Environment

Xylem Watermark volunteers from Yellow Springs, Ohio spent World Water Monitoring Day with EarthEcho at Cuyahoga Valley National Park, participating in water education activities for more than 100 students from surrounding schools. Volunteers joined EarthEcho co-founder and President Philippe Cousteau Jr. in leading students through invasive species removal, tree-planting, and water quality testing using the EarthEcho Water Challenge test kit.

Since 2007, the Ethisphere Institute has been recognizing companies which “influence and drive positive change in the business community.” In a statement, the Ethisphere Institute wrote that companies which consistently show “transparency and authenticity,” should be rewarded for upholding values which “support the rule of law and operate with decency.”

Diamond traceability back to the mine of origin – vital to the international due diligence movement for precious gems and minerals – just took a giant step forward. SCS Global Services, an internationally recognized certification body and standards developer, is pleased to announce that its diamond provenance certification program now incorporates advanced laser testing that can identify the source of any rough, cut, or polished diamond, anywhere in the chain of custody. Use of this disruptive technology, combined with comprehensive certification assessment protocols, provides unmatched assurance to diamond retailers and consumers alike that the diamonds they purchase or sell are not coming from conflict-affected and high-risk sources. This is a first for diamond origin verification.

John Perry Barlow, Grateful Dead lyricist, co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and environmentalist, died in his sleep this past week at the age of 70 after a lengthy illness. Host Alex Wise had the honor of meeting and interviewing Mr. Barlow for Sea Change Radio a couple of times and this week we pay tribute to him by re-visiting those discussions.

JetBlue, New York's Hometown Airline®, today announced the development of a Caribbean consortium with The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). Aligned with other like-minded partners across multiple disciplines, this effort will address conservation and commerce in the Caribbean. The Consortium will start with a “Spotlight on Cuba” and will focus on other Caribbean destinations in the future. In 2016, JetBlue became the first U.S. airline to bring affordable and convenient commercial air travel to Cuba after more than 50 years.

During year one, this group will make recommendations on development and environmental issues, to help ensure that Cuba’s natural habitat is protected for future generations.

Tetra Tech received the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Oklahoma Chapter’s Grand Conceptor Award, the chapter’s highest honor, for design of the Chickasaw Nation’s Inkana Bridge. The annual awards showcase the best engineering projects from across Oklahoma. As winner of the Grand Conceptor Award, Tetra Tech’s Inkana Bridge project will be part of the ACEC national competition of 2017’s most outstanding and innovative engineering achievements.

It's sexy to care.

Ishmael’s compelling opening – TEACHER seeks pupil. Must have an earnest desire to save the world. Apply in person.

Haiti hasn’t grown cotton in decades. Its once-abundant industry collapsed in the 1970s due to government corruption, economic mismanagement, and U.S. embargoes. But now, thanks to a project involving thousands of smallholder farmers, apparel brands like Timberland, and a blockchain network, it could be set for a comeback. Within a few years, if all goes to plan, the island will be supplying millions of pounds of organic cotton for shoes, shirts, and other clothing sold in U.S. stores.

Bloomberg Terminal subscribers can now access the Carbon Tracker Initiative’s research that provides investors in the energy sector and commodities markets, or those with a focus on sustainable investments, insight into oil and gas companies’ upstream portfolios. The tool provides forward-looking quantitative indicators based on project-level data provided by Rystad Energy, an independent source of business intelligence data about the oil and gas industry, alongside Bloomberg market data.