The Earth Savers Blog

The Mythic Warrior Program for Men

Sparrow Heart wrote to me this week to let me know he is about to begin the nine month Mythic Warrior program for men. 

I interviewed Sparrow for the Earth Savers Blog over a year ago and never posted the interview.  I consider him a true Earth Saver because he has taken a good long look at what makes a man a man, and brought to them a program for accessing their hopes, dreams, and vision for their future. I wanted to help him by spreading the news of the upcoming program:

In his own words:

"Nearly all men have the experience of being under-fathered, and consequently, over-mothered. We have grown up in our mother's castle, and although we may have physically left, very few of us have really separated. Mother comes with us, standing between us and other men, projected onto women in our lives. Without love, guidance and teaching from fathers and elders, we struggle with how to become, and what it means to be a man.

Without fathers, elders to initiate us into a sacred sense of masculinity, to ground us in the spiritual and emotional life of men, we are confused about power. Having no positive, male mode of personal power, we react to the omnipresent feminine: we push it away, degrading and trying to dominate it in ourselves and in women; we submit, trying to become nice men, good boys. Overly passive or overly aggressive, men are often, at their core, lost. We vacillate, dependent, somehow needing to separate, unable to commit, unable to leave."

and then his email:

  I never know how to address a letter that I'm sending to a list, but here it is. This announcement is about a men's program, and I'm sending it to those who've expressed interest in either the vision quests or workshops I lead.
 
    In a little over a month I'll start this year's Mythic Warrior program. Many men, perhaps most, are isolated and don't have a vibrant male community in which to explore the deeper yearnings of their souls. The Mythic Warrior is such a place. It follows the myth of the hero's journey as applied to men's lives in a circle of men committed to self-discovery and healing. It's a wild and tender rise, and I don't think there's anything like this program anywhere.
 
    My email lists aren't divided by gender. So if this announcement reaches you, and you're a man who is interested in coming, I'd love to hear from you. Or if you are a woman (or a man who won't be coming yourself) and know any men who would be drawn to come, I'd like to ask your help in getting the word out by passing this announcement along to a man you think might be interested. Or, if you're willing to leave some flyers in a food coop, conference center, alternative bookstore, or gathering place in your area you think people conducive to this program might frequent, I'll be happy send you some.
 
    Thanks so much, and I hope to hear from you.
 
    Blessings,
 
Sparrow Hart
www.questforvision.com

Interview #10 Earth Saver Mr. John Bradford VP Operations & Research Development, InterfaceFlor

Who is John Bradford and why should you care?

I really want you to care about Earth Saver John Bradford because he's a technical and thought leader in the environmental movement. When I visited their team in Georgia, I had a first hand opportunity to see what all the fuss was about. The fuss is that there is no fuss.

I met with John Bradford, Ray Anderson, Ray's Daughter is Mary Ann Lanier who manages Interface Flor Education Fund, and Joyce LaValle who the VP of Marketing for Interface Americas.  I felt  kind of like I was meeting with my family. There were no pretenses, airs, or agenda. They genuinely wanted to hear about what we are up to with the Earth Savers Gang, and how they could help. I decided I wanted to interview John for our series after learning how much he has contributed to his company, and toward the environmental movement. John drove me to back to the airport in his farm pick up, and as we rambled along the highways he told me about his family, his passion, and his motivation. John is a pioneer in the new industrial revolution, and he's doing it one carpet tile at a time.

Here is his official Bio:

John Bradford is VP Operations & Research and Development, Interface FLOR Commercial
Holding 16 years’ experience in research and development, and several patents, Bradford has helped drive InterfaceFLOR Commercial’s status as a leader in innovation and sustainability.  An engineer by trade and expert in both product and process development, Bradford has helped the carpet manufacturer reduce its environmental footprint by more than one third over his 10-year tenure; the company’s stated goal is zero footprint by 2020.  He is the company’s connecting point between technical research and conception, product development, manufacturing, marketing and product introduction to the marketplace.  This effort has resulted in new product categories for the industry as well as significant technological breakthroughs that are helping Interface distance itself from the petroleum well head. Recent innovations developed under John’s leadership include TacTiles, a no-glue installation method; Cool Blue, a backing line utilizing recycled carpet components; the industry’s first technology to reclaim and recycle nylon 6,6 for the commercial market; and energy conversions throughout manufacturing facilities that include renewable energy and a partnership with the City of LaGrange to harness methane gas from the local landfill for power generation. A resident of LaGrange, GA., Bradford and his wife, Nancy, have three children Julia, Bo and Jack.


MR: What does global warming mean to you?

JB: Global warming means that human behavior is impacting the operating temp of the earth. The temperature is going up small percentages at a time- effecting the way we do life. Seemingly insignificant, but think of it this way: if your body temp goes up by a few degrees you will certainly realize that you are not feeling “well.”  Your own body is a small microcosm of how the earth works....even one or two degrees is incredibly significant for any species.... If we are walking around with an elevated temperature we are not operating under our optimum capabilities. Our bodies energy is working to fight infection. This is basically what is happening to the planet. We have undermined the perfect natural health of the planet...and she is sick. She is not operating at optimum capabilities.

MR: Help me understand the difference between natural vs. unnatural cycles of global warming.

JB: The distinction is this: warming from natural cycles vs unnatural cycles...I make this distinction because it’s hard for people to understand what the real difference is.
Yes...it’s true that the planet’s temperature has always increased or decreased due to the natural cycles of natural carbon creation. However, when this natural cycle is taking place...the earth can regulate itself and establish the balance it needs to still operate at it’s optimum level.

What humans do however, especially with our extraction of oil from the earth ...is we take, and we do not put back. In other words we disrupt the cycle...the natural re-cycle that must happen for the earth to be able to regulate itself.

When we manufacture petroleum based products we add excessive carbon to the atmosphere, and then we don’t do anything creative with it. The carbon just “hang’s out” in our atmosphere increasing temperatures. Humans have a “take make waste” system, and our challenge is to teach that should only take what we can replenish.

Another way to look at this difference is this;  Nature has a closed loop system.  It closes it’s own loop naturally. Take the existence of a tree. The tree grows, matures, decays, dies, and gets reabsorbed. The carbon output it makes in it’s cycle gets regulated in the cycle.

What we take, we do not put back. This means that we are depleting, and plundering, and basically undermining the earths basic need to have this system mimicked.
Mother nature is the great regulator. Many of us have witnessed her in action. She is a powerful force..and we are merely fleas on her back. We are starting to give her a strong reason to scratch. Nature is now trying to regulate herself and in doing so we can witness her erratic behavior and increased propensity for very temperamental weather patterns etc.

Our excessive abuse of this has meant a massive increase in warming due to human activity. When we burn oil, all we do is accumulate C02.  There are not nearly enough trees or plants to counteract the sheer volume of emissions, and so the earths temperature is steadily rising, and as it rises it disrupts every ecosystem in it’s wake. Animals, atmosphere, water, land, and humans too. We are destroying our own habitat by doing this.

MR: So John...in your opinion how do we break this vicious cycle...or lack of cycle?

JB: When thinking of sustainability, and breaking this habit we have to consider closing the loop. Our mentality is to throw away...and every time we purchase a bright shiny new replacement....we have to think, where is the old one going and what went into making the new one? Usually oil. and many times the things we manufacture out of oil are non-renewable. They don’t bio degrade and they will not be reabsorbed into the earth. This is not good. We need to think about manufacturing in a sustainable way. We need to think about how to close the loop, and make products that when their usefulness is over, that we can rest easy that they will be absorbed back into the earth, and regenerate a new use and then the cycle continues.

At this point, we have what I call “an action with no reaction”  we have nothing in place to to counteract the effects of our output of carbon. We are not using the CO2 we create in a useful way, we are simply increasing the concentration of it and therefore making the temperature rise.

