By preaching about anything controversial, you are bound to receive criticism. Often this criticism can be constructive and valid if it is received properly and offered with good intentions. Throughout my growth as an environmental activist, I’ve been fortunate enough to be surrounded by other like-minded leaders. In observing the habits of others, I am always noticing ways that I can improve my own habits to more closely fit the ideals that I am trying to convince others to take on. more

In 2015, my family (wife, three childr en and myself) began the Mother Earth Project, MEP, ( www.MotherEarthProject.org ) a global environment-saving initiative, which creates and activates sustainable communities around the world. There are presently four Mother Earth sculptures in major cities worldwide, with another 30 countries ... more

From August through May, teachers work extra hard to help their students grasp new concepts and develop effective study habits. It’s demanding work and by the end of the school year everyone’s ready for a break. But for many teachers, the need to continue generating income continues. Teaching is a calling, a personally rewarding profession but it ... more

On March 1, the importance of food from field to fork was highlighted during the first annual Food Justice Summit in upstate New York. Here farmers struggled to understand why their work isn’t considered a public service. more

Microfibers may be small, but their effects sure aren’t. In fact, they’re probably the environmental issue you knew nothing about: more

Coal: the main source of energy we humans have been using for hundreds of years. Cavemen used it for warmth, Native Americans used it to cook and make clay pots, and both the union and confederacy used it to make weapons in the American civil war. For almost as long as man has existed, coal has been right there along with him. It has produced many progressive achievements and failures, but also the demise of our green Earth. Coal, when burned, is incredibly harmful to the environment, let's find out why.   more

The third annual Sustainability Through Student Voices conference took place Saturday, April 14th at The Town School in New York City. This conference is unique in that it is the result of a year-long close collaboration between students and teachers. It is designed to empower students, teachers, administrators, and parents to implement systemic ... more

On May 12th, the second annual Student Climate Conference was held at Princeton Day School. The program was complete with presentations by students, a fair with stands from environmental nonprofits, outdoor activities, and the Keynote Speaker: Delaware Riverkeeper, Maya von Rossum. The aim of this program was to inform and motivate youth in the area on environmental sustainability.        more

I want my environmentalist rage and the rage of every environmentalist reading this to be more frequently put to good use. In my most recent blog, I shared a letter that I had written to the CEO of Hilton. This letter was a call to action that highlighted the economic and ecological inefficiency of investing in single-use plastic water bottles. I’ve created a template and tips below that will hopefully aid you in productively utilizing your societal frustrations. Solution-oriented mindsets are all that we need to make a difference. By tactfully proposing sustainable and economically advantageous alternatives to the managers and CEOs of waste-producing businesses, we can voice our desire as consumers to see sustainable practices put in place and spark consideration for environmental conscientiousness by tackling one issue at a time. I hope this letter template provides inspiration, guidance, and a vessel for your righteous environmentalist frustrations. Be creative, be bold, and the next time you see something wasteful, start writing. more

The 2018 Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival marked the 49th year anniversary of Santa Barbara hosting earth day celebrations. Some of the first ever Earth day festivities originated in Santa Barbara after the 1969 oil spill which, at the time, was the largest in the nation’s history. Today, the Santa Barbara Earth Day festival commemorates this devastating spill by reminding people to rethink their habits and their relationship with the planet. For most of the years that the festival has been around, it has been organized by the Community Environmental Council . The CEC formed in 1970 also in response to the oil spill and has been a major force in pushing for environmental regulations and sustainability initiatives in the Santa Barbara community with campaigns such as “Skip the Straw SB for the Sea.” The organization has visited Dos Pueblos on numerous occasions and was a driving force in helping install reusable water bottle stations with their program, “Rethink the Drink.” Kati King, CEC Director of Outreach and Education, proudly discussed Earth Day Festival has grown extremely successful and is now one of the largest and longest-running Earth Day festivals on the west coast. more

Zambia is among the top ten countries in the world facing high levels of deforestation. 70% of the population lives in rural areas where they depend on charcoal and firewood for lighting and cooking. Children walk long distances to search for firewood because forests have diminished, by the time they retrieve the firewood, they are too tired or late to ... more

In the 2018 Green Cup Challenge, students encouraged resource conservation and waste reduction through positive messaging and a little fun competition. The students’ creativity was evident in their incredible videos and innovative education initiatives. Great job everyone! more

When I was eight years old, I caught the stomach flu. I remember lying on the couch for hours on end, dehydrated and dizzy. I didn’t even want to watch TV, which was a sure sign to my parents that something was seriously wrong. To help ease my sickness, my father gently walked me to the front yard to, as he put it, “get a breath of fresh air”. more

Mason jars are an environmentalist’s best friend; they’re reusable, versatile, and stylish. The possible uses are virtually endless! A few of which, are below. more

Win a VISA Gift Card for your School Eco-Club or Green Team! Sponsored by TreeRing Contest runs February 8 to May 15, 2018. You might have been busy last week with special Earth Day activities, so we're extending the deadline on the Leadership Commitment Drawing! We've updated our Sustainability Leadership Commitment to reflect global changes since ... more

We believe in a world where every person is aware of and accountable for their role in creating an environmentally, economically, and equitably sustainable future. To achieve this goal, we need to unite and engage all community members, including the youngest, to be active participants in this journey, and it is our job to give them the resources to ... more

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." – Margaret Mead What does it mean to be a conscious citizen? However we choose to define our role, it must include both our awareness in thought and our response in action to the matters that mean the most to us. In 2012, I worked ... more

I first wanted to be an environmentalist when I learned about my ability to influence businesses and society as a whole by exercising my consumer power. This was my first tangible way of participating in solving the problem of climate change and environmental degradation. I was inspired to do this video project because empowering others with my knowledge, it could cause a shift in consumer choices, and subsequently this change in demand will cause a shift in the products that are being produced.   more

As India transitions into a developed country, greenhouse gas emissions have skyrocketed. Rapid growth due to a large youth population and a need for more children to take care of sick and aging family members have caused near-deadly conditions to arise, especially in Delhi.   more

Kids nowadays are quite inquisitive and always ready with a “why” or “how” when being taught something new. It is in the first few years of a person’s life that we learn new concepts quickly. Children can speak a new language easier and more naturally than an adult.  A child’s brain is like a sponge. It soaks up all the information it receives. Schools have a ... more