Earth Island Institute

Youth Activists Share Their Stories

EII Presents… ‘Celebrating Young Activists: Building a Green Movement & Changing the World’, Thursday, August 19, 2010 at the David Brower Center in downtown Berkeley.

Join us for this thought-provoking conversation with empowered young activists, as they talk about their role in the global youth environmental movement. Featured panelists—Alec Loorz (BYA09), Hai Vo (BYA09), Rachel Barge (BYA07), & Shadia Fayne Wood (BYA04)—all received the Brower Youth Award in the past for their amazing work. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m. Come early to enjoy live jazz music, mingle with young environmental activists, and visit with some of the dynamic Bay Area environmental and social justice organizations engaging this new generation of activists in the Hazel Wolf Gallery of the David Brower Center.

For more information call 510-859-9100. Media Inquiries: Kevin Connelly at press at earthisland.org 510-859-9155.

Thursday July 22, 2010

Party for Food Justice

Join Ashoka’s Youth Venture (genv.net) and the Earth Island Institute’s New Leaders Initiative (broweryouthawards.org) to raise awareness and funds for JUST FOOD, a program supporting Bay Area youth in creating food justice-themed social ventures. The party begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Numi Tea Garden in Oakland, California. Listen to New York Times bestselling cookbook author Mollie Katzen and award winning Ashoka Youth Venture participant, James Berk; participate in a silent auction; eat local, organic plates prepared by local chefs; and enjoy the open bar! Purchase Tickets in advance (alturl.com/grwgt). General admission tickets are $85. All proceeds benefit the JUST FOOD program. Thank you for your support of JUST FOOD! You can also find out more info on Facebook.

Thursday July 22, 2010

Stop the Presses?

Earth Island Journal has gone digital! For those of you living paperless lives, you can now get a digital copy of the Journal from Zinio. You can buy single issues or annual subscriptions (eii.org/eij/digital) and read it on any computer or mobile device, including the iPad.

Thursday July 22, 2010

Ban Dangerous Predator Poisons

Representatives DeFazio (OR) and Campbell (CA) have introduced H.R. 5643, the Compound 1080 and Sodium Cyanide Elimination Act. This federal bill would effectively ban two deadly poisons - sodium fluoroacetate (commonly known as Compound 1080 and used in the “Livestock Protection Collars” strapped on the necks of sheep or goats that spill the poison when punctured) and sodium cyanide (commonly used in M-44 “coyote-getter” devices) - which are used primarily by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program to kill coyotes, foxes, and other wild animals perceived as threats to livestock. In 2008, these two poisons killed nearly 13,000 animals. Project Coyote (projectcoyote.org) and Big Wildlife (bigwildlife.org) urge all to write to their Representative and ask him/her to support and co-sponsor H.R. 5643.

Thursday July 22, 2010

Plan Eco-Tours for Vacation

Now is your chance to walk the walk! Join Ethical Traveler (ethicaltraveler.org), in partnership with Global Exchange’s Reality Tours (globalexchange.org/tours), for jam-packed mindful tours to Cuba or Nepal. See the sites while exploring the lands and culture of these two amazing places. The Cuba adventure is from October 2-12, 2010 and the Nepal trip is December 2-14, 2010. Find out more info at Ethical Traveler’s Facebook pages; Cuba or Nepal.

Thursday July 22, 2010

Celebrate Dolphin Day

Earth Island Institute and the Save Japan Dolphins Campaign (saveJapanDolphins.org) are heading back to Taiji, Japan Wednesday September 1, 2010 to celebrate “Dolphin Day”.  September 1st marks the beginning of the annual six-month dolphin kill and Save Japan Dolphins Campaign Director Ric O’Barry has made a pledge to return to Taiji to keep his eyes on this tragic situation.  Rather than protest, the goal is to deliver a positive message of support for the many good things that are possible in Taiji. The campaign supports efforts to develop sustainable eco-tourism for Taiji and the surrounding area. Imagine if, instead of allowing a small group of Taiji fisherman to continue the dolphin kill, Taiji residents took the public on dolphin and whale watching cruises.

There are no specific plans for the day, except to show up and enjoy the National Park at the cove.  Bring a picnic lunch and expect to spend the day on the gravel beach.  As emphasized above, there is no protest planned, and the goal is to avoid any confrontations. Earth Island and Save Japan Dolphins are also working on plans for a Peace March to be conducted over the historic pilgrims trail into Taiji. More details will be available soon about this event.

Please contact us if you think you will be able to join us,  and we will try to assist with information on travel directions and options.  Emails should be sent to Mary Jo Rice (mjrice at earthisland.org).

Thursday July 22, 2010

Collaborate with Indigenous Women

Calling all women advocates with a passion for environmental justice! Join Women’s Earth Alliance’s 2010 Advocacy Delegation (womensearthalliance.org) - an unparalleled opportunity to meet and collaborate with indigenous women on the frontlines of environmental justice campaigns in North America. Women attorneys, policy advocates, and business and organizational development experts may apply to join the Promoting Energy Justice in the Navajo Nation delegation in September. Delegates will witness systemic threats to land and life, engage in powerful dialogue with the women leaders who implement innovative responses to these threats, and provide crucial advocacy support in service of Earth, women and community. California CLE credit may be available. For more information and to apply, please contact Women’s Earth Alliance Advocacy Director, Caitlin Sislin (caitlin at womensearthalliance.org).

