Useful Links

Erikson, CumminsAlgalita Marine Research Foundation – www.algalita.org/the-problem. Founder, Captain Charles Moore, was the first person to call public attention to plastic pollution in our oceans.

5 Gyres – www.5gyres.org/faq – Two researchers who worked closely with Captain Moore founded 5 Gyres as a spin-off. Like Algalita, 5 Gyres leads ocean research expeditions and has strong education and advocacy programs. Co-founder Anna Cummins writes: “In 2008, Marcus and I met on a sailing expedition to research pollution in the North Pacific Gyre. . . . we collected samples of broken down plastics tragically mixed with marine life. But at night, we saw something even more alarming. Small fish that surfaced nocturnally to feed were mistaking contaminated plastic waste for food, and as these fish were consumed by larger predators the toxins were working their way up the food chain—and on to our plates. We vowed to dedicate our lives to solving the problem, and to each other.”

Animas Valley Institutewww.animas.org.  Founded by Bill Plotkin in 1980, the Institute “offers multi-day immersions into the wilds of nature and psyche for the purpose of retrieving the unique, mysterious identity hidden in the soul-waters of each life. Animas originated and continues to evolve a contemporary Western, nature-based approach to the journey of soul initiation — to our knowledge, the first of its kind.”

Mosko, SarahBoogie Greenwww.boogiegreen.com.  This blog is written by Sarah (“Steve”) Mosko, PhD.  Sarah did the initial research and created the slide presentation that led to Green Sangha’s Rethinking Plastics campaign. She says:  “This site is a compendium of published writings on contemporary environmental issues. A synthesis of science and commentary, the articles were written to be informative and meaningful to anyone concerned about the insults to the environment stemming from human activities and what might be done by way of remedy.”

Center for a New American Dreamwww.newdream.org – empowering individuals, communities, and organizations to conserve natural resources, counter the commercialization of our culture, and support community engagement. Resources include:

  • SoKind, which allows you to create “alternative” gift registries focused less on stuff and more on family, fun, and friends.
  • Simplify the Holidays , with tips for less wasteful and more meaningful holiday celebrations.
  • Kids Unbranded, to help parents and educators reduce commercialism at home and in schools.
  • Reducing Plastics, with resources and tips to eliminate bottled water and plastic bags in your community.
  • The High Price of Materialism, a video in which psychologist Tim Kasser discusses how consumerism undermines well-being.

California Interfaith Power and Lightwww.interfaithpower.org

Circle of Life Foundationwww.circleoflife.org

Trathen, tooDaily Actswww.dailyacts.org. Founded by Trathen Heckman, this grassroots sustainability group in Sonoma County has catalyzed countless actions at homes, businesses, and government offices, including the first county-approved gray-water recycling system, rainwater capture, and the transformation of hundreds of resource-requiring front lawns into produce-yielding food forests. “We take a heart-centered approach to personal and community transformation. Our education programs, action campaigns, and strategic alliances connect people to each other and to their own power to grow food, conserve resources and build local resilience.”

Earth Light Magazinewww.earthlight.org/ – last published in 2005, the topics and insights revealed in this publication still speak to our times.  Their online library of articles and interviews includes luminaries such as Joanna Macy, Robert F. Kennedy, Jacob Needleman, and Thomas Berry.

Redwoods on hillEvergreen Leaders Project (ELP) – http://www.evergreenleadersproject.org/. “We exist to make democracy a healthier, more constructive, and civil process for all.  For the past 25 years, we helped change social norms around smoking while we supported elected leaders in enacting public health ordinances. We noticed that public hearings designed to improve the public health are innately unhealthy! The typical leader’s lifestyle can easily lead to addictions and preventable diseases.” ELP includes training in healthy meeting processes, nonviolent communication, mindfulness meditation, and HeartMath Institute biofeedback training. “As leaders, we can learn much by reflecting on the resilience of evergreen trees!”

Macy, Joanna 2012Joanna Macy – https://workthatreconnects.org/.  An elder stateswoman of the peace movement, Joanna continues to teach and to write, inspiring at every turn. “For peace, justice, and life on Earth,” Joanna says, “fresh ways of seeing arise, and ancient ways return. This web site opens doors to the new bodies of thought, time-tested spiritual practices, and pioneering group methods, that I find to be powerful inspirations to understanding and action. I share these resources in service to the revolution of our time: the Great Turningfrom the industrial growth society to a life-sustaining civilization.”

Katharine Hayhoe, climate scientist – www.katharinehayhoe.com. An atmospheric scientist and evangelical Christian, Katharine Hayhoe is known for her work on regional climate impacts and for sharing her research with faith-based communities. She has been called “one of the nation’s most effective communicators on the threat of climate change and the need for action” (New York Times). Her website, like her public lectures, is simply and clearly organized.  “What’s one of the most important things we can do about climate change?” Dr. Hayhoe asks. Her answer: “Talk about it.

National Council of Churcheswww.nccecojustice.org

Beth's costumeMy Plastic Free Lifewww.myplasticfreelife.com, written by Beth Terry, an accountant from Oakland, California. “In 2007,” Beth says, “I unexpectedly found myself an activist, author, and public speaker after learning about the devastating effects of plastic pollution and my own plastic footprint. This site has evolved from a simple blog (formerly known as “Fake Plastic Fish”) to a comprehensive resource on plastic-free living. Please explore, join a challenge, ask questions, subscribe. Together, we can change the world.”