This weekend, Chicagoans get to experience the best from sustainability leaders and organizations gathered at the Navy Pier for Green Festival. The nation’s largest green living event, Green Festival is a non-profit with twelve years of attracting a million attendees in more than five cities, with a commitment to sustainable economy, ecological balance, and social justice.

The DotGreen team at the San Francisco Green Festival in November 2012. (DotGreen photo)

FORD Motors and Green Festivals have partnered once again to fund a Community Green Grant at the Chicago Green Festival. Attendees will be able to vote for their favorite project at the FORD Community Green Grants Booth during show hours. One winner will receive a $5,000 grant, while four runner-up organizations will each receive a $1,000 grant.

Find out more about the May 18-19, 2013 Chicago weekend, and other Green Festival events here.

DotGreen has been a long time attendee of Green Festivals in cities around the US, and we always appreciate the connections and insights of both presenters and attendees who gather for a weekend of sustainability discussion!

Green Festival Chicago attendees gathered at the DotGreen booth during the 2012 event. (DotGreen photo)

DotGreen has hosted People & Planet events alongside the past four ICANN meetings, as a way to inform our guests, who appreciate the green efforts occurring locally in regions around the world. In April, the ICANN Beijing meeting was a particularly exciting location for discovering the innovation and passion behind green organizations in China.

60 Internet professionals from 19 countries, enjoyed meeting the leaders of local Green initiatives during a picnic lunch atop the Great Wall of China. (DotGreen photo)

60 guests from 19 countries started the day with a visit to Parkview Green, a unique and intriguing commercial complex with impressive energy conservation measures. Here, we learned about how the sustainable technologies and materials used resulted in a 50% reduction in energy usage for buildings of that size. Parkview Green is the first integrated commercial project to be awarded LEED Green Building Rating System Platinum pre-certification and has set the bar high for new development in Beijing. The Parkview Green is a family owned and run business.

Jim Spear at the flagpole at Mutianyu School House, as DotGreen’s guests enjoy morning coffee. (DotGreen photo)

Our journey then took us by two coaches in a convoy beyond the city center to the village of Mutianyu at the base of the Great Wall. We spent time at the impressive Schoolhouse at Mutianyu, a community center and sustainable tourism facility that was founded by husband and wife team Jim Spear and Liang Tang. Their sustainable tourism enterprise has grown to include three restaurants, an art glass studio, a gallery, a unique resort comprised of rental homes dispersed across two villages, and an eco-retreat designed by Spear. Their efforts have boosted the local economy, provided a sustainable tourism approach for their community, and have set an example for others including the Chinese government, who approached them to learn from their model as a means to boosting the economies of nearby districts.

ICANN delegates enjoying the ride up the chair lift to the Great Wall of China. (DotGreen photo)

From the Schoolhouse, delegates enjoyed a sustainable tour of Mutianyu, to learn more about the village, the people, and their greening efforts as a community. A scenic “chair lift” brought the guests up the side of the Great Wall, to enjoy a locally sourced organic picnic lunch where they heard from local experts about sustainable agricultural development in China, and the innovation and value provided by groups like Shared Harvest and Smart Agriculture Analytics.

Dr. Shen Li, professor and LOHAS leader, spoke about his experience with changing sustainability attitudes and procedures in China. He expressed his belief about a brighter future in sustainability and environmental protection in his country. The Great Wall in the background provided an interesting backdrop to learn about China’s advancements in the green sector.

The village of Mutianyu and the Great Wall took us back in time. We felt the history of the country and it’s people. The group had plenty of personal time to explore the Great Wall and enjoy the natural surroundings on the outskirts of Beijing. The popular descent from the Great Wall was by toboggan – click to enjoy the ride courtesy of DotGreen’s guest Bill Doshier.

Dr. Shen Li spoke to the group of delegates with his translator Miss Liu Shan.
Li has hosted LOHAS conferences in Beijing, and is optimistic about the future of sustainability in his country.

