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EnvironMental with Dandelion

EnvironMental with Dandelion

By Dandelion Branding

We dive into all things sustainability and business. We'll talk about the issues, chat with industry professionals, give tips on how to make your business more sustainable, and go over ways to market your sustainable business better!

Your hosts, Aub and Courtney are business partners at Dandelion Branding, a marketing agency that specializes in growing sustainable brands. We also run The Living Brand Directory, a resource hub and directory for sustainably minded businesses.

Join us on a journey to learn more about the challenges we face, and what to do about them!
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EnvironMental with DandelionApr 01, 2020

00:00
58:37
Heat Pump Hype with Thomas Nowak

Heat Pump Hype with Thomas Nowak

Welcome to the Environmental Podcast! 🌱

📌See all of our interviews: https://dandelionbranding.com/environmental-podcast/


In today’s edition, we are delighted to welcome Thomas Nowak, the Secretary General of the European Heat Pump Association, to our insightful conversation.


Thomas brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in promoting sustainable heating solutions across Europe. Through his leadership, the EHPA has championed the widespread adoption of heat pump technology, paving the way for cleaner and more efficient heating systems.


Learn more about Thomas and the EHPA at https://dandelionbranding.com/ep-heat-pump-nowak


✨ Timestamps ✨

00:34- Introduction

02:00- Explanation of heat pump

05:43- Empowerment through heat pump Adoption

10:36- Audience Engagement

20:18- Training and Education

23:23- Challenges with grid integration

27:09- Community engagement and Education iniciatives


Expect to learn:

1. How heat pumps can be integrated with renewable energy sources.

2. The refrigeration cycle and how it serves as the foundation of a heat pump.

3. Challenges associated with heat pump adoption.

4. The need for higher ambition and action in implementing heat pump technology.

5. Exploration of ongoing technological innovations in heat pump design.

6. Integrating heat pumps into the electric grid.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dandelion Branding is a digital marketing agency that helps sustainable brands build loyal, digital communities through organic content marketing and website optimization.


Here's where you can find us:

Our Website: https://dandelionbranding.com/

Instagram: @dandelion_branding

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dandelion-branding/

Mar 20, 202433:25
Zero Waste Trash Talk: Turning Garbage into Revenue and Impact

Zero Waste Trash Talk: Turning Garbage into Revenue and Impact

Welcome to the Environmental Podcast!🌍 In today's episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with @Stacy Savage, the visionary Founder of @Zerowastestrategies. We’ll get to know more about their mission to minimize waste sent to landfills and incinerators by implementing comprehensive strategies that prioritize the principles of the circular economy. Zero Waste Strategies has emerged as a leader in the field of waste management, driving increased revenue, fostering deeper customer loyalty, and empowering employees through green initiatives Here's a glimpse of what to expect:  00:29- Introduction 04:59- Finding Value in Waste 05:43- Empowering Employees for Sustainable Practices 16:57- State Environmental Regulations and E-Waste Diversion 17:18- Impact of E-Waste Diversion on Texas Landfills 19:07- True Zero Waste Facility Certification 30:35- Wrapup  Expect to learn:  1. Revenue Potential in Waste Materials 2. Employee Empowerment and Accountability. 3. Building Sustainable Business Practices 4. Environmental Impact of E-Waste Diversion If you've enjoyed our podcast, please subscribe to our YouTube channel, Dandelion Branding.  Your support helps spread the word on SUSTAINABLE MARKETING.  Learn More from Dandelion Branding.   Follow Aubrey Wallace and Courtney Hume on LinkedIn.  __________________________  

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dandelion-branding  If you have any questions or topics you want us to tackle in the future, reach out to us on Instagram or email us at info@dandelionbranding.com.

