connect2earth.org

Dear all,

Today, we are launching a new service on connect2earth.org, the green online community where young people can upload photos, videos and comments about environmental issues. The site now links young people directly with some of the world’s top experts to talk about pressing issues such as climate change, renewable energy and the species extinction crisis. The first topic discussed is Power, starring Nadine McCormick from the IUCN Energy and Biodiversity Initiative!

► watch connect2earth presentation video
► watch Nadine’s interview on energy issues
► read web story

New competition to win a trip to the UN Climate Change summit in Copenhagen!
Every 6 months, a jury of green experts selects a Grand Prize winner from the top 10 contributors to the site. At the end of the first 6-month period, the Grand Prize winner elected will win the chance to attend the UN Climate Change summit in Copenhagen in December 2009 as part of an official IUCN or WWF delegation. The next Grand Prize winner elected at the end of the second period will win a trip to a WWF or IUCN environmental project.

And at the end of each topic featured (every 2 months approximately), one Topic Prize winner selected by the topic expert among the 10 most popular members for this topic, will receive a clever and environmentally-friendly mobile phone solar charger.

How can you participate?
►take 1 minute to sign up (click on register at the top of the webpage)
►comment on the energy issues Nadine raises in the text and/or video (click on ‘join the discussion’ button in the middle of the page). Your contribution will encourage other users to post interesting and clever comments!
►encourage young people you know to participate
“connect2earth is a great way for young people to engage with environmentalists, but also for us to learn from young people. They are the future of our planet and they need a voice in the global debate – in both the corridors of power and on the ground.” Julia Marton-Lefèvre, IUCN Director General.
About connect2earth

With the support of Nokia, IUCN and WWF launched www.connect2earth.org in 2008 as an online community for young people to have their say on the environment by uploading videos, pictures and comments.

The website drew three million visits from 190 countries in its first year.
One lucky winner traveled to the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Barcelona in October 2008 to speak directly to world environmental leaders after her submission was chosen among the 3,500 videos, photos and stories posted on the website.

The connect2earth team

Gaëlle Cuillerot
Marketing Officer - Global Communications Unit
Corporate Communications
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
28 rue Mauverney, CH-1196 Gland (Switzerland)
tel. ++41 22 999 0181; fax ++41 22 999 0020; www.iucn.org
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