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