1440 http://www.islaearth.org/ en-us 2006 Catalina Island Conservancy Isla Earth Exploring Environmental Issues of Global Importance. Isla Earth, a production of the Catalina Island Conservancy, is a radio series exploring environmental issues of local, national, and global importance. Our mission is to increase ecological awareness, deepen understanding, and encourage environmentally sustainable choices. no Catalina Island Conservancy Dutch researcher Jos Meeuwen would like to put in a plug for energy self-sufficiency. In fact, he'd like to put in a plug for everyone in his country. Why? So they can upload and download energy much like information is exchanged on the Internet. It's all based on his assumption that for the foreseeable future, networks will be needed to distribute electricity. He predicts that by 2050 at least half of Holland's energy will be coming from sustainable sources that will need access to the grid. That way, whether it's power from roof panels, wind turbines or power plants, it's all just part of the mix. And, both business and home-based consumers can add to or use electricity as they need to. Of course there are technical hurdles to overcome before Meeuwen's scenario becomes a reality. Like the ability to create two-way energy traffic, or store up enormous amounts of electricity for distribution on demand. Hopefully, Meeuwen and others will find ways to overcome these obstacles. And when they do, we may all look forward to hearing this when we log onto a network someday: "You've got power." Script by Stephen Webb http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1246604400 Fri, 3 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700 01:30 Catalina Island Conservancy Is it 'hip,' or 'cool,' to be environmentally sustainable? That's a question that some of the biggest companies are asking about the world's most popular products and the answer is 'sweet.' Take Dell. It recently held an "ideas competition" for environmentally sustainable computing. Two of the finalists were a PC that runs on hydrogen fuel cells, and another with a shell made of processed corn! Then there's Nike. It recently launched, "Trash Talk," a high-performance basketball shoe made from scraps off its factory floors. iPods are going greener too. Apple's latest contain no mercury and are sheathed in recyclable aluminum. Apple also collects old iPods: Customers bring them in; Apple recycles them via sustainable practices, and gives customers a discount off their next purchase. Does it pay to be green? Time will tell for some of the newer product lines, but it's already paying huge dividends towards a healthier planet though. Last year Apple collected 21 million pounds of electronic waste, keeping it out of landfills. And they report that at their Ireland plant, just a partial switch to wind power should eliminate 2,000 tons of carbon emissions annually. Now that's something to get 'amped' about. Script by Gail Davis http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1246518000 Thu, 2 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700 01:30 Catalina Island Conservancy The Fourth of July is almost here complete with picnics and fireworks. How do you honor the red, white and blue while honoring the environment at the same time? You can start with that picnic lunch. Go with locally grown, organic produce that isn't shipped across the country or raised with toxic chemicals or pesticides. Instead of Styrofoam plates, use biodegradable ones along with compostable utensils made from materials like sugar cane and cornstarch. Under the right conditions, these can decompose in a landfill in due time, unlike like plastics that can hang around for thousands of years. Better yet, pack reusable plates, forks and spoons. Everyone loves fireworks, but those bombs bursting in air ultimately litter the ground and fresh water supplies with toxic debris that's no friend to your respiratory system or the environment. Consider eliminating personal fireworks all together and having a block party. The simplest thing you can do to help the environment on the Fourth is to recycle. Make sure those soda cans and beer bottles get picked up, put in your recycling bins, or delivered to your local recycling facility. So, on our nation's birthday, give the country a gift -- like a healthier environment. Script by Bob Rhein http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1246431600 Wed, 1 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700 01:30 Catalina Island Conservancy Raising endangered birds...on a volcano? It has benefits -- or, so says Alan Lieberman, head of the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center, perched on Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano. The center is operated by the San Diego Zoo and is part of Hawaii's Endangered Bird Conservation Program. The facility sits 4,000-feet high, above Kilauea's smoldering crater, on the "Big Island." It protects and breeds some of the most endangered birds in the world. So far nearly a 1,000 chicks of 14 species