I'M RIGHT AND YOU'RE AN IDIOT
ECO 609 22 JUNE 2021
Several years ago, we interviewed this week's guest, Jim Hoggan, about his book titled, "I'm Right and You're and Idiot: The Toxic State of Public Discourse and How to Clean It Up." We have referred to that interview more than any other Ecotopia program since then, and we've even had a couple of heated debates with each other over some of its statements and theories. A second edition, post-the-Trump election, is coming out shortly, and we were eager to hear what's new in this edition. Jim is president of the PR firm Hoggan & Associates and chair of the David Suzuki Foundation board. He founded the influential website DeSmog Blog to expose misinformation campaigns that pollute public debate around climate change and the environment. In this interview, he spoke about current toxicity of discourse but also about propaganda, which he generally sees in a negative light, and which has been around a long time. His solutions generally focus on creating more compassion for our opponents and seeking common ground. there was too much in this interview to summarize: Listen to the show recording, and even better, buy the book, which includes wisdom of over sixty people whom Jim interviewed. Learn more at http://www.imrightandyoureanidiot.com/
Listen or download: Click here. https://ln4.sync.com/dl/b8954ab00/u79ycdrs-9duk3p7b-56t93r8q-fdcvuwmj
Listen or download: Click here. https://ln4.sync.com/dl/b8954ab00/u79ycdrs-9duk3p7b-56t93r8q-fdcvuwmj
THE DARK SIDE OF ELECTRIC CARS: LITHIUM MINING IN NEVADA
ECO 608 15 JUNE 2021
This evening we will spoke about the “Dark Side of Electric Cars.” The mining of lithium and cobalt, the major components of rechargable batteries, including those used in electric cars, has consequences for the land, the environment, and the people who live on the land being mined.
We focused on a specific mine, approved the first of this year at Thacker Pass, Nevada. We spoke first with Dr. David von Seggern, a retired seismologist from the Nevada Seismological Laboratory at the U. of Nevada, and a former chair of the Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club in Nevada. He closely follows conservation and environment issues in Nevada.
Then Susan had a report from a rally from an event that took place on Saturday, June 12, at the city plaza in Reno, NV. “Protect Peehee Mu huh” or Thacker Pass is sacred to the Northern Paiute and Western Shoshone indigenous people. This event was intended to build support for the resistance to the building of the Thacker Pass lithium mine. She recorded both comments and original music from the rally.
Susan ended the report with a brief editorial comment:
Any person listening to this program about lithium mining might sensibly ask, “Then what can we do? Damned if we do. Damned if we don’t.” I think my answer is just to be mindful. All of us that consume are a part of the problem of the degradation of the earth. And the more we consume, the more we are part of the problem. As I used to tell my children, “You’re complicit when you wake up in the morning.” All of us are complicit. And know when you and I are consuming, someone is probably being hurt by that. It’s the nature of living in a world, in a country, that has promoted growth, consumerism and a car-centric culture.
Listen to or download this program: click here.
We focused on a specific mine, approved the first of this year at Thacker Pass, Nevada. We spoke first with Dr. David von Seggern, a retired seismologist from the Nevada Seismological Laboratory at the U. of Nevada, and a former chair of the Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club in Nevada. He closely follows conservation and environment issues in Nevada.
Then Susan had a report from a rally from an event that took place on Saturday, June 12, at the city plaza in Reno, NV. “Protect Peehee Mu huh” or Thacker Pass is sacred to the Northern Paiute and Western Shoshone indigenous people. This event was intended to build support for the resistance to the building of the Thacker Pass lithium mine. She recorded both comments and original music from the rally.
Susan ended the report with a brief editorial comment:
Any person listening to this program about lithium mining might sensibly ask, “Then what can we do? Damned if we do. Damned if we don’t.” I think my answer is just to be mindful. All of us that consume are a part of the problem of the degradation of the earth. And the more we consume, the more we are part of the problem. As I used to tell my children, “You’re complicit when you wake up in the morning.” All of us are complicit. And know when you and I are consuming, someone is probably being hurt by that. It’s the nature of living in a world, in a country, that has promoted growth, consumerism and a car-centric culture.
Listen to or download this program: click here.