Thursday July 22, 2010

Oiled

Coughs, stuffy sinuses, headaches, burning eyes, sore throats, ear bleeds, and fatigue: the list of health issues people living along the Gulf coastcoast are experiencing goes on and on. Toxicologist Riki Ott is working to prove a connection between the oil washing up on shores of the Gulf and the laundry list of health issues both clean-up workers and residents are experiencing. Read about Ryan Heffernan's skin rash in Ott's latest blog on The Huffington Post and meet her at our upcoming event, In Deepwater: A Report Back from the Gulf Disaster with Riki Ott and Diane Wilson, Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the David Brower Center in downtown Berkeley. Diane Wilson will join Riki in a discussion about the Gulf spill and the health risks it poses to the people and the animalsin the area. Purchase your tickets online in advance for this is sure to be a well-attended event. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door. For more information call (510) 859-9100. Media Inquiries: Angela Petrella at press at earthisland.org or (415) 786-0562.

Thursday July 8, 2010

Japan Finally Shows The Cove

Despite protests and theater cancellations, The Cove opened in theaters across Japan on Saturday. Read more about the disputed film's release at the Los Angeles Times.

Thursday July 8, 2010

Local Activism

In October 2009, Viva Sierra Gorda attended the Governor's Climate Summit in Los Angeles and in response to Sierra Gorda's participation, three weeks later the Secretary of the California EPA went to visit the Sierra Gorda Biosphere to witness for herself a program there that provides environmental services payments to community members. Barely a month into office, the Queretaro State governor, José Calzada, and cabinet members met with Linda Adams (Secretary of the California EPA), Pati Ruiz Corzo of Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda and Laura Pérez-Arce of Viva Sierra Gorda. Queretaro State adopted a plan to combat climate change and to measure the ecological footprint across the state in collaboration with the Ecological Footprint Network. In August 2010, the State Government of California will hold a formal signing for Querétaro State to join a global climate agreement. Viva Sierra Gorda invites you to follow the weekly news from the Sierra Gorda, Mexico, in English (Sierra Gorda Alliance) or in Spanish (Alianza por la Sierra Gorda) on Facebook.

Thursday July 8, 2010

IMMP Disappointed by IWC Decision

The International Marine Mammal Project is working once again to save the world's whales after the International Whaling Commission revisited the regulations for whale hunts last month at a meeting in Morocco. Mark Palmer offers his expert opinion on the IWC negotiations in his piece for Huffington Post.

Thursday July 8, 2010

Australian Indigenous Visionary Visits Berkeley

Ecotrust Australia welcomes the "father of the Australian reconciliation," Patrick Dodson to the David Brower Center, Sunday, July 11, 2010. Patrick Lionel Dodson, founding chair of Ecotrust Australia, has given a lifetime of service to the Australian community. For decades, Dodson has been on the forefront of issues that shape the contemporary aboriginal and Australian experience. His story has been told in the extraordinary book Paddy's Road, and he is the recipient of the 2008 Sydney Peace Prize. Dodson is an outstanding teacher, leader, humanitarian, and senior native titleholder of the Yawuru people. Reception begins at 3 p.m. with remarks by Patrick to follow from 4:00-5:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Ofelia Svart, at ofelia at ecotrust.org, or call (503) 467-0766.

Thursday July 8, 2010

In Deepwater

Amidst the endless stories of BP and their poor efforts to control and manage the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, meet two amazing women and pollution experts dedicated to educating BP and everyone else about safely and effectively cleaning up the spill and the long-term impact predicted for the environment. EII Presents… In Deepwater: A Report Back from the Gulf Disaster with Riki Ott and Diane Wilson (eii.org/events/deepwater), Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the David Brower Center, downtown Berkeley. A book signing by both women will follow the event. Purchase your tickets online (eii.org/events/gulf) in advance for this is sure to be a well-attended event. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door. For more information call 510-859-9100. Media Inquiries: Angela Petrella at press at earthisland.org or 415.786.0562.

Thursday June 24, 2010

Digg it

Earth Island Journal has a blog! Have you checked it out? Editor-in-chief Jason Mark just returned from a weeklong trip to the Gulf to get the in-depth story about the people, businesses, and environments affected by the oil spill. Check out The EnvironmentaList (eii.org/journal/index.php/elist) and find out what happens at Port Fourchon, the major staging area for deepwater oil exploration and production, what it looks like to really be addicted to oil, and what is happening to the water and the land of the Gulf as the oil continues to leak.

Thursday June 24, 2010

Moratorium Intact

At the International Whaling Commission annual meeting this week in Morocco, attempts to lift the decades-old moratorium on commercial whaling stalled before widespread opposition, notably by Australia, the EU, and Latin America. This despite bribes to delegates by the Japan Fisheries Agency described by the Sunday Times of London as "brown envelopes and prostitutes." Read the International Marine Mammal Project's first-hand reports from the conference in ECO, the Environmental Voice at the IWC (eii.org/marinemammal/index.php/eco).

Thursday June 24, 2010

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