Go Green Radio

Today we’ll talk to Rodney Williams, Director of Energy and Sustainability for the Newark public school district, a.k.a. Newark Board of Education (NBOE). In recent years, Rodney has led the largest school district in New Jersey to achieve prestigious and rigorous awards in school sustainability. Tune in and listen to his pro tips that can be replicated in school districts across the U.S.!

In November 2022, voters in the Golden State will have a chance to enact legislation to address plastic pollution. Not surprisingly, the ballot measure faces fierce opposition. Today’s guest is the Director of Policy & External Affairs, The Nature Conservancy, CA, Jay Ziegler. Tune in as we discuss the provisions of the ballot measure, why CA state lawmakers have failed to take action previously, and what voters need to know before heading to the polls.

Some of the ingredients found in personal care products in the U.S. are banned in other countries because they are considered unsafe. Today we’ll talk about Beautycounter, a company that is transparent about the ingredients they will and will not use, while educating consumers on why these ingredients are harmful. Beautycounter further embraces sustainability through responsible sourcing, sustainable packaging, and by measuring progress toward their climate goals. Additionally, the company is advocating for cosmetic reform legislation to protect human health from toxins the U.S. currently allows in personal care products.

Tune in as we speak with Dr. Asli Samanci, the CEO of Bee & You, a company that produces 100% natural propolis, royal jelly, raw honey, pollen, healthy spreads, supplements and cosmetics. Dr. Samanci is a renowned food scientist committed to creating natural and healthy products for consumers and is a pioneering advocate for combining science and nature to create safe and effective natural bee products.

Solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, and biomass are all renewable energy technologies with residential applications. Today we’ll be joined by Anna DeSimone, author of “Live in a Home that Pays You Back,” about what you need to know about these various technologies if you want to power your home in a sustainable way.

The toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS could be contaminating nearly 20 million acres of U.S. cropland, according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) estimate. Using state data, EWG estimates 5 percent of all crop fields could be using sewage sludge, or biosolids, as a fertilizer, even though it’s often contaminated with PFAS. Once PFAS-contaminated sludge is applied as a fertilizer, the chemicals can build up in food crops, feed crops such as corn and hay, and the animals that eat these feed crops. Several farmers have been forced to euthanize their farm animals due to high levels of PFAS in farm products. PFAS can cause a broad range of health harms to humans, as well. Very low doses in drinking water have been linked to suppression of the immune system and are associated with an elevated risk of cancer and reproductive and developmental harms. Tune in as we talk about this issue with Dr. David Andrews, Senior Scientist at the Environmental Working Group.

Panda Express has announced a global cage-free animal welfare policy, committing to source 100 percent cage-free eggs and egg products for all of its restaurant locations. In addition to Panda Express, more than 2,000 cage-free policies—including 100 global commitments—to end the use of battery cages have been made by some of the largest companies in the world, including Burger King, Dunkin’, Krispy Kreme, Unilever, Nestlé, Aldi, InterContinental Hotels, Sodexo, Kraft Heinz, Compass Group, Shake Shack, Famous Brands, Costa Coffee, and Barilla. Today we’ll speak with Aaron Ross, VP of Policy and Strategy for the Humane League, about the implications of Panda Express’ commitment and how consumers can influence their favorite companies to follow suit.

With social and economic benefits that are plentiful, more efficient homes mean the quality of citizens' lives are improved, reducing costs and bettering both public health and the environment. Today’s homeowners want sustainability—not just for home construction features, but to maintain long-term affordability as well. With an energy-efficient home, the true cost of homeownership is lower due to reduced utility costs, longer-lasting appliances and construction materials, and less maintenance and repairs. Tune in as we talk with Anna DeSimone, author of the new book, “Live in a Home that Pays You Back: A Complete Guide to Net Zero and Energy-Efficient Homes.” We will discuss the health benefits of an energy-efficient home, small steps homeowners can take today on their path to reducing their carbon footprint, to how to roll-in the retrofit costs in a mortgage, and everything one needs to make informed decisions for implementing energy-efficient technologies according to their needs and budget.

Borobabi was founded by Carolyn Butler, a chemical engineer, who recognized an opportunity to save money and protect the planet through supply chain utilization. According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, the main source of American textile waste is discarded clothing. On average, parents spend more than $700 each year on kids’ clothes, only to see them grow out of them within months, resulting in 63 million pounds of clothing going into landfill daily. And while donating is important, it is not the solution: The Council for Textile Recycling says that overall, charities sell only 20 percent of the clothing donated to them at their retail outlets. Join us today as we talk with Carolyn Butler, CEO of Borobabi, about her company’s solution to this important issue.

Today we’ll be joined by Joe Sanberg, co-founder of Aspiration Bank, to talk about a new way of personal and commercial banking that allows users to invest in climate-friendly financial transactions. There's a good chance your bank is using your money to fund oil projects that destroy the climate. Aspiration Bank allows you to put your money where your values are. Tune in and learn about all the benefits of transitioning to a bank with a purpose to make the world a better place. We will also talk with Joe about his important advocacy work on issues like raising the minimum wage, cancelling student debt, and passing a Green New Deal.

