Stories for Action

Public Health and Climate Change

"Every action that we take to decrease emissions and decrease air pollution is going to improve human health...There will be roughly 1.4 million lives saved over improved air quality over the next 20 years. This also results in about $700 billion per year to the US from improved health, which is dramatically more than the cost of implementing the changes necessary to mitigate and prepare for climate change."

In this episode, we speak with Dr.'s Robert and Lori Byron, founders of Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate, about the dramatic health impacts of climate change, the sometimes surprising benefits of taking immediate action, and the important voice of medical professionals in ensuring positive change. Hear important information and calls to action for the general public, health professionals, and policymakers within Montana, and around the world.

Find out more about Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate, and resources on state and national climate and health organizations at https://www.MontanaHPHC.org   If you are a health professional of any kind located in Montana, you can also sign up to be a member, receive their newsletter, and anonymously pledge your support for when the organization speaks up for legislation in regards to climate action and public health.

 

Subscribe to the Stories for Action podcast and share with friends, to hear other inspiring stories from those taking bold action, to help you find your role in advancing a thriving planet.

Stories for Action is a media hub that uses the power of storytelling to advance a thriving planet for all. Submit your story or contact us to help you share your call to action through media at https://www.storiesforaction.org or @storiesforaction on Facebook & Instagram.

#publichealth #climate #climateaction #health #doctor #nurse #healthcare #medical #montana #climatejustice #cleanair #pollution #healthy

 

A Just Transition: Calls to action from coal communities

We are hearing about a "just transition" a lot lately, though calls for it have been coming for decades. As the world is inevitably shifting away from fossil fuels to a more sustainable energy source, a just transition calls to make sure this shift is done as fair, or just, as possible, keeping in mind the impacts and benefits to people.

There are many layers of impact we must look at within this topic, and stories to hear from, but today’s episode will look at what a just transition means for American communities that have been economically and socially tied directly to the coal industry. The extraction of coal has not only directly employed and supported thousands of workers and their families, but it is often the economic driver for all sectors in an entire town or region. Tax revenues from coal mines and plants can support state wide services, such as schools and housing. 

From Appalachia to Navajo Nation, and communities tied to the coal industry around the world, there are local leaders and communities taking action to create sustainable, equitable opportunities. Today we will hear stories from those on the ground level of this concept; we will speak with someone working with communities around the country with the Just Transition Fund, another one specifically in Appalachia with the Appalachian Citizens Law Center, and a current employee of a coal plant in Montana, and what he wants the public and policymakers to know about his community.

 

Just Transition Fund: More information & resources for coal communities: https://www.justtransitionfund.org and https://www.NationalEconomicTransition.org

 

More info and resources from Appalachian Citizens' Law Center: https://www.aclc.org

 

Share these episodes with others and subscribe to hear more stories to inspire you to find your role in a thriving planet.

Stories for Action is a media hub that uses the power of storytelling to advance a thriving planet for all. Submit your story or contact us to help you share your call to action through media at https://www.storiesforaction.org or @StoriesforAction  on Facebook & Instagram.

 

#justtransition #coal #community #appalachia #colstrip #montana #arizona #navajonation #fossilfuels #greennewdeal #climate #climatechange #energy #renewableenergy #climatepolicy #climateaction #sustainable

Rising Up for Environmental Justice in Louisiana

St. James Parish, an area an hour west of New Orleans, was once a landscape of wetlands, fertile soil, and healthy waterways.  In the early 80’s, an influx of industrial plants moved in. This area, which now contains 150 industrial plants in an 85 mile stretch, is now termed “Cancer Alley”, or “Death Alley” by residents as the known health effects extend well beyond cancers, putting this area at the front lines of environmental racism.

Sharon Lavigne is a retired school teacher from St. James Parish, who is now leading a fight for the lives of her community. She founded her organization, RISE St. James, in an effort to organize against Formosa Petrochemicals, which is planning to build 14 new plants two miles from her home. Sharon shares with us her story of standing up for her community, her calls to action for every one of us, and inspiring motivation for those who may be fighting a similar fight. 

