Earthbeat Radio

President Obama called the midterm elections a ‘shellacking’ for Democrats. The leader of the Friends of the Earth, Erich Pica joins host Daphne Wysham for a discussion on how the new Congress will lean on climate change and environmental protections.

In a landmark consensus decision, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity agreed on a moratorium on geoengineering. The agreement asks governments to ensure that no geoengineering projects go forward until risks to the environment and biodiversity, as well as social, cultural and economic impacts are considered. Pat Mooney, the executive director of the ETC Group joins us to discuss the moratorium and to address recent actions by some corporations to push forward ‘terminator seeds’ – genetically engineered seeds with a built in expiration date.

Then, we look at climate change through the eyes of children. Renowned author Lynne Cherry joins us to discuss her latest book, ‘How We Know, What We Know About Our Changing Climate,” the basis for her film series, “Young Voices on Climate Change” about children around the world making a difference.

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Billionaires Bill Gates and Richard Branson are funneling millions of dollars into far-out solutions to climate change. It’s called geoengineering and these high-risk, planet-altering schemes are already underway. Joining host Daphne Wysham to discuss these plans is Diana Bronson of the ETC Group in Montreal, Canada.

The massive snowstorms that blanketed the nation’s capitol are just one instance of odd-ball weather this winter. Joining us to discuss the connections between the weather and climate change is Dr. Amanda Staudt, a climate scientist for the National Wildlife Federation.

The sweet smell of success on coal-fired power. Bruce Nilles, the director of the Sierra Club’s national coal campaign, joins us to discuss how nearly all of the 150 planned coal-fired power plants have been stopped nationwide.

Image from Valkyrieh116 via Flickr – all rights reserved.

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It’s ten thousand times worse that carbon dioxide, and it’s sitting in your refrigerator. HFCs were designed to be an ‘environmentally friendly’ alternative to the ozone-hole creating CFCs in our air conditioners and fridges.

For this rebroadcast of Earthbeat, host Mike Tidwell discusses how the White House held closed-door meetings that may result in HFCs becoming a bargaining chip on the worldwide carbon market with David Sassoon, the editor of the website Solve Climate; and Kert Davies of Greenpeace joins the conversation to discuss a safe alternative to HFCs — that are banned by the EPA.

A DC lobbying group forged anti-climate letters – pretending to be grassroots African-American and Hispanic non-profits groups in Virginia. Tim Freilich is a board member of Creciendo Junto, one of the groups whose identity was stolen. Joining the conversation to speak about and other coal company subterfuge is Jeff Biggers, the author of the book The United States of Appalachia.

TV weathermen could be a force for educating the public about the connections between our weather and climate change, but instead they’re often high-profile climate deniers. Joe Romm, editor of the website Climate Progress, discusses the lack of progress on the nightly news.

Image used with permission from listener Eric Crowley via Flickr. Thank you Eric!

Music for this edition of Earthbeat is the song ‘Sweeping’ from The Devil Makes Three.

Our theme music is Baladi by Tony Anka, Bellydance Superstars vol. 2.

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

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To give to the people of Haiti affected from a massive earthbeatquake – we suggest Doctors without Borders, Partners in Health or Mercy Corps. Also, our friends at Other Worlds, with three decades of experience working with social movements in Haiti, have this message to share
with you: Other Worlds.
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While the US Senate continues to stall on climate change – allegations continue into oil company lobbyists writing legislation suggested by Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski. Joining host Daphne Wysham to discuss these Senate shenanigans is Steven Biel of MoveOn.org and Courtney Abrams of Environment America.

Then we discuss presidential power and climate change with Kevin Bundy of the Center for Biological Diversity. He’s one of the authors of the new report “Yes, He Can.”

Then a critical discussion on agriculture and climate change. Rachel Smolker of BioFuel Watch joins us to discuss agribusiness, biochar and agricultural offsets.

Music from this edition of Earthbeat is by the Haitian band Tabou Combo from their album Taboulogy. Our theme music is Baladi by Tony Anka, Bellydance Superstars vol. 2.

Image used courtesy of Laura Padgett via Flickr.

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Keep Winter Cold is a yearly polar bear plunge by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network to highlight climate change.
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Biochar is a type of charcoal that’s the result of burning plant matter with very low oxygen. It’s a sooty, black substance that holds great promise for not only slowing down climate change – but actually reversing it. In this encore episode of Earthbeat, host Mike Tidwell discusses the promise of biochar with Durwood Zaelke, the president and founder of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development.

The connections between population and climate change go far beyond the recent comments by conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. Kathleen Mogelgaard of Population Action International speaks about how giving women the control they want over the size of their families ends up being a win-win for them, and the climate.

Finally, we hear about a rock that naturally traps carbon dioxide right out of the air. It’s kinda like the ‘anti-coal;’ we speak to researcher Sam Krevor of Stanford University’s Energy Resources Engineering Department.

Music used in this edition of Earthbeat is ‘Charcoal’ by Mrs. Tanaka.