In this podcast,  PennFuture's Jan Jarrett attends the annual dinner for the Hershey-Harrisburg Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, and speaks with their keynote speaker, Dr. Bob Edgar, President and CEO of Common Cause. Common Cause works to bring positive change to our democratic system, including important work to reform media ownership,  elections, and lobbying. And with over 300,000 members, they help to increase public involvement in our political systems in order to create a more just democratic society.

PennFuture's own mission shares a great deal in common with the work of Common Cause. At PennFuture, we are "working to create a just future where nature, community, and the economy thrive." We have witnessed firsthand the accomplishments that informed and empowered citizens can (and do) achieve. Take for example Pennsylvania's transformation from an economy without the option of clean, alternative energy to a state with a growing renewable energy sector where local governments are adopting green practices. Or consider the legal victory spearheaded by PennFuture that requires the Pennsylvania coal companies to post bonds to cover the cost of environmental clean up. The list goes on, and accomplishments such as these and those of many other groups could not have been fully realized without the support and efforts of people working together for a shared vision.

Like PennFuture, Common Cause (and Physicians for Social Responsibility) understands the need to act without hesitation to stop our contributions to global warming. The mission is critical, and success is only achievable through the work of passionate individuals carrying the messages of clean energy, carbon reduction, and energy independence.

Listen in as Jan and Bob talk about the work of the people. To learn more about our work, visit our Web site. There you can also make a tax-deductible contribution to support our efforts toward creating a just future for all. As always, we welcome your feedback. Simply send us an e-mail at podcast (at) pennfuture (dot) org, or click on "Comments" below.

It's almost impossible to sum up the accomplishments of the inimitable Wangari Maathai. She recently returned to Pittsburgh (she received her Master's degree in biology at the University of Pittsburgh in 1965) to receive an honorary doctorate, and to speak at the national convention of the Society of American Foresters. The 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate has impacted the lives of countless people. Perhaps one of her most important contributions to the world is her ability to inspire great action in others.

In this podcast, PennFuture's D.J. Trischler speaks with Wanjira Maathai, Wangara's daughter and the Executive Director of Green Belt Movement International, the organization her mother founded. Wanjira shares how each person must follow our hearts in order to enjoy whatever it is we do in life. She believes it would be impossible to follow in her mother's footsteps. So she is creating her own path, based on her own interests, and although her path was very different, she is now working alongside her mother.

Whether you are an environmental activist or not, the words of Wanjira Maathai are compelling. She speaks of how we might all conquer our fears, and accomplishing all that you wish to in your lifetime.

Leave us a comment about this podcast by clicking "comment" below. We'd love to hear about what inspires you. To learn more about PennFuture, visit our Web site, or e-mail us at podcast (at) pennfuture (dot) org.