For Immediate Release: September 27, 2010

Contact: Maegan Carberry | maegan@rockthevote.com | 202.615.6065

*Candidates and Issues Trump Party ID
*59% are more cynical than they were two years ago
*Jobs, economy, college costs & healthcare are top concerns

WASHINGTON — A recent Rock the Vote poll revealed young voters are paying attention to the upcoming November election (58%), and are closely attuned to pocketbook issues, including the economy, healthcare, and college affordability. Despite expressing deep concerns about the influence of corporate and special interests on the pace of change, they say they still plan to turn out for the midterms, with 77% overall and two-thirds of those who participated in 2008 saying they plan to vote.*

Of concern to both parties as they head into the midterms: A plurality of this age group (36%) says that it doesn’t matter to them which party is in control of Congress. While the question of partisan control may be less important, addressing major issues like unemployment, the cost and quality of education, the national debt, sexual health and reducing our dependence on foreign oil is vital.

This voting bloc remains confident in its ability to affect change while, at the same time, it struggles to work past doubts about the political process. An overwhelming majority (83%) still says they believe their generation has the power to change our country, yet 59% say they feel more cynical about politics than they did two years ago.

In pursuit of that change, there is a strong desire among young people for current political leaders, including President Obama – who they voted for at 2-to-1 rates in 2008 – to deliver on the promise of change. Favorability ratings indicate that President Obama (56%) and the Democratic Party (46%) still receive the highest marks, with the Republican Party (36%) trailing behind. Sarah Palin (28%) and the Tea Party (26%) receive lower favorability ratings.

In terms of endorsements, President Obama is more of an asset to candidates looking to energize young voters than Sarah Palin and the Tea Party. Half of young people say they are more likely to support a candidate endorsed by President Obama, while only 26% say the same about Sarah Palin (64% less likely) or the Tea Party (54% less likely).

In addition, they were more likely to back a candidate for U.S. Congress who supports investing in new technology to create jobs, seeks to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and will provide leadership on key social issues like immigration, marriage rights and sexual health education.

“Young people still embrace the primary message from the 2008 election — believing that their generation has the ability to make change through voting,” says Rock the Vote President Heather Smith. “This generation relates to candidates more than political parties, and as a result, despite voting for Obama 2-1, they are less concerned with which party will win in 2010 and instead gravitate toward the candidate who speaks most clearly and directly to their interests and concerns.”

Rock the Vote commissioned the first midterm election poll of young adults with the bi-partisan polling team of The Tarrance Group and Anzalone Liszt Research.

Key findings from the survey include:

Party ID
• When asked party affiliation, young voters considered themselves Democrats (35%), Republicans (26%) and Independents (29%), which is down from an 18-point advantage Democrats held over Republicans in 2008.
• Young voters rate the Democratic Party more favorably (46% to 41% unfavorable) than the Republican Party (36% favorable versus 50% unfavorable), but the Democrats advantage is down from a net +40 favorability (65% to 25%) prior to the last midterms in 2006, while the Republicans favorability remains about the same as 2006.
• When asked whether they would prefer Democrats to keep control of Congress or for Republicans to take over, a plurality of 18 to 29 year olds say that they it doesn’t matter to them (36% versus 34% preferring Democrats and 28% preferring Republicans).

Political Climate
• 49% feel the direction of the country is on the wrong track.
• 86% are concerned about the influence of corporations and special interests in our political system.
• 59% feel more cynical about politics than they did in 2008.
• 77% are concerned that the U.S. will suffer another major terrorist attack.

Issues
• 96% are concerned about the level of unemployment in this country.
• 93% are concerned about the national debt.
• 86% are concerned about America’s dependence on foreign oil.
• 69% are concerned that the country is failing to take action on global warming or climate change.
• 74% believe teaching young people about safe sex and birth control would be a better way to reduce teen pregnancy, and 69% support making condoms available in high schools.
• 55% support the legalization of gay marriage.

