WFHB FireHouse Broadcasting

The debut broadcast of our new environmental affairs program investigates so-called "bio-fuels". It's a popular economic slogan in the Hoosier state, like "tech park" or "life sciences", but what does "bio-fuel" mean, and is using them any better for the planet? Biologist and researcher Marti Crouch joins us to explore the truth about biofuels. Crouch was an Associate Professor of Biology at Indiana University for twenty years before leaving academia in 2000 after learning that her research was being used in ways nature never intended. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Learn about solar power as a viable renewable energy source for southern Indiana. Renewable energy has been touted as a solution to the global warming crisis that is threatening to destroy the ecological systems of the earth. But is this technology ready to be deployed in our communities? Find out in a conversation with Terry Usrey, an organizer with a new local renewable energy network promoting a solar-power Bloomington. Find out how much of our local energy needs can be provided directly by the sun. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Save the planet or create more jobs? Bloomington city hall was standing room only a few weeks ago for the only public hearing on Duke Energy's request for permission to build a coal-fired power plant in Knox County. Duke wants to construct a 630-megawatt electric generating facility in Edwardsport, Indiana. The facility would use so-called "gasification" technology to convert coal into a synthetic gas which is then burned to generate electricity. Duke Energy is also seeking permission to recover capital and operating costs from its customers through rate increases. Those in favor of the proposal tout economic development and more jobs, while opponents blast the environmental UNsustainability of coal-based power generation.

Hear an excerpt of WFHB's exclusive recording of a recent panel on the past, present, and future of the toxic PCB contamination in the Bloomington area featuring local attorney David McCrea, who for decades has represented former Westinghouse employees sickened by toxic PCBs festering in local dumps. He discusses recent studies conducted of PCB-exposed workers and shocking test result numbers the EPA doesn’t want you to hear. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Guest Dave Rollo is president of the Bloomington City Council and a founder of the Bloomington Commission on Sustainability, an organization studying how our community can shrink its ecological footprint. He is gravely concerned with the phenomenon known as Peak Oil, the inevitable point at which demand for oil will exceed the terminally declining supply. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Alternative education expert Chris Mercogliano studies childhood from an ecological perspective and the importance of a child’s "inner wildness". As co-director of the Albany Free School, a learning center in New York much like Bloomington's Harmony School, Chris Mercogliano has had remarkable success in helping a diverse population of youngsters find their way in the world. He says we have "domesticated childhood", controlling kids and not giving them enough outdoor playtime, robbing our young people of that precious, irreplaceable period in their lives that nature has set aside for exploration and innocent discovery. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Bloomington Transportation Options for People founder Buff Brown joins us in the studio to talk about car culture as a liability to the environment and points to cities like Portland, Oregon as successful examples of eco-friendly transportation policy that still puts people first. Brown promotes "new urbanism" theories of city planning that embrace biking and walking. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Each year the Bioneers conference brings an amazing wealth of information about sustainable living to people in Bloomington and beyond. This week our guest is local resident Steve Akers, who has worked for years to organize the local Bioneers events, focused on grassroots efforts to inform public policy on the so-called "three Es" - economics, social equity, and the environment. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Our guest this week is Bob Bent, Indiana University professor and member of the Bloomington Commission on Sustainability, which met for the first time two years ago today in a quest to promote economic development, environmental health, and social equity in our local community. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

City council candidate Isabel Piedmont is a Bloomington native who has made sustainability and environmental issues a top priority in her campaign platform. She joins us to talk about implementing earth-friendly public policy. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Patricia Coleman from the Indiana Holistic Health Network talks about this weekend's annual Simply Living Fair and Wellness Expo, this year with more than twenty workshops and presentations tied to the theme "Simply Healthy: Creating Sustainable Communities". EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Temperatures are dropping sharply, and fuel prices are rising just as fast. This week on EcoReport, Matt Wysocki from the South Central Community Action Program joins us to talk about saving money AND the planet by weatherizing your home and improving energy efficiency. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Our Thanksgiving Day program is dedicated entirely to the people of Appalachia and the next generation of activists fighting to stop Mountain Top Removal (MTR) coal mining. The coal-extraction process decimating the Appalachian Mountains into a wide expanse of gray plateaus pocked with dark craters and huge toxic black ponds could be called "strip mining on steroids" and has generated little press beyond the region. Over 1200 miles of stream have been buried and destroyed and countless mountains and ridgetops have been blown up, gone for all eternity. Under the Bush administration, laws have been altered to accelerate the destruction. Host Tatyana spends the half-hour with Willie and Joe, natives of Appalachia traveling the country as part of the group Mountain Justice Summer.

Susun Weed teaches and lectures worldwide on herbal medicine, nutrition, women's health issues, and other topics, appearing regularly on TV and National Public Radio. She was in Bloomington as the keynote speaker for the annual Simply Living Fair and Wellness Expo and visited the WFHB studios to encourage listeners to open Mother Earth’s medicine cabinet. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Dom Nozzi was the keynote speaker at this year's local Bioneers conference, which each year brings a wealth of information about sustainable living to people in Bloomington and beyond. Nozzi is a former city planner in Gainesville, Florida, where he was once banned for speaking on his ideas of urban planning policy that put people before cars. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

A study by an Indiana University environmental science professor suggests a widely planted variety of genetically engineered corn has the potential to harm aquatic ecosystems. Todd Royer and his colleagues established that pollen and other plant parts containing toxins from genetically engineered Bt cornfields are washing into streams with potentially disastrous effects. Royer joins us in the studio as our guest this week on EcoReport, a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

The holiday season is upon us and perhaps you're looking for that perfect gift for someone you love, and what you buy has a direct impact on the environment. Eco-friendly buying is only part of a sustainable Christmas. Our guests Robin Thompson and Shodo Spring remind us that the best gifts aren't from a store shelf, they're from the heart. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Richard Louv is the author of the "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder". This recent book describes the crisis facing our children as they spend more of their time on computers and video games and less time outside. Obesity is just one of the health effects of this disturbing trend. Louv advocates for parents to get their children outside for their physical AND mental health. This holiday week we dedicate our entire program to Richard Louv's recent Indiana appearance, recorded on-location for EcoReport on November 8, 2007 at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Artist Margaret (Peggy) Gohn has lived, loved, and painted the beauty of Bloomington for 20 years. She finds herself in a new role this week as gallery director of the environmentally-inspired Luna Moth Gallery at the Caldwell Eco-Center. Gohn is our guest this week on EcoReport, a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

