Earth Month
Organizations and Resources
That Support the Environment
Earth Month is an entire 30 days dedicated to environmental education, impact, and appreciation. To celebrate Earth Month and continue our commitment to providing a better environment, we’d like you to take a moment to observe the wonder of the planet, and to take steps to help improve it.
That Support the Environment
Earth Month is an entire 30 days dedicated to environmental education, impact, and appreciation. To celebrate Earth Month and continue our commitment to providing a better environment, we’d like you to take a moment to observe the wonder of the planet, and to take steps to help improve it.
Use the links below for a sampling of resources to get started.
This is an evolving list that will be updated periodically. If you have suggestions you would like to see included on the list, please email DEI@essex.com.
| ARTICLES |
| 10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Month |
| 20 Inspiring Quotes of John Muir |
| 21 Reasons Why Forests Are Important |
| 5 Historical Conservationists You Should Know |
| 7 Wins That Gave Us Hope for the Environment in 2020 |
| Cities Across Europe are Making Space for Nature |
| Earth Day activities that are good for you and the planet during the pandemic |
| Even in a Pandemic, We Can Inspire Connections Outdoors |
| How Biophilia Can Improve Your Life |
| How Can We All Help Conserve Nature? |
| How the Sounds of Nature Affects Your Well-Being |
| The 10 Most Inspirational Sustainability initiatives in the U.S. |
| What Happens When We Reconnect with Nature |
|
Why is connecting with nature is so profoundly healing? |
| CHARITIES & NON-PROFITS |
|
Conservation International Conservation International works on issues ranging from climate change to food stability to environment protection. The organization sponsors field projects, funds scientific research and forges partnerships with businesses that can drive action on the conservation front. |
|
Earthjustice Earthjustice is clear about its reason for being: “Because the earth needs a good lawyer”. Beginning as a Sierra Club team mounting a lawsuit to preserve an isolated California valley from development as a Disney ski resort, Earthjustice has become an independent crusade focusing on high-impact, precedent-setting battles. These are dedicated, experienced lawyers taking on the David-and-Goliath fights many of us feel powerless to influence. Donating here is one approach to evening the scales between the “big bucks” of large corporate interests and the often woefully underfunded voice of our struggling ecosystem. |
|
Environmental Working Group Known for their annual “Dirty Dozen” list revealing the highest (and lowest) pesticide concentrations in conventionally-grown produce, EWG is known for researching and spreading awareness regarding toxic chemicals, sustainable versus exploitative agricultural practices, consumer product safety, and corporate accountability. |
|
Friends of Earth Friends of the Earth and their network of grassroots groups in 77 countries fight to create a healthier, just world. Their current campaigns focus on clean energy and solutions to global warming, protecting people from toxic and new, potentially harmful technologies, and promoting smarter, low-pollution transportation alternatives. Friends of the Earth U.S. is also a part of Friends of the Earth International, the world's largest grassroots environmental network. Their dedicated staff fights to protect the rights of all people to live in a safe and healthy environment, both at home or in countries around the world. Their campaigns demonstrate their belief that the fight for justice and the movement to protect the health of the planet are part of the same struggle. |
|
Greenpeace Fund Made famous in the 1970’s and 80’s for its seafaring bands of activists peacefully accosting whaling ships and exposing covert nuclear testing, today’s Greenpeace describes climate change as “the number one threat facing our planet”. Greenpeace has not lost its passionate idealism, maintains its corporate integrity, and still inspires many to urgent, hopeful direct action. Courageous efforts by small groups of concerned individuals have influenced governments in the past, as with Greenpeace’s inaugural efforts to stop nuclear testing at Amchitka Alaska. |
|
Living Lands & Waters The staff at this nonprofit spends several months a year living and traveling on a barge while hosting river cleanups, watershed conservation initiatives, workshops, tree plantings and other key conservation efforts. |
|
Natural Resources Defense Council Called “One of the nation’s most powerful environmental groups” by the New York Times, NRDC combines “the grassroots power of 1.4 million members and online activists with the courtroom clout and expertise of more than 350 lawyers, scientists and other professionals”. NRDC offers “green gifts”, where your donation results in a gift card describing the action it supports, such as “adopt a wolf in Yellowstone” or “save an acre of whale nursery” to add a tangible meaning to a donation. |
