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Green Inaugural Ball

Last Monday we celebrated the Inauguration of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden at the 2009 Green Inaugural Ball. We've enjoyed your videos and ideas about solving the climate crisis. We want to share some behind-the-scenes video and interviews from the Green Ball with you.

Check out these highlights of films, speeches, and interviews featuring Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi, Michael Franti, John Legend, Paul Reiser, and more from the 2009 Green Inaugural Ball:

Former Vice President Al Gore and musicians Will.i.am (center) and apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas partied at a

Former Vice President Al Gore served as the event's Honorary Chair and was joined by more than 75 environmental, conservation, labor, civil justice, youth, and business groups who are promoting clean and efficient energy, bringing the technologies to market, protecting America's natural heritage and creating the green jobs that will be at the heart of America's economic recovery. The sold out event was Executive Produced by Kevin Wall and Live Earth and featured musical performances by renowned artists will.i.am., Melissa Etheridge, Maroon 5, John Legend and Michael Franti. VIP guests included Blair Underwood, Lisa Ling, Paul Reiser, John Cusack, Bon Jovi, Paulina Rubio, as well as political heavyweights including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Robert Kennedy, Jr.

Last Monday we celebrated the Inauguration of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden at the 2009 Green Inaugural Ball. We've enjoyed your videos and ideas about solving the climate crisis. We want to share some behind-the-scenes video and interviews from the Green Ball with you.

Barack Obama Inauguration Quotes 2009Barack Obama
“My presidency will mark a new chapter in America's leadership on climate change” - Barack Obama, at a Global Warming Summit in California, November 17, 2008 (video).

“I strongly agree with Vice President Gore that we cannot drill our way to energy independence, but must fast-track investments in renewable sources of energy like solar power, wind power and advanced biofuels, and those are the investments I will make as President. It's a strategy that will create millions of new jobs that pay well and cannot be outsourced, and one that will leave our children a world that is cleaner and safer." - Barack Obama, July 17, 2008.

michael franti 2009 green inaugural ballMichael Franti loves to mix it up. His music represents a fusion of funk, jazz, hip-hop, reggae, and folk and his songs are laden with cultural references and commentaries on politics, globalization, and world events.

He recently finished a film, I Know I'm Not Alone detailing his travels in the Middle East. Franti is hopeful about the election of Barack Obama and recently told Treehugger: "I really feel like the optimism and the hope [is] something that we really need now. Because it's not going to take just the efforts of one man or woman to solve these problems, it's going to take the efforts of all six billion of us on this planet doing our part each day."

Watch the video for "Obama Song," written after election day, below:

Melissa Etheridge 2009 Green Inaugural BallIf you take a look at Melissa Etheridge’s website you can not help but be blown away by her green action. The site introduces new visitors with green tips and ways to “go Green” -- there's even a Melissa Etheridge Eco-Friendly street team. Not only does she promote sustainability and environmental responsibility but she herself practices and promotes such efforts. She supports such causes and foundations like the Dream Foundation, Love Our Children USA and of course, Live Earth (see photo, from Live Earth 07.07.07 in New York).

Below, Etheridge discusses “I Need to Wake Up,” -- which one the Oscar for best original song in a motion picture (An Inconvenient Truth) at the 2007 Academy Awards -- and challenges us to look within us and make changes in how we live to combat global warming:

Maroon 5 2009 Green Inaugural BallThere is no doubt Maroon 5 has a strong commitment and respect for th environment. In 2006, Maroon 5 was honored at the Environmental Media Awards and from there has only pledged more time and dedication towards the fight against climate change. Maroon 5 supports causes and organizations including the Environmental Media Association, Global Cool, Kiva, Teen Impact and Moveon. Maroon 5 is committed to "green touring" -- using bio-diesel fuel, organic food, recycled goods and a commitment to give a portion of their ticket sales to Global Cool, an organization that tries to reduce CO2 emission.

Check out Maroon 5's message for Solar Energy and Vote Solar below:

will.i.am yes we can green inaugural ball 2009 inaugurationwill.i.am was interviewed on National Public Radio this weekend and discussed how Barack Obama inspired him to produce the song and video "Yes We Can," and touched on the most important issues facing the incoming president. Education, green jobs, the environment: "It's not like the technology isn't there... it's there," he told NPR's Scott Simon. "And when I get solar panels on my house, then I'm totally carbon free."

will.i.am performs tonight at the 2009 Green Inaugural Ball at The Smithsonian's Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture. He also appeared at Live Earth 07.07.07, in London, with the Black Eyed Peas.

Listen to the interview at NPR or below:


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