Wow. I have not blogged since October 22nd, 2007. There is one word for that and it starts with the letter “p”…pathetic!

Lucky for me, I remembered my Wordpress log-in info. Don’t ask me how, but I did. I guess it’s like the lyrics to that SClub7 song I remembered the other day (Simmons knows what I am talking about). I vow to write about this important event tomorrow, but here’s a link for the meantime:

http://www.earthhour.org

Last year’s Earth Hour in Sydney was the inspiration for my first ever blog post, so it’s fitting that this year’s worldwide Earth Hour will be the one that revitalizes said blog.

Earth Hour, Global Warming PR, SClub7, Sydney

Last Monday, October 15, was Blog Action Day. Let’s just say bloggers everywhere took the call to action seriously. I took the liberty of borrowing some stats from BlogActionDay.com:

20,603 Blogs Participated
23,327 Blog Posts (Google Blog Search)
14,631,038 RSS Readers

Skeptics take note — the power of the blogosphere is real. I’m crossing my fingers that a majority of these people walked the walk and changed out a few regular light bulbs for CFLs…

Here’s to making Blog Action Day a tradition!

blog action day, blogosphere, cfls, General, light bulbs

Today is Blog Action Day and bloggers everywhere are writing about the environment. I can’t help but wonder if the organizers of Blog Action Day purposely chose Monday, October 15, knowing that it would come on the heels of the announcement that former Vice President Al Gore and the United Nation’s Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Just curious, but I’m glad to be a part of a group of people who want to promote sustainability in the United States and beyond.

I’ve been reading editorials on Gore’s win (as well as the many entertaining comments that go with them) and while many are quick to say Gore is simply trying to repair his own political image, or that global warming is a farce, what people forget to note is that by complaining OR applauding his work, they are helping Gore accomplish what, even a year ago, many would’ve called impossible: People are discussing global warming.
At the very least, Gore’s work has helped to shed light on the fact that many Americans DO care about the environment, the future, and our effects on the rest of the world. 
The first time I visited Europe, I remember how shocked I was at the efficiency of the public transportation systems – not just the subways, but also the buses that took us from country to country. I remember wondering why we didn’t have similar systems at home. Granted I come from Albuquerque, a sort-of big city in the middle of nowhere, but why is it that America is SO far behind our European counterparts when it comes to environmental responsibility? I’m willing to bet it’s got a lot to do with money and even more to do with the fact that the United States is notorious for laziness (in more areas than one). 

Here at Eastwick, we created a Green task force to provide recommendations for how we could make our new home in Mountain View more earth friendly. We’ve got CFL’s, our lights are on timers, and, we recycle. While these are small steps, they most certainly make a difference. 

2007 Nobel Peace Prize, Al Gore, Albuquerque, blog action day, cfls, Eastwick, Global Warming PR, Inter governmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, United Nations, Vice President Al Gore

I am just beginning my career in public relations but a common problem I’ve already discovered is when I tell people what I do they always ask me to explain what exactly I do. While I don’t mind explaining every once in awhile, it would be nice if more of the general public actually knew what PR is. In an effort to understand why so many people view PR as a gray area, I decided to do a little research.

I found an interesting article declaring an upcoming “International PR Day” in India.  While the article is long past its shelf life, the topic itself is interesting - a day dedicated to bringing attention to the underappreciated efforts of PR professionals - what a concept!

So I thought, why not check and see if there is a similar holiday in the United States? A quick search of the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) website determined that there is no such holiday in the United States (aside from regional days). What I did find was an article testifying to the fact that China also celebrates a similar holiday.

I can’t help but wonder if the U.S. celebrated an official (or even unofficial) holiday recognizing PR pros across the country, would more people outside the industry begin to recoginize what an integral role PR plays in the overall success of so many businesses? Who knows…but it’d make me happy if they did.  

International PR, International PR Day, PRSA, Public Relations Society of America

As part of his Africa, Join the Journey campaign, President Clinton’s social media team has enlisted viral videos, blogging, email newsletters and online pledge forms to spread the word about The Clinton Foundation’s work in Africa. President Clinton utilizes the blog as a platform for himself and others involved with the Clinton Foundation’s programs in Africa to relate their experiences to the Web site’s visitors. The topics of the posts vary from a group of children Clinton recently met on a soccer field in Zambia to Amy Lockwood, the Foundation’s HIV/AIDS Pediatrics Program Director, sharing a touching story about one of the many HIV positive children she has met. Through the blog, the people “on the ground” so to speak, are able to add color to the Join the Journey campaign by sharing their first hand experiences and convey a distinct message of hope and progress to readers.   More than 600 people left comments on President Clinton’s most recent post. Talk about an effective, cheap marketing plan…what a great way to spread the word about the positive changes taking place in Africa while at the same time showing the world how desperate the continent’s situation really is. Very touching and inspiring for this bloggerista.

Africa, Amy Lockwood, Join the Journey, PR Campaigns, President Clinton, The Clinton Foundation

Since I obviously did not write on the day of our move…I am well overdue for a little blogging. For those who missed LiveEarth, you missed some good concerts (and some pretty decent advertising).

Today I decided it was time to embed a video on my blog - I found this one featuring Cameron Diaz on YouTube’s home page. In all honesty, I’ve spent very little time on said site, but I have to admit that I could probably spend a good portion of my day surfing around for random videos.