|
Rainforest Alliance Rainforest Alliance has gained public recognition with their independent certification of common rainforest products, such as chocolate, coffee, bananas, and tea. Producers must meet strict sustainability standards to gain certification. The Alliance also works with foresters and the tourism industry in ecologically vulnerable areas. Their website offers consumer and traveler information, helping us work together to steward some of the most biodiverse, threatened, and globally critical habitats. |
|
The Nature Conservancy This group works to protect threatened ecosystems from development, deforestation and other environmental threats. |
|
Union of Concerned Scientists UCS maintains a national network of nearly 17,000 scientists who believe “rigorous analysis is the best way to understand the world’s pressing problems and develop effective solutions to them.” UCS’s findings and statements are frequently quoted by major news sources; they have become a recognized and respected voice of environmental advocacy. Their work focuses on clean energy solutions, global warming, and the puzzles of large-scale food production. UCS’s testimony has been instrumental in several pieces of important green legislation. |
| DOCUMENTARIES |
|
Chasing Coral (2017) – Yes, coral is an animal — technically, these brightly colored oceanic creatures are marine invertebrates, though many mistake them for plants. And they’re at risk: climate change, resulting in warming oceans, has resulted in the death of large sections of the world’s coral reefs, which threatens the entire oceanic ecosystem. This film’s documenting of coral bleaching and destruction is informative, and devastating. Where to Watch: Netflix |
|
Earth Days (2010) - Earth Days looks at the road to April 22, 1970, to the dawn and development of the modern environmental movement through the extraordinary stories of the era’s pioneers — among them Former Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall, biologist/Population Bomb author Paul Ehrlich, Whole Earth Catalog founder Stewart Brand, Apollo Nine astronaut Rusty Schweickart, and renewable energy pioneer Hunter Lovins. Earth Days is a meditation on man’s complex relationship with nature and an engaging history of the revolutionary achievements and missed opportunities of groundbreaking eco-activism. Where to Watch: Amazon, YouTube, PBS |
|
Earth: One Amazing Day (2017) - From BBC Earth Films, the studio that brought you Earth, comes the sequel - Earth: One Amazing Day, an astonishing journey revealing the awesome power of the natural world. Over the course of one single day, we track the sun from the highest mountains to the remotest islands to exotic jungles. Breakthroughs in filmmaking technology bring you up close with a cast of unforgettable characters. Told with humor, intimacy and a jaw-dropping sense of cinematic splendor, Earth: One Amazing Day highlights how every day is filled with more wonders than you can possibly imagine- until now. Where to Watch: Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, Apple TV, Vudu |
|
National Parks Adventure (2016) - Narrated by Robert Redford, National Parks Adventure is a cozy nature doc that shares the incredible splendor of US national parks. Traveling around the country to some of the nation’s most stunning natural landmarks, National Parks Adventures highlights both the beauty of these protected areas and the importance of keeping them intact and protected. Connect with nature and discover what these great expanses of land have meant historically for the nation’s first people, or simply sit back and enjoy the beautiful broad-sweeping views of these incredible landscapes. Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime |
|
Our Planet (2019) – Our Planet is a sweeping reinvention of traditional nature documentaries, instead focusing on the impact of climate change on natural environments and animal habitats across the globe. The documentary transports viewers across jungles, arctic tundras, deserts and beyond, using breathtaking cinematography and Sir David Attenborough's characteristically eloquent narration. However, the visual appeal of the film does not compromise its critical and foreboding message: that humans have had a devastating impact on wildlife and nature. Where to Watch: Netflix |
|
Planet of the Humans (2019) - The film examines the decision of mainstream environmental groups and leaders to partner with billionaires, corporations, and wealthy family foundations in the fight to save a planet said to be in crisis. The film questions whether green energy can solve the problem of society's expanding resource depletion without reducing consumption and population growth, as all existing forms of energy generation require consumption of finite resources. Centrally, the film questions whether renewable energy sources such as biomass energy, wind power, and solar energy, are as clean and renewable as they are portrayed to be. Where to Watch: Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, Apple TV |
