Go Green Radio

A lot of people believe that no matter what humans do to the environment, the Earth has the capability to restore its equilibrium. After all, we know that the planet has survived through many previous ice ages, periods of global warming, and eras of intense CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. We assume that just because the Earth has recovered from these naturally occurring events, it will do so again, even as humans contribute to the environmental changes we currently observe. However, Professor Peter Sale of the United Nations University, and author of the new book Our Dying Planet…An Ecologist’s View of the Crisis We Face, has a different theory. On today’s episode he will reveal how the combination of overfishing, deforestation, pollution, and intense use of fossil fuels may cripple the Earth ability to rejuvenate itself, hence making the planet much less inhabitable.

What can a bank do to create a more sustainable economy? How can a bank help reduce a community’s carbon footprint? Are green jobs created by lending practices that reward eco-sensitive enterprises? Today’s guest is Stephanie Rico, Vice President of Environmental Affairs for Wells Fargo. She will discuss some new concepts in sustainable financial lending, as well as internal measures to “green” the bank’s business operations. Ms. Rico will discuss the evolution of “green” banking practices across the industry, and some of the goals Wells Fargo is setting to help ensure their corporate customers do business in an environmentally responsible way.

Founded in 2009 by Brooklyn-based CEO David Luks after a battle with cancer lead him to learn about living a natural lifestyle, David discovered the extraordinary health benefits of honey and built his company based on the simple idea of offering consumers a flavorful and healthful drink that is derived from the land, not the lab. Honeydrop Beverages is proud to officially announce their “Buy a Bottle – Save a Bee” campaign. This initiative, established to help fight Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), an epidemic threatening the global bee population, is at the heart of the brand, with Honeydrop donating a percentage of profits from each bottle sold to carefully selected local beekeepers across the U.S. Tune in as founder & CEO, David Luks, discusses the human health benefits of honey, and why it is so important to our food supply to protect honey bees.

What’s on your grocery list this week? Milk, bread, eggs…how about sustainability? Today on Go Green Radio, we’re joined by the VP of Strategic Sourcing, and the Director of Supply Chain Sustainability for Safeway, Inc. They will give us some insights on how their grocery chain is “going green,” and how they are working with their suppliers to bring eco-friendly products and services to a market near you.

According to Richard Heinberg, author of the new book The End of Growth – Adapting to Our New Economic Reality, the answer is no. He makes the case that the world’s economic growth is inextricably tied to cheap energy, namely oil, and that as we enter a phase of more expensive extraction – like deep water, offshore drilling – our economy will level out…at best. He says that, “The human economy exists within and entirely depends upon Nature, and many natural resources have no realistic substitutes…societies have to operate within the planet’s budget of sustainably extractable resources.” Tune in to learn what Heinberg has to say about how everyday individuals and communities can do to prepare for what he calls a post-hydrocarbon economy and way of life.

Jill Krysinski and Betsie Weisse both hold Masters Degrees in Education, and firmly believe that all kids should be educated on environmental issues, starting in pre-school. Jill is a high school science teacher who has won awards from the Earth Day Network and the National Environmental Education Foundation. Her science club has established a bus tour – run on biodiesel the kids help create – in which high school students travel to various elementary and middle schools to teach younger kids about environmental issues. Betsie is a second grade teacher, and has been Jill’s best friend from college. They have recently teamed up to create a series of books aimed at kids from pre-school through third grade on topics like recycling and energy conservation. Tune in to learn more about their books, their mission, and how you can get involved

A lot of people believe that no matter what humans do to the environment, the Earth has the capability to restore its equilibrium. After all, we know that the planet has survived through many previous ice ages, periods of global warming, and eras of intense CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. We assume that just because the Earth has recovered from these naturally occurring events, it will do so again, even as humans contribute to the environmental changes we currently observe. However, Professor Peter Sale of the United Nations University, and author of the new book Our Dying Planet…An Ecologist’s View of the Crisis We Face, has a different theory. On today’s episode he will reveal how the combination of overfishing, deforestation, pollution, and intense use of fossil fuels may cripple the Earth ability to rejuvenate itself, hence making the planet much less inhabitable. Tune in as Professor Sale discusses a reasonable course of action that humans can take to help restore balance to the Earth’s many ecosys

BPA seems to be the scapegoat for hundreds of other harmful chemicals found in plastic food and beverage containers. While plastic manufacturers are scrambling to produce materials that can be marketed to consumers as BPA and phthalates-free, a recent study shows that many of these products are still full of chemicals with estrogenic activity (EA), which disrupt the natural function of human hormones. Chemicals with EA have been linked to cancer, reproductive disorders, and a variety of behavioral abnormalities.