Candidates
• 89% would be likely to support a candidate who supports increasing investment in renewable energy sources to help reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
• 57% would be likely to support a candidate who voted for the passage of healthcare legislation.
• 86% would be likely to support a candidate who wants to increase government grants to help make college and post-graduate education more affordable.
• 77% would back a candidate who supports expanding safe-sex education in schools.
• 70% would be likely to support a candidate who wants to pull all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan.
• 50% would back a candidate who supports providing illegal immigrants with a path to citizenship.

Pollsters from both parties interpreted the data to be an opportunity to connect with young people.

“This data makes clear that there is real value for Republican candidates to target voters under age 30, “ says conservative pollster Brian Nienaber, Vice President of The Tarrance Group. “These voters have an improving image of the Republican Party. In addition, the top concerns of these voters are the same pocketbook issues that are the focus of nearly every Republican candidate in the country. Thoughtful messaging and appropriate targeting could yield a significant level of support with these voters.”

Says progressive pollster John Anzalone, “In past election cycles we’ve heard about soccer moms and NASCAR dads, but in this cycle Democrats would be wise to target young people. Since moderates and independents are leaning Republican going into the November midterms, Democrats should appeal once again to the young people ages 18 to 29, who have not given up on them since the 2008 election. For all the criticisms that they don’t vote, this does show they are willing to engage when we go out and get them. Candidates who neglect young people are taking a major risk, as they will be the swing group for either party in 2010.”

This year, Rock the Vote is running our most aggressive midterm election campaign in history with the goal of registering 200,000 young people, which will quadruple our 2006 registration levels by focusing primarily on newly-eligible voters and those who have moved since the 2008 election. Through our online voter registration tool, mobile marketing, on-the-ground registration at festivals and college campuses, an online voter information center and voter guides, and get-out-the-vote events, we are reaching out, building on the energy and activism of young adults, and empowering them to make their voices heard.

The full Rock the Vote 2010 Young Voter Poll and analyses from The Tarrance Group and Anzalone Liszt Research are available at www.rockthevote.com.

The survey was designed by both Anzalone Liszt Research and The Tarrance Group and administered by Anzalone Liszt Research using professional interviewers. The survey reached 1,000 young adults (18-29) nationwide. The base sample of 1,000 interviews nationwide included 200 respondents reached on cell phones, 500 respondents reached on landlines, and 300 who completed the survey online. The survey was conducted August 24-30, 2010. Telephone numbers for the survey were drawn using random digit dial (RDD). The data were weighted slightly by region, race, party identification, and phone usage in order to ensure that it more accurately reflects the population. The margin of error for the survey is around +/- 3.7 percentage points, based off of the 800 telephone interviews.

*NOTE: Exit polling data indicates that in 2006, the voter turnout rate among 18-to-29-year-olds increased 3 percentage points more than 2002 levels, going from 22 percent to 25 percent, and breaking a trend in declining electoral participation among young people since 1982. An estimated 10.8 million young people voted, an increase of almost 2 million voters. (Data from CIRCLE.)

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About Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote engages young people in our democracy and builds their political power by registering, educating and turning them out to vote, by forcing the candidates to campaign to them, and by making politicians pay attention to youth and the issues they care about once in office. For 20 years, we have used music, popular culture, new technologies and old-fashioned grassroots organizing to engage and mobilize young people to participate in every election. By providing them with the information and tools they need since 1990, Rock the Vote has registered more than 5 million young people, including more than 2.5 million in the historic 2008 election. In 2010, Rock the Vote seeks to register 200,000 young voters as part of the largest midterm elections outreach strategy in our organization’s history.

By Manisha Thakor, financial guru and co-author of the books “On My Own Two Feet: A Modern Girl’s Guide to Personal Finance” and “Get Financially Naked: How to Talk Money with Your Honey.”

Let’s face it, returning to school can be a stressful time. Here are four simple tips you can use to take control of your personal finances and have one less thing to worry about during the busy days to come.