Dr. Shen Li, Leader of LOHAS in Beijing, address DotGreen Community and guests via interpreter Miss Liu Shan atop the Great Wall of China. (DotGreen photo)

LOHAS is an acronym for Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability that was coined to describe a consumer group that prioritizes environmental and health concerns. It is used more and more frequently in China, and is now used to describe values of green businesses and organizations. DotGreen’s founder, Annalisa Roger, said she enjoyed meeting Dr. Shen Li considering DotGreen’s connection with the LOHAS community. DotGreen recently sponsored a LOHAS Forum in the US NorthWest in Portland, Oregon, and Roger had the opportunity to engage in several interesting discussions with the LOHAS guests about how sustainability presents itself in many industry sectors and careers.

Following his address to the ICANN delegates, Dr. Shen Li switched to English to speak directly with Roger, recalling his good friend and LOHAS colleague, Ted Ning. Ning directs LOHAS events around the US and in China. LOHAS itself represents a global community of green thinkers and doers who care about people and the planet. All around the world, in many different languages, the commitment to sustainability and doing your part for the planet unites people in a community.

Dr. Shen Li, LOHAS China, and Annalisa Roger, DotGreen President/CEO, discuss their experiences with the green and LOHAS community, and the future of sustainability in China. (DotGreen photo)

Shen said that he sees education as a vital step in forwarding sustainability. He is hopeful that China is becoming the green country that it has the potential to be.

Shen promised, “If you come here again, you will be able to see a more green China.” Roger assured him that The DotGreen Community, Inc. will be back!

A Greener Future for China 

By Annalisa Roger, Founder & CEO

Last month, ICANN held its 46^th International meetings in Beijing, China. The DotGreen team was committed to exploring the green interests, spreading awareness, and supporting the progress of those who are engaged in sustainability for their people. China has an opportunity to make great strides in global sustainability and health for its own people.

Before my team’s departure, I had been following reports about the record-breaking pollution levels in the air this year. In mid January of this, air quality in Beijing was the worst on record, with a level of pollution 30-45 times above recommended safety levels. The heavy haze forces many to stay indoors at its worst, and the long term high levels of air pollution are linked with premature deaths. The particulate matter is laced with heavy metals so small that they enter the bloodstream with every breath, and accumulate in organs including the brain.  I was uncomfortable with the potential health risks for myself and my team associated with visiting Beijing even for a short time. I viewed it as a personal choice each person needed to make individually.

The twenty million residents of Beijing don’t get to make this choice for themselves – they experience the effects of air pollution and water quality as part of their daily lives.

I found, in the week we were in Beijing, the attitudes and concerns of the people echoed sentiments of my own, and of my friends and neighbors back home in the US. The people of China today care about their children’s health and future. The Chinese people are becoming more and more aware that the planet is in danger under modern industrial development; they are caught between the benefits of their rising economic status, and the loss of a naturally healthy lifestyle. They crave innovative technology that will help them achieve this.

This was my first trip to China and my experience there was not what I expected in many ways. There is awareness and the green community and values are growing in China – even the term ‘green’ is recognized and used. The younger people are particularly aware and motivated to create a healthier lifestyle for themselves and their children.

There were many bicyclists, and the pulse in the street was calmer than many other capital cities I have been to. The culture of entrepreneurship is strong and encouraged by the government, so many residents own their own businesses. The Chinese people were warm and welcoming, and those we met have an extremely positive attitude. We also enjoyed their good sense of humor!

Visiting China was an enriching experience for myself and the DotGreen team.  We have made new friends, and see there is a possibility for us to support green growth already expanding. I look forward to visiting a greener China in the future.

Jim Spear and his wife Liang Tang founded The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu Great Wall, a sustainable tourism enterprise which now includes three restaurants, an art glass studio, a gallery, a resort of rental homes dispersed across two villages, and an eco-retreat.

Jim Spear, cofounder of The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu, discusses the sustainable community with ICANN delegates. (DotGreen photo)

Jim Spear and Liang Tang acquired a peasant’s house in Mutianyu Village nearly two decades ago, while they lived and worked closer to Beijing city center. In 2005 Jim & Liang moved there to live full time. Mayor Li Lianting encouraged them to give something back to the community, which inspired the beginning of a growing enterprise.

Today, their venture is the largest employer in the township of population 10,000, and the multifaceted operations provide opportunities for promoting sustainability in many areas – including food, green building, community welfare, artesian glass, and eco-tourism.

