Marin County Bicycle Coalition

Hello everyone, this is Cella Wright posting about an interview we had with Tom Boss, the membership director of the Marin County Bike Coalition (MCBC) which has been doing many notable deeds since it was formed in 1998. Along with trying to disprove the misconception that many automobile-drivers have about bicyclists and teaching people about the goodness of the biking lifestyle (the positive mental, physical, and environmental effects), MCBC also improves Marin's roads and paths for both bicyclists and pedestrians.The benefits of biking have been proven: a Danish study by scientists Andersen, Schnohr, Schroll and Hein in 2000, proved that people who cycle regularly live longer and healthier lives than those who don't. Biking can be an incredibly invigorating workout (burns calories, builds muscular endurance, and is great aerobic exercise), or a way to simply transport yourself from point A to point B without inflicting environmental damage that would otherwise occur with a motorized vehicle.

Bridge with expanded bike lanes
in Portland, Oregon.

Additionally, biking is fiscally beneficial; "Studies have said that you can actually employ more people building bicycle and pedestrian projects than you can building freeway projects, and there's a bigger bang for your buck-," Tom says,"in Oregon a few years ago, they were trying to get more traffic across a river, and one option was to widen the bridge, which would have cost tens of millions of dollars, [but] they decided to take out one of the lanes and open it up to bicycles, and it turns out that since it is such a 

Inkwells Bridge - part of East-West
Greenway Project by MCBC

bike friendly city, they were able to increase the traffic flow over that bridge for less than a million dollars by putting in a bike lane rather than expanding the bridge for another car lane." MCBC has made many great accomplishments in Marin: in May this year MCBC's Off-Road Trail Access and Education Program opened the new multi-use 680 trail that connects Loma Alta and Terra Linda-Sleepy Hollow Preserves, they have built the North-South Greenway (which includes the Alto Tunnel that connects Mill Valley and Corte Madera, the Lincoln Hill Pathway which connects Terra Linda and downtown San Rafael, and the Central Marin Ferry Connection Project that links the Larkspur ferry with towns and cities to the south), the East-West Greenway (which includes the Inkwells bridge that connects 8 miles of pathways), have educated people of all ages about the benefits of cycling, and have made roads all throughout Marin safe for both pedestrians and bicyclists.MCBC's primary goal is for 20 percent of all trips in Marin to be made by walking or biking by 2020. Tom says that the futures of both biking and MCBC are bright.

In order to learn more about Tom Boss & MCBC, please visit the MCBC Home Page. The interview with Tom Boss will be online in the near future.

Center for Biological Diversity, Endangered Species Director Noah Greenwald

"We want those who come after us to inherit a world where the wild is still alive."

Hailey Jurgens here.

Posting about an interview I had with Noah Greenwald, the Endangered Species Director for the Center for Biological Diversity. The Center for Biological Diversity believes that every species has an intrinsic right to live. Their work focuses on protecting the lands, waters, and climate that species require to survive through a combination of science, law, and creative media. The Center is the nation’s leader in preserving endangered species, having secured Endangered Species Act protection for hundreds of species and hundreds of millions of acres of land and water.  Edward Humes, renowned author has said, " The modern American environmental movement has been reinvented by the center. " in his book Eco Barons. 

 Noah Greenwald directs the centers efforts to protect new species under the Endangered Species Act. He also works to educate the public on the importance of protecting biodiversity, and the multitude of threats facing North American Wildlife. He holds a bachelors in science ecology and a master's in forest ecology and conservation.I contacted Mr. Greenwald, believing that an interview with him would help to convey the imperative state of Earths biodiversity. In hopes that out of the number of people Earthscope Media reaches, at least some will be inspired to take action. Noah likewise believes we desperately need to grasp peoples attention, the loss of these species is irreversible and will impact everything around us.  The knowledge I've gained from Noah as well as the Centers website has greatly impacted me, and it needs to be shared. What took 4 billion years to create is disappearing far more quickly than most of us realize. Currently, species are going extinct at 1,000-10,000 times the natural rate. We are experiencing the worst series of species die-offs since the loss of the dinosaurs!

