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Green Schoolyards Movement Conference

Green Schoolyards America is organizing a two-day conference in the San Francisco Bay Area on September 27 to 28 featuring the amazing work of Susan Humphries, recognized as one of the international founders of the green schoolyard movement. Her work spans over 40 years at The Coombes School in England and has influenced outdoor experiential education for schools around the world. The conference program is designed for preschool and elementary school teachers, educators in non-formal settings, garden teachers, designers of children's environments, and members of the public interested in children's wellbeing, learning, and play. We hope you will join the Earth Island project there!

Family-Friendly Bug Bioblitz — Dragonflies! Bumblebees! Midges!

Bring the family to Glen Canyon Park in San Francisco on August 10th and help Nature in the City "bio-blitz" all the bugs and insects you can find, including those that spend all or part of their life in Islais Creek, one of the City's only above ground streams. Nets and lenses will be provided to help you get a close-up view of the insects located. Learn how to catalog your findings in iNaturalist. Register for this family-friendly, free event.

Earth Island Earns Highest Rating from Largest Independent Charity Evaluator

Earth Island's strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the largest charity evaluator in America whose website attracts more visitors than all other charity rating groups combined. Charity Navigator has awarded only the most fiscally responsible organizations a 4-star rating. In 2011, Charity Navigator added 17 metrics, focused on governance and ethical practices as well as measures of openness, to its ratings methodology. These Accountability & Transparency metrics, which account for 50 percent of a charity's overall rating, reveal which groups operate in accordance with industry best practices and whether they are open with their donors and stakeholders.

Speaking up for Wolves

This week on Our Wild World, Dave Parsons of EII's Project Coyote spoke about the future of the Mexican Gray Wolf (a subspecies of gray wolves). Gray wolves continue to face threats on the federal level as the Trump Administration proposes to prematurely strip wolves of Endangered Species Act protections. Meanwhile, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife continues to kill members of the Old Profanity Peak wolf pack to protect cattle despite scientific evidence showing that lethal control of wolves can increase conflicts with livestock (more here). Humane, non-lethal alternatives better protect livestock and promote coexistence with wolves, who are vital to healthy ecosystems. Let the agency know you do not support lethal management of wolves. Read more about the Profanity Peak pack by George Wuerthner of Earth Island's Public Lands Media in Earth Island Journal.

Shark Stewards Fights Shark Extinction in Asia

Shark Stewards is currently in South East Asia investigating and documenting shark catch and the fin trade in order to help develop shark conservation areas in Indonesia and Timor-Leste. Shark Stewards has documented hundreds of dead sharks, representing hundreds of thousands in US dollars, due to the shark fin trade. With new partner SORCE.org, the Earth Island project is developing a shark science and conservation center supported by dive ecotourism to protect sharks and habitat in the region. Visit Shark Stewards' instagram and Facebook to see videos of shark markets and their work in Asia and Support the US Shark Fin Ban to help stop worldwide shark population decimation.

Join 1000 Fountains as a Social Media and Marketing Volunteer

1000 Fountains, a project of Earth Island, is dedicated to improving public health, and combating climate change and environmental pollution through rapid and comprehensive installation of free public water fountains throughout San Francisco. Currently the project is in a start-up phase and is seeking a few motivated volunteers to help with social media and outreach to aligned groups in order to increase awareness of the campaign, invite the public to support the project, and pave the way for the next phase of its growth — installation of the first 100 fountains throughout the city. Apply today!

Hire Food Shift for Your Next Event

Food Shift is an approved caterer at the David Brower Center and they want to cater for you wherever you need good food! Whether you have a special event coming up or want weekly meals for your team or clients, they've got you covered with delicious plant-based meals. When you choose Food Shift as your caterer, you support their work reducing food waste, increasing access to nutrition, and creating opportunities for people to thrive through culinary training and employment. Visit www.foodshiftcatering.org or contact catering@foodshift.net to learn more and book with us!

The best of Earth Island Journal

Most Popular: As a Population of Alaskan Belugas Slowly Vanishes, Researchers Search for Answers. In part one of a multi-part series on Alaska's endangered Cook Inlet belugas, reporter Ben Boettger discusses a study documenting the acoustic footprint of humans in the inlet's waters, and possible implications for the whales.

Editors' Pick: Indigenous Communities in Mexico Fight for their Lives and Their Land. Reporter Jeremy Kryt discusses how a confederation of Nahua pueblos is defending their ancestral homeland from a predatory cartel with alleged ties to logging and mining interests.