Conversation radio about the nature–human relationship and what positive things people are doing about it in the greater Portland area. Post comments at the bottom of this page or send them and suggestions, praise, or letters of hope about the nature-human relationship to wmpgecotones AT gmail DOT com or checkout the Ecotones Facebook page at Ecotones@wmpg.org
2-21-2019 TBD
2-14-2019 Loving the Earth through how you eat!
On Valentine’s Day I’m talking about how we can best love the earth—through the way we eat, actually what we eat.
Resources
People Still Don’t Get the Link between Meat Consumption and Climate Change
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/people-still-don-t-get-the-link-between-meat-consumption-and-climate-change/
The Power of Plant-based Eating – Joanna Kong
Forbes Magazine – Millennials Are Driving The Worldwide Shift Away From Meat
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelpellmanrowland/2018/03/23/millennials-move-away-from-meat/#23647f6fa4a4
Public Health Nutrition – Reducing meat consumption in the USA: a nationally representative survey of attitudes and behaviours
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6088533/
Is reducing meat consumption in the U.S. possible?Washington Post – Opinion
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/in-theory/wp/2016/07/18/is-reducing-meat-consumption-in-the-u-s-possible/?utm_term=.b59f22d3c688
The Guardian – Huge reduction in meat-eating ‘essential’ to avoid climate breakdown
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/10/huge-reduction-in-meat-eating-essential-to-avoid-climate-breakdown
2-7-2019 ATTENTION: Yes, this is a crisis
This week I talk about the crisis of climate change and feature a TED talk by Greta Thunberg. I have a new segment called Footprints by King Middle Schoolers, and some Environmental news for you.
Greta Thunberg Facebook Post of Feb. 2, 2019 https://www.facebook.com/gretathunbergsweden/posts/767646880269801
Greta Thunberg’s TED Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/greta_thunberg_the_disarming_case_to_act_right_now_on_climate
NPR/Fresh Air Interview with James Balog about his new documentary The Human Element – https://www.npr.org/2019/02/06/691967491/environmental-photographer-focuses-on-protecting-the-climate-and-its-people
NRCM/Events/Federal Issues – https://www.nrcm.org/nrcm-events/clean-water-rule-citizens-hearing/
1-31-2019 Peter Monro and the Maine Citizens’ Climate Lobby
This last week of January I talk with Maine Citizen’s Climate Lobby leader Peter Monro about work and successes in climate action lobbying. He offers up a variety of ways Maine citizens can help reduce the effects of climate change by working with this group.
Resources
Our Maine Citizens’ Climate Lobby Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/MaineCCL/
An overview of the current Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend bill in the US House of Representatives that Citizens Climate Lobby endorses:
https://citizensclimatelobby.org/energy-innovation-and-carbon-dividend-act/
Here’s a three-minute video made by one of the nine high school students who came with us Citizens’ Climate Lobby volunteers to Washington, DC, in November to lobby our members of Congress and their staffs directly. The students came from Kennebunk, Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth, and Portland. They raised half the money needed for the three-day trip.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eq26pqmWByffsdNL9RuRu-Fx0elYP5pK/view
1-24-2019 Human Connection with Nature
This week is about the Human Connection with Nature. I’m talking both physical and spiritual connections. I read exerpts from a variety of sources wich I share below.
Resources
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/our-spiritual-connection_b_648379.html
https://www.ecowatch.com/6-ways-to-deepen-your-spiritual-relationship-to-nature-1881983638.html
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/13/10-reasons-why-we-need-more-contact-with-nature
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-new-resilience/201801/why-connecting-nature-elevates-your-mental-health
Scottish doctors are prescribing nature walks as supplemental treatment
1-17-2019 The Transformative Power of Walking
This week I talk about the most ecologically sustainable form of transportation that is also great for our mind and body—walking—something we all need to commit to do more of (for those physically able). I also share a great TED talk by Sandra James on The Transformative Power of Walking.
Resources
TED Talk Sandra James on The Transformative Power of Walking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-8ams9yG98
TED Talk from Jeff Speck on 4 Ways to Make a Walkable City. https://www.ted.com/talks/jeff_speck_4_ways_to_make_a_city_more_walkable
1-10-2019 Kevin Roche CEO of EcoMaine talking about our waste
EcoMaine is a non-profit cooperative of municipalities that focuses on 4 strategies to deal with our solid waste.
See ecomaine.org
1-3-2019 New Year’s Resolutions: Being more sustainable
Since we live in a democracy, it makes sense to engage in the political process. As a voter you can stay informed with Maine Environmental News at maineenvironews.com
If you want to vote for people who promote sustainable solutions and a Green New Deal follow and volunteer with organizations like the Maine Green Independent Party at mainegreens.org, Environment Maine – environmentmaine.org and of course the Natural Resources Council of Maine at nrcm.org and don’t forget the Friends of the Casco Bay at cascobay.org. There are many other organizations. Pick one and get connected.
