Author: Philippe Boucher

Oil Vey

Written by Philippe Boucher on December 16, 2005. Posted in climate change, Energy.

So just what WAS accomplished at the U.N. Climate Change conference in Montreal?
We’ll find out from New York Times environment reporter, Andrew Revkin. Andy also lends his voice and musical talent (who knew?) to this week’s theme s
song…Liberated Carbon…by his band Uncle Wade. Listen (11 min)

Paul Rogers, science reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, will join us for an update on what California is doing to combat global warming while the Bush administration fiddles away. Listen (7 min)

In our second half
we’ll hear Daniel
Nepstad, senior scientist at the Woods Hole Research Center and
founder of the Amazon Institute of Ecological Research in Brazil, will join us to talk about a devastating drought unfolding in the Brazilian
rainforest, most likely the result of climate disruption. Listen (12 min)

Last, but not least, Jerome Ringo, new president of the Apollo Alliance ,
will weigh in on this week’s announcement by the Energy Department that
the price of oil will continue to rise steadily (surprise!) and so the
U.S. must turn to "renewables, like coal and nuclear". Oy to the world. Listen (7 min)

PollinationX.com

Written by Philippe Boucher on December 10, 2005. Posted in Music.

PollinationX.com is the name of the group singing the song aired during the last show.
It is a London (UK) based unsigned band consisting of members Peter
and Sarah.

"So People" was written by Sarah in an attempt to raise
awareness about the urgent action required to prevent the very real threat of
the devastating effects of climate change…
Pollination X believes we
are all responsible for the cause of climate change, and therefore we can
make choices as consumers to help alleviate the effects of climate
change.
If we all make small steps to cut down on emissions (i.e. taking
the bus to work instead of using the car/not leaving electrical appliances on
standby etc) that will lead to a big change.

Thank you to Alex who told us about them.
You can listen on their site.

Kyoto protocol, protests and cow poop

Written by Philippe Boucher on December 9, 2005. Posted in climate change. 1 Comment on Kyoto protocol, protests and cow poop

We’ll go back to Montreal for an update on the climate change conference, wrapping up this week. David Doniger, policy director for the NRDC’s climate center
will join us with his observations of the proceedings.

LISTEN (9 min)

We’ll also get a
report on the other part of the climate conference story – worldwide
protests against global warming inaction held last weekend but you’d
never know it from the meanstream media.
We’ll speak with Jonathan Neele in London,
a key organizer of the protests, about why this is just the first of
many global actions to come.

LISTEN (7 min)

One way to get off the fossil fuels that
are causing climate extremes is to use biofuels. We’ll speak with Allen Dusault, with Sustainable Conservation
about the most promising renewables, including cow gas!
LISTEN (12 min)

And speaking
of gas – if you want to lower your utility bills this winter, consider
a tankless water heater…we’ll hear about the cost and conservation
benefits of hot water on demand from Dan Moffroit, with Bosch.

LISTEN (8 min)

This devilish image is by R.O. Blechman

All illustrations are courtesy of the virtual exhibition of the Climate Action Network Canada and the Art Directors Club of New York.
They also offer a video (if you have the system to run it).

LISTEN to the whole show (37 min)

Arctic refuge and clean vehicles

Written by Philippe Boucher on November 12, 2005. Posted in clean vehicles, Energy.

We’ll start by a few moments from the celebration in San Francisco of 35 years of environmental advocacy by NRDC, including a few words by MC Robert Redford. Listen (3 min)

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We’ll get the latest on the effort to stop Congress from opening the Arctic Refuge for drilling from Sarah Wilhoite, Legislative Associate with Earthjustice .
Listen (3 min)

We’ll then turn to whats fueling the U.S. oil grab….our thirsty gas guzzlers. Niel Golightly, Ford’s Sustainable Business Strategies Director, talks
about their efforts to improve the fleets lowest EPA mileage rating and
what he thinks of protests against the automaker scheduled for this
weekend. Listen (6 min)

We’ll also learn why Toyota, – the darling of enviros – is the
target of a campaign by Union of Concerned Scientists and others. well
talk to Louise Bedsworth, a senior analyst with their Clean Vehicles Program. Listen (8 min)
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And then Jeff Slye, CEO of Business Evolution Consulting will tell us what he learned doing eco-makeovers for the hotel industry. Listen (12 min)

LISTEN to THE WHOLE SHOW (37 min)

Climate Mash

Written by Philippe Boucher on October 26, 2005. Posted in climate change, sea.