|
Sustainable (2016) - When Marty Travis, a 7th generation farmer, begins to see his community disappear and neighboring land be bought out by big agribusinesses, he decides to take a stand to fight for the future of his son, a possible 8th generation farmer. Featuring celebrity chef Rick Bayless, Sustainable covers the economic and environmental impacts of our current agricultural practices. Sustainable includes comments from farmers, environmental activists, and likeminded people striving to make a positive change to the agricultural industry. Where to Watch: Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, iTunes, YouTube, Apple TV |
|
The Human Element (2019) - Pioneering environmental photographer James Balog captures how the four elements of earth, water, air, and fire are being transformed by a fifth element – the human element. He visits Americans on the frontlines of climate change, whose lives and livelihoods have been affected by extreme weather events, pollution, and rampant disrespect for natural resources. Where to Watch: Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, YouTube |
|
Tomorrow (2015) - Some environmental documentaries are heavy on problems and light on solutions, but not Tomorrow. With its upbeat, globetrotting search for everyday sustainability innovators, this French film is a refreshingly hopeful watch. Filmmakers Cyril Dion and Mélanie Laurent introduce us to urban gardeners, renewable energy enthusiasts and even reinventors of democracy. Where to Watch: Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, YouTube |
|
Trashed (2012) - Director Candida Brady's 2012 film still rings true to this day: the amount of human waste generated by seemingly harmless daily activities is astounding. Wasteful consumerism has been integrated deeply into our daily lives and yet, we fail to see the tangible outcome of our choices. Actor Jeremy Irons embarks on a journey to uncover this, traveling from toxic waste mounds in rural England to garbage-lined riverbanks in Indonesia, demonstrating how widely trash has penetrated the environment beyond human settlements. The film is an urgent call-to-action as well, showcasing the work of activists and organizations who are leading the way in sustainable waste management. Where to Watch: Amazon, iTunes |
| NOTEWORTHY ENVIRONMENTALISTS |
|
Aldo Leopold, Ecologist and Author Aldo Leopold (1887–1948) is considered by some to be the godfather of wilderness conservation and of modern ecologists. After studying forestry at Yale University, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service. Though he was originally asked to kill bears, cougars, and other predators on federal land because of demands of protesting local ranchers, he later adopted a more holistic approach to wilderness management. His best-known book, "A Sand County Almanac," remains one of the most eloquent pleas for the preservation of wilderness ever composed. Click here to learn more about Aldo Leopold |
|
Ansel Adams, The Strength of the Shutter: Photography and the Environmental Movement Ansel Adams was a visionary figure in nature photography and wilderness preservation. He is seen as an environmental folk hero and a symbol of the American West, especially of Yosemite National Park. Adams' dedication to wilderness preservation, his commitment to the Sierra Club, and of course, his signature black-and-white photographs inspire an appreciation for natural beauty and a strong conservation ethic. Click here to learn more about Ansel Adams |
|
Chico Mendes, Conservationist and Activist Chico Mendes (1944–1988) is best known for his efforts at saving the rainforests of Brazil from logging and ranching activities. Mendes came from a family of rubber harvesters who supplemented their income by sustainably gathering nuts and other rainforest products. Alarmed at the devastation of the Amazon rainforest, he helped to ignite international support for its preservation. His activities, however, drew the ire of powerful ranching and timber interests —Mendes was murdered by cattle ranchers at age 44. Click here to learn more about Chico Mendes |
|
David Attenborough Sir David Frederick Attenborough is an English broadcaster and natural historian. He is best known for writing and presenting, in conjunction with the BBC Natural History Unit, the nine natural history documentary series forming the Life collection that together constitute a comprehensive survey of animal and plant life on Earth. He is a former senior manager at the BBC, having served as controller of BBC Two and director of programming for BBC Television in the 1960s and 1970s. He is the only person to have won BAFTAs for programmes in each of black and white, colour, HD, 3D and 4K. Click here to learn more about David Attenborough |
