Al Gore’s long-awaited follow up to ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ is in bookstores. ‘Our Choice’ is a master plan for fighting climate change. Joining host Mike Tidwell to talk about the book is Joe Romm. Joe is the author of the website Climate Progress and the author of the book Hell or High Water.

Then speaking of high water, we review a lawsuit by victims of Hurricane Katrina against the oil companies that they say contributed to the ferocity of the storm. We speak to Hannah McCrea, the author of the website Warming Law, and F. Gerald Maples, the lead attorney in the case.

The connections between population and climate change go far beyond the recent comments by conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. Kathleen Mogelgaard of Population Action International speaks to host Mike Tidwell about how giving women the control they want over the size of their families ends up being a win-win for them, and the climate.

CNN called the recent 350 Day of Action “the most widespread day of political action in the planet’s history.” We speak to 350.org founder and climate hero Bill McKibben.

Then, host Mike Tidwell reviews the latest climate news and views, including his recent op-ed in the Baltimore Sun.

Image from Hyderabad, India’s 350 action, used courtesy of 350.org.

Denmark’s Ambassador to the United States, Friis Petersen, joins host Daphne Wysham for a discussion on how his country became a world leader in renewable energy, lower greenhouse gases, and a strong national economy. The Danish city of Copenhagen will host the crucial United Nations Climate Summit – COP 15 – in December.

The federal government classifies incinerators as a source of renewable energy. Meg Sheehan of Ecolaw in Massachusetts discusses the irony of naming waste as renewable.

And an architecture research group that’s working to slow climate change – we speak to Edward Mazria, the founder and executive director of Architecture 2030.

Image by Fred Sorensen of Denmark used with permission via Flickr.

Music used is Flight to Denmark by Duke Jordan.

Our theme music is Baladi by Tony Anka, Bellydance Superstars vol. 2.

Nuclear power proponents are pushing for new giveaways in the climate change bill that’s currently before the U.S. Senate. We hear from Dr. Helen Caldicott the author of Nuclear Power is Not the Answer on the dangers of nuclear power. Dr. Caldicott joins the discussion with host Daphne Wysham and Michael Mariotte, the executive director of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service. More information about the rise of nuclear power in the US Senate can be found at Mother Jones magazine. The report Dr. Caldicott mentions is Carbon Free Nuclear Free.

Then we talk about foraging for your own food with author Langdon Cook. He’s the author of the book, Fat of the Land: Adventures of a 21st Century Forager.

Image used with permission by C. Tyson Photography via Flickr. All Rights Reserved.

Our theme music is Baladi by Tony Anka, Bellydance Superstars vol. 2.

US President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in a surprise move by the Norwegian prize committee. In part they say they gave Mr. Obama the prize for his work on climate change. Host Mike Tidwell discusses the promise and the actions of the president with Joe Romm, the editor of the blog ClimateProgress.

Copenhagen, Denmark is the greenest city in the world, even though a large portion of its electricity comes from coal. We talk about how to green American cities with Peter Garforth. He advises major American cities on how to be more competitive and reduce their energy use.

Then, an encore of our interview with Professor Jessica Hellmann of the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indianan on her work studying forced migration – when conservation biologists move plants and animals to new locations to protect them from extinction due to climate change.

Image used with permission by Manlio K via Flickr.

Music in this edition of Earthbeat is El Zaffa from the album Planet Passion by Ancient Future. Our theme music is Baladi by Tony Anka, Bellydance Superstars vol. 2.

Top American companies ditch their membership in the US Chamber of Commerce because of its climate change denial. Host Daphne Wysham speaks to Pete Altman, the climate campaign director for the Natural Resources Defense Council and Antonia Juhasz, the author of the book The Tyranny of Oil.

To take action and support companies demanding the U.S. Chamber of Commerce change its stance on climate change, either call 1-877-5-REPOWER or visit WhoDoesTheChamberRepresent?

Then, why the EPA called a secret grand jury hearing to investigate what has been called the biggest toxic dumping scandal of the 21st century. We speak to BBC investigative producer Meirion Jones of the program Newsnight and Greg Palast, the best selling author of the book Armed Madhouse.

The leaked documents can be viewed below.

One the same day that the US Senate announced its version of climate change legislation the EPA announced new action limiting greenhouse gases by big emitters. Mike Livermore, the executive director of the Institute for Policy Integrity at New York University’s School of Law and Bill Snape, the senior counsel for the Center for Biological Diversity, connects the dots for national, and international, action. Host Daphne Wysham wrote an editorial on this issues at Alternet.