MR: So if I am a parent John- I’m busy, overwhelmed, I am seeing information coming at me about going green and it’s importance but I really don’t quite understand why...what would you tell me to do?

JB: Don’t be overwhelmed. Just do something. Many of us read or have a conversation, and then do nothing with the information.  It would take a few simple steps to put one eco tip into action

Today would not be the day to read an eco tip and do nothing. I believe that time is running out.  I believe that we will be affected 20-25 years from now.... if we do not stop making bad choices today our future generations don’t stand a chance. Read a tip and DO the tip. Put it into action. You have to start somewhere. Just do something.

MR: Speaking of generations...where do you see we might have a gap?

JB: We’ve definitely  got a generational gap going on right now, and we can use it to our advantage.  My generation learned their values due to our exchange of information. It was so much slower. Think how tweens communicate today...everything is in real time. Text messaging, the information age, web 2.0. The information is at peoples fingertips now, but it’s the tween’s of today that will really be able to absorb information at a very quick pace and turn that data into action. I think our generation - older generations have got to support tweens in being in action however, and not being passive observers.

The challenge is getting them related to nature. Making them apply what they are learning, because otherwise it gets lost inside all the other data that is getting thrown at them.  Today information has to be more meaningful and experiential- as educators our challenge is the sheer volume of info that comes through their world, and supporting them in finding a way to make what they are learning stick.
I think that with the Earth Savers Gang - it’s relational - informative, learning by doing, action oriented, what you are building with your online and offline missions will make a huge difference. Teaching kids how they can have both the natural and virtual worlds and use one to impact the other in a more meaningful and socially responsible way.


For instance, when I was young, if I wanted to learn about something I would take something apart and put it back together. Now, if they want o learn how a radio works they can read about it, and then take it apart and learn about it. It became intrenched because I was doing it.

My generation did things on a schedule. When you had it on your schedule- you gave the task your full attention and got it done. Even though I have a cell phone now, the way that I operate and get things done is still the same. I can easily turn my cell phone off and answer the messages later in the day and return the call.

Our tween generation it’s all real time. They are bombarded with instant messaging, and information from every angle. They are less likely to apply themselves to a schedule like the one I am suggesting because their world never operated that way to begin with.

If I look at my parents generation the way they made decisions was face to face. They needed facial expressions and body language. They don’t understand the information age. It’s scary to them and completely foreign. The gap of understanding from one generation to another is very large.

Family influence and a huge thing for kids and it’s very very critical, but the influence of our kids piers and what they are exposed to and influenced by is a huge part of who they are going to become.

MR: So what do we do? As parents?

JB: Introduce them to nature any and every way that you can.  Lets face it, every family and how we raise our children all very different. One might respond differently to one thing vs another and another but a key element of my own children’s growth and understanding how nature works is by being in it.  We made an effort to get into it. Walk the farm, go to the orchard, climb, whatever. We use the opportunity to talk, observe, and question. Everything comes back to the conversation of the natural cycle and order of life.

My kids are all teens now- they are aware of the global conflicts that are taking place.They are wise to the flexing of military muscle, the violence in schools, the consumerism that is misleading our culture. This generation also vividly remembers 9/11 it’s indelible imprint on their life. They want answers...where does this hatred some from?  They know it’s based on deals we have made over time...deals that largely have to do with the hoarding, greed, and economical impact over oil. This plays back to the natural resources have been given to us...how we have used, misused, fought and warred over them. They want to know, at what point did we start to honor money, fame, and celebrity over honoring the very habitat that gives us the gift of life?

Unfortunately now, we are so separate from understanding how the world really works - the grave consequences of separating ourselves so entirely from nature one of ignorance.

There is a lot of educating to do, and a lot of action to be taken. The good news is that kids believe in the power they possess to get the job done. Harnessing their natural inclination for optimism and their zest for learning and their energy and we will be well on our way. I’d like to think the Earth Savers Gang project is one of the great ideas out there that can teach kids how to apply the knowledge to elevate global consciousness.

The opportunity, if we really collectively give it the credit and significance it deserves is a deal breaker.  We have the opportunity to achieve a global goal collectively as human beings. This is unbelievably special, and real.

MR: John, if you asked my reader to do one or two things...to start somewhere, what would you tell them.

JB:  TWO THINGS: RECYCLE AND COMPOST
The reason why is that it touches the two major transformations we have to make as a culture to reach sustainability. Both teach and allow practice of the closed loop system I spoke of earlier. If you do these two things, which every single person can do...you are actually making a HUGE difference. You are closing the loop. Giving back to nature what it needs to regenerate.

MR; What is your favorite movie?

JB: Second Hand Lions- story about two old guys who live on a farm away from everything. They have a nephew who comes to live with them who is about eight years old I think. I loved the  story telling part of it was compelling because I grew up in a family of story tellers. I also loved the fantastical part of the story because these two  regular guys who told stories of things they that were so extraordinary they were actualy unbelievable. Their whole life was an adventure and their used their ordinary gifts to make extraordinary moments. I think it resonates with me because it’s so true of ourselves as humans. We are given or discover our own unique talents and they are ordinary talents, but used to their maximum potential we have the same opportunity. It’s a matter of believing in yourself. Believing in the power of one. You make your life’s adventure. Life does not happen to you...you happen to it.

MR: What is your favorite Book?

JB:
The LORAX by Dr. Seuss.
The Art of Zen and Motorcycle Maintenance- It’s philosophy but it gets down to who you are and how you created who you are in your mind. It gets to the essence - it’s deep, but so great. The reading is great for anyone who is searching.
Bio Mimicry  ...learn from nature it instead of trying to control it.
The Ecology of Commerce. - Deep for business people- It’s the thing that started our industrial revolution inside of interface.
Vital Signs- if you were the CEO of this economy what would be the key indicators you would look at...trends on those. It’s a comprehensive book on that that would open everyones eyes about where our world is headed.

MR: Who is your eco hero?: Ray Anderson: The founder of Interface.

MR: Who is your favorite Earth Savers Gang Character and why?


JB: I’m Ernie personality wise: I’m a Farmer, a soil saver- but my passion is around energy...and so I choose Zach. I guess I am a cross between them.



MR; What is your little bit every day that you do , that you think makes a difference?

JB: I work to focus on how to make “take make waste” into a cyclical system without totally upsetting the profitability of the business. God gave me all the gifts to take all those moving parts and develop a strategy. So I do it for both interface and myself.

I love my work in sustainable development. I love the challenge of communicating across all generations the importance and the emergency that is the state of the environment today. I look for opportunities to restore our place in nature. I consider this my gift, that inspires and motivates me for our future generations. My children..your children..their children.

MR: Where can you most likely be found on a Friday Night?
High-school football game watching my daughter Julia (age 17) cheer.

Interview #9 Earth Saver Michelle Davies Managing Director of Lightmaker Orlando

Who is Michelle Davies and why should you care?

Born: Michelle Cunningham in Bristol, England in 1972, Married to Nick Davies with 2 daughters Evie 6 (born Jan 2002) and Lily 4 (born July 2004).
Michelle has a degree in IT and Electronics with a Post Grad certificate in teaching. Michelle moved with her family to the USA in April 2005 and now lives in Celebration, FL. where she developed a career as Managing Director of Lightmaker Orlando. Lightmaker is one of the world's leading digital agencies whose client list includes; JK Rowling, Harry Potter, BMW USA, Ripley's, Manchester United, Nickelodeon, EA, Warner Brothers and M Night Shyamalan. I met Michelle after sending out an RFP for the Earth Savers Gang Online Social Network and fell hard. Michelle is one of those rare people who immediately open their minds and hearts.  At the word jump she rolls up her sleeves ready to be inspired and contribute. She is intelligent, wildly creative, has upbeat and positive outlook on most things and is refreshingly authentic, and by god, she’s a fellow mom! I need to also mention that she has one of the most infectious laughs I have ever encountered, and as some of you know I am a big fan of laughing...she gets a huge thumbs up in my book, and I love her to pieces and I know you will too.

