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The Marshall Islands face dual threats from the legacy of U.S. nuclear testing and the advancing impacts of climate change, creating an urgent struggle for justice and survival.

On this episode of Breaking Green we are going to speak with Shem Livai.

Shem Livai is a Director at Marshalls Energy Company in the Marshall Islands. He is a Ph.D. candidate in Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change from the University of the Virgin Islands, he has an MBA from the University of the South Pacific, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawai‘i. 

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Panganga Pungowiyi, an Indigenous mother and climate geoengineering organizer from Sibokuk in the Dena'ina Islands, shares her community's historical trauma and resistance against experimental climate technologies deployed without consent. Her powerful testimony reveals how colonial patterns of exploitation continue today through geoengineering experiments that ignore Indigenous sovereignty and knowledge systems.

• Military contamination during the Cold War left lasting environmental damage and health impacts including cancer and Parkinson's disease
• Climate geoengineering experiments are being conducted in Indigenous territories without free, prior and informed consent
• Researchers spread silica beads on Arctic ice 
• Carbon capture technologies primarily benefit fossil fuel companies through enhanced oil recovery rather than addressing climate change
• Indigenous cosmovision views humans as part of nature, not above it, making ecosystem manipulation fundamentally problematic
• Outside researchers fail to understand Arctic ecosystems, where ice movement and marine life cycles would be disrupted by interventions
• True climate solutions require addressing oppression and restoring Indigenous rights rather than technological quick-fixes

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The Mapuche people of Chile are fighting to reclaim ancestral lands taken over by vast industrial eucalyptus and pine plantations established during the Pinochet dictatorship in the 1970s. Their struggle goes beyond land ownership—it's about reclaiming culture, spirituality, language, and food sovereignty while facing criminalization under Chile's new "usurpation law."

• Mapuche territory (Wallmapu) was initially protected by treaty but later seized through what the Chilean government called "pacification of the Araucanía"
• Industrial tree plantations have destroyed native ecosystems, depleted water resources, and created conditions for devastating "megafires" and "gigafires"
• Chilean authorities use "preventative prison" to hold Mapuche activists for up to two years without formal charges or trials
• Militarization of Mapuche territories has led to surveillance, intimidation, and targeting of young activists
• The controversial "usurpation law" criminalizes land reclamation efforts, violating international indigenous rights agreements Chile has ratified
• The struggle connects to broader patterns of indigenous land theft for industrial tree plantations under dictatorships globally
• Land reclamation is essential for Mapuche cultural revival and addressing extreme poverty

On this episode of Breaking Green, we spoke with Anne Petermann.  Petermann co- founded Global Justice Ecology Project in 2003. She is the international coordinator of the Campaign to STOP GE Trees, which she also co founded. Petermann is a founding board member of the Will Miller Social Justice Lecture Series. She has been involved in movements for forest protection and indigenous rights since 1991, and the international and national climate justice movements since 2004. She participated in the founding of the Durban group for climate justice in 2004, in Durban, South Africa, and Climate Justice Now in 2007 at the Bali Indonesia UN climate conference. She was adopted as an honorary member of the St. Francis- Sokoki band of the Abenaki in 1992 for her work in support of their struggle for state recognition. In 2000, she received the wild nature award for activist of the year.

Photo by Orin Langelle.

For more information visit: https://globaljusticeecology.org/brazil-2023/

This podcast is produced by Global Justice Ecology Project.

Breaking Green is made possible by tax deductible donations from people like you. Please help us lift up the voices of those working to protect forests, defend human rights and expose false solutions.  

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We explore the myths and realities of space colonization and assess whether humans can survive long-term deep space travel. In this episode, author Dennis Meredith explains why we might need to rethink our ambitions and focus on protecting our planet instead.

• Dissecting the notion of humanity becoming a multi-planet species 
• Highlighting the physical impacts of space travel on human health 
• Exploring toxic lunar and Martian dust hazards 
• Discussing the economic feasibility of Mars colonization 
• Urging prioritization of environmental efforts on Earth over space exploration 
• Advocating for a deeper understanding of Earth's ecosystems 

Earthbound is scheduled to be released March 31st. Learn more about Dennis Meredith's book at earthboundthebook.com. 

Dennis Meredith has worked as a science communicator at leading research universities, including MIT, Caltech, Cornell, Duke and the University
of Wisconsin. He is author of the nonfiction books Explaining Research:
How to Reach Key Audiences to Advance Your Work; The Climate Pandemic:
How Climate Disruption Threatens Human Survival; and Earthbound: The
Obstacles to Human Space Exploration and the Promise of Artificial
Intelligence. 

He also writes science thrillers, and his latest
environmentally themed novels are the award-winning Mythicals and Attack
of the Food Zombies.