1. Make a Monthly Budget
This message is simple, but it is one students often have the hardest time following: Don’t spend more than you make.

Create a monthly budget by listing out all your possible expenses for a month. If you anticipate going out to dinner with friends, add that into your budget as an expense and plan accordingly. The number you come up with should never exceed the funds you have available to spend.

It can be tempting to buy the new gadget or outfit you really want, even if you are not sure you can really afford it after a semester of late night pizza runs, but your life will be much less stressful if you budget and save for big purchases rather than guessing at what you can afford and buying on impulse.

Make a monthly budget and commit to stick to it.

2. Pay Debt Back ASAP
This tip goes along with making a monthly budget. Putting items you can’t actually afford on a credit card is a really, really bad idea. Use a credit card only for items you know you can pay off in full when the bill comes. Do not let a credit card balance build up. If you make just the minimum monthly payment on a “typical” credit card with an interest rate in the mid teens, you will actually end up paying nearly double the purchase price of whatever you bought by the time you add up all the interest. According to a 2009 survey by Sallie Mae, college students graduate with an average of $4,100 in credit card debt on top of student loans. Just say no to credit card debt.

If you are looking for a convenient way to pay your share of the rent or borrow money from your parents, try using a new service called ZashPay. All you need is the person’s e-mail address or phone number to send or receive money. You can access the service at www.ZashPay.com.

3. Bank and Pay Bills Online
By setting up an online banking account, you can view your balance, pay bills in minutes and keep track of where your money is going. Using online banking is simple and safe, and recent research from financial services provider Fiserv shows eighty percent of Gen Y already bank online, a higher percentage than any other generation. Some additional benefits to online banking include:
• Never lose a bill – You won’t have to rely on dorm mail or shared mailboxes; instead, sign up to have paperless bills delivered to your online banking account
• Maintain your credit score – 35% of a consumer’s credit score is based on the ability to make on-time payments. Online banking can give you the reminders to make sure you remember to pay on time and build up your credit score
• Save the Earth – If all US households received and paid electronic bills, we would preserve an estimated 18.5 million trees and eliminate the production of 2.1 million tons of greenhouse gasses
• For more information on online bill pay, visit www.ebillplace.com.

4. Avoid ATM Fees
Many students don’t realize just how much they are spending by using an ATM that is out of their bank’s network. In this scenario you typically get hit by two fees – one from your bank and one from the ATM owner. These charges may be “only” two or three dollars at a time, but going to an ATM out of your network even once a month can really start to add up. This is especially important to keep in mind when taking a weekend trip to follow your school’s football team or visit friends. While many banks are national, it’s not always easy to find an ATM in a new city. And it’s even tougher if you’re traveling internationally. Plan ahead so you can take out money from your bank’s ATM and avoid getting this extra charge. Doing so can save you hundreds in ATM fees a year.

You go to college to prepare for a profession and life-long career, but these four years are also meant to prepare you for the “real world.” And dealing with your own finances, keeping track of your expenses and income, is a part of the big picture. The key to a successful financial future is preparation and awareness. By putting these simple measures in place, you set yourself on the path to financial nirvana.

Contact: Kenny Love
kennylove@podlife.org
(972)330-4083

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AWARD-WINNING PROFESSOR REVEALS “TRICKS” TO OBTAINING HIGH GPAs

Professor Joe Martin, a nationally noted, acclaimed, and award-winning college professor, reveals highly successful study techniques titled “Tricks of the Grade” that have resulted in “B” grades (or higher) for 110,000 students at 450 colleges in each of their courses every semester.

DALLAS, Texas – September 21, 2010 – Professor Joe Martin, a nationally recognized award-winning college professor, has released his patented and highly successful study technique program titled “Tricks of the Grade” that has already helped 110,000 students at 450 colleges consistently obtain a grade of “B” (or higher) in each of their college courses every semester.