"Beyond its intrinsic value, biodiversity is necessary to human survival. Ecosystem diversity is crucial to ecosystem integrity, which in turn enables our life support, giving us a livable climate, breathable air, and drinkable water. Food-crop diversity and pollinating insects and bats allow agriculture to support our populations; when disease strikes a food crop, only diversity can save the system from collapse. Plant and animal diversity provide building blocks for medicine, both current and potential; almost half of the pharmaceuticals used in the United States today are manufactured using natural compounds, many of which cannot be synthesized. They also provide critical industrial products used to build our homes and businesses, from wood and rubber to the fuels that underpin our economies — even coal and oil are the products of ancient plant matter and preserved zooplankton remains.

Biodiversity plays a central mythic and symbolic role in our language, religion, literature, art, and music, making it a key component of human culture with benefits to society that have not been quantified but are clearly vast. From our earliest prehistory, people have never lived in a world with low biodiversity. We've always been dependent on a varied and rich natural environment for both our physical survival and our psychological and spiritual health. As extinctions multiply, and cannot be undone, we tread further and further into unexplored terrain — a journey from which there is no return."-excerpt from The Elements of Biodiversity 

Please, visit the Center for Biological Diversity's website to learn more.

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/index.html

Also see the petition site, take action and make an impact simply by signing. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/

Hi - 

This is India Neville , an EarthScope Reporter and Intern with the Teen Environmental Media Program....

Last week we had the amazing opportunity of meeting Dune Lankard and hearing all about all the projects and organizations he’s involved in.  A native Athabaskan Eyak from the Copper River Delta on the Gulf of Alaska, fishing was always a huge part of his life. He would spend his summer months out with fishing with his family on Prince William Sound and Copper River Delta off of Alaska. “ I lived…out in the wild just chasing fish pretty much all my youth,” Dune recalled. “All of [my family] grew up living from the sea…I remember almost every meal we’d come in and we go ‘oh man we’re having seafood again?!’ ” It wasn’t until he tried a hamburger as a teenager that he realized just how lucky he was for having all that fresh, delicious fish.

Fishing and living off the sea was always a part of Dune’s childhood and it carried over into his job as a commercial fisherman. However on March 24, 1989 all that changed when hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil spilled into Prince William Sound. For Dune, the Exxon Valdez oil spill not only changed his life, but the entire community; his family and friends and the environment. So many had lived off the sea, which was now saturated with oil.  All of the creatures who found the ocean their home were affected and salmon fishing, that had been the livelihoods of numerous people, was brought to a halt.

That day of the oil spill Dune decided to become an activist and leader fighting for environmental rights and making sure that people’s voices are being heard. He focuses a lot on indigenous peoples rights and emphasized the fact of protecting native rights as well as the conservation of wildlife was key to success. He started many organizations that followed these guidelines including the Native Conservancy Land Trust. “We wanted to protect endangered peoples and culture not just endangered plants and animals like the rest of the conservation community,” he said. 

Dune has had and still continues to have a lasting legacy and powerful voice in the activist movement.  He has founded numerous organizations and is on the board of many others.  He has won Supreme Court cases and is always fighting hard for what he believes in.  

If you are interested in learning more about Dune be sure to visit http://www.redzone.org.

The Redzone network name was chosen shortly after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill because local people wanted to highlight endangered wild red (sockeye) salmon, Indigenous people and sacred places in peril. Redzone is the virtual home to Chinook, Sockeye, Coho, Chum and Pink salmon that have been part of the Eyak people's way of life on the Copper River Delta and in eastern Prince William Sound for over 3,500 years, and counting. The still intact thriving ecosystem, with its wild salmon returning annually to spawn in their millions, is home to eagle, bear, beaver, wolves, moose and millions of migratory shorebirds and waterfowl.

Dune's Eyak name is Jamachakih, which means ‘the little bird that screams really loud and won’t shut up’ “.

Soon we will have the interview with him posted as well.

Women Making Waves - Global Women's Water Initiative

Hello everyone, this is Cella, one of the teen interns for Earthscope Media. On Thursday, October 25th, I had the pleasure of attending the Women Making Waves/Global Women's Water Initiative (GWWI) presentation  (by the wonderful organizations Women's Earth Alliance and Crabgrass) at the Brower Center, and interviewing the amazing and inspiring founder of  GWWI, Gemma Bulos.