Mar 06, 202430:54
Scaling New Heights Towards Responsible Chalk Production with Francis Dierick

Scaling New Heights Towards Responsible Chalk Production with Francis Dierick

Welcome to another episode of the Environmental Podcast!🌍 In today's episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Francis Dierick, the visionary behind Chalk Rebels. His company revolutionizes the world of rock climbing with its sustainable chalk alternative. Francis Dierick advocates for sustainable practices in rock climbing, proposing a shift to eco-friendly chalk to preserve magnesium carbonate for essential industries, not recreational activities like climbing. What you can expect: 00:00- Introduction 00:50- Background details of Chalk Rebels 05:43- Role of Francis toward sustainability 07:16- Relation between chalk and climbers 09:25- Effects of using chalk by climbers 12.26- How do you change someone's habit of using chalk? 13.28- Skincare products for chalk users  15:16- Skin care tips for climbers 16:46- How to connect with Francis Expect to learn: 1. The Problem with Traditional Chalk 2. A Sustainable Chalk for Rock Climbing 3. Liquid Chalk vs. Powdered Chalk 4. Cultural Shifts in Climbing Habits If you've enjoyed our podcast, please subscribe to our YouTube channel, Dandelion Branding.  Your support helps spread the word on SUSTAINABLE MARKETING. Learn More from Dandelion Branding.  Follow Aubrey Wallace and Courtney Hume on LinkedIn. __________________________  Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dandelion-branding  If you have any questions or topics you want us to tackle in the future, reach out to us on Instagram or email us at info@dandelionbranding.com.

Feb 21, 202418:00
Regenerative Guide for Business Transformation with Vincent Deinum
Feb 07, 202427:60
How to Save the Ocean with Farah Obaidullah
Jan 17, 202427:19
How do Personal Efforts Impact The Global Push for Sustainability? Inspirational Stories Ahead!
Jan 03, 202427:49
How Much Impact do Small Businesses Really Have? Interview with Kumar Vijayendra

How Much Impact do Small Businesses Really Have? Interview with Kumar Vijayendra

Read our full take on small business impact here: dandelionbranding.com/ep-small-business-impact-kumar-vijayendra

In this episode of EnvironMental with Dandelion, we welcomed Kumar Vijayendra, author, speaker, and entrepreneur, to our show.

Kumar is raising awareness on just how much impact small businesses have on the sustainability transition. Turns out, it's huge!

Kumar just announced his book, The Sustainable Entrepreneur! You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Sustainable-Entrepreneur-Profitable-Business-Planet/dp/B0C9SK1D8P

Or connect with him through his website: https://iamkumarv.com/

Dec 18, 202328:29
What does Degrowth have to do with Self Care? Interview with Pinar Akiskalioglu

What does Degrowth have to do with Self Care? Interview with Pinar Akiskalioglu

Read the full episode update: https://dandelionbranding.com/ep-degrowth-pinar-takk/

In this episode of EnvironMental with Dandelion, we welcomed Pinar Akiskalioglu Founder of Takk Skincare, to our show.

Takk is on a mission to make self care simple with their singular line of products. No frills, no fluff - just the good stuff!

We discuss consumerism and the role commerce brands have in the sustainable transition.

You can find out more about Takk on their website: https://mytakk.com

Dec 04, 202323:27
Sustainable Advertising with Rachel Schnorr | EnvironMental with Dandelion

Sustainable Advertising with Rachel Schnorr | EnvironMental with Dandelion

In this episode of EnvironMental with Dandelion, we welcomed Rachel Schnorr, the Membership Director for Ad Net Zero, to our show.

Ad Net Zero is a non-profit trade association with a mission to decarbonize the advertising industry and achieve a 90% reduction in emissions.

We discuss the role of advertising in sustainability and the challenges in measuring the digital carbon footprint.

You can find out more about Ad Net Zero on their website: https://adnetzero.com/

And read our full episode update here: https://dandelionbranding.com/ep-sustainable-advertising-rachel-schnoor/

Nov 22, 202325:38
Cooking for Sustainability with Christina Pirello | EnvironMental with Dandelion
Nov 06, 202321:41
Transparency in Business with Virtue Impact | EnvironMental Dandelion
Oct 04, 202323:41
Circularity in Legacy Business with Cambium Carbon
Sep 28, 202325:14
Carbon Removal & Sequestration: Reconnecting with Freddie Catlow | EnvironMental with Dandelion
Sep 11, 202341:05
Digital Sustainability with Michele Miller | EnvironMental with Dandelion
Aug 15, 202327:32
Disrupting the Beauty Industry: A Chat with Sira Dheshan Naidu | EnvironMental Dandelion
Jul 21, 202344:09
Sustainable Packaging from Seaweed?! B'ZEOS on EnvironMental Dandelion
Jun 22, 202335:41
Sustainable Ecosystem Vibes on EnvironMental with Dandelion
May 26, 202301:00:33
Skin Health and Clean Circle Skincare with Lena Chao | EnvironMental Podcast
Apr 21, 202349:57
Richard Dickson, Play it Green, and Behavior Change | EnvironMental Podcast

Richard Dickson, Play it Green, and Behavior Change | EnvironMental Podcast

In this episode of EnvironMental, we speak with Richard Dickson, co-founder of Play it Green.

