Green Root Podcast

Local Government AXES Forests and Democracy

On episode 88 of the Green Root Podcast—the official podcast of Eco-Integrity Alliance—we unearth an alarming level of public forest destruction, science denial, and sidestepping of participatory democracy in Jefferson County, Colorado with citizen advocate Mike Rawluk.

Host Josh Schlossberg talks with Mike about:

-How he went from being an unwitting supporter of “wildfire fuel reduction” to speaking out about the unprecedented level of aggressive and scientifically-contested logging in Jefferson County Open Space (including clearcutting and removal of mature and old-growth trees up to 211 years old)

-His concerns with opening forests to wind that can spread fires quicker to communities, cut off escape routes, and endanger firefighter

-What he believes we should do about local, state, and federal government increasingly cutting the public out of decision making on crucial issues that impact our environment, safety, and lives.

Public Forests as Climate Refuges (with Rick Bass, Yaak Valley Forest Council)

On episode 87 of the Green Root Podcast—the official podcast of Eco-Integrity Alliance—we celebrate the campaign to protect public forests as climate refuges with Rick Bass, Executive Director of the Yaak Valley Forest Council.

Host Josh Schlossberg talks with Rick Bass about his organization’s work defending the uniquely biodiverse Yaak Valley in northwestern Montana; their success in stopping (for now) the U.S. Forest Service’s “Black Ram” old-growth logging project; their strategy to turn the eco-region into a Climate Refuge connected to a globe-spanning “Curtain of Green”; the creation of an acoustic guitar from an ancient spruce (damaged by Forest Service roadbuilding) as an advocacy tool; and the role of music and storytelling in fostering a culture of nature lovers.  

The mission of Eco-Integrity Alliance (eco-integrityalliance.org) is to unite U.S. grassroots ecosystem advocates through common campaigns of mutual support.

Mining Sacred Lands (with Dov Korff-Korn, Sacred Defense Fund)

On episode 86 of the Green Root Podcast—the official podcast of Eco-Integrity Alliance—we delve deep into the ecological, physical, cultural, and spiritual harm caused by mining public lands with Dov Korff-Korn, legal director of the Sacred Defense Fund.

Host Josh Schlossberg talks with Dov Korff-Korn about his work as an attorney with the Lakota People’s Law Project to defend Indigenous lands and sacred sites from extractive industry; the impacts of a graphite mine proposed for the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota, a sacred site known as Pe'Sla to the Lakota People; and how our movements might bring people of all backgrounds together to protect public lands from extraction.

The mission of Eco-Integrity Alliance (eco-integrityalliance.org) is to unite U.S. grassroots ecosystem advocates through common campaigns of mutual support.

Why Can't Activism Be More Fun?

On episode 85 of the Green Root Podcast, we question whether anger is always the best fuel for activism, while pondering some ways we might make our campaigns more enjoyable, welcoming, and effective.

Trump's First 100 Days on Public Lands

On episode 84 of the Green Root Podcast—the official podcast of Eco-Integrity Alliance—we take another trip to Capitol Hill with Jennifer Mamola, Policy and Advocacy Director for John Muir Project, who fills us in on the nasty details of the havoc President Trump has wreaked on public lands in the first 100 days of his second term.

Where Are The DRUIDS?

On episode 83 of the Green Root Podcast, we somewhat seriously ponder whether a return of the ancient Celtic nature priests known as the Druids might be the answer to solving the ecological crisis.

In this short video essay, we point out the ongoing challenges of harnessing science and grassroots organizing for ecosystem protection as industry, elected officials, and government agencies team up with biased media to promote anti-environmental propaganda while demonizing—or at best, ignoring—ecosystem advocates.

We suggest that combining science-based advocacy with a rekindling of our spiritual connection to the Earth—a deep reverence for the natural world that is the source of all life—might be what’s needed to stop the Sixth Great Extinction.

F*** Our Forests Act (w/ Rocky Smith, Forest Management Analyst)

On episode 82 of the Green Root Podcast, Rocky Smith, forest management analyst, filibusters with host Josh Schlossberg to tear apart the Orwellian “Fix Our Forests” Act—one of the most destructive anti-environmental bills in modern history—and show you how to fight it.

Contact your Senators today and ask them to oppose “Fix Our Forests” and instead advance legislation to preserve our biodiverse, carbon-storing forests: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

The Clearcut Cult

On episode 81 of the Green Root Podcast, we call out the well-monied and influential backers of what’s turning out to be one of the most destructive anti-environmental schemes in modern U.S. history.

Why the Environmental Movement Keeps LOSING

On episode 80 of the Green Root Podcast, host Josh Schlossberg offers a heartfelt take on what he believes much of the grassroots “environmental” movement might be missing that’s keeping us from genuinely protecting the natural ecosystems that sustain all life of Earth.

MYTH-BUSTING “BIOMASS” ENERGY (with Adam Colette, Dogwood Alliance and Alex Budd, PNW Forest Climate Alliance)

On episode 79 of the Green Root Podcast—the official podcast of Eco-Integrity Alliance—Adam Colette of Dogwood Alliance and Alex Budd of Pacific Northwest Forest Climate Alliance join host Josh Schlossberg to myth-bust the greenwashing of forest “biomass” energy as “clean, green, and renewable” and invite you to the Break Big Biomass National Call to Action on April 7.

The mission of Eco-Integrity Alliance (eco-integrityalliance.org) is to unite the U.S. grassroots environmental movement through common campaigns of mutual support.