How You Can Save The World: Sustainable Living and Social Activism

It's Up To Us

This episode is all about how to be an effective social activist in the age of Trump.

In it I discuss how to move from panic mode and fretting to taking the small actions that will really make a huge difference, politically.

Not only is the show full of political activism tips, it also outlines suggestions for how to stay sane while taking those actions.

Additionally there are interviews with Alexander Edelman, political campaign consultant, as well as with James Atkinson, social activist. I discuss with both men what the road ahead looks like for those of us who want to take back our Democracy.

Links and articles mentioned on this episode

• How To Be Calm Under Pressure: 3 Secrets From A Bomb Disposal Expert
• Sarah Kendzior's info: website, twitter, text of her tweet
• The 2018 Town Hall Project Spread Sheet of schedule for all Congress's town hall meetings
• 5 Calls a Day
• Re:act Newsletter mentioned on the show
• How to subscribe to the re:act newsletter
• Flippable
• Countable
• Swing Left
• Alexander Edelman's article on Medium
• Here is a link to the site which will tell you exactly who your State Senator and State Assemblyperson is. Remember, these are the elected officials in charge of gerrymandering districts! You want to keep your eye on these races, and flip them blue.
• How Venezuela dealt with the takeover of their government by the extreme right. Very useful. If you have time…read it.
• Air Purifying Vertical Forest Building being constructed in China

Here is James Atkinson's sample list of organizations in Los Angeles that you can volunteer in to make a huge difference:

If you're concerned about politics/social justice, and you want to get involved, there are lots of opportunities in LA. Here's a list of organizations. I'll update with more later.

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

• civil liberties group
• volunteer: https://action.aclu.org/secure/volunteer-aclu-socal
• donate: https://action.aclu.org/donate-aclu?ms=web_horiz_nav_hp
• contact: 213–977–9500

ANSWER

• antiwar / antiracism group
• volunteer: http://www.answercoalition.org/volunteer
• donate: https://answercoalition.nationbuilder.com/donate
• contact: 2936 W 8th St Los Angeles, CA 90005 (2nd floor of the First Unitarian Church)

COUNSEL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS

• America's largest Muslim civil liberties organization
• donate: https://www.cair.com/donations/general-donation/campaign/…
• volunteer: https://www.cair.com/about-us/volunteer-with-us.html
• contact: 2180 W. Crescent Avenue, Suite F Anaheim, CA 92801 714–776–1847 [email protected]

DEMOCRATIC PARTY - LOS ANGELES COUNTY

• LACDP conducts Democratic Party campaigns in Los Angeles County
• volunteer: http://www.lacdp.org/volunteer/
• donate: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/lacdpdonate
• contact: 3550 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1203 Los Angeles, CA 90010 213–382–0063 [email protected]

DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA

• multi-issue, non partisan socialist group
• join: https://dsausa.nationbuilder.com/join
• donate: https://dsausa.nationbuilder.com/donate
• event calendar: http://www.dsa-la.org/dsa-la-calendar/
• contact: 323–496–6604 [email protected]

DIDI HIRSCH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

• mental health, substance abuse, and suicide prevention services
• volunteer: http://www.didihirsch.org/volunteer
• donate: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx…
• contact: 888–807–7250 (M-F 8:30 am - 5:00 pm)

DOWNTOWN WOMEN'S CENTER

• helping women overcome poverty
• volunteer: http://www.downtownwomenscenter.org/volunteer
• donate: http://downtownwomenscenter.force.com/…/rc_connect__campaig…
• contact: 442 S San Pedro St Los Angeles, CA 90013 213–680–0600

LA WORKS

• calendar of local volunteer opportunities
• volunteer: http://www.laworks.com/HOC__Volunteer_Opportunity_Calendar_…
• donate: http://www.laworks.com/donate
• contact: [email protected] 323–224–6510

LOS ANGELES LGBT CENTER

• LGTB advocacy group
• volunteer: https://lalgbtcenter.org/how-you-can-help/volunteer
• donate: https://lalgbtcenter.org/how-you-can-help/donations
• contact: 1625 N. Schrader Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90028–6213 323–993–7400

LOS ANGELES MUSEUM OF THE HOLOCAUST

• provides free Holocaust education to the public & houses precious artifacts
• volunteer: http://www.lamoth.org/…/job-opport…/volunteer-opportunities/
• donate: http://www.lamoth.org/support-the-museum/make-a-donation/
• contact: Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust 100 S. The Grove Drive Los Angeles, California 90036 323- 651–3704 [email protected]

MEXICAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATION FUND

• Latino legal civil rights organization
• volunteer: [email protected]
• donate: http://www.maldef.org/ways_to_donate/index.html
• contact: http://www.maldef.org/contact/index.html 634 S. Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90014 Phone: 213–629–2512

MIDNIGHT MISSION

• services for the homeless to reach self-sufficiency
• volunteer: http://www.midnightmission.org/…/spring–2…/volunteer/step–1/
• donate: https://app.mobilecause.com/form/j6Qkhw
• contact: 601 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014 USA 213–624–9258

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN

• multi issue women's rights group
• join: http://now.org/membership/
• donate: http://now.org/more-ways-to-give/

OPERATION HOPE

• financial literacy for the poor
• volunteer: http://www.operationhope.org/getinvolved
• donate: http://www.operationhope.org/donate
• contact: Youth Empowerment, Los Angeles 707 Wilshire Boulevard, 30th Floor Los Angeles CA 90017 213–891–2900

PLANNED PARENTHOOD ADVOCACY PROJECT LOS ANGELES COUNTY

• public policy & advocacy wing of planned parenthood, the reproductive health care provider
• volunteer: http://www.ppactionca.org/…/los-an…/volunteer-with-ppap.html
• donate: http://www.ppactionca.org/donateppaplac
• contact: [email protected]

PUBLIC COUNSEL

• pro bono law firm that serves people at or below the poverty line
• volunteer: http://www.publiccounsel.org/pages/?id=0048
• donate: https://48477.thankyou4caring.org/pag…/donation-welcome-page
• contact: 610 South Ardmore Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90005 Tel: (213) 385–2977

RAPE, ABUSE & INCEST NATIONAL NETWORK

• anti-sexual violence organization that helps survivors and advocates policies
• volunteer: https://www.rainn.org/get-involved
• donate: https://donate.rainn.org
• locations: https://volopps.rainn.org

SIERRA CLUB

• environmental organization
• volunteer: http://clubvolunteer.org/positions?chapter=0400
• join: https://sierra.secure.force.com/…/rc_connect__campaign_desi…
• donate: https://vault.sierraclub.org/ways-to-give/#donate-maintab
• contact: Sierra Club, Angeles Chapter 3435 Wilshire Blvd, #660 Los Angeles, CA 90010–1904 [email protected] 213–387–4287

TREVOR PROJECT

• crisis intervention & suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth
• volunteer: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/pages/volunteer
• donate: https://give.thetrevorproject.org/
• contact: PO Box 69232 West Hollywood, CA 90069 [email protected] 310–271–8845

Thank you To….

Alex Moothart, web design and social media

Elsie Escobar, mentor and fairy godmother extraordinaire!

Episode #13

Cotton is more than what you wear. This huge crop and the pesticides sprayed on it are also in what you eat and drink. We look at sustainable clothing and how your wardrobe can save the world. Includes an interview with Rebecca Burgess from Fibershed.

Information on Fibershed

• Company Website
• Fibershed Affiliates, perhaps one is near you!
• Retailer directory

Information on Cotton

• "Chemical Cotton," Rodale Institute
• The Deadly Chemicals in Cotton," Environmental Justice Foundation
• "Sustainable Agriculture: Cotton," World Wildlife Foundation
• "Conventional Cotton Statistcs," EcoChoices
• "Consumer Guide to Organic Cotton Clothing and Bedding," bodyfueling.com
• "Who Grew Our Clothes?" Fibershed
• Sustainable Cotton Project

Information on Pesticides

• "Is Roundup killing our honeybees?" Natural news
• "Cotton and Pesticides," National Wildlife Federation

Products

• The amazing Krumpers Solar Blinds

http://savetheworldpodcast.tumblr.com/ Follow us on Facebook and Twitter Email us at [email protected]

From farm to table, how does the food you eat impact the environment? We look what it really means to buy organic and the best ways (if at all) to consume meat.