Breaking Green is made possible by tax deductible donations from people like you. Please help us lift up the voices of those working to protect forests, defend human rights and expose false solutions.  

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What happens when justice collides with government secrecy? We invite you to join our conversation with attorney Michael Kuzma as we untangle the complex case of Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist imprisoned for nearly five decades. Despite clear evidence of trial irregularities, withheld FBI documents, and a ballistics report proving Peltier's innocence, he was denied a retrial. Kuzma shares his insights into the disparities between Peltier’s conviction and the acquittals of his co-defendants, highlighting the self-defense arguments that led to their freedom. As Peltier's release date approaches, we reflect on the long-standing battle for clemency and the challenges that could still hinder justice.

Dive into the murky waters of government secrecy as we reveal the shocking discrepancies in FBI records related to Peltier's case. Learn about the arduous journey to uncover over 142,000 pages of government records—a stark contrast to the measly 3,500 pages initially shared. We discuss the broader implications of COINTELPRO activities and the enduring quest for justice that Peltier’s case exemplifies. Finally, we celebrate President Biden's commutation decision, a momentous victory for Peltier's advocates, marked by elation and gratitude, yet overshadowed by the wish that justice had not been so long delayed.

As we reflect on the systemic injustices faced by Indigenous peoples, Leonard Peltier’s story cannot be separated from the broader historical context: the epidemic of violence against Indigenous women represented by the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement, and the tragic killing of Annie Mae Aquash, whose death remains a stark reminder of the lengths to which systems of oppression have gone to silence Indigenous voices. These injustices are not isolated; they are part of a broader tapestry of historical and ongoing colonial violence.

his podcast is produced by Global Justice Ecology Project.

Breaking Green is made possible by tax deductible donations from people like you. Please help us lift up the voices of those working to protect forests, defend human rights and expose false solutions.  

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What is artificial intelligence and how are some corporate interests seeking to hand over the development of genetically engineered organisms to it?

Join us as we unpack this question with Jim Thomas, an activist and researcher who challenges the common misconceptions about artificial intelligence. We delve into the historical context of the Luddites and connect their resistance to harmful industrialization with the emerging technological challenges we face today. Our discussion takes a critical angle on how AI intersects with indigenous rights, spotlighting the recent establishment of the CALI Fund at COP16 in Colombia, which aims to ensure fair compensation for the genetic information used by big tech companies.

The world of synthetic biology and genetic engineering is rapidly evolving, with technologies like CRISPR and DNA printing poised to reshape agriculture and ecosystems. But what ethical and ecological concerns arise from this transformation? We explore the commodification of biodiversity and the implications of merging these advancements with AI, leading to new bioeconomies. The financialization of nature, through initiatives like biodiversity credits, raises significant questions about sustainability, colonialism and the commercialization of genomic data. As we navigate these complex issues, we emphasize the urgent need for societal oversight to safeguard the common good.

This podcast is produced by Global Justice Ecology Project.

Breaking Green is made possible by tax deductible donations from people like you. Please help us lift up the voices of those working to protect forests, defend human rights and expose false solutions.  

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Note: This episode's image was created with openart.ai. We found the result interesting, but do we want to use it to create new organisms and hand over our collective future to artificial intelligence?

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What if conservation efforts meant to protect our planet were actually causing significant harm to the very people who have safeguarded these lands for generations? 

On this episode of Breaking Green, we speak with founder and executive director of the Oakland Institute, Anuradha Mittal. Anuradha is an internationally renowned expert on issues of human rights, agriculture, development and conservation policies. Under Anuradha’s leadership, the Oakland Institute has unveiled land investment deals in the developing world to expose a disturbing pattern of lack of transparency, fairness and accountability. Anuradha has authored and edited numerous books and reports. Her articles and opinion pieces have been published in widely circulated newspapers and she is frequently interviewed on CNN, BBC World, CBC, ABC, Al Jazeera and National Public Radio. 

Join us as we discuss the Oakland Institute’s new report, “From Abuse to Power,” which exposes the severe human rights abuses reportedly inflicted upon Indigenous communities by “EcoGuards” — funded by prominent NGOs like the World Wildlife Fund.

We explore the deeply rooted colonial and racist undertones of the conservation industry, particularly in Africa. Discover how powerful international institutions and donor countries perpetuate a model that expels Indigenous Peoples from their ancestral lands. The conversation contrasts Western views that see humanity as a threat to nature with Indigenous perspectives that emphasize harmony with the environment.

Find Oakland Institute’s report “From Abuse to Power” here.

This podcast is produced by Global Justice Ecology Project.

Breaking Green is made possible by tax deductible donations from people like you. Please help us lift up the voices of those working to protect forests, defend human rights and expose false solutions.  

