Solutions News

On this episode of Solutions News, Rinaldo reports on new carbon capture processing plants that cost-effectively remove carbon dioxide from the air and store it, then he discusses technologies that pull clean water from the air using a variety of techniques including solar energy or nanofiber cloth nets. He has an engaging interview with relationship expert Arielle Ford, who tells our listeners how to find their "soul mate" or how to turn their current mates into something closer to a "soul mate". The final story looks at the benefits of mindfulness meditation - which is even better than a vacation for relieving stress, though vacation is awesome and Rinaldo is planning to take one. We also do some "didyaknows". (Producer: Kristy Jansen)

This week Solutions News interviews U.S. Congressman and newly appointed Vice-chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Salud Carbajal. Our lead story is about how the Ports of Long Beach and LA are becoming ground zero for testing out new zero-emissions trucks. We also highlight some new legislation proposed by our Guest, Congressman Salud Carbajal, that would require public companies to disclose political contributions through the SEC. After Rinaldo interviews Representative Carbajal and some “Didya Knows”, the hour finishes with a story about effective techniques to make friends.

Ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach

Because of all of the industry and business in the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, there have been severe issues with air quality in the area. As a result, the ports have become great testing bed for new technologies to help decrease pollution levels. Since 2005, the ports have been working to reduce pollution by phasing out diesel trucks. In the 2017 plan, the focus was on electric and hybrid trucks as well as electric fuel cell powertrains. However, in 2018, the ports turned towards hydrogen fuel cell trucks through an agreement with Toyota to build the fuel cells and Paccar to build the actual trucks. So far, there are ten prototype trucks working, and the cities hope that it will be successful enough to phase out the 16,000 diesel trucks in use.

Political Disclosure Act of 2019

Ever since the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, money has had an undue influence in our elections. More importantly, dark money has allowed money to flow to political candidates without disclosures or a sense of transparency. Representative Carbajal is reintroducing the Political Disclosure Act (HR 1053), that Republican leadership prevented from leaving committee in the last session of Congress. The bill would require all publicly traded companies to disclose all political contributions through the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Beyond the important issue of transparency, H.R. 1053 would hold public companies accountable for the ways in which companies spend political money and the amount that they spend in a given election cycle.

Making Friends

The last story on the show this week emphasized seven awkward tips to help make friends. Throughout our lives, making friends is always a hardship, and we can all agree that we could use more friends. While the process of making friends is not easy, some simple tips can allow us to make friends more effectively. For example, using text messages or email to suggest something another person will find interesting is a simple way to begin a dialogue and create points of mutual interest. Similarly, it is important to make the first move. A lot of times people are nervous to begin a dialogue or just do not want to expend the effort that it takes, when a little bit of effort goes a long way to making a friend. (Producer: Kristy Jansen)

In this week’s episode of Solutions News, we discuss microgrids in Puerto Rico, talk about corporations underwriting farmers’ transitions to organic food, and Rinaldo interviews Margaret Klein Salamon. After a discussion about the Green New Deal and Margaret’s organization The Climate Mobilization, Rinaldo discusses the ways in which gratitude changes your brain.

Puerto Rico

A year after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, the island has a plan to recreate the electricity grid as a decentralized microgrid. The latest integrated resource plan (IRP), would divide the island into eight connected regional mini-grids generating independent sources of energy. In the case of a future storm, even if one of the grids was knocked out, the others would function and could pick up the slack. Rinaldo talks about the importance of creating a new sustainable grid but advises against portions of the plan involving liquid natural gas (LNG). He also relates the story to microgrids being created in Montecito and Goleta.

Transitioning to Organic Farming

In 2018, four of the largest food companies, Nestle USA, Danone North America, Mars, and Unilever-United States formed the Sustainable Food Policy Alliance. The alliance is developing a loan system to help farmers transition to sustainable and organic farming. Because the process takes at least three years to make the transition, it has previously been tough to do without any financial support.

Gratitude Changes the Brain

It turns out that actively showing gratitude in everyday life not only changes your perspective but it also chemically changes your brain. Studies have found that gratitude is associated with more health grey matter in the brain. Interestingly, other studies have been able to quantify that groups tracking gratitude in their lives felt 25% happier than groups tracking neutral or negative events. Over a period of ten weeks, the “gratitude group” also ended up exercising an extra 1.5 hours on average compared to the other groups. Being grateful is an easy way to reduce anxiety and depression while feeling noticeably happier overall. (Producer: Kristy Jansen)

This week, Rinaldo digs into some solutions to the problem of food waste, turns a spotlight on the growing development of solar installations in sub-Saharan Africa, and interviews Jim Selman of real-timeworld.com. There are also some great Didyaknows, and a curious story about smoking in Hawaii. Tune in now! (Producer: Kristy Jansen)

On this week's show, Rinaldo interviews the founder of SustainableFuture.org - Seth Streeter. In addition, Rinaldo talks about how investors and the public are making their voices heard with Fast Food giants and other corporations who are responding to public demands that they move towards sustainability by cleaning up the supply chains and buying more renewable energy than ever. He ends the show by focusing on new legislation that re-enfranchises voters in Florida and Iowa and other legal trends to enhance voting rights in the USA. (Producer: Kristy Jansen)

In this week's episode of Solutions News, Rinaldo discusses agritech and how a focus on smaller, smarter farms will make our food systems more secure; he and Kristy talk about the plastic problem and how some are working to combat it, and Rinaldo interviews the brilliant evolution biologist Elisabet Sahtouris. Their lively discussion of how nature is on our side will inspire and delight our listeners. Take a listen! (Producer: Kristy Jansen)

On this episode of Solutions News, Rinaldo Brutoco discusses the upside opportunity with PG&E Declaring Bankruptcy, describes a shuttered coal plant in Holyoke, MA that converted to a solar + storage facility under pressure from community activists, and runs through some great "Didya knows". He also interviews Joe Simonetta about his book: 7 Words to Change the World. Producer: Kristy Jansen

The Inaugural episode of Solutions News! Each week we will address a wide range of issues including climate change, personal growth and development, solutions for the economy, and personal investing, to name some.

We kick off this show with Marc McGinnes as our guest. One of the original organizers of Earth Day in 1970, the founder of multiple environmental activist organizations, and a founding member of UCSB's Environmental Studies program, Marc calls himself an "environmental elder". He's just published IN LOVE WITH EARTH, a new book that is "part memoir, part love letter, part call to action". The news topics we explore include litigation against Exxon Mobil, the "Problem of Stuff" and new "right to repair" actions, emotional IQ, and of course "didyaknows". Producer: Kristy Jansen.