Earth Island Institute

On Wildfires, Jaguars, Dams and More

The Autumn 2016 issue went live online today. The issue leads with a deep dive into the ecological importance of forest fires that features Chad Hanson of Earth Island's John Muir Project. Other articles in this issue include, a feature about the plight of a small town in Victoria that's located right next to Australia's dirtiest coal fired power plant, a fascinating dispatch about efforts to revive jaguar populations along the US-Mexico border, and a powerful story about one tribe's stand against a mega dam project in the Brazilian Amazon. Subscribe to the Journal or buy a copy at the newsstands. Help us produce more in-depth stories like these by making a donation to our Green Journalism Fund today!

Thursday September 1, 2016

Sierra Gorda Forests Under Siege

Illegal logging is hacking away at the old stands of temperate forests in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve. The loggers are squandering the forest's biological capital taking down cedars, firs, pines and oaks by the thousands, felling trees that stood 40 meters high. This is endangering the habitat of critical species like the jaguar, margay, an endemic magnolia species, as well as other inhabitants of central Mexico's cloud forests. They were at it again last Monday. Yet the bandits only carry 2.5 meters of the trunk down the mountain. Local authorities do not have the budget or the political will to stop this, so Viva Sierra Gorda's grassroots partners are mobilizing enforcement in the face of this senseless destruction of a forest that once was a model for the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Program.

Thursday September 1, 2016

Connecting Community Development and Nature

Transition Earth is co-hosting a webinar with the Sierra Club's Global Population & Environment Program at noon on September 13, which will highlight how empowering people and communities can more effectively protect the environment. With the start of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's World Conservation Congress next week, it is important to discuss how global integrated projects are creating positive change. Transition Earth will be joined by other activists working in East Africa and Borneo for an engaging talk on linking conservation and health initiatives. Email suzanne@transition-earth or visit Transition Earth for more details.

Thursday September 1, 2016

T-shirts for Raptors

Float.org is sponsoring a one-week fundraising event for EII's Raptors Are The Solution from September 5 to12. The company, which promotes socially and environmentally and conscious consumerism, will donate $8 from the proceeds of any of their new, limited edition T-shirts to RATS. It will only make as many T-shirts as are purchased, so there is no waste. Check out the Float.org website next week to see the many different T-shirt styles and colors. The RATS logo will appear on the back of the T-shirts. RATS is dedicated to educating people about the dangers to wildlife, pets, and children from the widespread use of rat poison.

Thursday September 1, 2016

The Best of Earth Island Journal

Get the latest environmental news from Earth Island Journal. Here are our favorite web-only stories from the last two weeks:

Most Popular: Moving Past the Transportation Gridlocks in Our National Parks. Using his own personal travels as examples, reporter Ryan Van Lenning shows that the only way to reduce the impact of vehicles on our parks is by making them accessible via public transit.

Editors' Pick: Feds Move Oil & Gas Lease Auctions Online in Effort to Avoid Opposition. Journal associate editor Zoe Loftus-Farren writes that federal land and ocean management agencies' move to online leasing auctions is an attempt to avoid disruption by activists.

Thursday September 1, 2016

Get your BYA Tickets Today!

Join 1,000 leading environmental, activists, and the leaders of tomorrow for the 17^th annual Brower Youth Awards! Free tickets and special Opening Reception tickets available now. Come celebrate our next generation of environmental leaders at San Francisco's beautiful, historic Herbst Theater on October 18.

Thursday September 1, 2016

Volunteer With Food Shift

Food Shift is growing quickly, and looking for volunteers to help them expand. The EII project is looking for people with passion and knowledge in these areas: webmaster, a sales force administrator, an administrations and operations assistant, and a food recovery driver. Please help us fill these positions by sharing with your networks! If you're interested in volunteering email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Food Shift is excited to share a recent Sierra Magazine article on food waste that featured the project's work.

