PLANKTOS: OFFSETS REAL & IMAGINED

Are carbon off-sets the way to go? When we buy them, or big polluting companies announce they are "carbon neutral" - is it true?

This week we begin a look at one of the best-known "green" carbon offset companies, Planktos. Their CEO, Russell George, is a genius at getting world attention for his projects. Recently, the Vatican announced they were accepting a donation of offsets from Planktos. The Chicago Green Festival also told attendees that carbon created by motoring there was taken care of, by Planktos.

But so far, the company has not saved any carbon from the atmosphere. Their two projects, to plant trees in Hungary, and to dump iron into the Pacific, to "grow" plankton, have not yet begun.

The most controversial project, giving the company it's name, is to stimulate plankton blooms by adding iron. Theoretically, the plankton will use up carbon dioxide from the air, and some of it will settle to the ocean bottom, as these tiny lifeforms, or the things that eat them, die. So far, it's still a theory, but Planktos want's the opportunity to prove it works. They've purchased a former US Research Vessel, the Weatherbird II, to ferry the iron filings, and the scientists, past the Galapagos Islands in the South Pacific.

In this first of two programs on the company, CEO Russ George is interviewed by Alex Smith of Radio Ecoshock. We hear about the sad state of the oceans, which George claims are in crisis at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, you can learn a lot from Russ George.

We ask some tough questions, posed by his critics, including major environmental groups.

This show has a one minute music break at the 29 minute mark. Re-broadcasters with a live operator can pull down the music to insert their own Station ID. Also, the end music of 2 minutes can be cut to allow more time for local announcements. There is no other station ID in the show.

Those with automated systems can just play the one hour show straight through.

Look for the second part of this series, Planktos II, next week. We'll interview stock watcher David Baines, Pat Mooney of the ETC Group, and more.

Alex Smith
host
Radio Ecoshock
www.ecoshock.org