City council president Dave Rollo was one of the first guests on our program, and we're proud to welcome him back to the show for an update on the creation of a new local peak oil task force, and a potential consequence of peak oil you may not have considered - the security of our food supply. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Indiana University Task Force on Campus Sustainability co-chair Michael Hamburger is helping Bloomington chart a course for IUB to become a leader in the study and practice of environmental sustainability. Its new Campus Sustainability Report includes a number of specific recommendations for action on campus energy use, recycling, and establishment of a local campus Office of Sustainability. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

The new director of the Hoosier Environmental Council Jesse Kharbanda joins us by phone to talk about HB 1102, a bill to create an Indiana Renewable Electricity Standard that would require ten percent of Indiana's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2018. The RES bill would promote in-state development of wind, energy crops, bio-gas, solar and other strictly renewable energy sources. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Bloomington has lost nearly a quarter of our greenspace over the last 14 years, according to a report issued by the City Environmental Commission. The commission is asking the city to dedicate more money toward acquiring greenspace, and form a taskforce to protect the natural land we still have. Heather Reynolds is a member of the Environmental Commission and served as commission chair in 2007. She is our guest this week on EcoReport, a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Bloomington city council members Dave Rollo and Isabel Piedmont are sponsoring an ordinance that would require all new City buildings to meet so-called "green building standards". Heather Reynolds is a member of the city environmental commission, and she effectively outlined the commission's case for all future city buildings to be constructed using an approach that seeks to reduce human impact on the environment while fostering a healthy and efficient cityscape. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Future Indiana government and university buildings would have to more energy efficient and environmentally friendly under legislation authored by Bloomington-based State Representative Matt Pierce. He's also worked to legislate forest protection and conservation of our local water resources. He joins producer Drew Laird in the studio as our guest this week on EcoReport, a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Local activists creating a refuge in Owen County for debilitated and displaced animals join us in the studio to talk about the new Deep Roots Animal Sanctuary, currently setting up shop outside Spencer. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Producer Drew Laird takes you on an "audio tour" of the Bladen Nature Preserve of Southern Belize, connected to Bloomington as part of a "sister forest" program run by the Indiana Forest Alliance to educate Indiana residents about rainforest conservation. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Environmental attorney Mick Harrison has been suing Westinghouse and CBS for 20 years for dumping millions of pounds of toxic chemicals that still contaminate our local air and water and pose a severe health risk to humans and animals in Bloomington and across the globe. He joins us on the program to critique the current cleanup plan, currently in a public comment period. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Real estate agent Beth Fisher is an expert on so-called "green real estate" - healthy and energy-efficient homes with the smallest possible ecological footprint. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

The Interstate 69 highway extension moves forward faster and sooner than expected as bulldozers begin clearing land despite public outcry. Carly Knaable reports from an Evansville studio with two activists from RoadBlock Earth First!, on the front lines of the fight to stop Interstate 69. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Duke Energy has Governor Mitch Daniels' support in promoting a new two billion dollar coal gasification plant, with no proven way to capture emissions. The Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana and other groups are calling for a moratorium on new coal plants until the technology can be proven to work. Citizens Action Coalition Executive Director Grant Smith joins us in the studio to debunk so-called "clean coal" technology. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Advanced master gardener Michael Simmons joins correspondent Jenn Will in the studio for the first in our four-part series all this month on gardening in Bloomington. Simmons talks about the challenges of local soil composition and shares a wealth of information about local resources for aspiring gardeners. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Did you know that the country's leading publication on permaculture is based right here in Bloomington? In 2007 Permaculture Activist celebrated 22 years of promoting regenerative human culture. Peter Bane is the magazine's publisher; he joins us in the studio this week along with Permaculture Activist webmaster Keith Johnson for the second installment in our four-part series all this month on gardening in Bloomington. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Stephanie Solomon coordinates Community Garden and Nutrition Programs at Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, Bloomington's largest community food pantry, and oversees production in three local organic community garden plots. She joins correspondent Jen Will in the studio for the third installment in our four-part series all this month on gardening in Bloomington. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Senior Environmental Planner for the City of Bloomington Planning Department Linda Thompson talks about the benefits of setting up a backyard wildlife habitat in the final segment in our four-part series all this month on gardening in Bloomington with a look at building a more complete ecosystem around your backyard project. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Did your mom ever tell you not to touch a baby bird that's fallen from the nest because the scent of a human will cause the mother to abandon it? That's a myth - Jan Turner knows THAT for sure, and a whole lot more about critters in crisis. Turner is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and a founder of WildCare, Bloomington's wild-animal rehabilitation facility. Jan Turner is our guest this week on EcoReport, a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Back in 2000 Frank Ambrose and Marie Mason were quite a pair. Both prominent environmental activists and community organizers, this young married couple were involved in the Bluebird treesit and many other local resistance actions. Eight years later Frank and Marie are now divorced but they still have at least one thing in common - both were arrested in March in connection to an arson at Michigan State University in 1999 and another arson at a logging site in 2000. Frank Ambrose recently pleaded guilty to conspiring to burn the Michigan State building that housed federally funded genetic plant research documents, AND he has admitted to participating in tree-spikings, arsons and vandalism in 1999 and 2000 in the Bloomington area. His cooperation with authorities likely won't help Marie, who still awaits her day in court.

Bloomington Alternative reporter Amber Kerezman tours the state learning about the impact of confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), or factory farms, on rural Indiana residents. Her work is part of the Bloomington Alternative's "Indiana Environment Revisited" project and she speaks with correspondent Lauren Taylor as our guest this week. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Bloomington resident Harriet Ray speaks to EcoReport from high up in a tree at a political action going on this week along the planned I-69 route. Harriet Ray and another Bloomington resident, Grant Reynolds, are occupying two separate platforms suspended forty feet in the air and we talk to Harriet as police close in and helicopters hover overhead. As of this airing they remain in their platforms in the trees. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Some Bloomington residents are "religious" about their environmental activism - literally! Earth Care is Bloomington's Interfaith Group for the Environment, and they believe it is our moral responsibility to protect all life by curbing wanton climate change. Earth Care seeks to work with all concerned religious communities and individuals in order to create an ever-widening circle of care for the earth and its beings. Two members of Earth Care are in the EcoReport studio thisd week with correspondent Dan Watts. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