GWWI was formed in order to address the need to involve women in water and sanitation efforts and decisions in their communities. Since 2008, GWWI has organized trainings in East and West Africa, and has trained 92 women; providing them with the knowledge, tools, and technologies necessary to establish sustainable water and sanitation strategies in their communities. Through the organization, women are taught to build water tanks, toilets, and water filters. GWWI's main goals (many of which have already been successfully implemented) are: reducing waterborne diseases, improving education for girls, helping communities save money, and enabling women's voices to be heard.
Gemma Bulos, the founder of GWWI, became inspired to start the organization after singing at the United Nation's Water For Life Conference: she learned that 1.2 billion people did not have access to water, and 3-5 million people were dying of waterborne diseases. Whilst developing GWWI, it was clear to Gemma that the women who would be participating in the organization (women with less luxuries than most Americans are accustomed to) are incredibly resourceful, and all she needed to do was expose them to these wonderful technologies, and allow the women to utilize them in their communities. Gemma maintains a loving and respectful attitude towards the women she works with, as opposed to the often condescending attitude of many other organizations, and believes that one of the reasons GWWI is so effective is because they approach the women they train with a mentality of serving, not saving. Due to her inspiring sense of humility and determination, Gemma was, indeed, the single drop of water (like that in the GWWI symbol pictured above) that lead to waves of change.

The interview with Gemma Bulos will be posted soon! If you'd like to learn more about GWWI & Gemma now, please visit GWWI - About Us.

2012 Brower Youth Awards

Hello, 
    I'm Hailey a teen intern for Earthscope Media. I'm posting today about our amazing experience on October 23, at the 13th Annual Brower Youth Awards. 

    Since 2000, The Brower Youth Awards has recognized bold young environmental leaders immersed in visionary, strategic, and powerful leadership and activism. Each year out of over 3000 applicants age 13-22 six are selected for recognition. Chosen by the selection committee (including activists, educators, journalists, and environmental advocates), with the support of the Brower Youth Alumni, and the Earth Island Institute staff. The Honorees receive a $3,000 cash prize and travel to the Bay Area for the Awards week which holds amazing speaking opportunities to promote their accomplishments. They also gain access to resources, mentors, and training to help ensure their continued success.

    At the 2012 Brower Youth Awards in San Francisco we had the pleasure of interviewing two of this years honorees. Brittany Stallworth of Maryland, age 21; was awarded for campaigning and educating for food and environmental justice. Ryland King of California, age 22; was awarded for educating the youth on environmental awareness through his organization Sprout Up. Before the awards ceremony Ms. Stallworth and Mr. King were able to answer some questions about their achievements, the motivation and goals behind their environmental work, as well as their plans for the future. 

    The recordings of these interviews will be posted soon, I highly recommend taking a moment to listen to them. Their stories as well as those of the other award winners are truly inspiring and exemplify the impact an individual can make on the health and protection of the Earth. We all have the power to make a difference.

For more information on The Brower Youth Awards, and a complete list of the 2012 Award winners. Please Visit www.broweryouthawards.org

Friends of Eel River

Hi

I’m India and I’m one of the teen interns for EarthScope Media!

EarthScope Media and the Teen Environmental Journalism Program teaches students critical communication skills, brings diverse voices to the media, and provides the public with essential information about the environment. Our Media program, which was featured in National Geographic Kids Magazine, provides in -depth job training to high school youth in journalism. Many of our students have gone on to become professional journalists since the program’s inception in 1999. All of the students gain confidence, employment experience and marketable communication, technology and leadership skills.


This last week we had the fortune of interviewing Nadananda, founder of the Friends of Eel River Organization. She began this program when she heard that the Eel River river, that used to be the largest producer of salmon in the state, was dead. She was astound to hear this and decided to educate herself and research why this was occurring. Just at a glance the Eel River seemed flowing and healthy but upon closer inspection she found that was not the case. What she uncovered was that the river wasn’t quite dead, but it was dangerously close, due to major fishing and logging. In order to save the Eel River, people needed to be brought together and fight for its survival and rehabilitation.