MR: What does Global warming mean to you?

Michelle: Thats a tricky question. Or maybe it’s a tricky answer. What it means to me  is that I feel very insignificant in the whole thing really.  I am very aware of my fears and reactions to certain facts, and some information haunts me... especially about animal extinction and what we have done to these poor creatures habitats. I do so much with my kids and I love them so much.  The thought of having to explain what a frog was to my children is very scary. I get irritated right now at flippant people and companies- “it’s cool” to be green right now...and many are on board for the cool facto, but I’ll tell you as a parent I’m petrified for my kids

MR: What has elevated your awareness and consciousness the most?

Michelle:  before I had kids I was one of the most selfish people you would ever meet- but after Evie was born things changed drastically. In your twenties – you don’t think about so much, but having her at 29 my whole perspective changed and all of a sudden I was responsible for this tiny perfect beautiful child. Everything I do,  view,  feel, and show her- all has this major impact, and suddenly the future and what it holds matters to me.

MR: How do you bring that consciousness into your life daily?

Michelle: Well, I use my creativity to bring consciousness to my life on a daily basis.
I am a memory maker and a memory keeper so I do silly little things like make little books out of scraps of paper for my kids to draw on and inside of.  I design the front of these little books and and I keep and cherish all of those.

I love the saying....”even the faintest ink is better than the clearest memory.”  I’m afraid of forgetting so I’m always trying to be aware so that I can remember everything.
Whatever I do, and wherever I am, I try to creates the impression of it on my brain.
It helps me be present.  I guess you could say I use my memory as my consciousness keeper. – when my father died a few years ago I wanted to do something different to commemorate him- I did not want to get focused on the selfish aspect of grief and dwell on not having them in my life- I went to a big conservation park near where I live in Bristol England and I bought and planted a small tree in the conservation area. This tiny oak tree is now almost 8 or 9 feet.  Now when I go home I have this wonderful thing that reminds me of my dad, and somehow new life was planted in his honor.

MR: How about some things at home with the girls or as a family?

Michelle: We do a lot around water conservation…we take baths together, very aware of running water and our daily consumption. We also instill values around  the small things like recycling, reusing our bags, limiting our battery consumption…toys require so many batteries these days and we are actively getting them into toys that don’t require them. The imagination is always a powerful toy.

MR: Do you have an eco- hero?  Who inspires you?

Michelle: Ordinary people doing extraordinary things. People who don’t wait around for the social barometer to get them moving. Ordinary people who are willing to take a stand for something they believe in. Like you.

Monica: Thanks Michelle (Did I mention I love this girl?)

Michelle: At work I love being introduced to entrepreneurs and people who start these amazing ideas and come to our creative teams to bring the vision to reality. These collaboration is very inspiring to me . I get to feel like hey, I’m kind of doing something great too. On a smaller scale it’s people like our neighborhood friends who get together and commute to the grocery store.  We share our car and plan accordingly so that a few of us go together, and who knew it could be so much fun to grocery shop with the girls? We gab, share recipes, and conserve gas all at the same time.

MR: That's really cool. It strikes me that I would never even think to do this!

Michelle:  I know...It’s unlearning what we consider “easy”  we don’t even think about solutions and ideas that are right in front of our noses. We really need to inspire each other to work together to make those lifestyle changes.  Society and our consumer culture makes us so flippant and everything is “easy” and “disposable.” We’ve taken this entitlement so far down the path we are virtually ignorant about how to back track, and use our own industry and brain to think about how we can live more sustainably. We’ve taken the completely natural gift of common sense and make it entirely UNCOMMON.

MR: What is your favorite Book?

Michelle: Ugh, It’s nuts I read two and three at a time.
One of my favorites was The Cosmic Ordering Service by Barbel Mohr German Author first published in the 70’s not the type of book I usually go for, however, I sat next to a guy at a party.  He was in his 50’s and I made some comment about how I’ve been lucky in my life, and he told me luck has nothing to do with it. He told me to get this book and I did. He’s correct. Luck has nothing to do with it...
Another Favorite is The Ning Nang Nong, by Spike Milligan – a British comedian..  I adore poetry and this is a poem for kids that I also find delightful. I love poetry and verse with the children.  It’s so amazing to learn it together.

MR: What was your life like growing up in England?

Michelle: My parents were quite poor- my mom would put me in the garden and I would be out there all day! I think this is how I first became so aquatinted with nature.  We don;t do that as a culture anymore...send the kids out to play and say- DON’T come back till supper, like we used to. It’s sad, and look....not so hot for our relationship with nature.

MR: How do you get your own kids related to nature?

Michelle: Bikes, Water, Snacks and we go for miles.  It’s gotten so that if we don’t go out on an extended outdoor adventure they pester me for it.  We look at leaves and study them and use them in art pieces, and stick them on paper we do all sorts of things!

Getting people outside is the big trick now.... how much good is really going to get done if an individual is never OUTSIDE? It’s nuts to think you would learn about being green but not get OUTSIDE.

MR: What kind of car do you drive?

Michelle: I have a company car so can I not count that? Mr. Harley is what I prefer to use.

MR: Where can you most likely be found on a Friday night?

Michelle: At home with a glass of wine.

MR: What can you tell us about you that no one knows about you?

Michelle: I write poetry and I love photography and singing in the car much to the horror of my children who BEG me not to, Michelle: I have 2 rescue cats called Stinky Woo Woo and Toby.

MR: If you were to choose one of our Earth Savers Gangs as your soul mate character who would it be?

Michelle: I would be Zach, (I’ve always been a tom boy!) I live in a fast paced world of being a working Mom and I am always busy. I am lucky enough to work in the place that Zach would like to create, through Lightmaker and my fabulous team of creative minds we help to bring people all over the world together and make vision become reality.

MR: So what advice would you give our readers at The Earth Savers Gang Blog?

Michelle:  Start with what you know…start with what’s in front of you. Everyone feels that there is this massive pressure (and there is) but in spite of this we all need to start small. Start with your family, kids, home…educate them and help them, but don’t scare them.  As adults we need to start behaving in ways we want them to model and adopt. 

 

On the Ning Nang Nong
    
On the Ning Nang Nong
Where the Cows go Bong!
and the monkeys all say BOO!
There's a Nong Nang Ning
Where the trees go Ping!
And the tea pots jibber jabber joo.
On the Nong Ning Nang
All the mice go Clang
And you just can't catch 'em when they do!
So its Ning Nang Nong
Cows go Bong!
Nong Nang Ning
Trees go ping
Nong Ning Nang
The mice go Clang
What a noisy place to belong
is the Ning Nang Ning Nang Nong!!

Spike Milligan

Interview #8 Earth Saver Jodi Large

Who is Jodi Large and why should you care?
Jodi Large is one of the most conscious people I have ever met. Jodi currently works for IBM as a User Experience Director. She is an artist, a visionary, and a beautiful spirit.  Jodi has been working with me for over 5 years on Little Bits and the Earth Savers Gang. She is our illustrator, graphic designer, and artistic director (in her spare time.) She designed our brand logo and came up with the initial character design. Jodi has met the love of her life, Adam Cutler who also works for IBM and has been instrumental in helping us with the ESG (Earth Savers Gang) since it's conception. Stay tuned as we will be covering their sustainable wedding in some upcoming posts.

MR: What does global warming mean to you?

Jodi: Global warming to me is a scientific thing. I don’t absolutely understand all that it means but I do believe that we have shifted a natural balance. The earth has a normal process and we have interrupted it.

MR: How does that knowledge alter your daily life - how does it effect your consciousness?

Jodi: It’s subtle. In the grand scheme of things we are little people going about our little lives - we don’t see the forest for the trees.  At some level we have to be made aware of the fact that we have done significant damage, but we can't see it from our small perspective.