"Place-based" education is a relatively new term but progressive educators have promoted the concept for more than 100 years; student learning in the local environment. Proponents of place-based education often envision a role for it in achieving local ecological and cultural sustainability. EcoReport's own Anna Tosick works locally through the Hoosier Environmental Council to help area students get in tune with the local environment and the many lessons it offers. She joins us this week in the EcoReport studio with producer Lauren Taylor. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Bloomington residents Melissa Henige and Andy Davis are on a 3500-mile cross-country bike trip to San Francisco to learn more about sustainable projects across the country. Their goal is to bring back to Bloomington examples of how individuals, businesses and governments are building a greener tomorrow. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Indiana University religious studies professor David Haberman has devoted much of his academic work to the connection between ecology and religion, a relatively newly-recognized field of study. His focus has been on South Asian religious traditions, particularly in Northern India. Professor Haberman is also the chair of the Board for the Indiana Forest Alliance, and just returned from Paoli, Indiana where he led a two-week class on permaculture. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Chris Mattingly and Joe Lynch have recently started providing earth friendly lawn care to Bloomington residents. Mattingly and Lynch join us in the studio to discuss strategies for yard care free of fossil fuels. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

At 1200 acres, Griffy Lake Nature preserve is the largest park operated by Bloomington Parks and Recreation. A new management plan for the nature preserve has just been released, updated from the original 1984 draft. This week and next, Bloomington Natural Resources Manager Steve Cotter joins us to discuss the new Griffy Lake Master Plan. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Steve Cotter is the Natural Resources Manager for the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation. He's back for part two of an interview about Griffy Lake Nature Preserve's new management plan. Last week we heard from Cotter about the use of chemicals in the lake and the struggle to conquer invasive plant species. This week Cotter discusses public input in the management plan, animal life around the lake, the relocation of the park's informal dog park, and pedestrian access to the nature preserve. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Mark Morey is a visionary educator who designs regenerative holistic communities with timeless native principles. His work has sparking a nature awareness movement in the Northeast bringing him accolades for his passion for environmental healing and bringing a new sense of energy and urgency in becoming aware of our footprint on the earth. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

David Roedl has just returned from Paris after winning an international competition for his work on the Indiana University "Energy Challenge" pitting ten dormitories across the Bloomington campus against one another to achieve significant reductions in electricity and water consumption for one month. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Legendary environmental activist and writer Julia Butterfly Hill and yoga instructor Seane Corn explore the connection between environmentalism and yoga and share their experiences "acting with intention" and being a force for positive change in the world. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Our Local Water Supply: Expansion or Conservation? The local utilities service board recently approved expanding Bloomington's water treatment plant, following earlier approval of a second water line from Lake Monroe. The consulting firm Black and Veatch says the plant can handle 24 million gallons a day and they project that we could be hitting that maximum as early as 2010. The local chapter of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom held a forum on the expansion featuring a breakdown of the plan by city utilities director Pat Murphy and criticism of the plan from WILPF member Jim Allison. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Herald-Times bird columnist Dawn Hewitt describes herself not as a bird expert, but a bird enthusiast. Last month, Hewitt wrote about chimney swifts in her weekly column for the local paper. A species of migratory bird, chimney swifts are facing steep declines in their population, and one of their largest roosting sites in Bloomington is the old Fairview School chimney, slated for destruction in 2009 as part of construction of a new facility for Fairview students. Hewitt is joining others to call for the preservation of the chimney as a habitat for this rare species of migratory bird, and as an educational opportunity for Fairview students. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Assistant professor of religious studies at Indiana University Lisa Sideris talks about her new book "Rachel Carson: Legacy and Challenge". A writer and environmentalist, Carson is best known for her 1962 book "Silent Spring" which drew attention to the dangers of pesticides and the impact of chemicals on the environment. In Sideris' newly-released book, authors from a variety of disciplines explore the environmental ethic developed by Carson and her lasting impact on the activist movement. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Bloomington resident Peter Bane edits the monthly magazine Permaculture Activist and teaches classes on permaculture, introducing students to small-scale sustainable design practices and philosophy. At the heart of this philosophy is becoming more self-sufficient and developing appropriate technology to use the abundant resources that already exist in a given space. Peter Bane joins us this week to explain how one abundant resource - rainwater - can be captured and stored to meet your home and garden needs. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

For over twenty years Christine Glaser has worked as a researcher, teacher, consultant and advocate at the intersection of environmental, economic and social issues. A founding member of the Center for Sustainable Living, Glaser has initiated, co-organized, and promoted many sustainability projects, including the Community Bike Project, the Simply Living Fair, and the BloomingVision project. Glaser joins us to discuss a recent study that she did in collaboration with Karyn Moskowitz on the economic impact of logging in state forests. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Terry Usrey is one of the founders of SIREN, the Southern Indiana Renewable Energy Network. Formerly a math and science teacher, Usrey currently lectures in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University in Bloomington. He is also building a solar photovoltaic system at his own residence. He's a self-proclaimed do-it-yourselfer, homesteader, and advocate for protecting the environment and nature. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Bloomington resident Steven Higgs is an investigative journalist who has focused on environmental issues for much of his career. Currently the editor of the Bloomington Alternative, Higgs is also an adjunct professor at Indiana University's School of Journalism. Higgs has just published four articles on the Bloomington Alternative on investigating recycling in Bloomington. He joins us for the first of a two part series looking at recycling in Bloomington. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Bloomington recycles: fact or fiction? That's the question posed by longtime local resident and investigative journalist Steven Higgs. Currently the editor of the Bloomington Alternative, Higgs is also an adjunct professor at Indiana University's School of Journalism. Higgs has just published four articles in the Bloomington Alternative on investigating recycling in Bloomington. This week Steven Higgs is back again for the conclusion of our two-part series looking at recycling in Bloomington. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

For those who care about our state forests, the upcoming election for Indiana governor could be the most important race on your ballot on November 4th. Last week candidates for Indiana governor clashed in the second of three debates in the race for our state's highest office. Governor Mitch Daniels, Democrat challenger Jill Long Thompson, and Libertarian Andy Horning answered pre-screened questions, and one of them was about logging in state forests. Find out how the candidates differ on their approach to this important environmental resource. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