|
David Brower, Environmental Activist, “Building Bridges and Stopping Dams” David Brower (1912–2000) has been associated with wilderness preservation since he began mountain climbing as a young man. Brower was appointed the Sierra Club's first executive director in 1952. Over the next 17 years, membership grew from 2,000 to 77,000, and the group won many environmental victories. His confrontational style, however, got Brower fired from the Sierra Club—he nonetheless went on to found the groups Friends of the Earth, the Earth Island Institute, and the League of Conservation Voters. Click here to learn more about David Brower |
|
Elon Musk, Sustainable Innovation and Entrepreneurship “The point of all this was, and remains, accelerating the advent of sustainable energy, so that we can imagine far into the future and life is still good. That's what 'sustainable' means. It's not some silly, hippy thing — it matters for everyone.” Click here to learn more about Elon Musk |
|
Gifford Pinchot, Forester and Conservationist Gifford Pinchot (1865–1946) was the son of a timber baron who later regretted the damage he had done to America's forests. At his insistence, Pinchot studied forestry for many years and was appointed by President Grover Cleveland to develop a plan for managing America's western forests. That career continued when Theodore Roosevelt asked him to lead the U.S. Forest Service. His time in office was not without opposition, however. He publicly battled John Muir over the destruction of wilderness tracts like Hetch Hetchy in California, while also being condemned by timber companies for closing off land to their exploitation. |
|
Greta Thunberg, climate activist Greta Thunberg is a Swedish environmental activist who is internationally known for challenging world leaders to take immediate action against climate change. Thunberg initially gained notice for her youth and her straightforward speaking manner, both in public and to political leaders and assemblies, in which she criticizes world leaders for their failure to take what she considers sufficient action to address the climate crisis. Click here to learn more about Greta Thunberg |
|
Henry David Thoreau, Author and Activist Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) was one of America's first philosopher-writer-activists, and he is still one of the most influential. In 1845, Thoreau—disillusioned with much of contemporary life—set out to live alone in a small house he built near the shore of Walden Pond in Massachusetts. The two years he spent living a life of utter simplicity was the inspiration for "Walden, or A Life in the Woods," a meditation on life and nature that is considered a must-read for all environmentalists. Thoreau also wrote an influential political piece called "Resistance to Civil Government (Civil Disobedience)" that outlined the moral bankruptcy of overbearing governments. Click here to learn more about Henry David Thoreau |
|
John Muir, Naturalist and Writer, the "Father of the National Park System" John Muir (1838–1914) was born in Scotland and emigrated to Wisconsin as a young boy. His lifelong passion for hiking began as a young man when he hiked to the Gulf of Mexico. Muir spent much of his adult life wandering in—and fighting to preserve—the wilderness of the western United States, especially California. His tireless efforts led to the creation of Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, and millions of other conservation areas. Muir was a strong influence on many leaders of his day, including Theodore Roosevelt. In 1892, Muir and others founded the Sierra Club "to make the mountains glad." Click here to learn more about John Muir |
|
Rachel Carson, Scientist and Author Rachel Carson (1907–1964) is regarded by many as the founder of the modern environmental movement. Born in rural Pennsylvania, she went on to study biology at Johns Hopkins University and Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory. After working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carson published "The Sea Around Us" and other books. Her most famous work, however, was 1962's controversial "Silent Spring," in which she described the devastating effect that pesticides were having on the environment. Though pilloried by chemical companies and others, Carson's observations were proven correct, and pesticides like DDT were eventually banned. Click here to learn more about Rachel Carson |
|
Theodore Roosevelt, Politician and Conservationist It might surprise some that a famed big-game hunter would make it onto a list of environmentalists, but Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) was one of the most active champions of wilderness preservation in history. As governor of New York, he outlawed the use of feathers as clothing adornment in order to prevent the slaughter of some birds. While president of the United States (1901–1909), Roosevelt set aside hundreds of millions of wilderness acres, actively pursued soil and water conservation, and created over 200 national forests, national monuments, national parks, and wildlife refuges. Click here to learn more about Teddy Roosevelt |