For more info and how to support RISE St. James: www.stopformosa.org

For more info on the Coalition Against Death Alley: www.enddeathalley.org

 

Share these episodes with others and subscribe to hear more stories to inspire you to find your role in a thriving planet.

Stories for Action is a media hub that uses the power of storytelling to advance a thriving planet for all. Submit your story or contact us to help you share your call to action through media at https://www.storiesforaction.org or @StoriesforAction  on Facebook & Instagram.

 

#Louisiana #StJames #Formosa #environmentalracism #environmentaljustice #intersectionalenvironmentalism #cleanair #pollution #NewOrleans #grassroots #environment

A Sea of Solutions: Bren Smith of GreenWave

What if there was something that could feed humans, provide good paying jobs, benefit the health of the oceans, mitigate climate change, feed livestock, fertilize soil, restore food sovereignty for coastal Indigenous communities, and create a biodegradable plastic? Enter: Seaweed.

Bren Smith is a commercial fisherman turned ocean farmer. As a driver of this modern method of regenerative ocean farming, Bren has been named one of Rolling Stone magazine’s “25 People Shaping the Future” and featured in TIME magazine’s “Best Inventions of 2017”. Bren founded the organization GreenWave, which works with fishermen and coastal communities to enter the world of regenerative ocean farming; a mix of growing seaweed and shellfish in the open ocean.

Bren speaks with us about this work, getting creative with our approach to climate solutions and job creation, and finding ways to benefit life in the oceans and coastal communities. He provides insight and calls to action for those in the fishing industry, policymakers, consumers, and those in all sectors seeking resiliency.

GreenWave: https://www.greenwave.org @GreenWaveORG

Bren's book: Eat Like a Fish: My Adventures Farming the Ocean to Fight Climate Change (James Beard Award Winner): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/547069/eat-like-a-fish-by-bren-smith/

 

Subscribe to the Stories for Action podcast and share with friends, to hear other inspiring stories from those taking bold action, to help you find your role in advancing a thriving planet.

Stories for Action is a media hub that uses the power of storytelling to advance a thriving planet for all. Submit your story or contact us to help you share your call to action through media at https://www.storiesforaction.org or @storiesforaction on Facebook & Instagram.

#oceans #fishing #kelp #seaweed #climate #food #solutions #climateaction #greenwave #fish

Uplifting Stories of Climate Injustice: Maia Wikler

Maia Wikler is an anthropologist, climate justice organizer, and writer whose work has appeared in Teen Vogue and VICE. Maia is a true positive change maker; using her skills of writing, film, and community organizing to advocate for those on the frontlines of climate change. A great deal of her work focuses on uplifting youth leadership, Indigenous communities, and human rights. She was a youth delegate at the UN Climate Talks in 2017 as a member of the organization SustainUS.

Maia is currently a PhD candidate in Political Ecology at the University of Victoria. She is directing a short documentary film featuring the Gwich’in women who are leading the fight to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Maia was recently selected as a National Geographic Early Career Explorer to document cross-border stories about the threats to wild salmon from mining in Northern British Columbia. 

Maia speaks with us about the impact of storytelling, youth leadership, and how we can all find our role in defending against climate injustice. 

 

#ClimateCrisis #Environmentaljustice #environment #storytelling #vice #teenvogue #climate #youth #SustainUs #Sunrise #NationalGeographic #Canada #Indigenous #DefendtheSacred #NativeYouth

Growing Climate Solutions: What It Means for Farmers

Between effects of climate change, costs of inputs and production, and market hits, it is difficult for farmers to make gains outside of government subsidies. But what if farmers could help to mitigate climate change, increase the resiliency of the land, and put money in their pockets while doing so?

In June 2020, a climate related bill was proposed...with strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. The Growing Climate Solutions Act would create a USDA program to encourage farmers, ranchers, and foresters to become an active part of the carbon market. It would encourage practices that create healthier soil, allowing more carbon to be captured in the ground, and paying out money from the carbon market to the farmer.

