See Jane Do...

Everyday Women Taking Extraordinary Action for the Planet

Today on Earth Day we honor the extraordinary women who are doing their part for the planet.  The See Jane Do team feels fortunate to have connected with and interviewed incredible women who have united their passion with environmental action. 

We are inspired by the actions of women like Ursula Sladek one of the 2011 Goldman Environmental Prize winners who founded a citizen-owned renewable energy company as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown.  We are moved by women like shrimp boat captain Diane Wilson who put everything on the line to prevent chemical companies from pouring toxins into her water source.  We are motivated to help others when we hear the stories of women like Beth Terry of Fake Plastic Fish, Melinda Kramer of the Women's Earth Alliance, Lydia Olympic, tribal activist, and Erin Switalski of Women's Voices for the Earth. 

We are thrilled to feature several of these "Extraordinary Janes" at our 2nd Annual Passion Into Action,  women who are environmental action heroes in every sense.  

PIA keynote speaker, Jean Shinoda Bolen author of Like A Tree: How Trees, Women, and Tree People Can Save the Planet believes that we are on the edge of either evolution or extinction and it's up to us, as women to be visionary activists and feminine feminists. 

Jean Shinoda Bolen  is a psychiatrist, Jungian analyst, and an internationally known author and speaker who draws from spiritual, feminist, Jungian, medical and personal wellsprings of experience.  She is a major advocate for a United Nations 5th World Conference on Women, a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. a former clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco, and past board member of the Ms. Foundation for Women and the International Transpersonal Association.

 Click hereto listen to Jean's interview on KVMR with Elisa Parker and Michael Stone.  

Bioneersco-founder Nina Simons returns to Passion Into Action this year as a keynote speaker.  She'll share tools to take our passion into action as a collective.  Nina emphasizes the power of story and admits that it took her some time to define her own story.  A turning point for Nina was when she viewed the film, The Burning Times.  She has since united her passion for the planet with restoring the feminine.  In addition to co-leading Bioneers Nina offers her program Cultivating Women’s Leadership to strengthen women’s effectiveness to create positve change in their community.   

Click hereto listen to Nina's interview on See Jane Do on KVMR.

In addition to the keynote speakers, the Passion Into Action workshop presenters will harness their personal stories and environmental triumphs in order to empower and train others to do the same.  

Kim Stravers is traveling from Mammoth to lead the workshop, Unite & Ignite Communities Around Green Issues. Kim is the co-founder and community engagement director for the Mammoth Lakes Trails & Public Access Foundation (MLTPA), a nonprofit that advocates for and actively participates in the planning, implementation, and stewardship of outdoor-recreation opportunities in Mammoth Lakes, California, and neighboring areas. Within one year of moving to this small ski town, and in light of the then-boom private-development climate, she and fellow citizen John Wentworth successfully brought much-needed attention to local issues regarding the protection and enhancement of access to the public lands that completely surround their town.

Jessica Reeder and co-leader Amber Clisura are two extraordinary young women who have challenged the belief that happiness and success are not determined by how much new stuff we have.  Their passions have led to projects that demonstrate it's possible to make something out of nothing. 

Jessica started the blog UpRooted, a sustainable travel project about her two-year journey around the U.S. to promote the dual practices of sustainability and volunteerism.  Following her travels when Jessica settled in Reno, Nevada rather than blog about eco adventures she created Love and Trash a "Do It Yourself" site that would help people live more sustainably and live better on less in their community.

Amber Clisura is a fashion designer who isn't wearing pants for the next 365 days.  Following a car accident and a deep depression Amber was in need of some inspiration.  She had been designing women's denim jeans (at one point she owned over 40 pairs) for the Eco-Premium line Del Forte Denimand that's pretty much all she wore.  Looking at the lighter side of life (and going green) Amber went shopping in her closet and discovered clothes she hadn't worn in years.  Rather than throw them out, she began to upcycle her pants into skirts.  Upcycling is taking something you were going to toss and turn it into something else.  Amber said, "down with pants and up with skirts" and launched NO PANTS 2011.  

