Earthbeat Radio

A discussion of a proposed law in India that would prohibit people from talking about genetically modified food. Plus, Monsanto is trying to force farmers to use their genetically modified alfalfa seed – because it is modified to resist Monsanto’s “Round up” herbicides and why is the 2nd richest man in New York secretly funding climate change deniers?

A special one-hour interview with Dr. James Hansen, NASA's top climate scientist, as an Earth Day 40th anniversary special.　Dr. Hansen discusses the role of nuclear power in the climate crisis, the need for alternatives to cap and trade as a solution to climate change, and the possibilities that Earth will become like Venus due to fossil fuel consumption.　

Adding insult to injury, residents all along the Gulf Coast are gutting their houses because they were rebuilt after Hurricanes Rita and Katrina with toxic drywall. Jim Vallette of the Healthy Building Network explains how the drywall came to include toxic ash and other wastes from coal-fired power plants in China. And, the World Bank has approved a loan that will create one of the world's largest coal-fired power plants. The plant emits 23 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. Desmond D'Sa of the Environmental Alliance of South Africa talks about the project.

Tyson Slocum, the director of the energy program for the group Public Citizen and Caroline Cannon, president of the native village of Point Hope on Alaska's North Slope, discuss President Obama’s decision to expand off shore oil drilling in Alaska and elsewhere, and, a victory in the fight against mountaintop removal mining.

An upcoming US Supreme Court Case reviews the Center for Food Safety's legal victory banning the sale and planting of Monsanto's genetically altered alfalfa. 　The case mirrors a battle over genetically altered eggplants in India. Daphne Wysham speaks to the Center's founder, Andrew Kimbrell and a new report shows how the second richest man in New York is quietly funding climate deniers. We speak to Kert Davies of Greenpeace USA about how David Koch is pouring millions into climate denial campaigns.

Fracking for natural gas can cause flames to shoot out of water faucets and pollute groundwater with unknown chemicals - and yet the EPA has little authority to this process used by the natural gas industry in 38 states. Daphne Wysham speaks to Abrahm Lustgarten about the articles he's written about fracking for the non-profit investigative journalism group - ProPublica

Environmental activist Mike Roselle faces charges of trespassing, obstruction, contempt of court, and the defiance of a temporary restraining order - so all is going to plan for this Kentucky native.　Mike is the author of the book 'Tree Spiker' and the co-founder of several groups including Earth First!, the Ruckus Society and the Rainforest Action Network. He's just been released from jail in West Virginia for his nonviolent work against mountaintop removal mining with Climate Ground Zero.

Billionaires Bill Gates and Richard Branson are funneling millions of dollars into far-out solutions to climate change. It's called geoengineering and these high-risk, planet-altering schemes are already underway. 　And, the sweet smell of success on coal-fired power. Bruce Nilles, the director of the Sierra Club's national coal campaign, discusses how nearly all of the 150 planned coal-fired power plants have been stopped nationwide.

In this rebroadcast of an earlier Earthbeat, Mike Tidwell discusses how the White House held closed-door meetings that may result in HFCs becoming a bargaining chip on the worldwide carbon market with David Sassoon, the editor of the website Solve Climate. Also, how a DC lobbying group forged anti-climate letters - pretending to be grassroots African-American and Hispanic non-profits groups in Virginia and Joe Romm, editor of the website Climate Progress, discusses the lack of progress on the nightly news in efforts to educate the public about climate change.

'Clean Coal' has been the rallying call of the coal industry in America, but as author and activist Jeff Biggers explains to Earthbeat host Daphne Wysham, it's actually a strategy that the dirty industry has used throughout history to push back on any types of restrictions on coal mining.　

Mike Tidwell discusses the implications of the Supreme Court vote with Rich Thomas, the general counsel and senior vice president of the League of Conservation Voters, also, the election to the US Senate of a Republican from Massachusetts – Scott Brown is discussed by two environmentalists who know Brown more than most. Jack Clarke is the director of public policy for Mass Audubo and Lora Wondolowski, the executive director for the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters.

While the US Senate continues to stall on climate change, there are allegations that oil companies are writing legislation being sponsored by Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski. Steven Biel of MoveOn.org and Courtney Abrams of Environment America share what they know about the charges. Then, a discussion of presidential power and climate change with Kevin Bundy of the Center for Biological Diversity. And, a critical discussion on agriculture and climate change with Rachel Smolker of BioFuel.

Mike Tidwell reviews two Senators, one from Montana and one from Louisiana, who are obstructing climate change legislation. Both come from powerful political families, both are Democrats, and both represent states that are uniquely affected by climate change. Then, the recent explosion in solar energy across America. Solar power is stronger, faster and cheaper than ever before. Joining us to discuss solar is author Amanda Little.

Nuclear power proponents say it's 'clean energy' because, unlike coal-fired power plants, nuclear power doesn't produce carbon dioxide. In this encore episode we hear from Dr. Helen Caldicott the author of Nuclear Power is Not the Answer on the dangers of nuclear power. Plus, Pete Altman, the climate campaign director for the Natural Resources Defense Council talks about what the resignation of major companies from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce may mean to the fight to halt climate change.

It's a sooty, black substance that holds great promise for not only slowing down climate change - but actually reversing it. In this encore episode of Earthbeat, Mike Tidwell discusses the promise of biochar with Durwood Zaelke, the president and founder of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development. And, the connections between population and climate change go far beyond the recent comments by conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh.