Editor: Jan Weaver
422 Tucker Hall, MU Campus
Environmental Heroes
by Jan Weaver
Every year for the last 17 years, the Goldman Environmental Prize has been awarded to a person or organization on each of the five continents and the island nations for their efforts to protect environmental quality. In these cases, as in many others, the conflict is not between people and nature, it is between people who depend on clean, healthy ecosystems for their livelihood and people who have no qualms about destroying those ecosystems for their short term economic gain.
Africa: At great risk to his own life, 36 year old Silas Kpanan'Ayoung Siakor collected records detailing Liberian President Charles Taylor's use of illegal logging profits to fund a 14 year civil war. His report to the UN Security Council led to a ban on the export of Liberian timber, undercutting the use of its profits to fund Taylor's continued abuse of power. Since Taylor's ouster in 2003, Siakor has been working to create sustainable timber policies through the Forest People's Congress and is working with the US State Department on a $4 million Liberian Forest Initiative.
Asia: Yu Xiaogang, 55, has harnessed environmental sustainability to grassroots democracy in China by successfully rebuilding the economic health of communities at Lashi Lake. The area's economy was devastated by the construction of a dam that wiped out local agriculture and then local fishing. Through a combination of watershed management, community fisheries, minority women's schools and micro-credit programs, Yu empowered the villagers and restored their economic vitality. Since then, he has helped other communities to resist dam building projects. As a result, several dam projects have been suspended by Premier Wen Jiabao.
Europe: Olya Melen, a 26 year old lawyer from the Ukraine has temporarily halted the construction of a canal that would have cut through the center of the Danube Delta. This project, begun without public notice, and in violation of both national and international environmental laws, was begun in 2004 to create a channel to allow large ships to travel directly between the Danube and the Black Sea. In her first court appearance, Melen was able to show that the Ministry of the Environment had failed to follow its own laws in justifying the need for the canal in the face of its damage to the biodiversity and functioning of the Danube Delta.
Island Nations: Anne Kajir, a 32 year old attorney in Papua New Guinea, uncovered evidence of the government's widespread complicity in the illegal logging that was destroying the largest remaining block of tropical forest in the Asian Pacific. Because of government corruption, timber firms ignored the restrictions of legal permits and even terrorized local communities into signing over their land rights. Because of her work, she has been physically attacked and robbers have forced their way into her home to steal her computer, with files on all her legal cases.
North America: Fifty eight year old Craig Williams is a decorated Vietnam War veteran who has been working since 1985 to get the Pentagon to stop using incineration as a way to dispose of the 24,000 tons of obsolete chemical weapons stored around the United States. After learning of the army's plan to build an incinerator in his community, Williams started the Chemical Weapons Working Group to demand safe disposal solutions from the army and openness about its decision making. Since then, the Pentagon has developed a water based method of disposal.
South/Central America: In the remote northern Amazon of Brazil, Tarcisio Feitosa da Silva, 35, has been working for more than 10 years to end illegal logging and the human rights abuses that accompany it. In the face of continued assassinations of his colleagues, Feitosa has collected evidence of illegal logging and tipped off government officials who were able to seize 6000 illegally cut mahogany trees. Another 2000 logs were recovered in a protest organized by Feitosa that blocked barges from carrying the illegal cargo downriver.
2006 Peter Raven Environmental Leadership Award: The University of Missouri has its own environmental heroes, recognized each year with the Raven Award. This year's winner is Adam Saunders, an undergraduate in forestry and statistics whose long term goal is to create forests along big river floodplains that serve the needs of nature as well as of people. He just finished his term as president of Sustain Mizzou - a year that saw the organization double the amount of funds raised in its local food for local people campaign, increase its standing in the nationwide Recyclemania competition - going from near last to mid-pack, receive recognition as a 501c3 organization from the IRS, and win the Department of Student Life's Most Outstanding Large Student Organization Award . However his most notable accomplishment was organizing student volunteers -pretty much at the last minute - to collect and recycle containers from all of MU's home football games. Over 6 Saturdays in fall, dozens of MU students put in hundreds of hours with the MU Solid Waste coordinator and city staff to recycle 12 tons of cans and bottles, diving into trash cans to recover half emptied containers and scrounging flattened empties from around tailgate parties. Adam Saunders called for volunteers, organized work schedules, sent reminders, trained volunteers and developed leadership potential in every student who was involved.