BUTTE FIRESAFE COUNCIL
ECO 607 8 JUNE 2021
In this program, we spoke with Calli-Jane DeAnda, the Executive Director of the Butte FireSafe Council. She told us about the remarkable range of programs being conducted by the Council as well as some of its coming events. Among the topics we discussed were the history and composition of the Council and such projects as forest health, prescribed burns, the chipper project, Adopt-a-Forest, and the relationship of the Council to CalFire and other regional organizations. You can learn more about the FireSafe Council and volunteer or contribute at buttefiresafe.net. Click to: Listen to or download the program.
saving the monarchs
eco 606 1 june 2021
On this program, we had two interviews discussing the drastic reductions of Monarch Butterfly populations in California and around the world. But first, we briefly discussed the butterfly effect, which actually has nothing to do with the Monarchs, but is an important reminder of what the demise of a single species can mean.
The term is closely associated with the work of mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz. He noted, metaphorically, that the details of a tornado (the exact time of formation, the exact path taken) can be influenced by minor perturbations such as a distant butterfly flapping its wings several weeks earlier.
We live in a cause and effect world, though linking causes with distant effects is so complex as to be, in many cases, impossible. But we can ask some pretty clear causal effects when it comes too the Monarchs? What is causing their decline and possible extinction? And equally important, what may be the effects on our world if a lovely butterfly disappears? Does it matter?
The term is closely associated with the work of mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz. He noted, metaphorically, that the details of a tornado (the exact time of formation, the exact path taken) can be influenced by minor perturbations such as a distant butterfly flapping its wings several weeks earlier.
We live in a cause and effect world, though linking causes with distant effects is so complex as to be, in many cases, impossible. But we can ask some pretty clear causal effects when it comes too the Monarchs? What is causing their decline and possible extinction? And equally important, what may be the effects on our world if a lovely butterfly disappears? Does it matter?
In our first interview tonight we’ll talk with students, Sam Sims, and Aubrey Burdette and two community members, Heather McCafferety and Chloe Adams, from Wildflower Open Classroom Charter School in Chico who decided that helping the Monarchs is worth planting a butterfly garden. They discussed why the Monarchs are endangered and shared the experience of creating a milkweed garden in the school playground.
Listen to the Interview.. Learn more about Wildflower Open Classroom Charter School.
Listen to the Interview.. Learn more about Wildflower Open Classroom Charter School.
Then we spoke with Claire Pavelka of River Partners. which is planting over 600 acres of milkweed around California to restore Monarch populations. She explained the Monarch lifecycle and migration patterns and how milkweed fits into the pattern. Claire also discussed some of their other projects, including watershed and wetlands restoration.We found this to be an especially interesting and informative interview. Listen or download. Learn more about River Partners.
REGENERATING PARADISE
ECO 605 25 MAY 2021
In this program we spoke with Allen Myers, who is Executive Director of Regenerating Paradise, a grassroots community group in Paradise which has been active in bringing together the whole community to create concrete projects for rebuilding Paradise better. He was away during the Camp Fire, but then returned to his home town to create this amazing organization. He described a number of projects, too many to list here (check the website). He also read to us an inspiring statement about the aims of the organization: “Our main focus is being a weaver, a holder of a holistic vision of health for our ridge community.” A fountain of hope and optimism, he wrote in a recent newsletter: “Spring brings a quickening and, perhaps in part because of the easing of the pandemic, I’m feeling more hopeful than in years past. This is a burst of potential. It is hope made visible and yet I know many of our friends and family are currently feeling hopeless and not without good reason. . . .How do we move into the future and ensure that none are left behind? . . . . ” Listen to this amazing interview.
THE DARK HOBBY
ECO 604 18 MAY 2021
In this program we discussed a new film about the aquarium trade in Hawaii and around the world. The Dark Hobby is a beautiful and powerful film that will be released to the public May 22. We’ve had an opportunity to view it (twice).
First we spoke with Paula Fouce, who co-wrote, produced, and directed this film. She has numerous film credits and awards on topics ranging from historical gypsies to religious tolerance and has authored a book on religious conflict. She is President of Paradise Filmworks International.
Next we spoke with Jonathan Balcombe, who has written a book called What a Fish Knows and who figures prominently in The Dark Hobbyt. He has studied the behavior of many animals and insects and as an activist has worked with The Humane Society of the United States, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Finally, we spoke with Gail Grabowski of Chaminade University in Honolulu who has been active in the campaign to ban the aquarium trade. She has extensively researched the relationship between fish and the reefs.
