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Go with Green Media

Alex Smith | 25.03.2012 05:46 | Ecology | Other Press | Sheffield

How can we be optimistic, facing global challenges? Publisher of The Mother Earth News & Utne Reader, Bryan Welch explains. Ecoshock's Gerri Williams takes us to the D.C. Environmental Film Festival. Harry Lynch, Director of "Switch" on the search for energy replacements. Alexandra Cousteau on National Geographic film "Blue Planet North America Expedition".

Ecoshock 120321 Lo-Fi - mp3 14M


This week on Radio Ecoshock, we go green media. You hear an interview with Bryan Welch, publisher of the Mother Earth News and the Utne Reader.

When I tell alternative media mogul Bryan Welch that my program is among the most depressing on radio, due to our inability to handle climate change, energy, economy or politics - he understands.

But Welch comes back with his operating method of optimism. Can he convince us?

Then off to the D.C. Environmental Film Festival, to talk with directors and producers of the energy film "Switch" and previews of the "Blue Planet North America Expedition".

Radio Ecoshock correspondent Gerri Williams is joined in our Washington Pacifica studios of WPFW by Alexandra Cousteau, and film-makers Robert Cole and Harry Lynch.

The film "Switch" is difficult to classify. I'd recommend seeing it, for the normally hidden vistas of giant energy production facilities. But keep your eyes open for the hidden conclusions.... just saying. The featured scientist has lots of links to the oil industry. An outfit called the American Geosciences Institute plans to distribute this film as part of teaching materials in American classrooms.

My own reaction is "Switch" assumes the whole world will gear up to our present energy consumption - which even we can't maintain as Peak Oil, climate change and the banking fraud continue. There is less talk of reducing consumerism, or energy descent.

But do listen to this radio interview for the innovative new ideas for communication, including the ability to assemble your own film on the Net, something we all should aim for. Find out more about "Switch" here:  http://www.switchenergyproject.com/

Then we move to another interview by Gerri Williams, from the D.C. studios of the non-profit giant Pacifica WPFW.

Yes, Alexandra Cousteau is the granddaughter of the famous underwater film maker Jacques Cousteau. Alexandra learned to dive at age 7. She's just finished a tour, and a film, about the magic and the sad state of American Rivers.

Robert Cole made his documentary about the reason Washington D.C. exists at all - the Potomac River - 25 years ago. Not enough has changed.

From magazines to film, there is another current flowing in America.

Download/listen to a CD Quality version of this week's Radio Ecoshock show here:
 http://www.ecoshock.net/eshock12/ES_120321_Show.mp3

Alex Smith
- Homepage: http://www.ecoshock.org