Links

Food Information

• Michael Pollan's Netflix series, Cooked
• Jennifer Chait article: "Environmental Benefits of Organic Farming"
• The Guardian: "Want to have a real impact on climate change? Then become a vegetarian"
• The Guardian: "10 ways vegetarianism can help save the planet"
• American Nutrition Association: "Eat Organic and Combat Global Warming"
• The Environmental Working Group: This year's update of EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce & The Dirty 15
• Good Food on a Tight Budget

Books

• Michael Pollan
• Maria Rodale: Organic Manifesto: How Organic Food Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe

Recipes

• Maria Rodale's Tomato Soup
• Cooking on a Bootstrap
• Pam Anderson: How to Cook Without a Book: Recipes and Techniques Every Cook Should Know by Heart

Lettuce vs. Bacon Controversy

• Think Progress: "No, Lettuce Is Not Worse For The Environment Than Bacon"
• Vegan.com: "Debunking Claims that Lettuce is 3 Times Worse Than Bacon"

From windows to appliances to baking bread, we look at all the ways you can save the world from your apartment. Includes interviews with Diana Livshits (Krumpers Solar Blinds) and Erik Knutzen (Root Simple).

Links

Appliances

• 5 Tips on Organizing Your Fridge- The Kitchn
• Discover info on energy saving tips for dishwasher usage as well as to discover info about Peak Energy Usage/Time Varied Rate Plan- Energy Upgrade CA
• Laundry Information- Michael Blue Jay
• How to Replace the Gasket- Family Handyman
• Dryers- Michael Blue Jay
• Ovens- Michael Blue Jay
• How to Caulk Windows- Dummies.com

Cooking

• 5 Reasons to Use a Bread Machine- Apartment Therapy
• How to bake no-knead bread in a slow cooker- YouTube
• Oatmeal No-Knead Bread- Garden Form
• Sweet Potato Greens Cooking Info- Epicurious

Products

• Wool dryer balls- EcoNuts
• Solar Screens- Mobile Screens, Etc
• Eco-Solar Window Blinds- Krumper’s Solar Blinds
• Chargers- Belkin

RootSimple

• Link to Kelly and Erik’s website, RootSimple
• Their book: Making It: Radical Home Ec for a Post-Consumer World

Useful Information

• Airplane Travel Offset Info: Sierra Club, Carbon Footprint, Carbon Fund
• Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Counting Carbon- The ICCT
• The first world’s first solar-powered airport is in Cochin, India- Daily News

Pesticides and habit changes are killing honeybees. What can we do to rescue these vital pollinators? We talk honey, hives, gardening, and "the birds and the bees" in this month's episode. Interviews with Jessica Lamden and Kirk Anderson.

Helpful bee information

• What does a honey bee eat and how do they collect it? -Catskill Provisions
• Why do honey bees need pollen? -Bee Pollen Products
• HoneyLove, urban bee keepers (website of the McFarlands, authors of Save the Bees with Natural Backyard Hives)
• The Orchard Mason Bee: The Life History, Biology, Propagation, and Use of a North American Native Bee by Brian L. Griffin (Author), Sharon Smith (Illustrator)
• Bee friendly plants
• Suggestions for planting a bee garden from Honey Bee Conservancy
• Natural Resources Defense Council information on saving the bees
• Nature Conservancy’s page on bees
• Suggestions for planting a bee garden from Honey Bee Conservancy

Kirk Anderson’s Apiary

• Apricot Lane Farms

Call to Action

• Contact the biggest manufacturer of Neonics, Bayer
• I could not, of course, locate an actual address for the CEO of Bayer but here is his snail mail address. I’d just write a note addressed to the CEO of Bayer MY research indicates that this is:
• Dr. Marijn Dekkers, 51368 Leverkusen, Germany, Phone: +49 214 30-1
• Monsanto, thee US’s the biggest ahem, home grown, polluter.
• Their website claims they are a “sustainable corporation.” Contact them and tell them what you think
• Two websites to find your congressperson and/or your senator and/or your state senator so you can email all of them about banning Neonics and saving the bees:
• OpenCongress.org
• House.gov

From gardening to canning to keeping chickens, we look at the ways of urban homesteaders and how this method of sustainable living keeps you healthy while reducing your carbon footprint. Includes an interview with Erica Strauss, author of The Hands-On Home: A Seasonal Guide to Cooking, Preserving & Natural Homekeeping.