The film will be released Saturday, May 22, and will be streaming on iTunes, AppleTV, You Tube, and other platforms. You can learn more and even host a screening at thedarkhobby.com
Listen to or download the interview: Click Here.
First we spoke with Paula Fouce, who co-wrote, produced, and directed this film. She has numerous film credits and awards on topics ranging from historical gypsies to religious tolerance and has authored a book on religious conflict. She is President of Paradise Filmworks International.
Next we spoke with Jonathan Balcombe, who has written a book called What a Fish Knows and who figures prominently in The Dark Hobbyt. He has studied the behavior of many animals and insects and as an activist has worked with The Humane Society of the United States, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Finally, we spoke with Gail Grabowski of Chaminade University in Honolulu who has been active in the campaign to ban the aquarium trade. She has extensively researched the relationship between fish and the reefs.
The film will be released Saturday, May 22, and will be streaming on iTunes, AppleTV, You Tube, and other platforms. You can learn more and even host a screening at thedarkhobby.com
Listen to or download the interview: Click Here.
THE DREAMT LAND
ECO 603 11 MAY 2021
A few months ago, Barbara Vlamis, frequent guest on this program and Executive Director of AquAlliance (“protecting northstate waters”), recommended that we read a book called The Dreamt Land, by Mark Arax. It is a history and commentary on water and agriculture in California, and we found it to be a page turner and a blood boiler. Since then, AquAlliance has also sponsored a book club about The Dreamt Land, and our questions on this program are based in part on the interests of that group. A journalist and author, Mark Arax stands out as a rarity: On one hand, he is a skilled investigative reporter who unearths secrets from the depths of shadow governments. On the other hand, he is a gifted writer whose feature stories and books are distinguished by the “poetry of his prose.”
Here are the questions we asked him. You can listen to or download the interview here.
--Please give us a little biography. You’re a native Californian, live and farm in Fresno, are a family man. How did you get where you are?
--How did you come to write The Dreamt Land? Many interviews, travel in dusty places, looking at pipes and leaks and even purloined water.
--Some topics for discussion (including some from the book club):
...Your article in California Sunday about the Paradise fire, linking it to longstanding problems with water and wildlands and rural/suburban sprawl. https://story.californiasunday.com/gone-paradise-fire/
...The history of water use and abuse going back to the 19th century. Owens Valley, the damming and sluicing of San Joaquin, private irrigation, water wars, competitive extraction.
...State and Federal water projects. Lots to discuss: origins, engineering, assumption that the government provides water.
...North versus Central versus South: northern water resources, agricultural needs and claims, urban uses. Agricultural uses (80%) vs. urban.
...Overpumping and subsidence (We’re starting to experience here in the North, modest compared to that in the Valley).
...Crop choice. Pistachios and walnuts (sent abroad).
...Engineering solutions to perceived problems. [We’ve interviewed Michael Heuseman, author of Technofix, who argues that we cannot expect “technofixes” for environmental problems. We’ve also read Elizabeth Kolbert’s White Sky, which says we may have to engineer our way out of engineered problems.]
...Big ag. Moneyed influence. Working around the regulations. Resnicks’ recent contributions to Newsom.
...The Delta and the now-single tunnel. The Brown legacy. The Newsom legacy.
...The current drought, implications if contractors receive only 5% of allocations.
...Junior and senior water rights, especially over-allocation.
... If you were the California Water Czar, what changes might you suggest? mandate?
Learn more about Mark at markarax.com.
Here are the questions we asked him. You can listen to or download the interview here.
--Please give us a little biography. You’re a native Californian, live and farm in Fresno, are a family man. How did you get where you are?
--How did you come to write The Dreamt Land? Many interviews, travel in dusty places, looking at pipes and leaks and even purloined water.
--Some topics for discussion (including some from the book club):
...Your article in California Sunday about the Paradise fire, linking it to longstanding problems with water and wildlands and rural/suburban sprawl. https://story.californiasunday.com/gone-paradise-fire/
...The history of water use and abuse going back to the 19th century. Owens Valley, the damming and sluicing of San Joaquin, private irrigation, water wars, competitive extraction.
...State and Federal water projects. Lots to discuss: origins, engineering, assumption that the government provides water.
...North versus Central versus South: northern water resources, agricultural needs and claims, urban uses. Agricultural uses (80%) vs. urban.
