This  podcast features PennFuture’s Joy Bergey reporting from a conference at the University of Pennsylvania about the Delaware River and how global warming may impact the cities on the river, including Philadelphia. The conference showcased a study by students of Professor Jonathan Barnett of Penn’s School of Design, Department of City and Regional Planning.

Joy first talks with Nikki Thorpe, one of the students who conducted the study. She also speaks with Professor Ben Horton of Penn’s Earth and Environmental Science Department, whose expertise is on sea level rise and global warming. Finally, we hear from architect David Waggoner from New Orleans. Many believe that the Katrina disaster was a look into the future of our warming world; Waggoner’s discussion of what New Orleans must do to prevent future Katrina’s is a sobering lesson for all of us about global warming.

You can take action to help stop global warming right now. Join our Cool Pennsylvania Campaign today.

The drive to create great green jobs is snowballing in Philadelphia, with more than 50 organizations working together as the Green Economy Task Force. Convened by the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, the group has made tremendous steps forward in helping Philadelphia take advantage of the growth of green collar jobs.

Following on the Urban Sustainability Forum featuring Van Jones, this podcast features speakers from January’s forum, “The Green Economy-Economy and Environment Working Hand in Hand.” The forum discussed best practices from other places, people, and individuals working on green jobs. The podcast features PennFuture’s director of outreach Christine Knapp interviewing David Foster, Executive Director of the Blue Green Alliance; Leanne Krueger-Braneky, Executive Director of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia; and Chicago’s Aaron Durnbaugh, Deputy Commissioner , Chicago Department of Environment's Natural Resources and Water Quality Division and Patricia Lee- Project Coordinator, Chicago Department of Environment.

Each year, the Pennsylvania Farm Show takes Harrisburg by storm. And each year, there are more and more exhibits displaying the growing renewable energy technologies that Pennsylvania’s farmers and institutions are employing and marketing. This year’s theme, Keeping Pennsylvania Growing, is designed to showcase our new rural renewable energy economy.

Our podcast this week comes from the Farm Show, where PennFuture’s Tanya Dierolf interviews Messiah College’s Michael M. Zummo about the college’s program to take used oil from the campus’ dining facilities and convert it to biodiesel for a variety of uses, including campus transportation. There’s only one problem – Mike’s program can’t keep up with the amount of oil used to fry the campus food!

Jonkanoo is a masquerade festival/parade from Jamaica, believed to be of West African origin. It is traditionally performed through the streets during the Christmas period.

In December, Pittsburgh’s Legacy Arts Project held Junkanew, a play on words to emphasis the need to conserve our planet. This celebration of music, dance, food, revolving around the environment, also featured leaders of the environmental justice movement nationally and locally. PennFuture’s western Pennsylvania outreach coordinator, Joylette Portlock, brings us the voices and enthusiasm of those leaders in this week’s podcast.

You’ll hear from Namosha Smith, the passionate organizer of the day-long event, which was subtitled “The Art of Red, Black and Greening.” You’ll also hear from the amazing Tanya Fields from Sustainable South Bronx, Andrew Butcher from Pittsburgh-based GTECH, and Lindsay Baxter, Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Pittsburgh.

You can find ways to make your Junk a new and work for environmental justice by visiting PennFuture's website. While there, you can Take Action and become a member.