Since we live in a consumer society, that is a large part of the problem. Find different ways and places to consume that are more sustainable look to the Greater Portland METRO system for transportation needs @ gpmetro.org and any of these other organizations:
Cultivating Community – for gardens and gardening see cultivatingcommunity.org
Ruth’s Reusable Resources for office and art supplies see ruths.org
Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore for building supplies, tools and furniture see habitatportlandme.org
Gear Hub for cycling and other outdoor sports equipment see portlandgearhub.org
Maine Green Power to switch to all renewable energy see megreenpower.com
And for even more tips on living more ecologically sustainably check out
Center for Biological Diversity at biologicaldiversity.org – 12 Ways to Live More Sustainably
Global Stewards at globalstewards.org – Sustainable Living Tips
Earth Day Network – earthday.org
12- 27-2018 Amy Geren of Portland Downtown and multi-modal transportation
Amy Geren the Downtown Experience Liaison from PORTLAND DOWNTOWN visits Ecotones to talk about multi-modal transportation. See the website for Portland Downtown: www.portlandmaine.com
12-20-2018 Elissa and Allen Armstrong from the Portland Climate Action Team chapter of the Sierra Club
Gathering together with people of like minds on an issue is a valuable and effective action when it comes to changing how the world works. We know that it is time to step up to increase the ecological sustainability of how we live on this planet. My guests today know the value of doing that.
Resources Portland Climate Action Team https://www.sierraclub.org/maine/portland-cat
12-13-2018 Lisa Pohlmann, CEO of the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM)
As individuals, we can only do so much to directly change our lifestyles. But we don’t live isolated, we live in communities, towns, states, regions, and countries that all need to change as well. So we need smart policies, regulations and laws to ensure that everyone is pointing in the same direction of ecological sustainability. That is why I have Lisa Pohlmann, CEO for the Natural Resources Council of Maine on the show today.
Resources
Natural Resources Council of Maine website https://www.nrcm.org
12-6-2018 Moving to a plant-based diet with Avery Yale Kamila from the Portland Press Herald
Today I speak with Avery Yale Kamila, Vegan Kitchen columnist for the Portland Press Herald about the current push for moving to a plant-based diet and how we all can help reduce greenhouse gas emission with the food we eat 3 times a day.
Resources
Portland Press Herald Vegan Kitchen https://www.pressherald.com/food/vegan-kitchen/
11-29-2018 Top Shop Visits
This week I visit The Habitat for Humanity Re-Store out on Warren Ave. I had Gary Mercier, their Procurement Coordinator on the show back in July and figured it would be to give you a sense of what they have there. I’m also visiting Ruth’s Reusable Resources for the first time! I had Ruth on the show in September and have been meaning to get over there, especially with the holiday season upon us.
Resources
Ruth’s Reusable Resources http://www.ruths.org
Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore on Warren Ave. in Portland
11-22-2018 High-Impact Actions for Climate Change and Biomimicry
This week I talk about some recent research that indicates we can make a difference in the amount of greenhouse gas emission with our individual actions, but they have to be high-impact actions. Also, with the giving season coming up, make a change in your clothing scene because the fashion industry is a big contributor to pollution and climate change. And lastly, I share TED talk on Biomimicry from Jenine Benyus. She knows just how amazing nature really is.
Resources
The Climate Mitigation Gap Article
http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aa7541/meta
Grist.org Story – https://grist.org/briefly/groundbreaking-study-outlines-what-you-can-do-about-climate-change/?fbclid=IwAR2inOE5iUJqkNyHjAwXcmMEi44SxMydIuLfenFX9t9ZE6-SVHDIVT1zuXA
In Fashion from The Economist – http://films.economist.com/infashion/
Janine Benyus – TED Talk – https://www.ted.com/talks/janine_benyus_biomimicry_in_action?language=en
Biomimicry – https://biomimicry.org/janine-benyus/
11-15-2018 The Voice of Nature with William Homestead
Today I talk with William Homestead, Associate Professor of Communication Studies at New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire about the Voice of Nature—what it is, where it came from and how to hear it.
