Sustainability Now! | Connor Giffin | C-J's New Environmental Reporter | Under-Reported | 7-11-22

On this week’s show, your host, Justin Mog, sits down with Connor Giffin, the new Courier-Journal Environmental reporter and Report for America corps member. We discuss some of his first impressions of Louisville and his recent coverage of pollution in Beargrass Creek, MSD and the city's efforts to reduce sewage overflow. We also discuss some of the under-reported sustainability stories in Louisville such as: 
1. Transportation and how Louisville is very lazy about that - intellectually and physically;
2. How racism is fueling climate change by allowing white leaders to ignore real transportation planning that serves those without cars and dense urban development and affordable housing;
3. The Land Development Code Reform Process and access to vacant land - which is disconnected from the Sustain Louisville plan;
4. Basic natural history and environmental education - what are the local species, urban wildlife, migratory species that pass through here? Threats to them and reasons to protect and value them, including invasives, and the new invasive species recently identified in Louisville by citizen scientists;
5. Indigenous peoples of our region (again, ignored due to racism) - who was displaced from these lands? what could we learn from them about sustainability? What are their ongoing struggles and successes? ; and
6. Reparations for indigenous and black communities who have suffered from environmental injustice.

• Check out Connor's staff profile https://www.courier-journal.com/staff/7467685001/connor-giffin/
• Report for America https://www.reportforamerica.org/
• Mississippi River Basin Ag and Water Desk https://agwaterdesk.org/
• Courier-Journal Mobile Newsroom information https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2022/06/15/courier-journal-mobile-newsroom-coming-your-neighborhood/7585572001/
The Courier-Journal is partnering with libraries to bring a newsroom to more neighborhoods. Starting July 5, the C-J Mobile Newsroom will set up in select libraries to embed journalists in that community for about a month. The goal is to listen and learn from the people who live in Shively, Russell, Okolona, Newburg, and Iroquois. The first stop is Shively. You're invited to come by and share your ideas in person. You can also reach out online now here.
C-J Mobile Newsroom Schedule (10am-5pm, weekdays):
• Shively Library, July 5-29
Meet the Editors Night - Tuesday, July 12, 6 p.m.
• Western Library, August 1-26
• South Central Regional Library, September 6-30
• Newburg Library, October 3-28
• Iroquois Library, November 1-18

As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at http://forwardradio.org

The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at http://appalatin.com