By becoming aware about how important the environment, it changes peoples prospective on nature and makes their cause for helping it more meaningful. “Getting people reconnected with the earth,” she said, “and…learning and understanding how the environment systems work…how a little spring will then create a little creek, that will then become a bigger stream, that then joins the bigger river…and in the process people start really caring about the land.” To learn more about Friends of Eel River and how to get involved, visit http://eelriver.org/ .

Jared Huffman- stories and bio

Hey guys!
I am posting today, stories from my interview with Assemblymember Jared Huffman. We discussed the recent state parks scandal, sharks, Coho salmon and more! He has plenty of environmental legislation in the works, give him a listen!

Jared Huffman Bio
Jared Huffman is the Democratic assemblyman for California's 6th State Assembly district, which includes all of Marin and southern Sonoma counties. He is Chairman of the Assembly Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee, which has jurisdiction over state parks, and also chairs the Assembly Environmental Caucus. Huffman received his B.A. in Political Science from UC Santa Barbara, and attended law school at Boston College. He was a 3-time All-American volleyball player at UCSB, and a member of the World Champion USA Volleyball Team in 1987. Huffman became a consumer attorney after law school, specializing in public interest cases, including an historic case in which he won the battle for all California State University campuses to comply with Title IX for the National Organization of Women. This allowed for many new athletic opportunities for thousands of female athlete scholars in California. Huffman was also a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, and a publicly-elected Director of the Marin Municipal Water District for 12 years. Huffman was elected to the California State Assembly in 2006. He has previously been Chairman of the Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials as well as his current Chair positions. Huffman is currently running for a congressional seat, to replace retiring Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey.

Listen to the stories below with Assemblymember Huffman, and enjoy!



Remember to also listen to Earthscope on 91.7 FM KALW radio in San Francisco, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

That's all for now, stay posted for more information.

-Katherine Hafner, Earthscope reporter

Mark Squire- Bio and stories

Hello all!
Today I am posting stories from my interview with Mark Squire, owner and manager of Good Earth Natural Foods. He is an expert on GMOs, so take a listen to learn more about a topic that affects you every time you go grocery shopping. Maybe next time you'll think twice before buying chemically-grown food products!

Mark Squire Bio
Mark Squire is owner and manager of Good Earth Natural Foods in Fairfax, CA. He has held this position for more than 35 years, promoting organically grown foods in such a way that inspired similar stores nationwide. Squire transitioned his own family farm in North Carolina to organic foods, before creating Good Earth. Mark was a member of the California Certified Organic Farmers Board of Directors from 1983 to 1988, and represented the organization's Marin and Sonoma County chapters. He helped write some of the original organic certification standards still in use. He has also been on the board at the Organic Crop Improvement Association, where he oversaw international certification staff training and operations for farm and manufacturing. Squire helped author an initiative in Marin County that prohibited the outdoor cultivation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), which passed in 2004. He is still an advocate of organic foods and labeling of GMOs, and is on the Board of Directors of the Non-GMO Project.

Source: http://www.nongmoproject.org/about/who-we-are/board-of-directors/mark-squire/

Here are the stories, share with your friends and enjoy!


-Katherine Hafner, Earthscope reporter

Deb Callahan stories, cont'd

Hi again-

Today I am posting the rest of our stories made from interviewing Deb Callahan, the executive director of the Point Reyes National Seashore Association (read her bio in the previous post). Topics include sustainability measures and 50th anniversary celebrations at the national park, and the environment in politics. Enjoy!



Tune in to KALW 91.7 FM in the SF Bay Area to listen to Earthscope on the air, and of course stay posted on our blog, Facebook and Twitter!

Have an eco-friendly day.

-Katherine Hafner, Earthscope reporter

Deb Callahan- stories and bio

Hi guys-

If you live in or have visited the SF Bay Area, you know that the Point Reyes National Seashore is astonishingly gorgeous and well-kept. Well, we've got the scoop on how they maintain the thousands of acres and visitors. Here are some stories from our interview with the executive director of the Point Reyes National Seashore Association, Deb Callahan, as well as her bio below.