For twenty years Walter Kulash went to work each day trying to figure out how to build as many roads as possible and make them as grand and wide as possible. Then it dawned on him that traffic congestion and pollution are still getting worse no matter HOW many roads we build. Today Kulash is an advocate of walkable people-friendly street planning. The local advocacy group Bloomington Transportation Options for People brought Kulash to B-town for a public presentation and an interview with B-TOP founder Buff Brown. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Over fifty people took to the streets at Sample Gates recently urging local, Congressional, and Presidential candidates to create a clean energy economy and millions of green jobs that could act as pathways out of poverty. This event was one of over 600 "Green Jobs Now" National Day of Action events held in all 50 states on Saturday. This week we take you on-location to Kirkwood and Indiana for local pastor Bill Breeden, Bloomington electrician Forest Gras, and event organizer Caitlin Corner-Dolloff. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Heather Reynolds is currently an associate professor of biology at Indiana University, where she conducts research in the ecology of prairie and forest vegetation. She teaches courses in ecology, with a focus on service learning, global change and sustainable human-environment interactions. Reynolds is also the chair of Bloomington's Environmental Commission, which has approved an official position statement challenging the logic of endless economic growth and advocating for a more sustainable approach to city planning and development. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Candidates for U.S. House of Representatives in the Ninth Congressional District Baron Hill, Republican Mike Sodrel, and Libertarian Eric Schansberg talk about clean energy, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and protecting our eco-systems. This week on EcoReport we take you on-location to Jasper, Indiana, for the one and only debate among these candidates to help YOU decide who deserves your vote on November 4. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

City councilman Chris Sturbaum says the greenest house is the one already built. Sturbaum is the owner of Golden Hands Construction company, a business dedicated to restoring historic buildings, and a member of the Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission. Sturbaum discusses why preservation and environmentally-conscious remodeling are far more ecologically-friendly than green construction. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

In August, Bloomington became the second city in Indiana (and only the 27th in the country) to be certified through the National Wildlife Federation as a Community Wildlife Habitat. The citywide effort to create more wildlife habitats is led by the Center for Sustainable Living and tireless volunteers like Vicky Getty. Getty is a habitat steward who has turned her own yard into a wildlife habitat and actively shares her knowledge with others. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Last month the local student-run Union Board brought one of the world's most famous environmental activists to Bloomington. Captain Paul Watson is a co-founder of GreenPeace and a self-proclaimed enforcer of international conservation law. In his early twenties, Watson co-founded Greenpeace but later broke with the group over tactics and started the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in 1977. He's been named one of Time Magazine's "Environmental Heroes of the 20th Century", while others have called him an eco-pirate or a vigilante. Watson explains the upcoming campaigns of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, as well as the importance of protecting marine life, in a WFHB radio exclusive.

Author and creative writing professor Alyce Miller is also a lawyer with a special interest in animal rights law and activism. Miller joins us to discuss the recent passage of Proposition 2 in California which creates a bare minimum standard of care for farm animals. Join us as we explore the connections and contradictions among animal rights, workers' rights, and the environment. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

The former chief scientist for the World Wildlife Federation Dr. Lara Hansen joins us for the first in a two-part series on the global climate crisis. In 1995, Hansen received her PhD in Ecology from the University of California-Davis, and last year testified before Congress on the urgency of combating the causes of global warming. Her current work focuses on identifying impacts of climate change and developing strategies to increase ecosystem and natural resource resilience to better weather the effects of climate change. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

The former chief scientist for the World Wildlife Federation Dr. Lara Hansen joins us for the second in a two-part series on the global climate crisis. Last year Hansen testified before Congress on the urgency of global warming and this year she co-founded an organization called EcoAdapt, where she now works as the Chief Scientist and Executive Director. This week, we continue our conversation on strategies to combat global warming, this time with a focus on the real rate of climate change and proposals to protect threatened species and eco-systems. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

The local grassroots organization that helped to promote Barack Obama's campaign for president held a public meeting last week at the Monroe County Public Library on what they are calling 'The Food Campaign'. Organizers describe it as an opportunity for members of the local community to hear more about feeding our hungry neighbors while caring for our earth. Indiana University professor of anthropology and gender studies Richard Wilk was one of the speakers at last week's meeting and discussed food security as a matter of sustainability and social justice. Wilk is the author and editor of a number of books, including "Fast Food/Slow Food: The Cultural Economy of the Global Food System". He also directs IU's efforts to develop a food studies program in the university's anthropology department. At last week's meeting Wilk spoke extensively about securing our local food supply in this WFHB radio exclusive.

In November, Bloomington hosted the third annual Simply Living Fair and Wellness Expo at the local Unitarian Universalist Church. The Expo included a host of workshops on sustainable ways of life for people AND the planet. This year the chosen focus was on Local Food and Aging Well. The expo began with a keynote address by Judy Wicks, owner and founder of Philadelphia's 25-year-old White Dog Cafe, and a national leader in the local, living economies movement. She is co-founder of the nationwide Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, or BALLE, and founder of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia. Judy is currently working on a book about her business and the local living economy movement.

Scott Russell Sanders is a renowned writer and distinguished professor at Indiana University. His latest book is "A Private History of Awe", which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. "A Conservationist Manifesto", his vision of a shift to a sustainable society, will be published in 2009. This week he joins us for the first in a two-part series on community and a sense of place. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Hear part two of our interview with local author Scott Russell Sanders, whose latest book "A Private History of Awe" was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. "A Conservationist Manifesto", his vision of a shift to a sustainable society, will be published in 2009. In the conclusion of our two-part interview Sanders reflects on local movements, sustainability, and what gives him hope in a time of crisis. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

In the spring of 2007, Indiana University created a 15-person sustainability task force, and that fall the task force released a report charting a plan to green the university. Some members of the task force are focusing on food, with the goal of defining a sustainable food system for campus based on low waste generation and sustainable farming practices. Chair of the food working group Benjamin Schultz joins us with an update on the group's progress and proposals. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Carven Thomas is the President and Business Manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2249. He represents workers at the Bloomington General Electric plant, which is slated to close in the beginning of 2010. The plant manufactures side-by side refrigerators, and cited reduced demand and significant financial losses as reasons for the closing. Carven Thomas joins us with an update on the plant closing and a proposal to re-train GE workers for "green collar" jobs. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Indiana University Professor of Environmental Physics Ben Brabson and Trinity Episcopal Church Reverend Virginia Hall review the recent "Radical Abundance" conference, held in New York with a Bloomington audience joining via satellite. The conference explored issues of consumption, accumulation, and the environment from a critical and theological perspective. Brabson and Hall also explore the role of faith communities in the transition to a sustainable society. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

