Schools – The Many Shades of Green

Shift Happens in Communities with Dayna Reggero of The Climate Listening Project and Paula Swepson-Avery Executive Director of The West Marion Community Forum

“You Got the Power, I’ve seen you use it, they say you don’t have it, that’s how you lose it!” Mitch Margo from his song California Reggae Debate (You Got the Power)

We do have the power, and there are amazing people doing great work to make things better. The Climate Listening Project is a healing listening effort from award-winning documentarian Dayna Reggero to create safe spaces to connect and share hopeful conversations on climate change impacts and move forward towards community solutions. Dayna works within communities to listen and partner with nonprofit organizations and groups to help share the stories that need to be heard. She is working with Paula Swepson-Avery, Executive Director of The West Marion Community Forum. Paula’s quote on the Forum website states: “The best thing about the Forum is that it allows you to dream.”The mission of the Forum is to enhance the quality of life of its residents in McDowell County, North Carolina. This is done by showing compassion, advocating for policy and systems change, promoting economic development, sharing resources, empowering youth, and creating equitable outcomes for all.

In these times of uncertainty, I think we all find ourselves feeling helpless as to what we can do to make a difference. It is therefore more important than ever that we communicate, and truly listen to one another within our communities so that we can work together to be agents of change. Environmental justice and social justice must be supported and given priority in the conversations of those in government, organizations and with the citizenry. On this episode of TMSOG podcast, we talk to two amazing women who work to bring these important issues to the forefront. Dayna Reggero who is a friend of TMSOG, is an award-winning filmmaker and founding director of the Climate Listening Project. Her work has been recognized for amplifying voices that often go unheard in the mainstream climate conversation. We also speak with Paula Swepson-Avery who is the Executive Director of The West Marion Community Forum. The Forum helps engage residents to help them become leaders to create change through new businesses, empowered youth, affordable housing, teaching gardens, and a community center that creates opportunities for the future. We need to be proactive and be better listeners as we have the power, and we need to use it. For more information go to climatelisteningproject.org and westmarion.org
West Marion was donated a Community building that used to be a Black school that will be used as a local resilience hub: https://mcdowellnews.com/news/local/government-politics/marion-city-council-west-marion-inc-community-center-epa-grant-hudgins-high-mountain-view/article_00ee8a70-5fd9-11ef-9850-c3b3f4657839.html

Shift Happens in Communities: https://www.shifthappenstoolkit.org/

To listen to past TMSOG shows go to https://hudsonriverradio.com/ and https://malcolmpresents.com Follow The Many Shades of Green on FB and Instagram @tmshadesofgreen and on Blue Sky @tmshadesofgreen.bsky.social. Listen to TMSOG podcasts on all major podcast apps. #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

A Special shout out to Neil Richter for all of his help and engineering wizardry in getting TMSOG up and running each week.

TMSOG is proud to be on Feedspot’s list of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts.

Building a Bridge: Garden & Music Connections and Butterfly Wings with Educator, Gardener & Musician Paul Clarke

We are in Earth month, Spring is in the air, music’s in the air and cherry blossoms are putting on a show. The trees and bushes are sprouting their light green buds and we are surrounded by Mother Earth’s beauty. Animals and birds scurry about for food, picking at the ground for insects and seeds. The ecosystems are working in harmony and concurrent to this, Community and school gardens are gearing up to start planting for the season. According to the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, research shows school gardens have a positive impact on student learning, health, and nutrition. Gardening helps students become more engaged, as it is an immersive experience which teaches them valuable skills while establishing a greater sense of community. Our guest on this episode is Paul Clarke, a retired Special Ed teacher in NYC for over 25 years, who now works part-time as the Garden Coordinator of the Vito Marcantonio Community Peace Garden, an ongoing project he brought to life originally at P. S. 50, now Central Park East II. Paul is also a life-long song writer, and he calls his genre Theatrical Pop with Conscience. Before he began teaching, Paul participated in Music Under New York, an MTA-sponsored program that promotes subway musicians. He also wrote and performed musicals with homeless New Yorkers via a not-for-profit Manhattan community outreach program. We play his tune Build A Bridge, which has beautiful music and lyrics. Paul believes that beauty, nature, and kindness are powerful healers in our broken world. For more info go to paulclarkesongs.com. To get additional info about school gardens in NYC go to GrowNYC.org. To listen to past TMSOG shows go to HudsonRiverRadio.com and Malcolmpresents.com. Follow The Many Shades of Green on Facebook, Instagram and Threads @tmshadesofgreen. Listen to TMSOG podcast on all major podcast apps. #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

