Chief Conservation Officer .com

Chief Conservation Officer (www.chiefconservationofficer.com or www.chief-conservation-officer.com) is the primeir destination for information about this new c-level title / position within companies.

PRESS RELEASES:

An Environmental 'Foot-Soldier' Calls On Corporate America to Adopt 'Chief Conservation Officer'

Miami, FL — When Kermit the Frog first introduced the song ‘Being Green’ on Sesame Street in 1970, the loveable puppet publicly declared “It’s not that easy being green”. Of course, puppeteer Jim Henson’s world-famous amphibian wasn’t referring to Environmental-Correctness then, he was singing about adversity and diversity.

In the 38 years since, however, Environmental-Correctness has moved from being a limited side dish of just a few years ago — offered by only a handful of environmentally involved companies and organizations — to become the main entrée on the ‘Green’ menu today.

In fact, being ‘green’ has seemingly become highly embraceable by retail stores, companies, corporations, institutions, organizations and environmentally conscious people everywhere — and more than a few unconscious ones, too!

Green, it seems, has indeed become very easy! Green cars (including hot, fast and SUV ones). Green houses, green office buildings, green foods, clothes, mutual funds, tourism destinations. Even green data-warehousing! And, of course, green companies and green corporations.

Only one thing is missing, however, from this ideal, Let’s-All-Save-the-Earth picture. Unfortunately, that one missing thing may be the very thing which prevents Environmental Correctness from becoming ‘just one more passing fad’. And that one missing thing is (a drum-roll, please): Green Executives.

“Put Your Green Mouth where Your Green Money Is.”

To prevent the current wave of ‘green-ness’ from simply fading into vague memory and, in the process, contributing to the earth’s slide toward an ‘ashen gray’ barrenness, a Miami-based consultant — and self-described ‘environmental & conservation foot-soldier’ with a knack for putting a twist on a familiar saying — is calling on Corporate America to put “it’s green mouth where it’s green money is!”

Lee Sinoff, an Operations, Marketing & Communications and Project Management generalist ( \n professional_resources@theplate.comThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it ) with more than 25 years of executive experience, is publicly asking companies, corporations, organizations and institutions to adopt “Chief Conservation Officer” (CCO) as the newest ‘C-level executive’.

Sinoff further asks companies, corporations, etc., to give the person with that title executive-level authority for overseeing, motivating, managing, maintaining and expanding the organization’s commitment to conservation and environmental responsibility — in day-to-day activities; in their programs, projects and products; in planning, steering and orchestrating the organization’s future; and in fulfilling its ultimate responsibility to its own constituency, the community, the environment and humanity at large.

According to Sinoff, that ‘office’ would involve promoting environmental awareness within the organization and the community, and pursuing efforts organization-wide to conserve energy, resources and everything related -- backed with C-level ‘muscle’ to make sure that commitment continues beyond a fad stage.

Naming a Chief Conservation Officer, Sinoff asserts, would even contribute to the bottom line, especially as consumers become more committed to preferring environmentally conscious products over similar products with no environmental ‘involvement’. And, from a marketing and sales point of view, as interest goes up, prices will go down — making environmentally tuned products even more competitive.

Chief This & Chief That
Sinoff looked up “Corporate Titles” at www.wikipedia.com , and found 49 separate “Chief This” and “Chief That” officers, but “no reference to anything dealing with, or close to, Conservation or Environmental Issues!”

“I even met a ‘Chief Relationship Officer’, who works with a law firm, at a recent Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting,” Sinoff said, “but that title wasn’t even one of the 49 listed at Wikipedia!”

And yet, if you google ‘Chief Conservation Officer’, Sinoff noted, “you’ll find that Orbit Irrigation Products in North Salt Lake, UT, appointed a Chief Conservation Officer in 2005!

“And, a year before that, the Catalina Island Conservancy was hiring a Chief Conservation Officer to direct the Conservancy's efforts to protect Catalina’s ecological system and restore the islands’ natural resources, as well as conduct scientific research on the island.”

In fact, according to Sinoff, Google can pull up more than 5,000 links for Chief Conservation Officer in less than 3 seconds.

But most of those links connect to environmentally conscious governments (for example, the state of West Virginia and the province of Ottawa), Native American tribes (such as the Bois Forte Band of the Chippewa Indians and the Fond du Lac Reserve in Saskatoon), and a few major environmental organizations themselves (such as The Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Federation).

Long-Term Is the Key

“With few exceptions, ‘Corporate America’ is sadly missing from standing up for a long-term commitment to environmental awareness and concern,” Sinoff said. “ ‘Long-term’ is the key to the future!”

This is not a campaign Sinoff relishes as a lone individual, yelling against the wind. “I see myself as Camus’ Sisyphus, pushing that huge ball uphill, making little progress against great odds.

“Where are Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society and even The Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Federation, who have Chief Conservation Officers? Those organizations should be trying to wake up Corporate America, not me!”

Companies and corporations are indeed now producing more ‘green’ products — and promoting their ‘green-ness’ — than ever before, even though those very same companies don’t seem to have a Chief Conservation Officer (a CCO, as opposed to a COO) in place yet.

And many environmentally conscious consumers and even people who may not be particularly involved in environmental issues are indeed beginning to prefer ‘green’ products over similar ‘non-green’ choices.

“It’s time-imperative for the Business, Corporate, Manufacturing, Industrial and Service sectors to realize its not only healthy for the planet and all living things to be environmentally conscious, it’s necessary,” Sinoff points out. “And it can be good for business, too. But corporations already know that… as long as the trend continues, or turns to forgotten fad!”

###

Woodbine Entertainment Group Redefines Horse Power and Works with Direct Energy to save $475,000 per year in energy costs

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 3, 2008) - Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG,) Canada's largest horse racing operation, is pleased to announce that it has completed the first phase of its energy retrofit program. The energy retrofits, designed and implemented by Direct Energy Business Services, will save WEG $475,000 per year in energy costs and significantly reduce its energy usage.