Play It Green helps individuals and businesses become more sustainable by reducing their carbon footprint and planting trees!


He shares the Play It Green mission along with the services they offer, including a subscription service that provides tips, education, and discounts on sustainable products and services - literally for £5!


We also talk about

- the importance of transparency and collaboration in business relationships

- the need for urgent action to address climate change

- and the impact of consumer behavior on the environment.


You can connect with Richard through Play It Green: https://playitgreen.com/

Read our article about the show here: https://dandelionbranding.com/ep-richard-dickson-behavior-change/


Apr 06, 202337:08
Plant-Based Products with Michael Klepacz on EnvironMental with Dandelion
Mar 23, 202355:12
Jon Scott & Clean Water Action | EnvironMental Podcast
Mar 02, 202356:32
Regenerative Agriculture: Farming for the Future with Nick Steiner | EnvironMental Podcast

Regenerative Agriculture: Farming for the Future with Nick Steiner | EnvironMental Podcast

In this episode of EnvironMental Podcast we spoke with Nick Steiner, Founder of PermaNick and head of Coach Matching at Climate Farmers about regenerative farming!

Listen to learn about Climate Farmers and how regenerative agriculture is scalable!

Regenerative ag is something that we have been hearing and talking about since the beginning of EnvironMental, but we have never actually had someone on the podcast that could speak to its scaling potential. We were beyond excited!

You can find climate farmers here: https://www.climatefarmers.org/

And you can connect with Nick through Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/permanick_permaculture/

Full story; https://dandelionbranding.com/ep-nick-steiner-regenerative-agriculture/

Feb 26, 202338:58
Sustainable Shoemaking with Sharon | EnvironMental Podcast
Feb 09, 202352:18
Quilting for the Future with Rianne Doller | EnvironMental Podcast
Jan 20, 202347:01
Soil Conservation with Erin Wiedmer | EnvironMental Podcast
Jan 05, 202359:35
Sustainable Titanium Production with Taso Arima | EnvironMental with Dandelion
Dec 09, 202236:45
How to become an environmental lobbyist: Interview with Sue Inches | EnvironMental Podcast
Oct 28, 202243:14
Sustainability Research & Business for Good with Gillian Pereira of The Business Pickle | EnvironMental Podcast
Oct 16, 202229:30
Interview with Breene Murphy - Vice President of Strategy & Marketing at Carbon Collective | EnvironMental Podcast

Interview with Breene Murphy - Vice President of Strategy & Marketing at Carbon Collective | EnvironMental Podcast

In this episode of EnvironMental Podcast, we got very excited about Sustainable Investing as we spoke with Breene Murphy, the VP of Strategy for the Carbon Collective.  Breene took this sleepy topic and turned our heads with his optimistic view on climate crisis solutions and investment.   The Carbon Collective is a sustainable investment agency on a mission to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon society.

Sep 15, 202250:42
Interview with Anna Luckai – CEO of Sanctuary Innerwear | EnvironMental Podcast
Aug 25, 202237:44
Interview with Maya van Rossum – Pioneer behind the Green Amendment | EnvironMental Podcast

Interview with Maya van Rossum – Pioneer behind the Green Amendment | EnvironMental Podcast

In this episode we had an incredible time chatting with Maya van Rossum about The Green Amendment - which is both Maya's book AND the goal of her nonprofit: for the generations.

The idea behind a Green Amendment is to make sure that there is unquestionable legal protection to a clean, safe, and healthy environment. This amendment grants the right to things like clean water and clean air - which Americans don't currently have the right to.

This is an especially important movement in light of the recent EPA Supreme Court Case! 

Check out this episode to hear Maya talk about why her and her team are starting with State Amendments first, the process of getting an amendment passed, and how you can get involved in  the Green Amendment!