With gas prices at half the price they were last year, the conversation about an end of car culture has all but disappeared. Founder of Bloomington Transportation Options for People (BTOP) Buff Brown returns to EcoReport with a look at current trends in national transportation policy, the stimulus package, and opportunities for real change. Brown compares American and European efforts to promote alternatives to driving and suggests a number of practical steps that Bloomington can take to move away from car culture. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Anne Sterling of the Indiana chapter of the Humane Society of the United States discusses the growing problem of live baiting and animal trafficking in Indiana and surrounding regions. She explains recent moves by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to halt the trafficking of Indiana’s coyotes, which some animal activists assert not only threatens the well-being of the species, but also adversely impacts the bioregion to which the coyotes are being shipped, released and hunted. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Indiana Forest Alliance was founded in 1996 to coordinate statewide forest protection and conservation efforts. This coalition of organizations and individuals across Indiana has a three-fold mission: to end commercial activities on public land, and more specifically ending logging instate forests; holding corporations and government organizations accountable for having sustainable practices; and promoting sustainable forestry practices. IFA director Rhonda Baird joins us with an update on current campaigns and events. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

In January EcoReport host and producer Lucille Bertuccio travelled to Portland, Oregon to visit her two daughters. While in Portland Lucille and Mary Bertuccio made a guest appearance on Portland community radio KBOO to participate in a discussion on the pros and cons of eradicating invasive species. Mary, an artist and community activist, and Lucille, a naturalist and president of the Center for Sustainable Living in Bloomington, presented ways to work with invasive species and reasons to avoid chemical eradication. Two other guests advocated for the active management and eradication of certain invasive species. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Dr. Stephen Schneider is a professor of environmental biology at Stanford University.  He’s featured in the environmental documentary “The Eleventh Hour”, and a local screening of that movie brought him to Bloomington for a lecture on what needs to happen for the U.S. to lead the world in the fight to stop global warming.  EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

A local farm is working to expand production this year with a focus on more sustainable methods.  Located on the west side of Bloomington, Stranger's Hill was founded by Dale and Leigh Jones more than thirty years ago and has been certified organic since 1989.  In December of 2007, operations were expanded with the purchase of the adjacent 80-acre Howard Farm. Farm founder Leigh Jones talks about Stranger's Hill and its plans for the future.  EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Bill Brown is the newly-hired first Director of Sustainability at Indiana University.  An architect from Indianapolis, Bill Brown was an associate partner with Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf Architects.  Has been a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) consultant on nearly a dozen projects in the past two years, including two projects with zero net energy consumption. Bill Brown joins us in the studio to talk about the next steps in creating a greener campus.  EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

In 2006 beekeepers across the country sounded the alarm as honeybee colonies began to disappear in large numbers.  "Colony Collapse Disorder” has many farmers worried.  Honeybees are critical for agricultural pollination, adding more than $15 billion in value to about 130 crops.  While some scientists have focused their research on causes of the collapse, others are advocating a new approach to agricultural pollination.  Indiana University graduate student and gardener Alex Smith joins us to share his research on native pollinators and strategies for working with native bees.  EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

In January, Bloomington became the first city in Indiana to initiate a local "Transition" organization.  As a networking coalition, Transition Bloomington seeks to respond to the challenges of peak oil, climate change, and economic uncertainty.  Founder and director of Transition Bloomington Keith Johnson joins us to discuss the transition town movement and local efforts to prepare for a post-oil society.  EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.  Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Earth Care is an interfaith organization started in late 2007 in Bloomington working to curb climate change. More than twenty different faith communities have joined the organization since its inception, including Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, and Bahai congregations. Earth Care coordinator Madi Hirschland joins us with an update on this interfaith organization and their efforts to foster education and direct action. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

"Farm to School" programs connect schools to local farms for healthy school lunches and healthy community economies. Over 8,000 schools in forty states have programs up and running, though none are in Indiana. Great Lakes Farm to School Network coordinator Sara Tedeschi delivered a speech at Bloomington City Hall, then visited the EcoReport studio to explain why Bloomington would be a perfect fit for a Farm to School program. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Bloomington native and professional planner Heidi Russell Wagner worked with Monroe County Director of Planning Greg Zody on a green rewrite of the county's landscape ordinance. Changes to the ordinance include a requirement for greater biodiversity on commercial properties, and a mandate for cleaning stormwater runoff. The new ordinance was passed into law in 2008 and is the first of its kind in the state of Indiana. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Hoosier Environmental Council executive director Jesse Kharbanda works tirelessly to improve Indiana’s transportation, agricultural, and energy policies. In 2007, Forbes Magazine ranked Indiana 49th out of 50 states for its poor environmental policies and practices and the quality of our air and water. Kharbanda discusses cleaning up our polluted waterways and other priorities for 2009. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

