Pollinators in Peril - with Dr. Tara Cornelisse

Changes in our environment are having a devastating impact on the little creatures who make our natural world function.

This week on Green Street, Patti and Doug discuss the EPA’s plan to ease scheduled restrictions on certain types of asbestos, and the failure of the New York Assembly to pass any of the strong environmental protection bills which had broad public and legislative support. Then entomologist Dr. Tara Cornelisse, Lead Zoologist of NatureServe, joins the conversation to talk about the plight of our pollinator population, and what we need to do to protect this critical part of our interdependent natural world.

Pollinators in Peril - with Dr. Tara Cornelisse

28:59

Links from the Interview

Website of NatureServe: https://www.natureserve.org/

More about Dr. Cornelisse: https://www.natureserve.org/whos-who/staff/87171

Tara's study on the plight of pollinators: https://www.natureserve.org/news-releases/over-one-fifth-native-north-american-pollinators-elevated-risk-extinction

Links from the News

EPA planning to ease scheduled restrictions on asbestos: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/us/epa-trump-asbestos-ban-delay.html

New York legislature fails to adopt any environmental bills: https://www.wxxinews.org/new-york-public-news-network/2025-06-18/ny-lawmakers-halt-brakes-on-plastic-packaging-and-other-environmental-bills

Dr. Tara Cornelisse - Lead Zoologist at NatureServe

Targeting Kids with Food Ads - with Dr. DeAnna Nara

Food marketers are zeroing in on our kids with ads for food that will make them sick.

This week on Green Street Patti and Doug talk about New York’s plastic packaging reduction bill, how fish in rivers and lakes in Michigan are not fit for consumption, and how the new generation of “quasi-ceramic” pans may contain toxic chemicals. Then Dr. DeAnna Nara of the Center for Science in the Public Interest talks about food marketing and how kids are being targeted from all directions with ads for unhealthy food. 

Targeting Kids With Food Ads - with Dr. DeAnna Nara

29:00

Links from the Interview:

Dr. Nara's biography: https://www.cspinet.org/biography/deanna-nara

Center for Science in the Public Interest: https://www.cspinet.org/

Links from the News Learn about New York State's Plastic Packaging Reduction bill: https://www.beyondplastics.org/press-releases/ny-packaging-passes-senate-2025#

Don't East the Fish in Michigan: https://www.mlive.com/environment/2025/06/michigan-triples-waters-with-do-not-eat-warning-for-pfas-in-fish.html

What's On Your Stove? https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jun/09/ceramic-nontoxic-cookware

The Water Bottle Postcard

People, Plastic and Climate Change - with Rick Smith

Author, biologist, environmentalist, and political activist Rick Smith talks about the two biggest environmental threats of our generation.

This week on Green Street, Patti and Doug talk about the FDA’s continuing failure to regulate toxic chemicals, how a group of mothers are suing manufacturers of plastic food containers, and how the Trump administration is rolling back drinking water standards for certain PFAS chemicals. Then Rick Smith, author of "Slow Death by Rubber Duck" and President of the Canadian Climate Institute, talks about the dual crises of climate change and plastic pollution as a human health hazard. 

Links from the Interview

The Canadian Climate Institute: https://climateinstitute.ca/ Rick's bio and links to recent blogs: https://climateinstitute.ca/people/rick-smith/

Links from the News

FDA reform — not just narrow ingredient bans — is needed to make America healthier: https://www.ehn.org/fda-gras-loophole-opinion

Two California women sue over safety of Rubbermaid containers: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/05/14/rubbermaid-class-action-lawsuit-microplastics/83618735007/

Trump's EPA plans to roll back PFAS regulations: https://grist.org/regulation/epa-pfas-drinking-water-limits-trump-rollback/