EcoJustice Radio

The communities of the Gulf of Mexico are at the nexus of climate change and community resistance. Port Arthur Texas is homebase for the largest oil refinery in North America and a dizzying toxic array of fossil fuel and chemical facilities. But the people are stepping up to say - NO MORE.. Port Arthur Community Action Network (also known as PACAN) is raising the alarm, holding the polluters accountable, and paving the path to transition away from an extractive economy to one that supports restorative justice.

Our guest today, John Beard, Jr., Founder and CEO of Port Arthur Community Action Network [https://www.pa-can.com/], is helping to mobilize his community of Port Arthur and the Southeast Texas region. As a former oil employee turned advocate for environmental justice in the place he has lived all his life. John has been fighting for health and safety protections on the refineries, export terminals, petrochemical plants, and leading efforts against deepwater ports, each of which could export an estimated 2 million barrels of crude oil per day.

He is the recipient of the 2021 Rose Braz Award for Bold Activism from the Center for Biological Diversity. This year he helped lead October’s historic People vs. Fossil Fuels week of action in Washington DC, and he brought a powerful voice to November’s U.N. climate talks in Glasgow.

More: https://www.portarthurcan.org/

https://youtu.be/00upOJrPn2o

The Plastic Plague Series by EcoJustice Radio: https://socal350.org/ecojustice-radio-on-kpfk-90-7-fm-in-los-angeles/plastic-plague-series/

Break Free From Plastic on EcoJustice Radio: https://www.wilderutopia.com/ecojustice-radio/break-free-from-the-plastic-death-cycle/

News Sources

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/12/01/congress-lifted-crude-export-ban-2015-us-has-dropped-climate-bomb-world

https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/john-beard-jr-honored-with-rose-braz-award-for-bold-activism-2021-12-08/

Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/

Podcast Blog: https://www.wilderutopia.com/category/ecojustice-radio/

Support the Podcast: https://socal350.org/contribute-to-socal-350-climate-action/

Hosted by Jessica Aldridge

Engineer and Original Music: Blake Quake Beats

Executive Producer: Jack Eidt

Show Created by Mark and JP Morris

Episode 121

Photo credit: Bianka Csenki / Artivist Network

Permaculture is an integrative design system for sustainable, resilient, and abundant living. It emulates ecological relationships from wild nature and aims to protect and preserve water supply, agricultural land, and the greater environment. The practice encompasses architecture, horticulture, energy, waste management, and urban planning.

In this episode, hear renowned permaculture and resilience designer Warren Brush contemplate with us, the world as it might yet become. Warren has worked for over 30 years in agroecological education and regenerative system design for communities, private and public organizations, households, farms, and conservation properties worldwide. Warren is Co-Founder of True Nature Design [http://permaculturedesign.us] and Quail Springs Permaculture [https://www.quailsprings.org/]. He talked with EcoJustice Radio on his variety of international resilience design and food security projects.

Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/

Podcast Blog: https://www.wilderutopia.com/category/ecojustice-radio/

Support the Podcast: https://socal350.org/contribute-to-socal-350-climate-action/

Executive Producer: Jack Eidt

Interview by Carry Kim

Intro by Jessica Aldridge

Engineer and Original Music: Blake Quake Beats

Show Created by Mark and JP Morris

Episode 120

Image: Warren Brush

Can cities build new parks in park-poor neighborhoods without displacing low-income residents? These projects aspire to provide green space in neighborhoods that historically have little to no access to parks, but they can also lead to increased housing and living costs -- green gentrification. Some might even wonder whether such investments are a good idea, if they threaten to displace the very people they were intended to serve. Think of the iconic High Line in New York City or the 606 in Chicago, where abandoned rail tracks were transformed into linear elevated parks that are now flanked by multi-million-dollar condominiums. Can we improve upon or create new green spaces and still protect the existing communities?

Our guest, UCLA professor Jon Christensen [http://christensenlab.net/] has been studying the threat of green gentrification around the country — and how cities, agencies, nonprofits, and residents are responding with anti-displacement strategies applied where public spaces are added to historically disenfranchised neighborhoods.

Jon Christensen teaches and conducts multidisciplinary research at UCLA focusing on equity and the environment, strategic environmental communication, and journalism, media, and storytelling. He is an adjunct assistant professor in the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and the Luskin Center for Innovation [https://www.ioes.ucla.edu/person/jon-christensen/]. He is also a producer of KCET’s award-winning “Earth Focus” documentary series. And he serves on the board of directors of the Liberty Hill Foundation in Los Angeles.

