The Green Room

By The Green Room

News & Politics Society & Culture Natural Sciences Science & Medicine Education Government & Organizations Places & Travel Local

What's The Green Room about?

The Green Room radio show is a collaboration between the WEMU News Department and the Washtenaw County Environmental Health Division. Through her work with the County, Barbara also co-produces a monthly Green Room television show with Ann Arbor's CTN, Channel 19.

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The Green Room episodes:

08.20.2021
Cyrus Chestnut On The Spiritual Foundations Of His Art
The great pianist Cyrus Chestnut performs at the Blue LLama in Ann Arbor on Saturday evening. 89.1 Jazz host Michael Jewett spoke with him earlier this week. Ths subjects ranged from life and work during the pandemic; his time as...
11.26.2019
The Green Room: PFAS Part V-Policies And Politics
PFAS chemicals are being linked to more and more serious health problems. But still, it’s legal to use them in the U.S., with minor exceptions. And they can be imported from other countries. Manufacturers are not required to make the...
10.25.2019
The Green Room: PFAS Part IV-Prevention
The chemical bonds of PFAS substances are virtually indestructible. That makes their complete disposal hard, if not impossible. Meanwhile, their usefulness to industry makes them hard to give up. This is a growing problem, because PFAS are associated with serious...
09.27.2019
The Green Room: PFAS Part III-Places
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are being found across the country in the drinking water of community water supplies, residential wells, schools and daycare centers. Where is it coming from? Factory waste is a major source. These “forever chemicals” don’t...
08.30.2019
The Green Room: PFAS Part II-PFAS In Products
Over the last half-century, PFAS chemicals have been added to the formulation of innumerable products we use on a daily basis. The manufacture and disposal of these products releases them to our environment, where they can get into our food...
07.26.2019
The Green Room: PFAS Part I-Health Impacts
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances have been highly valued by industry as useful in a wide variety of products. But, as more studies are conducted and more information comes to light, the more concerns grow. In this first of 89.1 WEMU's...
03.29.2019
The Green Room: Our Planet And Our Politics
Everyone wants clean water and clean air, and most agree that human life is dependent on a healthy planet. In this segment of WEMU’s “The Green Room,” we hear about the beginning of the Earth Day movement in Ann Arbor....
12.28.2018
Climate Change Dystopia
Scientific reports about climate change tell us major challenges are not only likely but will happen sooner than we thought. Meanwhile, apocalyptic books and movies are all the rage. In this segment, we explore the current popularity of the dystopian...
11.30.2018
The Green Room: Pipelines-Part 5
According to the Association of Oil Pipelines, pipelines are energy “lifelines." They create jobs, keep costs down, and are the safest way to transport oil and gas. It’s easy to see they currently fuel the American way of life. But...
10.26.2018
The Green Room: Pipelines-Part 4
“The Green Room” series on pipelines continues. In the previous three segments we discovered the web of underground infrastructure is more complex and extensive than most realize. And, while pipelines are safer than other forms of energy transport, threats to...
09.28.2018
The Green Room: Pipelines-Part 3
As the recent disaster in Massachusetts shows, pipeline problems can cause fatal explosions. But in Michigan, it’s the impact pipelines might have to our increasingly threatened water supplies that is drawing most of the attention. This is the third of...
08.31.2018
The Green Room: Pipelines-Part 2
Whether crude oil or natural gas, once these fossil fuels are extracted from the ground, they can present flammable and toxic hazards. Safely transporting them is a major challenge. In this installment of "The Green Room," we have the second...
07.27.2018
The Green Room: Pipelines-Part One
Why do some people feel oil and gas pipelines are a good and necessary part of our lives, while others fight against them? To tackle this question, first we need to understand the basics: We all know what a pipeline...
05.25.2018
The Green Room: Can Automated Vehicles Drive An Energy-Saving Future?
Driverless technology is here! Two fully-automated, 11-passenger, all-electric shuttles manufactured by French firm NAVYA will soon begin transporting University of Michigan students, faculty, and staff on a non-stop two-mile route between the Lurie Engineering Center and the North Campus Research...
04.27.2018
The Green Room: Wildlife “Rights” Vs. “Management”- Perspectives Underlying The Debate
Inspired by the intense controversy over Ann Arbor’s deer cull, this two-part series focuses on underlying value systems that shape perspectives on wildlife management issues.
03.30.2018
The Green Room: Washtenaw County’s Big Trees Controversy
Centuries-old trees have many benefits: they provide habitat, absorb stormwater runoff, sequester carbon, and beautify the rural landscape. Many of our largest got their start when buggies or farm tractors were the fastest thing on the road. Now, in the...
01.26.2018
The Green Room: Deer Management-Perspectives Underlying The Debate
These days, it seems you can back up just about any point of view, depending on which facts you choose to cite. So, let’s take a moment to set aside the debate over data when it comes to Ann Arbor’s...
12.29.2017
The Green Room: The U.S., Canada, And Climate
At the November climate talks in Bonn, Germany, an initiative called “America’s Pledge” put forth a commitment by U.S. states, cities, companies, and colleges to achieve the carbon cuts agreed to by the U.S. in Paris in 2015, despite Trump’s...
11.24.2017
The Green Room: Should Sandhill Cranes Be Fair Game?
Sandhill cranes are perhaps the earth’s oldest living bird species. Measuring up to 5 feet tall, these iconic symbols of wilderness have rebounded from near extinction in our area. Has this conservation success story gotten out of hand? In this...
09.29.2017
The Green Room: Starlight, Streetlight, What Can I See Tonight? Preventing Light Pollution
No matter who we are or where we live, all human being have one thing in common: we all have the night sky above us. But can we actually see it? Studies say nowadays only 20% of the world’s population...
08.25.2017
The Green Room: Crosswalk Confusion In Ann Arbor
The City of Ann Arbor’s Climate Action Plan says walking reduces overall greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion, while improving our health. But, walking can be risky. According to the Centers for Disease Control, a pedestrian dies after being hit...
07.28.2017
The Green Room: Local Efforts-Can They Solve The Global Climate Crisis?
The U.S. is out of the Paris Climate Accord. Despite lack of support from the current administration, many are heartened by the growing interest in finding solutions emanating from other levels of government. In this installment of WEMU’s "The Green...
06.30.2017
The Green Room: Road Rage-Bike Versus Car
More and more people are opting to cycle rather than drive for at least some of their transportation, whether for personal health, or for the health of the planet. But safety is an issue, and emotions run high. Conflicts occur...
05.26.2017
The Green Room: The Cultural Colors Of Green Burial
Because natural burial has environmental benefits over conventional burial, it is often favored by those who like to “go green.” But it also can appeal for other, more conservative reasons. It’s the choice of some independently-minded rural folks, and to...
04.28.2017
The Green Room: Birds, Glass and Cats-Preventable Impacts
Many of our most cherished North American songbirds are in trouble. It’s primarily due to habitat loss—whether through development, agriculture, or climate change. But, cats and glass, i.e. collisions with buildings, are also huge problems for birds. Although there are...
03.31.2017
The Green Room: The Carbon Dividends Plan-A Breakthrough on CO2?
Carbon taxes are a seemingly simple way to deal with the climate crisis. As the price of fossil fuels goes up, consumption goes down. But fears of negative economic impacts have kept the idea from moving forward in the U.S....

