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There are many problems facing our environment; from invasive species
invading our forests to dealing with everyday waste. Luckily there
are concerned individuals and organizations finding creative ways
to help; from an artist turning trash into unique pieces of art to
a sixth grader helping to remove lead from his school’s drinking
water. This show introduces you to people who are inspired to make
a difference and looks at how simple adjustments in our everyday lives
can play an important role in improving the environment.
The stories are…
 EnviroArt
Protecting Our Children's
Health
Biodiversity
Any Given Earth Day
Less Is More
“I don't feel as if I have stuff, I feel that stuff
has me.”
Neil Benson, Salvage Artist
 Ironically
Neil’s original motivation for starting to create works of art
from trash resulted from an urge to clean out his basement. Instantly
he was hooked and now his home is a haven for treasured pieces of
junk. He organized a group called the ‘Dumpster Divers’
who are basically a group of artists who work with used materials
and refer to themselves as fishermen in the trash stream. Their motto:
“your trash is our cash.” Neil is known for turning
old typewriter keys into earrings and bracelets, license plates
into photo albums and suitcases, olive oil cans into mini toy trucks,
cameras into lamps, the cup part of spoons into lockets, and the
handle part of spoons into picture frames. He has a clear idea of
our trash stream and realizes that we don’t really throw out
our garbage; instead, we just move it around creating a trash tsunami.
He believes his work is a political statement that encourages people
not to waste resources and instead transform them so we can salvage
our society.
 Watch
the Segment Now!
For more info:
In-Business (article)
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"If you see a problem, do something
about it."
Sanders Murphy, 6th grader
 If
Julia Roberts were a 12 year old boy, you can bet she'd be playing
Sanders Murphy in West Philadelphia’s own version of Erin Brockovich.
Sanders is the smart and sassy sixth grader who single-handedly saved
students in his school from sickening water. Get some inspiring lessons
in how change really happens from one incredibly civic-minded youngster
who has led a campaign to get lead out of his school’s drinking
fountains.
Watch
the Segment Now!
For more info:
GreenWorks:
Lead Safe Yards
Alliance to End Childhood Lead
Poisoning
Coalition to End Childhood Lead
Poisoning
Lead Poisoning
Prevention Outreach Program
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to the Top
"When you lose one species other
species are very
much affected and they can also go extinct."
Richard Evans
 The
Eastern Hemlock is Pennsylvania’s state tree. If left undisturbed
they have a potential lifespan of 900 years. They play an important
role in our ecosystem. They are essential to the survival of our state
fish, the brook trout because they create a shady habitat which keeps
the water running through it cold. Tragically, the state is losing
its native Hemlock population due to an invasive insect species known
as the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.
The loss of this resource is difficult to recover from and efforts
are being taken to control the population of this insect. Currently
there are different solutions being researched; one idea is to introduce
a natural predator in hopes of controlling the deadly Adelgid. Near
the Delaware Water Gap a group of scientists are breeding a beetle
from Japan that only feeds on the Woolly Adelgid. The benefit of biological
control is that you have solved the problem over time to restoring
the balance of nature. However, a potential problem when introducing
a new organism into the environment is will it be specific to what
you want it to do or will it get out of control. Learn why we must
be concerned about the displacement of native species and how a changing
ecosystem affects the way plants and animals interrelate.
Watch
the Segment Now!
For more info:
Biodiversity
Discover the natural world and how everything is connected.
PA
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Check out quick facts and view photos
USDA
Forest Service
Learn more about the spread of this invasive insect.
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to the Top
"El dia de la tierra es todos los dias."
 For
this fifth grade class of children of migrant mushroom farmers, the
environment was surprisingly not an exciting topic, at least not at
first. But before Earth Day, different speakers and environmental
activities raised their excitement about the environment, and led
up to a climactic Earth Day celebration! With a positive and enthusiastic
teacher, Lindsey Pugh, the children of the migrant farmers were able
to use all of their new knowledge about the environment and its protection
in their Earth Day festivities.
During the morning, the students traced their hands on paper and wrote
on them one thing a person can do to help the environment. Then, all
the hands were pasted to a poster, illustrating that a group of committed
individuals can make a big difference. The students took a field trip
to Anson B. Nixon park in the afternoon to help remove garlic mustard
weed (an invasive plant crowding out other plants). With all the students
working together, the plot was virtually free of the weed by the end
of the day, and the natural native species now had room to thrive
again. The most important lesson the students had learned was that
celebrating the Earth doesn’t only happen once a year, but every
day!
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the Segment Now!
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to the Top
"A lot of the benefit is simply feeling
less wasteful and
I have discovered it isn't that much work."
Betsy Platkin-Teutsch
 Living
a "green lifestyle" can sound like a daunting task when
you first get into it. But it doesn't need to be that way. Every small
step you take to reduce waste will help make a difference for the
health of the environment. Find one simple way to reduce your trash
flow or to save energy, and then start doing it. You do not need some
overarching plan in order to get started.
Follow one family's positive example as we visit the home of the Betsy,
David, and Nomi Platkin-Teutsch for some ideas to get you started
on an energy efficient home.
Watch
the Segment Now!
For more info:
Learn to Conserve
Find a plethora of simple energy conservation tips.
Home
Energy Check Up
Try a DIY energy audit from the Alliance to Save Energy.
Energy
Star
Visit this site before purchasing anything electrical.
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to the Top
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