Just in time for Halloween – and these ARE scary times – we’ll debut "The Climate Mash", a scathing version of Bobby Puckett’s classic, The Monster Mash…global warming has burned him out of retirement to record the song, complete with hysterical graphics (at climatemash.org).. We’ll talk to Angela Ledford, executive director of Clear The Air, which has a campaign to go along with the song. We’ll also check in with two experts to learn what yet another killer storm portends for the future –Jerome Ringo, with The National Wildlife Federation, was a flood victim in Louisiana only to get hit by Wilma while in Florida for a talk. Peter Webster is a professor at Georgia Tech who says batten down the hatches for more warming fueled weather. Nell Newman will join us to talk about why Newman’s Own Organics is pushing fair trade coffee and Scott Silver with Wild Wilderness will tell us why national parks are under siege from a relentless administration and what you can do about it. Last, but not least, Daniel Hinerfeld will check in with a report on why the NRDC is suing the Navy over sonar… LISTEN to the whole show (37 min)

Angela Ledford, campaign director of Clear the Air , the national campaign againt dirty power that just produced the climate mash video.

LISTEN (11 min)

Jerome Ringo, chairman of the board of directors for
the National Wildlife Federation;

LISTEN (3 min)

Peter Webster, professor at Georgia Tech

LISTEN (3 min)

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Nell Newman, president and founder of Newman’s Own
Organics;

LISTEN (6 min)

Scott Silver, executive director of Wild Wilderness;

LISTEN (7 min)

Send your comments

The NRDC segment is devoted to the lawsuit filed against the US Navy about their high intensity sonar exercises. We’ll hear part of the film narrated by Pierce Brosnan about those underwater noises.

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Experts explain why they produce masswhale mortality and the precaution the Navy should take to protect marine mammals. Speak out with NRDC’s Earth Action Center.
The interviews for this segment are by Daniel Hinerfeld. LISTEN (4 min)

Global warming and you

Written by Philippe Boucher on October 21, 2005. Posted in climate change, Energy.

With Wilma taking aim at the Florida coast and the hurricane center quickly running out of names we’ll speak with global warming guru Ross Gelbspan about "Katrina’s True Name". The author, journalist and lecturer tells us why we should prepare for more extreme weather. We’ll also be chatting with Laurie David, eco-activist and wife of Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Larry David. Laurie discusses why she’s so enthusiastic about curbing global warming as is Steve Cochran, with Environmental Defense’s Undo It campaign. We’ll also hear why a change in the climate is impacting trout habitat in Montana – and what it means to you – from NRDC’s George Black.

Ross Gelbspan Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Boiling point (just published in paperback).
Listen to the first part of the interview (11 min)
Listen to the second part of the interview (7 minutes)

More info on Kyotoandbeyond.org (the people’s ratification).

We’ll also hear parts of the song Change in the climate by Sharon Abreu

Ed_cochran Steve Cochran, Director of Strategic Communications for Environmental Defense Fund

about their global warming undoit campaign.

Listen (4 min)

Laurie David Founder and active promoter of the virtual Stopglobalwarming.org march

Listen (7 min)

NRDC‘s magazine OnEarth explores the impact of global warming on trout habitat in Montana: how anglers and environmentalists join forces. George Black is articles Editor for OnEarth and his last book is The Trout Paradox. Listen (7 min)

NRDC also join forces with EcoTalk via a special partnership.

We wish and hope other groups join us to promote and produce more radiobroadcasts about key environmental issues.

LISTEN to the whole show (37 min)

Energy matters

Written by Philippe Boucher on October 14, 2005. Posted in Energy.

This weekend on EcoTalk Betsy’s guests are

Congresswoman Hilda Solis (D-CA East LA) will tell us about the so called Gas Act, the raucous GOP (Getting Outrageously Pushy) House vote on legislation to relax restrictions on oil refineries. She led a drive for an alternative bill.

Listen (11 min)

A solar decathlon underway near the Washington mall will also also be a focus – college students from around the country competing to build the greenest house to show the public, and politicians, what’s possible – we’ll speak with Tor Allen of the Rahus Institute and Cal Poly student Robert Johnson. Listen (6 min)

Our third segment is devoted to solar pioneers Joyce Mason, Vice-President Marketing for Pardee Homes building the nation’s first 100% solar-powered housing development and developer Jack Fleming creating the first solar-powered seniors home. Listen (11 min)

Finally Wendy Reed, Communications Manager for Change a light, change the world wil ltalk about this campaign of the EPA’s Energy Star program. Listen (7 min)

LISTEN to the whole show (37 min)

And thanks from an ET fan

—–Original Message—–
From: Susan [mailto:sdubno@leviton.com]
Sent: Mon 10/10/2005 10:25 AM
To: Betsy Rosenberg
Subject: Website Feedback: I’m so happy

I love your show and have been waking up to tape it at 7am to listen to
it later. Saturday noon is good. Let’s aim for a late weeknight so I
can relax after work with your show. It is so informative and has
fabulous topics. The BEST Air America shows are EcoTalk, Al Franken and
Ring of Fire. The BEST NPR shows are Car Talk and Fresh Air with Terry
Gross. As far as I am concerned, you are one of the top radio
interviewers. Keep up the great show.

