Go Green Radio

Eric Herm’s new book examines commercial agriculture’s strain on our natural resources, delicate ecosystems, and the farmer. As a fourth-generation farmer, Eric Herm deals with the harsh economic realities and complicated legislation facing farmers, as well as the undeniable health impact of GMO crops and excessive chemicals on all living creatures. “Son of a Farmer, Child of the Earth” provides ample resources of natural, healthy alternatives that will inspire the transformation of farmers from corporate-motivated producers back to the flesh and bone guardian angels of the Earth.

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) provides knowledge to trusted professionals who, with their credibility, amplify messages to national audiences to solve everyday environmental problems. NEEF has a program for students called Planet Connect (www.planet-connect.org), which is giving out grants to high school students to perform local projects to protect wildlife. They are also sponsoring a video contest called, “Show Us Your Ocean Connection,” and the prizes are amazing! In addition, NEEF’s program for teachers, called “Classroom Earth”, is giving grants to middle and high school teachers who want to integrate wildlife protection into existing curriculum in all subject matters. The deadlines are fast approaching, so tune in to learn more!

Otis Rolley has already made history. At 29, Rolley was the youngest director of a large city-planning department in America. He shepherded the city’s first Comprehensive Master Plan ever adopted by both the Baltimore Planning Commission and City Council. And now, he’s attempting a new historical first – to become the Mayor of Baltimore in his initial run for political office. With a background in city planning and transit, Mr. Rolley may be poised to enact the plans he crafted if he is elected. Rolley’s views on “New Urban Renewal” have environmentalists hoping that Baltimore may become a template for sustainable communities within easy driving distance for DC lawmakers to visit, then replicate elsewhere. Rolley’s campaign kick-off takes place January 11 with a dinner and show by comedian, Bill Cosby. This is definitely a campaign to watch.

Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) is not messing around when they ask people not to litter in the Lone Star state! In 2010, more than 840 litter cleanup events were held across the state, featuring more than 74,100 volunteers. All told, 6,219 miles of highway were cleared of litter and debris, totaling a little more than eight million pounds of trash! But that’s only one of many outstanding programs run by KTB, and today, we’ll talk with their Executive Director, Cathie Gail. We’ll discuss their education and training opportunities; their impressive affiliate network; and even their clay shoot fundraiser with the Texas Legislative Sportsman’s Caucus.

The generation of Americans that will soon be called upon to address some of humanity’s greatest environmental challenges—those currently in our schools—have a limited understanding of environmental issues, our civic system and/or how to develop and implement balanced solutions to natural resource challenges. The problem is not a shortage of environmental information. There is plenty of information with media saturation of environmental stories at an all time high. The problem is that we have not fostered young people’s ability to critically assess that information and use it to make sound choices. Now is the time to foster a scientifically capable and civically engaged populace. Through Earth Force young people get hands-on, real-world opportunities to practice civic skills, acquire and understand environmental knowledge, and develop the skills and motivation to become life-long leaders in addressing environmental issues.

Charles Orgbon is one of those kids who makes you think, “I should probably get his autograph now. He’s going to be famous someday.” At 15 years old, Charles is the President and CEO of Greening Forward (www.greeningforward.org), and not only is his organization growing their membership, they are hiring! Greening Forward has entered the Pepsi Refresh Project contest to win $50,000 so they can host environmental leadership conferences in multiple cities across the U.S., with the goal of training youth to be environmental leaders. [You can vote for the project by visiting www.refresheverything.com/recyclingeducation, or texting 104604 to Pepsi (73774) by Dec. 31, 2010.] Tune in to hear about all the great projects Charles and his board of directors for Greening Forward have initiated – you will be inspired!

Keith Weitz, manager of the Sustainability and Environmental Assessment program at RTI International, will join us for a follow-on discussion regarding technologies that convert waste to clean, renewable energy. The technology has been around for decades, but in recent years, it has been improved and highly regulated by the EPA and regional air emissions agencies. Countries around the world have begun using waste to energy technology, not only for the energy, but also to reduce or eliminate the need for taking up valuable land with landfills. Wondering why your community is “wasting your waste” by not converting it to energy? Tune in and find out what you can do to change that!

