Tread Lightly and Staples Foundation Host International Video Conference in Commemoration of WED.

June 13, 2011 - PRLog -- Toronto, Canada (June 3, 2011) – TakingITGlobal (TIG), a multilingual online learning community created by and for youth, in partnership with the Staples Foundation, the charitable division of Staples Inc., are pleased to announce the success of their most recent international video conference held to commemorate World Environment Day (WED).

World Environment Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness and mobilize people to take responsibility for their world and become agents of change. TIG and the Staples Foundation took the opportunity to host a live video conference for 11 classrooms from across North America, Taiwan and Russia.

The conference featured guest speakers who shared their personal experiences on environmental sustainability with the students: Chris Linder, an award-winning photographer and oceanographer, and Rob Stewart, director of the highly acclaimed documentary, Sharkwater.  Known for their thought-provoking work and ability to inspire, both guests provided insight into using one’s career as a platform to inform and motivate people to action by bringing environmental issues to light. Looking forward to the event, Chris Linder said, "I'm thrilled to share my experiences as an environmental photojournalist for World Environment Day and look forward to hearing questions from students around the world—thanks to the Tread Lightly video conferencing program."  Reflecting on the experience, Rob Stewart stated, “I love the connectivity between educators and youth that Tread Lightly’s video conferences provide. This is a fantastic program that engages children to learn about our impact on the earth and to get involved in conserving the ecosystems we depend on for survival.”  

The occasion provided students and teachers with the opportunity to discuss how they can become active participants in changing their world through an interactive online forum.   “It is inspiring to see how passionate young people are about the future of the environment, especially on World Environment Day,” says Jennifer Corriero, Executive Director and Co-Founder of TakingITGlobal. “Moreover, it is exciting to see the innovations of today’s technological age being utilized to draw individuals together from every corner of the globe for the sole purpose of finding ways to positively impact the world at large.”

---------------------

About Tread Lightly

Tread Lightly is a free initiative offered by TakingITGlobal and Staples Foundation that provides educators and youth with online tools and resources that explore climate change issues at local, national and international levels and inspire environmental responsibility and stewardship.  The program is available in nine languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, Swedish, Portuguese, Norwegian, Danish and Dutch. Learn more at www.treadlightly.me.

About Staples Foundation

Founded in 2002, Staples Foundation has contributed to nearly 1,000 global, national and local charities that provide educational opportunities and job skills for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth. Staples Foundation builds lasting relationships with world-class organizations including TakingITGlobal, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Ashoka, Earth Force and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City.  The foundation is the private charitable arm of Staples, Inc. and is an integral component of Staples Soul, which recognizes the connection between long-term business success and the impact Staples has on associates, communities and the planet. For more information about the foundation and Staples Soul, please visit www.staplesfoundation.org and www.staples.com/soul.