Ironically, Professor Martin’s own less than glowing high school academic career included a 2.2 GPA, his failure of both ACT and SAT tests, and a Navy recruiter’s attempt to dissuade him from even considering college.

Frustrated at what appeared to be a limited future with few options, ingenuity driven by desperation inspired Professor Martin to create his own alternative study system that, in turn, enabled him to graduate as Student of the Year with Honors only 3-1/2 years later from his university of over 10,000 students.

The success of Professor Martin’s private study system also resulted in his being selected for “Who’s Who Among American College Students” as well as his becoming the youngest tenure-earning professor in the state of Florida at only 24 years of age.

He has been voted APCA Speaker of the Year, is a radio talk show host, and is a Campus Activities Magazine Lecturer of the Year nominee.  A number of college educational systems have christened his “Tricks of the Grade” study program as the Number One college success program in America.

As a widely recognized public speaker and published author, Professor Martin says, “Take just a few minutes to review my information that will show you how to ace college by significantly improving study time, gaining confidence and, most importantly, obtaining a high GPA, guaranteed!”

To receive more information on Professor Martin’s program instantly, send a request via email to highgrades@podlife.org

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**Media Alert – Update**

The Millennium Campus Network announced additional keynote speakers for the Millennium Campus Conference 2010 being held this weekend, September 17 through 19 at Columbia University. Scott Harrison, Founder and President of charity: water, will be the opening keynote speaker on September 18. Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of The Earth Institute, Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development, and Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University will also be delivering a keynote address on September 18. The Global Health Keynote will be delivered on September 19 by Deogratias Niyizonkiza, founder of Village Health Works, who will be speaking on the subject of Tracy Kidder’s latest book “Strength in What Remains.” Bobby Bailey, Filmmaker and Co-founder of Invisible Children, will also be speaking throughout the weekend. For additional details please visit www.mcc2010.com.

Original Alert

What: The Millennium Campus Network (MCN) is holding a national student conference, Millennium Campus Conference 2010, demonstrating student commitment to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals to reduce extreme global poverty. This national youth gathering is taking place on the eve of a major United Nations Summit where world leaders will convene to discuss similar goals.

Who: 1,000 college students from around the world and leading advocates including filmmaker Bobby Bailey, Co-founder of Invisible Children, Dr. Bernard Amadei, Founder of Engineers Without Borders USA, and Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of United Nations Convention on Biodiversity, will gather to discuss student activism and global poverty.

Students will share compelling personal stories of service on campus and overseas, including students’ work in promoting clean water and microfinance in Uganda and India this summer.

Event sponsors include the Better World Campaign; Semester at Sea; the Earth Institute, Columbia University; the Jenzabar Foundation; and the United Nations Foundation. Her majesty Queen Rania of Jordan will also be expressing her support of MCN and student service through a video message being shown at the conference.

When: September 17-19, 2010

Where: Roone Arledge Auditorium, Columbia University, 2920 Broadway, New York, New York

Why: As world leaders gather to discuss the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, students will demonstrate their commitment to these goals and how they are actively working to achieve them. While extreme global poverty can seem overwhelming, students are proving that their generation can be part of the solution to the most pressing crises.

About The Millennium Campus Network
The Millennium Campus Network (MCN) is a national non-profit network of university student organizations working to reduce extreme poverty and achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. The network provides networking, funding, and national campaign opportunities to 37 member organizations on 17 campuses across Boston, Chicago, New York City, and Washington D.C. Dr. Paul Farmer (of Partners in Health), Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, and musician John Legend serve on the network’s Board of Advisors. For more information please visit www.mcc2010.com.

Media Contact:
Lindsey Purington
Millennium Campus Network
909-702-6401
lpurington@mcnpartners.org

Decorative Sports Rugs Infuse Drab Areas with Personal Style and Team Pride

Dalton, Ga. – Sept. 14, 2010 – As millions of college-bound students decorate their new living quarters, they are faced with the reality of on-campus living: small, cramped spaces in various shades of drab and restricting décor rules that stifle creativity and prohibit more permanent expressions such as painting walls, nailing in wall art or moving furniture. To infuse some style and school pride into these otherwise bland spaces, new web retailer GameDay Rugs™ is helping students outfit their digs with decorating tips and free shipping on GameDay Rugs’ high-quality sports-licensed rugs.