Their impact, they explained, comes from a for-profit business with a social mission. They hire only local people in the community, and approach all operations with a focus on sustainability. They grow much of their own food, use existing buildings and recycled materials to build on the property, and follow sustainable operating practices. They support local businesses and strive to make a positive impact in their small community. “We are a work in progress, committed to continuous, incremental improvement.” explained Spear, who spoke to DotGreen Community, Inc and 60 guests from around the world.

The Schoolhouse was selected as the top tourism enterprise in Beijing’s scenic Huairou District in 2010 and previously earned the HICAP Sustainable Communities Award.

Liang Tang, cofounder of The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu, with Annalisa Roger, DotGreen Founder and CEO, and Jenny Bullock, DotGreen Director. (DotGreen photo)

Jim Spear credits the success of the project to collaboration and cooperation among not only his team, but to the village ecosystem as a whole. “It takes a village. And so here in this village, we have outsiders, we have people who’ve been here for many generations, we have old people, we have rich people, we have poor people, and everybody lives together. You have to find a way to live with your neighbor.” In Mutianyu the residents have done such a great job in collaboration that the Chinese government has asked Jim Spear to assist with plans for improving the economics and lifestyles of nearby townships in the district.

DotGreen’s Tour winds its way through the Mutianyu School House grounds to learn first hand of a sustainable local economy in China. (DotGreen photo)

Agricultural development is a major opportunity for sustainability in China. During the People & Planet event, we had the great fortune to hear from local expert and guide Manuela Zoninsein, and Xin, who works at the organization Shared Harvest.

Manuela S. Zoninsein, Founder of Smart Agriculture Analytics, discusses transformation in sustainable agriculture development around China. (DotGreen photo)

Manuela Zoninsein, a Brazilian born resident of China, educated in the US and China, gave an interesting talk describing some of the advances in agriculture, and the priorities for Chinese citizens. She explained that food safety is very important, and that a number of food safety scandals in the past few years have brought this issue to light. China also faces challenges in meeting needs for food production – increasing or sustaining yields must be accomplished in an environmentally friendly way. Soil and water resources have been degraded with past methods, Zoninsein said, and she hopes to bring the best technology from around the world to help reverse this problem. Zoninsein started a business addressing these issues, Smart Agriculture Analytics, which evaluates the smart agriculture technology market in China for a foreign clientele consisting of agritech suppliers and investors. The business intelligence service aggregates domestic agritech business news, and a database catalogues business transactions and opportunities. The information allows for tailored local research/consulting services. “My information system really helps to link the local level needs to the global supply chain,” she explained. “It’s focused not only on environmental sustainability and consistent yields, but it also integrates the social aspect.” Zoninsein expressed her hope to bypass some of the monoculture strategy common in industrialized nations, and make China a leader in sustainable methods of agricultural production.

Xin, of non-profit Shared Harvest addresses ICANN delegates about the ways community supported agriculture can benefit local consumers and farmers. (DotGreen photo)

Xin then spoke about Shared Harvest, a non-profit, service-oriented social enterprise established in 2012 by a group of young people with a strong interest in promoting ecological agriculture and sustainable lifestyles. The CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) brings fresh produce directly to consumers each week, in exchange for – the system involves cooperation with a network of family farms to establish ecological guidelines and yields.

The system allows farmers to sustain a livelihood and incentivizes the implementation of environmentally friendly production methods. The goal of Shared Harvest is to ensure that farmers maintain their dignity and livelihood, while also gaining the support and understanding of consumers. This promotes understanding and harmony across the urban-rural divide as well as an improved and healthier lifestyle for the farmers and their families. Feeding the population of China comes with its own complexities, and doing it sustainably may bring additional benefits and solutions for China’s people and the planet.

During our daylong People & Planet Beijing excursion, delegates explored local green businesses and monuments, including the impressive Parkview Green commercial complex. The sleek building is multi-purpose with, a boutique hotel at the top, offices in the middle, and a shopping center at street level. It has been awarded for excellence in sustainability and design, winning the 2010 MIPIM Asia Best Green Building Award, and the 2011 FuturArc Green Leadership award for a commercial building.