Don't miss their workshop, Upcycle Your Life and learn how social media can take your passion to the next level.

A common theme on our program is the purchase power women hold.  With women influencing 85% of what's bought or purchased in the United States women have the ability to create a dramatic shift in the kinds of products we want or don't want.

As the co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Stacy Malkan has enabled a national movement to shift the $50 billion beauty industry away from harmful chemicals and toward safer products.  Stacy Malkan discovered that beauty isn't just skin deep.  Many women expose themselves to over 200 chemicals daily through their personal care products.  Stacy first learned about the toxic beauty industry when working as a reporter in Colorado.  Her curiosity soon led to concern followed by activism.  She is the author of the award winning book, Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry.

Utilize the power of your purse in Stacy Malkan's workshop, The Girlcott: 5 Strategies for How Women Can Change the World in 2011.

The Passion Into Action experience extends beyond speakers and workshops.  The event includes one of the hottest fashion troupes in the country.  Haute Trash takes fashion to another level.  Members take throw-away items and turn trash into fashion.  This creative collaborative will walk the Passion Into Action runway showing off recycled couture and one of a kind upcycled designs.  Founded over 20 years ago Haute Trash has put on 100's of shows and leads educational programs in recycled fashion.  They are fun, inspiring and truly "wow" the audience with their phenomenal garments.   Trash bags, bottle caps, and duct tape take on an entirely new meaning when Haute Trash is involved.

Also from Nevada County, Reinette Senum co-founder of APPLEand Mali Dyck of the APPLE Center will be available to connect with attendees and share their latest projects to create sustainable communities including, the Alpha Building. 

These women represent just a sampling of the environmental action heroes who are participating in Passin Into Action.  In order to create a substantial shift to enhance the planet it is imperative that we connect and work together.  Passion Into Action is the event to cultivate the relationships and develop a plan in order to make the change possible.

We look forward to seeing you there!  Click here to register for the conference.

 

 

 

 

Five Things You Can Do the Day After Earth Day

PLASTIC:  Take the plastic challenge for one week.  Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour and almost 1/3 of the waste generated in the U.S. is packaging.

Beth Terry of Fake Plastic Fish provides a guideline on how to do this.  My family took the challenge and was shocked to discover how much single-use plastic we accumulated in seven days.

FOOD:  Sign up for a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) with a local farmer.  Farmer Jo McProud of Riverhill Farm turned my family on to the value in locally grown food boxes. Many farms will offer a payment plan or consider splitting a box with another family.  Check out http://www.localharvest.org/csa/ to find a CSA near you.

TOXINS:  Write to your member of congress and senators and ask them to support legislation that will soon be introduced to reform and modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act.  Check out MomsRising.org to sign the petition.  http://action.momsrising.org/cms/letter/campaign_27287/#1

WATER:  Find out where your water comes from and how far it travels to reach your spigot? Goldman Environmental Prize winner, Lynn Henning has been fighting against toxic CAFO's (concentrated animal feeding operations) that are polluting our groundwater and air. Californian's can check out http://www.water-ed.org/watersources/ to find their water source.

MEDIA:  Disney released "Oceans" the sequel to the film, "Earth" on April 22nd.  If you see OCEANS any time during opening week (April 22-28, 2010), Disneynature will make a contribution on your behalf to The Nature Conservancy to save coral reefs. Check out more tips on how to utilize your purchase power at Diane MacEachern's site Big Green Purse.

Top Twelve See Jane Do Stories of Extraordinary Women in 2009

"May the dreams of your past be the reality of your future"

In 2009 See Jane Do connected with everyday women who are fulfilling their dreams to create a better future for the planet and generations to come.  Despite a year of transition and change the women we met are consistent with their message; to persevere, to have hope, to connect with others, and to follow your passion.  

With over one hundred women we interviewed this year, we've shared our top twelve stories of everyday women who are doing extraordinary things for the planet and the lessons we learned from each of them.  We look forward to more stories and inspired action in 2010!

