Category: Climate Change

1805 Using the Law to battle climate change with Maya Van Rossum and John Parker

Using the law to battle climate change, this episode of 50 Shades of Green Divas focuses on how the legal system is an important tool in combating global warming. We talk to Maya Van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper, and author of the book, The Green Amendment: Securing Our Right to a Healthy Environment and John Parker, environmental lawyer and Adjunct Professor of Law at the Elizabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. Maya and John give us examples of recent court actions which have been successful in the fight to keep the planet clean and green. We also touch on how the kids are leading the way, not only on the gun issue, but on the environment via the case Juliana v. The US. Their complaint asserts that, through the government’s affirmative actions that cause climate change, it has violated the youngest generation’s constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property, and has failed to protect essential public trust resources. Mix in some weird science facts on space and Douglas Adams, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, and you have the classic Green Divas Meg and Max at their podcast best.

For more info check out delawareriverkeeper.org, LEAF-Legal Environmental Fund of theHudson Valley (Susan Shapiro 845.371.2100), thegreendivas.com, themanyshadesofgreen.com   Tweet us @TheGreen Divas, @50ShadesofGDs, @tmshadesofgreen and @parkjlp (John Parker).

 

1804 Before the Flood with Green Dude Fisher Stevens talking about Climate Change and Leonardo DiCaprio

This episode of Green Dudes features Fisher Stevens, Academy Award winner for the documentary film, The Cove, and a wonderful actor and activist. He directed the Eco-documentary, Before the Flood, which follows Leonardo DiCaprio as he meets with activists, scientists and world leaders to discuss the dangers of climate change and possible solutions. Green Diva Meg chats with Fisher about the film. I met Fisher Stevens at a screening of the documentary at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, NY, and we talked about the movie, and briefly discussed how important it is to get the message out to all Earthlings, that we must be proactive in pushing forward ideas and solutions, to make the planet a cleaner and healthier place to live. For more info go to beforetheflood.com, thegreendivas.com, tweet us @50ShadesofGDs, @TheGreenDivas, @tmshadesofgreen, @BeforeTheFlood_        #BeforeTheFlood

 

 

1803 Van Jones, Vien Truong, Rev Yearwood discuss Poverty, Pollution and Climate Justice

The most vulnerable members of society bear the brunt of adverse pollution effects. This is becoming more prevalent each day, as we see what has happened in Flint Michigan and the Port of Newark. Pollutants fill the air and water in lower and middle class neighborhoods, where the population is at greater risk both medically and financially.  This episode brings in three powerful community leaders, Van Jones, Vien Truong and Reverend Yearwood to discuss this important issue.  Cheech and Chong and Harold and Kumar also get mentioned, as spotted owls need to be saved from black market marijuana growers in CA.  There is also the story of Camels and Botox, yup you read that right.  So tune in, be informed and be active. It’s time to be Green for All! For more info go to greenforall.org, hiphopcaucus.org, vanjones.net

Also visit thegreendivas.com and tweet us @TheGreenDivas, @tmshadesofgreen and @50ShadesofGDs

 

1717 #StopSucking, Strawless Oceans, and Strawsome

Green Diva Meg and I speak  with Dune Ives, Co-founder of the Lonely Whale Foundation, which has a campaign to reduce how plastic straws find their way into the ocean.  Check out their Strawless Ocean (#StopSucking) campaign.

Plastics wind up in are the ocean via land and are carried by the wind and rain into the sea. Grocery bags, coffee cup lids, plastic bottles, straws and more. We need to work to stop this from happening.

One solution is in the form of glass straws, and we speak to Daedra Surowiec, Founder of Strawsome, which produces beautiful glass straws as an alternative to the polluting plastic version. They even designed a straw for the 50 Shades of Green Divas, called the GD Straw. Details coming soon on how you can purchase them.

Will we be able to get the now crippled EPA to regulate plastics as a pollutant under the Clean Water? Find out by going to:biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/oceans and getting more info.

For additional info go to: lonelywhale.org, strawsome.com, thegreendivas.com and themanyshadesofgreen.com

 

 

 

1712 Suburban Coyotes and the need to coexist

Did you know that Wyle E. Coyote of Looney Tunes fame is cousins with Tech E Coyote, the main character in Loonatics Unleashed? We didn’t either, but if you toon in (ha!) you will find out the connection, as well as get important information on the suburbanization of coyotes, and how we can coexist with them. We talk with Victoria Alzapiedi who has vast knowledge on the subject, and we will help you understand their habits, and how we can live in harmony.