According to Richard Heinberg, author of the new book The End of Growth – Adapting to Our New Economic Reality, the answer is no. He makes the case that the world’s economic growth is inextricably tied to cheap energy, namely oil, and that as we enter a phase of more expensive extraction – like deep water, offshore drilling – our economy will level out…at best. He says that, “The human economy exists within and entirely depends upon Nature, and many natural resources have no realistic substitutes…societies have to operate within the planet’s budget of sustainably extractable resources.” Tune in to learn what Heinberg has to say about how everyday individuals and communities can do to prepare for what he calls a post-hydrocarbon economy and way of life

You know where babies come from, but do you know how to feed, clothe and provide a job for 7 billion of them? If not, you’re in good company. Some of the sharpest minds in the world are working on these solutions. The United Nations predicts that by Oct. 31, 2011, population will hit the 7 billion mark, and as famines rage, food prices rise, and droughts damage crops around the world, we must pause to consider our options. As a new generation reaches child bearing age, the choices they make in the next few years will be pivotal, to say the least. Today’s guest is Bill Ryerson, founder and President of the Population Media Center, Chairman of Population Institute (Washington DC), fellow at the Post Carbon Institute and recipient of the 2006 Nafis Sadik Prize for Courage, is one of the world’s foremost experts on human population, having been in the field for 40 years.

There are only a handful of environmentalists who are household names, and Captain Jacques Cousteau ranks among the top. His groundbreaking work to bring the mysteries of the ocean to the television screen made millions of people around the world more thoughtful about their impact on the delicate balance of marine life. However, it was the man behind the camera who may ultimately be responsible for the greatest ripple effect of Jacques’ work – his son, Philippe Cousteau JR. In honor of their father’s work, passion and legacy, Alexandra and Philippe Jr. have founded EarthEcho International with a powerful mission to empower youth to take action that restores and protects our water planet. Join us as we talk with Philippe Cousteau, Jr. about continuing his father’s work, and the many ways you can interact with EarthEcho International to share your stories of environmental action with the Cousteau family. Be sure to visit his website: www.earthecho.org.

Jacquelyn Ottman is not just another face in the “green” crowd. She has been a pioneer in green marketing since 1989, and her new book, The New Rules of Green Marketing, has been named a top 40 Sustainability book by the University of Cambridge. Her clients include some of the biggest names in Fortune 500 companies, like: 3M, Bissell, Clairol, Johnson & Johnson, Kraft General Foods, and Nike. During this episode of Go Green Radio, Jacquelyn will discuss how important it is for companies to have an in-depth understanding of how today’s mainstream green consumers differ markedly from yesterday’s fringe activists in attitudes, behaviors, lifestyle and corporate expectations. She will discuss the full range of issues that concern today’s consumers, along with their green purchasing motivations and behavior. Tune in, and learn from the Green Marketing Guru, Jacquelyn Ottman.

Are you snacking “sustainably”? Do you know how much water and electricity it takes to produce your favorite beverages, or if the corn in your favorite bag of chips was grown with the highest standards of sustainable farming? Does your favorite healthy snack travel to your local grocer in an emissions-free vehicle? There is a company working to ensure that their customers can answer all those questions with confidence – PepsiCo. In 2009, PepsiCo made a promise to deliver sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for their consumers, our planet, and our communities. They are working throughout their supply chain to become more efficient with their consumption of water and energy, and to dramatically decrease the amount of solid waste and greenhouse gas emissions they produce. Tune in to Go Green Radio this week to learn more about the Promise of PepsiCo, and check out their website at http://www.pepsico.com/annual10/performance/promise-of-pepsico.html.

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) has launched a program that will allow consumers to return their unwanted medications to their local pharmacist vs. flushing them down the toilet or putting them in the trash. According to the NCPA website, “a vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans.” This is the result of improper disposal of these medications, but now there is a solution. Tune in as Dr. Lisa Faast, owner of her own local pharmacy, describes how the program works in her store. Brad Arthur owns two pharmacies, and sits on the Executive Committee of the NCPA – he will discuss the costs and details of the take back program. Finally, Dr. Carolyn Ha, the Association Director of Professional Affairs for NCPA, will discuss the legal aspects of the take back program. You can learn more at www.disposemymeds.org.