In recognition of WEG's success, Peter Love, Ontario's Chief Conservation Officer, will be awarding his prestigious Certificate of Recognition to Nick Eaves, WEG's President and COO at an evening ceremony at Woodbine Racetrack. The Certificate recognizes WEG's leadership in pursing an aggressive plan to reduce its energy usage across its facilities.

"With over 5 million visitors to our facilities each year, we wanted to demonstrate to these customers that it is possible to significantly reduce one's energy usage and carbon footprint if you make a long-term commitment," said Nick Eaves, President and COO of WEG. "We are pleased that our work represents a significant savings, both financially and to the environment."

The three-year, $5 million project consisted of several initiatives including enterprise level software solutions, engineering services, building automation systems, a Smardt chiller installation, a steam boiler conversion, a domestic hot water boiler installation, automated air handling units, occupancy sensors and lighting retrofits.

"I congratulate Woodbine Entertainment Group for partnering with Direct Energy to conduct retrofits in their facilities," said Peter Love, Ontario's Chief Energy Conservation Officer. "These retrofits will save energy, save money and reduce greenhouse gases. I urge others to follow suit and help us build a culture of conservation across Ontario."

WEG was also recognized, at the event, by Enbridge Gas Distribution, BOMA Toronto and Toronto Hydro for their energy conservation program. Enbridge provided WEG with a cheque for $37,408.25 as part of their Retrofit Incentives program.

"Congratulations to WEG for their leadership in executing an aggressive energy reduction program. As a company that has extensive experience helping large organizations reduce their energy usage, Direct Energy hopes that WEG's success demonstrates to business leaders that an energy retrofit program can be both financially and environmentally rewarding," noted Bob Huggard, President, Home and Business Services, Direct Energy.

About Woodbine Entertainment Group

Woodbine Entertainment Group is the largest operator of horse racing in Canada and is recognized as one of the most innovative in North America. Woodbine operates Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto ON; Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, ON, the Champions Off-Track Wagering Network; Turf Lounge; WEGZ Stadium Bar; Horse Player Interactive and HPItv.

About Direct Energy

Direct Energy is one of North America's largest energy and energy-related services providers with over 5 million residential and commercial customer relationships. Direct Energy provides customers with choice and support in managing their energy costs through a portfolio of innovative products and services. A subsidiary of Centrica plc (LSE:CNA), one of the world's leading integrated energy companies, Direct Energy operates in Texas, the northeastern United States and across Canada. To learn more about Direct Energy, visit www.directenergy.com.

Inco and WWF-CANADA announce $1 Million conservation program

TORONTO, Oct. 3 /CNW/ - Inco Limited ("Inco") and WWF-Canada are pleased to announce a new Cdn. $1 million agreement to advance a number of conservation initiatives, both in Canada and internationally.

Under the terms of the agreement, Inco will contribute Cdn. $200,000 per year to WWF-Canada for the next five years in support of a three-pronged conservation program with the following objectives: 1) conserve species at risk of national and global importance in Canada; 2) develop a conservation stewardship approach for Inco in Canada; and 3) scope and explore work of a similar nature in areas where Inco operates internationally.

Inco will continue to support WWF-Canada's efforts to conserve globally important species-at-risk in Canada by investing in the Endangered Species Recovery Fund, a joint effort led by Environment Canada and WWF-Canada. A second component of the new program will involve identifying species and habitats that have a high conservation value in the eco-regional neighbourhood of Inco operations and developing appropriate conservation strategies, beginning with Inco's Ontario operations. Finally, Inco and WWF will work together to explore potential joint initiatives in appropriate international Inco locations.

"We look forward to taking our long-standing relationship with WWF-Canada to a new level," said Bill Napier, Inco Vice-President Environment, Safety and Health. "Among other benefits, we believe that their expertise will result in better conservation stewardship in the lands that adjoin our operations, not just in Canada but at our other locations around the world."

"We have a track record of engaging with companies to reduce their ecological footprint. WWF works with big industry, like mining and forestry, because it is vital to achieve our conservation goals," said Arlin Hackman, Chief Conservation Officer for WWF-Canada. "Expanding our relationship with Inco is a logical and welcome next step for us both. We are excited about what we can accomplish together."

For the past two decades, Inco has supported WWF-Canada on a number of environment projects, including the Endangered Species Recovery Fund and the Manitoba Ecologically Sensitive Areas Project. In 2004, in an exercise sponsored by Corporate Knights magazine, the CEOs of Inco and WWF-Canada traded jobs for a day to gain a better understanding of one another's organizations.

Inco Limited is one of the world's premier mining and metals companies and the world's second largest producer of nickel, with global operations and an extensive marketing network in over 40 countries.

WWF was established in 1961, operates in more than 100 countries and raises some $500 million per year worldwide. WWF-Canada was established as a national office in the WWF network in 1967. WWF-Canada's main office is in Toronto, with region conservation offices located in the Northwest Territories, Vancouver, Prince Rupert, and Halifax. The Toronto office also contains WWF-Canada's public support staff, serving more than 60,000 members across the country. Working with the rest of the WWF network, WWF-Canada focuses its conservation efforts by identifying solutions to the challenges associated with climate change, oceans and coasts, forests and freshwater and endangered species.