The Green Acres Neighborhood Garden (GANG) is a developing neighborhood permaculture garden located on the east side of Bloomington. Work began in May to convert the suburban lot from lawn to edible garden and gathering space. Green Acres resident and neighborhood activist Ann Kreilkamp hosts the garden and joins us today to discuss this new community project. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Tony Cortese is president of Second Nature, a nonprofit organization with a mission to catalyze a worldwide effort to make healthy, just, and sustainable action a foundation of all learning and practice in higher education. He says global issues are often compartmentalized, and to save the planet AND ourselves the human race will have to adopt a worldview that sees the intersection of issues like politics and the environment as inextricably intertwined. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Cynthia Brubaker is the project development coordinator of the New Wings Community Partnership, a project of Middle Way House, a non-profit serving victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse. Cynthia tells us how this project will produce the greenest woman’s shelter in the United States by renovating a former Coca-Cola bottling plant in sustainable ways. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Diane Jung is the founder of the new "Lawns for Life" working group with the City of Bloomington Environmental Commission. The group promotes healthy living lawns and educates the public on the dangers of pesticides and fertilizers with the goal of reducing toxic chemical use in Bloomington. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Our guest is Richard Wilk, professor of Anthropology and Gender Studies at Indiana University. His department has created a new PhD program in food studies. He proposes that how we eat is not only an important anthropological discipline but it is also the key to the sustainability of humans and the environment. He thinks food should be the focus of how we live on this planet. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Indiana's Citizens Action Coalition is a vocal proponent of renewable energy, conservation, energy efficiency, and customer-owned electricity generation. Program director Kerwin Olson says investment in the coal industry is undermining our state's economy and driving up electricity prices as he exposes the politics of so-called "clean coal" technology. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Elisa Pokral is the Media and Education Director for the Monroe County Solid Waste Management District. She is hoping Indiana University will become a part of the Graduate Pledge Alliance, a growing union of colleges and universities around the world incorporating a pledge into their graduation ceremonies calling on graduates to take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job or business where they might work. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Bloomington residents Michael and Maribye Becziewicz have cut the electrical usage in their home fifty percent. They have taken this important first step before installing solar panels that will eliminate their reliance on coal. Marabye and Michael discuss the challenges they faced as our guests this week in the studio. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Did you ever wonder about how you could get rid of those toxic substances that are used to make your home clean? Bloomington resident Been Estis thought about this when she started her own business, the Clean Greeners. She uses products and methods that are environmentally safe and easily accessible. Been discusses these materials and her reasons for becoming a “green cleaner”. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Bloomington’s Matt Pierce might be Indiana’s most environmentally-friendly state lawmaker. He wants to save Bloomington’s General Electric plant by giving the company economic incentives to produce green appliances; he’s still trying to require new government buildings be built according to LEED energy efficiency standards; and he’s got a new initiative that would pay homeowners for installing solar panels or wind generators. Pierce stopped by the EcoReport studio to talk about these efforts just hours after the Indiana General Assembly passed a new budget bill. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Indiana University Professor and Bloomington eastside resident Alyce Miller is concerned about the increasing tension between people and deer in urban areas of Bloomington. Worried about the potentially drastic approach some may take to solving the deer overpopulation problem, Miller decided to educate herself on ways we can live in peace with our four-legged neighbors. She joins us in the studio this week to discuss her findings. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Patti Yount with the southeastern Indiana Office of Workforce Development sees a green workforce in our state’s future. A wind turbine has eight thousand different parts, and those parts have to be produced SOMEWHERE; why not Indiana? EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Bat researcher Laura Hohman discusses an imminent threat to the endangered Indiana bat. All Indiana caves are now closed as state officials try to stop the spread of a fungal infection that has already killed half a million bats across the East Coast and now threatens the Midwest. It’s called white-nosed syndrome and is spread primarily by humans carrying its spores on our shoes and clothing. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Solar energy expert Alex Jarvis talks about his work with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, how solar energy works and how the average person can use it, and how the solar industry is in the shadow of the coal lobby. Jarvis also takes a look the electricity bill of WFHB's Keith Vogelsang in a Firehouse exclusive. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Local scientist Ellen Jacquart is Director of the new group Monroe County Identify and Reduce Invasive Species (MC IRIS). She joins us this week on EcoReport to discuss the environmental, economic and health problems caused by non-native organisms that have been introduced into our forests, farms and backyards, either by mistake or on purpose. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

The backcountry areas of the Morgan-Monroe State Forest and Yellowwood State Forest have been off-limits to logging for over thirty years, protecting this pristine wilderness and its unique ecosystem. With the possibility of timber sales now looming, that may change – but not if Christine Carmichael has anything to say about it. Christine is an activist for Indiana Forest Alliance. She joins us in the studio to explain the potential environmental and economic costs of backcountry logging as our guest this week on EcoReport. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Bloomington resident Marc Lame is Indiana University’s resident “bug guy”, an entomologist specializing in effective pest management. Lame says all pesticides are toxic, even the organic ones, and the greatest human risk is to our children. Lame says we need a paradigm shift, a fundamental change in behavior rather than relying on chemicals to rid us of uninvited creepy-crawly visitors. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Edward Morris and Susannah Sayler from the Brooklyn-based Canary Project are in Bloomington to show global photographs that use art to communicate the stark reality of global warming and promote discussion of real change. They discuss their exhibition at the Indiana University School of Fine Arts Gallery and the reasons they have taken their show on the road. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Fritz Haeg discusses how to turn your lawn into a highly productive edible landscape by replacing grass with fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Haeg is creator of the Edible Estates project, based in Minneapolis. Haeg is in Bloomington to showcase his nationwide “attack” on front lawns Friday, September 18 at Indiana University's Fine Arts building Room 015 at 5:30pm. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Indiana University students gather in front of the campus Central Heating Plant to launch a Sierra Club campaign to close IU’s coal plant and replace it with clean energy. For years, efforts to reduce pollution emissions from the plant have been stymied by funding issues. Recently two coal boilers were replaced with gas, and the remaining two coal boilers were fitted with filters to reduce emissions, but Sierra Club activists say that's not good enough as we go on-location to the Central Heating Plant. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Local resistance to the construction of Interstate 69 has been in the headlines these past few weeks after the Bloomington/Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization defied state demands to amend our local transportation plan to include a local property as I-69 right-of-way. Where the state wants to put an interchange for I-69, the city will develop an affordable housing project. It was a move activist Tom Tokarski calls “masterful”. Tom and wife Sandra have been fighting the highway for almost twenty years, through their advocacy group Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads. Tom and Sandra Tokarski bring us the latest news from the front lines of the fight to stop the highway.

Former Bloomington Mayor Tomi Allison and her husband James are excited about the upcoming Reclaiming the Commons Conference. As our guests this week on EcoReport they explain what the commons are and how corporations, as well as people, must engage in responsible stewardship of our collective environmental resources. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

The Monroe County Comprehensive Growth Policies Plan is the guide for zoning ordinances, and county commissioner Mark Stoops says we got it wrong the first time, back in 1996. The new plan identifies specific natural areas such as karst features, sinkholes, steep slopes and forestland that will be protected from development and is now ready for public input. Mark Stoops outlines the new Growth Policies Plan as our guest this week on EcoReport, a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

