December 5, 2013 / Issue 152

     



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"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

 
- Edmund Burke
 

 

Meet Chad Pregracke
(And my heart divided)

 

On the one hand... 

This past Sunday some of our family members watched the 2013 CNN Heroes Awards. We were all looking forward to almost two hours of really good news stories about everyday people changing the world. We were not disappointed as all of the heroes nominated were extraordinary to us and we were moved to tears - the good kind. Imagine my delight when the person who was selected as the 2013 Hero is a defender of the planet, picking garbage out of rivers in the USA one piece at a time. I encourage you to read about all of the heroes but for now - let me introduce Chad Pregracke.

 

Since 1998, Chad has made it his life's work to clean up the Mississippi River and other America waterways. So what, pray tell, has Chad and over 70,000 volunteers removed from these rivers so far? Get ready:

 

- 7 million pounds of garbage

- 67,000 tires

- 218 washing machines

- 19 tractors (yup - tractors)

- 12 hot tubs

- 4 pianos

- 1,000 refrigerators - almost

- 64 messages in a bottle (had to add a little humor)

 

I don't know what my "click through" rate is but instead of writing about everything Chad has done, how he has organized communities, how he tries to make really dirty, hot, awful work fun and just what a difference one person has made for this precious planet of ours, I invite you, encourage you, ask you to click through - I guarantee it will make your day. Bottom line? Processing the numbers kind of made me sick. Not only are we massive consumers but when we get ready to dump something, some people think throwing their washing machine in the Mississippi River a fine alternative. What the heck?

 

But on the other hand... 

No secret that I get up every single day of my life trying to figure out how I can contribute to making our planet healthier in every conceivable way. Picking up garbage and cleaning up our water ways is vital, has incredible ripple effects on the health of the fish and the bird life along the river and on the people that depend on the Mississippi River for their livelihood.

 

My question, my confusion, my being torn over "the winner" is: How does cleaning up rivers stack up against one woman who started a school in Africa for girls whose parents have agreed to have them educated in exchange for not be genitally mutilated with rusty knives at ages like nine years old? Or, against a doctor in Africa who spends almost every single weekend of his life doing surgeries and providing health care for some of the poorest people on earth in areas where there is NONE? Or, against someone who had both of his legs blown off in northern Iraq, came back to the US, got two prosthetic legs and now dedicates his entire life to building or remodeling homes that are handicap accessible for veterans wounded in action [even Vietnam War vets - the forgotten ones]. Talk about heroes.

 

My conclusion? I don't ever want to tell you what to think. I just want you to. I am glad I did not have to choose my top CNN Hero - they are all changing my world. My world is better because they are in it.

 

Mrs. Green On Shopping Locally - Again!

Just one more gentle "nudge" reminder to please go out of your way to shop locally this holiday season. I believe it will make giving more meaningful, more creative all while building more sustainable communities. And did I say fun?

UPCOMING SHOWS

 

December 7

Are You a Committed Localist?
Stevie Mack
Owner of Crizmac
Renee Kreager 
Are you consciously choosing to shop locally as often as possible this Christmas season? Why do your shopping dollars matter to local business owners and local communities? Stevie Mack, owner of Crizmac, and Renee Kreager, owner of Renee's Organic Oven will tell us how and why being a committed localist matters. Crizmac sells unique, affordable and very fun gifts to fit every holiday budget. Renee's Organic Oven has Mrs. Green's favorite spinach salad, delicious pizza and other culinary delights. Gift certificates for dining out? Renee happy to oblige! Join us to learn why making local shopping choices matters and why shopping local anywhere makes communities more sustainable. And, did I mention that fun factor? This show sponsored by Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona.
 
Note from Mrs. Green: Due to severe thunderstorms and phone line outages, our first international show featuring Renata Jayne from Brisbane, Australia was not the quality of show we are proud to produce. Stay tuned for Renata's appearance in 2014!   
 

December 14

Chipotle: Redefining Fast Food

Chris Arnold, Director of Communications

When Chipotle opened their doors in 1993, they had one simple goal: to serve high quality, delicious food quickly with an experience that not only exceeded, but redefined the fast food experience. I believe that they do serve food with integrity, with a conscious commitment to people, animals and to the planet and that they are game changers.The chain recently became the first fast-food chain to label the ingredients it uses that contain GMOs; the list is deep in its website, not in stores, but it's a start. I believe Chipotle is standing for something better. Not convinced? Take a look at Chipotle's Scarecrow Game then plan to join us. This show sponsored by Chapman Tucson.

