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Over 2,500 miles west of Washington D.C. this week in sunny Carlsbad, California, the new Obama presidency commemorates a different type of inauguration, compliments of Legoland. The Master Model Designers behind Miniland U.S.A. – the section of this theme park that depicts Lego versions of various American landmarks – dressed up the model of the steps of the U.S. Capitol for our historic 56th Presidential inauguration.

Mini versions of everyone from the Obama family to Oprah Winfrey and the San Francisco Boys Chorus can be spotted in this creative Lego masterpiece.

As my family and I continued our California journey this week, escaping winter on our Wisconsin farm, spotting the mini-figure, four-inch version of Obama first brought a smile. Creative and colorful, you’re immediately drawn into analyzing the realistic detail of this endeavor.

But scratch the plastic surface. For me, this Lego depiction took on deeper meaning, a metaphor to inspiring the challenging days ahead. Harkening to Obama’s inspiring speech yesterday, if the new President and his administration truly seek change, particularly positive help for our planet, there are lessons to be learned from this Lego display:

1. Twist the Expected
Sure you expect to see Legos at Legoland. That’s the lure that kept our seven-year old son salivating up to the park gate. But Obama taking the presidential oath of office, constructed out of Legos?

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What would happen if we reframed the issue: ask not what the country can do to green you; ask what you can do to green the country?

We all know that in order to be a green business we have to walk the walk, as well as talk the talk.  And, walking the walk needs to be more than greening your individual business. Changing your business practices is only one piece of the greening puzzle. Just because you can’t afford to install solar panels right now, doesn’t mean you can’t make a big difference. In fact, the time you invest in making a difference may be as valuable to environmental progress as installing CFLs. What if every small business owner in America got involved?  Joined a green business organization? Strengthened their green requirements for suppliers? Provided customers with greener alternatives?

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Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44^th President of the United States of America today. As one of the first moves of his presidency, he has suspended all of former-President George Bush’s midnight regulations. The order was issued by White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel directly following the swearing in of Obama.

The regulations will not go into effect until Obama has had a chance to review their legality. Hopefully, this will undo some of the damage Bush attempted to leave our country with, such as his permitting coal companies to dump waste near rivers and oil companies to drill without reviewing the endangered species act.

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A World in Crisis

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. . . Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

Environmental groups are criticized for their “doomsday” scenarios.  Rainforests are dwindling, corals are dying, population is exploding, and global warming is ominously threatening.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America’s decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Beyond America, there is a nagging fear that the earth’s decline is inevitable.  Will fewer children have access to clean water?  Will they starve?  Will they know that polar bears and tigers once lived outside of zoos?

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In fact, both of these balls are called “The Green Inaugural Ball,” which could certainly lead to confusion for guests invited to both. One ball will be held by Al Gore and the other by PETA. From the Baltimore Sun:

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals plans to give away fur coats to the homeless while offering hot soy-milk cocoa in cups that read: “Thank You for Not Wearing Fur!”

Many of the other balls are encouraging attendees to carpool, will serve organic foods, and are using energy-efficient lighting.

“Roll back the specter of a warming planet”

“…restoring Science to its rightful place”.

I also noted the part about “harnessing the sun, the wind and the soil”. The BBC’s Washington correspondent, Richard Lister noted that he was “setting out his transformative agenda: creating a new energy infrastructure. The image of ‘harnessing’ the soil is a notable one…”

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I have written before how I think we all need to remember the entrepreneur aspect of the the moniker Ecopreneurist.

As entrepreneurs we need to keep ourselves in front of our target audiences and often need to do this on not a huge budget.

On January 20 the United States will be swearing-in a new president, indeed perhaps our first green president as President Elect Obama has made many references to growing the green economy and ideas for a more green energy policy.

Well our friends at Americanna noted the references. They also noted that presidential memorabilia is a big deal and that it is even a bigger deal when the country feels that a history making change is at hand.

