Our guest today was Diane MacEarchern, author of the newly released book, The Big Green Purse: Use your spending power to create a cleaner, greener world".
The show was packed full of ideas, too many to list here... in fact most of them are on the Big Green Purse website... but here are some that we came up with on the show.
1. This summer see if you can catch a ride with someone going your way, or offer to take some one with you. Check out Craigslist for ridesharing opportunities, rideshare
or Ride Amigos
2. Commit challenge to be 1 in a million by intentionally shifting at least $1000 of your existing budget to environmentally-friendly products... if we do this, we can have a noticeable ONE BILLION DOLLAR IMPACT in the marketplace.
3. Check out Freecycle.org to get and give free stuff.
Gas Buddy for lowest gas prices in your area.
And Buy Nothing Day, which is traditionally the day after Thanksgiving, but principles of such can be translated into our daily shopping.
And we had a great comment from Herb from Carmel, who recommended making your own gifts and crafting items from found supplies! Good idea! Thanks Herb!
Talk with ya tomorrow,
Deb
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Diversity and the Environment
An excellent discussion today.. but way too short. I think Carolyn Finney and I could have talked for another hour or more! But we did hit some important topics... and some more important solutions.
The most outstanding comment about the lack of diversity in the eco movement are the exclusionary practices, conscious or unconscious with in the media and our own event/organization formation. Ways to combat these practices are to make sure we look at who all the share holders of the issues are and get them to the table, or better yet, go to their tables and ask if we can participate in their debates. This opens our minds to see problems in new ways and certainly to find solutions in ways we hadn't imagined.
A good movie to check out is "Refugees of the Blue Planet", and some websites to check are
http://www.wholecommunities.org/
http://www.ecoschools.com/Edible/Edible_wSidebar.html
www.environmentaldiversity.org
http://www.lta.org/training/lclp/dc_07.htm (This is a course in Diversity and Conservation)
And we didn't mention him on the air, but Carolyn suggested checking out John Francis, Planet Walker ...http://www.planetwalk.org/
Let's get him on the show!!
Have a great day,
d
The most outstanding comment about the lack of diversity in the eco movement are the exclusionary practices, conscious or unconscious with in the media and our own event/organization formation. Ways to combat these practices are to make sure we look at who all the share holders of the issues are and get them to the table, or better yet, go to their tables and ask if we can participate in their debates. This opens our minds to see problems in new ways and certainly to find solutions in ways we hadn't imagined.
A good movie to check out is "Refugees of the Blue Planet", and some websites to check are
http://www.wholecommunities.org/
http://www.ecoschools.com/Edible/Edible_wSidebar.html
www.environmentaldiversity.org
http://www.lta.org/training/lclp/dc_07.htm (This is a course in Diversity and Conservation)
And we didn't mention him on the air, but Carolyn suggested checking out John Francis, Planet Walker ...http://www.planetwalk.org/
Let's get him on the show!!
Have a great day,
d
Monday, June 9, 2008
Green media and appropraite technology
We had two guests on Tomorrow Matters today.
Lesley Nagy from Your TV 20, host of Your Green Life came on to discuss media's role in bringing the green movement to a forefront. We decided to unseat Rush Limbaugh in media domination. Let's go girls!
And Miguel Aznar from Sustainability Tour came on to discuss a Santa Cruz bike tour he's pulling together to teach about our amazing choices we have in the area food and wine wise, but also in technology. He's pointing out that we don't have to grudgingly sacrifice to use lower tech methods or eating locally; that we can create visceral senses of pleasure.
He asked the question of what is the true external costs of technology and offered his blog to dialog with him on subjects such as the appropriateness of nanotechnology. Check him out at knowledgecontext.blogspot.com.
Also read Michael Pollen, author of Omnivore's Dilemma ... read his article called "Why Bother?" http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/magazine/20wwln-lede-t.html
Any ideas?
deb
Lesley Nagy from Your TV 20, host of Your Green Life came on to discuss media's role in bringing the green movement to a forefront. We decided to unseat Rush Limbaugh in media domination. Let's go girls!
And Miguel Aznar from Sustainability Tour came on to discuss a Santa Cruz bike tour he's pulling together to teach about our amazing choices we have in the area food and wine wise, but also in technology. He's pointing out that we don't have to grudgingly sacrifice to use lower tech methods or eating locally; that we can create visceral senses of pleasure.
He asked the question of what is the true external costs of technology and offered his blog to dialog with him on subjects such as the appropriateness of nanotechnology. Check him out at knowledgecontext.blogspot.com.
Also read Michael Pollen, author of Omnivore's Dilemma ... read his article called "Why Bother?" http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/magazine/20wwln-lede-t.html
Any ideas?
deb
Friday, June 6, 2008
We break the record!
Today's show with Joy Colangelo had the most calls of any program in the history of Tomorrow Matters! We had 10 calls!!
Also, we had our first outward argument about bike rider versus car driver right of way and etiquette. Very juicy! Clearly Joy doesn't like car drivers and several car drivers don't like her or other bike riders.
Where is the peace?
John from Carmel gave us the best piece of advice and that was to practice the Golden Rule.. treat yours as you would have them treat you. Perfect! But what about the caller who went to report a rude biker who kicked her car and flipped her off and had her information taken, as though she was the criminal?
Two other pieces of advice came out of the show.. first, if you're going to fish off a kayak, and second, go out to the kelp and attach yourself you the kelp either by hooking it on to your boat or dripping your feet into the water, one on either side of the boat, so you don't float around too much.
Eat kelp to offset the toxins in the fish... but make sure you know what type you're eating before you do. We'll talk more about this in July.
Check out Joy's editorial here..http://www.montereyherald.com/joycolangelo
Happy weekend.
deb
Also, we had our first outward argument about bike rider versus car driver right of way and etiquette. Very juicy! Clearly Joy doesn't like car drivers and several car drivers don't like her or other bike riders.
Where is the peace?
John from Carmel gave us the best piece of advice and that was to practice the Golden Rule.. treat yours as you would have them treat you. Perfect! But what about the caller who went to report a rude biker who kicked her car and flipped her off and had her information taken, as though she was the criminal?
Two other pieces of advice came out of the show.. first, if you're going to fish off a kayak, and second, go out to the kelp and attach yourself you the kelp either by hooking it on to your boat or dripping your feet into the water, one on either side of the boat, so you don't float around too much.
Eat kelp to offset the toxins in the fish... but make sure you know what type you're eating before you do. We'll talk more about this in July.
Check out Joy's editorial here..http://www.montereyherald.com/joycolangelo
Happy weekend.
deb
So much cool permie info!
Benjamin Fahrer from PC Designs was in today and he's our amazing permaculture guru.
There's so much to share with you I'll just do bullet points.
* We have enough water, we just need to limit consumption
* Ask yourself, how much do you need versus how much do you want.. they're usually different answers.
* Follow the way nature works with soil... it doesn't till... it mulches and layers.
* Generally small irrigation stores have better products for drip systems, moisture sensors and timers then larger places like Home Depot... locally go to Martens Irrigation or Scotts Valley Sprinkler.
* Most plants don't like full sun, even if it says that on the tag... a bit of shade is a good thing.
* All of our buildings, residential and commercial need to harvest rainwater, use greywater, think about our watershed and use ponds to filter.
* Keyline Design is making cuts into soil to distribute water over the land in a way that slows it down,spreads it out and sinks it in... which is a major Permaculture prinicple.
* Don't use fresh water to deal with you poo... check out the Humanure Hand Book at http://www.jenkinspublishing.com/humanure.html... where you can get 255 pages of crap.
It says that on the website, I swear!!
*Check out: http://www.carbonfarmersofamerica.com/ - learn how farmers are changing climate change.
www.wiserearth.com - type in permaculture and go for a ride!
oasisdesign.net - Art Ludwig's site for endless grey water tips
http://www.bioneers.org/node/1446 - this is a cool interview with John Todd about Living Systems... turning grey and black water into usable water.
http://www.onegreenworld.com/ - for tree graphing info
http://www.soilandhealth.org/ - a great site from Australia on Soil building
That's it! But you can get more info from Ben if you write psdesigns@earthlink.net
Happy gardening,
d
There's so much to share with you I'll just do bullet points.
* We have enough water, we just need to limit consumption
* Ask yourself, how much do you need versus how much do you want.. they're usually different answers.
* Follow the way nature works with soil... it doesn't till... it mulches and layers.
* Generally small irrigation stores have better products for drip systems, moisture sensors and timers then larger places like Home Depot... locally go to Martens Irrigation or Scotts Valley Sprinkler.
* Most plants don't like full sun, even if it says that on the tag... a bit of shade is a good thing.
* All of our buildings, residential and commercial need to harvest rainwater, use greywater, think about our watershed and use ponds to filter.
* Keyline Design is making cuts into soil to distribute water over the land in a way that slows it down,spreads it out and sinks it in... which is a major Permaculture prinicple.
* Don't use fresh water to deal with you poo... check out the Humanure Hand Book at http://www.jenkinspublishing.com/humanure.html... where you can get 255 pages of crap.
It says that on the website, I swear!!
*Check out: http://www.carbonfarmersofamerica.com/ - learn how farmers are changing climate change.
www.wiserearth.com - type in permaculture and go for a ride!
oasisdesign.net - Art Ludwig's site for endless grey water tips
http://www.bioneers.org/node/1446 - this is a cool interview with John Todd about Living Systems... turning grey and black water into usable water.
http://www.onegreenworld.com/ - for tree graphing info
http://www.soilandhealth.org/ - a great site from Australia on Soil building
That's it! But you can get more info from Ben if you write psdesigns@earthlink.net
Happy gardening,
d
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
World Ocean Day - June 8th
In honor of World Oceans Day (http://www.theoceanproject.org/wod/index.php) we had two activists and business people on the show today.
Sarah Graham the Program Liaison for Pacific Explorer Whale and Dolphin EcoTours (exploremontereybay.com)
Sarah says Ecotours have 6 principles they must adhere to...
