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**MEDIA ADVISORY**

Views from the American Heartland:

Diverse Midwestern Voices on Copenhagen

Local Representatives Will Host Briefing for Journalists Live from the Bella Center

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK – Join several of the more than four dozen representatives of Midwestern utilities, cities, agencies, policy makers, youth, and non-governmental organizations currently in Copenhagen, Denmark, attending the United Nations Climate Summit (COP15) for a live webcast on Friday, December 11 to hear what’s happened thus far in the first week of the convention and what is likely to happen in the second week. Listen to the stories of this diverse group and what they each think this international event holds for climate action in the U.S. in 2010.

“At least 113 heads of state are expected to arrive next week to underscore their countries’ commitment to tackling climate change and ushering in a new energy economy. This is the largest number ever, suggesting that there will at least be a political agreement, if not a legally-binding deal coming out of Copenhagen,” said Rolf Nordstrom, Executive Director of the Great Plains Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota, who is one of the Midwesterners attending COP15.

Private companies and other organizations attending include: American Electric Power, Farmers Union (North Dakota), Great Plains Institute, Minnesota Representative Kate Knuth (DFL-New Brighton) and the Will Steger Foundation. These organizations will host a briefing on how the Copenhagen negotiations are going and what they see happening during the conference’s last week and beyond.

Sarah Mullkoff, Michigan Youth Delegate with the Will Steger Foundation stated: “Our Midwest youth delegation is part of the international youth climate movement that includes over 500 youth from the U.S. Through education, grassroots organizing and interactive communications, we are translating the complex policy negotiations for our peers and communities back home and integrating the opportunities the Midwest holds in the transition to a clean energy economy with the energy and moral imperative that defines our generation.”

What: Briefing on how Copenhagen negotiations are proceeding in week 1 and prospects for week 2 and beyond.

When: Friday, December 11, 2009, 11:30 a.m. CST, 18:30 pm at the Bella Center, Asger Jorn Room

Who: Representatives of industry, government, and non-governmental organizations in Copenhagen for COP15

Rolf Nordstrom, Executive Director, Great Plains Institute, Minneapolis, Minn.

Sarah Mullkoff, Michigan Youth Delegate, Will Steger Foundation, Lansing, Mich.

American Electric Power

Minnesota State Representative Kate Knuth, D-New Brighton

Robert Carlson, North Dakota Farmers Union, Jamestown, North Dakota

Why: To share the diverse perspectives of Midwesterners present at this historic international event

How: Click here to be taken to the webcast—you will need an updated version of Windows Media Player to view the webcast. Questions may be asked before or during the webcast by emailing Rolf Nordstrom, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please identify yourself in the email by stating your name and affiliation. For troubleshooting please contact Sarah Wash, (001) 612-278-7158.