Sustainability Now - Exploring Technologies And Paradigms To Shape A World That Works

Kari McDonald is using her experience and know-how from years in the fossil fuel industry to engineer a transition from traditional fossil fuels and fertilizers to sustainable and regenerative solutions. About two years ago, Kari’s company, Bio Energy Solutions Inc., acquired the Green Power House technology popularized in the movie “The Need to Grow.” Since then, she’s been bringing farmers and fossil fuel technicians and engineers together to make it an even safer and more efficient system. In fact, the rechristened Energy Junction comprises three integrated systems that are customizable and modular. Collectively, they are capable of generating electricity, as well as an assortment of other products including algae, biochar, bio-stimulants and wood vinegar, biogas and biodiesel. Through her work as an industry consultant, Kari was confronted with the very real question, “What happens to communities of coal miners when the coal mine shuts down?” That’s where her enthusiasm for the Energy Junction comes from.

Zen Honeycutt is unstoppable. Founder of Moms Across America, Zen is a champion for local activism, and an inspirational example of the indomitable power available when we stand up, speak up and take action. She’s gone toe-to-toe with Monsanto in a campaign to educate the public to the extreme dangers of glyphosate and is currently leading the charge against the 5G technology that is poised to infiltrate our communities with potentially devastating health consequences. Zen inspires and educates us to the impact of our voice and teaches us how to take constructive action that will shape the future for generations to come. Resources referenced in this show can be found at https://www.sustainabilitynow.global/2020/09/01/33-glyphosate-5g-and-what-you-can-do-about-them/

Join us for an exploration of microbial magic with Dr. Christo Miliotis, eco-entrepreneur and microorganism enthusiast. From gut & soil health to delectable foods, pest & weed control to hydrogen gas, learn how microbes are the key to a thriving future. A renaissance man whose passion for microbes has led him from farm to food and beyond, Christo is a tireless inventor. Guided by the principles of regenerative biodynamic agriculture he’s developed “Agent Green,” an organic fertilizer and weed killer along with a leaf fertilizer and insecticide he’s named “Bee Friendly.” His love of fermentation inspired a beet kvass he’s calling “Up Beet” and a special concoction he’s christened “Fire In The Belly” that contains everything required for optimal nutrition. Christo is even taking his obsession with microbes to the screen with his upcoming documentary entitled “The Universe Beneath Our Feet.” This conversation will open your eyes to an unseen world that shapes the very fabric of our lives. More info and r

Dr. Stephanie Seneff, Senior Research Scientist at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory is sounding the alarm about Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, the world’s most popular weed killer. Is the 99% correlation between Glyphosate usage and the epidemic rise of autism coincidental, or is it just one of many indicators of the danger posed by this pervasive chemical? With glyphosate in our soil, our food, and perhaps the very air we breathe, Dr. Seneff suggests that it plays a significant role in the rise of diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, autism, obesity and more. In fact, it may have a significant impact on immunity and susceptibility — as well as the spread of COVID 19.

Join us for an informative interview with Cameron McIntosh, president and founder of Americhanvre Cast Hemp. We’ll discuss hempcrete — an amazing building material that is carbon sequestering, fireproof, non-toxic, soundproof, and resistant to mold, rot, mildew and pests. Hempcrete construction can also save up to 60% of the heating and cooling costs vs. traditional construction. Cameron sits on the board of the US Hemp Building Association, co-hosts the Hemp Entrepreneur podcast and is the Hemp Local Supply Chain Committee Coordinator for All Together Now PA which aims to unite rural and urban communities via local self-reliance and support of local businesses across a variety of sectors, including plant medicine, local food, zero waste and hemp. We'll also discuss the first residential spray application of hempcrete in the US along with its benefits and the challenges that the industry faces. Resources and more info from this interview are available at https://www.sustainabilitynow.global/2020/07/18/30-hemp

Founder of Fearless Farmers, Amy Milliron creates online and onsite regenerative farming curricula for kids of all ages. Amy advocates for regenerative agriculture as a path to reverse climate change, heal the soil and improve health.  Mom, educator, farmer, and activist, Amy came to regenerative farming by way of a deep commitment to feeding her family nutrient dense and healthful food. Starting with a successful battle to change state policies affecting nursing mothers, Amy’s advocacy and vision grew to address solutions related to the greater food supply and its impact on the health of people and planet. Join us for this candid conversation about activism, the future of farming, and the power we each can wield to bring forth positive change.