I am humbled at my own audacity when I really think about it. The audacity that I can be so thoughtless about how my actions and choices impact other living things.

MR: So you take this to heart on a personal level?

Jodi: Yes because I have to...I am an individual who is part of an entire system. I cannot afford not to.  Without me it fails and with me it fails. It’s kind of Buddhist I guess, but the premise is something like 'we are none of it and all of it at the same time.' We are of God and God is of us. I don’t espouse being very religious per-say, but I believe in all of us being interconnected. I believe that the actions one person takes impacts everyone. The hardest thing is to be related to the truth of it, and people don’t want to look at themselves. They would rather look elsewhere. This is the essence of unconsciousness, which is the exact issue we face now. To become conscious we must look within.

MR: Can you give me another example?

Jodi:  Well, look at us, I mean here we are depending on the scientists to tell us what we should be doing and like...how much time we have to get in action. But...hello! ...we can look with our own eyes and see what needs to be done. Look around.

We live on Narragansett Bay and I don’t need a scientist to tell me that bacteria, e- coli, lack of oxygen, garbage and pollution are killing the bay.  Only on my little beach at the end of the road could I see these things and I know that my little beach is a tiny example of the huge problem we face. I feel like shaking my fellow man sometimes and saying - 'you are throwing this thing away...where do you think it goes? Do you really believe that the garbage fairies come and take that plastic bottle away so you never again need to be reminded of your thoughtlessness?'

Reminding someone to be mindful of their shit is mind boggling...we are unable to see the consequences of our actions. Our rhythms can be in-tune with nature and the earth is responsive to our actions as if we are one organism. Humans need to stop thinking of themselves as separate.  We are a culture of make-believe.

MR: Ok Jodi, I personally love this train of thought so much...I'm going to ask you to keep going because it looks like you have more to say...tell me more.

Jodi: Ok, here’s more....if you ask a kid where their chicken comes from they will say a grocery store. They freak at the thought of killing an animal for their food. We have two children blessed to me through my fiancé. They were with us for the summer and amazed that they could eat something that grew in our very own yard.  They are 6 and 9 and it’s clear to me how far removed and convenient we have made life for our children. To such an extent that we have handicapped them.

Out of convenience comes a lack of understanding, which equals ignorance.  If given the choice, I would rather understand than be given the easy way out...maybe that’s just me, but ultimately I guess it's the story of “teach a man to fish vs. feed a man a fish.” I’m not this way all the time...there are times I want the easy way out but there are consequences for that and the consequence is “disconnection.” We are completely disconnected from our place in it all...we are separate from it.

MR: So Jodi; who was your eco-hero, or helped to teach you the foundation of your own consciousness?

Jodi: My grandfather was a naturalist, and he used to go on “what's it” walks, and it was on these walks he would teach, explain, demonstrate to me the interdependency of everything in the woods.

MR: Give me an example:

Jodi: He would take something and make complete use of it. For instance, if he hunted a duck, he would eat the duck and make fishing flies out of the feathers. In the summer he would fish and that’s what they would eat. He was a hunter but he would use it all.

He was a huge influence on me all my life; taught me to listen and observe and witness. His theme was that there was knowledge all around us and all we had to do was had to do was listen, and observe.

MR: Where do you think our mindlessness all began?

Jodi: I think somewhere around the 1940’s people had to be very resourceful and ultra conservative. I remember being fascinated with the concept of The Victory Garden.

In those days because everyone was so frugal and had to be sustainable if you wanted to eat, they had to grow their own food. It was a small garden in front of your house that you would grow your summer garden and use those and pickle and can. Then came the 1950’s and the McCarthy Era...it became gluttonous and the marketing engine started to rev...“you too can have a shiny new...fill in the blank.”  Everything had to be easy, shiny, and new. Everything had a glossy gleam and it worked. It took hold of the American psyche. The image of perfection and abundance was something to aspire to and ease and convenience were the ticket to get there...”keeping up with the Jones” represented the “American Dream.”

MR: This is the definition from Wikipedia: "The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position."[1] coined in 1931

Jodi: You can see how it was absolutely bastardized into a competition of More or Better...as Americans, most feel a sense of entitlement and deserving.

MR: Talk to me about you and you love of broken things...

Jodi: I find beauty in all sorts of crazy things...I find beauty in all things, but I have a love affair with broken things that have been tossed away and left to nature.

Nature does amazing things with man-made objects...it makes them into little abstractions of themselves. It takes them and makes them a new color, shape and gives me pause to consider their place in the world. Adam and I put them together in art pieces and hang them as mixed media or sculpture. It’s just one way to use things that already exist, with their innate beauty and make them work for another purpose.

This might be way too artsy but I love the visual conversation between objects.

How does a broken army figure that’s washed up on the beach relate to a piece of driftwood or an old domino...how can I make them meaningful in a piece that speaks to me or my audience?

It goes back to the definition of beauty for me. I think my pieces inspire something. It’s not junk, they're objects of beauty. If it’s not useful or beautiful then don’t have it in your home. Our cultural definition of "what is beauty" is jacked.  If you can find beauty in imperfection, you can find beauty in yourself. It opens up your spectrum to what’s beautiful and meaningful. I get overwhelmed by all the beautiful things in the world. It’s a personal expression of truth, not a giant, mass media agreement of “perfection.” This, to me, is one of the keys to unlocking the power we have to counteract our collective destructive behavior.

MR: How do you do your little bit?

Jodi: I reuse the hell out of everything. For example, I get this great yogurt in these great glass jars and I use them as vases because they are simple, elegant shapes. They also served as a snail estuary for the girls this summer...we poked some holes in the top and observed the climbing habits of periwinkles. Also, I believe in second chances for everyone and everything. This is another key on the ring for unlocking the power of the future. We deserve another chance to make things right for the environment.

(This pic to the left is one of the many gorgeous pieces made by Jodi and Adam using broken bits...a toy plastic plane in a mixed media setting, paint, stamps, maps and postcards.)


MR: What’s your favorite book?

Jodi: Geek Love...a story about the beauty of imperfection and what lengths we will go to for love. Also The Jungle by Upton Sinclair..

MR: What is your favorite movie?

Jodi: Dancer in the Dark with Bjork...big fan.

MR: What is your sign?

Jodi: Cancer

MR: Who is your favorite singer/songwriter?

Jodi: Bjork and the Postal Service

MR: Who are your heroes?

Jodi: Ed Begley Jr. and the founder/owner of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard.

MR: What kind of car do you drive?

Jodi: An ’88 Mercedes wagon for local travel and Mini Cooper for commutes. We're a two car home..I would love to change that...to not need one at all.

MR: If you could have your dream job what would it be?

Jodi: If I could sustain a living on making art and user experiences. What I do now is pretty dreamy- I make things good or better and that’s a pretty cool job as it is. I would work with you full-time actually on the Earth Savers Gang.

MR: What Earth Savers Gang character are you and why?

Jodi: I’m Penelope but I love Olivia. I like both of them. I love Olivia's sensitivity and her listening but in terms of my doing, I am more like Penelope, taking old things and reusing them with an artist's mind and heart.

MR: If you were to create your own Earth Saver hero...who would it be?

Jodi: I’d be the Rusty Crusty Saver. That’s what I would call myself...savior of broken rusty things that need a second chance at life.

MR: Was this interview fun for you? why?

Jodi: Yes..I love talking about this. It’s nice to be able to articulate the things I hold in my heart because very few people actually ask.

MR:  If you were to leave our readers with a thought, what would it be?

Jodi: Before you throw something away, look to see if it can have another life...give it a second chance.  They're not so different from you and me. Like us human beings, we need a second chance to make things right again with the earth.

Interview #7 Earth Saver Steve Fleischli President Waterkeeper Alliance

STEVE FLEISCHLI assumed the role of President of Waterkeeper Alliance from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in June 2007. Mr. Kennedy now serves as Chairman of Waterkeeper Alliance.