More Info

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-02-21/los-angeles-river-master-plan-gateway-cities-frank-gehry-gentrification-equitable-development

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-20/reviving-the-l-a-river-without-green-gentrification

Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/

Podcast Blog: https://www.wilderutopia.com/category/ecojustice-radio/

Support the Podcast: https://socal350.org/contribute-to-socal-350-climate-action/

Hosted by Jessica Aldridge

Engineer: Blake Quake Beats

Executive Producer: Jack Eidt

Show Created by Mark and JP Morris

Music: Javier Kadry

Episode 119

Photo courtesy Anacostia Riverwalk Trail Washington DC

Coming on the heels of the US pullout from Afghanistan, it is imperative to consider the role and purpose of veterans, and regenerative farming has proven an excellent alternative. There is great potential to tap into the skillsets, selflessness, and service-oriented mindset of veterans. They seem to be perfectly suited to the adaptability, determination, tenacity, and innovation required of farmers. On this show, filmmaker Dulanie Ellis, Director of 'Ground Operations: Battlefields to Farmfields', discusses how returning combat veterans are reclaiming a sense of purpose through sustainable and regenerative farming and changing the world.

Dulanie Ellis launched her documentary film company, Walk Your Talk Productions [https://walkyourtalk.tv/], in 2000. What started as a burning desire to help protect world-class farmland in Ventura County, became a career in films about ecological farming. Her award-winning documentary focuses on multiple stories of veterans who are called to the land, to farm, ranch and heal. The Ground Operations social action campaign used the film to help build a national movement of new farmer-veterans.

Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/

Podcast Blog: https://www.wilderutopia.com/category/ecojustice-radio/

Support the Podcast: https://socal350.org/contribute-to-socal-350-climate-action/

Executive Producer: Jack Eidt

Interview by Carry Kim

Intro by Jessica Aldridge

Engineer: Blake Lampkin

Show Created by Mark and JP Morris

Music: Javier Kadry

Episode 118

Image: Ground Operations Film

A thick coat of oily crude from Platform Elly off Orange County, California has destroyed critical habitat for endangered seabirds, soiled popular public beaches, poisoned fisheries, and wasted millions of dollars spent on ecosystem restoration in local coastal wetlands. Just six years earlier, we had a similar story off Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County. Our addiction to oil has us drilling in sensitive ocean ecosystems for some of the dirtiest crude, coupled with lack of safety measures from aging, corroding underwater pipelines. Sadly, this can make for a deadly mix.

On this show, Emily Parker, Coastal and Marine Scientist with Heal the Bay [https://healthebay.org/] and Jack Eidt, Urban Planner and Co-Founder of SoCal 350 Climate Action [https://socal350.org/], discuss impacts of drilling disasters to our coastal ecosystems and communities living and playing on these soiled beaches, wetlands, and tidepools. Who pays for the clean up? Do we really need to drill oil offshore and how can these rigs be decommissioned? Really the question must be broadened to when will we stop drilling for oil and gas onshore and offshore, as the time is now to decarbonize our economy and way of life to solve the climate crisis. Who will pay for that?

Emily Parker works to keep our oceans and marine ecosystems healthy and clean by advocating for strong legislation and enforcement both locally and statewide. She focuses on plastic pollution, marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, and climate change related issues.

Jack Eidt is an urban planner, environmental journalist, and climate organizer, as well as award-winning fiction writer. In addition to his work with SoCal 350 and EcoJustice Radio, he is Founder and Publisher of WilderUtopia [https://www.wilderutopia.com/], a website dedicated to the question of Earth sustainability, finding society-level solutions to environmental, community, economic, transportation and energy needs.

Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/

Podcast Blog: https://www.wilderutopia.com/category/ecojustice-radio/

Support the Podcast: https://socal350.org/contribute-to-socal-350-climate-action/

Hosted by Jessica Aldridge

Engineer: Blake Lampkin

Executive Producer: Jack Eidt

Show Created by Mark and JP Morris

Music: Javier Kadry

Episode 117

Photo courtesy US Coast Guard

Check out our special encore presentation of our interview with Human Rights Attorney Steven Donziger recorded in December 2020. We investigate the story of Chevron’s crimes in Ecuador with Mr. Donziger who represented Ecuadorian communities demanding justice in a $9.5 billion decision against them for one of the largest-ever oil disasters.