You can find the article here: https://livingbranddirectory.com/ep-green-amendment-maya-van-rossum

And you can learn more and get involved with the Green Amendment movement in your state here: https://forthegenerations.org/

Get The Green Amendment: The People's Fight for a Clean, Safe, and Healthy Environment on Pre-Order: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1633310647/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_M9M5JFHR9WK850THTSNY?pldnSite=1

Aug 04, 202251:40
Interview with Urvashi Bhatnagar – Author of the Sustainability Scorecard | EnvironMental Podcast
Jul 21, 202244:39
Interview with Page Schult – Founder of Topanga.io | EnvironMental Podcast

Interview with Page Schult – Founder of Topanga.io | EnvironMental Podcast

We had NO IDEA that reusable packaging could be a real alternative for single use food and drinks until Page told us about it on this episode of EnvironMental Podcast.

The whole goal of her company, Topanga.io is to create a digital infrastructure of a circular economy. Now, that's a huge goal - but if anyone can do it, we believe it's the Topanga Team. 

What started as a small scale milk man-style grocery delivery service has turned into a full time software development operation to help businesses challenge the trash can.

Jul 07, 202232:05
Interview with Haley Stratton - Environmental Scientist & Founder of Craftovert | EnvironMental Podcast
May 20, 202250:56
Interview with Freddie Catlow - CoFounder of Planboo | EnvironMental Podcast

Interview with Freddie Catlow - CoFounder of Planboo | EnvironMental Podcast

This episode of EnvironMental was so much fun - and so informative - thanks to our guest, Freddie Catlow, the enigmatic and (self described) bamboo-obsessed co-founder of Planboo.


Freddie gives us the deets on bamboo like:

 - it's a grass that can grow a meter every day

 - it's hard enough to be treated like a wood for construction, but can totally be made into fabric and paper and silverware (and just about anything else)

 - it's a great carbon sink


AND then he started talking about bio char - and we were floored.


Bio char is made from putting the bamboo biomass through a process called Pyrolyzation.

Then, the bio char can be used a ton of ways to improve the health of soil organically over time!


Check out the Planboo site here: http://planboo.eco/

May 06, 202253:54
Interview with Charlotte Opal - Executive Director of Forest Conservation Fund | EnvironMental Podcast
Apr 08, 202236:15
Our Views on Sustainable Marketing | EnvironMental Podcast

Our Views on Sustainable Marketing | EnvironMental Podcast

This episode of EnvironMental is about Marketing!

We realized that we've never covered how we infuse sustainability into our digital marketing business @dandelion_branding with our clients every day.

Aside from focusing on sustainable brands, we also focus on ways to be more digitally sustainable in the marketing world!

In this episode we cover:
- what is sustainable marketing? (We operate two definitions!)
&
- what are some basic things you can do to be more digitally sustainable

We also talk a bit about the challenges of marketing for sustainable brands, greenwashing, and the "green hush" - which is a new way sustainable brands are being snowballed by wordsmithery.

Mar 28, 202201:03:40
Interview with Sara Ibrahim - Founder of Sima Stylist London | EnvironMental Podcast
Mar 10, 202244:44
Interview with Toby Radcliffe - Cofounder of ZeroBees | EnvironMental Podcast

Interview with Toby Radcliffe - Cofounder of ZeroBees | EnvironMental Podcast

This week we're welcoming Toby Radcliffe, Cofounder of ZeroBees, to the podcast!

ZeroBees is on a mission to make it easier for small and medium businesses to reach net zero.

They focus predominately on helping businesses reduce their CO2e by making short and long term plans with quantifiable benefits.

Toby talks to us about shifting our language from "reduction and offsetting" to "CO2e reduction and climate investment."

And he reminded us of the best ways to reduce is to start with the low hanging fruit: make sure your electricity is renewable, that you're minimizing travel, and that you're engaging your employees in the reduction too.

And then when you've reduced as much of your carbon footprint as possible, consider climate investment with a small project that is robust, accountable, permanent, and that you're paying a decent amount for it!

You can learn more about Zero Bees at the website: https://www.zerobees.com/

and you can reach Toby via email here: toby@zerobees.com 

Mar 10, 202253:56
Interview with Grace Moore - Cofounder of Atlo | EnvironMental Podcast
Feb 28, 202246:05
Lizzie Horvitz, Founder of Finch | EnvironMental Podcast - Interview Series

Lizzie Horvitz, Founder of Finch | EnvironMental Podcast - Interview Series

This week we're welcoming Lizzie Horvitz, sustainable entrepreneur, onto the podcast to talk about her business, Finch!