have been hatched and raised there. While volcanoes can get cranky, over millennia their lava flows create just what some of these birds need. As lava oozes seaward, it flows around any topographical "bumps", leaving islands of forest, surrounded by miles of sterile lava moonscape. These areas, called "kipukas" make perfect release habitats for captive-raised birds. Hawaii's birds evolved in isolation and flourished until diseases and predatory mammals that arrived with humans impacted their population. Deforestation of the birds' fragile habitat cut their numbers even further. The good news is that the center recently released 18 birds on "Kipuka 21." Lieberman says in a few years they'll know if the release was successful. Until then, he and his staff will just...go with the flow. Script by Bob Rhein http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1246345200 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 01:30 Catalina Island Conservancy One of every 15 people in the world relies on China's Yangtze River, the third largest river on Earth. How big is it? Well, people used to say the Yangtze was just too big to poison. Not any more. In fact, scientists say that waste from factories and cities could soon turn the Yangtze into a "dead river". Already, marine diversity has declined from 126 species 20 years ago to just 52 today. Whether it's the mighty Yangtze, or the babbling brook that runs through your hometown, we humans need to clean up our act. Dumping trash along riverbanks is never a good idea. Motor oil that's poured down the drain can wind up in rivers and streams. And untreated wastewater from our factories and cities can seep into underground aquifers - poisoning the well for everyone. Okay, so you'd never dump trash near a river, or be dumb enough to pour motor oil down a drain. That's good to hear. Because -- from Shanghai to Chicago, clean water is a precious resource -- and we need to protect it. Script by Bob Rhein http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1246258800 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 01:30 Catalina Island Conservancy Beavers -- those buck-toothed, furry creatures we used to make into hats -- are pretty amazing builders. They craft dams more than 2,000 feet long and transform mountain creeks into sizeable ponds. The ponds become valuable wetlands that protect entire ecosystems from the effects of drought. Cherie Westbrook of Colorado State University says that the ponds raise ground water levels for miles around, providing water to thirsty roots of forest and meadow vegetation all year round. She estimated that, without the dams, it would take a very large flood to produce the same effects. So in the drought-prone American West with its relatively short, wet winters and long, dry summers, beaver ponds create an enduring source of water. But the number of beavers in Rocky Mountain National Park is dwindling, estimated at just 30 animals from a high of about 600 in 1940. Westbrook warns that further losses could degrade the entire ecosystem. The good news is that there are groups working to save the beavers of Rocky Mountain National Park- and you can help. Script by Andrew Porterfield http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1245999600 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 01:30 Catalina Island Conservancy A frozen zoo...for all animals? Well, no one's making the Panamanian golden frog shiver in its terrarium. Instead, this is a unique way that the San Diego zoo helps endangered species...by freezing samples of their DNA. Think Noah's Ark -- on ice. Zoo scientists fill stainless steel vats with liquid nitrogen. That's a coolant that dips lower than 230 degrees below zero. The vats contain more than 8,000 vials, each with tissue samples holding genetic material of the animal it came from. So far, it represents at least 800 species...and counting. Why so cold? Conventionally stored samples deteriorate after about a century. But in liquid nitrogen, specimens remain intact - in perpetuity: It's a genetic library for today and the future, as technology continues to advance. The project is part of a consortium of institutions freezing samples of all the world's plants and animals. The San Diego Zoo's involvement is unique, because it concentrates on endangered species. Even now, the Frozen Zoo plays an integral role in restoring the California condor. And scientists around the world use it to study amphibian decline. Keeping the golden frog, you could say...hopping. Script by Bob Rhein http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1245913200 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 01:30 Catalina Island Conservancy There's nothing like ice cream on a sweltering summer day. And it doesn't much matter whether it's in a cone, a shake, a sundae, or a banana split. There's nothing better -- unless, of course, the ice cream was manufactured in an environmentally conscious way. The grand daddy of "green" ice cream is the Ben &;; Jerry's brand. Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield seem to have a knack for setting environmental trends -- expanding bottom lines and waistlines, too. After implementing a comprehensive recycling program at their plant in Vermont, the company created a lagoon that purifies wastewater using solar energy, plants, algae and microbes. The lagoon replicates the natural processes of a freshwater wetland. At least one other ice cream maker is following Ben &;; Jerry's lead. Snoqualmie Gourmet Ice Cream in Maltby, Washington, designed its plant to reduce wastewater runoff and noise pollution. They also have an energy efficient lighting, refrigeration, and heat recovery system. Mmmm...let's celebrate their environmental accomplishments with a dish of "green" ice cream! Script by Bob Rhein http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1245826800 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 01:30 Catalina Island Conservancy A world without honeybees? That won't happen, if scientists solve the mystery of honeybees abandoning their hives. It's called Colony Collapse Disorder and it's a growing problem. Experts theorize it's caused by pesticides, parasitic mites, or the accidental introduction of viruses lethal to bees. Whatever it's cause, when bees disappear, flowers don't get pollinated. Next, almonds, apple and avocado trees don't produce -- and those are just the crops that start with "A." The absence of honeybees has focused attention on other pollinators: native bees, butterflies and moths. Katharina Ullmann of the conservation group the Xerces Society, says some native pollinators do better than honeybees at pollinating some plants -- as long as year-round food's available. Plus, native bees often "annoy" honeybees, motivating them to pollinate faster -- to get away from local "riff-raff." And butterflies and moths? Some prefer flowers that honeybees don't like. And some are more tolerant of colder climates. So in tandem with solving honeybee decline, Ullmann says that landowners -- and even backyard gardeners -- can help significantly, by planting native habitats to attract wild pollinators. Taking the edge off -- a stinging problem. Script by Bob Rhein http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1245740400 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 01:30 Catalina Island Conservancy When it comes to air pollution, every little particulate has a green card. It can just board the next wind current and take a ride to greener pastures. As countries like China and India beef up manufacturing, some of that pollution is going to contribute to rising smog levels in cities thousands of miles away. In fact, it's already happening. Los Angeles is usually the smoggiest city in the U.S. According to the EPA, on some days, up to 25 percent of the particulate pollution found in skies above Los Angeles actually comes from China! Stephen Cliff, a researcher at the University of California, Davis, monitors air pollution in California. He says that two-thirds of the pollution from Asia is made of soot, sulfur, and trace metals from the burning of fossil fuels, especially coal. On average, China builds a new coal-fired power plant every week. The Natural Resources Defense Council is working with Chinese officials to boost the country's energy efficiency. And, once alternative energy development is accepted as an urgent global priority, perhaps we'll all breathe easier. Script by Andrew Porterfield http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1245654000 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 01:30 Catalina Island Conservancy The ethanol experts are at it again. Scientists in Brazil have found a way to boost biofuel production that's naturally more attractive. In a recent study published by the American Chemical Society, they reported that exposing fermenting sugar cane to low frequency magnetic waves increased ethanol output by 17 percent. It also shortened the process by two hours. Brazil is one of the world's leaders in biofuel. They produce ethanol using sugar cane which is twice as efficient as the corn most commonly used in the United States. But both sugar cane and corn compete with food crops and forests for space, making them less-than-ideal sources for fuel. However, cellulosic sources make fewer demands on the environment and are even more efficient at creating ethanol. These include plant wastes from industry, agricultural residues and fast-growing crops grown exclusively for fuel production like switch grass. If the new process can be used to convert cellulosic sources into biofuel, that would truly be the best of both worlds. And while no one knows where in the world the solution will come from, don't be surprised if it comes from Brazil. Script by Stephen Webb http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1245394800 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 01:30 Catalina Island Conservancy Chicago may be the Windy City, but California may become the wind-powered state. That's thanks to the Tehachapi Renewal Transmission Project, in the