Earthbeat Radio

The world is facing a potentially devastating ‘Food Bubble,’ that according to pioneering environmentalist Lester Brown. in his new work – ‘World on the Edge’ – Lester seeks to reconcile dueling predictions of our future: The scientists who say climate change will cause incredible disruption in our food, water and energy sources; And the economists who continue to predict steadily increasing world growth.

Lester’s earlier book, ‘Plan B’ will be the subject of an upcoming PBS television special hosted by Matt Damon this Spring. Host Daphne Wysham sits down with the founder of the Earth Policy Institute – Lester Brown – for a look into the world’s future.

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An April US Supreme Court Case reviewed the Center for Food Safety’s groundbreaking legal challenge banning the sale and planting of Monsanto’s genetically altered alfalfa. The case mirrors a fierce battle over genetically altered eggplants that is underway in India.

Earthbeat host Daphne Wysham speaks to the Center’s founder, Andrew Kimbrell and international director Debbie Barker.

A report shows how the second richest man in New York is quietly funding climate deniers. We speak to Kert Davies of Greenpeace USA about how David Koch is pouring millions into climate denial campaigns.

Then, ‘Creation Care’ – we speak to Reverend Mitch Hescox, the head of the Evangelical Environmental Network.

If you’d like to hear this edition of Earthbeat – please send us an e-mail

Jim Thomas of the ETC Group discusses what’s behind Exxon pouring millions of dollars into the world’s first synthetic life form, a algae named ‘Synthia.’

Then, crude oil and the toxic chemicals BP is using to disperse the oil is now killing wildlife all along America’s Gulf Coast. Joining host Daphne Wysham to discuss the connections between these toxic chemicals and cancer is Sam Epstein. Doctor Epstein is a professor of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at the University of Illinois School of Public Health and the chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition.

The President’s Cancer Panel warns that childhood cancer is increasing for unexplained reasons in its latest annual report.

Haitian farmers decide to set fire to bags of Monsanto seeds rather than plant the pesticide-laden hybrids. Beverly Bell of the Institute for Policy Studies details her Huffington Post article on how giant agribusiness corporations are using the rebuilding effort from the Haitian earthquake as an opportunity to exploit Haitian farmers and cause further food shortages.

Image of a plane distributing chemical dispersants in the Gulf of Mexico

An upcoming US Supreme Court Case reviews the Center for Food Safety’s groundbreaking legal victory banning the sale and planting of Monsanto’s genetically altered alfalfa. The case mirrors a fierce battle over genetically altered eggplants that is underway in India.

Earthbeat host Daphne Wysham speaks to the Center’s founder, Andrew Kimbrell and international director Debbie Barker.

A new report shows how the second richest man in New York is quietly funding climate deniers. We speak to Kert Davies of Greenpeace USA about how David Koch is pouring millions into climate denial campaigns.

Then, ‘Creation Care’ – we speak to Reverend Mitch Hescox, the head of the Evangelical Environmental Network.

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The Washington, DC Busboys and Poets event featuring Andrew Kimbrell and India activist Vandana Shiva will be Saturday, April 6th from 4 to 6 pm at Busboys and Poets on 5th Street. Reservations are necessary
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Image used courtesy of Happy Sleepy via Flickr.

If you’d like to hear this edition of Earthbeat – please send us an e-mail

‘Clean Coal’ has been the rallying call of the coal industry in America, but as author and activist Jeff Biggers explains to Earthbeat host Daphne Wysham, it’s actually a strategy that the dirty industry has used throughout history to push back on any types of restrictions on coal mining.

Jeff is the author of the book – Reckoning at Eagle Creek. He’s also the author and one of the three main characters in the new play Welcome to the Saudi Arabia of Coal. Joining him in the play is Stephanie Pistello and Ben Evans.

The play The Saudi Arabia of Coal will be at Busboys and Poets on 14th St., NW in Washington, DC on February 9th at 7 pm and February 10th at 9 pm on its tour across the United States.

Then we hear about the Appalachian elementary school that is just downhill of a massive pond of ‘slurry’ left behind from Mountain Top Removal mining. Host Daphne Wysham speaks to Coal River Mountain Watch’s Judy Bonds, Bobby Mitchell, Lorelei Scarboo as well as Alan Johnson for Christians for the Mountains.

Mary Anne Hitt is the director of Appalachian Voices and a native to the area. She spoke passionately at the IFG/IPS Teach-In about the effects of coal mining on both the land, and the culture, of Appalachia.

Music for this edition of Earthbeat comes from Moving Mountains – an album that benefits the fight against Mountain Top Removal Mining. The song is “The Fiddler’s Ballad” by Jen Osha with Wolf Creek Session.