More Information:
Goldman Environmental Prize - http://www.goldmanprize.org/theprize/about
Sustain Mizzou - http://students.missouri.edu/~sustainmizzou/
BioRegional Quiz: What is the annual value of ecosystem services provided by an average Columbia yard?
a) $50 b) $100 c) >$100?
Job of the Month: GRACE's Sustainable Table program Media Relations Manager New York City
Responsibilities: develop media campaigns and media-related activities (Meatrix, Eat Well Guide, Factory Farm Project), write and disseminate press releases, cultivate media, on-line and off, develop media strategies, daily blog entries, pitching ideas, tracking interview requests, maintaining and developing press contacts, developing Sustainable Table newsletter, updating news pages on web sites, editing and proofreading, assembling media kits, other projects. Qualifications: must have prior press experience, 2 years in public/media relations, excellent written and verbal skills (2 writing samples required), reliable, self-motivated, able to take direction but work independently, excellent computer skills (Word and Excel), commitment to environment, degree in writing, journalism or equivalent. See full description and details at http://www.ecoemploy.com/jobs/media.html
Special Events/Programs/Classes/Talks The days are just packed!
MOVIE WITH A MESSAGE: Friday May 5, 6:30 pm, Unitarian Universalist Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd. "The Power of Community ˆ How Cuba Survived Peak Oil"
ANT MOVIE: Saturday May 6, 9 -10 am, Monsanto Aud, Life Sci Bldg, MU, award winning feature film "Ants, the Secret Power of Nature" produced and presented by Pulitzer Prize winner Bert Holldobler.
OSAGE RIVER CLEAN UP: Saturday May 6, 9 am - 3 pm , Bonnot's Mill boat ramp, wear work clothes, sturdy shoes, bring reusable beverage container - you'll get lunch and a free river ride. riverrelief.org for details
WILDFLOWER WALKS: Wednesdays thru May 17, 5:30 pm, Devil's Icebox parking lot, Rock Bridge State Park.
BIKE WALK AND WHEEL WEEK: May 5 - 13 throughout Columbia. 5th, Bike-Car Challenge 1:30 pm Alpine Shop; 6th, Kick-off 1:30 pm Flat Branch Park; 7th, Cycle-ReCycle, 1 pm, Health Department; 8th, Skate Party, 5:30 pm, Empire Roller Rink; 9th, Forum on Fitness, 5:30 pm, ARC; 11th, Scavenger Hunt, 5:30 pm, Grill One-5; 12th, Breakfast Stations thru-out town, 7 - 9 am; 13th, Final Event Rally, 2 pm, Twin Lakes. Wheels on the Bus Contest. http://www.pednet.org/
FLAT BRANCH OUTDOOR CINEMA SERIES: Friday May 5, 8:30 pm Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were Rabbit; June 1, 8:45 pm Chronicles of Narnia; July 7, 9 pm , Raiders of the Lost Ark; Aug 4, 8:45 pm , Madagascar.
SHOOTING STARS: Saturday May 6, field trip to see Shooting Stars (the flower) at Three Creeks, call 573-474-4225 COMMUNITY VISIONING: Monday May 8, 7 - 9 pm, Lela Raney Wood Ballroom, Stephens College (ne corner Broadway and College). Reps from Chattanooga, Champaign, and Springfield, will discuss their community visioning
GARDEN TOUR: Saturday May 13, 10 am Contact Wild Ones - wildonesmo@yahoo.com or call 882-9909 ext. 3257
HIKE AT PARIS FORK: Sunday May 14, 1 pm, depart from MDC Office on College Ave, call 573-474-4225 FLOWERS AND POLLINATORS: Saturday May 20, 1 - 3 pm Devil's Icebox parking lot, Rock Bridge State Park.