Mr. Fleischli held the position of Executive Director of Waterkeeper Alliance from 2003 to 2007. During that time, he led the organization through enormous growth, including the expansion of the Waterkeeper grassroots model to 162 communities across six continents. Meanwhile, he oversaw an expanded organizational focus on national and international protection of water resources, ranging from citizen suits over concentrated animal feeding operations to international petitions over transboundary mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. He also co-founded Waterkeeper magazine.

Prior to joining the Alliance staff in 2003, Steve Fleischli served as the Executive Director and Baykeeper for the Santa Monica Baykeeper in Los Angeles. Among other things, he was instrumental in the passage of rules to eliminate summer beach closures in Santa Monica Bay and trash in Los Angeles-area rivers. Steve also sued the City of Los Angeles for its illegal discharges of raw sewage into local waters. This case – which the U.S. Department of Justice calls "one of the largest sewage cases in U.S. history" – resulted in a finding that the City violated federal laws more than 3,600 times and eventually led to a $2 billion settlement agreement for restoration of the city’s sewage infrastructure. He has also testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works regarding stormwater pollution. Under his leadership, the Santa Monica Baykeeper received numerous awards for program successes including kelp habitat restoration and volunteer water quality monitoring.

In addition, as a legal and policy analyst for Heal the Bay in Santa Monica, Steve helped settle a lawsuit against the United States Environmental Protection Agency for its failure to develop Total Maximum Daily Loads for over one hundred impaired waterways in the Los Angeles area. Authoring a comprehensive report on the lack of water quality enforcement by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, Steve also has helped draft and secure passage of numerous California state legislative measures, including AB 411 (statewide bathing water standards), AB 2019 (Storm Water Enforcement Act of 1998) and AB 1186 (storm water fee provisions).

Steve has served as an Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine University School of Law and as President of the California Coastkeeper Alliance, a member of the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Safety Committee, a member of the Steering Committee for the City of Los Angeles’ Integrated Resources Plan and was a founding board member and is the current President of Energy Independence Now, a non-profit organization dedicated to a clean, renewable energy and transportation economy in California. He holds a law degree from UCLA School of Law and a Bachelor's Degree with honors from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with majors in Environmental, Population & Organismic Biology; Economics; and Environmental Conservation.

He is also the author of a novel about violence in American high schools, My Sweet Butterfly (2006).

Join their MySpace page at:     http://www.myspace.com/waterkeeperalliance

MR:    What does Global Warming mean to you? 

SF: I tend to think of global warming in terms of its impact on our water resources.  I think it is critically important that we reduce our carbon emissions and accept responsibility for humanity's contribution to the problem.  I also think that it is really important for people to understand that even if someone doesn't accept the strong science on the human contribution to the problem, climate change likely is going to happen in some form or another.  Even if it is not caused by humans, the impacts are still going to be the same:  Sea level rise.  Drought in some places.  Flooding in other  places.  Changes in drinking water supplies.  Impacts to coral reefs.  We have got to take this seriously and do everything we can to prevent these types of impacts to both water supply and water quality.  And where greenhouse gas emission reductions are not enough, we have to start preparing our communities, our farmers, our fisheries, for a changing climate.  This seem to be lost in the dialogue.

MR: What do you think most likely get in people’s way when it comes to being in action or embracing the green movement?

SF:  There is a lot of information out there and it can be overwhelming at times. There is a lot to think about.  I learn new things every day - and I get to do this for a living. Most people have enough to the think about with taking care of family, paying the bills, etc.   Often there are also conflicting messages by those with a vested interest in a certain outcome.   The role that government should play.  The role business should play.  People need choices to be clear and easy. People need to understand the economic benefits of good environmental policy and to understand that it is good for all of us in the long term.  That is hard sometimes when the prospect of short term gain is dangled out there.   

MR: What is your greatest fear about the state we are in now and the for the future? 

SF:  That people are losing hope and losing a sense of community and humanity. There is too much going on.  No one wants to hear any more depressing news.  All you want to do is come home and turn on the TV and drop out.  The more mindless the show the better.  Ignorance, apathy and greed are talking hold.  Serious discussion is either too overwhelming or results in a battle of opinion.  You are attacking me, so I am going to attack you.  Civility has become a weakness.  The talking heads on TV are the worst at this.  They never find solutions or common ground.  They just take their side and dig in their heels.  They are there to entertain, not to inform.  A friend of mine recently ask me why more people don't carpool together and he suggested that government should require people to carpool.  I told him you can't force people to want to spend time with other people.  A lot of people simply don't like other people.  They just want to be left alone or keep to the the friends they already have.    He is such a nice guy that that concept had never even occurred to him.  But I see it everywhere.  On TV.  At the grocery store.  On the freeway.  It seems it is just part of the competitive American culture.

MR: What encourages you about the movement and what are you experiencing and witnessing as a result of the movement?   
   
SF: All change is local and people can and do make a difference.  We see it every day in the successes of the Waterkeeper movement with 181 local Waterkeepers working at a grassroots level to protect their waterways.  Their successes are amazing - cleaning up their coastlines, saving their rivers and lakes.  Really inspiring.

MR: How long have you been in this role as Waterkeeper?
   
SF: I have been part of the Waterkeeper movement for about 12 years.  In 1996, I started out in the movement for a year as a volunteer lawyer with the San Francisco Baykeeper.  After two years with Heal the Bay in Los Angeles, I became the Santa Monica Baykeeper in 1999.  In 2003 I became the Executive Director of Waterkeeper Alliance.  In 2007, I became President of the organization.
    
MR: Where did you grow up? 

SF    Lincoln, Nebraska
   
MR: How old are you?

SF:  Just turning 40.

MR: What kind of car do you drive?

SF:  I just sold my pickup truck of eight years and am considering my next choice.  A hydrogen fuel cell car seems ideal for me, once they are a little more affordable.  Honda has a nice new model that a friend of mine drives.  It is quite impressive.  The dream is that the hydrogen fuel would be made from tap water and solar power (which they already can do).  I am not a big fan of moral judgment when it comes to what kind of car someone drives or most environmental issues for that matter.  We all live in glass houses because we all have some kind of impact with every breath we take.   I think people should be able to drive the cars they need. To me, a Prius is not a substitute for a pickup truck and just isn't an option for everybody.  But I think the auto industry needs to give us better choices to meet those needs.  We already should have pickup trucks that get 50 miles to the gallon.  We should have SUVs that do the same.  Heck, we should have cars that get 100 mpg.  For years, the U.S. auto industry has failed to see this and is now suffering in the marketplace because of it -- and rightfully so.   So much for their supposed support of the free market, right?

MR: What is your favorite Movie?

SF: Good Will Hunting and CRASH

MR: What books have inspired you? 

SF: The Monkey Wrench Gang (and, really, anything by Edward Abbey).  The Lorax.  Catcher in the Rye. Walden. Civil Disobedience. Walking, also by Henry David Thoreau.

MR: What are a few things you would tell our readers to do …if you only do this one thing….. 

SF:  Get involved in your community.  Get to know folks in your neighborhood and rally around an issue that means something to you all, even if it is not your top choice.  We all share enough in common that we should be able to work together more at a local level.

MR:  Where can you most likely be found on a Friday night?

SF:    At my computer or out with family.


MR: Who are your eco hero’s?
      
SF:  Living: Dr. Vandana Shiva; Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the 181 Waterkeepers around the world fighting for clean water.  Deceased: Edward Abbey.  Henry David Thoreau.  Ken Saro Wiwa.

MR:  Which of the Earth Savers Characters do you most identify with and why?
SF: Of course I have to say Olivia because of her connection to water.

 

MR: Which two characters do you think you would most be friends with and why?
SF: Jimi because he strikes me as a philosopher, and Alison because she sounds fun

MR: Are there any other questions you think I should ask that I have not?   

SF: Nope.