...Overpumping and subsidence (We’re starting to experience here in the North, modest compared to that in the Valley).
...Crop choice. Pistachios and walnuts (sent abroad).
...Engineering solutions to perceived problems. [We’ve interviewed Michael Heuseman, author of Technofix, who argues that we cannot expect “technofixes” for environmental problems. We’ve also read Elizabeth Kolbert’s White Sky, which says we may have to engineer our way out of engineered problems.]
...Big ag. Moneyed influence. Working around the regulations. Resnicks’ recent contributions to Newsom.
...The Delta and the now-single tunnel. The Brown legacy. The Newsom legacy.
...The current drought, implications if contractors receive only 5% of allocations.
...Junior and senior water rights, especially over-allocation.
... If you were the California Water Czar, what changes might you suggest? mandate?
Learn more about Mark at markarax.com.
UPDATE ON SUSTAINABILITY AND TECHNOLOGY
ECO 602 4 MAY 2021
This week we did one of our "rip and read" features with news clips from a variety of sources. The focus was on technology--not cure-all technofixes, but interesting new technologies (and a few older low technologies) that are offering better prospects for solar, wind, water purification, water supplies, and housing. Unfortunately, copyright matters prevent us from reprinting the script here. Do what we did: Google "innovations" in solar, water, etc. It's all there.
BUTTE ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL
ECO 601 27 APRIL 2021
On this program we talked with Caitlin Dalby, the General Manager of the Butte Environmental Council. She spoke with us about the complexities of managing BEC during the Covid-19 crisis and described recent and upcoming programs that are taking place despite Covid. Upcoming are the Endangered Species Faire and the Bicycle Music Festival. She also review ongoing programs such as RARE (the recycling project), Community Forums, Urban Forest Project, and the Oaks Restoration Program. Learn more about BEC, volunteer, or contribute at becnet.org.
Download or listen to this important interview: click here.
Download or listen to this important interview: click here.
ecotopia celebrates 600 shows since 2019
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clearing the air
eco 600 april 20, 2021
Our guest on this 6-Hundredth Ecotopia was Laura Gladson. She’s a PhD Candidate with Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, and a Research Scholar, Marron Institute of Urban Management at NYU. Laura is also a Chico resident, whom we met via Zoom a few weeks ago at the get together of the Environmental Council of Butte County at the This Way to Sustainability Conference. Her research interests include air quality; health effects of air pollution; policy-driven research; translational research; and environmental justice. In this program she gave us a brief course in Pollution 101, described the methods used to measure air pollution, and discussed the impacts on the population, with particular emphasis on Environmental Justice. For additional information, check out healthoftheair.org. And listen to or download this excellent interview: Click here.
PARADISE RECOVERY
ECO 597 30 MARCH 2021
Our guests on this program were Marc Maddox and Katie Simmons. Marc is Paradise’s Public Works Director and Town Engineer, and Katie Simmons is the town’s Disaster Recovery Director. They spoke with us about the town’s Long Term Community Recovery Plan (schematic above) after the 2018 Camp Fire, including road repair and regeneration as well as plans to put utilities underground. Of particular interest was their explanation of the proposed sewer project, which would send Paradise sewage to the Chico plant via a pipeline. They discussed other options under consideration and explained why the Chico route may be the only possible one. They also explored funding options for this massive project.
Click here to listen or download.
Click here to listen or download.
Lose That Lawn!
eco 595 9 MARCH 2021
We recently read some essays about the environment printed in the Enterprise Record. These were written on topic of water conservation by 5th graders at Parkview Elementary School. We were very impressed by the writing and the students' insights. Their major concern was lawns, and they have lots of ideas on how we can eliminate grass and replace it with native plants, mulch, and compost. We spoke with Brayden Peacock,Kaitlyn Wassinger, Audrey Vu, Sean Kelley and their teacher Tammy Janos.
Listen to or download this excellent interview.
Listen to or download this excellent interview.
the affordable housing dilemma
eco 594 2 march 2021
Chico Attorney Richard Harriman spoke candidly about the Chico affordable housing crisis and need need for affordable infill rather than suburban developments for the affluent. He lamented the lack of community input for the revision of the Chico general plan housing element and argued that the community wants more diversity and more affordable housing while developers, who have a loud voice, ignore community needs and cater to the wealthy who are fleeing the big cities and seeking more affordable McMansions. If Chico keeps going this way, he warned, "It's going to look just like Stockton." See image above.