Click play to listen, and enjoy:


Deb Callahan Bio
Deb Callahan became the executive director of the director of the Point Reyes National Seashore Association in 2011. Deb graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Environmental Studies and Political Science. She has worked for numerous advocacy and environmental organizations in Washington D.C. and elsewhere, such as the National Toxics Campaign and National Clean Air Coalition. Callahan served as president of the League of Conservation Voters for ten years prior to going to Point Reyes. She has also been president of the H. John Heinz III Center For Science, Economics And The Environment- a nonprofit dedicated to "improving the scientific and economic foundation for environmental policy." Callahan is a veteran in the political and environmental worlds, having served on campaigns for former Vice President Al Gore and Senator Kent Conrad. She is also recognized as the first environmental organizational representative to address the Democratic National Convention. As a known environmental spokeswoman, Deb has served on numerous boards of directors, including America Votes, the Federation of State Conservation Voter Leagues, the World Resources Institute and the Earth Day Network.


More to come, from Callahan and others!

-Katherine Hafner, Earthscope reporter

Nancy Pearlman stories, cont'd

Hi all!

Here are the rest of our stories from interviewing Nancy Pearlman. She has been an environmental activist since 1968, read more about her in our previous post.

Enjoy here, or tune into KALW 91.7 FM in San Francisco to hear Earthscope!



Stay tuned for more interesting interviews! Have an eco-friendly day.

-Katherine Hafner, Earthscope reporter

Nancy Pearlman- Bio and stories

Hello Earthscope listeners-

Today I will be posting some stories made from my interview with Nancy Pearlman. But first, you should all know a little more about Pearlman herself- she sets a high standard for environmentalists and journalists alike.

Nancy Pearlman Bio
Nancy Pearlman has been an environmental activist since 1968. Nancy helped coordinate the first Earth Day in Southern California in the 1970's, and has since been involved with hundreds of conservation organizations- as administrator, participant, founder and more. She founded the Ecology Center of Southern California in 1972 and Project Ecotourism in 1993.

Pearlman is also the Executive Producer and host of the longest-running environmental radio series in the nation- Environmental Directions. The show is international, and produces weekly half-hour segments featuring environmental scientists, activists, government representatives and more.

She is also the Executive Producer and host of the three-time Emmy-nominated environmental television series ECONEWS, on which she covers relevant ecological issues. Nancy’s public service announcements have won numerous Buccaneer Awards from the Public Interest Radio and Television Educational Society.

Currently, Nancy serves as an Elected Trustee on the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees. She has won countless awards as a broadcaster, environmentalist, college instructor, anthropologist, editor, producer, on-air personality, and outdoorswoman. For more than 40 years, she has served as an advocate to the environmental cause, and has made herself known as a strong presence. She was selected by the United Nations Environment Programme as a Global 500 Laureate.

As Executive Director to Educational Communications, Nancy has edited for 33 years the bi-monthly “Compendium Newsletter” and edited for 29 years the “Directory of Environmental Organizations”. She is also president of a media consulting firm which creates audio-visual materials. She has taught Cultural and Physical Anthropology, Broadcasting, Journalism, and Mass Communications at the college level. Nancy is also a blue-ribbon judge for the ChevronTexaco Conservation Awards.

Pearlman is a member of the Gypsy Folk Ensemble, and her athletic achievements include completing the Western States 100-mile run, finishing the Ironman Triathlon, climbing more than 100 listed peaks in California, winning long-distance races such as the 1980 Regional Championship 50-mile race and performing in equestrian events.

Source: http://www.nancypearlman.net/id1.html


Now, listen to some Pearls of environmental wisdom! Click play to listen, and enjoy:



-Katherine Hafner, Earthscope reporter

Facebook and Twitter

Hello all-

We just created Facebook and Twitter pages for Earthscope Media! Check us out, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook for updated news, links to stories and more!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Earthscope-Media-Environmental-Education-Council-of-Marin/328352193920966

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarthscopeMedia

Enjoy, and have an eco-friendly day!

Laura Musikanski stories, cont'd

Hey guys!
Today I am posting more stories from my interview with Laura Musikanski, executive director of the Happiness Initiative.

Press play to listen, and enjoy!




Stay tuned for more interviews with influential environmental leaders, like Nancy Pearlman and Deb Callahan!

You can also listen to Earthscope in the SF Bay Area on 91.7 FM KALW Radio.