MR: What would your final quote to our reader be….what does it mean to you?

SF:  "Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul."  By Edward Abbey.  To me, it means that if you see an injustice, get involved.  You don't have to be self righteous about it.  Just do it.  Don't sit by and feel bad about what is happening around you.  We all have a choice in building a better world.  And if you are smart enough to know the world is messed up, you are smart enough to do something about it.  The tricky part, though, is not making it all worse in the process.

Interview #6: Earth Saver Summer Rayne Oakes the "Eco- Model"

Summer Rayne Oakes graduated from Cornell University -an entomologist and environmental scientist by training. In 2000 in the midst of her studies, Oakes embarked on a journey of cause-related modeling and innovative sustainable design/development projects to push sustainability issues through fashion and media, a position which earned her the name of "The Eco-Model." Now a spokesperson, correspondent and advisor for Discovery's new network, Planet Green, Summer Rayne travels the world to work on sustainable development programs; consults on green issues; and works on a number of other environmental programs. In February 2009, she's launching her first book, "Style, Naturally: The Global Guide to Sustainable Fashion & Beauty."

MR: What does global warming mean to you?

SRO: This is the first time that I’m seeing a unified voice in the environmental movement. It’s as if climate change has brought together a myriad of environmental, social, spiritual, and political concerns all under one roof and has given us an opportunity for unified action.

MR: How is it affecting you at all?

SRO: Environmental issues are my life’s work; the immediacy of the issues has spurred me into action quicker and therefore brought me a lot closer to people and the  movement.

MR: What things have you changed about your daily routine or lifestyle that you think make an impact/when did you make the change and why?

SRO: I’ve personally changed a few things that I believe add up.  For one, I try to extend my travels or cluster travels if I have to fly somewhere. Secondly, I buy fresh, local food whenever possible. I consider meat more of a delicacy now and when I eat it, I usually stick to fish. Lastly, plastic bottles drive me nuts. I like drinking flavored waters, but I’m cutting those out and making  my own tea-infused and fruit-infused flavor waters and putting them in my Sigg bottle. I’m even taking a Sigg when I can to the airport and filling it up from the water fountain. I don’t care for all the waste that comes off the airplane! Plus it’s better than paying $2 for a bottle of water.

MR: Who inspires you into action?

SRO: Van Jones and Billy Parish have always been an inspiration. They are movement builders. It takes a special kind of leader to build movements.

MR: Do you consider yourself an environmental activist?

SRO: I am an activist first and foremost. Titles like “model” or “consultant” are very one-dimensional and don’t effectively describe why I do what I do. Now, an activist—a person focused on raw energy and real action to support a cause—that is who I am, that is why I am.

MR: How does the movement impact your thoughts and actions on a daily basis?

SRO: Every day is a day of action. I’m restless. I need to be constantly moving and doing. Working with people on a diversity of projects gives me balance and purpose. Anyone who knows me can attest that I can’t remain sedentary for too long; I become like a fish on dry land.

MR: What is your deepest fear about global warming?

SRO: Fear isn’t what drives me, only hope—and assurance that we can and will make a difference.

MR: What do you think stops people from adopting/embracing green changes in their lives?

SRO: I think there are a lot of reasons: Lack of information, lack of motivation, lack of infrastructure, lack of resources, but mainly it’s a lack of empowerment. People need to be empowered in order to change.

MR: If you could ask people to change just one thing about their current lifestyle what would that request be?

SRO: Get politically active—in your community, in your state, and in your country.

MR: Where can you most likely be found on a Friday night?

SRO: If I’m in New York? Home. I work away from home so much that if I find myself there on a Friday night, I usually like to chill in Brooklyn alone or with a good friend.

MR: What kind of car do you drive?

SRO: I have never owned a car. I’m restricted to living in areas that allow me to walk, board, or take public transportation—all which I am more than happy to do.

MR Favorite website and movie?:

SRO:  Websites: Current.tv – I think it is one of the few websites out there right now that is totally reflective of conscious youth culture. It just gets it whereas other sites are still trying to figure out what “it” is.
Treehugger.com – It’s my go-to site for all things green

Movie – Motorcycle Diaries

MR: What’s your sign?

SRO: Gemini

MR: What’s the last thought or word of encouragement you would leave our reader?

SRO: The world doesn’t say “No” unless you let it.

Interview #5: Earth Saver Jennifer Thomas-Albrecht CEO of The Baby Times

Jennifer Thomas-Albrecht, President & CEO, founded The Baby Times in cooperation with her two friends and colleagues. The Baby Times is an online weekly magazine, newsletter and resource directory of luxury products and services for expectant and new moms which has successfully and consistently highlighted products and services to mothers all over the country. After a ten year career in NYC  as a professional in banking and the dot com industry, Jennifer went on to become a published fashion and society photographer (Hamptons Magazine, Women's Wear Daily and Elements Magazine), and worked for clients such as Gucci, Escada, David Yurman, Etro and Frette.  This experience provided her the ability to become a tastemaker for well-heeled moms.

The site features sought after products such as high tech-strollers, designer diaper bags, and the latest nursery decor and includes articles and products of interest, often highlighting women owned companies within the industry.  Jennifer has gone on to take the company to the next level, to become a leading expert on parenting products all over the nation.  Doing her little bit Jennifer donates 2% of her net revenue from her site to children's charities. 

“It’s shameful that our great country is not more advanced in our ways around sustainability.…”  “If we get busy making an impact in areas like alternative energy then we would not have to rely on oil.” - Jennifer Thomas-Albrecht

 

MR: What does global warming mean to you?

Jennifer:  Right now it means concern for myself and my family. My husband and I are concerned about how things will impact our child in the future if we don’t make some serious strides as a global community to change the way we do things in this world.

MR: Are you seeing some of this change take place?

Jennifer: Yes, as you know I wholly support women owned philanthropic and green companies, and I am seeing so much in this area. There are so many interesting grass roots companies offering things like organic baby products, cloth diapers- it’s so great to know that there is a demand for these things, and that these choices are available to us now, as well as the fact that there is a wealth of information. It’s a whole new movement and I think people jumping on this boat will be very successful.

MR: Do you have a favorite company or product?

Jennifer: My new favorite is the Organic Green Mommy.  Which is not just about products, it’s amazing with short digestible videos for busy parents, articles, classified section, and a wealth of information for new parents who want to understand the best choices to make from a holistic perspective on physician care such as vaccines, childhood behavior, teething, and so many aspects to parenting. It does a beautiful job connecting them with like minded parents who are all asking the same questions and seeking similar information.   

MR: So tell me about what you do at home to make a difference?

Jennifer: Well , I think it’s the little bits of things we do that add up…You are going to think we are crazy but (pause) we have a worm farm in our basement.

MR: What?! Really? (Laughing) There’s a dirty little secret for our readers!

Jennifer: Well…we have our own veggie garden, and we love to grow all our own, so instead of composting our stuff we take all our raw scraps paper coffee shells etc and it goes into our worm farm- then we take the soil that is now nutrient rich and use it in our garden. Oh, and I use the worm juice to water my plants! My husband is a big tree hugger and environmentalist, and this really works for us.  We also recycle all of our paper and plastic, all of our glass and cans, and we only use recycled paper products. We also do our house cleaning with green products like Generation Green and Green Works.

MR: I love that you have a worm farm…that’s priceless.

MR: So what is your biggest fear and greatest hope for the next generation?

Jennifer: My fear is that even though there is all of this new found consciousness around the environment and I’m hearing all of the talk about what has to be done, the government has got to get behind it and make it happen faster. When I look at Holland, Germany…some of their cities are being entirely powered with alternative energy. It’s shameful that our great country is not more advanced in our ways. With our great minds, freedom of speech, and access to education… If we get busy making an impact around areas such as alternative energy then we would not have to rely on oil.