Resources
William Homestead – https://www.nec.edu/staff-members/william-homestead/
Eco-Psychology Robert Greenway the Wilderness Effect –
https://www.ecopsychology.org/about-ice/members-of-ice/robert-greenway/
Martin Buber – I it and I thou – https://www.iep.utm.edu/buber/ – SH2b
The Hidden Life of Trees – https://e360.yale.edu/features/are_trees_sentient_peter_wohlleben
What Fish Know –https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/fish-feel-pain-180967764/
What Plants Know – https://www.audubon.org/magazine/july-august-2012/review-what-plant-knows
The Emotional Lives of Animals – https://www.newworldlibrary.com/Books/ProductDetails/tabid/64/SKU/16299/Default.aspx#.W-xOSi2ZOHo
Wendall Berry – The Genius of Place https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/nature-as-an-ally-an-interview-with-wendell-berry
Jenine Benyus – Biomimicry – https://biomimicry.org/janine-benyus/
11-08-2018 Apologies – NO SHOW this week
11-01-2018 Kay Mann, Outreach Coordinator for Maine Green Power
Today I talk with Kay Mann, Outreach Coordinator for the Maine Green Power Program. The Nature Nugget is an excerpt from an article in POWER magazine on the history of electricity generation.
Resources
Maine Green Power
10-25-2018 The Food You Consume Matters
This week I am musing on food and how the food wechoose to buy, grow, make, eat and throw away is really important in our quest to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
RESOURCES
Washington Post Article on how much giving up beef helps the planet.
Press Herald Article on Maine Vegans
Maine Public Media story on Vegan and Plant-Based Living
Environmental Letters research article
U of Cambridge story on Changing Global Diets and Reducing Food Waste
EPA web page – Reducing Wasted Food at Home
The Atlantic – Why Americans Lead the World in Food Waste
Feeding America – Fighting Food Waste with Food Rescue
TED Talk– The Power of Plant-Based Eating
NRDC – Save the Food
NRDC – Wasted Report
10-18-2018 Brian Danz of the Portland Gear Hub
This week Brian and I will be talking about bikes, bike commuting, and building skills and community with bikes, the ultimate form of transportation!!
10-11-18 Music to ease a troubled world
This week I touch on some of the toughest environmental challenges we face and try to ease the pain with some soothing music. The Nature Nugget offeres Driving Tips for when you really have to drive…
Resources
1. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/07/climate/ipcc-climate-report-2040.html
2. https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/business/US-Struggles-With-What-to-Do-With-Tons-of-Recycled-Material-489971551.html?Fg
3. https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2018/10/waste-watch-us-dumps-plastic-rubbish-southeast-asia-surge.html
4. http://www.theclimatemusicproject.org/what-we-do/
5. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/jun/02/un-report-meat-free-diet
6. https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/meat-eating-climate-change-vegetarian-vegan-global-warming-diet-farming-a8578251.html
10-4-18 Heather Craig, Energy Efficiency Coordinator for Americorps and the Maine Partnership for Environmental Stewardship
This week I chat with Heather Craig about helping people become better environmental stewards.
9-27-18 David Homa from Post Carbon Designs
This week I speak with David Homa Permacuture landscape designer/installer. In between Beg-a-thon chat, we talk about the basics of permaculture, what it looks like and how it is helpful for a more ecologically sustainable world. Check out his web site at www.postcarbondesigns.com
9-20-18 Denise Beck from Greater Portland METRO
I’ll be talking with Denise who is the Director of Marketing for METRO about the changes and improvement to our public transportation system here in Portland. For more info see www.gpmetro.org
9-13-18 Ruth Libby from Ruth’s Reusable Resources
I was so excited when I found out about Ruth’s Reusable Resources and I am excited to talk with her and Computer Re-life Program Manager Chris Slader and the great social and environmental work they are doing. The 3Rs is coming up on 25 years of work toward a more sustainable Maine!
Check out http://www.ruths.org
Also the Kids in Need Foundation is
9-6-18 Sustainability at Home
This week I look at the ways we can be more sustainable where we live and how we live. The Nature Nugget this week is on BEES, because without them our current food system could collapse.
Resources
Portland Water District – Rain Barrels
Fresh Start Farms from Cultivating Community
Portland METRO system
BEES
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee
https://www.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/pollinator-health-concerns#factors
https://portlandpollinators.org
Bulletin #7153, Understanding Native Bees, the Great Pollinators: Enhancing Their Habitat in Maine
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-secret-life-of-bees-99559587/
What Is Killing America’s Bees and What Does It Mean for Us?
Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QV1RGMLUKE
8-30-18 350 Maine and RISE
I speak with Jill McLaughlin and Thea Youngs of 350 Maine about the RISE event on September 8th and about 350.org and the good work they are doing.