For more info check out: dec.ny.gov/animals/9359.html
#RaiseYourEcoConsciousness#TheGreenDIvas#TheManyShadesofGreen

1709 Fisheries and Fish Tales

Sustainable Fishing, Tish, the world’s oldest goldfish, and other fish tales are touched on in the latest episode of 50 Shades of Green Divas. We chat with Noah Bressman, a marine biologist about fisheries, the fishing industry, how to tell if the fish you buy is safe to consume, and other fish stories.
go to thegreendivas.com and themanyshadesofgreen.com for more

 

1708 Population Does Matter

Population does matter. The Earth cannot continue to produce the resources needed to keep both humans and the animal kingdom alive and well without changing our behavior. Tune in to 50 Shades of Green Divas (thegreendivas.com) and The Many Shades of Green (themanyshadesofgreen.com), and check out our conversation with guest Robert Walker, President of The Population Institute, as we talk about issues of population. For more information go to populationinstitute.org. #PopulationDoesMatter

 

#1702 Activism, Actors, Eco-Thriller Film “A Crack in Everything” with guests Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award Winner James Cromwell, and Director and Activist Varushka Franceschi

#1702 Activism, Actors, Eco-Thriller Film “A Crack in Everything”

The wonderful Academy Award nominated and Emmy winning actor and activist James Cromwell, and the lovely Varushka Franceschi, director of the film, A Crack in Everything, are our special guests on 50 Shades of Green Divas.
We talk about the environment, social justice, resistance, the eco-thriller film A Crack in Everything and the HBO series The Young Pope. Tune in and find your shade of green. For more information visit: www.crackineverything.com
HBO.com/the-young-pope
https://www.facebook.com/crackineverythingthefilm/
https://twitter.com/crackinevrythng
thegreendivas.com
themanyshadesofgreen.com

 

#1622 Holiday Show, Comfort and Joy (Rose), Motherhood, Token Bros, Merry, Merry!

This week’s episode of 50 Shades of Green Divas/The Many Shades of Green is our holiday special, and it features Joy Rose, founder of the Museum of Motherhood, the Mamapalooza Festival, the Moms Who Rock movement, and music from the band Housewives on Prozac. Green Diva Meg and I bring you holiday cheer, a tune from The Tokens, and some post election thoughts.  We discuss the importance of raising one’s voice to be proactive, so that we can help mend the divisions within our nation. So have a Merry, Merry and a Happy 2017! For more info go to mommuseum.org, thetokens.com, thegreendivas.com and themanyshadesofgreen.com. Wishing everyone Peace, Love and Understanding……

1621 Climate Monologues, Climate Change and Irthlingz

#1621 Climate Monologues,  Stories of Climate Change and the plight of all Irthlingz

I caught up with Sharon Abreu after a performance of her one woman show, The Climate Monologues, at the United Solo Theatre in New York City. Sharon channels the voices of people affected by climate change, and brings their stories to life via monologues and music. Check out more by visiting:

climatemonologues.com, irthlingz.com and send Sharon a tweet @SharonAbreu

 

#1620 Rock and Wrap It Up

This episode of 50 Shades of Green Divas features Syd Mandelbaum, founder of Rock and Wrap it Up, an anti-poverty think tank, which works to feed those in need by taking unserved food from concert and sporting events, and delivering what is collected to local food charities. This not only helps feed those who go hungry, it minimizes waste in landfills, and thus reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The organization is also working to feed veterans and get needed supplies to women who cannot afford feminine products. For more information go to rockandwrapitup.org

 

Getting Fed Up

 

By Susan Lutz

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is watch. We know we should speak up. We know we should act. But, at times, we must let go and watch.

For years I’ve watched young people around me participate in life according to what others have told them. Advertisers cram sugar down kids’ throats; plastic toys fill up bins; we consume and consume and create chaos in our drive to satiate our desires.

I’ve worked to be a model for my kids in how I eat. I speak up about how the milk on the table is made and where the eggs in the carton come from. I show them videos about ecology, recycling, and humane treatment to animals. After awhile, I feel like the teacher in the comic strip, the Peanuts: bla bla bla – after awhile, my message thinned over the airwaves of our home. I knew some was getting in, but society pushes hard. I gave up on some issues, even warmed to a few I once staunchly disliked (i.e. Disney comes to mind).

As I watched my kids and friends’ kids grow, I’d learn of one becoming a vegetarian, another off to build a solar boat, and others blossoming in their awareness of the environment. When a young person’s mind turns on, it’s an amazing thing to stand witness too.

After a class of kids I know saw the documentary film, Fed Up, some were appalled at the treatment of our food system and as if awoken from their childhood world and were shocked at how corporations had a grip on what went into our food. Some I talked to truly empathized with people in the story, suffering from obesity or health issues all so companies could turn a buck.

The light bulbs didn’t just go on – the passion arose. I could see their minds ticking and their ire rise. Discovering the message the film was way more powerful than me just babbling on about it at the dinner table. I am sure the message will fade and settle over time but perhaps a few will let it truly sink in.

The hard truth is we have to go back into the grocery stores, feed our families, and ourselves drink our water, and breathe the polluted air. Cutting out sugar is a lot harder once we realize it is in almost everything we eat. Yet, the power in what they now know gives me the confidence to now watch as they take on these issues for a new generation. And, once they’ve grabbed on and owned it, we can join together and speak up with a louder voice than before.