For example: My husband and I went to Solar Fest in July at the Forget Me Not Farm in Vermont for the second year in a row this summer. The event has grown ten fold in the past year even, and it used to be that a big adoption incentive was getting a federal tax credit if you put solar panels on your house. For whatever reason  this year the government suspended this federal tax cut…why is that? Here we are as a nation further along in our progress around this issue that ever, and it gets cut? What kind of a message does that send?

MR: Where would you most likely be found on a Friday night?

Jennifer: My husband is home early on Friday and we are either at a park or the beach with Emma- we are outdoorsy and try to get out as much as possible.

MR: What about a favorite book you read this year?

Jennifer: I loved the book Mother Nurture by Stephanie Hirsh I loved the fact that it talked about how successful people in all areas of business including the entertainment world viewed the way their mothers raised them and each mother shares about the morals and values that they felt were important in instilling in their children. It implicates that perhaps it was these attributes that enabled their children  to achieve such a high level of accomplishment in life. It was a great read.

MR: And if you were to leave our reader with a thought or a tip, or some helpful advice…what would you tell them?

Jennifer: We have so many things that we can leave our children with. So many parents want to make sure they leave something behind for their children…they want to leave behind a legacy or financial means, and write their precious belongings into a will for their children. Really though, the greatest gift you can give your child is an appreciation of the world they live in and the people they live amongst. If they are not taught to appreciate their planet – all of the other things are meaningless.

Interview #4 Dr. Steven Frantz: Sustainability Education Coordinator Westchester County

Steven T. Frantz, PhD
Following graduation from Southern Illinois University, Steven Frantz served two years in Somalia as a Peace Corps Volunteer. During that time, he taught in an Intermediate School and worked on a variety of community development projects.

In 1966 Dr. Frantz began his forty-year career in the Scarsdale Public Schools. There he served as an elementary school teacher, Elementary Science Helping Teacher, Co-Director of Math-Science Center, and the Principal of the Fox Meadow Elementary School.

Also during that time, Dr. Frantz earned his Masters and PhD at New York University and served two years as President of the Scarsdale Teachers Association.Since his 2006 retirement, Dr. Frantz has consulted with the Scarsdale School District as Sustainability Education Coordinator. He is a member of the Westchester County Task Force on Global Warming and the Sustainable Scarsdale Task Force.

MR: What does Global Warming mean to you?

DSF: Global Warming, to me, means that human endeavors are putting the entire world’s population and especially future generations at tremendous risk. Our actions today are imperiling the ability of future generations to enjoy and experience the resources our wonderful planet gives us like water, fresh food,
and health. Global Warming will drastically infringe on the things we so easily take for granted.

MR: Do you see educators and children responding appropriately?

DSF: It’s hard… I almost know too much about the subject at this point and so I think I have a deeper understanding of the urgency we are facing. Although I want to force our teachers and kids to do everything right now, I know that an educator’s role is to teach, even though it can be the slower path.
Sometimes I get frustrated at how long it takes to implement even the simplest tasks like recycling.

MR: What is the teacher’s role right now for kids?

DSF: Teachers and educators have an enormous responsibility right now to teach our children about conservation. When you teach you have to present fact, opinion, and bring these subjects into discussion. We need children and teachers to understand and embrace the movement. We encourage them to debate, apply, and to question. In order to get “buy-in,” they have to agree that there is a problem,
and it is the teacher’s role to guide them in this process.

MR: And so this is taking more time than you think we have?

DSF: Well, because of my role in the school district, I have had the opportunity to meet and discuss things with folks who are on the front lines. One such gentleman was sitting beside me at an event who was Chief Council for the Environmental Defense Council. He really drove the point home to me that we
have a finite period of time to act. He really disagreed with the educational “process” in this particular case, and he said that the situation was “too urgent to wait,” and “schools need to put policies and procedures in place immediately.” His philosophy was “act now, explain later.” I remember him
saying “this is not your typical issue and this is so urgent we need to force compliance right NOW.” I agree with him, it is not going to make a bit of difference if kids can spell and subtract if the planet’s eco-system is failing……it becomes absurd. This was one of those conversations that keeps me
up at night.

MR: So do you think it (change) is happening?

DSF: I know we will win the majority we need…….it’s growing like crazy already. Everyone really needs to be accountable and do their part in order to make sure we reach a tipping point. Globally we need regulations quickly in manufacturing, coal mining and oil refineries. It won’t make a hill of difference if we have all the school children and teachers educated on the subject only to have big manufacturers and coal companies polluting the landscape and the world.

MR: So what is your deepest fear on the subject?

DSF: For the people of the world, my concern is with the poor people of our country. The poor pay the higher price for global warming …they do not have the means to do the things to help avoid the consequences…….if the earth’s seas rise, these people will not be able to act. Their lands will flood and they will be displaced and their food sources destroyed. My deepest fear however, is that we
are already too late. I know this is a dark thought, and I do not really believe it, but when I am honest about my fears… this is the one that really scares me.

MR: How can individuals do anything worthwhile that will really make a difference?

DSF: The truth is one person is not going to help at all. One person’s carbon footprint can’t make a difference- but several combined will make a difference. “Several” will grow a community and a society built around doing the right thing, and their knowledge, and practices will impact the following
generations, starting at the elementary levels.

MR: So, where are the kids at in your opinion?

DSF: I think kids are beginning to get it. You cannot present the doom and gloom side of it to them because it is too much of a burden for them. You have to present the facts, and the alternatives. And you cannot base your curriculum on the death of polar bears, however it is important to present reality…..because it is the reality that compels individuals into action. We are working to make the lessons on conservation broader and more applicable on multiple levels. Ecology is a very interdisciplinary subject that can really be brought into so many lesson plans including geography, language arts, science, history, etc.

MR: So how are teachers getting the information they need to bring to children?

DSF: Through the summer institute programs we started last summer, we taught 30 teachers through a series of lectures that worked at bringing them up to speed about the urgency of the subject matter in our schools. This program grew to include over 60 teachers this summer and it has been very effective so far.

MR: So in your district, which is seven schools, you have managed to educate many teachers, but what about elsewhere? Do you think this is happening in other districts?

DSF: I know that it is fairly unique to be employed strictly for this focus on sustainability. We operate off of taxpayer money, and we are a wealthy district. The general public in my district was persuaded to accept a budget that included paying for my position. This is one community, among thousands, that needs to implement a strategy for getting this subject dealt with. I think for public schools we are way ahead of the curve, and for private and collegiate schools, we are likely behind the curve as they have already implemented programs in the past.

MR: Do you ever encounter resistance or opposition?

DSF: Any resistance that I encounter is based on the mentality that the environmental crisis is someone else’s problem. Teachers have so many other concerns – reading, writing, arithmetic… so what is important to enforce in this case is perspective. What good is reading going to do anyone in
this situation? If they have these thoughts, then obviously at some level they do not believe the urgency. This in itself is disturbing.

MR: What kind of car do you drive?

DSF: Toyota Camry

MR: Where can you most likely be found on a Friday night?

DSF: At the movies. My wife loved Momma Mia, and I recently liked the Batman-Dark Night movie.

MR: What books or movies have resonated with you on the subject?

DSF: An Inconvenient Truth was very important to me. Also, the studies and
reports of Yale Professor James Gustave Speth have been hugely helpful. There are many scientific economists that have influenced me, with whom I have sat on panels and boards. These people have brilliant minds and I have read the reports that document the state of decline we face, and it is very startling. I only started this journey two years ago and really had a steep learning curve and so I Googled a lot, and searched for documents, and read a ton of information. The Internet is a wonderful tool in this case.

MR: What would you say to our readers for a last word of advice or encouragement on the subject of Global Warming?

