First Annual Blue Planet Summit Addressed the Urgency of Ending Oil Dependency and Featured Participants Including Environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Climatologist Dr. Stephen H. Schneider and Former C.I.A. Head R. James Woolsey

HONOLULU, April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The first annual global Blue Planet Summit (BPS 2008) convened a world class team of 75 participants in Hawaii from April 3-5 for an intensive dialogue on clean, renewable energy and the environmental, economic and political imperatives demanding immediate and collaborative action on a global level. With an aim to effect substantive, positive change in world energy culture, BPS 2008 invited renowned leaders and experts from across diverse realms, including environmentalist and free market energy advocate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Nobel Prize-winning climatologist Dr. Stephen H. Schneider, National Geographic Society explorer/cultural anthropologist Elizabeth Kapu'uwailani Lindsey, former C.I.A. head R. James Woolsey and Bullitt Foundation CEO and Earth Day founder Denis Hayes.

"It was inspiring to hear the exchange of ideas among people who have dedicated their lives to addressing this critically important issue," said BPS 2008 Executive Director Stephen Reed, a veteran film and television producer and entertainment executive who will soon be announcing future broadcast dates for a nationwide PBS special and programming for international television markets produced at the Summit. "Freedom from oil dependency requires political will and leadership from every arena -- the cooperation of government, NGOs, the private sector and the public at large. In that spirit, we're thrilled that BPS 2008 was a challenging, solutions-driven forum that fostered hope about what's possible with a concerted call to action."

The unprecedented 3-day event was presented by the Honolulu-based non- profit Blue Planet Foundation, established by visionary philanthropist and computer and video game pioneer Henk Rogers, who is committed to helping end the world's dependence on carbon-based fuel. The inaugural BPS, set at JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, was the first zero-footprint, 100% carbon neutral event in Hawaii.

Throughout, BPS 2008 used the native Hawaiian legacy of sustainability as a template for the clean energy model it is promoting globally. The conference also focused on the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, a first-of-its-kind state/Federal partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy that aims to have at least 70% of Hawaii's power come from clean energy by 2030. The state's vast natural resources -- and its vulnerability to supply interruption as the world's most remote island chain -- make it an ideal microcosm for developing and evaluating the efficacy of various energy technologies including wave, wind, solar and geothermal power.

"I'm convinced," said Stephen Reed, "that 100% clean energy, not just 70%, is achievable for Hawaii within a generation if we work together." Henk Rogers added, "Blue Planet will continue to help ensure the promise of a clean energy future, in Hawaii and worldwide. We look forward to the second annual BPS in May 2009."

For more information, log on to http://www.blueplanetsummit.org