Like industrial hemp, Kenaf has tens of thousands of uses. Bob Lawrason of Kenaf Partners USA joins us to discuss the role kenaf can play in reversing climate change, reducing pollution, restoring the land, and generating profit for farmers. Kenaf is fast growing, can be cultivated in most climates, regenerates the soil, and is unencumbered by the legal challenges faced by cannabis and industrial hemp production. When planted by existing corn cotton, and soy farmers as a rotational cash crop, it provides an economically viable way to make a gradual transition from sustainability, to resilience, and ultimately regenerative practices. Join us to learn about this remarkable plant and how it can be instrumental in solving so many of our current planetary challenges. Learn more and find resources mentioned in this interview at https://www.sustainabilitynow.global/2020/06/13/28-kenaf-the-next-industrial-hemp/

An almost prescient interview for this unique moment in time, we speak with elder activist Lynne Iser about the role of elder wisdom in shaping a new future. Touching on a range of topics —local economies, inclusive community, the movement from consumerism to conservation, and more — this thoughtful conversation affirms the importance of inter-generational connection and communication to inform the values that will guide our emerging culture.

Andrew Bailey, inventor of the Enviroplex, explains how his off-grid carbon-capture complex pulls CO2 directly from the air. Captured carbon is easily converted to calcium carbonate (for use in concrete), carbon fiber (an alternative to aluminum and steel that can be 3D printing) and baking soda (non-toxic with a plethora of uses). Carbon sequestration is one step in a three-pronged approach to Climate Restoration, the endeavor to return earth’s atmosphere to the state it was in before the industrial revolution. Step 1: Stop burning fossil fuels Step 2: Remove excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere Step 3: Re-freeze the arctic …No small feat, however, the World Economic Forum identifies climate restoration as a multi-trillion-dollar opportunity. This is a conversation about possibility in a time of deep uncertainty and shifting priorities. We invite you join us in sourcing new perspectives and new solutions in this moment of global possibility.

Maya van Rossum, founder of The Green Amendment movement, has sparked an environmental revolution with a truly novel idea: amend the Bill of Rights in every state Constitution to include an inalienable right to clean water, clean air and a healthy environment. As surprising as it may seem, only Pennsylvania and Montana currently enshrine these rights as fundamental liberties. In 2013 van Rossum and her team won a watershed legal victory in Pennsylvania to stop unscrupulous frackers and succeeded in upholding the environmental protections in the PA Constitution, setting a precedent for other states to follow. Maya is a fireball, a woman on a mission to save our planet by shifting the balance of power from corporate interests to true protection of people and planet through constitutional environmental provisions. Join us for a spirited conversation that will ignite your hope, raise your awareness and provide meaningful opportunities to help turn this country around.

Good news! Climate change is not a natural disaster; it is a disaster of our own making, and we CAN reverse it by adopting new cultural assumptions and practices. Join us for an introduction by Vinit Allen to the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium, an initiative from the Pachamama Alliance to challenge and re-educate the notions at the core of our current state of planetary peril. Ideas such as: Money makes things better More is better We have dominion over nature and it exists for our use Men do things better than women Life is about competition are foundational assumptions of our culture that have led to social and environmental abuse and overconsumption. The key to restoring our planet and creating a just and sustainable world is a new cultural story — a story of one human family inextricably connected to all life and to the planet itself. This conversation is one of hope and possibility, a call to take a stand and take action. What’s ours to do? We can start by cutting back rather than cutting out. Change

Rich in free nutritional and medicinal fare, nature serves up a bountiful table as a solution to food insecurity. Learn more in this introductory and informative jaunt into the world of wild food foraging with Philadelphia expert, Lynn Landes. Starting with the basics, Lynn explains that foraging and plant identification is a multi-sensory experience, engaging sight, touch, taste and smell. She cautions careful introduction of new wild foods and teaches us how to test before we ingest, in order to avoid adverse reactions. You’ll learn about mulberries, plantains, mugwort and more. You’ll also gain a new appreciation for the generosity of our precious mother earth. Lynn has provided an extensive list of resources to inspire your foraging future and welcome you into a deepening and nourishing relationship with our planet. Enjoy and eat hearty!