In this episode we speak with Jenny Hopkinson, Senior Government Relations Representative for the National Farmer's Union. Jenny tells us about the variety of solutions that farmers can lead the way on, and why it is important for their input to help shape this legislation.

There are different opinions on the concept of carbon markets, but perhaps this legislation can be seen as one small element within a holistic approach needed to address climate, farmer's needs, and improving our food system...all which need bipartisan support.

More info on the National Farmer's Unions: https://www.nfu.org. @nationalfarmersunion

#farmers #climate # carbonmarket #ranchers #forester #GrowingClimateSolutionsAct #climateaction

Bob Quinn: How organic farming benefits farmers, public health, and the planet

Bob Quinn is an organic regenerative farmer from Big Sandy, Montana. He speaks with us about why our current industrial agricultural model is not working & the benefits of returning to a nature based method of farming; for creating profits for farmers, strengthening rural communities, offering a key to climate change, & preventing chronic diseases in our population. This conversation is for farmers who need the entry points to transition to organic, and for all of you who enjoy EATING FOOD! Our food and how it is grown affects everything about our body and environment. This conversation gives a little "behind the scenes" look into what goes into that food, the people growing it, and what is at stake if we don't stand up for it.

This summer, a bill was introduced in the House with bipartisan support. The bill is called the "Growing Climate Solutions Act" and it will push the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop programs for farmers and foresters to sequester carbon into their soils, and put money in their pockets for doing so. Stories for Action loves stories about collaboration and about healthy soils, so we see the potential for a positive start with this bill. This is the first of two episodes in which we will be looking at stories around this bill. In our next episode we will speak with the Senior Government Relations Representative from the National Farmer's Union. 

More on Bob Quinn:

IG: @bobquinnorganicfarmer

www.bobquinnorganicfarmer.com

 

#organic #farming #regenerative #soil #montana #farmer #food

Creative Impact: Asher Jay, National Geographic Explorer

Asher Jay an international adventurer and National Geographic Explorer whose compelling paintings, installations, ad campaigns, and films all have a single purpose: to incite global action on behalf of wildlife conservation. Asher speaks with us about the importance of storytelling in conservation, working with local communities, and how action forward can only come about if we have inclusive conversations.

“It’s an interesting time to be alive because there are so many perspectives depending on where you are in that storyline. As conservationists, if we approach it solely from the perspective of ‘this needs to be kept alive for its own intrinsic value’, it’s all well and good but if the reality and context does not support it, people are not actually going to be a part of that solution process.”

Find out more on Asher Jay:

IG & Twitter: @earthheiress

www.asherjay.com

 

#conservation #artist #wildlife #elephants #environment #climate #community #poaching #art #impact

Indigenous Food Sovereignty & the Power of Native Plants: Rose Bear Don't Walk

Rose Bear Don't Walk is an ethnobotanist and a member of the Bitterroot Salish and Apsaalooke Tribes in Montana. Rose was awarded a "Fellowship for the Future" by 500 Women Scientists, for her program "Recovering Our Roots", which bridges science and traditional plant knowledge as a means for food sovereignty, improved nutrition, and cultural connection for the Salish Community. Rose speaks with us about this work and how we can all reconnect with and find new ways to value the land in order to thrive for generations. Rose holds a BA in political science from Yale University and a MS in environmental studies from the University of Montana.

Rose Bear Don't Walk on IG: @rosedontwalk 

Her thesis is published on University of Montana's Scholarworks under "Recovering Our Roots".

 

#Salish #Nativeplants #Indigenous #NativeFoods #FoodSovereignty #Montana #ethnobotany #food #medicine

Smokejumping, the power of food, & moms' important role in climate action: Jessie Thomas

As wildfires were burning across the western US, we spoke with Jessie Thomas about her experience fighting wildfires as a smokejumper and her business Sustainable Wellness, which promotes lifestyles and nutrition for human and environmental sustainability. She also spoke about the need for new voices in leadership and mothers' critical role in climate action.

More on Jessie Thomas:

IG: @SustainableWellness

www.sustainablewellness.net

 

#firefighter #wildfires #climate #climateaction #momscleanairforce #moms #sustainability #health #food