On Saturday people in Bloomington will gather as part of the largest global day of climate action ever with more than 2,000 rallies in 140 nations to urge world leaders to take action on global warming. This is the first global campaign ever organized around a scientific data point: 350 parts per million CO2 is the safe upper limit for the atmosphere, according to the latest scientific data. Local organizer Michael Becziewicz joins us in the studio this week to talk about the Bloomington 350 Climate Action Festival. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Bob Martin is a senior officer at the Pew Environment Group and former executive director of the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production, exposing the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in food animal production and the resulting threat to public health. Martin says the present system of producing food animals in the United States is not sustainable and presents an unacceptable level of risk to public health, damage to the environment, and unnecessary harm to the animals we raise for food. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Concerned Citizens of Crawford County is a new advocacy group comprised of people who are worried about a biomass incinerator proposed for their area. Organization spokesperson Carabeth Jones has researched the problems this plant would cause in terms of water consumption, pollution of soil and water, destruction of forests, public health, and the impact on the nearby Blue River. Carabeth Jones outlines her concerns as our guest on EcoReport, a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Last week we heard from Carabeth Jones of Concerned Citizens of Crawford County, a new advocacy group fighting a biomass incinerator proposed for their area. Jones told us about the danger to area soil and water, and this week we look at the potential problems from a different angle: the unregulated carbon that would be emitted into the atmosphere. Doctor William Sammons joins us by phone as our guest this week on EcoReport, a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Legendary Hoosier environmentalist John Blair is co-founder and president of Valley Watch, an Evansville-based organization devoted to the health and environmental integrity of the Ohio Valley in southwestern Indiana. He trained with Al Gore’s Climate Project to prepare him for public talks on global warming, but says he’s given up harping on global warming in Indiana because nobody listens. Instead Blair focuses on the public health threat from Indiana’s dirty coal plants in this WFHB radio exclusive. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

In a special Thanksgiving edition of EcoReport, correspondent Nathan Harman talks to local farmers who put food on our dinner table and re-examines the history of Thanksgiving. Join us for a celebration of the holiday through interviews, stories, and songs. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Bloomington residents Hugh Ferrell and Gina "Tiga" Wertz are expected to stand trial soon for charges associated with protests of the Interstate 69 expansion project. Both Ferrell and Wertz will be charged with two counts of intimidation, two counts conversion, and one felony count of corrupt business influence, also known as racketeering, which adds up to about twelve years prison time for each activist. Friend and fellow anti-I-69 activist Michael Luurtsema joins us in the studio to discuss the case. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Communes - they aren’t just for hippies anymore! The Bloomington Housing Cooperative is a group of students and community members who have elected to live together and share expenses in a multiple-bedroom home in the city. Members Laura Nading and Zach Obst talk about the challenges and benefits of unrelated people living together as our guests this week on EcoReport, a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Carolyn Waldron is the new director of the Indiana Law Program in the Maurer School of Law in Bloomington. She wants to use students to power local non-profit conservation organizations, putting them to work on common challenges facing those groups. She is interested in building coalitions among the School of Law and the School for Public and Environmental Affairs and non-profit conservation groups and local sustainability projects. Carolyn Waldron joins us in the studio as our guest this week on EcoReport, a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

The Raging Grannies are old ladies who sing their hearts out about the environment and anything else that bugs them. In a special Christmas edition of EcoReport, producer Lucille Bertuccio spends the entire show with the Grannies talking about activism and singing music with a message. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

The Southern Indiana Renewable Energy Network has launched an Energy Showdown for 2010, offering prizes to Monroe County households that go green this year. All local residents are invited to take the challenge and see if YOU can reduce your energy consumption. Prizes will be awarded at the end of each three-month interval, and the household with the greatest energy savings for the year wins the grand prize, a solar panel photovoltaic system. Contest organizer Jack Urrutia joins us in the studio as our guest this week on EcoReport, a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Lee Jones is a Bloomington resident and longtime organic farmer. She is also the administrative assistant to the Director of Utilities for the City of Bloomington. Lee explains how CBU landscaped their grounds to provide food, shelter, water and places for native wildlife to raise their young as our guest this week on EcoReport, a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Diana Leafe Christian is author of “Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities”. Christian was the keynote speaker at Bloomington’s latest Simply Living Fair, speaking on the concept of the “ecovillage” or “intentional community”. Diana says our community is perfect for development of the ecovillage model. Find out what it is and what is does in a WFHB exclusive. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

A coalition of environmental organizations say Indiana pollution rules don’t meet Clean Water Act standards and are asking the Environmental Protection Agency to intervene. The Hoosier Environmental Council, the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter and the Environmental Law & Policy Center have submitted a petition that asks the EPA to correct serious flaws in the Indiana water pollution control program, administered by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Indiana has failed to adopt “antidegradation” rules that are a fundamental part of the Clean Water Act, designed to prevent new or expanded sources of pollution from degrading Indiana’s rivers, lakes and streams. Though this requirement has been part of the Clean Water Act for decades, Indiana has never implemented it.

The Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival is the largest festival of its kind, showcasing films that tell a story about our planet. The festival is on tour to inspire activism in communities like Bloomington, where the featured films will focus on the theme of food. The Indiana Forest Alliance is coordinating the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival in Bloomington on February 25, and IFA director Rhonda Baird joins us in the studio as our guest this week on EcoReport, a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Joel Salatin is the irreverent and passionate voice heard in Michael Pollan's bestseller “The Omnivore's Dilemma”. This Virginia farmer and food activist runs Polyface Farm and was keynote speaker at the recent Bloomington Eats Green conference. Salatin talks about healing the land, healing the food, and healing our culture in a WFHB radio exclusive. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Kerwin Olson is an activist with Indiana’s Citizens Action Coalition. The CAC is fighting a new state bill that could give corporations the right to force purchases of private property for a pipeline that would carry CO2 emissions from Indiana coal plants. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Blooomington already has a thriving community market and community gardens, so why not a community orchard? Bloomington native Amy Countryman is a single mom and a student at Indiana University’s School of Public And Environmental Affairs. She’s working with the city parks and rec department and urban forester Lee Huss to launch a public orchard, planted, maintained and harvested by the people of Bloomington. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

March is Peak Oil Month here at EcoReport, and Greg Travis is a member of our local peak oil task force. Travis paints a bleak picture of a world paralyzed by declining petroleum resources as our first guest in a special four-part series on Peak Oil. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

March is Peak Oil Month here at EcoReport, examining a world paralyzed by declining petroleum resources as outlined in a report the Bloomington Peak Oil Task Force submitted to the Bloomington City Council, which approved the report in December. Is Bloomington is ready for a world without oil? Gary Charbonneau and city councilmember Dave Rollo are members of the local task force, joining us in the studio as our guests in the second installment of our special four-part series on Peak Oil. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Is Bloomington is ready for a world without oil? March is Peak Oil Month here at EcoReport, examining a world paralyzed by declining petroleum resources, as outlined in a report the Bloomington Peak Oil Task Force submitted to the Bloomington City Council, which approved the report in December. Christine Glaser is a member of the local task force, focusing on transportation issues in the third installment of our special four-part series on Peak Oil. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Is Bloomington is ready for a world without oil? March is Peak Oil Month here at EcoReport, examining a world paralyzed by declining petroleum resources, as outlined in a report generated by the Bloomington Peak Oil Task Force and ratified by the Bloomington City Council. Peter Bane is a member of the local task force. As an expert in permaculture and food systems, Bane discusses local sustenance planning when petroleum supplies diminish in the final installment of our four-part series on Peak Oil. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live.