Not to mention that companies all over the world (including Eastwick client Scalent) have commercials/videos on the site. I think it’s pretty safe to say that YouTube’s direct-to-user capabilities plus (or minus) star power (see Cameron Diaz above) and the more than 16 million unique visitors the site sees a month are THE secret sauce (or not so secret sauce) to effectively spreading any company’s gospel. As we frequently say at Eastwick, “Get on the Bus!”

Global Warming PR, PR Campaigns

Or just a plain old Catch Ya Later Alligator would do. EW is leaving our RWC digs and heading down 101 South to Mountain View where we’ll be Google’s newest neighbors (and hopefully learn how to infiltrate their well-known cafeteria). All the EW bloggeristas (thank you Juan) joined Twitter today (hilarious!). Conversations on Twitter are called Tweets. I’m sorry, but the names alone crack me up. Social networks are going nuts these days. Facebook added all those crazy applications (check out the graffiti one - so cool!), MySpace launched an international site and Google launched in Kenya (ok not social networking related, but still international and exciting). I love that social networks make the world that much smaller. Rachel L., my carpool buddy (and social media guru in training), recently reconnected with a few of her co-workers from a summer job in London. It is so exciting to me that the world is so rapidly becoming more and more connected. Word to the wise - this stuff is addicting (blogging, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, etc.). Before long, I fear I’m going to have to sign up for Online Communities Anonymous or SNA (Social Networks Anonymous)…more on the move tomorrow - must pack.

bloggerista, Facebook, Flickr, for fun, Mountain View, MySpace, Redwood City, Tweets, Twitter

I had trouble finding something inspiring to write about today, so instead of international PR, I’m going to talk (international) vacation… It is a sad day for this traveler, as this summer will be the first of my 23 years without a vacation. This summer, all I’ve got to look forward to is other people taking vacations, thus making my drive to work a lot shorter! Amen.

When I complained to my parents that I wouldn’t be leaving the country (or the state) this summer, they laughed and said, “Welcome to the Real World,” which is something they’ve been telling me quite frequently lately. As I dive deeper into the “Real World,” I can only help but wonder how many working people take a real vacation - unplugged – no blackberry, no laptop and maybe even…gasp… no cell phone. I’m curious – what will my future vacations hold? A Wi-Fi connection at every turn? A week on a desolate island?

In researching trends for a client, Kevin, our second newest intern, and I found that in the age of “wireless,” 70 percent of current and prospective Wi-Fi users report they are more likely to take their notebook computers when traveling on vacation. In my opinion, bringing my laptop on vacation would do nothing but encourage me to check my email. I can already hear the persistent little voice in my head telling me to “Check my email” over and over again.Why take a vacation if you’re going to work? Is it really that much better to check your email in Hawaii than it is at home or at the office? Probably, (stupid question, I know) but with the laptop comes the stress and everything else that vacations are supposed to help you forget. If you can’t unplug on vacation, when can you? Forty-three percent of travelers are expected to stay connected to work, with at least 46 percent checking and returning email. When is enough ENOUGH? I can see it now, our latest addiction …crackberries…Wii-itis…Wi-Fitis.  Avis is now offering Wi-Fi while you drive. And, this just in: wireless + electiricity = WiTricity. Looks like Wi-Fi is the new pink.  

Avis, for fun, General, travel, Uncategorized, vacation, Wi Fi, WiTricity, work

MySpace has launched a Canadian version of the gigantically popular social networking site - get this - available in both English and French. I have to admit that I STILL don’t have a MySpace account, but I’m sure Canadians everywhere will be very happy to have a Canadian-centric version of the site.  MySpace has a lot of Canadian users - about six million - but the site they’ve been using has traditionally been very U.S.-focused.

MySpace Canada joins other international MySpace local sites in the United States, Britain, Japan, France, Germany, Australia, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Latin America - and according to internet tracker comScore Media Metrics, has a global membership list of more than 100 million.

The fact that there are over 100 million people around the world on MySpace is pretty astonishing. Especially since the site was launched in 2003. In fact, it’s making me wonder if I should stop being a loyal Facebook user and switch to MySpace. Lord knows I don’t need two “lifestyle portals” taking my attention away from more important things…like work…and sleep.   

Canada, Facebook, lifestyle portal, MySpace, MySpace Canada

What does a HUGE pair of pants and a mid-size Silicon Valley PR agency have in common? In 2007, Eastwick’s Key Initiatives are all about Thinking BIG - we want to grow our reputation, grow the business and grow opportunities for staff. Part of the reason 20 members of our PR staff are blogging is to demonstrate that our agency is ahead of the curve when it comes to new and interesting approaches to public relations. Another area we want to grow is our international PR relationships. We’ve got clients and partners all over the world - and past clients, including Business Objects, Madge Networks and ILOG, are headquartered outside the U.S.

There’s been a lot of talk about high-tech start-ups staying in Europe instead of relocating to Silicon Valley thanks to the success of companies like Skype. From an employee exchange program to simply promoting our value as an agency, our management team is working hard to fit in those pants.

The Bottom Line: We’re thinking outside the Silicon Valley box. Eastwick is well-known for taking start-ups to the next level and coming soon - we’re bringing our unique flavor across the pond.

Business Objects, Eastwick, ILOG, International PR, Madge Networks, Silicon Valley, Skype