TMSOG is proud to be on Feedspot’s list of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts to follow in 2024 https://podcasts.feedspot.com/environmental_podcasts/

Food Scrap programs, Recycle Rangers, and yes, you can recycle used paint cans in NYS, plus more great information on the importance of local community eco-actions with Michelle Sterling and Youth Environmentalist Alexa Troob

The Power of Local community action is essential to empower communities to become resilient. Actions on the local level build a sense of ownership and responsibility and improves the effectiveness of initiatives which promote sustainability. Local governments, schools and organizations must address the climate concerns of the residents in their communities, which helps promote sustainable practices in their towns and villages in order to get green initiatives passed. What happens locally goes global! Our guest on this episode of TMOSG is Michelle Sterling, who has been instrumental in launching sustainability initiatives throughout Scarsdale and Westchester County. She is the co-chair of Scarsdale’s Sustainability committee and is on their Conservation council as well. Michelle works with her sustainability partner Ron Schulhof, to help Scarsdale Village, as well as all seven Scarsdale Schools and a number of Scarsdale Houses of Worship, launch food scrap recycling and zero waste programs. Their efforts have made a tremendous impact within the community as well as throughout Westchester County, and they have now helped 21 towns within in the county, and several towns outside of Westchester start municipal food scrap recycling programs. We are also joined by Alexa Troob, who is a youth champion of the environment, a journalist and a student member of the Sustainability Advisory Board in the Town of New Castle New York. We discuss the Food Scrap Program in Scarsdale, the EPR Packaging Bill in NYS and the Paint Recycling Program. To reach out to Michelle email her at: [email protected]. Some helpful links are below:

https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/recycling-composting/postconsumer-paint-collection

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/20022024/environmental-groups-eye-potential-win-with-new-york-packaging-bill/

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S4246/amendment/A

For past shows go to HudsonRiverRadio.com, MalcolmPresents.com and themanyshadesofgreen.com. Listen to the podcast on apps via Amazon, Apple, Spotify, Spreaker.com and more. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Threads @tmshadesofgreen. TMSOG is proud to be #8 on Feedspot’s 50 Best Environmental podcasts to follow in 2024 https://podcasts.feedspot.com/environmental_podcasts/

The Essential Role of Local Journalism with Adam Stone, Publisher of The Examiner

“The health of a democracy depends in no small part on the vitality of an independent press. Studies across the world continue to demonstrate that access to a robust news system, free from institutional censorship or influence, plays an essential role in effective democracy.” Quote from The Knight Foundation and Gallup, American Views 2022: Part 1

According to the American Journalism Project, local news bridges divides in communities, showcases opportunities for community connection, highlights community perspectives, and sheds light on how policy issues affect readers and their neighbors. Most local issues require the thoroughness, understanding, and diligence that only local, on-the-ground reporters are equipped to provide. The national media is astoundingly out of touch with Americans, with 1 in 5 newsroom employees based in New York, Los Angeles, or Washington, DC. Local news is an essential check on local government and helps improve communities. A robust press is vital to a healthy democracy and newsrooms need resources to create reliable news that is accessible and free from influence. We need to know who is holding local elected officials accountable, who is reporting from the state legislatures, who is covering all the town councils, school board and pubic hearings, court proceedings, environmental policy, school sports, town events and so much more. It is local news publications that provide this vital information, and carry out their important function in keeping the public informed. On this episode of TMSOG, Adam Stone, Publisher of The Examiner, a local print/digital newspaper covering Westchester County, NY discusses the importance of local news as a check on democratic institutions. Adam’s article about how the failure of New York State in operating certain disability programs, which had disastrous effects on local disabled individuals, was highlighted by the New York Times on its list of outstanding local journalism. It is a prime example of local journalism at its best: (see The Examiner News, New York: How the state’s disability program fails locals). Please support local press! For more info go to theexaminernews.com and check out new and archived articles.