Professor Rafael Reuveny of Indiana University's School for Environmental and Public Affairs examines how human-induced climate change affects human migrations and the effects this has on the developed and developing world. He joins us in the studio as our guest this week on EcoReport, a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Dex Conaway is a member of Transition Town Bloomington, a coalition of local activists developing a community response to global environmental problems. In the first of our three-part series on the Transition Town movement, Conaway joins us in the studio to explain how the triple threat of global climate change, peak oil and economic meltdown can be viewed as an opportunity for positive change. EcoReport is a weekly program providing independent media coverage of environmental and ecological issues with a focus on local, state and regional people, issues, and events in order to foster open discussion of human relationships with nature and the Earth and to encourage you to take personal responsibility for the world in which we live. Each program features timely eco-related headline news, a feature interview or event recording, and a calendar of events of interest to the environmentally conscious.

Ann Kreilkamp is a member of Transition Town Bloomington, a coalition of local activists developing a community response to global environmental problems. Kreilkamp is working with the City of Bloomington to provide support for local neighborhoods in the coming era of resource depletion.

Daniel Baron is a member of Transition Town Bloomington, a coalition of local activists developing a community response to global environmental problems. Baron believes that so-called “open space technology” is the next platform for developing solutions to our future environmental challenges. Baron joins us in the studio this week on EcoReport in the final installment of our three-part series on the Transition Town movement.

Keith Johnson is an expert in permaculture, an approach to designing human settlements and agricultural systems that mimic the relationships found in natural ecologies.

It happens every year in Bloomington right after college graduation: literally tons and tons of furniture and household items tossed aside by Indiana University students at the end of the school year. But a new program at IU Bloomington is hoping to keep that stuff out of the dumpster and find new homes for reusable items through local social service agencies. Called “Hoosier to Hoosier”, the program will sponsor drop-off days during the summer and plans are also in the works to pilot on-site collection this summer at apartment complexes and other off-campus student housing.

At only thirty-six years of age, Julia Butterfly Hill is already a legend in the American environmentalist movement. Hill is best known for living in a California Redwood tree for two years to stop loggers from cutting it down. The experience changed her life, and today Hill is an internationally known author and inspirational speaker. Last month Julia Butterfly Hill came to Bloomington to talk about living a life of passion, purpose, and power. She encourages YOU to “live like you mean it” - transforming inspiration into action, in this EcoReport exclusive interview.

Eco Logic is a Bloomington-based employee-owned business hired to clean up the banks of Indiana University’s Jordan River and restore a portion of this creek flowing through campus to its original habitat using native plants. It’s called ecological restoration, and if you’ve ever been to Bloomington’s Bryan Park, you’ve already seen it in action. The creek running through the park has been meticulously restored and Mother Nature has taken it back as a wildlife habitat.

Recently the Indiana Department of Transportation started the bidding process for the State Road 45/46 Bypass expansion on the city’s east side, at an estimated cost of $23.5 million. After city council member Andy Ruff spoke out against the plan, sixth district Councilman Steve Volan conducted several workshops to discuss the INDOT plan. Volan says the plan doesn’t do enough to enhance bicycle and pedestrian safety. He also thinks expanding the road will only aggravate traffic congestion along that corridor.

Bloomington Transit is going green. From hybrid electric buses to the new downtown bus depot currently under construction, BT is looking for ways to increase bus ridership while at the same time minimizing the environmental impact of mass transit.

Samuel Flenner is an independent consultant for the Environmental Integrity Project, a Washington DC-based non-profit. Sam grew up in Northern Indiana along the shores of Lake Michigan and is concerned about the effect of coal ash slurry on our waters. He works to tighten regulation of toxic waste from coal combustion.

Will Allen is a self-described urban agriculturalist who uses a holistic farming model customized for urban settings. On the heels of two White House appearances and fresh from inclusion last month on Time magazine's list of the "100 most influential people in the world," Will Allen was in Bloomington recently to deliver the keynote address for Indiana University’s "Food In Bloom" conference. Allen talks about healthy lifestyles and a sustainable planet in a tagteam interview hosted by Annie Corrigan of WFIU’s Earth Eats with help from EcoReport’s own Lucille Bertuccio.

Steve Bonney is a local organic farmer who once ran for governor after getting fed up with state environmental policies serving special interests instead of the people. Bonney is coordinating this weekend’s Sustainable Living Fair in Indianapolis, featuring a variety of workshops and seminars for people AND the planet.

Indiana University professor Elinor Ostrom is the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Economics and the first political scientist to win in economics. Ostrom’s research focuses on “the commons,” the concept of public resources that are owned by EVERYone and not by SOMEone…like our public lands, or even the Internet. Ostrom received the Nobel Prize for her work debunking the notion that a lack of central ownership spoils common resources.

Nearly 100,000 online votes have won Bloomington 20 organic fruit trees from the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, a California-based non-profit that is giving away 100 trees every month to communities who organize an orchard. The Bloomington Community Orchard Project will plant the trees in a city park near the Monroe County YMCA. Correspondent John Patishnock sat down with orchard organizers Amy Countryman and Shaun Ziegler in this WFHB exclusive.

Jacqui Bauer is Bloomington's first Sustainability Coordinator, hired on Earth Day to plan, lead, and coordinate sustainability initiatives for Bloomington. Bauer currently serves as co-chair of the IU Resource Use and Recycling Workgroup and is a member of the city’s Environmental Commission. We brought Bauer to WFHB for her first studio interview since becoming Bloomington’s first city administrator focused solely on sustainability.

Indiana University Professor Chris Craft says coastal Louisiana wetlands may be on the brink of survival, pushed over the edge by the failed British Petroleum oil well that until recently was spewing 30,000 barrels of oil a day into the Gulf of Mexico. Craft says that gulf wetlands have been under siege for more than a century as a result of natural and human-caused activities.

Widening of the State Road 45/46 bypass has begun…but not without opposition. The local group Bloomington Transportation Options for People has released a report entitled “Bypassing Good Judgment: INDOT and the Overexpansion of the SR 45/46 Bypass”.