Thursday September 1, 2016

Get Your BYA Tickets Today

Tickets are available for the 17th Annual Brower Youth Awards! Come celebrate our next generation of environmental leaders on October 18 at San Francisco's beautiful, historic Herbst Theater. Tickets are free! There are many others ways to get involved and support Earth Island's New Leaders' Initiative as well. You can get tickets to meet the BYA winners at the special Opening Reception preceding the awards ceremony. (The early bird ticket rate for the reception is available through August 31.) Earth Island is still welcoming 2016 BYA Host Committee members if you are interested in providing an additional level of support, and sponsorship opportunities remain available for forward-thinking, sustainable-minded entrepreneurs.

Thursday August 4, 2016

Malaysia Protects Sharks

In May, Malaysia established the biggest marine protected area in the country, a 1 million hectare marine park that will also serve as a shark sanctuary. Earth Island's Shark Stewards played an instrumental in efforts to establish the park, and is now working with the government to develop a marine management and enforcement plan. Shark Stewards Director David McGuire will also be participating in a Swim for Sharks on August 14. Supported by the group Night Train Swimmers, he will swim across the San Francisco Bay to raise awareness for sharks and to raise funds to support Shark Steward's education and conservation programs. Learn more and support the swim.

Thursday August 4, 2016

Project Coyote’s New Virtual Home

EII's Project Coyote is excited to share its new and improved website featuring more timely content, nearly 100 additional videos, a timeline of key accomplishments, an improved resources page, and the original Project Coyote blog, Notes From the Field. The new site highlights Project Coyote's work on behalf of North America's native carnivores, with a special section that informs visitors about the history, habits, and challenges facing wolves, bears, mountain lions, bobcats, and of course our native Song Dogs, the Coyote. Join the project's E-Team to get involved!

Thursday August 4, 2016

Garage Sale for The Borneo Project

A neighborhood in Berkeley is coming together to host a mid-summer garage sale to benefit EII's The Borneo Project. The sale will take place on Saturday August 20 from 10am-2pm, at Beverly Place near Hopkins – follow the posted signed to the exact address. All proceeds from the sale will benefit The Borneo Project.

Thursday August 4, 2016

Filmmaker David Vassar at the Brower Center

Join Earth Island and the David Brower Center on August 25 for an intimate film night with Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker David Vassar. The evening will include a screening of A Walking in the Park with David Vassar – an epic film retrospective through American's national parks – as well as a presentation by Vassar and a VIP meet and greet reception. Celebrate the National Park Service centennial by joining the Brower Center for this special evening. Additional information and tickets.

Thursday August 4, 2016

The Best of Earth Island Journal

Get the latest environmental news from Earth Island Journal. Here are our favorite web-only stories from the last two weeks:

Most Popular: American Farmers Are Struggling to Feed the Country's Appetite for Organic Food. Reporter Leah Messinger examines why only 1 percent of cropland is dedicated to organic farming, despite growing consumer demand for organic food. 

Editors' Pick: "If Animals Matter Morally, Then We Cannot Treat Them As Commodities." Fifteen-year-old Aazan Amhad, the Journal's youngest contributor, interviews controversial animal rights activist Gary Francione about his "abolitionist approach" towards animal rights.

Thursday August 4, 2016

Save the Snag Forest

The Forest Service is finalizing its ill-conceived Rim Fire "reforestation" plan for California's Stanislaus National Forest, which will determine whether it will maintain the unlogged burned areas of the forest or clearcut them to fuel the local biomass industry. Learn more and take action with Earth Island's John Muir Project. Email Deputy Regional Forester Barnie Gyant and Regional Forester Randy Moore by July 27, and tell them that the remaining snag forest within the Rim Fire area should be valued and preserved as wildlife habitat. This is our last chance to tell the Forest Service to preserve the remaining snag forest habitat in the Rim Fire area!

Thursday July 21, 2016

Call for Kitchen Supplies

Food Shift recently launched the Alameda Kitchen, a new initiative that will transform surplus food into nutritious products for the community while providing employment for the formerly homeless in Alameda County, CA. Now, the Earth Island project is in need of kitchen supplies! Key items include a commercial dehydrator, stock chiller, and tilting kettle. Here's the full list. If you are able to donate an item, donate money for supplies, or have connections in the restaurant or corporate sponsorship world, please email Hanna.

Thursday July 21, 2016

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