California Tomorrow festival opens UN World Environment Day June 2, 2005

Thousands to Attend S.F. Festival at Opening Ceremony For U.N. World Environment Day Conference May 25, 2005 'GREEN' CARS, SOLAR INVENTIONS, FREE ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD AND MORE HIGHLIGHT THE CALIFORNIA TOMORROW FESTIVAL AT CIVIC CENTER PLAZA ON JUNE 2 SAN FRANCISCO (May 25, 2005) -- Mayors from the largest cities on the planet will convene in San Francisco for United Nation?s World Environment Day conference June 1-5 to adopt historic accords on sustainable urban living. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom will preside over special opening ceremonies at Civic Center Plaza at 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 2, a free public celebration to kick off both the conference and the California Tomorrow Festival, the public?s chance to experience first-hand cutting edge environmental solutions. ?The California Tomorrow festival is an exciting display of California technology that will define a new way of ?green? living,? said Carl Bendix, organizer of the event. It features free concerts, entertainment, food, and the newest innovations in cutting edge green technology: hydrogen fuel, solar power, wind power, biofuels, geothermal energy, hydropower, people power, alternative fuel vehicles and green architecture. ?This is a remarkable opportunity for everyone in the Bay Area to come see and touch the future,? Bendix said. ?Plus, it will be a heck of a lot of fun.? Featured artists at the ceremonies include Ozomatli, Vinyl, Hamsa Lila, Samantha Stollenwerck and the Ritual, and the San Francisco Girls Choir. The World Environment Day-California Tomorrow Festival opening ceremonies will welcome more than 60 mayors from the world?s largest and most environmentally significant cities, including London, Zurich, Buenos Aires, Jakarta, Delhi, Kabul, and Manila. The ceremonies include special entertainment ranging from the Endangered Species puppeteers and the Earthcapades, to BioDiesel America?s ?Veggie Van.? Speakers include Mayor Newsom, California Cabinet Secretary Terry Tamminen, and environmentalist Julia Butterfly Hill. The California Tomorrow Festival and the opening ceremonies of the World Environment Day conference at Civic Center Plaza are free to the public. After the ceremony, the participating mayors will begin meetings to establish policy that will lead to legislation on vital environmental issues. The conference concludes June 5 with the mayors signing seven Urban Environmental Accords covering urban design, transportation, energy, open space, recycling, health, and water. ?This will be the most important United Nations conference to focus on urban environment,? said Mayor Newsom, who is the host of the conference. ?The accords that we mayors sign will leave a legacy that advances environmental wellbeing for cities around the world.? The California Tomorrow Festival exhibits will be on display all day in front of City Hall in Civic Center Plaza. They showcase California as the global source for renewable energy technology products and services, while highlighting the companies that are leading the way in developing innovative solutions to global environmental challenges. More than 60 companies will be exhibiting, such as Shell Solar featuring cutting edge photovoltaic systems, the California Fuel Cell Partnership with major auto manufacturers showcasing fuel cell and hybrid vehicles with cars represented from Nissan, Honda, GM, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, etc. In addition to the Zap Cars, Smart Cars and electric vehicles on display, a major installation from the Climate Group will display global devastation resulting from climate change. Speaker Line-Up: Mayor Gavin Newsom (9:30 AM) Terry Tamminen (9:45 AM) Josh Tickell, King of Bio-Diesel, (10:00) Julia Butterfly Hill (10:15 AM) CC Chan, Environmental Engineer (10:30) Artist Line-Up: OZOMATLI (11:00 AM-1PM) HAMSA LILA (Lunch with Hamsa) SAMANTHA AND THE RITUAL (2PM) VINYL (4:00 PM)