Beyond being the third day of Boulder's groundbreaking self-imposed carbon tax, Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007, was momentous for the local environmentalist community and the city as a whole. It marked Paradigm Nouveau Enterprises' first Global Warming Expo, a Boulder Theater event sure to be repeated in various forms throughout the country (by both PNE and imitators). It was a mix of local artists, regional officials and nationally renown scientists blended into inspiring display of A-V advocacy that left many smiling faces, presumably due to the unbounded optimism radiating from an otherwise grim subject.

Upon hearing about the Expo, my first inclination was to confine myself to the West End that evening - a feeling born of deep desire not to be associated with such a Boulder cliche as this Inconvenient Truthy idea seemed to be. But as I learned more, I found the program diverged significantly from its mainstream cousin, and, I was drawn in by the juxtaposition of entertainment and undiluted science ... thankfully so because I rather enjoyed the whole of the event.

A social hour of mingling around the bar and various exhibits (casual conversations by most and ambitious networking by others) preceded the formal show and set a comfortable tone that would echo throughout the night in persistent cheers and jeers of the packed house. Audrey Levine, PNE CEO and mastermind behind the Expo, then got the real action going with a brief personal account that provided context for the night to come.

Audrey had multitasked over the previous few hours, so elegantly balancing the coordination of details with entertainment of guests that one had to wonder if it were the yoga or her embroidered silk top that kept her looking the CEO part. The show that followed indicated it was more that everything was well-prepared: she had gathered the right people and was confident in their abilities, yet the other stuff must have partially contributed to this air of effortlessness.

It was, however, at the end of the lead act that I was thinking she may be on to something. Singer-songwriter Beth Moger had just performed a duet with Julia Emory that seemed to touch both the heart of the matter at hand and that of the collective audience. I don't want to get too emotional here, but when the lyrics asked that I cry for mother earth, I did briefly consider doing so. It may have been as much the thought that such a prescient song was coming from a Shining Mountain student as it was the song itself, but I listened to every word this high schooler had to say.

This five minute segment captured the essence of Audrey, or at least Audrey's Expo. She found some like-minded cohorts and got them excited about coming together. They worked to make science interesting without resorting to the sensationalism of a cherry-picker on stage. They packaged it with a local flair that entranced the audience. But most of all, they kept to a unifying theme of enunciating their cause and then taking action to place the future of our children and their planet at the forefront.

Face, a sextet a capella group from Boulder, also got on stage for a few songs and had the older crowd clapping to their beat-boxing, boy-bandy vibe. Each member was equally comfortable in the lead and extremely talented, but I'll let those of you who haven't seen the show find out for yourselves (definitely worth a look).

Transitioning into the presentation segment, emcee Joseph DiMasi told the story of global climate change as we all [ought] know it, so to me the more interesting story was how he came to be involved in such a production. Formally trained as a laser-physicist and engineer, Joseph recently decided that it was time to apply his skills to a cause in which he truly believed; the natural step was solar. Just six months later, he's on the road to creating a photovoltaic cell with over 10x the efficiency of those in traditional panels. And within two to three years, there will be competitively priced solar energy thanks to work that is being done right here, right now, on a whim. In a conversation after the event, Joseph told me that "if you make a commitment to an ideal and start walking, the path will show itself."

Needless to say, I thought that worth getting down on paper.

Subsequent acts included the award winning documentary "Kilowatt Ours," policy discussions by Tom Plant (director of the state's energy management) and Will Toor (County Commissioner) and a discussion panel. Each entertaining in its own way, they were unified by a strict dedication to presenting the incontrovertible facts of our situation and actionable steps toward a solution.

In true form, the night ended with a performance. This coming from Brie Berman, daughter of producer Penny Berman, who was accompanied by a few members of Face for the finale. In most other contexts, family events seem somewhat self-serving, but this nod to our future and interconnection was about as wholesome a conclusion as one could imagine (not to mention that Brie can sing).

When all was said and done, I came away with the thought that even if the world doesn't catch up, at least we'll be taking action on our Kyoto goals. There was a twinge of that Bubble pride for which Boulder is often condemned, but I guess I just don't see arrogance as nearly so egregious a crime as ignorance. And we're gonna justify that pride because we aren't simply relying on a few progressive politicians ... we're the businesses, researchers and community members who make policy happen.

So, now I'm thinking that if only I could remember to meditate, my work my take off too.

An quick interview with Audrey Levine, CEO and founder of PNE:

K: How much effort, time and money is invested in the course of putting together a 3-hour presentation with such great production value?

A: [The monetary investment was] approximately $10,000 of PNE's humanitarian contribution. However, additional value of the evening from generous contributions by organizations such as etown and Whole Foods, was over $12,000. And that excludes the man hours of a dozen volunteers. The bottom line is the great production value of the Global Warming Expo was not a correlate of the money that went into it. Yes, it takes money, but great productions are more a matter of heart, generosity and community.

K: Boulder's culture is very conducive to these types of shows, but your blend of entertainment and education could succeed in a far less receptive environment. What lessons might you export to those in the real world to facilitate the success of similar events?

A: The lesson, which was part of the original design of the Expo, is that entertainment and art are central to modern day culture. And scientific/educational data can successfully be introduced to the mass public through the media to which they relate. The Expo's original intention was to be able to take "the show on the road." Boulder was a test drive.

K: It looks like PNE has developed some other big projects of late. What precipitated the company's creation and how long have you been at it?

A: Ahhh... This is really the heart of the matter, which probably would be an article in and of itself. The short answer is this: After the age of 15 - remember at the Expo I shared I was in a tornado - I dedicated my life to make a contribution. PNE, which has officially been in existence a little over 2 years, is the culmination of 30 years of training and developing myself and working on projects like The Hunger Project to make a difference in my lifetime.

K: And, what's the next big project on the PNE horizon?

A: Well ... I'm taking on global warming. What's bigger than that?

K: Touche. You put a good deal of money toward the many causes that align with the PNE mission, can you offer a rudimentary account of your primary sources of revenue and perhaps some ways that you maintain enough efficiency to keep laying out the cash?

A: During my adult lifetime I've generated a charitable fund that has allowed me the initial capital necessary to support PNE's mission and work. Also, I am investing capital in renewable technology with the intention to generate a profit that will continue to forward our work and mission. Basically investing in the future. I'm counting on a future that is no longer oil dependent, but rather relies upon clean sources of energy.

K: As more and more socially-progressive businesses succeed, mainstream media has gotten very excited about the for-profit public service model, but have you struggled with any conflicting interests in bettering the world and staying in the black?

A: No.

K: I suppose that's about as definitive as it gets. I'll let you end with a PNE lesson that I find particularly compelling ... what do you see as the role of personal betterment in improving the world around you?

A: Again, this is another question that's at the heart of the matter of all PNE's work that could have an article written exclusively about it. The short answer is this: One of my mentors is a man by the name of Mahatma Gandhi. He said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." I take him literally. It starts with me. I live being the change I wish to see, and I invite others to do so too.

-- Kevin Hotaling, 4.05.2007