Looking for a strong
speech to kickstart a green-leaning event? If Al Gore is
out of town -- or out of your price range -- fear not; many other
speakers excel at raising awareness about environmental issues.
Below are three candidates who get a particularly strong green
stamp of approval from Marc Reede, president of the Beverly Hills,
Calif.-based Nationwide Speakers Bureau (310-273-8807; www.nationwidespeakers.com). Speaking of green: These
orators’ prices range anywhere from $15,000 to $25,000.
Ralph Nader (above,
left; www.nader.org), the best-known
member of the Green Party, isan attorney, the
author of the landmark 1965 expose of the auto industry, Unsafe
at Any Speed, and a three-time presidential candidate, as well
as a leading environmental activist. In his speeches, Nader often
focuses on how to protect the environment from the excesses of
corporate America.
Andy Lipkis (above,
center), is the founder and president of the aptly named
Tree-People (www.treepeople.org), whose mission is to inspire and
empower the residents of Los Angeles to take responsibility for
their own urban environment. The group focuses on planting and
caring for trees as well as other urban ecological issues. Lipkis
speaks on topics ranging from sustainability to how best to live an
eco-friendly lifestyle.
Paul Polizzotto
(above, right) is the founder of the Adopt-A-Waterway program (www.adoptawaterway.com), which is dedicated to
improving the quality of the nation’s oceans, bays, rivers, lakes
and streams. The organization works with both individuals and
corporations. Polizzotto has made it his personal mission to
educate local governments and the public at large on solutions for
cleaner water.