Healthy learning environments and high-quality school buildings are the keys to environmental equity and academic achievement. By leveraging sustainability strategies, these outcomes are possible. By improving indoor air and water quality, reducing solid waste, minimizing non-renewable energy usage, and providing nutritious food, urban schools can ensure environmental equity and close the opportunity gap for students. Today we will talk with the author of a new book, “Environmental Equity: Closing the Opportunity Gap in Urban Schools,” which demonstrates how school districts in even the most financially strapped regions can improve learning environments, lives, and achievement of every member of a school community.

Today we’ll be joined by Dr. Mustafa Ali, Vice President of Environmental Justice, Climate, and Community Revitalization for the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). We will discuss how NWF is operationalizing principles of equity and environmental justice within their organization and across their conservation and education programs. Dr. Ali worked for 24 years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He began working on social justice issues at the age of 16 and joined the EPA as a student, becoming a founding member of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ). Don’t miss this important conversation with one of the nation’s premier leaders in Environmental Justice!

Small farmer organizations in the developing world are historically under-resourced, with limited access to the capital needed to grow their organizations and invest in climate solutions. As a crowdfunding platform, Grow Ahead brings together contributions from individuals, businesses, organizations, and grants to fund community-led projects that address the local challenges of climate change. Through raising funds for farmer-led agroforestry projects, Grow Ahead endeavors to invest in climate solutions in a way that is accountable to frontline communities. Tune in today as we talk with Ryan Zinn, Director of Grow Ahead.

Parkinson’s disease, is the fastest growing neurological disorder in the world. Over the past 25 years, the number of people with the condition has jumped from 3 million to over 6 million. In addition to impacting millions of lives and livelihoods, Parkinson’s is poised to crush our healthcare system and our economy. This, while harmful pesticides and other toxic chemicals that contribute to Parkinson’s surround us, disproportionally affecting our farmers, our veterans, and even those in Silicon Valley. The most effective treatment is now a half century old, yet research funding stagnates. In short, we’re failing to stop a runaway train. Tune in as we talk with Dr. Ray Dorsey, co-author of the book, Ending Parkinson’s: A Prescription for Action, about what needs to be done to stem the tide of rapidly increasing Parkinson’s cases.

Today we’ll talk with Genna Mastellone, the Pipeline Resistance Organizer at MN350, about a pipeline called Line 3. Tune in as we learn about the impact this project has on drinking water, Indigenous lands, wildlife and the entire Mississippi River. Despite years of protest and legal battles, oil is flowing in Line 3, but the fight continues. Join us for an update from the frontlines.

Rob Bilott’s 20-year legal battle with DuPont exposed a dangerous chemical that no one knew existed outside the companies that manufactured it. PFAS is a family of man-made chemicals that are known to cause serious human health impacts, and in recent months much has happened in public policy and litigation to address PFAS. Tune in as we talk with Rob Bilott about his book, Exposure: Poisoned Water, Corporate Greed, and One Lawyer's Twenty-Year Battle against DuPont, and the latest news on “forever chemicals.”

Every drug and vaccine certified by the FDA – including COVID vaccines - must be tested using the horseshoe crab derivative known as Limulus lysate. This has spawned a multimillion-dollar industry involving the license to bleed horseshoe crabs and the rights to their breeding grounds. In his book, Crab Wars, William Sargent presents an insider’s guide to the discovery of the lysate test, the exploitation of the horseshoe crab at the hands of multinational pharmaceutical conglomerates, local fishing interests, and the legal and governmental wrangling over the creatures’ ultimate fate.

More and more consumers are looking for Fair Trade labeling on products they buy, and earlier this year the first such label for dairy products hit the shelves. However, 30+ labor, human rights, and food justice organizations signed onto a statement opposing the pilot of the standard. Today we will talk to Anna Canning from the Fair World Project about why so many groups oppose the “Fair Trade Dairy” standard. Before you make your next grocery shopping list, be sure to consider whether the dairy products you purchase actually meet your standards for Fair Trade.

Grocery store workers are the unofficial thin green line between people and food — thrust into a situation that no one saw coming. In 2020, the burden of facing the masses fell on a select few, and Adam Kaat was one of them. Life on the Grocery Line: A Frontline Experience in a Global Pandemic is a powerful, first-hand account drawn from Adam’s “essential” role and his interactions with the best — and the worst — of humanity. Tune in today as we talk with author Adam Kaat about what he witnessed as the thin veil of civility began to unravel when desperation for food supplies came to every neighborhood.

The Global Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice (Sept 25-30th) is a virtual, international forum hosted by the Women’s Earth & Climate Action Network (WECAN) International. As climate disasters worsen everyday, climate movements worldwide are increasing the pressure on governments and financial institutions to take immediate climate action. The gender-inclusive sessions are designed for people to come together to discuss what inclusive and equitable climate action looks like and to build momentum for the crucial United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP26 in November in Glasgow. This assembly takes place in parallel to the UN General Assembly, which is the last time governments will meet in the lead up to COP26. Tune in today as we talk to the Assembly Convener, Osprey Orielle Lake!