For past shows go to HudsonRiverRadio.com, Malcolmpresents.com, and themanyshadesofgreen.com. Follow TMSOG on Facebook, Instagram and Threads @tmshadesofgreen. Listen to the podcast on all major podcast apps (Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart via Spreaker.com and more). TMSOG is proud to be on the Feedspot top 50 Environmental podcasts to follow in 2024 (TMSOG is number 8). For info go to: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/environmental_podcasts/

#RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

Teaching Kids to Garden with Karen Bazik Super Gardener and Educator

There was an animated TV show in 1991 called Captain Planet, which brought the need to protect planet Earth to the forefront. Gaia, the spirit of the planet, assembled a diverse team of “Planeteers” who were able to combine their powers to summon the appearance of superhero Captain Planet, who worked with the Planeteers to defend Earth from pollution caused by villains. It is a series that should be revived and perhaps tweaked a bit for 2023, to help children understand the need to protect the Earth. The program led to the formation of the Captain Planet Foundation, which gives grants to youth gardens and youth climate education. According to kidsgardening.org the youth garden movement has grown steadily in the past decade as more educators, caregivers, and families get excited about garden-based learning opportunities for kids. With that, the number of national and state grants available for youth gardens has increased. Teaching kids to be stewards of the earth is essential in creating new generations who are aware of the need to be proactive in protecting Mother Nature. Our guest on this episode is Karen Bazik who is working to educate kids about nature and gardening. She does wonderful innovative and impactful work with kids and young people as a native plant nature educator and mentor in her role as the leader of the Chappaqua Garden Club’s “Junior Garden Club” program. Karen is doing incredible native planting work with kids at the Chappaqua Library and will be hosting the “Great Pollinator Planting Event” taking place June 2nd 3-5 at the Chappaqua Public Library. https://www.chappaqualibrary.org/special-programs. Also visit New Castle Healthy Yards on Facebook.

For past shows go to HudsonRiverRadio.com and Malcolmpresents.com. Please subscribe to TMSOG podcast on Spotify, Apple, iHeart, Spreaker.com and more. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @tmshadesofgreen #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

The Rewilding School with Founder Eric Stone

We are living in stressful times, and connecting with nature is a way to become calmer and more centered. Being in a forest, on a beach or any open space adds to ones sense of well being, and provides a needed respite from the day to day grind of life. While being locked up during covid was horrific on so many levels, it brought more people outdoors, as walks in the woods or any open space provided exercise and benefits to your psyche. Children especially needed to connect to the outdoors and play in a park, make a snowman, build a sand castle, climb a tree, spot fireflies or listen to the songs of the birds. In our busy work-a-day lives, it’s good to know that there are people who help us connect with nature, and with each other. In this episode we talk to Eric Stone, who is a true nature connector. Eric is the founder of The Rewilding School, an outdoor education organization he runs with his partner Megan, which is dedicated to building connections between people and the traditional lands of the Wappinger and Lenape that we now call The Lower Hudson Valley. The Rewilding School runs preschool programs, hands-on summer programs, parent child classes, and workshops for school-age kids. For more info go to rewildingschool.com and @rewildingschool

To listen to current and past shows go to hudsonriverradio.com and malcolmpresents.com. Follow TMSOG on Facebook and Instagram @tmshadesofgreen. Subscribe to our podcast on all major podcast apps. #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

How to Teach Your Kids about Climate Change with guest Harriet Shugarman

Our guest this week, Harriet Shugarman, wrote the book, How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change:Turning Angst into Action, which provides tools and strategies for parents to explain the climate emergency to their children and galvanize positive action. Harriet is the Executive Director of ClimateMama, a professor of Climate Change and Society and World Sustainability, and Chair of the Climate Reality Project, NYC Metro Chapter. She is a nationally recognized influencer, connector, and trusted messenger for parents on solutions to our climate crisis. Harriet is a recipient of the prestigious Climate Reality Green Ring Award, and has been praised by Al Gore as “an outstanding Climate Reality Leader, who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to her role as a climate communicator and activist.” For more info go to ClimateMama.com, climaterealityproject.org, malcolmpresents.com and HudsonRiverradio.com. Tweet us your thoughts @tmshadesofgreen #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

Listen to “Harriet Shugarman – the Climate Mama” on Spreaker.

Food Systems, Community Gardens, and the pandemic

The current pandemic has highlighted problems with our food system, as food waste and food insecurity must be addressed more than ever. On this show Green Divas Meg, Max, Lisa and Elly delve into topics about food, how to get fresh food to communities in need, and how Community Gardens help in that area. We also discuss the need to build your immune system in the era of COVID, the Drawdown Project (drawdown.org), cows emitting methane (and no, it’s not cow farts), and the importance of growing your own food. Guest Dr. Susan Rubin talks about teaching children to garden, food pantries, gorilla gardens which helped start the Community Garden movement, and more. Check out the 50 Shades of Green Divas Podcast on Spotify, Buzzsprout, Stitcher, Apple Music, iHeart, and HudsonRiverRadio.com. Ask Alexa or Siri to play The Green Divas podcast, and check out the webpage thegreendivas.com

#1617: Green Sex For Climate’s Sake

Green Sex for Climate’s Sake (Yes, Green Sex is a shade of green)

There is no single solution for climate change…but separating sex from childbearing represents an under appreciated opportunity to forestall climate disaster…for the climate, family planning’s potential benefits are profound.