Find us on:

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Email us with suggestions or tips at [email protected]

Links

Erica Strauss’ Website

• Northwest Edible Life

Websites

• Little House in the Suburbs

Books

• Just a note, whenever you can, buy titles from local bookstores, like Diesel Book Store for those of you based in Los Angeles
• Little House in the Suburbs: Backyard farming and home skills for self-sufficient living by by Deanna Caswell and Daisy Siskins
• Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter
• The Quarter-Acre Farm: How I Kept the Patio, Lost the Lawn, and Fed My Family for a Year by Spring Warren
• The Hands-On Home: A Seasonal Guide to Cooking, Preserving & Natural Homekeeping by Erica Strauss and Charity Burggraaf

In our new segment, we look at one person’s amazing endeavors to save the world. Our second installment features an interview with Beth Terry, creator of My Plastic Free Life.

Find us on:

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Email us with suggestions or tips at [email protected]

Is it possible to have an environmentally friendly holiday season? Barbara Edelman looks at all the ways you can celebrate with e-cards, lights and candles, trees, and amazing gifts. You can do it all and still save the world. Seasons greetings indeed.

Find us on:

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Email us with suggestions or tips at [email protected]

All the information from this episode:

Articles

• The environmental cost in the UK of a typical holiday season (Independent)
• Are your holiday cards bad for the environment? (Mashable)
• Are candles bad for the environment? (Naked Scientist)
• Soy candles vs paraffin (Zuna)
• Christmas Tree Debate: Real vs. Fake? (The Nature Conservancy)
• LED Christmas Lights Versus Regular Christmas Lights (Christmas Tree Market)
• LED Christmas Lights Guide (Christmas Lights, Etc.)
• Light Pollution Harms the Environment (Department of Physics, Florida Atlantic University)

Products

• Beeswax Chanukah Candles from Beeswax Candleworks
• Candy canes from Spangler Candy
• Luci, solar powered lanterns from Mpowerd
• Black+Blum Thermo Pot

Gift Guides

• Earth Easy: Carbon neutral gifts along with blogs and every other neat thing for house and garden.
• Waldorf Supplies: For wooden toys that expand the mind.
• TOMS: Products that benefit the environment and gives back to those in need.
• China Berry: Great books and toys.
• Hearth Song: A toy company, especially great for kids 9-12,
• Isabella Catalog: Wonderful for the woman in your life and make sure to look at the Enessa beauty products. They are all packaged in glass (yay, no plastic!).
• Rodales: The winner in the fabulous catalog department. We defy you to NOT find a gift for anyone on your list.

The world is getting hotter and you need to stay cool. But how can you do that and save the world? We look at air conditioners, fans, and all the other ways you can save energy and money. Includes an interview with Daniel Payne from Payne Air Conditioned Heating and Service.

Find us on:

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Email us with suggestions or tips at [email protected]

All the information from this episode:

This Episode’s Guest

Payne Air Conditioned Heating and Service

Energy Links

• Energy Star: Save Energy at Home
• US Department of Labor: average energy prices
• Michael BlueJay
• Home Power: “Cheaper, efficient cooling with whole-house fans”
• “Cool your house with negative pressure ventilation”

Energy Calculators

• Rapid Tables: watts to kWh calculator
• EPA: Greenhouse gas equivalences calculator

Products

• Gila 10386589 Platinum Heat Control Peel and Cling Window Film
• AirScape 3.5e WHF
• Ergodyne Chill-Its 6602 Evaporative Cooling Towel

What can you do to rid the world of excess CO2? We talk about food and farming solutions with Courtney White, author of “Grass, Soil, Hope.” Yes, there really is a solution to global warming! For show notes visit savetheworldpodcast.tumblr.com. Email us at [email protected]

Find us on:

Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr

Email us with suggestions or tips at [email protected]

All the information from this episode:

Articles

• Limited Progress Seen Even as More Nations Step Up on Climate (New York Times)
• Ex Machina: No Techno-Fix For Irreversible Ocean Collapse From Carbon Pollution (Climate Progress)
• Acid Test: Rising CO2 Levels Killing Ocean Life (Op-Ed) (Live Science)

Books by Courtney White

• Grass, Soil, Hope
• Two Percent Solutions for the Planet

To purchase cover crops

• Grow Organic

A call to action!

Email or mail a letter to Gehry Partners, LLP to ask that the renovation of the LA River include a plan to sequester carbon. Sample letter can be found here.

I personally think that anyone getting a real live letter might actually read it, rather than just toss it unread into the trashcan. You yourselves know that emails from organizations or people you don’t know immediately get tossed in the electronic trash can–so give writing a real letter a try!