1.  Millions of people can come together peacefully to create change.

The See Jane Do team attended President Obama's inauguration and the Peace Ball in Washington D.C.  We also interviewed incredible women at the SYRCL's Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival

Extraordinary Jane's:  Woman's National Democratic Club, Multi-Racial book club, Rachel Barge of Campus in Power, Emma's Revolution, plus interviews with teachers, mothers, musicians, veterans, teen agers, soldiers, students, business owners, activists, and other concerned Americans.

2.  Renewing our relationship with food can also renew our community.

Extraordinary Jane's:  Wendy Van Wagner of In the Kitchen, Jo McProud of Riverhill Farm

3.  Sharing our stories can link generations and inspire a movement.

See Jane Do participated in Gather the Women's International Women's Day event.

Extraordinary Jane's:  Gather the Women and Jean Shinoda Bolen

4.  When you operate through your heart and passion, positive change is possible and others will join you.

Extraordinary Jane's:  Goldman Environmental Prize winners (four of which were women), Green Moms Carnival, Mable Yee, founder of Engage Her, Gloria Steinem  and Amy Goodman.

5.  I will not raise my child to kill another mother's child.

See Jane Do was invited to cover CODEPINK's annual mother's day peace event in Washington D.C.

Extraordinary Jane's: Medea Benjamin, Colonel Ann Wright, Iraq War Veteran and mother, Lindsey Cambpell, Women for Women Director in Afghanistan, Sweeta Nori, mother of Iraq Soldier, Cynthia Benjamin, Jodie Evans, actress and activist, Mimi Kennedy and many other incredible women.

6.  Our planet, our life, our health, our children are worth more than gold and coal.

See Jane Do features women who are taking planet earth off the market.  

Extraordinary Jane's:  Maria Gunnoe and Judy Bonds fighting Mountain Top Removal.  Lydia Olympic, tribal council member fighting open pit gold mining and preserving the largest salmon run.

7.  You're one click away from changing policy, sharing your story and connecting with community. 

See Jane Do attends BlogHer and features the pioneers of the online revolution.

Extraordinary Jane's:  BlogHer founders and Joan Blades, co-founder of MoveOn.org and MomsRising.org.

8.  The traditions of the past will support us in the future.  

Grandma Jane is rockin the world!   Standing up for conservation and peace these grandmothers are taking on multi-billion corporations to protect their health, the planet and their grandchildren.

Extraordinary Jane's:  Grandmothers for Peace, Alla Ivanovna Gafner and other participants of Pacific Environment.

9. We need to challenge assumptions that just because something has been done for many years (traditional school lunches), doesn't make it right.  One person has the power to create an impact (and kids love brown rice). 

We revisit school lunches that kids actually line up for and how the Slow Food movement can help.

Extraordinary Jane's:  Renegade Lunch Lady, Chef Ann Cooper, Aimee Retzler, Tania Carlone, and Erika Lesser, Director of Slow Food USA.

10.  With our purchase power we can change the world.

We featured women who are making the planet less trashy with less plastic.

Extraordinary Jane's:  Beth Terry of Fake Plastic Fish, activist and artist, Kathleen Egan, and educator Anna Cummins of Agalita.

11.  I want you to run for office!  Women might make up half the work force and half the population but we still don't have balanced leadership in the United States.

The United States is a long way from balanced leadership but we're half way to reaching the tipping point (30% representation is needed).  Numerous organizations have formed to train women to take the lead and run.

Extraordinary Jane's:  Marie Wilson, president and founder of The White House Project, Kristine Pagan, White House Project alumni and aspiring candidate, Mayor Reinette Senum, and Gloria Feldt, author, activist, and former CEO of Planned Parenthood.

12.  In order to have a healthy planet we must have healthy people.  

Women are taking their health into their own hands and putting the hope in healthcare.

Extraordinary Jane's:  Kim Robinson and Eileen Schnitger of Women's Health Specialists

Are We Eating Fake Plastic Fish?

