Cameron Diaz Delivers Her Green Message

Long-time environmentalist Diaz criss-crosses the country in this documentary asking people basics like do you know where your water and food comes from to provoke conversation. What will it take for you to get involved, she querries.

What will it take?

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Cameron Diaz Delivers Her Green Message

Long-time environmentalist Diaz criss-crosses the country in this documentary asking people basics like do you know where your water and food comes from to provoke conversation. What will it take for you to get involved, she querries.

What will it take?

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Story of Stuff Enriches School Discussions and Hits the NYT

The New York Times ran a front-page piece today on how the runaway viral video success, “The Story of Stuff,” has become a part of curriculum in some schools. The 20 minute animation describes the history of consumerism as a lifestyle choice using humor and simplicity.

While teachers favor its use over say that other hit, “Inconvenient Truth” for a few reasons, one of which is duration, some parents aren’t so happy about the results. When one daughter came home with a lesson plan for her family, her dad took it to the board.

The New york Times reports that:

Most parents take such needling with humor. But Mark Zuber, a parent of a child at Big Sky High School in Missoula, had a stronger reaction when a teacher showed the video to his daughter last year. “There was not one positive thing about capitalism in the whole thing,” Mr. Zuber said.

Corporations, for example, are portrayed as a bloated person sporting a top hat and with a dollar sign etched on its front.

He described the video as one-sided. “It was very well done, very effective advocacy, but it was just that,” he said.

Mr. Zuber argued before the Missoula County School Board that the way in which “The Story of Stuff” was presented, without an alternative point of view, violated its standards on bias, and the board agreed in a 4-to-3 vote.

Makes us wonder whether the number of hours our kids consume of commercials on television should count as homework.

The Story of Stuff blog reports that:

Toni Rehbein, the School Board chair, who confirmed that the board’s intention was not to prevent use of The Story of Stuff in classrooms or to squelch much needed attention on environmental issues, as long as such discussions welcome diverse opinions. She told us that the emails of support for Story of Stuff which the Board received from around the world had made a big impact and she assured us that the Board planned to issue a statement clarifying their position. We look forward to seeing that statement.

Meanwhile, in School Board elections on May 4th, Missoula citizens removed incumbent Rick Johns, one of the School Board members who had supported Mr Zuber’s concerns, further securing the majority of those who welcome environmental discourse and promote academic freedom.

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Climate Activists Make Use of the Windy City’s Power

Great piece of action from these serious environmentalists who hoisted up 6 wind turbines in downtown Chicago to demonstrate that they wanted wind power to come to their windy city. The turbines have already been taken down, but was nonetheless inspiring. According to Greenpeace USA, a passing Chicago woman pointed out the turbines to her kids and said, “This is your future”.

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Climate Activists Make Use of the Windy City’s Power

Great piece of action from these serious environmentalists who hoisted up 6 wind turbines in downtown Chicago to demonstrate that they wanted wind power to come to their windy city. The turbines have already been taken down, but was nonetheless inspiring. According to Greenpeace USA, a passing Chicago woman pointed out the turbines to her kids and said, “This is your future”.

Thanks for your continued subscription. If you have an insight or piece of news that seems to fit our blog, please feel free to contact us.

Michael Krasny, Host of KQED’s Forum, Talks with Winners of the Goldman Environmentalist Prize

In the second half hour of this radio show, host Michael Krasny opens the Forum to two grassroots activists who received this year’s Goldman Environmental Prize. Maria Gunnoe, a West Virginian talks about her people’s battle against King Coal and mountaintop removal, and attorney Rizwana Hasan her work to regulate the dangerous ship breaking industry in Bangladesh.

Go 24 minutes into the show to reach the second segment.

Michael Krasny, Host of KQED’s Forum, Talks with Winners of the Goldman Environmentalist Prize

In the second half hour of this radio show, host Michael Krasny opens the Forum to two grassroots activists who received this year’s Goldman Environmental Prize. Maria Gunnoe, a West Virginian talks about her people’s battle against King Coal and mountaintop removal, and attorney Rizwana Hasan her work to regulate the dangerous ship breaking industry in Bangladesh.

Go 24 minutes into the show to reach the second segment.

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Captain Planet and the Planeteers Returns

You can watch full episodes of Captain Planet and the Planeteers, the 1990 animated series produced by Ted Turner over the next 12 months on the Mother Nature Network.

Thanks for your continued subscription. If you have an insight or piece of news that seems to fit our blog, please feel free to contact us.

Captain Planet and the Planeteers Returns

You can watch full episodes of Captain Planet and the Planeteers, the 1990 animated series produced by Ted Turner over the next 12 months on the Mother Nature Network.

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Ashley Judd Rails Against Mountain Top Removal

During the I Love Mountains rally in Frankfort on Feb. 17, 2009, actor Ashley Judd took the podium to speak out against mountain top removal mining and in support of the Stream Saver Bill in this video.

(video courtesy of David Stephensen, Lexington Herald-Leader)

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