Media Advisory - Hydro Ottawa to host energy conference - Powering the Future 2006

OTTAWA, Nov. 3 /CNW Telbec/ - On November 7th and 8th, 2006, Hydro Ottawa
will be hosting its third annual "Powering the Future" Symposium at the Hampton Inn Ottawa & Conference Centre. The only conference of its kind in the nation's capital, this important industry event brings together key players from government, industry, health, education and finance to discuss the state of the electricity industry in Ontario, as well as showcase the latest energy conservation products, services, technologies and incentive programs. "Electricity supply and demand continues to be top of mind in Ontario," said Rosemarie Leclair, President and CEO, Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. "The reality is that, when it comes to ensuring a reliable supply of electricity, Government and Industry really only have three options: generate more electricity, conserve electricity or do both. Like the Ontario Government we believe the answer lies in doing both. Commercial enterprises in 2006 must be increasingly agile, informed, responsive and strategic when comes to managing their electricity. Powering the Future 2006 connects Ottawa business leaders with industry peers and experts to share information, exchange ideas and combine forces to help in creating a conservation culture across the City." Participants will have the opportunity to hear from representatives from all sectors of the electricity market including:

- The Honourable Dwight Duncan, Ontario Minister of Energy,
- Peter Love, Chief Conservation Officer, Ontario Power Authority
- Derek Cowbourne, Chief Operating Officer, Independent Electricity
System Operator (IESO); and
- Gord McBrien, Director Strategic Business Relationships, Ontario Power
Generation.

Powering the Future 2006 is targeted to Hydro Ottawa's largest and most influential customers, which collectively account for more than 35 per cent of Ottawa's total electricity demand. These customers include high tech companies, retail organizations, regional hospitals, universities and colleges, insurance companies and many other large commercial clients and federal government departments.

Hydro Ottawa Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc., is the local electricity distribution company in the City of Ottawa. As the second largest municipal electricity distribution company in the province, Hydro Ottawa Limited is responsible for the safe, reliable delivery of electricity to more than 278,000 residential, commercial and institutional customers in the city of Ottawa and the village of Casselman. Hydro Ottawa is proud to be a founding member of powerWISE(R) - a conservation initiative among six of Ontario's largest electricity distribution companies - to promote energy conservation to consumers and reduce the demand for electricity.

Media are invited to attend this two-day conference, which begins at 8:00 a.m. both days.

Please contact Next Wave Events at 613-261-6009 to confirm your attendance.

Sunopta Inc. Hosts Industry Experts and a Special Screening of An Inconvenient Truth to Educate Youths on Sustainable Practices

TORONTO, April 24 /CNW/ - SunOpta Inc. (NASDAQ:STKL)(TSX:SOY) is bringing
the sustainability message to more than 800 Halton area students during Earth Week with two special screenings of Al Gore's Academy Award winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth. SunOpta Chairman Jeremy Kendall will be joining environmental educator and author Skid Crease and Peter Love, Chief Conservation Officer of Ontario at Burlington Central High School to engage in dialogues with area students about conservation, sustainable agriculture and energy efficiency. The event has drawn a capacity crowd of students and educators from local schools. SunOpta has also donated 60 copies Al Gore's film and book to the Halton Public and Catholic School Boards and has funded the development of a teachers' package designed to educate students on sustainable principles and practices.

According to Ron Ballentine, Coordinator of Science and Technology and Environmental Education for the Halton District School Board, the invitation to the screenings drew an unprecedented response when it was first announced. "The event was oversubscribed within days of receiving the invitation from SunOpta. Having a company, such as SunOpta, with its array of environmental products and services, acting as a community partner to provide financial support emphasizes the importance of issues such as climate change and assists schools in promoting sustainable practices with our committed and interested youth." He adds that some area schools that were unable to attend are eager to receive the DVDs provided by SunOpta so that they can show the movie to all of their students.

"As a company that is strongly committed to healthy and sustainable living, we believe that educating our youth in this all important area is integral to our future," says Kendall. "Working with the Halton Boards to promote learning in this area is consistent with our own commitment to environmental leadership in all facets of our business and building partnerships to encourage excellence in environmental stewardship. We're especially delighted to see such an exceptional interest from the students. It shows without a doubt that today's youth are strongly committed to making this world a better place to live."

A second screening event - which is also fully booked - is scheduled for May 23 at Christ the King Catholic Secondary School in Georgetown.

About SunOpta Inc.

SunOpta Inc. is an operator of high-growth ethical businesses, focusing on integrated business models in the natural and organic food, supplements and health and beauty markets. The Company has three business units: the SunOpta Food Group, which specializes in sourcing, processing and distribution of natural and organic food products integrated from seed through packaged products; the Opta Minerals Group, a producer, distributor, and recycler of environmentally friendly industrial materials; and the SunOpta BioProcess Group (soon to become SunOpta BioProcess Inc.) which engineers and markets proprietary steam explosion technology systems for the pulp, bio-fuel and food processing industries. Each of these business units has proprietary products and services that give it a solid competitive advantage in its sector.

Office Depot and The Nature Conservancy Employ New Boreal Ecologist to Assist the Forest & Biodiversity Conservation Alliance in Canada

Hiring Reflects Ongoing Corporate Commitment to Environmental Leadership
DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, Jun. 15 -/E-Wire/Business Wire/-- Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, and The Nature Conservancy, a private, international, non-profit organization established in 1951 to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth, today announced a newly created boreal ecologist position as part of Office Depot's continuing support of and participation in the Forest & Biodiversity Conservation Alliance.

Formed in 2004 by Office Depot, in partnership with Conservation International, NatureServe, and The Nature Conservancy -- three of the world's most respected science-driven conservation organizations -- the Alliance addresses forest and biodiversity conservation issues within the supply chain.

"For more than a year, the Forest & Biodiversity Conservation Alliance has been advancing responsible forest practices and developing better information on at-risk species," said Tyler Elm, Director of Environmental Affairs for Office Depot. "This position was created in part to help our suppliers identify and conserve areas of exceptional biodiversity value within the Canadian boreal forest, which will assist them in meeting the requirements of Office Depot's Environmental Paper Procurement Policy."

Evie Witten has been named to the ecologist position, serving as the boreal forest scientist for The Nature Conservancy's Canada/U.S. Partnership. In her new role, she will collaborate with forest industry partners and conservation groups including World Wildlife Fund Canada and NatureServe Canada to help identify high conservation values in the production forests of the Canadian boreal. In addition, Witten will help lead conservation area design efforts in Northeastern Ontario, Western Quebec and other boreal regions by working alongside forest industry partners, provincial governments, and conservation groups.

