Edward Norton (awesome actor), Gavin Newsom (dreamy mayor of San Francisco who does some awesome things and some questionable things), and others (who I can only assume to be awesome) are in Washington, D.C. today to speak about how green building policies can save on energy costs and prevent global warming.   From the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming (awesome committee),

The building sector is responsible for 48 percent of all heat-trapping emissions, and it is estimated that 76 percent of all electricity generated by U.S. power plants goes to operate buildings. As energy prices rise — increasing the costs of cooling, heating and construction — green building has become a popular mantra for homeowners, corporations and environmentalists alike.

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Margaret Cho has had a huge influence on my career. Her candid discussions on self image, her fearless energy, and of course her immigrant mom impressions (I too have an adorable immigrant Mom that makes her way into many of my jokes) have always inspired me. After I read “I’m the One that I Want” I was officially a huge fan. That book bluntly and beautifully examined the racial and size prejudices in Hollywood.

Check out this clip from the “I’m the One that I Want” show:

Not only an artist but also an activist, Cho recently received the First Amendment Award from the ACLU of Southern California, and the Intrepid Award from the

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As Beijing prepares to host the 2008 Olympics, the Save Darfur Coalition encouraged activists to protest when the official Olympic torch arrived in San Francisco yesterday. They want China to use its leverage to persuade the Sudanese government to allow into Darfur the full protection force outlined by UN Resolution 1769. Earlier this month, Save Darfur Coalition released this video to encourage support for their protest:

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March 29 is Earth Hour Day, and cities and businesses around the world will be “lights out” for one hour in order to raise awareness about global climate change. If you’ve done a Google search this afternoon, you’ll notice that the screen is “blacked out” in honor of Earth Hour. I wrote about Earth Hour earlier in the month - but today is the day! - so here is the update reposted below as a reminder to do your part, and turn off your lights between 8pm and 9pm this evening.

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If you haven’t come across the Youth Media Blog-a-thon sponsored by Wiretap and YO! yet, it’s some pretty moving stuff that is worth the read. This month’s subject is violence, and young bloggers are engaging with their readers on how violence impacts their lives and their communities.   WireTap contributing editor Jamilah King kicked off the blog with a saddening story about the murder of her 15-year-old sister:

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The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. This week we celebrated some of our own favorite top 10 bloggers who work night and day to provide us up-to-date info on films, literature, and feminist news. Don’t miss these exciting and informative blogs, as well as some of our most popular stories of the week.

Katie:

“La Misma Luna Under the Same Moon,” Not the Same Old Movie

Top 5 Eco-Friendly Gadgets for Under $50

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Nicole:

Top 10 Literary and Book Blogs

NBC11 First Wind Powered TV Station

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Giulia:

Top 10 Feminist Blogs

Horton: The New Mascot for Pro-Life

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Gina:

Top 10 Film Blogs

Top 10 Films I Would See If I Was At SXSW

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Kerry:

Our Pharmaceutically Fouled Water Supply

Top 7 New Sins Against God’s Green Earth

Beginning March 7th, NBC11 of the San Francisco Bay area became the first television station in the United States to be powered entirely by wind. Using these wind farms for 100 percent of their electricity is part of the studio’s “EcoLogic” campaign, designed to show employees, local businesses and viewers alike that they too can improve their energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint on the environment.

“NBC11 kicked off the campaign internally in January with an appeal to employees to reduce electricity consumption by simply turning off unnecessary lighting and shutting down computers and equipment when not in use.

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Google and Earth Hour are working together to encourage cities and businesses around the world to power down for one hour in order to raise awareness about global climate change. Structures like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Sears Tower, as well as thousands of businesses and individual homes, will be in total darkness as a part of Earth Hour’s mission to show coordinated global action for climate change solutions.

“If we see the same participation levels around the globe that we did in Sydney, then we can anticipate more than 30 million people involved,” said Andy Ridley, Earth Hour’s executive director.

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The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Check out our most popular articles of the week on a variety of subjects, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites.

Katie:

Helen Keller & Anne Sullivan Surfaces 120 Years Later

Hallelujah For American Idol, Jeff Buckley and Leonard Cohen

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Nicole:

Google Gives Free Voicemail to San Francisco Homeless

Gabriel Garcia Marquez Turnes 80

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Giulia:

Patrick Swayze’s Cancer Battle

Koby Bryant’s PSA for ASR

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Gina:

Reese’s Empowering Bracelet

“Chop Shop” - Dreams In a Place of Despair

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Kerry:

Bamboo Laptop: Will Apple Be Green with Envy?

The Explosive Truth About Twinkies

Google has teamed up with the City of San Francisco to help hundreds of homeless people get back on their feet by providing them with a free lifelong phone number and voicemail service. Project Homeless Connect will allow homeless individuals looking for employment to be able to put a callback number on a job application, and to give health clinics a phone number to receive test results over the phone. This free service will also allow for contacts from friends and family who might not be able to get in touch otherwise.

“How do you communicate as a homeless individual? ” SF Mayor Gavin Newsom asked. “How do you expect your life to turn around if you can’t even get information or if someone can’t even get in touch with you?”

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