So Americanna is headed to the inauguration, well at least their World Famous RETREAD Jar Openers are headed to the inauguration. Proforma Simonetta Freelance will be handing out a few thousand of these shield shaped Inaugural World Famous RETREAD Jar Openers made from recycled tires to the millions of attendees currently pouring into Washington, D.C. for the event.

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There will be many firsts during the course of Tuesday’s Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama, but mentioning the environment in the inaugural address will not be one of them: though pretty darn close.

[Update: While President Obama did not use the actual word "environment", he spoke both directly and indirectly about the environment more so than any of his predecessors. See those references.]

Past presidents like Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S Truman and Calvin Coolidge have referred to the development and wise use of our “natural resources.”  The language in these earlier environmental references was infused with the themes of conservation and preservation as opposed to pollution and ecological balance.

Conspicuously absent throughout the history of inaugural addresses have been allusions to the major energy and environmental issues of the time. In fact, only two presidents in this country’s history have even mentioned the word “environment” in this context; and they each used both of their opportunities.

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One thing that has taken hold throughout this historic campaign is the slow rise of political art. Remember the McCain earrings and all the amazing DIY that was found at the DNC?

Art has played a huge role in the president-elect’s campaign. You only have to look at Shepard Fairey’s now ubiquitous Hope poster to see the affect. Political art and craft is just one way to stump for a cause, or show support for a president-elect.

Obama paraphernalia has been popping up all over the city. It is mostly cheap t-shirts and buttons and pins with the likeness of Obama and his family. But, I happened across this great “That’s my DJ” t-shirt. It is hand printed and designed by Sound College.

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Some of these activities below will require a little prep time and some won’t, but all can be participated in by kids from very young to very old:

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It’s a reflection of the economic environment, said Ron Pernick, a principal at research firm Clean Edge and a co-producer of the conference. “There haven’t been any exits to speak of, which tells you something,” he said.

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If you’d rather not go that route, there’s a lot you can do to preserve this historic occasion, the green way - and without spending to much money.  Jump with me below the fold to see how.

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Arriving in the DC area last night, I’m staying across the Potomac in Alexandria, the obvious buzz in the air is about the inauguration. But this time it is different. That’s the feeling on the air and the word on the street. Estimates are now for two million people to converge on the Mall on inauguration day in what truly is becoming  a Great American Pilgrimage.

Of course I knew when I left San Francisco early yesterday morning that I was one of many - thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions - coming to Washington to bear witness to history. But once the journey is begun, I am myself swept up in its tide.

There is a pragmatic aspect to governance, a political reality to wielding power. But seeing and being a part of this movement of people, I realize there is an underlying spirit to what this inauguration represents. Pragmatism and power lend itself to politics - the art of the possible. They are the tools that, when we strive for our best, serve the ideals and spirit of a nation and its people. This is a proud moment for America and Americans.

The whole world is watching.

Image credit: Tom Schueneman

Two small wind turbines, the type that would power individual homes, farms, or businesses are currently on display at the National Mall and contributing to the Washington, D.C. power grid. The turbines will remain in place through January 2009 as part of a sustainability exhibit at the Botanic Garden.

The two turbines, from Mariah Power (left) and Southwest Windpower (right), are just a few hundred feet from the Capitol, visible from where President-elect Obama will take the oath of office next Tuesday, January 20.

“Small residential wind turbines and solar PV are examples of technologies moving us toward realizing President-elect Obama’s vision for a renewable energy future and also creating thousands of new manufacturing and dealer jobs across the country,” said Andy Kruse, co-founder of Southwest Windpower, maker of the Skystream 3.7, the first real ‘plug and play’ residential wind turbine to hit North American markets.

>>See Also: Top 5 Micro Wind Turbines

This past fall, Congress passed a small-wind tax credit that gives individuals and businesses a $4,000 investment tax credit for the purchase of turbines like those from Mariah and Southwest Windpower currently on display on The National Mall.

Images: Courtesy of the manufacturers

“Yeah, but you know everyone will be flying in and taking limos,” the journalist noted. And honestly, he did have a point.