Witten previously served as Director of the World Wildlife Fund Alaska Field Office, securing the conservation of biologically important areas, with particular focus on the Bering Sea. She also worked for the US Forest Service documenting and modeling fire and other natural disturbances in Alaska forests. As a contract manager for The Nature Conservancy, Witten drafted assessments that established the Forest Legacy Program in Alaska. From 1995 to 1999, Witten was Executive Director of the Great Land Trust in Alaska. She also has extensive prior consulting experience as a forest ecologist.

"The Alliance is working aggressively to harness conservation science and business ingenuity to achieve positive outcomes for global forests and biodiversity," said Mike Andrews, Chief Conservation Officer of The Nature Conservancy. "By bringing an experienced ecologist such as Evie Witten on board, we are taking considerable steps forward in helping make these goals a reality."

Already on the job, Witten is working with World Wildlife Fund Canada and Abitibi-Consolidated to apply NatureServe and other data to identify high conservation value forests in the forestlands associated with Office Depot's supply chain. Once identified, Abitibi will collaborate with key stakeholders, including provincial governments, to address any needs for special management or conservation.

"Forest Conservation planning is a key focus of our activities and we greatly value our collaboration with Office Depot, the Alliance and World Wildlife Fund, to explore efficient and effective mechanisms for implementing sound conservation practices," said Francine Dorion, Vice President of Sustainability and Environment for Abitibi-Consolidated, a key Office Depot paper supplier, global leader in newsprint and commercial printing papers, and major producer of wood products. "Together through active engagement, we are building a stronger knowledge base for planning and identifying measurable outcomes for forest species, ecological communities, and landscapes."

The Forest & Biodiversity Conservation Alliance also focuses on developing scientific information to improve forest management, applying science-based methods for biodiversity conservation, enhancing environmental procurement practices, and training foresters and scientists.

"The Alliance is a unique blend of corporate and environmental interests working to achieve measurable conservation outcomes," said Dennis Grossman, Vice President for Science at NatureServe. "Together, we are advancing the conservation of species, biological communities, and ecological systems in forest landscapes, and identifying landscape-level planning approaches that employ responsible forest practices."

Alliance participation and support is a key component of Office Depot's five-year strategy to advance the company's forest and biodiversity conservation policies and incorporate conservation science into paper-procurement decisions. Office Depot has integrated Alliance objectives into its paper-procurement policy, with a focus on reducing the environmental footprint of its forest and paper-product suppliers while contributing to global biodiversity conservation.

Participation in the Alliance has also enabled Office Depot to identify challenges to forest and biodiversity conservation faced by landowners, managers, and the company's own sourcing and vendor compliance personnel. In addition, it has strengthened the company's ability to address these challenges and implement corporate policies on rare and vulnerable forests and those containing exceptional biodiversity values.

Office Depot and the Environment

Office Depot, listed on both the FTSE4Good Index and Dow Jones Sustainability Index, focuses its environmental initiatives on sustainable forest management, recycling and pollution reduction, as well as promotion of environmental issues and markets for environmentally-preferable products.

Beyond its industry-leading 35% post-consumer waste content paper, Office Depot offers thousands of products containing recycled materials. In January 2005, the company issued its Green Book catalog of almost 2,500 environmentally-friendly products to U.S. contract customers. The 84% increase in environmentally-preferable products highlighted in the 2005 edition, includes paper; pens; energy efficient computer displays, printers and light bulbs; toner cartridges; and biodegradable packing materials.

The Green Book itself is the only environmentally-preferable office products catalog printed on elemental chlorine-free 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper and is distributed to more than 40,000 organizations to easily help "green" their office supply purchasing process. Businesses can obtain a free copy of the Green Book through Office Depot's environmental Web site at www.officedepot.com/environment or through its Business Services Division at +1-888-2-OFFICE.

In April 2005, in recognition of its environmental stewardship, Office Depot received the "Outstanding Retailer" Award by the International Council of Shopping Centers and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Editor's Note: For more information on Office Depot's environmental initiatives, visit www.officedepot.com/environment. The news media contact for Abitibi-Consolidated is Denis Leclerc at Denis_Leclerc@abitibiconsolidated.com or 514-394-3601.

About Office Depot

With annual sales approaching $14 billion, Office Depot provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company. Incorporated in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida, Office Depot conducts business in 23 countries and employs 47,000 people worldwide. The Company operates under the Office Depot(R), Viking Office Products(R), Viking Direct(R), Guilbert(R), and Tech Depot(R) brand names.

Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel - from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. With $3.1 billion in online sales in FY'04, the Company is the world's number three Internet retailer. Office Depot has 1,000 retail stores in North America in addition to a national business-to-business delivery network supported by 22 delivery centers and more than 60 local sales offices. Internationally, the Company conducts wholly owned operations in 14 countries through 77 retail stores and 26 distribution centers, and operates 153 retail stores under joint venture and license arrangements in another seven countries.

The company's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index. Additional press information can be found at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.com.

About The Nature Conservancy

With operations in all 50 U.S. states and 30 other countries, The Nature Conservancy is a private, international, non-profit organization established in 1951 to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. To date, the Conservancy and its one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 117 million acres in the United States and 27 countries around the world. Additional information can be found at http://nature.org/

About Conservation International

Conservation International (CI) believes that the Earth's natural heritage must be maintained if future generations are to thrive spiritually, culturally and economically. CI is currently working on projects in more than 40 countries on four continents to protect global biodiversity and demonstrate that human societies can live harmoniously with nature. CI develops scientific, policy, and economic solutions to protect threatened natural ecosystems that are rich in biodiversity. To find out more, visit www.conservation.org.

