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Global Businessman Launches New Campaign to Help Establish Polar Bears as Face of Global Warming
Striking Wildlife Imagery by Oakwood Worldwide Chairman Howard Ruby Shows Global Warming's Negative Effects on the Arctic; Ruby's Commitment to Climate Change Awareness Sparks Multi-Million Dollar Oakwood Initiative to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Create Educational Outreach Program
| Source: Oakwood Worldwide
LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- April 18, 2007 -- Ewire -- Howard Ruby, founder and chairman
of Oakwood Worldwide, is launching a new public campaign around Earth Day
to help bring a recognizable face -- the polar bear -- to the global
warming debate. The new campaign will kick off with several public
photographic and educational programs during the South Coast Earth Day
Festival in Santa Barbara.
A life-long outdoor photographer with more than 60 years of experience,
Ruby will premiere his powerful photos, which show polar bears in their
natural Arctic environment, in one of the largest global warming exhibits
ever displayed in the world. The exhibit will spotlight 70 prints,
extending 600 feet or almost two football fields, in downtown Santa
Barbara. His dramatic images will also appear on 125 banners lining the
city's State Street from Wednesday, April 18 through Sunday, April 22.
The wildlife imagery marks the inauguration of the polar bear as an
important symbol of the drastic impacts of climate change on the Arctic,
one of Earth's most environmentally-sensitive regions. Ruby has traveled
to the Arctic numerous times and taken hundreds of pictures of the bears.
One of his images depicts a lone bear searching for food on nearly melted
sea ice. The photos capture diminishing ice flows, which are critical to
the mating and hunting practices, and the continued survival of polar
bears.
"After witnessing first-hand the impending loss of the polar bears' habitat
and food source, I realized I could make a difference in two unique ways,
through my images and through my company. Scientific and technical data
can illustrate the impact of global warming, but are difficult for people
to relate to. Through my photography, I hope to breathe life into this
important issue by representing the plight of these beautiful, endearing
creatures. The polar bear is really the canary in the coal mine for global
warming. If we don't take steps now to reduce greenhouse gases and slow
down the warming trend, we will lose them," said Ruby. "And as chairman of
a global company, I recognized that Oakwood Worldwide could also make a
difference by implementing far-reaching green practices."
As a leading global businessman, Ruby has guided Oakwood through its
47-year evolution to become the world's largest provider of temporary
furnished apartments throughout the United States, United Kingdom and Asia.
His personal commitment to this cause has inspired the company to launch
the Oakwood Worldwide Green Initiative through three parallel programs:
For the full release please follow this link:
http://www.ewire.com/display.cfm/Wire_ID/3840