The National Retail Federation’s 2010 Back to College Consumer Intentions and Actions survey reports that a majority of college students are hunting online and at discount stores for their dorm necessities, stretching tight budgets by purchasing multi-use items and taking advantage of seasonal discounts. This fall GameDay Rugs™ makes it easier for students to incorporate their favorite team or school as they furnish their home-away-from-home in a variety of creative ways:

• Floor Covering – Football fans can give dorm rooms personality and style with a GameDay Rugs™ Football Field Area Rug in their favorite team design. Made to outlast the competition, the heavy-duty construction of this rug allows for the rough-and-tumble ways of college life.

• Welcome Mat / Door Décor – To create an inviting environment, students can lay out a GameDay Rugs™ entry rug or hang a Football-shaped GameDay Rugs™ on their door to welcome friends to share their team pride.

• Wall Art – A Basketball or Baseball-shaped GameDay Rugs™ can be an easy fix to boring walls. Fans can broadcast their team passion by making this unique wall art the focal point on their dorm rooms’ theme.

Available in 53 top collegiate sports designs and additional high-school motifs, GameDay Rugs™ graphics are woven through to backing for superior performance, luxurious looks and plush feel.

Through October 31, visitors to www.GameDayRugs.com will receive free shipping on quality sports-licensed rugs for loyal fans who take pride in their favorite sports teams. GameDay Rugs™ sports mats and rugs are ideal for fans to display their team spirit at their front door, patio, game room, dorm, office, car, tailgating; anywhere.

“Like our customers, we, too, are die-hard fans of favorite teams and schools,” said Mark Bobo, COO of Engineered Conversion Systems (ECS), parent company of GameDay Rugs™. “We know what our customers want, and we go the extra mile to meet and exceed expectations in terms of quality, durability and value.”

About GameDay Rugs™
A division of Engineered Conversion Systems (ECS), GameDay Rugs™ manufactures high-quality sports-licensed rugs for loyal fans who take pride in their favorite sports teams. Perfect for broadcasting fans’ passion and dedication while at home or tailgating on game day, GameDay Rugs™ are plush, durable, and graphically striking custom woven, decorative rugs for all weather use, indoor or out. As part of a vertically integrated manufacturing company with a modern 70,000 sq. ft. facility in Dalton, Ga., it incorporates the maximum standards in quality control blended with competitive pricing and fast fulfillment. For more information, visit www.gamedayrugs.com, www.facebook.com/GameDayRugs and follow @GameDayRugs.

Colleges and Universities Can Compete to Win an Exclusive On-Campus Film Screening Hosted by Freakonomics Authors Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner

LOS ANGELES (September 13, 2010) – Beginning today, students and faculty alike at colleges and universities can vie to win an exclusive on-campus screening of “Freakonomics,” the highly anticipated film version of the bestselling book about “the hidden side of everything,” hosted by authors Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, the economist and journalist duo whose provocative and entertaining applications of incentives-based thinking to human behavior have propelled them into internationally bestselling authors.

Participating in the “Freakonomics” Campus Screening Contest is simple—students, faculty and staff at accredited institutions of higher education must visit the film’s official website, www.magpictures.com/freakonomics/. There, participants can click on the button titled “Enter the Campus Screening Contest” after watching the film’s trailer, and enter the requested information, including School, Major and Email Address. The college or university with the most entries submitted prior to Friday, October 8, 2010, will receive the coveted screening of “Freakonomics” with Levitt and Dubner, which will be scheduled at the winning school’s convenience during the fall of 2010.