In a move calculated to shield Chevron and deter other lawyers from suing giant corporate polluters, Donziger was sentenced on October 1 of 2021 to the maximum of six months in prison for criminal contempt. While the case is being appealed, he continues to live under house arrest with the threat of prison hanging over his head.

He joined us to talk about the case, what actually took place, the historic retaliation against himself and the Ecuadorian Peoples, and how Chevron's actions set a dangerous precedent and represent a growing and serious threat to the ability of civil society to hold corporations accountable for their misdeeds around the world.

Links:

Website: https://www.freedonziger.com/

Donate to Steven Donziger's Defense: http://donzigerdefense.com

Amazon Watch: https://amazonwatch.org/

Chevron Toxico: https://chevrontoxico.com/

Make Chevron Clean Up Their Ecuador Mess: https://www.makechevroncleanup.com/

Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SDonziger

Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/

Podcast Blog: https://wilderutopia.com/ecojustice-radio/criminalizing-activism-steven-donziger-vs-chevron/

Support the Podcast: https://socal350.org/contribute-to-socal-350-climate-action/

Hosted by Jessica Aldridge

Engineer: Blake Lampkin

Executive Producer: Jack Eidt

Producer: Emilia Barrosse

Show Created by Mark and JP Morris

Music: Javier Kadry

Episode 84

Photo courtesy Steven Donziger

Part 2 of the discussion on Indian Boarding Schools with our guests, SunRose IronShell and Manape LaMere. They continue to discuss Indian Child Welfare Act, the Keystone XL Pipeline and other issues.

Check out Part 1: https://soundcloud.com/socal350/lost-children-of-turtle-island-the-impact-of-indian-boarding-schools

Check out their 2020 Appearance on EJR: https://www.wilderutopia.com/landscape/culture-landscape/tribal-sovereignty-and-self-determination/

Manape LaMere [http://www.siouxcountry.org], has relinquished his U.S. citizenship and is a Government Representative of the Sioux Nation of Indians and an U.N. Economic and Social Council committee member to the United Nations. Manape is currently working to rebuild all social and economic development for his nation and provide proactive approach in response to genocide and 150 years of economic sanctions.

SunRose IronShell, Is an Artistic Visionary Dreamer. Hailing from the Missouri River valley area in Sioux City Iowa. SunRose is Sicangu and Oglala Lakota of the Titowan band of the Oceti Sakowyn - the Seven Council fires, Internationally known as the Sioux Nation of Indians. She is a cultural bearer and High School teacher. She was featured in the documentary, Women of the White Buffalo [https://womenofthewhitebuffalo.com/cast/6/https://womenofthewhitebuffalo.com/cast/6/] soon to be released. You can catch her every Friday for Native News in 10 on Woman of the White Buffalo Facebook page.

Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/

Podcast Blog: https://www.wilderutopia.com/category/ecojustice-radio/

Support the Podcast: https://socal350.org/contribute-to-socal-350-climate-action/

Executive Producer: Jack Eidt

Host/Producer: Jessica Aldridge

Engineer: Blake Lampkin

Show Created by Mark and JP Morris

Music: Javier Kadry

Episode 116

Image: Courtesy Manape and SunRose

The truth about the US Indian boarding school policy has largely been written out of the history books. Started in the 1800s across the US and Canada, Indian Boarding schools were government-funded and often church-run. The goal? Forced assimilation of Native children into white society under the belief of “Kill the Indian, Save the Man,” which still contributes to how we see and treat Indigenous Peoples today.

Sadly, the marked and unmarked graves of children have been found in the residential school systems of both Canada and the US. The total is now over 6,500 indigenous youth, having died amid accusations of abuse and neglect.

Our guests, SunRose IronShell and Manape LaMere, update us on the current situation and the history of this generational trauma, and how bringing home the remains has become a way to tell the children's stories and hold to account these schools.

Listen to Part 2 of this discussion: https://soundcloud.com/socal350/lost-children-of-turtle-island-part-2

Check out their 2020 Appearance on EJR: https://www.wilderutopia.com/landscape/culture-landscape/tribal-sovereignty-and-self-determination/

Manape LaMere has relinquished his U.S. citizenship and is a Government Representative of the Sioux Nation of Indians and an U.N. Economic and Social Council committee member to the United Nations. Manape is currently working to rebuild all social and economic development for his nation and provide proactive approach in response to genocide and 150 years of economic sanctions.

