Go Green – is it nothing but a new PR trick?

A few weeks ago I attended a Go Green Now conference in Austin, TX, in which companies like Microsoft, Hitachi, IBM and others explained how they’re going green in their IT departments. Finally, someone from the audience asked the panel: Do you truly care about green, or is it all for PR? And everyone in the panel agreed when the answer was – truly, it’s all about the bottom line.

But that’s ok. Because, even though these companies reduced energy consumption only to increase their bottom line, at the end of the day – they’re reducing energy consumption. Is it kosher to use it for PR purposes? Sure. Why not? I mean, being green is in right now, so why not tell the world we “actually care”…

But some companies take the PR points too far.

Remember the Million Dollar Homepage web site? Remember what it was about? A guy from England, called Alex decided that he doesn’t want to spend 15-20 paying for his students loans, and decided to sell a million pixels on his web site for ad space, thus making a million bucks. Crazy idea, yes. But he managed to do it and so entered the books of marketing, PR and creativity (as well as the millionair’s club).

So how do we take that successful idea, copy it and make it green? Simply by creating the same exact thing! No innovation needed, not even a purpose behind it (like helping a kid pay for college), other than jumping on the Go Green trend and capitalizing on it:

“Based on the unbridled success of the Million Dollar Homepage in the United Kingdom, Green Pixel Page is launching a page for those companies wanting to advertise on a green website,” says Collette Barbee, one of four general partners at Green Pixel Page.”

What’s even funnier to me is that the CEO of ThinkAlchemy, Michael Glock, joined them as a strategic partner, because -

“Having vision, being a futurist and designing for it is Michael’s creative and tactical strategic contribution to the company,” says Barbee.

Yes, he’s creative alright. Takes a lot of sleepless nights to find the best idea you can steal and implement today. Keep it up Michael. I can’t wait to see what idea you steal next.

Cities saving 12.6% on fuel bill

Image via Wikipedia

I found this fascinating quote today:

So why is Al Gore talking about what can happen 10 years from now? Why is Austin Texas (my city) spends $8 million to convert all the fleet to bio-diesel while North Miami and other cities save 12.6% of the cost of their fuel?Ethos FR – Save Gas, Clean the Planet, Aug 2008

You should read the whole article.

Gas Relief? Yes!

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Have you heard of Exxon Mobil’s record profits last week? Revenue rose 40 percent(!) to $138.1 billion. While at the same time the rest of us were paying record high prices at the gas pump.

It doesn’t need to be this way. Our energy prices don’t need to be this high.

Al Gore’s site promises that if we do something now, in 10 years we can bring our energy costs down. 10 years!!! I want something now!

And I got it. For the first time in history, a product (EthosFR) is mandated to be used by 2 cities in the US – Bal Harbor and Boca Raton, after city’s test vehicles showed a 12.6% improvement in fuel economy along with a reduction in harmful emissions.

So why is Al Gore talking about what can happen 10 years from now? Why is Austin Texas (my city) spends $8 million to convert all the fleet to bio-diesel while North Miami and other cities save 12.6% of the cost of their fuel?

When Bob’s 2001 Dodge increases its mileage to 30.2 mpg – way better than the 2008 Dodge models, and is cleaner than a hybrid – why is the rest of the country still suffering?

Because – no body is talking about this. Not even Al Gore.

The Rich Get Richer!

Exxon Mobil reporting the highest-ever quarterly profit by a U.S. company, (XOM, news, msgs)

The oil giant reported net income of $11.7 billion, or $2.22 per share, a 14% increase from the $10.26 billion, or $1.83 per share, earned a year ago.

Don’t you think America has had enough?  Don’t you believe that everyone you know would want their share.  Then join the Ethos Challenge!

Learn how you too can -

• Save as much as 25% on gas,
• Eliminate your CO emissions and clean our planet
• Profit from sharing Ethos with others!

This Sunday, August 3rd, 2008 at 09:00PM EST 06:00PM PST
Call this number – 212-461-5860 or 646-519-5860 – Enter PIN: 1670#

For the first time in history, a product is mandated to be used by cities in the US, and it is only available through network marketing!

When gas prices rise to $5-$8/gallon – will you be among those who can’t afford it, or those who capitalize on helping others to deal with it?

More info – www. the ethos challenge .com