ICANN delegates gather to learn about the sustainable Parkview Green complex from Will Tseng, Associate Director. (DotGreen photo)

Will Tseng, Associate Director, met with our group to explain some of the details and background behind this innovative local green building project.

Delegates admire statues on the grounds of Parkview Green. Forty pieces by Dali are displayed in the public space. (DotGreen photo)

Parkview Green was the first integrated commercial project to be awarded LEED Green Building Rating System Platinum pre-certification. The sustainable technologies and building material results in energy usage about 50% lower than that for other buildings similar in size. This impressive figure is the result of multiple strategies on the interior and exterior of the building:

ETFE film roofing, transparent glass wall, and steel frame structure provide unique levels of energy conservation – this regulates the interior climate, providing natural cooling in summer and conserving heat in the winter.

Internally, a stable micro-circulation system and chilled water VAV systems and intelligent building management system achieve 60-80% energy usage savings. The interior arrangement allows for a high degree of flexibility – the modular office design enables tenants to save on renovation costs.

Water conservation is another priority – special features include electronic taps, low-flow shower facilities, and a rainwater capture system that recycles water for irrigation.

Adding to the artistic vibrancy of the family owned building is a sizeable statue collection that decorates the grounds. DotGreen’s People and Planet guests as well as the local passersby agreed that the building was impressive, environmentally and architecturally.

.Green Will Become Part Of Internet Infrastructure

DotGreen Community, Inc. is pleased to announce that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) completed the initial evaluation of DotGreen’s sustainability focused .green Top-Level Domain (TLD) application. Approval came on Friday, April 19, 2013 as part of the ICANN New TLD program.
Passing ICANN’s initial evaluation is a major milestone toward bringing .green website addresses online. To learn more, please read our press release here.

ICANN 46 began with another inspiring Opening Ceremony, which featured welcome speeches from President/CEO Fadi Chehadé and Madam Hu Qiheng, the President of the China Internet Society.

Chehadé expressed excitement about moving forward as a more agile ICANN, and made a surprise announcement revealing the swiftness already affecting operations – new ICANN hubs have already opened in Singapore and Istanbul, fulfilling a bold commitment made at the Toronto meeting in October.

The Beijing attendance marks the largest ICANN assembly in its 15-year history, with over 2,600 delegates taking part in the weeklong conference. This influx of participation will benefit ICANN, allowing more voices to contribute to policy discussion. Chehadé extolled the uniqueness and value of the multi-stakeholder, bottom-up process, and discussed the management tools he is developing to ensure this ICANN governance model can thrive. These will include more openness and transparency around the goals and projects of ICANN staff.

Chehadé discussed the vibrancy of the local Beijing setting, and importance of engaging with China for the future of Internet development. “Engagement with China is not merely an option, we simply must engage at every level or we will lose our legitimacy. This is part of our effort to embrace the world.”

The first local ICANN engagement center will open in Beijing, part of a new initiative to make multi-stakeholderism more accessible to all. The announcement was enthusiastically received by Chinese Internet leaders, including China Internet Society President Madam Hu Qiheng. “Our Internet future will now be brilliant,” she said. “This is a bridge for ICANN and China and it will lead to greater expansion of Internet development.”

The evolving agility of tools like myICANN.org will continue to add transparency to ICANN processes, and Chehadé encouraged Beijing attendees to engage with a new video called “Our Season to Evolve.”

It was evident that the ICANN staff has been working around the clock to push forward new initiatives and the organization as a whole. Delegates were happy to reengage after 6 months between meetings, and look forward to more progress before ICANN 47.

Photos courtesy of Glenn McKnight.

Going Green is a Public Interest Commitment

By Annalisa Roger, Founder & CEO

Inclusiveness and collaboration are the foundation of better living for ourselves and our planet. Through a willingness to learn from one another and continually improve, we foster communication and sharing for the benefit of all. Governments and local organizations do much for their communities; still more can be realized through global treaties and international projects. GREEN is a community, a lifestyle, an expression of values that guide the way we patronize businesses and shape our own lives and affiliations. The Internet is a tremendous public gift, and citizens across the planet are ready to do their part both online and offline.