BPA seems to be the scapegoat for hundreds of other harmful chemicals found in plastic food and beverage containers. While plastic manufacturers are scrambling to produce materials that can be marketed to consumers as BPA and phthalates-free, a recent study shows that many of these products are still full of chemicals with estrogenic activity (EA), which disrupt the natural function of human hormones. Chemicals with EA have been linked to cancer, reproductive disorders, and a variety of behavioral abnormalities.

The new book, Changing Planet, Changing Health: How the Climate Crisis Threatens Our Health and What We Can Do about It, by Harvard health and disease expert Paul R. Epstein, MD, and award-winning science journalist Dan Ferber, reveals the complex links between global warming and cholera, malaria, Lyme disease, asthma, and other threats such as crumbling ecosystems and lost services. They also examine abrupt climate change, which could cause catastrophic droughts, crop failures, large-scale migration, and war, according to a Pentagon projection. Dr. Epstein, associate director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment (CHGE) at Harvard Medical School, has been documenting the links between global warming and declining human and environmental health since the early 1990s. Co-author Dan Ferber, a contributing correspondent to Science, traveled to rural Kenya, Honduras, Harlem and other places to talk with doctors, patients, scientists and others who are wrestling with

During Earth Week 2011, I visited the OSU campus, and toured the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) where the world’s fastest electric vehicle (top speed 320 mph) is housed. The only thing more impressive than getting to see the “Buckeye Bullet” in person was meeting the Director of CAR, Dr. Giorgio Rizzoni. While the Buckeye Bullet is fueled by lithium ion batteries, the world class research facility run by Dr. Rizzoni is fueled by his unparalleled brilliance and enthusiasm for advanced electric propulsion and energy storage systems for reduced fuel consumption and emissions. Dr. Rizzoni and his team are focused on advanced engines and alternative fuels that will shape transportation in the 21st century. Whether you’re into cars or into green, this interview will leave you thrilled that Dr. Rizzoni is in the driver’s seat of one of the world’s premiere transportation transformation incubators!

You don’t have control over your electricity service, and yet almost everything you do requires electricity. Even people whose homes or workplaces are run by self-generated wind or solar power are vulnerable, because every other system we rely upon runs on electricity: water, information technology, transportation, fuel delivery, manufacturing, telecom, banking, etc. Thirty years ago, people said that the U.S. had a “gold plated” electrical grid, now many of those same experts say it is “third world.” On today’s episode we’ll talk about where our electricity comes from, why our electric system is vulnerable, potential solutions to this vulnerability, and most importantly, what you can do to influence public policy makers to help ensure our nation’s electricity supply is secure.

Electronic waste (e-waste) is a human health disaster in the making. According to www.greencitizen.com, e-waste affects nearly every system in the human body because they contain a plethora of toxic components including Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, Polybrominated Flame Retardants, Barium and Lithium. Even the plastic casings of electronics products contain Polyvinyl Chloride. The health effects of these toxins on humans include birth defects, brain, heart, liver, kidney and skeletal system damage. They will also significantly affect the nervous and reproductive systems of the human body. Electronic waste currently constitutes 2 to 5 percent of the US municipal solid waste stream and is rising by 3 to 5 percent per year. Carnegie Mellon University has predicted that there are already 70 million computers in our landfills. The average computer screen has five to eight pounds or more of lead representing 40 percent of all the lead in US landfills. Today’s guest on Go Green Radio, James Kao, is the founder & CEO o

For anyone wondering what it takes to “go green” on a University campus, this episode of Go Green Radio is the definitive answer. Today we’re joined by John Dilliott, the Manager, Energy & Utilities at the University of California San Diego. He is responsible for campus utilities operations, including the 30MW Cogeneration and District Heating & Cooling Plant, commodity energy procurement, carbon management and has secured financing for three year, $73M in energy efficiency program. John also led UC San Diego in carbon management, helping UC San Diego to be the first university to certify all six green house gases and active participant in the Chicago Climate Exchange. Tune in to learn how John envisions working toward a carbon neutral, zero waste campus!