“The origin of the ‘Freakonomics’ phenomenon is rooted in the curiosity of students and the passion of faculty, particularly in the disciplines of Economics, Sociology, Business, Statistics, and Political Science at colleges and universities around the globe,” explains Chad Troutwine, the Producer of the cinematic adaptation. “This contest offers an opportunity to not only see the film, but to engage in dialogue with the original minds behind ‘Freakonomics’.”

Produced by Green Film Company and distributed by Magnolia Pictures, “Freakonomics” examines human behavior through case studies directed by six of the world’s most respected filmmakers. Alternately sobering and hilarious, but always entertaining, the film examines how incentives drive behavior, from encouraging underachieving kids to learn with cold hard cash to investigating rampant cheating among Sumo wrestlers to exploring the repercussions of baby names to identifying an explanation for why crime rates dramatically dropped in the early 90s. Segments are woven together with context, commentary and insight from “Freakonomics” authors Levitt and Dubner.

For more information about “Freakonomics, which hits theaters on October 1, 2010, and is currently available for download via iTunes at www.itunes.com/freakonomics, or the Campus Screening Contest, visit www.magpictures.com/freakonomics/ or contact Lisa Weiner at 303.433.7020 or lweiner@csg-pr.com.

About “Freakonomics”
What began as an article by Stephen J. Dubner about economist Steven D. Levitt in 2003 became one of the best-selling books of the last decade and is now one of the most compelling films of the year. “Freakonomics” examines human behavior through the lens of statistics and incentives, rather than morals and ethics, illuminating surprising and controversial conclusions. Producer Chad Troutwine and his Green Film Company partners Dan O’Meara and Chris Romano assembled a team of powerhouse directors to tackle this provocative material in a singular cinematic experience. Like its literary counterpart, Freakonomics explores the hidden side of everything, debunking conventional wisdom, and revealing what answers may come if one just asks the right questions.

About Green Film Company
Green Film Company is a New York-based producer of film and television. The company’s first project “By The People: The Election of Barack Obama” was co-produced with Edward Norton’s Class 5 Films, and picked up by HBO Documentary Films, BBC and Sony Pictures Worldwide. The company’s current projects “Freakonomics” and “Gerrymandering” premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and theatrical release is slated for 2010. Green Film Company is backed by private equity financing and is developing film and television projects, both narrative and non-fiction, with some of most respected writers and filmmakers in the business.

Media Contacts:
Mark Scott
AutoTrader.com
404-568-7905 (ph)
404-435-2047 (cell)
mark.scott@autotrader.com

Laura Kelly
GolinHarris
212-373-6005 (ph)
516-241-8259 (cell)
lkelly@golinharris.com

Finding the Perfect College Ride

Expert car shopping tips for college students from AutoTrader.com

As the new school year begins, no college student wants to be late for class or left to bum rides off friends, so many are on the hunt for a new vehicle to help them get around this semester and beyond.  For those looking for a new ride, experts from AutoTrader.com, the largest online auto classifieds site, offer the following recommendations on what to look out for when shopping for a new vehicle:

What to look for:
•    Affordability: Most college students are strapped for expendable cash, so finding a good deal is a must. Sites like AutoTrader.com can help any driver find a vehicle to fit his or her lifestyle and budget.
•    New, Used or Certified Pre-Owned: Explore the advantages of new, used and certified pre-owned cars to find the vehicle that has the ideal safety, dependability and other features for the available budget.
•    Warranty:  Available on new, and most used and certified vehicles, a warranty that can be used at dealerships or through independent mechanics will be invaluable when the inevitable maintenance needs occur.
•    Gas mileage: For college students who take long trips back and forth between campus and home, finding a vehicle with reasonable gas mileage is a high priority.  Anything over 30 miles per gallon (mpg) is considered good.
•    Reliability: When purchasing a used car, obtain its CARFAX report to understand the history of the vehicle.  For new cars, research reliability ratings and read reviews from other owners.
•    Cargo space: If the car is going to be used for moving furniture, clothing and other supplies between campus and home, be sure to pick a model that can fit everything.
•    Safety: Features like airbags, anti-lock braking systems and Electronic Stability Control increase a vehicle’s safety.