The kids are vacuuming the floor and cleaning up remnants of the See Jane Do plastic challenge.  Inspired by blogger of Fake Plastic Fish, Beth Terry, Jesse and I along with my family collected our plastic waste for one week.  It was a humbling experience to say the least as my daughters and I counted almost sixty pieces of disposable, single use plastic.  Jesse collected twenty-seven pieces.  The plastic didn't last long in our house but it will definitely last forever on the planet.

The most challenging part of reducing my consumption of plastic was avoiding special foods and and things the kids swore they couldn't live without.  Jesse said the most difficult part for her during the weekly challenge occured while she was traveling.  How can we say no to free boxed lunches, complimentary beverages on airplanes and the enormous swag given away at conferences?  It's not easy, but the women we interviewed proved it is possible.

So, where do I go from here?  The canvas bags are sitting in my car waiting for the next market excursion and my Kleen Kanteen is just itching for some more water.  Jesse and I will keep you posted on our progress.

Fortunately we weren't alone in this task.  See Jane Do supporters like, Robin, Heidi, Rosanne, Laura, Niko, Marsha, Andrea and many more stepped up to do their part.  How did you do in the plastic challenge?  Share with us at [email protected].

Click HERE to listen to Beth Terry on See Jane Do on KVMR.

Beth Terry

Elisa

See Jane Do Has Expanded to Print!

Now you can look, listen, and read the stories of everyday women doing extraordinary things for the planet!  See Jane Do is collaborating with The Union, Nevada County's daily newspaper.  The Union will feature a See Jane Do, extraordinary Jane column the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month.

Each column will feature an inspiring story along with tips on how you can get involved and make a difference today.  Our kick-off column includes Beth Terry, an everyday woman who initiated her own plastic challenge and features others doing the same on her blog www.fakeplasticfish.com.  After organizing an online campaign, Beth even persuaded Brita to recycle their water filters in the United States. 

Pick up a copy or read the article online at http://grassvalleyunion.ca.newsmemory.com/.

If you'd like to see more positive role models for women in mainstream media and support the See Jane Do column, please send your feedback to Jeff Ackerman, publisher of The Union at [email protected].

Have a story of your own to share or know of other extraordinary Jane's, share with us at [email protected].  We appreciate your continued support!

Elisa

Dare to Take the Plastic Challenge?

Water bottles, plastic bags, lids and containers, how much disposable plastic are we consuming and throwing away every week?  According to the Clean Air Council Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour. As we prepare for our next episode of See Jane Do, Leave the Planet Less Trashy with Less Plastic, Jesse and I are finally ready to cover our eyes and take the plastic challenge. 

See Jane Do guest, Beth Terry initiated her own plastic challenge three years ago.  Following, she began a life style shift of living with less plastic (she even convinced Brita to recycle their filters).  Anyone, (I'm talking to you) can participate in the plastic challenge.  Beth encourages all of us to save and tally up our plastic for one week.  Sounds doable, but I have put off doing this for months now.  I've considered taking the challenge earlier but then I'd buy a plastic toy for my girls or I'd use a plastic water bottle.  I continued to say, "I'll start the challenge tomorrow instead."

But now it's time to face the truth and discover the true impact that my family's lifestyle has on the planet.  The challenge seems simple enough and includes several basic steps.

1. Save your throw-away plastic for one week.
2. Lay the plastic out on the floor and take a photo (send the photo to Beth's blog www.FakePlasticFish.com to share with and encourage others to do the same).
3. Answer the following questions: What is it about your lifestyle that's causing you to use so much plastic?  Is there anything you could substitute as a plastic free alternative or give up?  What might you give up for a week?

Beth says by doing the plastic challenge "we look at our own plastic and take responsibility for it.  It's not about guilt it's about seeing that our consumer society is set to make it hard for us to live without plastic."

How much plastic are you disposing of in a week?  Join Jesse and I in the plastic challenge and share your findings at www.fakeplasticfish.com and [email protected].  We just might share your stories over the air.  I'll keep you posted on my progress. 

Elisa