Is the show repeated any time during the week?

— The following message was sent using the feedback page —

John Passacantando

Written by Philippe Boucher on September 27, 2005. Posted in Greenpeace.

Serving more than ten
years in the public interest sector, John Passacantando has been Executive
Director of Greenpeace USA since September 2000.
From the headquarters
office in Washington, D.C., John leads a team of 72 and oversees an
organization with 300,000 members in the U.S. and a budget of $20 million.
Since 1971, Greenpeace has been a leading voice of the environmental
movement and work throughout the world to protect oceans and ancient
forests, and to fight toxic pollution, genetic engineering, global-warming
and nuclear threats.
With John’s commitment to aggressive and creative
tactics, the organization continues to be known for its direct confrontation
of corporations and governments as a means of forcing change. Greenpeace
has satellite offices in San Francisco and Anchorage.
Prior to joining Greenpeace,
John rallied the grassroots movement to stop global warming as co-founder
and Executive Director of Ozone Action. Founded in 1993 by John and
Karen Lohr, formerly
of Greenpeace, Ozone Action initially campaigned to strengthen the international
effort to stop ozone depletion. Under John’s leadership, Ozone Action
broadened its efforts and emerged
as the largest organization focused solely on stopping global
warming.
He assembled a team that built grassroots support through aggressive
investigative and media campaigns to address the public health, environmental
and economic threats of global warming. The organization was dissolved
into Greenpeace when John took the helm.
Before founding Ozone
Action, John was executive director of the Florence and John Schumann
Foundation, helping focus its grant making programs on the grassroots
renewal of democracy. John worked to support the Foundation’s efforts
on campaign finance reform and environmental issues.
Prior to making the leap
to environmental advocacy, John fine- tuned his marketing and media
skills while working in the corporate world.
He worked as Director
of Marketing for Polyconomics, Inc., providing
economic analysis to the country’s largest institutional investors.
He distilled tax law, interest rate and commodity price changes for
more than 80 clients.
Before that, he sold turnkey computer systems
throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut for Triad Systems Corporation.
John received a BA in
economics from Wake Forest University and an MA, also in economics,
from New York University.
John has testified before
Congress and participated in several PBS debates on global warming.
In addition to interviews on Good Morning America and other news programs,
John has been quoted in virtually every major newspaper in the United
States and has had numerous op-eds published nationwide.
In 1999,
he received the Tides Foundation 1999 Jane Bagley Lehman Award for Excellence
in Public Advocacy for his work on global warming solutions.
John is married to Lisa Guide, the Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs and the U.S.
Department of the Interior.
They have two young daughters, Sophia
and Mollie.

Betsy on Morning Sedition

Written by Philippe Boucher on August 25, 2005. Posted in Energy.

Betsy got up very early this morning to speak on New York based AAR Morning Sedition about the abysmal energy policies promoted by Bush and co.
Listen (12 min)

Best of Ecotalk

Written by Philippe Boucher on August 21, 2005. Posted in Books, Energy, sea.

Betsy is taking a well deserved short vacation so we’ll be airing programs from "The Best of EcoTalk" archives for the next few weeks. This sunday we’ll replay the interview with Dr. Riki Ott on her new book about the human impacts of the Exxon Valdez disaster more than a decade later.

Interview with Riki Ott

It was 16 years ago that the Exxon Valdez ran
aground, triggering the worst oil spill in history and transforming the
tranquil and pristine Prince William Sound
into a toxic wasteland. The legacy of that pivotal event is the subject of a
new book by Dr. Riki Ott, Sound Truth and Corporate Myth$: the legacy of the Exxon Aldez oil spill.
We’ll hear why Dr.Ott’s scientific research
has convinced her that oil is more toxic to humans and the environment than
anyone ever thought.In what’s being called the “Silent Spring”
of oil, Dr. Ott’s book is an urgent call for clean alternatives to fossil fuels. LISTEN