SunRose IronShell, Is an Artistic Visionary Dreamer. Hailing from the Missouri River valley area in Sioux City Iowa. SunRose is Sicangu and Oglala Lakota of the Titowan band of the Oceti Sakowyn - the Seven Council fires, Internationally known as the Sioux Nation of Indians. She is a cultural bearer and High School teacher. She was featured in the documentary, Women of the White Buffalo [https://womenofthewhitebuffalo.com/cast/6/] soon to be released. You can catch her every Friday for Native News in 10 on Woman of the White Buffalo Facebook page.

Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/

Podcast Blog: https://www.wilderutopia.com/category/ecojustice-radio/

Support the Podcast: https://socal350.org/contribute-to-socal-350-climate-action/

Executive Producer: Jack Eidt

Host/Producer: Jessica Aldridge

Engineer: Blake Lampkin

Show Created by Mark and JP Morris

Music: Javier Kadry

Episode 116

Image: Courtesy Manape and SunRose

Missing from most conversations on the current immigration crisis is the role that racism and climate change play on people rendered unable to subsist and prosper due to the degradation of their lands and waters.

We must also consider the history of military dominance and regime change in these hard hit countries as a means to facilitate trade and resource extraction for multinational corporations.

On today's show we take a deeper look into the intersection of environmental racism and the crisis at the US Border. And explore the impact that the shifting climate has on global populations whose lands are being devastated by hurricanes, wildfires, drought, and rising seas.

Our guest today is Dr. Miguel De La Torre [http://drmigueldelatorre.com/], Professor of Social Ethics and Latinx Studies at the Iliff School of Theology [https://www.iliff.edu/]. He has authored over a hundred articles and published forty-one books. He is also leading a conference by the Center for EcoJustice at Iliff, called “Shifting Climates, Shifting People,” on October 21-22 [https://www.iliff.edu/centerforecojustice/conference2021/].

Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/

Podcast Blog: https://www.wilderutopia.com/category/ecojustice-radio/

Support the Podcast: https://socal350.org/contribute-to-socal-350-climate-action/

Executive Producer: Jack Eidt

Host/Producer: Jessica Aldridge

Engineer: Blake Lampkin

Show Created by Mark and JP Morris

Music: Javier Kadry

Episode 115

Image: Miguel De La Torre

With growing interest in farming and regeneration of the soil using compost, now is the time to get back to the land -- and simultaneously mitigate greenhouse gases by utilizing excess food waste and yard trimmings. Nevertheless, with most people residing in cities, largely disconnected from Nature coupled with the inter-generational loss of ancestral traditions and practices around growing food and tending the land, many of us now seek to reclaim that lost knowledge.

Much of the soil on this continent has been degraded by industrial farming, monocropping, overgrazing, rototilling, the use of pesticides, herbicides and toxic chemicals, negligence and ignorance. It is a great undertaking to nurture and sustain soil as a vital, thriving ecosystem and we would do well to undertake it as a species. Hear the insights of Keisha Wheeler & Casey Ernst, co-founders of Catalyst BioAmendments [http://www.catalystbioamendments.com] as they share how you too can become a Microbe Farmer and regenerate the soil!

Keisha Wheeler and Casey Ernst are microbe farmers with a strong background in permaculture, a love for food forests, and an obsession with microscope adventures. They spent many years off-grid building earthen structures, growing plants, creating compost, and teaching travelers how to bring regenerative principles into their own lives.

The two shifted their life path to study under the amazing Elaine Ingham. After graduating the Soil Foodweb courses, they began to discover that most commercial compost was void of beneficial life. From this revelation, Catalyst BioAmendments was born, a biologically focused compost company in Nevada City, CA. They produce diverse soil microorganisms to be used in soil regeneration. It is a working model of how composting practices can be altered to quickly produce diverse microorganisms at scale.

Keisha and Casey are founding members of the Sierra Soil Biology Association. A non-profit organization of biology focused soil food web consultants, compost producers, lab techs, and community influencers who promote the regeneration of soil. They aim to raise the quality of food through increasing microbial biomass in agricultural soils.

They also started Catalyst BioLogical Solutions, a consultation company where they help small to large-scale farmers, homesteaders and gardeners understand how to create, apply, and increase soil fertility on-sites with waste materials from the local area.

Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/

Podcast Blog: https://www.wilderutopia.com/category/ecojustice-radio/

Support the Podcast: https://socal350.org/contribute-to-socal-350-climate-action/

Executive Producer: Jack Eidt

Interview by Carry Kim

Intro by Jessica Aldridge

Engineer: Blake Lampkin

Show Created by Mark and JP Morris

Music: Javier Kadry

Episode 114

Image: Catalyst BioAmendments