A lot of products we use everyday come in containers made of #5 plastic – margarine, sour cream, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. The problem is that many communities don’t collect #5 plastic for recycling, because they lack a purchaser who will buy that material for another use. Too many of these containers are ending up in landfills, but there IS a solution! A company called Preserve makes products out of #5 plastics, and they have partnered with Stonyfield Farms to create a nationwide recycling program that anyone, anywhere can participate in. You never have to send your yogurt cups to your local landfill again! Tune in as we talk with Eric Hudson, CEO of Preserve, to learn how you can get involved in the “Gimme 5” program.

A lot of ideologues in the environmental activist community would like to see the U.S. become a “zero waste” society, where nothing is thrown away. It’s a great goal, but realistically, it is unlikely to come to fruition anytime soon. Even in cities with high recycling rates like San Francisco, there is so much waste that they have to truck it to rural communities in California, leaving a carbon footprint along hundreds of miles of freeways that the garbage travels from the Golden Gate to someone else’s backyard. Our society has a growing need to properly manage our solid waste stream. Are landfills the best solution? Should we burn trash to create energy? Are public policy makers well-educated enough to make these decisions? This week’s guest on Go Green Radio is Keith Weitz, manager of the Sustainability and Environmental Assessment program at RTI International. He specializes in solid waste management, energy technology assessment, global climate change research, and life cycle assessment.

Most people know that when they throw things away, it doesn’t really go “away.” The trash goes somewhere, and a good deal of it doesn’t biodegrade. In fact, some of what goes into the trash could poison our drinking water, air, and the soil in which we grow food for many generations. Mercury and other heavy metals are found in a number of products readily available to consumers in supermarkets all over the country, and if those items aren’t carefully disposed of, they are known to be extremely hazardous to humans, especially children. Discarded medicines have already polluted fresh water sources in all 50 U.S. states, yet a nationwide solution to this problem is not even being discussed. Who can rectify these issues? Consumers? Retailers? Manufacturers? Government? Likely, a combination of all four stakeholder groups. Tune into Go Green Radio this week to hear Scott Cassel, Founder and Executive Director of the Product Stewardship Institute (http://www.productstewardship.us ), discuss how his organization is

What do you do with expired medicine in your medicine cabinet? How do you dispose of pharmaceuticals you no longer need? If you’re like most Americans, you’ve been told to flush them, wash them down the sink, or throw them in the trash. But recent studies show that our unwanted drugs are ending up in our fresh water supplies, and it doesn’t take a doctor or scientist to know that it isn’t healthy for us to ingest medicine that isn’t meant for us. It’s a health risk and an environmental hazard to wildlife. Today we will talk with the Vice President of Environmental Science and Community Affairs for Covanta Energy about his company’s solution to this problem, and Paul Ritter, a high school science teacher who lead his students to create a model community program for safely disposing of unwanted pharmaceuticals that is gaining national attention. If your community does not have a drug take-back program, listen to Go Green Radio to learn how to change that!

Trees for the Future (TFTF) –www.treesforthefuture.org- is a nonprofit organization that was around long before “going green” was cool. Since their inception in 1988, they have planted 65 million trees in strategic locations around the world. They train local farmers to plant, care for, and sustainably utilize trees. Among their many success stories, TFTF was responsible for the reforestation of an area in the Philippines that had been stripped by illegally logging and left barren for over 100 years…incredible! On this episode of Go Green Radio, we’ll talk with Gorav Seth, who heads up all the international programs for Trees for the Future. Gorav has been on the front lines, combating climate change through sustainable agroforestry in Africa, Honduras, India, Costa Rica, and (mega-tough duty station) the Bahamas!

Everywhere we turn, there is another news story about carbon emissions and efforts to reduce them. But for the average town, small business, school, home or individual, reducing carbon emissions is a bit of a mystery. How do we know how much carbon we are emitting? Where can we cut carbon from our operations? Is there a way to offset the carbon that we cannot reduce? Until recently, answering these questions was imprecise at best. But now there is a company with reliable and easy-to-use tools that can take the guesswork out of carbon reduction and offsetting. Our guest on Go Green Radio this week is Dr. Ron Dembo, founder of Zerofootprint and the Zerofootprint Foundation. His organization can provide any sized enterprise with carbon calculators that are tailor designed for everything from large-scale corporate applications to calculators that even elementary school children can use. For more information on his remarkable set of tools and services, visit his website at: http://www.zerofootprint.net/

Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) is not messing around when they ask people not to litter in the Lone Star state! In 2010, more than 840 litter cleanup events were held across the state, featuring more than 74,100 volunteers. All told, 6,219 miles of highway were cleared of litter and debris, totaling a little more than eight million pounds of trash! But that’s only one of many outstanding programs run by KTB, and today, we’ll talk with their Executive Director, Cathie Gail. We’ll discuss their education and training opportunities; their impressive affiliate network; and even their clay shoot fundraiser with the Texas Legislative Sportsman’s Caucus.

A lot of products we use everyday come in containers made of #5 plastic – margarine, sour cream, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. The problem is that many communities don’t collect #5 plastic for recycling, because they lack a purchaser who will buy that material for another use. Too many of these containers are ending up in landfills, but there IS a solution! A company called Preserve makes products out of #5 plastics, and they have partnered with Stonyfield Farms to create a nationwide recycling program that anyone, anywhere can participate in. You never have to send your yogurt cups to your local landfill again! Tune in as we talk with Eric Hudson, CEO of Preserve, to learn how you can get involved in the “Gimme 5” program.

Today we are joined by New York City’s “Guru” of urban gardening, Gerard Lordahl, who serves as the Director of the Open Space Greening Program for GrowNYC (www.grownyc.org). GrowNYC is a nonprofit organization that has existed in partnership with the Mayor’s office for four decades, and improves New York City’s quality of life through environmental programs that transform communities block by block and empower all New Yorkers to secure a clean and healthy environment for future generations. For 40 years, GrowNYC has been rolling up its sleeves alongside NYC residents to: • Provide access to healthy, fresh, local food for all New Yorkers • Grow and maintain vibrant green spaces and community gardens. • Help New Yorkers recycle more and reduce waste. • Create the next generation of environmental leaders through hands-on education programs. Tune in to learn more about how urban gardening is reshaping the urban landscape in an unprecedented time of urban growth.

The generation of Americans that will soon be called upon to address some of humanity’s greatest environmental challenges—those currently in our schools—have a limited understanding of environmental issues, our civic system and/or how to develop and implement balanced solutions to natural resource challenges. The problem is not a shortage of environmental information. There is plenty of information with media saturation of environmental stories at an all time high. The problem is that we have not fostered young people’s ability to critically assess that information and use it to make sound choices. Now is the time to foster a scientifically capable and civically engaged populace. Through Earth Force young people get hands-on, real-world opportunities to practice civic skills, acquire and understand environmental knowledge, and develop the skills and motivation to become life-long leaders in addressing environmental issues.

You can call California a bellwether state for environmental policies, or you can be accurate… and call it the rock star state for bold environmental movements. In 2006, Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB32 into law, which aimed to curb greenhouse gas emissions and move toward a clean energy economy. It gained worldwide attention as one of the first large economic forces in the world putting “green” on the front burner. But as he prepares to term out of office, an initiative backed by big oil companies from outside the state will appear on the November ballot. Today, we are joined by Steve Maviglio, who had a front row seat to the inner dealings around the original piece of legislation, and who currently heads the campaign going up against the crude industry in order to preserve California’s landmark climate change bill.

Though tap water in the United States is much cleaner than in many other countries, it is not perfectly healthy. Recent studies have shown that rivers throughout the U.S. are contaminated with pharmaceuticals, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that our children shouldn’t be drinking water with medicine in it. Many families have turned to bottled water, assuming it is safe, but in fact only one person at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has the responsibility to oversee the safety of our entire nation’s bottled water supply. On today’s episode of Go Green Radio, we’ll talk with the CEO of DrinkUp (www.drinkupwater.com) , Faber Dewar, about the risky choices we have when picking our water source, and the technology his company has developed to address consumer concerns. The public policy issues involved in our nation’s water supply are daunting, but unless we demand clean drinking water from our local, state and federal officials, our children and our planet will suff

Recon Recycling is a disabled veteran owned small business located in the Barrio Logan community of San Diego. Recon believes in applying the principles of sustainability, economic development, and social equity to their business practices. Richard McCaskill started the company three years ago with no capital, learning the basics of recycling from the homeless and utilizing guerrilla military tactics learned in the Marine Corps special forces. Currently the company provides waste reduction and recycling services for clients throughout San Diego County. In 2009, Recon collected and diverted more than one million pounds of materials. In 2010, Recon became an Environmental Consultant for the Unified Port of San Diego.