Listen to or download the program.
Listen to or download the program.
BI0CHAR
ECO 593 24 FEBRUARY 2021
We had two guests on this program. Josie Strong is a farmer (principally walnuts) in East Biggs, California, and Richard Roth is a sustainable agriculture practitioner from Chapmantown, Chico, CA. They told us about the value of biochar--a kind of charcoal produced under low oxygen, smouldering, so to speak--and how it can sequester carbon, improve soil moisture content, and generally reduce C02 pollution. Each has experimented with ways in which the backyard gardener and the farmer can produce biochar from "homemade" furnaces and even trenches in the ground. They suggested that the uses and benefits of biochar are just beginning to be explored and encouraged listeners to join the biochar revolution.
Listen to or download the program: Click here.
Listen to or download the program: Click here.
the URBAN FOREST
ECO 591 9 FEBRUARY 2021
We talked about trees this week, specifically about Chico’s Urban Forest and more generally about the value of trees in the worlds of the environment and poetry. First we spoke with Gianna Anselmo, Urban Forest Coordinator for the Butte Environmental Council. She told us about BEC’s plan to plant 700 trees in Chico’s neighborhoods, working with volunteers and homeowners to plant trees well adapted to our environment. You can learn more at becnet.org. We also rounded out the program with some fun facts and poetry about trees. Didja know that some trees have been to the moon?
Listen to or download the program: Click here.
Listen to or download the program: Click here.
FUNGI RULE THE WORLD
ECO 590 2 February 2021
Our guest was Cheetah Tchudi--yes, our son--who is a farmer, rancher, and mycologist working out of TurkeyTail Farm in Yankee Hill. He spoke with us about the role fungi play in the world, the varieties around the world, how to avoid poison mushrooms, some fun facts, and his mushroom bioremediation projects cleaning up after the 2018 Camp Fire.]
Learn more about his work at butteremediation.com
Listen to or download the show: Click here.
Learn more about his work at butteremediation.com
Listen to or download the show: Click here.
CLIMATE GIRLS CHANGING OUR WORLD
ECO 587 19 JANUARY 2021
KZFR programmer and polymath Gayle Kimball, author of over twenty books, spoke with us about her newest book, Climate Girls Changing Our World. She interviewed 54 young women in seven continents and found a vigorous, inspired, inspiring and dedicated climate activists. We asked her about how climate change issues vary in such areas as Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America and how these young people are acting on them. She also shared her view of what these climate activists have in common, including family birth order, motivation, commitment, and career ambitions. Listen to or download this interview: Click here.
LET IT SNOW!
ec0 586 12 january 2021
This program focused on the Sierra Nevada snowpack, which supplies about one-third of California’s water and serves as a vast winter reservoir. We spoke with Sean de Gusman of the Department of Water Resources. He is chief of DWR’s Snow Supply and Water Forecasting Section and is responsible for measuring the Sierra snowpack and figuring out how much water it contains. We asked him how he measures the snowpack. He told us about the extraordinarily complex process that involves physical, on-the-scene measurements at Phillips Station in the Sierra, 120 electronic sensing sites, airplane and satellite determinations, and more. At the close of the program, we read excerpts from a Wikipedia article on the great flood of 1862, when above average snowpack coupled with spring rains turned the Sacramento valley into a vast lake. Read the press release that sparked this interview: https://water.ca.gov/News/News-Releases/2020/Dec-20/December-2020-Snow-Survey See the actual data at cdec.water.ca.gov. Listen to or download the interview: Click here.
GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS FROM 2020 FOR 2021
ECO 585 5 JANUARY 2021
Often on this program we bring you some discouraging words about the environment, though generally with some concrete solutions. Although 2020 was a pretty terrible year on many fronts, there was, in fact, some positive news on the environmental front and in this program, we offered good news from around the world. We don’t want to minimize the crisis. According to the World Wildlife Foundation, “Humanity has wiped out 60% of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles since 1970, leading the world’s foremost experts to warn that the annihilation of wildlife is now an emergency that threatens civilization.” While that statistic is chilling and heartbreaking, there are some good news stories, and we provided some from here in the US, from Canada, from around the world on topics ranging from preserving Marmots and Tasmanian Devils to solar cars and how reading labels can save the earth.
Click here to download or listen to the program
Click here to download or listen to the program