By Andrew Brewer

This past Monday, I got up bright and early and joined close to one hundred of my fellow NBC Universal employees to help clean, restore and beautify Sherman Creek in northern Manhattan. This "Help Clean and Go Green" volunteer project was part of the company's Green Is Universal initiative.

When we arrived at the park at around eight in the morning, our fearless leader, CEO Jeff Zucker, and his family were there to welcome and greet all of us. Jeff then presented a check on behalf of NBC Universal to the New York Restoration Project, our partners in this effort, so that they could continue their work of making New York City a "greener" place to live. I was familiar with the organization's work. Living in New York's East Village, I have seen the NYRP take neglected parks in my neighborhood and work their restorative magic -- turning eyesores into wonderful places for all to enjoy.

After the ceremony, "Team NBCU" got to work. I spent the morning loading perennials onto a truck with the help of cast members from 30 Rock. I planted greenery with WNBC's Chris Cimino and Rob Morrison, and met and worked with a number of my fellow co-workers to clear almost 3,500 square feet of overgrown garbage-strewn waterfront. It was not only extremely rewarding to work with my colleagues from various departments toward a common goal -- it was also a whole lot of fun! I couldn't help but think through projects like this we not only were making the world a more beautiful place to live but also, through teamwork and getting to know one another, we were making our company a much better place to work. I mean, where else are you going to get a chance to "network" while holding a pick ax or pushing a wheelbarrow filled with mulch?

As a Vice President at NBC Universal and an employee of the company for over two decades, I've always been proud of our company, its history and its shows, but Monday morning I found myself particularly proud of the Peacock as we worked together to make Manhattan, and this earth, a better and more beautiful place to live.

I would urge other corporations and individuals to do what they can at this critical juncture to pitch in and help heal the planet. It takes a lot of little gestures on the part of both people and companies to make a big difference. Come join NBC Universal as we take steps to protect our environment and GO GREEN!

Andrew Brewer
http://www.greenisuniversal.com

We've already learned that shutting down your computer is a great way to save energy... but it's just the beginning. Take the next step and use your mobile phone to help protect Mother Earth. Sign up for NBCU's Mobile Green Alerts. It's simple, efficient, and a great way to stay green while on the go! It also helps you stay connected to greenisuniversal.com when you have shut down your computer to save energy.

Sign up for NBCU's Green Alerts and receive text messages with tips on how you can do your part for the environment. From changing a light bulb to recycling old clothes, these tips make it easier to give back to the planet no matter where you are. Living green has never been so easy!

To sign up, text GREENU to 46833 with your mobile phone. Standard Text Messaging Rates Apply. Or sign up online here at GreenIsUniversal.com/being_green.php - The form is on the lower left.

What's SCI FI's favorite planet? Caprica? Mongo? Nope. We're casting our vote for the big blue marble, the third rock from the sun, the Galactica's fabled 13th colony of Kobol - or, as you Terrans like to call it, Earth.

For the week of November 5-11, we'll bring you our best "green" films and shows, such as special episodes of Flash Gordon and Eureka. Our Nature Unleashed movies will give you on a front-row seat to the ways that our dangerously changing planet likes to get even with us: fires, avalanches, volcanoes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. (Tidal waves can't be far behind, we figure.) The week will wrap up with a marathon of environmental cautionary tales, including Man-Thing, Solar Attack and Meltdown.

Why are we showing you visions of a messed-up planet? To wake you up and spur you into action. We'll be posting all week about the ways our world could get screwed up and what we can do to stop it. SCI FI Weekly will look at movies that might be our future if we don't wise up - from The Horror of Party Beach to Zardoz - and the animals that could take revenge when we're weak and on the ropes. (You might think twice about breaking out the Raid™ the next time you see an ant in your kitchen. Bugs hold grudges.)

Our tech blog, DVice, will look for solutions to our world's myriad problems - from alternative fuels and carbon-footprint reduction methods to energy scavengers, giant microwaves and corn starch. That's right, corn starch.

SCIFI.COM Staff
http://blog.scifi.com/tech/

If you're one of the millions of Americans turning over a new, green leaf in their personal lives -- show us!

In collaboration with MSNBC.com, we're collecting videos, pictures and stories of all the ways people are becoming aware, taking action, and getting results.

You can upload your stories and images, and see some great green ideas already at work in people's lives here.

As a child of the Great Plains I've long had a personal connection to the virtues of clean air, open space and the benefits of nature in its most primal state. I suppose that upbringing made me an environmentalist before the phrase was popular.

My career took me to big cities and developing countries where the effect of population, transportation, manufacturing and consumption altered the environment in a way that was appalling to my country boy memories.

So I was constantly finding a way back into the wilderness or on to the prairie or into the mountains somewhere in the world where my spirit could be refreshed.

As a personal gesture, that was helpful but I knew it was not enough so I began to find new ways of expressing my own determination to do something. In our family we have 4 hybrid cars; we've changed all the light bulbs to the more energy efficient models; we've installed solar panels for hot water and even for some general heating at our Montana ranch; we re-cycle and carry tote bags to the grocery store or re-use plastic bags while shopping.

I am a fanatic about packaging materials. Many small items in convenience stores have packaging worth much more than the product.

I've been known to write the companies responsible to say, "Is this really necessary?" Plastic card keys at hotels? I turn mine back in at the end of the stay and say, "You can re-use this, right?"

These are all very small gestures in the big picture but they do add up and they help keep me focused on the larger picture, which is much more daunting.

Global warming is one of the greatest challenges of my life-time, at once daunting and stimulating. Daunting because of the consequences. Stimulating, even exciting, because of the opportunities and intellectual frontiers that are being opened.

Think of the green world as a vast new universe, just waiting to be explored and settled in a responsible fashion.

Be Luke Skywalker, not Darth Vader.

Tom Brokaw
GreenIsUniversal.com

Thomas Kostigen, Character Road Trip on USA

On November 6th at 8/7c on USA, there's a special green edition of "Character Road Trip" featuring Thomas M. Kostigen, co-author of New York Times bestseller "The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet, One Small Step at a Time."

Here are a few simple green tips from Thomas' book. Enjoy!