Finch is a new browser extension that is about to be a serious game changer in the sustainable ecommerce space. It's going to make it easy (!) to find the most sustainable products on the market, right as you shop!

Imagine that you're browsing around on Amazon, looking for something like, wipes. You choose a product that SAYS it's sustainable - but heck, how can you really know? FINCH! You just open up your Finch browser extension, and you can see both the sustainability rating for the product you're viewing AND a few sustainable alternatives to check out instead. (how incredibly helpful is that, right?) 

It's launching in January of 2022, so head over to their homepage to sign up for their waitlist!

https://www.choosefinch.com/#/

Lizzie invites you to reach out to her with any questions - but do it quick. Because they're still small enough that she personally answers questions right now, but we have a sneaking suspicion that it won't be long before Finch is a sustainable-household name!

This is one launch we are waiting in anticipation for! 

Dec 20, 202132:22
How to Reuse Old Clothes? | EnvironMental Podcast - Fast Fashion

How to Reuse Old Clothes? | EnvironMental Podcast - Fast Fashion

Less than 20% of textile waste either stay on the market or get recycling Another quarter is incinerated which is CO2 intensive and the rest ends up in the landfill!  

Like most things, the problem came up before we had even thought about the future. Literally millions of tons of textile waste is created globally every year and there isn't a clear solution yet.   

There are a lot of people that have taken up the challenge though!  There are thousands of homesteader articles giving you a lot of ways to upcycle your old clothing. From making kitchen rags and reusable food wraps to makeup removal pads and scrunchies - you can turn your favorite old clothes into new beautiful accessories.  

You can also compost your 100% natural textiles and take back programs are cropping up around the world.  And there's tech in its infancy that pulls apart clothes, and respins it to twine that can be used to make new fabric!  

References and Promised Links: 

TerraCycle Program: https://www.terracycle.com/en-AU/zero_waste_boxes/fabrics-and-clothing-en-au 

Wolkat: https://www.wolkat.com/ 

New Order of Fashion lab for recycling clothing: https://neworderoffashion.com/lab/ 

Fashion Waste Index: https://labfresh.eu/pages/fashion-waste-index 

BBC stats : www.bbc.com/future/article/20200710-why-clothes-are-so-hard-to-recycle

Dec 13, 202143:00
Retail vs Ecommerce | EnvironMental Podcast - Fashion

Retail vs Ecommerce | EnvironMental Podcast - Fashion

In this week's episode, Courtney answered the question:
Which is more sustainable, shopping retail or shopping online?

As per usual, there's no cut and dry answer here.

It totally depends on how you're getting to and from the shop and your online purchasing (and return) behavior.

Finally! Something we can have an impact on with our consumer behavior!

Dec 07, 202142:24
We can't shop ourselves sustainable | EnvironMental Podcast - Fast Fashion
Nov 15, 202101:14:06
What Are the Most Sustainable Fabrics? | EnvironMental Podcast - Fast Fashion

What Are the Most Sustainable Fabrics? | EnvironMental Podcast - Fast Fashion

Last week, we learned that getting legitimate data on the impact of the fashion industry is a real challenge. So we decided that the best way to take a look at the industry is to break down the supply chain.


This week, aub shares the lay of the fabric-land. 

There are tons of fabric types out there, so she covered the most popular.

 - Polyester and Nylon (AVOID)

 - Rayon/Viscose (AVOID)

 - Cotton (CHOOSE ORGANIC)

 - Lyocell (GREAT)

 - Linen (GREAT)

 - Bamboo (CHOOSE OEKO-TEX CERTIFIED)

 - Hemp (GREAT)

 - rPET (OKAY FOR THINGS THAT DON'T GO OFTEN THROUGH THE WASH)


The best suggestions we have for choosing fabric:

 - your best solution is choosing recycled, organic, and natural fabrics. 

