Pearl Jam Teams Up with EarthCorps to Confront Global Warming
Seattle, WA – Famed Seattle-based band Pearl Jam is pairing up with Earth Share organization EarthCorps to get thousands of pairs of hands into the dirt to plant and care for the most effective carbon filters known: forests. As part of Pearl Jam’s newly established Carbon Portfolio Strategy, EarthCorps will receive support for its ongoing work promoting global community through local environmental volunteerism.
EarthCorps, a Seattle-based environmental restoration and youth development organization, actively works to reduce carbon emissions and sequester carbon through reforestation and environmental stewardship. Plants and trees filter carbon dioxide out of the air through photosynthesis. Breathable oxygen is then released, while the carbon feeds the plant. 100 mature trees can convert five tons of carbon dioxide per year and remove 1,000 pounds of ground level ozone.
American Forests, a national monitoring group, estimates cities across the US face a cumulative national deficit of 634,407,719 trees. Currently, EarthCorps works to help Seattle and area cities compensate for their tree deficits. In 2005, EarthCorps installed over 60,000 plants and trees, watered 35,000 and saved 3,000 mature trees by creating survival rings to protect them from English ivy – the area’s number one tree killer. In the process, EarthCorps logged 100,000 hours of service by youth and community volunteers.
“This is about people and trees,� says Steve Dubiel, Executive Director of EarthCorps. “A decade of experience shows that putting people to work fixing damaged environments is one of the best ways to teach the importance of reducing our environmental impact.�
“In the face of global warming, you either throw up your hands in desperation, or you dig in and do something about it. The energy and positive attitude of our young adult corps members – who spend up to 9 hours each day in the field – are contagious. People come away from EarthCorps volunteer events physically tired, but emotionally energized because we show them there is hope.�
EarthCorps works in the Puget Sound area to restore forests, streams, wetlands and shorelines. Young adults from across the United States and from biodiversity hot-spots around the world such as Bhutan, China, Mongolia, Paraguay and Tajikistan comprise EarthCorps’ full-time service corps. 10,000 youth and community volunteers participate in environmental service projects, mostly on weekends and during the summer. For volunteer opportunities, please see www.earthcorps.org
EarthCorps is one of nine organizations chosen for Pearl Jam's 2006 Carbon Portfolio Strategy. These organizations were selected for their continued work in the fields of clean, renewable energy promotion and carbon emissions reduction. By investing in these organizations, Pearl Jam is actively working to raise the world’s carbon consciousness by supporting organizations at the forefront of environmental awareness and clean energy. In addition to EarthCorps, the other Carbon Portfolio Strategy organizations are American Solar Energy Society, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Cascade Land Conservancy, Conservation International, Green Empowerment, Honor the Earth, IslandWood, and the Washington Clean Energy Initiative. Find out more about the organizations supported by the Carbon Portfolio Strategy at www.pearljam.com/activism.
About EarthCorps
EarthCorps is a Seattle-based nonprofit with a mission to build global community through local environmental service. EarthCorps promotes strong communities, healthy habitats and young leaders. Since 1993, EarthCorps has trained hundreds of young adults (ages 18-25) from around the world in environmental restoration and youth development. EarthCorps leads hands-on service programs for 10,000 schoolchildren, youth and community volunteers each year.
