Nightingale-Conant, the world’s largest personal development publisher, has just 
launched a new weekly service called, MyPowerPodcast.com. The site features motivational podcasts and a sampling the firm’s vast library of personal development programs. “Most of us face myriad challenges today, whether at work or in our own personal life, and sometimes success seems elusive and it’s hard to stay motivated,” says Joe Nuckols host of My Power Podcast “At Nightingale-Conant, we aim to help you build your PMA, or positive mental attitude, and to help you realize your full potential. We have a variety of programs designed to help you succeed in life, build wealth, and gain better health.” The podcasts at My Power Podcast provide
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Solar powered Resort opens at the Roof of the World
Lhasa known as the“Place of the Gods” by ancient Tibetans is now home to a 150 luxuriously appointed guest rooms and 12 spacious villas and suites. The St. Regis Lhasa Resort is blending Tibet’s rich culture and exotic natural surroundings with sustainable features including solar panels, locally-sourced produce and herbs for the resort’s restaurants and an underground water recycling system. Guest accommodations feature beautiful residential interiors, custom-designed furniture and spacious marble bathrooms in addition to luxurious linens and amenities such as high-speed internet and plasma televisions in room. “Lhasa is one of the most intriguing and beautiful cities in the world,” said Magdy Anis, General Manager of The St. Regis Lhasa Resort. “We are honored to be opening Tibet’s first luxury resort, offering global St. Regis guests the opportunity to experience Tibet’s mysterious traditions and stunning beauty while enjoying St. Regis signature amenities and services.”
The resort boasts awe-inspiring views of the Himalayas and the Lhasa Valley. St. Regis will also premiere its new spa brand, the Iridium Spa at The St. Regis Lhasa Resort and an array of epicurean taste and experiences in a variety of culturally designed settings.The St. Regis Lhasa Resort will present the first wine bar in the region serving over 140 labels of wine, liquors and aged cigars. Also the first of its kind, the Tea Room will offer guests a relaxing afternoon with different blends of local and imported teas, and serving vintage teas aged from 10-25 years.
The first St. Regis was opened in New York City over a century ago is owned by Starwood Hotels a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences around the world.
DEEP TIBETAN MEDITATION MUSIC
ECO FRIENDS SHOP
Ecotourism making a difference
From Toronto Bruce Poon Tip founder of Gap Adventures and Planeterra announced today the appointment of Megan Epler Wood as Director of 
Planeterra, a global non-profit dedicated to sustainable community development through travel and voluntourism. Epler Wood will share duties with newly named Associate Director Paula Vlamings. A pioneer in the field of sustainable travel and founder and past-president of the The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), Epler Wood has devoted her life to helping governments, travelers, and businesses throughout the world understand how tourism can be a tool to conserve threatened natural areas and help alleviate poverty. Epler Wood has increasingly focused on the economics of tourism as a tactic to combat poverty, demonstrating how tourist dollars can help countries to ethically and sustainably develop even in the most challenging circumstances.
In making the appointment Bruce Tip Poon said, “I have known Megan for many years and have such deep respect for her and for her commitment and leadership in defining and building on her vision for sustainable travel. She is the best person on Earth to lead Planeterra and expand its programs’ influence,”
Founded by Poon Tip in 2003, Planeterra evolved from adventure travel leader Gap Adventures’ commitment to give back to the people and places its travelers visit. The organization supports projects throughout the world in health, education, and community development and arranges sustainable voluntour travel programs.
SEEK PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Pole mounted Solar maker wins national green award
Petra Solar the New Jersey based solar manufacturer who is supplying the state of New Jersey 200,000 solar units for its “Solar 4 all” program has been selected by Green For All and SJF Institute as one of the first Green Jobs Award recipients. The Green Jobs Award honors innovative private businesses that contribute to the economy and the environment. The award was given at Citi Executive Conference Center in New York City. Green For All is a national organization working to build an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. The SJF Institute is an independent non-profit institute that works with positive impact businesses and sustainable entrepreneurs to facilitate their access to capital, promote employee engagement, and help build sustainable economies. “We hope that by acknowledging the tremendous work these companies are doing, we can support their noble efforts, and inspire other business leaders to follow their lead,” says Bonny Moellenbrock, Executive Director of SJF Institute.