However, after researching the green inauguration ball further (which as it turns out is totally separate from the actual inauguration), it does seem as though there’s definitely a larger green effort involved in what might otherwise be passed off as green washing.

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This is a guest post by Caitlin Sislin, a public interest environmental attorney in Oakland, California and founder of the Transformative Advocacy program of Women’s Earth Alliance.

Barack Obama is committed to slowing and reversing climate change. Environmentally-friendly initiatives such as green jobs are at the center of his economic stimulus plan. So it’s no surprise that Obama’s inauguration will have the smallest “footprint” of any president in history.

>>See Also: Obama Could be Just the Third President to Mention Environment in Inaugural Address

The four-plus million people expected to flood Washington, D.C. in two weeks will be treated to numerous eco-friendly perks:

• For the first time ever, the Environmental Protection Agency will advise event organizers on techniques for throwing a greener party.
• Festivities will include not one, but two carbon-neutral Green Inaugural Balls — one hosted by Al Gore.
• Organic food will be served at official events.
• Bicycle-riders will be treated to valet parking.
• Public restrooms will feature air dryers instead of paper towels.
• Many of the festivities will be lit using energy-efficient bulbs.
• All catered events at the House of Representatives will use compostable or biodegradable plates and utensils.
• A small-wind turbine display from Southwest Windpower and Mariah Power

Environmental groups will also be on hand, working to raise awareness about sustainability among the millions of event attendees. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will hand out used fur coats to homeless people, as well as hot chocolate with soy milk in cups that read “Thank You for Not Wearing Fur!”

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So here’s a reminder, Mr. President-Elect, to remember the low-hanging fruit. Take advantage of easy opportunities to showcase the positive, the healthy, and the true “green” in our country. Take the White House Egg Roll, for example. The longest standing tradition of the White House, for over one hundred years children have gathering on the White House Lawn the Monday after Easter for egg rolling fun with the President and First Lady. Don’t just take this event at face value and follow the same plug and play routine the Bush White House succumbed to – use this opportunity to honor our country’s agricultural roots while celebrating how American farmers grow great food by showcasing the breadth of agriculture that now also captures the growth and vibrancy of the organic and sustainable farming movement.

Representing the fastest growing segment of U.S. agriculture, organic and sustainable farming holds the potential to reinvent our food system to create healthy, fair, green and affordable localized food sources for us all. Look at the diversity of egg alone: from free-range to organic eggs, white, brown and even blue eggs now grace the aisles of some grocery stores and farm stands at farmers’ markets. Such an educational focus for the upcoming White House Egg Roll, scheduled for April 13, 2009, would embrace the face and pace of change transforming and restoring our American farmlands and food system because it will:

1. Root for Fit Kids
Stewarding the land and growing local, fresh, seasonal food sources further strengthens a healthy future for the honored Egg Roll attendees: our nation’s youth. Starting with the egg, arguably one of the most complete and nutritious protein sources available, farm-fresh food fuels our children toward a healthy future.

2. Savor Spring’s Fresh and Local Harvest
The Egg Roll coincides with the opening of the farmers’ market season nationally and can also serve as a timely stimulus for Americans to start home gardens, revitalizing the spirit, sacrifice and responsibility made famous by the Victory Garden era of WWII.

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Nothing represents this dichotomy more than the mixed feelings I have about the election of Barack Obama.

I walk a fine line between radical and liberal—between wanting to smash a failed system and fix a broken one. I consider myself an anarchist, yet I proudly voted. And I voted for Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney, yet I fought back tears of joy as I witnessed Obama give his acceptance speech in person in Grant Park.

Obama has great potential to be the most liberal, open-minded president of the last century. Dare I say, he could be a catalyst for change.

What does this mean for those of us who view species extinction and global climate catastrophe as more than just back-burner issues? This represents an opportunity that the environmental movement has never seen, and we would be foolish to pass it up. So here are four steps to help ensure that Obama keeps his many bold promises to us.

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