Those are the words of my guest this week, Alisha Graves, who is the co-founder of the OASIS Initiative (a project of UC, Berkeley which focuses on reducing population growth and poverty in the Sahel region of Africa). Her recent article, “Green Sex for Climate’s Sake,” debates the link between carbon emissions and population, and the need to educate young women, as well as young men, about contraception, family planning and health. For more information go to: oasisinititative.berkeley.edu and projectdrawdown.org.

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Get the Lead Out

By Susan Lutz

Tests came back from our school’s water samples. The results indicated elevated levels of lead and copper in faucets throughout the system. Drinking fountains were shut off; signs posted. Our school initiated testing, something they did voluntarily. Many samples were “first draws,” from the water sitting in the faucets during the night. Fixing water supplies is a difficult and expensive task. I threw extra water bottles for my son into his backpack. He’d been in some of the rooms that tested positive. Water fountains are located right in many of the rooms. He loves drinking fountains. I’ve watched kids saunter up to fountains after a good romp on the playground. They are empowered, quenching their thirst on their terms and rewarding their body and mind for a job well done. Clear and cold, the water tasted great and at the same time, full of toxins.

Flint, Michigan. Once the words meant simple a town, now they spell a disaster. Many schools around the country report problems with their water supply. Old buildings mean aging pipes. Schools struggle with budgets to keep up everything from teachers to infrastructure. The story in Flint raised a flag of the dangers in our waters supply across the country.

I’ve always worried about toxins in water. When I lived in Central America, water was checked for the levels of cockroach droppings in it. Chlorine was a regular addition to many water supplies. I tried keeping up with buying bottled water, but news reports showed even that supply was tainted, and, the price kept going up. Bottled water adds yet another dimension to the environmental impact that fills the land with plastic. Many of the brands of bottled water are not better than the water from the tap and the cost can be 2000 times more than tap water. Yet, now what? Does bottled water now return as our water source? What do we do?

My son runs to a water fountain with such glee. The water flies out, and he takes a sip. I can’t always stop him. Even in school, signs are posted to not drink out of certain fountains. My child can’t read those yet. At the library, the shopping center, or any other public places, water now makes me worry. We make messes that become so hard to clean up. From the little plastic, disposable coffee K-cup, to the use of plastic bags, to glow-in-the dark plastic wands, I have a choice to consume these or not. Though not always easy to avoid, I feel maybe I have a fighting chance. With water, however, we as a nation must deal with it. We start with schools, and then we must move on to open our eyes and not ignore the problem that most likely is flowing everywhere we drink.

WECAN: Women’s Earth & Climate Action Network

This weeks episode takes us to the Global Women’s Climate Justice Day of Action at the UN, sponsored by the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN). This event was attended by women from over 50 countries. To have such a collection of amazing women in one place, who presented stories of courage and resilience in combating climate change was deeply touching. Women play a key role in adapting solutions to climate change, and it was an honor to speak with WECAN founder Osprey Lake, environmentalist visionary Sally Ranney, as well as Neha Misra founder of Solar Sister, Harriet Shugarman Executive Director of ClimateMama, Executive Director of CELF Katie Ginsberg and student Coreena, and Patricia Gualinga-Montalvo, Indigenous Leader of Ecuador, whose interview was translated by Amazon Watch’s Executive Director Leila Salazar-López. For more information visit wecaninternational.org

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#1538: NY Senator Liz Krueger

How compassionate is the New York State Compassionate Care Act of 2014 legalizing the use of medical marijuana? My guest this week, New York State Senator Liz Krueger, a lead advocate for legalizing marijuana for both medicinal and also for recreational use, gives us some insight into the pros and cons of the current bill, and why it needs to be enhanced to allow coverage for more diseases. Senator Krueger has also sponsored the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act to limit the investment in oil and gas stocks in NYS pension funds. For more information go to: nysenate.gov/senators/Liz-Kruger or send a tweet @LizKrueger

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