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Can converting petroleum refineries into renewable diesel production truly serve as a green alternative, or is it merely greenwashing? Join us this week on Breaking Green as we tackle this controversial issue with Gary Hughes from Biofuelwatch. Gary reveals the significant risks and threats posed by industrial bioenergy projects, including their impacts on land, forests, ecosystems, food sovereignty, and human rights. We also explore Biofuelwatch's mission and their recent victories, like opposing a geoengineering project and advocating for indigenous communities in Chile.

Is greenwashing misleading the public about what’s truly sustainable? Gary Hughes of Biofuelwatch and I uncover how fossil fuel giants exploit biofuels and renewable diesel to maintain their environmentally damaging practices. These companies gain carbon credits while the global south suffers deforestation and heavy pesticide use in soy cultivation. We discuss the insidious nature of climate colonialism and the influence of neoliberal economic expansion on climate policy, especially in California.

In the final segment, we question the ethics and practicality of solar geoengineering as a climate solution. With Gary's insights into the billionaire class's fascination with technological fixes over real emission reductions, we critique the normalization of geoengineering and its potential catastrophic impacts. We also highlight the environmental crises in Chile, from wildfires to severe flooding, and the ongoing efforts of Global Justice Ecology Project to advocate for environmental justice. Tune in for a engaging conversation on the socio-environmental challenges we face and the urgent need for genuine solutions.

This podcast is produced by Global Justice Ecology Project.

Breaking Green is made possible by tax deductible donations from people like you. Please help us lift up the voices of those working to protect forests, defend human rights and expose false solutions.  

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On January 18th of last year, a land defender protesting the razing of an urban forest to build a police training mega complex known as COP City was killed by a hail of bullets fired by police in Atlanta Georgia. 

Authorities claim the had fired a weapon at police, but there is strong forensic evidence that the protester was seated with hands up and had not fired a weapon.

Many other peaceful protesters as well as those providing mutual aid and bond support have been charged in a far-reaching prosecution that has labelled many as Domestic Terrorists.

On April 5th, two organizations, including Robert F Kennedy Human Rights and Southern Center for Human Rights together with the University of Dayton Human Rights Center filed a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights calling for an investigation into the killing of Manuel Esteban Páez Terán, also known as Tortuguita.

On this episode of Breaking Green, we will talk with Anthony Enriqez of Robert F Kennedy Human Rights.  

Anthony Enriqez is an attorney working to reduce mass incarceration in the United States by exposing and stopping human rights abuses in the criminal legal and immigration systems. As the Vice President of U.S. Advocacy and Litigation at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, he leads a team of advocates fighting for accountability for state-sponsored racial discrimination, torture, and extrajudicial killings. He has over a decade of expertise in child refugee protection, immigrants’ rights, and anti-detention advocacy and litigation.
 
Anthony graduated from New York University School of Law in 2013 and clerked for a federal district court judge in the Southern District of New York. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

This podcast is produced by Global Justice Ecology Project.

Breaking Green is made possible by tax deductible donations from people like you. Please help us lift up the voices of those working to protect forests, defend human rights and expose false solutions.  

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Christopher Nolan's movie Oppenheimer captured the imagination of the nation as it dramatized the super-secret Manhattan Project that was responsible for creating the first atomic bomb. But what about the legacy of radioactive waste that the US weapons Development Program left across the United States? According to victims whose diseases were caused by exposure to US weapons development programs, the movie's oversight of the project's toxic legacy was an insult. Now a bill in Congress may help address some illnesses caused by nuclear weapons development. It may also recognize victims exposed to radiation who have long been overlooked, but it is, according to many, not enough and only a start when it comes to addressing devastating illnesses. On this episode of Breaking Green, we will talk with Justin Ahasteen, the Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Washington Office, about the history of radiation contamination on the Navajo Nation from uranium mining, the US government's lack of transparency, its failure to remediate radiation hotspots, as well as hopes for some relief when it comes to the reauthorization of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.

Justin Ahasteen is executive director of the Navajo Nation Washington Office. He has been awarded the Presidential Volunteer Service Award with Silver Distinction. Justin was appointed as Executive Director by President Boo Nygren in 2023. Ahasteen has significantly impacted federal Indian policy and indigenous advocacy, focusing on infrastructure, veteran affairs, social services, health and public safety for the Navajo Nation. His academic credentials include an associate's in applied science and public administration, a bachelor's of arts in justice studies with a public administration minor, and he is nearing completion of a master of legal studies in indigenous law. 

This podcast is produced by Global Justice Ecology Project.

Breaking Green is made possible by tax deductible donations from people like you. Please help us lift up the voices of those working to protect forests, defend human rights and expose false solutions.  

Donate securely online here

Or simply text GIVE to 716-257-4187

Support the show