Rss Feed
Tweeter button
Facebook button
Myspace button
Digg button
Flickr button

Archive for category Science

Dr. Kerry Crofton, PhD. – “Wireless Radiation Rescue” – Mobile Phone Alert

by Jim Swanson
Progressive News Radio

RUNNING TIME – 22:07

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast [22:07m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Electro-pollution is a relative new term being used by physician’s and scientists who are studying the effects of radiation on humans.

The argument continues as to whether cell phones are causing major damage to our brains from emitted radiation said to cause brain tumors. While the usual doubter’s say “the jury is still out”, Dr. Kerry Crofton, Phd. (pictured at left) says, in fact, the jury is IN on cell phone radiation as well as that of laptop computers and wireless routers. (Laptop computers MAY effect an unborn child)

Her book “Wireless Radiation Rescue” (published by Global Wellbeing Books) explains in great detail the dangers that await those of us who use wireless routers for our computers, laptops, cellphone and microwave ovens.

Dr. Crofton joins us on this edition of Progressive News Radio not to yell “The sky is falling“, but to tell us the dangers AND what we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

Dr. Crofton’s Bio
Dr. Kelly Crofton, PhD. has a doctorate in health psychology, and her thirty years of professional work includes: a clinical practice, developing and delivering wellness programs for air traffic controllers, commercial and fighter pilots, nurses, teachers, parents, and others in high-stress occupations. She has directed a hospital-based cardiac program, and co-produced a television program on heart health.

LINKS:
Radiation Rescue Website

You can buy “Wireless Radiation Rescue”
at the Amazon link below

Tags: , , , , , ,

Mark W. Moffett, Author of “Adventures Among Ants” (University of California Press)

by Jim Swanson
Progressive News Radio

RUNNING TIME – 24:56

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast [24:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Mark Moffett

When I first thought about interviewing Mark Moffett, the author of “Adventures Among Ants: A Global Safari with A Cast of Trillions“, I was first curious as to what I could possibly ask him about ants. After all, how many of us see ants in the house and scurry to squash them? Or as kids, how many of us used to burn their little tails using the sunlight through a magnifying glass? (Guilty! – Sorry, Mark)

Then I read through his book “Adventures Among Ants” and found the book exceptionally interesting as well as informative and entertaining. Mark, as a photographer has had more than 500 of his photographs published in National Geographic Magazine. His talents for photography shine through with some of the most amazing pictures of our little friends that I have ever seen.

I was really surprised at what ants do when we’re not looking (which is most of the time). They travel in huge mass populations, help our eco-system and attack each others colonies. The queen ant is the only one who reproduces, as the males have sex, then die. (Been there a time or two myself)

In this interview, you’ll be truly amazed at Mark’s findings, where he has studied all over the world from The Amazon to California and plenty of spots within.

Be sure to take a look for and buy his book, “Adventures Among Ants: A Global Safari With A Cast of Trillions“. You’ll see some links below for the book and Mark’s websites.

Mark Moffett’s website include:
Adventures Among Ants.com
Doctor Bugs.com
You can purchase “Adventures Among Ants” directly
from The University of California Press HERE

Or at Amazon.com (click the book cover below)

Tags: , , , ,

Conversation with Author James Howard Kunstler

by Jim Swanson
Progressive News Radio

RUNNING TIME – 22:44

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast [22:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Most of my day is spent looking at a large number of websites to search for the most interesting topics I can bring to the table for Progressive News Radio.

(Photo by Cal Crary)

I was intrigued and frightened after I had read an article written by author James Howard Kunstler called “Which Horizon”. I was intrigued and frightened enough by his article to contact Mr. Kunstler and asked him to appear with us on Progressive News Radio. He graciously accepted the invitation.

The article “Which Horizon” (which is available to read on his website), deals with the recent oil spill courtesy of British Petroleum.

As we hear worse news every day about the consequences of this environmental catastrophe, James spoke with us about the spill, its consequences for us as a country, its economic impact, the price of gasoline and how we need to start thinking about getting off our addiction to oil NOW.

(click image for larger size)

His website provides you a tremendous amount of material: Past articles by James, his podcast (Kunsterlcast), his paintings as well as a list of his many books and where to buy them (we both strongly suggest an independent book seller) He is best know for the book “The Long Emergency” as well as “The Geography of Nowhere” and many others.