 - go with all natural fabrics

 - make sure they are grown organically

 - and look into how they're processed

 - look for certifications like GOTS or OEKO-TEX


Three fantastic resource guides for you:

https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/en/fiber-ecoreview

https://www.sustainablejungle.com/sustainable-fashion/sustainable-fabrics/

https://greenstory.ca/resources/sustainability-guides/green-fabric-guide/



Other Resources for this episode:

Rayon is bad for the environment: https://www.bbcearth.com/news/fashion-materials-you-didnt-realise-were-bad-for-wildlife


The Soil Association's cotton guide: https://www.soilassociation.org/causes-campaigns/our-climate-in-crisis/thirsty-for-fashion/


The World Counts difference between organic and conventional cotton:  https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/consumption/clothing/cotton-farming-water-consumption/story

Nov 08, 202101:00:45
Let's Talk About the Fashion Industry | EnvironMental Podcast

Let's Talk About the Fashion Industry | EnvironMental Podcast

This is the first podcast of our fashion industry sustainability topic.

In this episode,  we're feeling a little frustrated. We've been talking about, learning, and working within the sustainability sector for a while.

And the issues within the fashion industry are inescapable!

Especially right now, it seems like everywhere we turn there's a new finding or data point or study talking about the impact of the fashion industry on our planet.

But actually - it turns out that a lot of those sound bites are from out-of-context sources.

And it is very hard to find real, clear data around the fashion industry and the impact it has.

This is partially due to the intentionally opaque nature of the industry, the massive scale on which fashion is produced, and how intertwined this industry is with a lot of the other polluters on the planet.

Throughout the conversation, we decided that for this topic, we want to break down the supply chain and dive into each part of the fashion industry to understand it better!

Here are some resources we turned up as we were searching:

The Vox Article we mention in the episode: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/1/27/21080107/fashion-environment-facts-statistics-impact

Here's some info about the mushy and intermixxed the fashion industry is: https://ecocult.com/now-know-fashion-5th-polluting-industry-equal-livestock/

The Geneva network offers stats from well known sources like INEP, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, UNCTAD, and the WTO. Are those stats real? Hard to tell, but here's the article for you to read what we know so far: https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/resources/updates/sustainable-fashion/

Nov 01, 202151:57
Water Protectors: The Dakota Access Pipeline & Line 3 | EnvironMental Podcast - Fresh Water

Water Protectors: The Dakota Access Pipeline & Line 3 | EnvironMental Podcast - Fresh Water

This week's episode Court did a deep dive into the dangers of the Dakota Access Pipeline and Line Three.


The Dakota Access Pipeline gained media attention in 2016 when the Sioux tribe sued the government over the construction project, its lack of environmental protections, and broken treaties with indigenous nations.


Despite the protests the pipeline was built and all lawsuits were eventually (and unfortunately) dropped.


We're seeing very recent news that there are active issues with the DAPL pipeline though, and it's undergoing a full environmental review.


Now, the current pipeline project underway is called Line 3. This pipeline would travel across the Mississippi river, over 200 other waterways, and miles of marshlands.


This land is crucial not only to the First Nation communities that live there, but also to the millions of people who rely on water that passes through it.


Do we never learn?


Construction of these oil pipelines permanently affects environment and ecosystems, regardless of if there are spills. If there are any spills, this would have massive environmental and ecological ramifications.


Why are we taking such risk and continuing to invest in infrastructure for a dying industry?


We must protect our water, not protect the pocketbooks of fossil fuel executives.


Sign the petition and make your voice hear here: https://www.stopline3.org/take-action



Sources:

https://conbio.org/publications/scb-news-blog/scientists-sign-letter-against-dakota-access-pipeline


https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/federal-court-closes-dakota-access-case-allows-fresh-challenges-2021-06-22/


https://elpc.org/blog/nothing-suggests-line-3-pipeline-can-comply-with-minnesota-water-quality-standards/


https://www.honorearth.org/


https://www.stopline3.org/

Aug 23, 202141:06
The Flint Water Crisis | EnvironMental Podcast

The Flint Water Crisis | EnvironMental Podcast

This week on the podcast, we start diving into fresh water access.


In the US, having access to fresh water is treated like a privilege, especially for poor communities. The clearest example of that is the Flint Water Crisis.


aub did a deep dive into the timeline of what happened in Flint - its not pretty.

