Author: William Craven

Pacific Environment and Petro-Politics in Russia

Written by William Craven on January 25, 2007. Posted in Oceans.

Royal Dutch Shell’s oil development project on Sakhalin Island in Russia’s Far East is the largest such project in the world, and has wrecked havoc on the fragile marine biodiversity of the region and damaged the way of life of Sakhalin’s citizens. The Russian government has recently revoked Shell’s permit to work on the project, but that’s not the whole story.Pacific Environment’s Sara Moore has been to Sakhalin, and tells Betsy what she’s seen, who she’s talked to, and what she knows about Royal Dutch Shell. LISTEN (12 min)

picture: Pacific Environment

Bob Feinbaum & HydroNova

Written by William Craven on January 25, 2007. Posted in water.

Bob Feinbaum tells Betsy about the HydroNova water program. The assumption that sewer water is garbage is wrong. It is possible to use ‘living machines’ that mimic the cleansing properties of natural wetlands. Wastewater should not be wasted water. LISTEN (8 min)

If you have questions about the water treatment methods of your city, email Bob
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Frank O’Donnell on the State of the Union: Cars, Coal, and Corn

Written by William Craven on January 24, 2007. Posted in air pollution, cars, climate change, Energy, Frank O'Donnell.

EcoTalk’s very own Clean Air Correspondent Frank O’Donnell waxes funny and fiery on President Bush’s State of the Union speech: "He’s starting to talk the talk, but he’s a long way from walking the walk. He’s tip-toeing in the right direction, but he is not coming forward with any plan at all to actually limit emissions related to global warming." LISTEN (11 min)

Ana Unruh Cohen’s take on the State of the Union

Written by William Craven on January 24, 2007. Posted in climate change.

Ana Unruh Cohen, Director of Environmental Policy with the Center for American Progress, gave us her take on the President’s trip to the Capitol: "Recognition of the challenge is not enough. We need action." LISTEN (8 min)

Sarah B. Pralle: Branching Out, Digging In

Written by William Craven on January 24, 2007. Posted in Books.

Syracuse University Professor of Political Science Sarah B. Pralle shares with Betsy her new book Branching Out, Digging In: Environmental Advocacy and Agenda Setting, which explores why some environmental issues succeed, and some don’t. LISTEN (10 min)

Richard Cizik: Evangelicals and Scientists

Written by William Craven on January 23, 2007. Posted in climate change, Religion.

The coalition of 28 Evangelicals and Scientists that the National Association of Evangelicals Richard Cizik and Dr. Eric Chivian of Harvard University assembled do not agree about everything in the world (or in the heavens, presumably), but they do agree that climate change is a problem requiring urgent action on everyone’s part. Here Richard tells Betsy about his initial skepticism, his climate change revelation, and the common ground that will keep all of us on firm ecological footing. LISTEN (11 min)

NRDC and Kevin Bacon: Film Your Issue

Written by William Craven on January 23, 2007. Posted in NRDC segment.

NRDC‘s Daniel Hinerfeld checks in from the Sundance Film Festival, where he’s checking out the Film Your Issue international film contest for 15- and 16-year-olds. At the FYI party he chatted with actor Kevin Bacon, and later he spoke with some college students on the street to find out what was on their minds. LISTEN (8 min)

The BMW Hydrogen 7

Written by William Craven on January 23, 2007. Posted in clean vehicles.

BMW’s Andreas Klugescheid stopped by EcoTalk’s Green Street Studios and went for a ride with Betsy in the new BMW Hydrogen 7, answering all the pertinent questions about this new technology along the way. LISTEN (12 min)
On YouTube

Grave Matters Redux

Written by William Craven on January 23, 2007. Posted in Books.

Mark Harris, author of Grave Matters: A Journey through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial", comes back to finish his and Betsy enlightening conversation about returning to burials that honor our place in the earth’s biological cycles. He also addresses recent allegations that cremations are connected to mercury pollution– through dental fillings. LISTEN (8 min)

NRDC Prez Frances Beinecke and not the Usual Suspects

Written by William Craven on January 22, 2007. Posted in climate change, NRDC segment.

NRDC President Frances Beinecke tells Betsy about the coalition of large corporations, including Duke Energy, DuPont, General Electric, and PG&E, who are demanding strong leadership on climate change from the Federal Government, just in time for tomorrow’s State of the Union speech: "The most important thing we’d like to see the president to do is commit to a cap-and-trade proposal that reduces our carbon emissions. But we’re not that optimistic." LISTEN (11 min)