Celebrating Green In Denver

Well, in retrospect perhaps a light summery wrap dress was not the best choice for Denver's beautiful outdoor but occasionally windy Red Rocks Amphitheater, but my very own Marilyn Monroe moment served as a great ice breaker for my opening remarks at the Democratic convention host committee kick-off concert (that's a mouthful) Sunday night. Ten thousand people, delegates, political leaders, funders, and Democratic honchos enjoyed that spontaneous moment (a little more than I did) but it was all for the cause and that cause was loud and clear...we need green presidential leadership and we need it now!

From the moment Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (I swear that is his real name) learned his city would play host, he became obsessed with the possibilities of doing things better by doing them greener. So every aspect of the convention was put on the table and reexamined. As a result, free bicycles stand on corners, hybrid cars shuttle delegates, compost bins make their debut next to the recycling ones, local restaurants and businesses attend green workshops, solar and renewable energy are used where possible, hotel keys made from biodegradable material, and much more.

The show (a celebration of the city's green efforts) featured environmental stars Van Jones (Green for All), William McDonough (author of Cradle to Cradle: The Way We Make Things) and NRDC attorney Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. who all brought the crowd to their feet. The musicians, Sheryl Crow, Sugarland and Dave Matthews gave up their rare day off from intense touring schedules to be a part of this Green Sunday. To say that the venue, nestled in natures magnificent grandeur, was electrified would be an understatement. It felt like even the heavens above were rocking. The perfect start to the most exciting, hopeful and, yes, green democratic convention ever!!!

For more Huffington Post coverage from the Democratic National Convention, visit our Politics @ the DNC page, our Democratic Convention Big News Page, and our HuffPost bloggers' Twitter feed, live from Denver.

Comments

[Marguerite Manteau-Rao - Huffpost Blogger]

Laurie, I am coming to your defense. Let's be practical here. The main goal of the Convention is to do all they can to generate the most buzz about Barack Obama. There is no disputing that only a live event can accomplish this. Particularly if the competition is going to host its own live convention. Maybe next time, things will be different, and both sides will agree on virtual events? But for now, the greenest thing for the Democrats to do is to make sure they get their candidate elected, as Barack Obama is the candidate with the purest green agenda.

[csavage]

I agree completely-a green convention would be conducted via internet/webcam with all sources of power being derived by solar/wind/geothermal....

I'm a frequent visitor of Denver-I can tell you there's little to Denver that seems green, except their new commuter rail. Even the sky stays a dusty brown color much of the year.

[HBeachbum]

I find it amusing that with all the talk of being green, that this convention has a horriffic carbon footprint. Let's add up the all of the plane trips, hotel stays and increased commerce that has resulted from this "green" convention. Bicycles, Priuses and all the other green amenities are nothing but window dressing compared to the travel by all of these "concerned" citizens. Give it a rest.

[perk]

I agree Hbeach and csavage. Green convention is an oxymoron . Thousands of people fly and drive an average of 2500 miles each, to celebrate a decision that has already been made, hear speeches that could better hear at home and then talk about a greener leadership.

A green leader would have said, "... and the first change is: We cancel the convention",

[RuthlessDictator]

Good point.

I'm wondering if the Dems are afraid to "cancel" the Convention (in a physical sense, anyway) since the ReTards won't cancel theirs and The Sheeple will vote for McSame because of this reason.

Which one will "blink" first?

[rwe]

not to mention that all the media entities have to duplicate every energy gobbling function with the 75000 at the revival meeting on thurs...