DSF: I would tell them that we each need to think over our responsibilities and do what it is we can do to make a difference. No one is going to be perfect. If you can afford a hybrid car…do it; if not, then do not. There are going to be some days when you buy that plastic bottle of water because you need to …but there are little things we can all do, including educating ourselves, conserving energy across the board, investing in green companies and green products. Start by doing the little things, and then work your way into the bigger things. Be involved. Lobby at local and national levels, and know what your leaders are doing and how they plan on dealing with this. This is such a big issue and so important. Please do not wait till tomorrow. If you are not going to be in action for yourself, then do it for our children. They need a world worth living in. Being cavalier is what got us into this mess in the first place.

Interview #3 Earth Saver Claire Hall

Claire Hall was a practicing attorney and mother of three children under ten who recently decided she wanted to join the environmental movement by opening an Eco- friendly educational retail boutique called The Did You Know Store.

Having only been open for business for 8 short weeks, she's managed to impact, educate, and inspire her customers on the importance of being aware. Her lifestyle approach introduces her customers to alternative products and facts through her Did you know? product display cards making it easy for browsers to learn as they shop.

Join us by watching the video to find out why we consider Claire one of our community Earth Savers, and hear what she has to say about her experiences so far, customer feedback, and what she feels the biggest challenge is.

Watch the Video

Interview #2: Earth Saver Meaghan O'Neill

 

Meaghan O’Neill helped bring the green movement to your neighborhood. Plus she is one cool, hip mom.  Since the explosion of green, Meaghan has been on the forefront of the movement by assisting the launch of Treehugger.com in 2004; co-authoring Ready, Set, Green: Eight Weeks to Modern Eco-Living (Random House); serving as a guest panelist for Glamour Magazine's April 2007 eco-issue; as well as being tapped as a speaker on eco-design for the Industrial Designers Society of America's Northeast District conference at the Rhode Island School of Design. Now, as the Editor of TreeHugger.com and PlanetGreen.com, Meaghan knows what questions people have about doing the right thing when it comes to going green. She has contributed to publications such as Interior Design, I.D., Boston Magazine, Men's Journal, The Boston Globe Magazine, and Teen Vogue.

MR: Meg, What does Global Warming or Climate Change mean to you?

 

Meg: It’s interesting now that both the terms Global Warming and Climate Change are being used these days as interchangeable. It’s a misnomer – some parts of the world are getting cooler some are getting drier but really what it all boils down to is that we are living beyond the limitations of nature, and this is negatively affecting the environment. Humans have become a dynamic force in the world and we are changing the way nature responds. This is a call to get back in tune with natural systems- we need to step back and start to live more intelligently, and more healthy for ourselves and future generations.

 

MR: What most deeply concerns you when you look at the movement as a whole?

 

Meg: In all truthfulness I believe we are closing in on a tipping point and are on the verge of a revolution as to how humanity thinks. I believe we are on the heels of the next enlightenment because nature is calling on us to change almost everything. The thing that troubles me is hearing people say things like “The Government needs to do this...” and  “Corporations needs to do that.” Well, we are the government, and we have to be accountable to make the changes at an individual level. Of course we need corporations and governments to make changes but we can’t afford to see ourselves as “separate” from nature and government as if our daily choices do not have any bearing.

 

MR: Do you think we are adopting lifestyle changes fast enough to make a difference?

 

Meg: Well, we are the only animal on the planet that makes waste that does not reabsorb into nature. I mean when you think that we are shipping garbage off shore and contemplating other space to figure out where to put it we have to take a look at the intelligence behind this. We drastically need to change our disposable mentality. We are in a time where there is a great awareness growing up in a great mass of people – but we have to act quickly within the next decade to change some of the industrial systems that we currently have to counteract global warming. So I guess I would say that it’s promising, but will take effort from every single individual to make changes in how they think and relate to consuming.

 

MR: Where do you see the most progress being made right now from an industrial standpoint to counteract global warming?

 

Meg: There are great geo-engineering ideas and applications happening, like feeding our oceans with Iron to decrease the CO2. Wind Power and technology looks very promising, and I think we are also seeing organic food, health remedies and clothing as much more available to us as consumers than we did in the past which gives us the alternative to buy the things we do need more consciously.  I love that I can go to a music concert and find an organic t-shirt for sale. If it’s not, it may be something I don’t purchase, which in turn sends a message to the one selling the t-shirt.

 

MR: What things about the pace of the movement disappoint you?

 

Meg: I think people are increasingly aware and interested about learning but there are still a lot of skeptics out there, and they are scientific skeptics. If you were to go to another country and eavesdrop on a group of scientists you would not hear them debating about the reality of global warming. You might hear them debating on the time frame or the intensity but not the fact. This is a distinctly American phenomenon and this in itself is disappointing.  One other thing that disappoints me at times is the sense of entitlement we have as a culture. I know a woman who was just really feeling the crunch of the high prices of oil, yet has a giant car that only gets 7 miles to the gallon. Now, never mind the environmental impact that the car has but suddenly the high price of oil is an affront on her lifestyle instead of thinking about using a car that’s more efficient. As a society we have to re-think what is normal. Does it make sense to commute hours away from home? Does it make sense to drive a non efficient vehicle? We can make a shift in our lifestyle and still have a good strong economy, and a good career, and a fine lifestyle, we just need to change our definition of social norm.

 

MR: What is your biggest fear when you think of your children?

 

Meg: My biggest fear is that the current generation is not going to take the urgency of this movement seriously. I don’t want my son to grow up and have a world that looks like a Madd Maxx Movie. The reality is that if we don’t move fast this extreme view will become a tragic reality. If we don’t act now we will see cancers, asthma, allergies, and disease progress and our world will eventually be too toxic for our children and their children, and ultimately uninhabitable. My hope and my faith are for the opposite. I would like to live in a world where green is just a way of life, and we don’t give it a second thought. f Of course we don’t eat bio dynamically engineered food, of course we don’t build our homes from toxic substances. But we still have a ways to go.

 

MR: What really inspired you to care about being a part of the movement?

 

Meg: When I was young it was summer camp. I was never a hard core activist when I was a kid but what really awakened it in my adult life was working for Interior Design Magazine. It reawakened the possibility of humanity living in a way that made sense again. I was seeing architecture and design really embracing this idea, and it made me do the same and realize that it was possible. When I helped launch www.Treehugger.com and started contributing from a design perspective I got a birds eye view of what was happening in the green scene and a critical mass was starting to build. And that’s still happening, and I’m proud to be a part of it.

 

 

What books would you recommend to our readers Meg?

 

Meg: “Aside from Ready Set Green?” (she’s laughing because she is the co-author.)

 

Cradle to Cradle By William McDonough & Michael Braungart is a great book, and it’s about rethinking design. It takes a look at the lifespan of a product and its birth and death so to speak so that we create things that are made from natural materials and are biodegradable, and healthy for the planet. 

 

I also love The Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollen which takes a look at the modern food system and traces how and why our food system is the way it is today and looks at some people who are helping to change it.

 

The Ecology of Commerce by Paul Hawkins – Delves into the idea of the triple bottom line, and looks at business in the green economy.

 

MR: Where can you most likely be found on a Friday night?

“Hanging at my Mom’s house Scrounging dinner with my whole family around. ..uncles, cousins, aunts, grandkids, we spend a lot of time together as family …maybe too much time.

 

MR: What Kind of Car Do You Drive?: 

 

Meg: I try not to put many miles on it but it's a 2000 VW Passat

 

MR: If you were to leave our readers with a final statement or suggestion what would you say?

 

Meg: The most important thing that every single person can do is a personal audit of your day. Look at the things that you do and how you can make it a little greener: is your TV on for the dogs while you are at work? Do you drive when you could walk to pick up a couple of things at the store? Just do a “little bit” at a time and as time passes you find yourself really in the habit of making better choices for yourself and the environment. I want people to remember you don’t have to do this all at once. You don’t have to be great, but you should strive to be good. You only have to do it a little bit at a time. That’s how social revolutions are born, you lead by example.

* To purchase Meg's book you can do so on amazon by following the link: Ready Set Green