Resources
350.org
http://www.portlandgreenfest.org
8-23-18 Human Powered and Public Transport
This week is mainly about taking the bus. I touch on the history of public transportation in the USA and get into why it doesn’t compare to other similarly developed nations in Europe and Asia. It is a complicated problem, but people need to start using it more and now is as good a time as any to cut your carbon footprint by taking the bus, even once a week.
Articles referenced:
https://www.vox.com/2015/8/10/9118199/public-transportation-subway-buses
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/10/nashville-charlotte-public-transit/412741/
Resources
Greater Portland Metro https://gpmetro.org
8-16-18 RECYCLED SHOW 2 Year of the Bird
8-9-18 RECYCLED SHOW 1 USM Sustainability with Aaron Withem
8-2-18 Walking and Cycling on the Earth
This week I expound on the benefits of walking and cycling the landscapes and cityscapes in the greater Portland area. In a time when we need to cut our CO2 emissions, walking and cycling are a great alternative, they also help us slow down and enjoy the places and spaces around us.
7-26-18 Ocean Health
This week I speak with Ivy Frignoca, Casco Baykeeper from Friends of Casco Bay on Ocean Health.
7-19-18 Materials Re-use
This week I speak with Gary Mercier, Procurement Coordinator for the Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore on Warren Ave. in Portland. We’ll be talking about materials re-use and maybe get a tour of the Re-Store!
Some other re-use resources:
Goodwill Industries of Northern New England
Threads of Hope (Catholic Charities’ thrift store)
7-12-18 Sustainability and Education
This week I talk with Chelsea Malacara, education & outreach coordinator for USM’s Office of Sustainability.
7-5-18 Insects are Amazing: Backyard Entomology with Joe Staples from USM
This week I talk with Joseph Staples at the USM Department of Environmental Science and Policy about insects and how important they are to health ecosystems.
Resources
Maine Entomological Society
http://www.colby.edu/MES/
Cooperative Extension Service (Cumberland County)
https://extension.umaine.edu/cumberland/
Entomological Society of America
https://www.entsoc.org
Insect Communication
https://www.npr.org/2015/08/27/432934935/good-vibrations-key-to-insect-communication
6-28-18 Year of the Bird
This week I’m celebrating the Year of the Bird, because birds are amazing and they need our help. Today’s nature nugget is about plastic and CO2!
Resources
NOAA Current Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Level
https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/gl_trend.html
Ending the Deadly Feather Trade
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-two-women-ended-the-deadly-feather-trade-23187277/
Bird
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird
Feather
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feather
Year of the Bird
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/projects/year-of-the-bird/
Audubon
https://www.audubon.org/yearofthebird
Migratory Bird Treaty Act
https://www.audubon.org/news/the-migratory-bird-treaty-act-explained
This is where you find the bill that changes to this act a being proposed.
Cornell Lab of Orithology
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478
BirdLife Int.
http://www.birdlife.org
6-21-18 Happy Solstice – Water Show
“If there is magic on the planet, it is contained in Water” Loren Eiseley, The Immense Journey, 1957
Water is indeed magical and the show this week takes a broad view of water first, and then focuses down on the fresh, potable water we get here in Portland.
Check out some water resources:
Water
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water
The USGS Water Use
https://water.usgs.gov/watuse/wuto.html
Water Use Visualization
https://owi.usgs.gov/vizlab/water-use-15/#view=USA&category=total
Portland Water District
https://www.pwd.org
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6-14-18 Lesley Heiser from Cultivating Community
This week I talk with Lesley Heiser from Cultivating Community and all the wonderful things they are supporting in our local food scene. And I definitely have another nature nugget from the kids at the King Middle School.
6-7-18 Travis Wagner: Waste and Materials Solutions
Travis and I talk about his interest in “sustainable material management through the identification and evaluation of model environmental policy programs with special emphasis on the social dimension and applying extended producer responsibility and product stewardship frameworks to divert, recapture, and recycle waste”
https://usm.maine.edu/environmental-science/travis-wagner
Of course we have another nature nugget from the students at the King Middle School.
5-31-18 Ed Suslovic: Local Environmental Initiatives
Ed is former Mayor and City Councilor of Portland, and currently at the USM Cutler Institute for Health and Social Policy. We’ll talk about a bunch of different environmental and sustainable initiatives around Maine and the greater Portland area. And we’ll have another nature nugget from the kids at the King Middle School!
