DNC Denver 2008 Podcasts

The Unconventional Women Roundtable, which took place during the 2008 Democratic National Convention, was a historic symposium uniting 3,000 women, advancing their political leadership and participation.

This podcast episode, To the Polls, was the first session of the day. It featured a special opening presentation, Remember the Ladies: Dialogue Between John and Abigail Adams , delivered by Sheila Johnson and Swanee Hunt.

Participants:
Debbie Stabenow (photo), Maria Echaveste, Dusti Gurule, Swanee Hunt, Page Gardner

This podcast was originally recorded on August 25, 2008.

Roundtable Topic: The New Energy Economy: Corporate and Community Initiatives in the New Energy Economy

Roundtable Focus:
State and local leadership have largely led the way in implementing on-the-ground solutions to address global climate change and to diversify the energy economy. For this reason, this session focuses on innovative actions at the state and local level in particular, while incorporating the need to build a more effective partnership at the federal level in what is now increasingly an international climate reality.

Participants:
Vijay Vaitheeswaran, Dan Arvizu, Mark Falcone, Van Jones (photo), Charles Maxwell, Federico Peña, Carl Pope, Jon Ratner, Rhone Resch, Heather Stephenson

This podcast was originally recorded on August 26, 2008.

Roundtable Topic: The New Energy Economy: The Government’s Role in the New Energy Economy

Roundtable Focus:
State and local leadership have largely led the way in implementing on-the-ground solutions to address global climate change and to diversify the energy economy. For this reason, this session focuses on innovative actions at the state and local level in particular, while incorporating the need to build a more effective partnership at the federal level in what is now increasingly an international climate reality.

Participants:
Vijay Vaitheeswaran (photo), Sen. Jeff Bingaman, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Rep. Ed Markey, Greg Nickels, Gov. Bill Ritter Jr., Sen. Ken Salazar

This podcast was originally recorded on August 26, 2008.

The Rocky Mountain Roundtable Energy and Climate Change sessions took a break midday to hear from keynote speaker Sir Nicholas Stern, former chief economist at The World Bank, and author of the upcoming book Blueprint for a Safer Planet.

This podcast episode features introductory remarks by David Potter, Chairman and Non-Executive Director of Camco.

This podcast was originally recorded on August 26, 2008.

Roundtable Topic: The Business of Climate Change

Roundtable Focus:
The global challenge of climate change has moved to the top of the boardroom agenda as businesses strive to balance their economic interests while recognizing the global imperative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A full range of challenges and opportunities facing business leaders will be explored in this session, regarding capitalization, research and development, technology transfer, the policy regime, and the emerging carbon market.

Participants:
Rick Stengel, Paul Cicio, Dan Hendrix, Mike Kaplan (photo), Dr. Jeff Kenna, Rose McKinney James, Dan Reicher, Frances Beinecke, Leo Gerard, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Navin Nayak, John Podesta, Dan Sperling

This podcast was originally recorded on August 26, 2008.

Delegates on the floor of the Democratic National Convention react to Barack Obama, and speeches by Joe Biden former President Bill Clinton.

On August 24, the Sculpture Park at the Denver Performing Arts Complex was transformed into Green Frontier Fest and New Energy Station. In addition to more than 100 green living exhibits, eco-carnival games and a full-sized solar energy home, special guests included Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Director of Colorado Governor’s Energy Office Tom Plant, Daryl Hannah, and Van Jones.

Daryl Hannah, an environmentalist and actress who has appeared in more than 60 films and television series, has received several awards recognizing her contributions to protecting the environment, including an Artivist Award for Environmental Preservation, a Water Quality Award for Environmental Activism and the Environmental Media’s Ongoing Commitment Award, among others. A part-time Telluride, CO resident, Hannah also has a sustainability blog, drives a biodiesel car and owns a solar-powered home built from green materials.

Also on hand at the event was Van Jones, the founder and president of Green For All, whose mission is to build an inclusive, green economy strong enough to lift millions of people out of poverty. Jones is an advocate for “green-collar jobs and opportunities” for disadvantaged people and is committed to the fight against climate change. In 2007, Van Jones worked successfully with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as several others, to pass the Green Jobs Act of 2007. This legislation authorized funding to train 35,000 people a year in “green-collar jobs.”

Roundtable Topic: Global Poverty

Roundtable Focus:
International public opinion research has demonstrated a sharp and widespread decline in global opinion of the United States. Parallel domestic opinion research demonstrates that there is broad, bipartisan consensus that America’s flagging reputation is contrary to its global security and economic interests. This roundtable explores steps a new Administration can pursue to enhance public diplomacy and rebuild America’s reputation in the world.

Participants:
Tom Brokaw, Madeleine Albright (photo), Richard Haas, Amb. Richard Holbrooke, Jessica Mathews, Vin Weber

This podcast was originally recorded on August 27, 2008.

Barack Obama accepts the nomination for President at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, August 28, 2008. Audio courtesy of the DNC 2008.

Senator Joe Biden accepts the nomination for Vice President at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, August 27, 2008. Audio courtesy of the DNC 2008.