remote Tehachapi Mountains. Energy produced there by wind turbines will soon power customers across California -- through the state's power grid. The Tehachapis are low-slung mountains that separate California's Central Valley from the Mojave Desert. Winds whoosh over them from March through September, averaging 20 miles per hour. So, it's no wonder state officials and energy supplier Southern California Edison chose the Tehachapis for the biggest wind energy project in the country. When it's finished in 2013, the $1.8 billion project could power three million homes. It's part of California's larger plan to more than double renewable energy resources by 2020. But that's just California. Right now, Texas leads the country in wind power. And while nationwide, wind turbines account for only one percent of U.S. electricity, the American Wind Energy Association says that by 2030, wind could power 20 percent of the national grid. So what do you say, Chicago? Windmills on the Sears Tower? Script by Bob Rhein http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1245308400 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 01:30 Catalina Island Conservancy Kermit the Frog always said, "It's not easy being green." But like him, another group of actors has discovered it can be popular. Especially with children. They're with the National Theatre for Children from Minneapolis, Minnesota. And they've been presenting the play, "Boomerang Jack and the Unseen Green Machine" at schools all across the country. Based on the response so far, it may be one of their most popular productions ever. Starring the fiendish Great Waster of Energy, absentminded Professor Whatshisname and Boomerang Jack the hero, the play communicates important information about timely conservation and environmental issues, with an emphasis on renewable energy. The 25-minute show uses simple sets and audience participation, and includes handouts like workbooks, posters and teacher guides. By presenting the information in a variety of fun ways, producers hope children will become educators at home, sharing what they've learned with parents and siblings. Boomerang Jack and his friends may be heading your way soon. Just like the Muppets took Manhattan, Boomerang Jack and friends may soon be taking your town by storm. Script by Stephen Webb http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1245222000 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 01:30 Catalina Island Conservancy Looking for an environmentally conscious vacation that's out of the way? Try Madagascar. It's a California-sized island off the east coast of Africa in the tropical Indian Ocean. This isolated nation understands biodiversity. Madagascar drifted away from other land masses a 160 million years ago, and most of its flora and fauna exist nowhere else. Consider: It's got 217 species of amphibians -- count 'em! And all but one are endemic, found nowhere else in the world. Madagascar is also beginning to understand the importance of conservation. It once encouraged cutting down forests to clear space for farming and more than 80 percent of the original forests are gone. However, in 2003 its government enacted substantial environmental protections. It traded forest clearing for tree planting, expanded reserves and citizen involvement. Today, Madagascar has reduced deforestation eight fold. In fact, more than 15 million acres, or about ten percent of the island, are now tourist-friendly eco-reserves. That's a trend in the right direction, says James McKinnon of Conservation International. It looks like time to book my vacation. Script by Bob Rhein http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1245135600 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 01:30 Catalina Island Conservancy Finding the perfect Father's Day present can be daunting. Does he really need a new wallet? Does he even wear a tie? Well here are some ideas guaranteed to bring a smile to the big guy's face. After all, he is your dad! Two words: elephant poo. (See I told you he's going to like this.) The Great Elephant Poo Poo Paper Company sells notebooks, journals and assorted stationary made from elephant excrement. No kidding. According to their website, the dung is dried, washed, and filtered. The remaining fiberous material from the bamboo and fruits they've eaten are cleaned again, spread out onto a mesh tray and naturally dried. Voila, paper products. How cool is that? Hey, does your Dad fish? Norm Price in Calgary, Alberta, founded The Bottle Cap Lure Company. Yep, fishing lures made out of recycled bottle caps. They're endorsed by Canada's Three-Time Sportfishing Champion and regular guys -- like dads. And, what Dad doesn't like to relax. A company called EcoPatio.com has the perfect accoutrement. Hammocks made from natural hemp fiber or "enviro-rope" made from polyester fiber derived from recycled soda bottles. Your choice. Script by Bob Rhein http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1245049200 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 01:30