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TOLEDO, Ohio — The statement “think locally, act globally” comes to life in Toledo thanks to First Solar, Inc. and the Toledo Zoo. World-renowned Antarctic conservationist Robert Swan will be speaking at the Toledo Zoo on Thursday, June 23 at 5:30 p.m. in the Indoor Theatre of the Museum of Science. Thanks to community sponsor First Solar, Inc., Swan’s appearance is free and open to the public. His presentation will focus on the importance of utilizing renewable energy sources to slow the melting of sea ice. There will also be a brief open question and answer period. Swan, the first person to walk both the North and South Poles, has committed his life to preserving the pristine tundra of the world’s southernmost continent, Antarctica. To assist that goal, he formed the 2041 Foundation whose mission is to inspire, stimulate and connect organizations and communities who seek to protect our world and create a more sustainable, clean energy future. The name of the organization came from the year that the 50 year old world treaty protecting the unowned land of Antarctica will run out. The foundation organizes yearly trips to the South Pole to show participants first-hand the effects of climate change in order to enlighten, empower and engage leaders from every area of the globe to work together to sustain the natural world now and in the future. “We are excited to host committed conservationist Robert Swan at the Toledo Zoo. His mission and ours go hand-in-hand. We hope that the public will not only enjoy hearing about his polar expeditions but be inspired to make small changes in their own lives to help protect and preserve our natural world for the future of all creatures,” said Toledo Zoo executive director, Jeff Sailer. ”First Solar is proud to support Robert Swan and the 2041 Foundation in their mission to foster awareness of the impacts of climate change and the importance of renewable energy in addressing the energy-water nexus,” said Alex Heard, Senior Vice President, Global Technical Services. “Never has it been more imperative to reduce our reliance on hydrocarbons and preserve our planet’s precious resources. By decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels and water-intensive thermal electricity generation, solar energy is providing a solution to water scarcity and creating a cleaner and more secure energy future.” http://2041.com/ http://www.ted.com/talks/robert_swan_let_s_save_the_last_pristine_continent?language=en