The problem in Genessee County, Michigan hit national and international news in 2016. But by then it had already been almost two years since the water crisis started.


aub shares the timeline of events because every step of the way show how severely mishandled this situation was from the start. It shows the blatant disregard for the Flint community.

The Flint water crisis is seen as a political scandal now - but that feels like it doesn't do the situation justice.

100,000 PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE CLEAN DRINKING WATER FOR FOUR YEARS. And the story is still unfolding in the aftermath.

Corruption, mismanagement, and poisoning of an entire community of people, done for a pennies on the dollar savings venture.

The government ignored and gaslit the citizens of Flint, they sidestepped culpability, and treated their city like it was expendable.

Would this happen in a white community? In a rich neighborhood?

In a low-crime city?

No. Absolutely not.


References:

Flint Stats and US stats from the US Census Bureau.


Timeline from NPR

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/04/20/465545378/lead-laced-water-in-flint-a-step-by-step-look-at-the-makings-of-a-crisis?t=1628953587723


Associated Press timeline: https://apnews.com/article/us-news-health-michigan-rick-snyder-flint-7295d05da09d7d5b1184b0e349545897

 

The September 2015 health advisory to the citizens of Flint

 http://flintwaterstudy.org/2015/09/public-health-advisory-regarding-lead-in-flint-water-from-the-genesee-county-board-of-commissioners/


The 2017 Michigan Civil Rights Commission statement: The Flint Water Crisis: Systemic Racism through the Lens of Flint

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdcr/VFlintCrisisRep-F-Edited3-13-17_554317_7.pdf


Evidence of the cover up found:

https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2019/04/millions-of-flint-water-documents-found-in-basement-prosecutors-claim.html


The most current info on Rick Snyder charges:

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/michigan/2021/03/18/ex-michigan-gov-rick-snyder-loses-challenge-to-flint-water-charges/

Aug 16, 202156:37
We don't own the Earth or its resources - Diving into the Fresh Water Crisis | EnvironMental Podcast

We don't own the Earth or its resources - Diving into the Fresh Water Crisis | EnvironMental Podcast

In this episode of EnvironMental we start our investigation into the fresh water crisis we're facing right now. 

The gross misuse of water by the energy, agriculture, and fashion industries are leading to a rapidly approaching end of fresh water availability. 

This is a major crisis that needs to be addressed now. 

Aub and Court chat about current facts, and some very interesting data points around how much water a hamburger requires. (Guess what, it's over 600 gallons PER burger you're eating.)

There's much work to be done on a large scale, but individual action can make a difference! Be conscious of your water usage, especially while on vacations.


Here are our references for this episode: 

https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/planet-earth/freshwater/when-will-the-world-run-out-of-water/story


https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/how-much-water-there-earth?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects


https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/freshwater-crisis


Water Usage Stats: https://www.motherjones.com/food/2015/04/blue-jeans-cars-microchips-water-use/


Uses of water in industry: https://www.aquatechtrade.com/news/industrial-water/industrial-water-essential-guide/

Aug 09, 202159:51
This planet cannot be treated like an assembly line | EnvironMental Podcast - Food & Agriculture

This planet cannot be treated like an assembly line | EnvironMental Podcast - Food & Agriculture

In this week's conversation about sustainability, we're wrapping up the discussion about Food and Agriculture.

This was the biggest topic we've covered so far - the section was 8 weeks long and we didn't get to talk about everything we wanted. In particular, we didn't get to jump into court cases related to farming, commercial agriculture practices, GMOs, or immigrant worker populations.

What we did learn leads us to conclude that the planet, and people, have been treated like an assembly line for far too long. We simply cannot continue to rely on the linear systems that we've been operating for more than a century and expect safe, reliable results for the future.

The issues are extremely multifaceted and they show up in myriad ways. From the loss of fertility in our soil to desertification to the intentional creation of food deserts and food insecurity.

These problems can only truly be solved with holistic priorities like focusing on regenerative agriculture, paying a living wage, healthy community farming techniques, a paradigm shift towards community subsistence first, and cultural education.

We decided to transition at this point because there's another topic that needs a holistic view: fresh water.
We want to know about limitations, where the water is, how we can live (and operate our businesses) more sustainably, plus we want to talk about places like Flint, Michigan (aub's hometown) where the infrastructure breakdown is poisoning the water supply.

Stay tuned!

Jul 27, 202153:32