NATIVE PLANT ENTHUSIAST'S LUNCH: Thursday May 25, 11:30 am, Uprise Bakery, Broadway
MU Organization Meetings and Contact Information
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS: http://www.missouri.edu/~jesse105/committees/pages/environmental.htm
RECYCLING COMMITTEE: 882-3091
SUSTAIN MIZZOU: http://students.missouri.edu/~sustainmizzou/
Organization Meetings and Contact Information
AUDUBON SOCIETY: 874-3904 / columbia-audubon.missouri.org Meet 3rd Wed 7:30 pm, USGS, 4200 New Haven
BOONE COUNTY SMART GROWTH COALITION: http://smartgrowth.missouri.org/, 1st Weds 7:15 Boone Co Govt Ctr.
CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING: 875-0539 or http://peaceworks.missouri.org/
CHOUTEAU GROTTO: http://chouteau.missouri.org/, Meet 1st Wed, 7 pm, The Casteel Building, 1518 Business Loop 70 East
COLUMBIA FOOD CIRCLE: 882-7463 or email hendricksonm@missouri.edu for information.
COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS VOL. PROGRAMS: 874-6271 or http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/#PW
CITIZENS WATERSHED COMMITTEE: (573) 526-8916, Third Tuesdays, 6:30 pm, Daniel Boone Bldg
COMMUNITY GARDEN COALITION: 875-5995 or cgardenc@yahoo.com or http://cgc.missouri.org
ENV EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES: http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/teacher/workshops/
FRIENDS OF BIG MUDDY: friends@friendsofbigmuddy.org or www.friendsofbigmuddy.org
FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE M. S. P.: 815-9255 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org/ Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.
GREENBELT COALITION: 442-4789, gbelt@coin.org or http://greenbelt.missouri.org
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE: 815-9836, drop off or buy gently used doors, windows, hardware, tools, cabinets, appliances, unopened paint, fixtures - Mon to Fri 8:30 to 3:30, Saturday 8:00 to 1:00 pm, 1906 Monroe St. Columbia
MISSOURI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: www.meea.org
MISSOURI NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY: npshawth@hotmail.com, http://columbianativeplants.missouri.org/, 2nd Mondays in
Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, Nov at 7:00 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd, Columbia, MO.
MISSOURI RIVER COMMUNITIES NETWORK: 573-256-2602 or www.moriver.org or moriver@coin.org
PEDNET COALITION: email: pednet@pednet.org or http://www.pednet.org
RIVER RELIEF: http://www.riverrelief.org/
ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK: 449-7402 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org
SHOW ME CLEAN STREAMS COALITION: (573) 751-4115 ext 3169 or www.mostreamteam.org
SIERRA CLUB: 875-2916 or http://sierra.osage.missouri.org Meet 3rd Tuesdays 7:30 pm Hillel Foundation, 1107 University Ave
WILD ONES: 573 882-9909, ext 3257 or email wildonesmo@yahoo.com, http://wildones.missouri.org Meetings 2nd Saturdays.
Answer to BioRegional Quiz - A quarter acre yard supplies approximately $162 of value a year making soil, pollinating plants, storing rain water, and cleaning air. Find out more at http://web.missouri.edu/~esiwww/news/July2005news.html
Feedback - Got an opinion? If we have space, we will consider publishing it. Submit it by email (envstudy@missouri.edu), snail mail (Environmental Studies, 211 Lowry , MU, Columbia MO 65211), or call Jan Weaver to talk about it (882-7116). MU Environmental Network News is published by MU's Environmental Studies Initiative. All opinions expressed are the responsibility of the editor. Any part of this newsletter may be copied for distribution but please give us credit.