming and other environmental problems.

"Green design and sustainable building are critical to addressing the world’s most pressing environmental problems, including global warming, air and water pollution and forest destruction," said Global Green President Matt Petersen. "We have the technology to reduce global warming and pollution through the choices we make in our homes, at work and all parts of our lives.” 

Celebrity supporters Salma Hayek and Orlando Bloom were on hand along with Mia Maestro, Gael Garcia Bernal, Lucas Haas, Kevin Connolly, environmental architect Bill McDonough, event co-chair Zem Joaquin. Hayek and Bloom are members of Global Green’s LA Committee to support the organization.

"As the world struggles to combat poverty and global warming, Global Green USA is proving we can find solutions that benefit our communities and reduce global warming pollution," said Salma Hayek. “We can all do our part to tackle global warming in a way that also improves the lives of those on the edge, whether it is the Inuit people in the Arctic Circle or low-income families in San Francisco or Los Angeles."

Entitled “Gorgeous and Green”, the event promoted green design ideas for the home, ranging from clothing and interior design to organic food and architecture.  The event featured impressive design displays for the home, kitchen and wardrobe. In addition to using and purchasing less, these green products provide important alternatives consumers can choose to reduce their impact on the environment.

The event raised more than $250,000 to help support Global Green’s smart solutions to global warming that also help improve the lives of those most vulnerable to climate change and rising energy costs: low-income families and urban communities. Funds will support Global Green’s landmark efforts to rebuild a healthy, green New Orleans including its work to build the winning effort -- in the 9th Ward -- from their design competition with Brad Pitt.

Global Green’s Greater Bay Area Greening Affordable Housing Initiative has led to statewide incentives and several green projects that have influenced buildings in all 9 Bay area counties.  Last year, Global Green launched its World Water Day campaign at the Clift Hotel as well as its Green Affordable Housing Partnership with the City of San Francisco and Enterprise Community Partners.

This year marked Global Green’s largest and most successful SF event to date. Sponsors included Yahoo!, Google, PG and E, the Light Group, Green Mountain and Sillapere.

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Global Green USA - the American affiliate of President Gorbachev’s Green Cross International was founded by Diane Meyer Simon in 1993.  Its newly opened field office and green building resource center will serve as a focal point of green building expertise for New Orleans residents.  Global Green USA has been a national leader in advocating for smart solutions to global warming including green building for affordable housing, schools and communities for more than a decade and has influenced more than $20 billion dollars in green construction.