 

December 21

Women Seeding Change

Clare Dakin, Executive Director, Tree Sisters

Ready for this? Tree Sisters was started by Clare Dakin after she crashed into a tree. She has me already. This organization is now supporting the emergence of a global network of women committed supporting one another to harness their creativity, connections and resources toward reforesting the tropics within the next 10 years. How you might ask? By developing educational and organizational tools to mobilize women's attention and leadership; and by directing grassroots funds toward tree-planting projects managed by their first organizational partners: Project Greenhands and the Greenbelt Movement. What a HUGE commitment they have made and we will find out how they are making it happen because we all really should care. I know I do. This show sponsored by Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona


December 28

Best of Mrs. Green's World

Mrs. Green will be enjoying every precious moment with her family who will be gathering at "The Green House" for the holidays. WE WOUD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you have a particular show you would like us to re-run, let us know. If you feel so moved, please email [email protected] with your request.

 

January 4

Revolution Green: Biodiesel and Why You Should Care

Willie Nelson (yes, THE Willie Nelson) & Kelly King from Pacific Biodiesel

Kelly King and her husband Bob's pioneering vision created American's FIRST biodiesel refinery in Maui in 1996. Pacific Biodiesel became the first private company to divert and refine thousands of tons of municipal grease trap waste and waste vegetable oil into clean-burning, premium biodiesel. Years later, along came country music legend Willie! He became very interested in the King's vision of sustainable biodiesel and eventually they formed a strong partnership that exists to this day. Ready for this? In a very short time after that, Willie and his good friend Bill Mack would single-handedly use SATELLITE RADIO to talk to truckers and farmers about biodiesel, and thus elevated the renewable fuel into mainstream recognition. Want to hear more? I know I do. This show sponsored by The Fairfax Companies.

 

January 11

Mommy Greenest

Rachel Lincoln-Sarnoff 

Ready for this tagline? "We guard the nest of the world." Mommy Greenest is rapidly becoming THE resource for healthier parenting with less judgment-because the founder and our guest, Rachel, believes you shouldn't have to be a scientist to raise healthy kids. Rachel brings quite a bit to the credibility table in this arena. She is the former CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World, was editor of Children Magazine and then had three children of her own. She who does not sleep is also the designer of Bird in Hand upcycled accessories and author of The Big List of Things That Suck. Want to know more? Rachel was featured in Los Angeles and Lucky magazines and has appeared on "The Today Show" and "CNN Headline News," among others. Rachel is actually a repeat guest and I will be proud to interview her about her finest role ever - so far. This show sponsored by Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona.

 

January 18

Clean Tech You Say?

Ron Pernick, Clean Edge Inc.

Before I was Mrs. Green I admit to having little, if any, knowledge about the impact of technology on the environment or what the phrase "clean tech" meant. So... clean technology includes recycling, renewable energy (wind power, solar power, biomass, hydropower, biofuels), information technology, green transportation, electric motors, green chemistry, lighting, greywater and many other appliances that are more energy efficient. It means to create electricity and fuels, with a smaller environmental footprint and minimize pollution. Got it? So how does Ron Pernick fit into this? His company is the world's FIRST research and advisory firm devoted to the clean-tech sector. They work with companies large and small to deliver expert analysis and comprehensive insights to key industry stakeholders. Ron Pernick is an accomplished research, publishing and business development entrepreneur with about three decades of high-tech experiences. Between my questions and his answers, we will all know better so we can do better. This show is sponsored by Chapman Tucson.

 

January 25

Amazon Watch - guest TBA

I wanted to write about this way ahead of time so you can "save the date." In my opinion, we should all be watching the Amazon. My visit there over seven years ago anchored my decision to launch Mrs. Green's world. I learned that each of the 7 billion people on the planet count on the Amazon rainforest to regulate our planet's climate generating a full fifth of the world's oxygen and fresh water. Amazon Watch was founded in 1996 to protect the rainforest and advance the rights of indigenous peoples in the Amazon Basin. Medicine, oxygen, water, food, life - this is what this biological treasure gives to all of us. Amazon Watch works every day to preserve and protect this great life force so critical to our survival. This show sponsored by The Fairfax Companies

 

Mrs. Green's World
ENVIRONMENTAL TALK RADIO Show
Please remember to tune in to Mrs. Green's World every Saturday at 12:00 pm PST, streaming on the Internet.
 
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Mrs. Green's radio show is also carried on the DreamVisions 7 Radio Network and Glimmerglass Radio.

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