Music by Donald Knaack, The Junkman from the album Junk Music 2. Our theme music is Baladi by Tony Anka, Bellydance Superstars vol. 2.

Image of the World Trade Center used courtesy of NYC Comets

The tsunami and earthquakes that ravaged islands in the Pacific may be just the beginning of an increase in geological disasters due to climate change.

Earthbeat host Mike Tidwell discusses the link with Alan Linde, a geophysicist with the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Bill McGuire, a professor of geophysics and climate at the University College London, who recently organized the first ever conference on the connections between climate change and geological hazards. McGuire is the author of the book, Seven Years to Save the Planet.

The small island nations nations of the world and islands like American Samoa are fighting to keep their heads literally above water with a discussion with Carroll Muffett of the Climate Law and Policy Project.

The worldwide economic downturn has an unexpected silver lining – our carbon emissions dipped as our bank accounts plummeted. Host Mike Tidwell talks dollars and sense with Peter Brown, a professor at McGill University and the co-author of the book Right Relationship.

Image – one of the chain of coral atolls that make up the Maldives islands

Music includes Maldives Night by Max Madisson and Nonu a Togi and Sasa by the Samoan Music Ensemble.

Our theme music is Baladi by Tony Anka, Bellydance Superstars vol. 2.

Advancements in China and India on greenhouse gas emission targets and leaps forward on renewable energy resources in China and India may be leaving the United States behind.

Earthbeat host Daphne Wysham discusses how the rest of the world is leaping forward on a clean energy future with Lester Brown. Lester is the president of the Earth Policy Institute and the author of a recent editorial in the Washington Post and the forthcoming book, Plan B 4.0 Mobilizing to Save Civilization.

David Bookbinder, the chief climate counsel of the Sierra Club and Tyson Slocum, the head of Public Citizen’s energy program discuss the pending U.S. action in the Senate on the nation’s first major legislation to fight climate change.

Image used courtesy of Laura Padgett via Flickr.

Music by Jacco Muller – Viento del Desierto. Our theme music is Baladi by Tony Anka, Bellydance Superstars vol. 2.

Bestselling author and investigative journalist Greg Palast joins host Daphne Wysham to discuss how the oil company Chevron is behind the firing of hurricane experts at Louisiana State University. The case of fired Louisiana State University professor, Ivor van Heerden is in the movie Big Easy to Big Empty.

Melting sea ice is pushing Pacific walruses onto land and resulting in unusual, massive herds of the animals. On the same week that the federal government agreed to review putting the walrus on the endangered species list – a herd in Alaska stampeded killing hundreds of the animals. Joining us discuss how oil and gas drilling is affecting the walruses is biologist Shaye Wolf of the Climate Law Institute at the Center for Biological Diversity.

The plan to create carbon offsets in the current U.S. climate bill could result in offsetting any true action on climate change. Michael Despines, the Friends of the Earth Climate Resilience Campaign Coordinator, discusses what’s coming us next in the U.S. Senate in this week’s edition of our ongoing series, the Countdown to Copenhagen.

Image copyright The Center for Biological Diversity – Bill Hickey.

Our theme music is Baladi by Tony Anka, Bellydance Superstars vol. 2.

Biochar is a type of charcoal that’s the result of burning plant matter with very low oxygen. It’s a sooty, black substance that holds great promise for not only slowing down climate change, but actually reversing it. Host Mike Tidwell discusses the promise of biochar with Durwood Zaelke, the president and founder of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development.

Then we discuss the nuts and bolts of the upcoming UN climate talks in Copenhagen. Ideally, nearly 200 countries will come together and leave the meeting with a 50-page treaty that’ll be a framework for the world to plan for worldwide climate change. Joining us to discuss how far away the world is from that goal is Angela Ledford Anderson, a program director for US Climate Action Network.

What’s likely the nation’s largest residential solar project is right here in the nation’s capital. Anya Schoolmaker joins us; she’s the president of the Mt. Pleasant Solar Coop.

Music used in this edition of Earthbeat is ‘Charcoal’ by Mrs. Tanaka.

The Washington, DC Eco Living Fair is September 19th, 10 to 2 at Bancroft Elementary School at 18th and Newton Sts., for more information call 202-413-7841 or click here.