Top New Car Picks
Have the basics down but still don’t know where to start?  Following are AutoTrader.com‘s top ten picks for college students that combine affordability, style and fuel efficiency, in no particular order:
o    Mazda2 (starting at $13,900)
o    Ford Fiesta (starting at $13,320)
o    Honda Civic Coupe (starting at $15,500)
o    Nissan Versa (starting at $13,500)
o    Chevy Cruze (starting at $16,995)
o    Volvo C30 (starting at $24,600)
o    Mini Cooper (starting at $19,500)
o    Hyundai Accent (starting at $9,970)
o    Kia Forte Koup (starting at $16,595)
o    Chrysler/Fiat 500 (pricing not announced yet)

For more ideas and information, visit the AutoTrader.com Lifestyle Center at www.AutoTrader.com/lifestyle.

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Friends of the Arc (FOTA)
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

$1,000 Prize Announced for Memo to President Obama on Middle East Peace

Friends of the Arc (www.friendsofthearc.org) announces a $1,000 prize for the best essay by a college or graduate student, in the form of a policy brief to President Barack Obama, on the topic of the usefulness of RAND Corporation’s Arc concept for the current Middle East negotiations.

Submissions should respond to the following prompt:
With the resumption of direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, many observers doubt that more purely political discussions will finally produce a comprehensive peace settlement; they suggest that some paradigm-changing idea is needed to break the deadlock.

You have been asked to brief President Obama about the Arc project. Prepare a policy brief making the case that the Arc plan is just such a compelling idea, and that with U.S. support, it could help negotiators achieve a breakthrough for peace.

Submissions are due October 8, 2010, at 6 pm ET and should be no more than 1,000 words in length. Before crafting their submissions, participants should view the 30-minute Arc video and other resources at www.friendsofthearc.org. College and graduate students from any country are eligible to apply.

The winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize and will be featured on our website. FOTA reserves the right to post all essays on its website and to send one or more to President Obama.

For all competition details, please visit www.friendsofthearc.org/essaycontest
About Friends of the Arc (FOTA): FOTA is a nonprofit advocacy organization that believes that he Arc, developed by the RAND Corporation and Suisman Urban Design, has the potential to ensure a viable Palestinian state and a Middle East that knows sustainable peace, prosperity, and security.

Contact:
Mr. Art Winter
Phone: +1.847.492.5400
Email: info@friendsofthearc.org
Press release, photos, and videos available at friendsofthearc.org/essaycontest

New campaign calls on college students to think about the environmental impact of food waste

GAITHERSBURG, Md., September 9, 2010 — Today Sodexo expands its commitment to building a better tomorrow for the planet and its people with the launch of “Stop Wasting Food”, a campaign with one simple goal: Winning student support for cutting food waste to curb climate change.

Americans trash 25 percent of all the food they prepare each year, leading to 31 million tons of wasted food piling up in landfills annually. Food waste in landfills produces methane gas, which is at least 21 times more potent than carbon. Methane breaks down the ozone layer and leads to climate change.

“We are so careful to source and serve food for our customers in a sustainable way but if locally-sourced food ends up in a landfill then we’re simply creating another environmental problem,” said Tom Post, Sodexo’s president of campus services. “The good news is that by simply thinking before we eat, we can trash our wasteful habits and dramatically reduce food waste today.”

Sodexo is asking students to take two simple steps. The first is to only take what they plan to eat in all-you-care-to-eat dining halls. The second is to come back for more if they are still hungry.

To learn more, visit www.stopwastingfood.org.

Sodexo initiated a pilot program this fall at eight college campuses across the country to analyze and measure kitchen waste in an effort to better manage it. Colleges participating in the waste-reduction pilot program include Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, California State University of Monterey Bay in Seaside, Calif., Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., University of California at Davis, Calif.,  and University of Wisconsin in River Falls, Wis.  By reducing food waste, Sodexo can save fossil fuels that transport the waste. On Earth Day 2008, Sodexo called on all its college operations to give up trays, a move that reduced waste by 30 percent on average. To date, about 340 Sodexo-served campuses have stopped using trays permanently.