The environments in which we work and play impact our health and well-being in a multitude of ways. Emily Winer of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) explains how the pioneering WELL standard supports people and communities to thrive. Complimentary to the materials-focused LEED certification, WELL is a holistic framework that sets a new global benchmark for performance in ten areas: air, light, sound, water, movement, physical materials that make up a building, thermal comfort, nourishment, community and mind. It turns out that incorporating circadian lighting, strategies to encourage exercise, stress management programs, modulating acoustics, air quality, and more is not only good for health but good for the bottom line. Studies show that WELL workplaces are healthier, happier and more collaborative with a reduction in absenteeism and sick days, and even result in better sleep. Join us to learn how WELL is transforming business and corporate culture from the inside out and from the top down to

If we think of a city as a living organism, energy and waste are essential parts of the urban metabolism. Join us for an enlightening conversation with zero waste consultant, Alisa Shargorodsky as we explore the challenges of recycling programs, and the impact of recyclables, compostables and single-use packaging on the urban ecosystem. While they may seem a responsible and sustainable alternative to plastic, you’ll discover the shocking and disappointing truth about compostable single-use items as they currently exist and the threat they pose to both health and environment. This is an eye-opening and myth-busting interview, exposing some uncomfortable truths and challenging us to better solutions. A deeper understanding of the single use product life-cycle makes it clear that sustainability can’t happen until we dispose of disposables and our “convenience-driven” lifestyles to embrace reusables and renewables. In other words, the path to sustainability starts with conscious consumption, voting with our dolla

Hear from Donovan Spitzman, Lisa Bodey and Nick Nevares, to learn about the Crestone Energy fair — the oldest energy fair in the nation, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Crestone is a Mecca for the alternative building movement with structures including climate battery buildings, papercrete and cordwood houses, earthships, straw bale homes and more. The fair incorporates home tours and building demonstrations, alternative energy solutions, vendors, music and more.

Plastic is EVERYWHERE! Plastic containers, packaging and products fill our stores, and microplastics poison the food we eat and the water we drink. Clearly, we have a global addiction that is crying out for a cure. How can retail establishments and individuals wean themselves from our reliance on plastic? MOM’s Organic Market has some ideas about that. With a 32 year history and 19 stores in the Mid-Atlantic region, MOM’s is on a mission to protect and restore the environment—and they walk their talk. With an extensive selection of bulk items, MOM’s customers can fill their own containers with products from water — they banned bottled water in 2010 (and plastic bags in 2005) — to oils, grains, sweeteners and even detergent and bath salts. Their produce department is 100% organic and predominantly plastic-free. MOM’s also has a robust recycling center at each of its stores, accepting even hard to recycle items such as batteries, chip bags, Brita filters and so much more. So, when it comes to going plastic-fre

Bio-Architect Paul Richardson builds buildings and community where shelter transcends a roof and four walls to become fully self-reliant, self-regenerative, and economically viable—producing food and clean water, and managing and re-using all waste in balance with nature. Paul founded Haven Earth SEED (Stewardship Education & Ecological Design) Training Center — both a physical and virtual education training center — to create a template for eco-communities, bringing together the tools and techniques of self-reliant living, earth architecture, community building, and permaculture. With a team of experts in the fields of permaculture, off-grid living, water self-sufficiency, bio-dynamic structures for healing, and more, the intention is to find solutions to our present reliance upon unsustainable and unhealthy practices, and to create successful models for eco-communities internationally. Grounded in a commitment to conscious, ethical, earth-centered and earth focused principles, Paul is paving the way to

A self-declared "Spellbreaker," Brian D. Ridgway's very way of describing the world has resulted in spontaneous healings and miraculous transformations of body and spirit. What if, in a flash of awareness, the anguish and pain of your life were to dissolve into an experience of perpetual grace? Brian has helped more than 100,000 people step toward and into that freedom through his Level 5 mentoring programs, his truly unconditional love & presence and irreverent humor & wit. The transformation Brian talks about is available for you in this interview. This is one to listen to again and again. Allow yourself to breathe deeply and be present. Allow Brian’s words to sink deeply into your awareness and you too may experience a greater sense of freedom as you expand beyond the identity you believed yourself to be. Get a free copy of Brian's book: https://bit.ly/2RhHMc4

Tom Moroz artfully connects the dots between grass roots and horticultural gardens, Burning Man, the Buckminster Fuller Organization, the Global EcoVillage Network and Stonehedge Gardens, a local node of a global network. Resource links on https://www.sustainabilitynow.global/?p=509

Business as a force for good? Chris Jacobs, CEO of Communally, a certified B Corporation, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia fills us in on a new paradigm for business that actually balances purpose and profit. Certified B Corporations are legally required to consider their impact on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. Join us to learn more about the global movement to do business based on doing well by doing good.