Bioneers: Revolution From the Heart of Nature

Master green chemists and educators John Warner and Amy Cannon say the radical growth of green chemistry is showing we can have good chemistry with the Earth by emulating nature’s green chemistry, and do good business at the same time.

The concept of national security is changing to encompass the nation’s internal resilience, health and environmental sustainability. What’s needed is the equivalent of a wartime mobilization to create a sustainable planet, say global energy strategist Amory Lovins and Oberlin College Professor David Orr . Sustainability is the strategic imperative and foundation for a new national security narrativ.

Facing climate disruption, it’s imperative to fast-forward the transition to clean energy. The global movement to abolish fossil fuels is challenging the industry and its political domination. Renowned author and activist Bill McKibben and award-winning biologist and author Sandra Steingraber illuminate the frontline fight of these New Abolitionists.

Our misbegotten food system is one of our greatest vulnerabilities. It's dangerously fossil fueled, toxic, monocultural and centralized. The real cost of cheap food is very high — to both people and planet. Urban food innovators are designing vibrant new local food economies built on environmental and ecological integrity, sustainability, diversity and equality. Join author Michael Pollan, Fair Food Foundation CEO Oran Hesterman, faith-based change-maker James Ella James and student leader Victoria Carter for a smorgasbord of nourishing morsels from the emerging locavore movement.

The visionary primatologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall revolutionized primatology by showing how close our kinship is with the animal kin-dom. “Dr. Jane” has inspired the world to save the rapidly dwindling chimpanzee populations and their habitats. Her compelling vision to restore people, animals and planet is delivering real hope.

Deep Ecology extends an inalienable right to life to all beings. Yet as the naturalist Aldo Leopold observed, “One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds.” Either harden your shell, or be a doctor. Joanna Macy decided to be an Earth doctor. A systems theorist, author and lifelong activist, she describes how healing the world and healing your heart and soul go hand in hand.

Religion is the oldest, most compelling moral framework for social action. As director of World Wildlife Fund’s Sacred Earth Program, Buddhist Dekila Chungyalpa shows how religion and spiritual consciousness are emerging globally as powerful forces for restoring our relationship with nature and each other.

“Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it.” - Bertolt Brecht John Densmore, legendary drummer of the Doors, joins visionary spoken word duo Climbing PoeTree in an exploration of creativity and social change. This episode of Bioneers Radio features exclusive interviews with the artists and a special Bioneers performance of Jim Morrison's poem, "American Prayer".

Today gender reconciliation is a burgeoning new movement for transformational healing. Gender reconciliation visionaries Pat McCabe, Cynthia Brix, Will Keepin and Pele Rouge share powerful stories of transformation from the personal to the societal, including the nation of South Africa.

The genius of nature’s design, recipes and principles is serving as the inspiration for redesigning human civilization. This Biomimicry revolution is spawning a next industrial revolution. Biomimicry masters Janine Benyus and Jay Harman illuminate the forefront of nature-inspired design, including human organization and the power of networks.