About NatureServe

NatureServe is a non-profit conservation group dedicated to providing the scientific information and technology needed to guide effective conservation action. NatureServe represents a network of 75 natural heritage programs and conservation data centers in the United States, Canada, and Latin America that collect and analyze information on plants, animals, and ecosystems. NatureServe is a leading source for detailed scientific information about rare and endangered species and threatened ecosystems. Visit us on the web at

News:

An Environmental 'Foot-Soldier' Calls On Corporate America to Adopt 'Chief Conservation Officer'

Miami, FL — When Kermit the Frog first introduced the song ‘Being Green’ on Sesame Street in 1970, the loveable puppet publicly declared “It’s not that easy being green”. Of course, puppeteer Jim Henson’s world-famous amphibian wasn’t referring to Environmental-Correctness then, he was singing about adversity and diversity.

In the 38 years since, however, Environmental-Correctness has moved from being a limited side dish of just a few years ago — offered by only a handful of environmentally involved companies and organizations — to become the main entrée on the ‘Green’ menu today.

In fact, being ‘green’ has seemingly become highly embraceable by retail stores, companies, corporations, institutions, organizations and environmentally conscious people everywhere — and more than a few unconscious ones, too!

Green, it seems, has indeed become very easy! Green cars (including hot, fast and SUV ones). Green houses, green office buildings, green foods, clothes, mutual funds, tourism destinations. Even green data-warehousing! And, of course, green companies and green corporations.

Only one thing is missing, however, from this ideal, Let’s-All-Save-the-Earth picture. Unfortunately, that one missing thing may be the very thing which prevents Environmental Correctness from becoming ‘just one more passing fad’. And that one missing thing is (a drum-roll, please): Green Executives.

“Put Your Green Mouth where Your Green Money Is.”

To prevent the current wave of ‘green-ness’ from simply fading into vague memory and, in the process, contributing to the earth’s slide toward an ‘ashen gray’ barrenness, a Miami-based consultant — and self-described ‘environmental & conservation foot-soldier’ with a knack for putting a twist on a familiar saying — is calling on Corporate America to put “it’s green mouth where it’s green money is!”

Lee Sinoff, an Operations, Marketing & Communications and Project Management generalist ( \n professional_resources@theplate.comThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it ) with more than 25 years of executive experience, is publicly asking companies, corporations, organizations and institutions to adopt “Chief Conservation Officer” (CCO) as the newest ‘C-level executive’.

Sinoff further asks companies, corporations, etc., to give the person with that title executive-level authority for overseeing, motivating, managing, maintaining and expanding the organization’s commitment to conservation and environmental responsibility — in day-to-day activities; in their programs, projects and products; in planning, steering and orchestrating the organization’s future; and in fulfilling its ultimate responsibility to its own constituency, the community, the environment and humanity at large.

According to Sinoff, that ‘office’ would involve promoting environmental awareness within the organization and the community, and pursuing efforts organization-wide to conserve energy, resources and everything related -- backed with C-level ‘muscle’ to make sure that commitment continues beyond a fad stage.

Naming a Chief Conservation Officer, Sinoff asserts, would even contribute to the bottom line, especially as consumers become more committed to preferring environmentally conscious products over similar products with no environmental ‘involvement’. And, from a marketing and sales point of view, as interest goes up, prices will go down — making environmentally tuned products even more competitive.

Chief This & Chief That
Sinoff looked up “Corporate Titles” at www.wikipedia.com , and found 49 separate “Chief This” and “Chief That” officers, but “no reference to anything dealing with, or close to, Conservation or Environmental Issues!”

“I even met a ‘Chief Relationship Officer’, who works with a law firm, at a recent Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting,” Sinoff said, “but that title wasn’t even one of the 49 listed at Wikipedia!”

And yet, if you google ‘Chief Conservation Officer’, Sinoff noted, “you’ll find that Orbit Irrigation Products in North Salt Lake, UT, appointed a Chief Conservation Officer in 2005!

“And, a year before that, the Catalina Island Conservancy was hiring a Chief Conservation Officer to direct the Conservancy's efforts to protect Catalina’s ecological system and restore the islands’ natural resources, as well as conduct scientific research on the island.”

In fact, according to Sinoff, Google can pull up more than 5,000 links for Chief Conservation Officer in less than 3 seconds.

But most of those links connect to environmentally conscious governments (for example, the state of West Virginia and the province of Ottawa), Native American tribes (such as the Bois Forte Band of the Chippewa Indians and the Fond du Lac Reserve in Saskatoon), and a few major environmental organizations themselves (such as The Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Federation).

Long-Term Is the Key

“With few exceptions, ‘Corporate America’ is sadly missing from standing up for a long-term commitment to environmental awareness and concern,” Sinoff said. “ ‘Long-term’ is the key to the future!”

This is not a campaign Sinoff relishes as a lone individual, yelling against the wind. “I see myself as Camus’ Sisyphus, pushing that huge ball uphill, making little progress against great odds.

“Where are Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society and even The Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Federation, who have Chief Conservation Officers? Those organizations should be trying to wake up Corporate America, not me!”

Companies and corporations are indeed now producing more ‘green’ products — and promoting their ‘green-ness’ — than ever before, even though those very same companies don’t seem to have a Chief Conservation Officer (a CCO, as opposed to a COO) in place yet.

And many environmentally conscious consumers and even people who may not be particularly involved in environmental issues are indeed beginning to prefer ‘green’ products over similar ‘non-green’ choices.

“It’s time-imperative for the Business, Corporate, Manufacturing, Industrial and Service sectors to realize its not only healthy for the planet and all living things to be environmentally conscious, it’s necessary,” Sinoff points out. “And it can be good for business, too. But corporations already know that… as long as the trend continues, or turns to forgotten fad!”

###

Woodbine Entertainment Group Redefines Horse Power and Works with Direct Energy to save $475,000 per year in energy costs

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 3, 2008) - Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG,) Canada's largest horse racing operation, is pleased to announce that it has completed the first phase of its energy retrofit program. The energy retrofits, designed and implemented by Direct Energy Business Services, will save WEG $475,000 per year in energy costs and significantly reduce its energy usage.