-Katherine Hafner, Earthscope reporter

Laura Musikanski- Stories and bio

Hi all!
Earthscope recently interviewed Laura Musikanski, executive director of the Happiness Initiative, an organization which aims to measure cities', states' and countries' success on a scale of 1 to happy, essentially. Learn more about Musikanski below:

Laura Musikanski Bio
Laura Muskianski is executive director and co-founder of the Happiness Initiative, a happiness-striving organization based in Seattle. But before this role, Laura also served as executive director of Sustainable Seattle, a regional sustainability indicator organization. Musikanski is a lawyer with an MBA and certificates in Environmental Management and Environmental Law and Regulations from the University of Washington. She later taught at the Univ. of Washington MBA program and at professional training programs there. She has also worked as an entrepreneur and consultant for corporations in the United States.

Alright, now the good stuff! Her interview with Earthscope reporter Katherine Hafner- Here are two stories about her Happiness Initiative. The first explores what exactly the HI aims to provide to the public. The second explains what their measuring system is when it comes to objectively observing happiness in others. Enjoy!



More stories from Musikanski are on the way, stay tuned!

You can also listen to Earthscope in the SF Bay Area on 91.7 FM KALW Radio.

-Katherine Hafner, Earthscope reporter

Paul Stamets- Stories and bio

Hello!
Earthscope has been hard at work, finding stories about environmental causes to share with you! Today I will be posting a series of stories made from interviewing Paul Stamets, a mycologist who studies the medical effects of mushrooms and fungi. Below is included a brief bio of Stamets, as well as three short stories.

Paul Stamets Bio:

Paul Stamets is a long-time mycologist and author. He developed an interest in science at a young age, and always hoped to own his own laboratory. Today, he runs Fungi Perfecti, a family-owned company that sells mushroom kits and supplies. He is also very involved with the research of the medicinal properties of mushrooms, including turkey-tail mushrooms. Author of Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save The World, Stamets is an active environmental and fungi advocate. Stamets has filed multiple patents on the antiviral, pesticidal, and remediative properties of mushroom mycelia. His work with mushrooms in studying cancer has made him known as a pioneer in the field of science, and led him to receive an honorary Doctorate of Science degree from the National College for Natural Medicine, Portland, Oregon. Among the many awards Stamets has won for his outstanding work and visionary research are the Bioneers Award from The Collective Heritage Institute in 1998, as well as the Founder of a New Northwest Award from the Pacific Rim Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils in 1999. He has given TED and TEDMED talks and interviews, and has been featured in several documentaries, including 2012, Time for a Change. Stamets has discovered four new species of mushrooms, and is the author of at least 6 books.

Below are 3 Earthscope stories with Stamets. Hit play to listen, and enjoy:




You can also listen to Earthscope on KALW 91.7 FM in the San Francisco Bay Area.

That's all for now- stay tuned for more stories!

-Katherine Hafner, Earthscope reporter

Welcome to Earthscope

Hello fellow environmental enthusiasts, passionate peoples and interested idealists! Welcome to the official blog of Earthscope Media, home to some of the most sustainable minds of the past, present and future. Earthscope Media is a subset of the Environmental Education Council of Marin, located in Fairfax, California, and provides media coverage, training and information to local environmental programs and figures. Earthscope Radio produces 52 stories a year dealing with environmental and sustainability issues, that air on our partner station KALW 91.7 FM in San Francisco, reaching more than 200,000 listeners. Our mission is to educate the public about important environmental issues to create change on a local, national and ultimately global scale. In a society that is increasingly dominated by commercial interests and sometimes misguided information, we strive to preserve journalistic integrity and educate people about the Earth we all share. Together, we can make this Earth a more sustainable place to live.

The Environmental Education Council of Marin also parents Teen Environmental Media, a program dedicated to encouraging young people to become involved in environmental engagement through media training. Featured in National Geographic Kids Magazine, the TEM program provides vocational training to interested high school youth.

More information about these programs can be found at earthscopemedia.com.

Stay posted on both our blog and website for relevant radio stories, including interviews with Assemblyman Jared Huffman, ABC7 News anchor Cheryl Jennings, and more!  

-Katherine Hafner, Earthscope Reporter