By Joan Seidman, JCAN NYC member
I arrived at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan on Earth Day for a viewing hosted by JCAN NYC of select segments from 50 States of Sustainability, a documentary that focuses on innovative companies that are leading the way to a renewable economy. I was grateful for the beautiful spring day, but my heart was heavy with the news that President Trump had issued an executive order opening up the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument west of Hawaii to commercial fishing. My spirits were buffeted back and forth between awe at nature’s beauty and the sense of powerlessness I often feel. How will we get out of this mess? How can we save the planet?
The three segments from 50 States of Sustainability gave me some hope that, behind the scenes, away from the hype and the headlines, there are smart, dedicated young people working on groundbreaking projects that promote sustainability, among them Byron Kominek who, at Jack’s Solar Garden in Colorado, combines the production of solar energy and locally grown food for his community. In Vermont, Kyle Clark and his team at Beta Technologies have developed two types of all-electric airplanes along with a network of charging stations. And Sea Briganti’s Missouri-based company, Loliware, has come up with a new technology that uses ocean-farmed seaweed to replace plastic. Who knew?
As an added bonus, Larry Confino, the director/producer, was on hand to talk about what motivated him to make the documentary, as well as some of the moving experiences he had as he traveled across the country to film it. It was an evening to inspire hope in everyone present.
If you are intrigued, you can find a trailer for the series here. If you would like to view the Q&A that followed, the JCC has made it available on its YouTube channel.