Petra Solar, founded in 2006 by CEO and president Kuran, is the pioneer of SunWave™, a grid-tied, pole-mounted, distributed solar generation system. “We are grateful for the recognition from Green for All and SJF Institute,” said Shihab Kuran, CEO and President of Petra Solar. “Our goal at Petra Solar is to create and grow green jobs as we create smart solar generation systems and export them across the nation and around the world.”By creating its own R&D and manufacturing supply chain, Petra Solar’s job count has 
grown from 15 in the spring of 2009 to 166 currently, over a 10 fold increase. In keeping with the company’s commitment to return ratepayer and taxpayer support, the company will create new manufacturing facilities in jurisdictions in which it does significant business. As a result, major contracts with utilities will result in the creation of jobs to staff local manufacturing operations.
“Each of the companies chosen this year does its part in building the green economy through innovation and job creation here in the United States,” says Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO of Green For All. “They are demonstrating that by addressing the climate crisis we can take real steps in addressing the economic crisis as well.”
OPEN A GREEN DOOR
The Green Governor will be back
“We can’t afford to wait for national and international movement. Action is needed now, and action is what we’re taking with R20,” said Governor Schwarzenegger at the closing of the Governors’ Global Climate Summit 3. “The role of subnational governments is more important than ever, and California has shown that state and regional governments can institute policies that will grow the green economy, create jobs and clean our environment. With this unprecedented level of cooperation and collaboration, R20 will continue this leadership around the world and will help influence national and international action.”
R20 is a global coalition committed to fast tracking the development of clean technologies, climate resilient projects and green investment, and influencing national and international policies. As a first-of-its-kind, the innovative subnational public-private alliance will work toward climate change solutions and building the global green economy. It is composed of subnational governments and private and nongovernment partners. Schwarzenegger has also just announced a new Clean Energy Job Training Program targeted at providing training for professional sales people. The training will teach the specifics of sustainability and energy efficiency. It will consist of 40 hours of immersion in those topics and graduates will be interviewed by electrical contractors and hired to sell sustainable energy projects.
As Arnold Schwarzenegger winds down his term as governor it’s his action on implementing California’s job creating climate change legislation; AB32 and his involvement in helping to defeat Prop 23 which will most define his accomplishments. Arnold seems passionate in his role as a green mover and shaker and it’s a pretty safe bet…he’ll be back!
EXPLORE BUILDING GREEN
Vehicle charging stations to electrify San Francisco
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, the soon to be next Lieutenant Governor of California joined the Port of San Francisco, Coulomb Technologies and MasterCard PayPass to begin installation of the first new electric plug-in vehicles (EV) charging stations in San Francisco. A $15 million grant funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the Transportation Electrification Initiative administered by the Department of Energy made the project possible. The two EV charging stations are part of the ChargePoint America program that will allow EV drivers in the Bay Area to pay for parking and charging their electric cars quickly and conveniently.
Last month, San Francisco took major steps toward making the San Francisco Bay Area a national demonstration project of the promise and potential of electric vehicles, with the award of $14 million in Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) grants to support four innovative electric vehicle (EV) projects across the nine county region. The funds will leverage additional funds exceeding $30 million to put EVs in government fleets, taxis, and car-share programs, as well as develop a network of charging stations available to the public throughout the region. LA Metro has also recently announced an electric vehicle pilot program.
In addition to supporting the build-out of public EV charging infrastructure throughout the Bay Area, the projects funded by this grant money will include purchasing approximately 90 plug-in vehicles and installing charging equipment to support them in municipal fleets, a car sharing electrification program and a pilot project for EV taxi cabs. This innovative taxi program will launch a fleet of taxis with rechargeable batteries for local neighborhood trips in San Francisco, and will also create the nation’s first battery-switch demonstration for a fleet of cabs built with switchable battery packs and served by battery-switch stations in San Francisco and San Jose.