What's The Green Room about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Green Room episodes:

Cyrus Chestnut On The Spiritual Foundations Of His Art

The Green Room: PFAS Part V-Policies And Politics

The Green Room: PFAS Part IV-Prevention

The Green Room: PFAS Part III-Places

The Green Room: PFAS Part II-PFAS In Products

The Green Room: PFAS Part I-Health Impacts

The Green Room: Our Planet And Our Politics

Climate Change Dystopia

The Green Room: Pipelines-Part 5

The Green Room: Pipelines-Part 4

The Green Room: Pipelines-Part 3

The Green Room: Pipelines-Part 2

The Green Room: Pipelines-Part One

The Green Room: Can Automated Vehicles Drive An Energy-Saving Future?

The Green Room: Wildlife “Rights” Vs. “Management”- Perspectives Underlying The Debate

The Green Room: Washtenaw County’s Big Trees Controversy

The Green Room: Deer Management-Perspectives Underlying The Debate

The Green Room: The U.S., Canada, And Climate

The Green Room: Should Sandhill Cranes Be Fair Game?

The Green Room: Starlight, Streetlight, What Can I See Tonight? Preventing Light Pollution

The Green Room: Crosswalk Confusion In Ann Arbor

The Green Room: Local Efforts-Can They Solve The Global Climate Crisis?

The Green Room: Road Rage-Bike Versus Car

The Green Room: The Cultural Colors Of Green Burial

The Green Room: Birds, Glass and Cats-Preventable Impacts

The Green Room: The Carbon Dividends Plan-A Breakthrough on CO2?