This campaign demonstrates Sodexo’s commitment to work together with clients, suppliers and customers to take measurable sustainable actions today in the areas of environment, health and wellness and community that ensures a better tomorrow. Read more about Sodexo’s Better Tomorrow Plan.
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About Sodexo

Sodexo in North America
Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), leading Quality of Daily Life Solutions company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On Site Service Solutions in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government, and Remote Site segments, as well as Motivation Solutions such as Esteem Pass. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $13 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Daily Life Solutions
Quality of Life plays an important role in the progress of individuals and the performance of organizations.  Based on this conviction, Sodexo is the strategic partner for companies and institutions that place a premium on performance and well-being, as it has since Pierre Bellon founded the company in 1966. Sharing the same passion for service, Sodexo’s 380,000 employees, in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled range of On-site Service Solutions and Motivation Solutions. Sodexo has created a new form of service business that contributes to the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates and to the fulfillment of its employees.

Sodexo in the World

• 14.7 billion euro consolidated revenue
• 380,000 employees
• 33,900 sites
• 50 million consumers served daily
• 80 countries
• 22nd largest employer worldwide

Sodexo in North America

• 7.7 billion dollars revenue
• 120,000 employees
• 10 million consumers served daily
• 6,000 clients
• 700 facilities management sites

Contact
Monica Zimmer
301 987 4461
monica.zimmer@sodexo.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2010

Contact: Thomas Metzger, tmetzger@envasns.org

Video Contest Invites College Students to Film “ Everyday Environmentalists” for Scholarship Money

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - College students have a chance to win up to $3,000 in scholarships by filming or creating animation and uploading short video clips to YouTube that demonstrate the everyday, practical ways that garbage men and women help keep communities healthy and clean, protect the environment and conserve resources in their communities. The contest, which opens on September 9, 2010, is sponsored by the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) in Washington, D.C. NSWMA represents the solid waste industry in the U.S., including firms that collect, process, recycle, extract renewable fuel and dispose of municipal solid waste.

Students are asked to upload video or animated clips of five minutes or shorter. In addition to information about eligibility, contest rules and directions for uploading videos, the contest webpage (www.environmentalistseveryday.org/youtube-contest) lists a number of possible themes, one or more of which must be incorporated into the videos. To be considered, video submissions must be uploaded by midnight on October 24.

The top videos/animations will be selected by a panel of judges, including solid waste company officials and environmental leaders, for creativity and adherence to one or more of the listed themes and contest rules. The public will then be invited to vote on the contest website for their favorite video from this select group. Winners will be announced in early December. The creator of the video that receives the most votes from the public will receive a $3,000 cash scholarship. The second and third place winners will receive $2,000 and $1,000 cash scholarships respectively.

“We look forward to the creativity and thoughtfulness that students will demonstrate with their videos. Whether serious or humorous in tone, it will be exciting to observe how they view the role of solid waste management in their communities,” said Bruce J. Parker, president and CEO of the NSWMA.

Parker continued, “Today’s solid waste industry now has a leadership role in responding to the most pressing environmental concerns of the day, such as developing new sources of clean, renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving natural resources. I’m proud of the industry that my staff and I represent. We call its employees ‘Environmentalists. Every Day.’ because their core responsibility is protecting public health and the environment every day. I am hopeful that participating students will increase public awareness about the progressive and creative contributions that the solid waste industry brings while addressing today’s and future environmental challenges.”

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NSWMA – a sub-association of the Environmental Industry Associations – represents for-profit companies in North America that provide solid, hazardous and medical waste collection, recycling and disposal services, and companies that provide professional and consulting services to the waste services industry. NSWMA members conduct business in all 50 states.