In recognition of WEG's success, Peter Love, Ontario's Chief Conservation Officer, will be awarding his prestigious Certificate of Recognition to Nick Eaves, WEG's President and COO at an evening ceremony at Woodbine Racetrack. The Certificate recognizes WEG's leadership in pursing an aggressive plan to reduce its energy usage across its facilities.

"With over 5 million visitors to our facilities each year, we wanted to demonstrate to these customers that it is possible to significantly reduce one's energy usage and carbon footprint if you make a long-term commitment," said Nick Eaves, President and COO of WEG. "We are pleased that our work represents a significant savings, both financially and to the environment."

The three-year, $5 million project consisted of several initiatives including enterprise level software solutions, engineering services, building automation systems, a Smardt chiller installation, a steam boiler conversion, a domestic hot water boiler installation, automated air handling units, occupancy sensors and lighting retrofits.

"I congratulate Woodbine Entertainment Group for partnering with Direct Energy to conduct retrofits in their facilities," said Peter Love, Ontario's Chief Energy Conservation Officer. "These retrofits will save energy, save money and reduce greenhouse gases. I urge others to follow suit and help us build a culture of conservation across Ontario."

WEG was also recognized, at the event, by Enbridge Gas Distribution, BOMA Toronto and Toronto Hydro for their energy conservation program. Enbridge provided WEG with a cheque for $37,408.25 as part of their Retrofit Incentives program.

"Congratulations to WEG for their leadership in executing an aggressive energy reduction program. As a company that has extensive experience helping large organizations reduce their energy usage, Direct Energy hopes that WEG's success demonstrates to business leaders that an energy retrofit program can be both financially and environmentally rewarding," noted Bob Huggard, President, Home and Business Services, Direct Energy.

About Woodbine Entertainment Group

Woodbine Entertainment Group is the largest operator of horse racing in Canada and is recognized as one of the most innovative in North America. Woodbine operates Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto ON; Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, ON, the Champions Off-Track Wagering Network; Turf Lounge; WEGZ Stadium Bar; Horse Player Interactive and HPItv.

About Direct Energy

Direct Energy is one of North America's largest energy and energy-related services providers with over 5 million residential and commercial customer relationships. Direct Energy provides customers with choice and support in managing their energy costs through a portfolio of innovative products and services. A subsidiary of Centrica plc (LSE:CNA), one of the world's leading integrated energy companies, Direct Energy operates in Texas, the northeastern United States and across Canada. To learn more about Direct Energy, visit www.directenergy.com.

Inco and WWF-CANADA announce $1 Million conservation program

TORONTO, Oct. 3 /CNW/ - Inco Limited ("Inco") and WWF-Canada are pleased to announce a new Cdn. $1 million agreement to advance a number of conservation initiatives, both in Canada and internationally.

Under the terms of the agreement, Inco will contribute Cdn. $200,000 per year to WWF-Canada for the next five years in support of a three-pronged conservation program with the following objectives: 1) conserve species at risk of national and global importance in Canada; 2) develop a conservation stewardship approach for Inco in Canada; and 3) scope and explore work of a similar nature in areas where Inco operates internationally.

Inco will continue to support WWF-Canada's efforts to conserve globally important species-at-risk in Canada by investing in the Endangered Species Recovery Fund, a joint effort led by Environment Canada and WWF-Canada. A second component of the new program will involve identifying species and habitats that have a high conservation value in the eco-regional neighbourhood of Inco operations and developing appropriate conservation strategies, beginning with Inco's Ontario operations. Finally, Inco and WWF will work together to explore potential joint initiatives in appropriate international Inco locations.

"We look forward to taking our long-standing relationship with WWF-Canada to a new level," said Bill Napier, Inco Vice-President Environment, Safety and Health. "Among other benefits, we believe that their expertise will result in better conservation stewardship in the lands that adjoin our operations, not just in Canada but at our other locations around the world."

"We have a track record of engaging with companies to reduce their ecological footprint. WWF works with big industry, like mining and forestry, because it is vital to achieve our conservation goals," said Arlin Hackman, Chief Conservation Officer for WWF-Canada. "Expanding our relationship with Inco is a logical and welcome next step for us both. We are excited about what we can accomplish together."

For the past two decades, Inco has supported WWF-Canada on a number of environment projects, including the Endangered Species Recovery Fund and the Manitoba Ecologically Sensitive Areas Project. In 2004, in an exercise sponsored by Corporate Knights magazine, the CEOs of Inco and WWF-Canada traded jobs for a day to gain a better understanding of one another's organizations.

Inco Limited is one of the world's premier mining and metals companies and the world's second largest producer of nickel, with global operations and an extensive marketing network in over 40 countries.

WWF was established in 1961, operates in more than 100 countries and raises some $500 million per year worldwide. WWF-Canada was established as a national office in the WWF network in 1967. WWF-Canada's main office is in Toronto, with region conservation offices located in the Northwest Territories, Vancouver, Prince Rupert, and Halifax. The Toronto office also contains WWF-Canada's public support staff, serving more than 60,000 members across the country. Working with the rest of the WWF network, WWF-Canada focuses its conservation efforts by identifying solutions to the challenges associated with climate change, oceans and coasts, forests and freshwater and endangered species.

Media Advisory - Hydro Ottawa to host energy conference - Powering the Future 2006

OTTAWA, Nov. 3 /CNW Telbec/ - On November 7th and 8th, 2006, Hydro Ottawa
will be hosting its third annual "Powering the Future" Symposium at the Hampton Inn Ottawa & Conference Centre. The only conference of its kind in the nation's capital, this important industry event brings together key players from government, industry, health, education and finance to discuss the state of the electricity industry in Ontario, as well as showcase the latest energy conservation products, services, technologies and incentive programs. "Electricity supply and demand continues to be top of mind in Ontario," said Rosemarie Leclair, President and CEO, Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. "The reality is that, when it comes to ensuring a reliable supply of electricity, Government and Industry really only have three options: generate more electricity, conserve electricity or do both. Like the Ontario Government we believe the answer lies in doing both. Commercial enterprises in 2006 must be increasingly agile, informed, responsive and strategic when comes to managing their electricity. Powering the Future 2006 connects Ottawa business leaders with industry peers and experts to share information, exchange ideas and combine forces to help in creating a conservation culture across the City." Participants will have the opportunity to hear from representatives from all sectors of the electricity market including:

- The Honourable Dwight Duncan, Ontario Minister of Energy,
- Peter Love, Chief Conservation Officer, Ontario Power Authority
- Derek Cowbourne, Chief Operating Officer, Independent Electricity
System Operator (IESO); and
- Gord McBrien, Director Strategic Business Relationships, Ontario Power
Generation.