1. They must raise sensitivity to travel destinations.
2. They must minimize impact.
3. They must build environmental awareness
4. Provide direct financial benefit for conservation
5. Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people.
6. Provide positive experiences.
If tour can do all of these things they can join the International Ecotourism Society. Check them out at http://www.ecotourism.org/.
Sarah made the point that if you pour used car oil or any toxic fluid down street drains, they'll flow to the bay and damage kelp which will in turn effect the abundance and quality of beer. Her generic person is "Steve from Kansas"... and he'll get the eco-connection via the threat to his favor drink.
She probably has an idea there.
And Frank Emerson from the Alliance of Communities of Sustainable Fisheries (http://www.alliancefisheries.com/)came in and we had a brief discussion on what the term sustainable fisheries are. Frank gave some great examples of healthy runs in Alaska, but left us hanging with a quick peak at the Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay.
http://www.renewableresourcescoalition.org/pebble_mine.htm
This project is so damaging to the environment it puts ANWAR in the kiddy pool.
We need to get involved in this one and not allow the applications for permits to be approved. "To properly understand the threat to Alaska's most prolific ecosystem, we recommend studying a map of the area which will indicate the most unfortunate location for the proposed mine. As former Governor Jay Hammond said "I can't imagine a worse location for a mine of this type unless it was in my kitchen"."
Check it out!
deb
Sarah Graham the Program Liaison for Pacific Explorer Whale and Dolphin EcoTours (exploremontereybay.com)
Sarah says Ecotours have 6 principles they must adhere to...
1. They must raise sensitivity to travel destinations.
2. They must minimize impact.
3. They must build environmental awareness
4. Provide direct financial benefit for conservation
5. Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people.
6. Provide positive experiences.
If tour can do all of these things they can join the International Ecotourism Society. Check them out at http://www.ecotourism.org/.
Sarah made the point that if you pour used car oil or any toxic fluid down street drains, they'll flow to the bay and damage kelp which will in turn effect the abundance and quality of beer. Her generic person is "Steve from Kansas"... and he'll get the eco-connection via the threat to his favor drink.
She probably has an idea there.
And Frank Emerson from the Alliance of Communities of Sustainable Fisheries (http://www.alliancefisheries.com/)came in and we had a brief discussion on what the term sustainable fisheries are. Frank gave some great examples of healthy runs in Alaska, but left us hanging with a quick peak at the Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay.
http://www.renewableresourcescoalition.org/pebble_mine.htm
This project is so damaging to the environment it puts ANWAR in the kiddy pool.
We need to get involved in this one and not allow the applications for permits to be approved. "To properly understand the threat to Alaska's most prolific ecosystem, we recommend studying a map of the area which will indicate the most unfortunate location for the proposed mine. As former Governor Jay Hammond said "I can't imagine a worse location for a mine of this type unless it was in my kitchen"."
Check it out!
deb
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Great Green Beer!
On Todays' show Greg Owsley Chief Branding Officer from New Belgium Brewing offered these tips for a better tomorrow...
1. Calculate your carbon footprint, just to know how much of an impact your creating in the world... a good site for that is at http://www.earthday.net/footprint.php.
2. Several Adages of New Belgium Brewing are 1. Walk before you talk, 2. Admit your flaws (always a good leadership policy) 3. Go with your soul and 4. Make ripples.
3. They're making ripples by giving to 1% for the Planet (onepercentfortheplanet.org), and by encouraging bike riding instead of personal vehicles ... check out Team Wonderbike at http://www.followyourfolly.com/folly_wonderbike.html to participate.
4. Profit is important in any business, but using that profit for activism is awesome! And placing caps on CEO salaries is a great way to walk your talk. The owner of New Belgium, Jeff, limits his income to 12x that of the lowest paid person.
5. Try using the "open book" management style, as in your employees have access to the company financials.
6. Companies need to consider themselves on the path to becoming sustainable, as it's an on going activity. We can always do better.
There's more to hear and learn.. click on the TM archives to listen to the show.
Cheers!
Deb
1. Calculate your carbon footprint, just to know how much of an impact your creating in the world... a good site for that is at http://www.earthday.net/footprint.php.
2. Several Adages of New Belgium Brewing are 1. Walk before you talk, 2. Admit your flaws (always a good leadership policy) 3. Go with your soul and 4. Make ripples.
3. They're making ripples by giving to 1% for the Planet (onepercentfortheplanet.org), and by encouraging bike riding instead of personal vehicles ... check out Team Wonderbike at http://www.followyourfolly.com/folly_wonderbike.html to participate.
4. Profit is important in any business, but using that profit for activism is awesome! And placing caps on CEO salaries is a great way to walk your talk. The owner of New Belgium, Jeff, limits his income to 12x that of the lowest paid person.
5. Try using the "open book" management style, as in your employees have access to the company financials.
6. Companies need to consider themselves on the path to becoming sustainable, as it's an on going activity. We can always do better.
There's more to hear and learn.. click on the TM archives to listen to the show.
Cheers!
Deb
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