Our thanks again to James for his time and insight. From speaking with him on the phone for about a half hour, he also appears to be one helluva nice guy to sit down and talk over a beer.

Tags: ,

Childhood Obesity – An Interview with Lisa Bennett from The Center For Ecoliteracy

by Jim Swanson
Progressive News Radio

RUNNING TIME – 18:36

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast [18:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In today’s world of fast foods, two parents working, video games, television and an increasing supply of “junk food”, children are becoming more and more dangerous to themselves in regards to childhood obesity.

Today’s generation of children are more apt to grow older with Diabetes, heart disease and other serious health issues that aside from having their lives at risk, will cause health care costs to skyrocket even farther.

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Lisa Bennett (pictured left) from The Center for Ecoliteracy. Lisa is also co-author of “Smart By Nature: Schooling for Sustainability” (Watershed Media/U.C. Press, 2009)(links to purchase the book are below).

In this interview, Lisa speaks with us about the importance of nutrition for children and the need for sweeping changes in school lunch programs.

Even a retired Rear Admiral from the United States Navy has said that today’s children will be unfit for the military when they come of age. (STORY HERE)

You can find out more about the “Center for Ecoliteracy” HERE
Purchase Lisa’s co-authored book “Smart By Nature” at THIS LINK or below

More about Lisa Bennett

Lisa Bennett, communications director, is a former fellow at Harvard University’s Center on Press, Politics, and Public Policy in the John F. Kennedy School of Government. She is a contributor to the Center for Ecoliteracy’s book,  Smart by Nature: Schooling for Sustainability (Watershed Media/University of California Press, 2009)…. Her writing has appeared in many newspapers, magazines, and blogs, including The New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, Chronicle of Higher Education, Education Week, and Huffington Post. She has spoken at the National Press Club and appeared on numerous television and radio programs.


Tags: , , , ,

Interview with Melanie Lenart, Author of “Life In The Hothouse”

by Jim Swanson
Progressive News Radio

Running Time – 18:20

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast [18:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Environmentally, most of us know that if we don’t do something to stop or slow down the amount of carbon dioxide being pumped into the atmosphere, we are all in deep trouble. A climate bill is stalled as legislation in Congress, but the action WE as citizens of the United States must do is act now.

Fortunately, we do have some help. Earth itself works to cool itself by creating more hurricanes, storms, rain, flooding, snow, etc. to stave off a mammoth heatwave.

This is where Melanie Lenart comes into the picture. Melanie has a new book that has just been published by The University of Arizona Press titled “Life In The Hothouse: How a Living Planet Survives Climate Change”.

Melanie’s scientific accounts and explanation of this phenomena are easy to understand in her book and make for some compelling reading and learning about Earth’s own “thermostat”. “Life In The Hothouse” gets a little bit scientific, but Melanie does a stellar job in helping us to get a grasp on the concept and simply understand it.

We recently spoke with Melanie about her book and the Earth’s efforts to cool itself. (Podcast of the interview is above)

Have a listen to the interview and then buy her book and see how we can help Earth help itself.

Melanie’s book is also available at The University of Arizona Press bookstore HERE.

Melanie Lenart’s Biography:
Melanie Lenart is an environmental scientist and writer. Since 1996, she has dedicated most of her time to understanding how the planet changes with climate — and conveying this information to the public.

After receiving her Ph.D. in Natural Resources and Global Change (2003) from the University of Arizona in Tucson, she took a postdoctoral research position with the UA’s Institute for the Study of Planet Earth, now the Institute of the Environment (IE). In this position, Lenart worked to inform a variety of stakeholders throughout the Southwest on climate variability and change.

Lenart also holds a master’s degree in forestry (1992) from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and a bachelor’s degree in journalism (1984) from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Her scientific research has involved studying carbon cycling, the effect of high carbon dioxide levels on plants, tree-ring dating and tree uprooting dynamics. She has explored both physical and social questions working in subtropical, temperate and tropical forests.

From 1982 through 1996, she worked primarily as a newspaper reporter and editor, including at Puerto Rico’s English-language daily newspaper The San Juan Star and several papers in the Chicago area. Since then, she has continued to report on climate and its impacts for a variety of venues, including Landscape Architecture and Nature Reports Climate Change. She teaches environmental writing at the university and in workshops.

Tags: , , , , ,