Powering the Future 2006 is targeted to Hydro Ottawa's largest and most influential customers, which collectively account for more than 35 per cent of Ottawa's total electricity demand. These customers include high tech companies, retail organizations, regional hospitals, universities and colleges, insurance companies and many other large commercial clients and federal government departments.

Hydro Ottawa Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc., is the local electricity distribution company in the City of Ottawa. As the second largest municipal electricity distribution company in the province, Hydro Ottawa Limited is responsible for the safe, reliable delivery of electricity to more than 278,000 residential, commercial and institutional customers in the city of Ottawa and the village of Casselman. Hydro Ottawa is proud to be a founding member of powerWISE(R) - a conservation initiative among six of Ontario's largest electricity distribution companies - to promote energy conservation to consumers and reduce the demand for electricity.

Media are invited to attend this two-day conference, which begins at 8:00 a.m. both days.

Please contact Next Wave Events at 613-261-6009 to confirm your attendance.

Sunopta Inc. Hosts Industry Experts and a Special Screening of An Inconvenient Truth to Educate Youths on Sustainable Practices

TORONTO, April 24 /CNW/ - SunOpta Inc. (NASDAQ:STKL)(TSX:SOY) is bringing
the sustainability message to more than 800 Halton area students during Earth Week with two special screenings of Al Gore's Academy Award winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth. SunOpta Chairman Jeremy Kendall will be joining environmental educator and author Skid Crease and Peter Love, Chief Conservation Officer of Ontario at Burlington Central High School to engage in dialogues with area students about conservation, sustainable agriculture and energy efficiency. The event has drawn a capacity crowd of students and educators from local schools. SunOpta has also donated 60 copies Al Gore's film and book to the Halton Public and Catholic School Boards and has funded the development of a teachers' package designed to educate students on sustainable principles and practices.

According to Ron Ballentine, Coordinator of Science and Technology and Environmental Education for the Halton District School Board, the invitation to the screenings drew an unprecedented response when it was first announced. "The event was oversubscribed within days of receiving the invitation from SunOpta. Having a company, such as SunOpta, with its array of environmental products and services, acting as a community partner to provide financial support emphasizes the importance of issues such as climate change and assists schools in promoting sustainable practices with our committed and interested youth." He adds that some area schools that were unable to attend are eager to receive the DVDs provided by SunOpta so that they can show the movie to all of their students.

"As a company that is strongly committed to healthy and sustainable living, we believe that educating our youth in this all important area is integral to our future," says Kendall. "Working with the Halton Boards to promote learning in this area is consistent with our own commitment to environmental leadership in all facets of our business and building partnerships to encourage excellence in environmental stewardship. We're especially delighted to see such an exceptional interest from the students. It shows without a doubt that today's youth are strongly committed to making this world a better place to live."

A second screening event - which is also fully booked - is scheduled for May 23 at Christ the King Catholic Secondary School in Georgetown.

About SunOpta Inc.

SunOpta Inc. is an operator of high-growth ethical businesses, focusing on integrated business models in the natural and organic food, supplements and health and beauty markets. The Company has three business units: the SunOpta Food Group, which specializes in sourcing, processing and distribution of natural and organic food products integrated from seed through packaged products; the Opta Minerals Group, a producer, distributor, and recycler of environmentally friendly industrial materials; and the SunOpta BioProcess Group (soon to become SunOpta BioProcess Inc.) which engineers and markets proprietary steam explosion technology systems for the pulp, bio-fuel and food processing industries. Each of these business units has proprietary products and services that give it a solid competitive advantage in its sector.

Office Depot and The Nature Conservancy Employ New Boreal Ecologist to Assist the Forest & Biodiversity Conservation Alliance in Canada

Hiring Reflects Ongoing Corporate Commitment to Environmental Leadership
DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, Jun. 15 -/E-Wire/Business Wire/-- Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, and The Nature Conservancy, a private, international, non-profit organization established in 1951 to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth, today announced a newly created boreal ecologist position as part of Office Depot's continuing support of and participation in the Forest & Biodiversity Conservation Alliance.

Formed in 2004 by Office Depot, in partnership with Conservation International, NatureServe, and The Nature Conservancy -- three of the world's most respected science-driven conservation organizations -- the Alliance addresses forest and biodiversity conservation issues within the supply chain.

"For more than a year, the Forest & Biodiversity Conservation Alliance has been advancing responsible forest practices and developing better information on at-risk species," said Tyler Elm, Director of Environmental Affairs for Office Depot. "This position was created in part to help our suppliers identify and conserve areas of exceptional biodiversity value within the Canadian boreal forest, which will assist them in meeting the requirements of Office Depot's Environmental Paper Procurement Policy."

Evie Witten has been named to the ecologist position, serving as the boreal forest scientist for The Nature Conservancy's Canada/U.S. Partnership. In her new role, she will collaborate with forest industry partners and conservation groups including World Wildlife Fund Canada and NatureServe Canada to help identify high conservation values in the production forests of the Canadian boreal. In addition, Witten will help lead conservation area design efforts in Northeastern Ontario, Western Quebec and other boreal regions by working alongside forest industry partners, provincial governments, and conservation groups.

Witten previously served as Director of the World Wildlife Fund Alaska Field Office, securing the conservation of biologically important areas, with particular focus on the Bering Sea. She also worked for the US Forest Service documenting and modeling fire and other natural disturbances in Alaska forests. As a contract manager for The Nature Conservancy, Witten drafted assessments that established the Forest Legacy Program in Alaska. From 1995 to 1999, Witten was Executive Director of the Great Land Trust in Alaska. She also has extensive prior consulting experience as a forest ecologist.

"The Alliance is working aggressively to harness conservation science and business ingenuity to achieve positive outcomes for global forests and biodiversity," said Mike Andrews, Chief Conservation Officer of The Nature Conservancy. "By bringing an experienced ecologist such as Evie Witten on board, we are taking considerable steps forward in helping make these goals a reality."

Already on the job, Witten is working with World Wildlife Fund Canada and Abitibi-Consolidated to apply NatureServe and other data to identify high conservation value forests in the forestlands associated with Office Depot's supply chain. Once identified, Abitibi will collaborate with key stakeholders, including provincial governments, to address any needs for special management or conservation.

"Forest Conservation planning is a key focus of our activities and we greatly value our collaboration with Office Depot, the Alliance and World Wildlife Fund, to explore efficient and effective mechanisms for implementing sound conservation practices," said Francine Dorion, Vice President of Sustainability and Environment for Abitibi-Consolidated, a key Office Depot paper supplier, global leader in newsprint and commercial printing papers, and major producer of wood products. "Together through active engagement, we are building a stronger knowledge base for planning and identifying measurable outcomes for forest species, ecological communities, and landscapes."

The Forest & Biodiversity Conservation Alliance also focuses on developing scientific information to improve forest management, applying science-based methods for biodiversity conservation, enhancing environmental procurement practices, and training foresters and scientists.

"The Alliance is a unique blend of corporate and environmental interests working to achieve measurable conservation outcomes," said Dennis Grossman, Vice President for Science at NatureServe. "Together, we are advancing the conservation of species, biological communities, and ecological systems in forest landscapes, and identifying landscape-level planning approaches that employ responsible forest practices."

Alliance participation and support is a key component of Office Depot's five-year strategy to advance the company's forest and biodiversity conservation policies and incorporate conservation science into paper-procurement decisions. Office Depot has integrated Alliance objectives into its paper-procurement policy, with a focus on reducing the environmental footprint of its forest and paper-product suppliers while contributing to global biodiversity conservation.

Participation in the Alliance has also enabled Office Depot to identify challenges to forest and biodiversity conservation faced by landowners, managers, and the company's own sourcing and vendor compliance personnel. In addition, it has strengthened the company's ability to address these challenges and implement corporate policies on rare and vulnerable forests and those containing exceptional biodiversity values.

Office Depot and the Environment

Office Depot, listed on both the FTSE4Good Index and Dow Jones Sustainability Index, focuses its environmental initiatives on sustainable forest management, recycling and pollution reduction, as well as promotion of environmental issues and markets for environmentally-preferable products.

Beyond its industry-leading 35% post-consumer waste content paper, Office Depot offers thousands of products containing recycled materials. In January 2005, the company issued its Green Book catalog of almost 2,500 environmentally-friendly products to U.S. contract customers. The 84% increase in environmentally-preferable products highlighted in the 2005 edition, includes paper; pens; energy efficient computer displays, printers and light bulbs; toner cartridges; and biodegradable packing materials.

The Green Book itself is the only environmentally-preferable office products catalog printed on elemental chlorine-free 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper and is distributed to more than 40,000 organizations to easily help "green" their office supply purchasing process. Businesses can obtain a free copy of the Green Book through Office Depot's environmental Web site at www.officedepot.com/environment or through its Business Services Division at +1-888-2-OFFICE.

In April 2005, in recognition of its environmental stewardship, Office Depot received the "Outstanding Retailer" Award by the International Council of Shopping Centers and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Editor's Note: For more information on Office Depot's environmental initiatives, visit www.officedepot.com/environment. The news media contact for Abitibi-Consolidated is Denis Leclerc at Denis_Leclerc@abitibiconsolidated.com or 514-394-3601.

About Office Depot

With annual sales approaching $14 billion, Office Depot provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company. Incorporated in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida, Office Depot conducts business in 23 countries and employs 47,000 people worldwide. The Company operates under the Office Depot(R), Viking Office Products(R), Viking Direct(R), Guilbert(R), and Tech Depot(R) brand names.

Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel - from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. With $3.1 billion in online sales in FY'04, the Company is the world's number three Internet retailer. Office Depot has 1,000 retail stores in North America in addition to a national business-to-business delivery network supported by 22 delivery centers and more than 60 local sales offices. Internationally, the Company conducts wholly owned operations in 14 countries through 77 retail stores and 26 distribution centers, and operates 153 retail stores under joint venture and license arrangements in another seven countries.

The company's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index. Additional press information can be found at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.com.

About The Nature Conservancy

With operations in all 50 U.S. states and 30 other countries, The Nature Conservancy is a private, international, non-profit organization established in 1951 to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. To date, the Conservancy and its one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 117 million acres in the United States and 27 countries around the world. Additional information can be found at http://nature.org/

About Conservation International

Conservation International (CI) believes that the Earth's natural heritage must be maintained if future generations are to thrive spiritually, culturally and economically. CI is currently working on projects in more than 40 countries on four continents to protect global biodiversity and demonstrate that human societies can live harmoniously with nature. CI develops scientific, policy, and economic solutions to protect threatened natural ecosystems that are rich in biodiversity. To find out more, visit www.conservation.org.

About NatureServe

NatureServe is a non-profit conservation group dedicated to providing the scientific information and technology needed to guide effective conservation action. NatureServe represents a network of 75 natural heritage programs and conservation data centers in the United States, Canada, and Latin America that collect and analyze information on plants, animals, and ecosystems. NatureServe is a leading source for detailed scientific information about rare and endangered species and threatened ecosystems. Visit us on the web at