Dr. Shaw shared her expertise on toxins and the marine environment, discussing a wide variety of issues that impact our lives. She is widely known for her [...]]]> For 3-22-2012, our guest was Dr. Susan Shaw, a leading marine toxicologist, Doctor of Public Health, and founder and director of the Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI).

Dr. Shaw shared her expertise on toxins and the marine environment, discussing a wide variety of issues that impact our lives. She is widely known for her research on the toxic legacy of man-made chemicals in the ocean environment, and particularly her research on the environmental and health impact of the BP oil spill. Much of her research has focused on the harmful environmental and human health impacts of chemical dispersants used to clean up the spill. One month after the oil spill began, Dr. Shaw dove into the oil slick a few miles off the coast of Louisiana and wrote an op-ed in The New York Times recounting her experience and discussing the harmful effects of a dispersant called Corexit. Since then, she has been leading an investigation on the effects of oil and chemical dispersants in the Gulf ecosystem, and she serves on the U.S. Department of Interior’s Strategic Sciences Working Group, a team of scientists responsible for assessing consequences of the oil spill and recommending policy actions.

On March 17th, Dr. Shaw will be recognized for her research and advocacy for the marine environment with the Citation of Merit Award at the Explorers Club Annual Dinner in New York City, and will be giving a lecture the next day that will focus on the ways in which explorers are addressing the challenge of saving the world’s oceans.

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Not sure if we were as funny as we thought we were but we had a hoot with our [...]]]> Our March 15th show was a  St. Patrick’s Day Special!
w/ Michele Hallahan
“Our Irish Connection” to
The Office of Sustainability and So Much More!
Plus…
Johnny Livesay, Manager at  the Innovative Black Star Coop

Not sure if we were as funny as we thought we were but we had a hoot with our guests talking St. Patrick’s Day history and beer!

Michele Hallahan and Johnny Livesay at the station

Ruslan Telegin, 43 years old, from Karaganda (population 471,800), is Press Secretary of the NGO Karaganda Regional Ecological Museum (www.ecomuseum.kz). He works to raise awareness of the [...]]]> Our guests on Thursday, 3-8-12 were members of a delegation of environmentalists from Kazakhstan, visiting the US as part of the Library of Congress Open World Program.

Ruslan Telegin, 43 years old, from Karaganda (population 471,800), is Press Secretary of the NGO Karaganda Regional Ecological Museum (www.ecomuseum.kz). He works to raise awareness of the many complex ecological issues in his region, including mining issues. He has a strong journalism background, experience in working in the private sector and media, and now applies this knowledge in the NGO sector researching and writing on environmental issues. He is interested in meeting NGO leaders and activists doing similar awareness work. He wants to learn about organizing environmental actions, city greening policies, parks, ecotourism, public transport, and public monitoring of major infrastructure projects. Ruslan enjoys photography, social networking, blogs, and biking.

Baltugan Tazhmakina, 23 years old, from Astana, (Capital of Kazakhstan, population 700,000) is lead coordinator of international programs at the National Aarhus Center at the Environmental Information Analysis Center of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Kazakhstan (www.aarhus.kz). She organizes professional development trainings for leaders of higher education, organizes public hearings on environmental issues and is head of the PR service of the Aarhus Center. The Center increases access to information and justice, and involves citizens in making significant environmental decisions. Baltugan works with NGOs, providing consultations and trainings on environmental issues and promoting access to environmental information for the population. She coordinates four regional Aarhus Centers and provides support working with media and planning public events with authorities and international organizations. She holds multiple certificates and professional awards.

We had a great conversation about the issues that are most pressing in the Kazakhstan area and learned how much we have in common with people across the globe.

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“Bag the Bag” — Will Austin follow Brownsville’s Lead? The City of Austin Council is considering instituting a ban on plastic and paper bags through at their meeting on March 1, 2012. The bag ban could be implemented in stages over time. We had a lively discussion about bagging the bag in [...]]]> February 23rd

“Bag the Bag” — Will Austin follow Brownsville’s Lead? The City of Austin Council is considering instituting a ban on plastic and paper bags through at their meeting on March 1, 2012. The bag ban could be implemented in stages over time. We had a lively discussion about bagging the bag in Austin with our guests
Christine Banks, Executive Director for Goodwill Industries in Austin, and on the phone was Art Rodriguez, Director of the City of Brownsville Health Department. The City of Brownsville was the first city in Texas to ban one-time use plastic bags in retail stores. Austin has some catching up to do.

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Our conversation covered what is being done at the local and state [...]]]> On February 2nd, 2012 we discussed the Impact of recent drought on texas forests
with guests:
Dr. Chris Edgar with the Texas Forest Service
April Rose with Tree Folks Austin &
Keith O’Herrin with the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department

Our conversation covered what is being done at the local and state level, rural and urban, to prevent loss of trees during exceptional drought in Texas.

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Designing a home that also contributes to reducing total cost of ownership (TCO) is a fundamental concept of sustainability and a core value [...]]]> Wes Wigginton, managing director of Austin based Foursquare Builders and Eric Brown, founder and CEO of Thoughtcrib, an Austin design firm that focuses on sustainable practices joined us in the studio.

Designing a home that also contributes to reducing total cost of ownership (TCO) is a fundamental concept of sustainability and a core value for Wes Wigginton, a homebuilder with over 30 years of experience and architect, designer, Eric Brown. Together these award winning, Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited Professionals (LEED AP) have conceived a building process where every step seeks to reduce the fiscal and environmental implications of home construction and operation.

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