5-24-18 Rosemary Conroy: Art as Envronmental Communication
Show #6 feature Rosemary Conroy, a long-time environmentalist. She’s worked for New York Audubon and the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Now she’s an artist—a painter to be more precise, and she essentially paints to protects wildlife. You can see her work at www.rosemaryconroyart.com
Events
A Birding Extravaganza: Saturday, May 26, 2018, 8:00 to 9:30 AM, Thorne Head Preserve Bath, ME. Ted Allen from Merrymeeting Audubon will lead birders through the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust’s Thorne Head Preserve in Bath. Overlooking Whiskeag Creek as it converges with the Kennebec River, the preserve is located on the Maine Birding Trail and is rich in migrating warblers and vireos. Participants can meet at 7:30 a.m. at the CVS in Bath to carpool. For more information contact Ted Allen at 207-729-8661
Sustaining Remote Communities. Wednesday, May 30, 2018, 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Rines Auditorium, Portland Public Library. Featuring Christopher R. Sauer CEO of Ocean Renewable Power Company
5-17-18 USM Climate and Sustainability Commitments
For show # 5, I spoke with Aaron Withem, Assistant Director of Sustainable Programs at the University of Southern Maine about the University Presidents’ Carbon Commitment and all the intiative they are working on at USM. Another nature nugget from student Ella at the King Middle School get’s us thinking about plastic packaging.
5-10-18 Solar Energy à la ReVision Energy
Show #4 featured Fred Greenhalgh, Creative Drevices Director at ReVision Energy, Portland. We talked about the current state of solar energy and why it is a good and hopeful situation. We also talked about how ReVision is a Certified B Corps and what that means. There also was a nature nuggets from Aja at the King Middle School on how reptiles are affected by climate change.
See ReVision Energy‘s web site for good info
5-3-18 Sustainability and the City of Portland Maine
Show #3 featured Troy Moon, Sustainability Director for the City of Portland, Maine. We spoke about the sustainability initiatives the city is currently working on (like LED street lights) and some of the past ones you might be familiar with, like the new big, blue recycling bins. We also talked about how amazing nature is and how important it is for folks to get out there and experience nature more, becuase the more you like something, the more you want to protect it. And we need to protect the earth becuase we rely on it entirely for our survival!
Check out Portland’s Sustainability Office web site. You can see the current initiatives and the tiop 5 things you can and should do to help make and keep Portland sustainable.
A great resource for recycling and all solidwaste solutions in Maine is EcoMaine.
The Recyclopedia is THE resource for how and where to recycle most everything.
4-26-18 Avoiding Waste and Overconsumption
On today’s show Richard exands our knowledge of waste and overconsumption of resources in the US. We hear from local young people at the Terra Matters Earth Day Climate Summit, March & Rally. The Nature Nugget this week is compliments of four girls at King Middle School on their adventure with the Kid Wind Challenge. The rest is about things you can do to help the state of the environment in North America.
Theme music and musical interludes are by yours truly. The other music was Pat Metheny—”Au Lait” and “Are You Going With Me”
The Permaculture Handbook, by Peter Bane
Check out www.carpoolworld.com to find someone to share a ride with
Terms this week are: tragedy of the commons, sustainability, and ecological footprint. See footprintnetwork.org for more info on that.
See terramatters.org for more info. on taking action with all types of people
Check out the web site www.govtrack.us and search for Environmental Protection.
Calculate your eco-footprint at www.footprintcalculator.org
4-19-18 The Earth is Amazing
This week’s show orients listeners of what to expect on the show and takes wide view of the planet we live on, how to be hopeful about our situation, and how to make change happen.
The following resources are mentioned:
Events
Deering High School Portland, the Urban Runoff 5K & Green Neighbor Family Fest by the city’s Greener Neighborhoods Cleaner Streams program. www.cleanerstreams.org
Kennebunk Earth Day festivities. The Planeteers Of Southern Maine (330) 689-6849 someplaneteers@googlegroups.com
http://www.someplaneteers.org
South Portland Earth Day Citywide Litter Cleanup on Saturday April 21, 2018 from 8:30 – 11:00 AM. Check in at Mill Creek Park opposite Hannaford. See www.southportlandlandtrust.com for more info.
In Portland, the Youth Climate Summit and Rally on Saturday the 21st At Deering Oaks Park and Hannaford Hall from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Organized by Terra Matters. See www.terramatters.org for more info.
Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center Clean-up at 92 Pine Point Rd.
See https://maineaudubon.coursestorm.com/course/earth-day-clean-up
The CHILDREN’S MUSEUM & THEATRE OF MAINE at 142 FREE STREET is celebrating the day Saturday with earth-friendly activities from 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM. See http://www.kitetails.org
Other
The International Environmental Communication Association (IECA) https://theieca.org
Rachel Carson Center http://www.carsoncenter.uni-muenchen.de/about_rcc/index.html
About Rachel Carson http://www.carsoncenter.uni-muenchen.de/about_rcc/archive/mission/rachel_carson_bio/index.html