News Release of April 20, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Laurie W. Anderson, Anderson & Associates Public Relations, Inc.,
303-758-1118

Keynote Speakers Announced for EarthWorks Expo

DENVER—April 20, 2009—EarthWorks Expo 2009 (www.earthworks2009.com),
Denver’s most informative and empowering green-living event of the year, will feature two leading sustainable living advocates as keynote speakers:  Albert Bates, an influential figure in the intentional community and ecovillage movements; and Woody Tasch, chairman and president of Slow Money, a nonprofit organization formed in 2008 to catalyze the flow of investment capital to small food enterprises.  The third annual EarthWorks Expo will be held at the Denver Merchandise Mart on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 22-23.

A lawyer, author of 13 books, prolific inventor and teacher, Bates has been the director of the Institute for Appropriate Technology since 1984 and of the Ecovillage Training Center at The Farm in Summertown, Tenn. since 1994.  His keynote presentation on Aug. 22 at 1:30 p.m. will focus on “Life Beyond Petroleum, Strange Weather and Financial Collapse: Recipes for Changing Times”.  Bates will outline the realities of declining fossil energy and global climate change and introduce a 12-step petrochemical recovery program.

Bates is the holder of a number of design patents and his inventions include pedal flour sifters, cylindrical tofu presses and a solar-powered automobile displayed at the 1982 World’s Fair.  He also has played a major role in the ecovillage movement as one of the organizers of the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) and founder of the Ecovillage Training Center.  Bates’ present work is assisting a network of ecovillage experiments in the Americas and educating of local governments about the crises of limits to growth and climate change. 

What if you had to invest 50 percent of your assets within 50 miles of where you live?  Could there be an alternate stock exchange dedicated to slow, small and local companies?  These are some of the questions that Woody Tasch will pose during his keynote talk on Sunday, Aug. 23 at noon.  His presentation is based on his most recent book, “Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money: Investing as if Food, Farms and Fertility Mattered”. 

In addition to his leadership of Slow Money, Tasch previously was the chairman of Investor’s Circle, a network of angel investors, family offices and social purpose funds and foundations that has invested $133 million in more than 200 early-stage sustainability-promoting ventures and venture funds since 1992. 

“Our keynote speakers will challenge Expo attendees to think differently and develop new strategies for working toward sustainability at the personal and community level,” says Michael Lindemann, EarthWorks Expo Director.  “They’re both dynamic speakers who have years of experience and a multitude of thought-provoking ideas to share.”

In addition to the two keynote speakers, EarthWorks Expo 2009 will feature up to 200 green exhibitors representing a “Who’s Who” of Colorado-based solution providers in renewable energy, green building, green transportation, resource conservation and Earth-friendly products and services. Other features will include 35 hands-on workshops, enhanced programs for children, and even lower admission prices than in 2008. Parking is always free and the Merchandise Mart is served by several bus lines. Attendance is expected to top 5,000 for the two-day event. As in years past, EarthWorks Expo is committed to being a zero-waste, carbon-neutral event.

Sponsors for EarthWorks Expo 2009 include Xcel Energy, the Denver Newspaper Agency, 99.5 The Mountain, ReDirect Guide, Natural Awakenings magazine, Anderson & Associates Public Relations, Inc., Westword, Boulder Weekly, High Country News, Independent Power Systems, SolaRover, KUNC Radio, Livewire Urban Radio and Waste-Not Recycling.

For more information about the EarthWorks Speaker’s Bureau or to schedule a speaker, email: michael@earthworks-expo.com, or call 970-416-8700.