|
Wangari Maathai, Political Activist, Environmentalist and Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai (1940–2011) was an environmental and political activist in Kenya. After studying biology in the United States, she returned to Kenya to begin a career that combined environmental and social concerns. Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in Africa and helped to plant over 30 million trees, providing jobs to the unemployed while also preventing soil erosion and securing firewood. She was appointed Assistant Minister in the Ministry for Environment and Natural Resources, and in 2004 Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while continuing to fight for the rights of women, the politically oppressed, and the natural environment. Click here to learn more about Wangari Maathai |
| PODCASTS |
|
A Sustainable Mind The podcast, hosted and produced by Marjorie Alexander, is home to weekly interviews with the people behind some of today’s most impactful start-ups, organizations, and campaigns. The discussions cover everything from microplastics and bamboo to eco-friendly event planning and sustainable intimacy products. Listen On: Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, Google, TuneIn |
|
Brown Girl Green Created by activist, host, and speaker Kristy Drutman, Brown Girl Green addresses the intersections of media, diversity, and environmentalism. Through interviews with leaders and advocates, the conversations focus on inclusion, climate crisis solutions, and more. Listeners can tune in to discussions about how to use personal finance for environmentally conscious spending, as well as how to cultivate joy in a frequently overwhelming world. Listen On: Apple, Spotify, Soundcloud |
|
Going Green Dylan Welch, media entrepreneur and TV Producer, interviews climate change experts, clean tech entrepreneurs, and sustainable business owners to learn about what it takes to live a more sustainable life, while also saving money and finding success. Listen On: Apple, Spotify, Audible |
|
Growing the Green Economy A podcast about sustainability and innovation in business and government. Growing the Green Economy features interviews with innovators, policy leaders, and activists who are building sustainable businesses and confronting the climate crisis. Hosted by Conor Bronsdon, political and tech consultant. Listen On: Apple, Spotify, Google
|
|
Podship Earth This prolific podcast, by California Secretary for Environmental Protection Jared Blumenfeld, kicks off with EPA chief Gina McCarthy and encounters many other high-level figures, including former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and Inbal Becker-Reshef, director of NASA’s food security and agriculture program. Whether examining "green guilt" or the most recent COP talks, Blumenfeld's insider view is relevant and whimsical. He even talks with his parents. Listen On: Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, Google |
|
Pretty Good Business Pretty Good Business, a podcast all about businesses that are making a difference. In each episode, the hosts talk with green companies founders that are putting sustainability at the core of their businesses. They’ll ask them about the ups, the downs and some tips on how to build a sustainable business. Listen On: Apple, Spotify |
|
Sustainability Defined This podcast is a great access point for any topic under the umbrella of sustainability. Each episode breaks down one part within the extremely broad field of "sustainability" through an educational lens. This is a great podcast to fill a gap of knowledge you might have. Listen On: Apple, Spotify, Google |
|
The Guardian's 12-part series on climate change This series follows the editor-in-chief of the Guardian as his team takes up the fight against climate change. It's a cool podcast because they're not just talking at you after the fact. Instead, they're talking in real time about how they can effect change in their personal lives and how they can leverage the power of the institution they're a part of, and what responsibility they have as being a part of an institution in the media. Listen On: Apple, The Guardian |
|
The Response A collaboration among Shareable, Post Carbon Institute, Transition US, Upstream Podcast and NewStories, this podcast does deep dives into how different communities respond to natural disasters. With the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, it's an important topic. Luckily, the series treats the subject with sensitivity to tell the stories of the people on the ground, many of which were ignored by more mainstream media narratives. Listen On: Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Google |
November 12, 2021