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Meet the Young Professionals
A member for more than a year, Katie Tweed is one of the newest members of the Young Professionals Board.
How did you become concerned about the environment?
I grew up surrounded by town forests and an Audubon sanctuary in Massachusetts. It never really occurred to me as a child that people weren't concerned about the environment. I spent a year living in Australia during college and the environmental awareness there is at such a higher level amongst all walks of life. Energy issues and especially water conservation are taken much more seriously down there. It really opened my eyes to what can happen if most of the public is actually educated about environmental issues.
How did you get involved with the YPG?
I attended the 2007 Benefit at Cain and was really interested in the tangible results in conservation that the YPG were seeing from their efforts. I joined the YPG later that year, and was struck by how outgoing so many of the members are. After joining I saw an opportunity to help plan the next year's benefit and I had the time to pitch in - and it was a great way to get to know some more people and put together what turned out to be a great event.
What are your favorite things about the YPG?
Unlike a lot of other young professional groups in New York City, this one is very goal driven and keeps with the mission to support specific TNC projects and challenges. Also, there is more to do than just go to cocktail parties - there are hikes, canoe trips and fabulous trips to Mashomack. But my favorite thing is the people - from the first event I went to there are scores of fun and passionate people that are always looking to have new people as part of our group.
You are currently pursuing a degree in science, health and environmental journalism - do you have specific plans following graduation?
I had been working in a more general news environment before returning to school. I saw a lot of information - especially important environmental stories - being marginalized in the news agenda. That has changed a little recently with the overdue interest in climate change and the energy crisis. There are a lot of issues that need to be clearer and more compelling if the general public is going to care about them, and that's something that my degree will help me go back into mainstream media and do.
In what other ways do you integrate your concern for the environment into your everyday life?
Even though I've started to take shorter showers, the bulk of my water usage actually comes from the agricultural process to make the meat I occasionally eat. So now I'm going to talk to the poultry guy at the farmer's market about whether he's trying to use less water. I take little steps where I can - changing to energy efficient light bulbs, keeping the heat low. I have started to become aware of the life cycle of more products - especially electronics - and that helps me make informed decisions about buying, but also how to properly dispose of stuff. Once you start looking around, you realize there is actually a lot you can do. I have started composting with worms - and it's easy and it really cuts down on how often I need to take the trash out.
Katie is currently finishing her M.A. in Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting at NYU. When not studying or planning great YPG events, Katie enjoys traveling, etch-a-sketching and rooting for the Boston Red Sox.
The Young Professionals Board would like to welcome Katie Tweed and Jin Jin Huang as our newest YP Board members!
Green Reading
by Joel Papo
Published 46 years ago, Silent Spring by Rachel Carson is a classic environmental text that remains timely to this day. The book explains how humans, in their effort to combat "pests" and "weeds," are doing drastic harm to both the environment and presenting new risks to human health. The book led to new environmental laws, including the banning of DDT in the United States, but a present day reading reveals that all of the lessons in the book have not yet been learned. Rachel Carson is an engaging and powerful writer. She explains complicated scientific concepts in layman's terms, and outlines reasonable solutions to the problems she identifies. It is with good reason that Silent Spring is called the book "that launched the environmental movement".
Rachel Carson was not only a renowned author, but a celebrated supporter of the Conservancy, as well. She stands in history as one of the handful of individuals who established the Maine chapter of The Nature Conservancy, which has gone on to protect more than a million acres over the last 50 years and has their own Young Professionals Group: TNC Next!
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The Season for Giving
Despite the recent economic turmoil, the environment is as pressing an issue as ever. The global recession will place an increasing burden on the environment as costly governmental and business initiatives will be cast aside in favor of lower cost and more environmentally damaging options. At the same time, the prices of ecologically sensitive land will be falling, resulting in once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for conservation.
How can you make a difference?
Join the YPG, if you're not already a member! You can now sign-up online, which makes joining easier than ever.
Consider giving a gift membership to The Nature Conservancy's Young Professionals Group, which provides fun activities all year round! To arrange a gift membership for a friend, please contact us.
Or, find the perfect gift at the new Nature Conservancy Marketplace, filled with objects of beauty and utility from sustainable resources around the world. YP members receive 10% off!
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Upcoming Events with the YPG
It's time to start thinking about our 2009 Benefit! And your involvement is what helps to make our annual event such a success. If you are interested in helping out, please join us at our first Benefit Committee meeting on Wednesday, December 3rd at 6:30pm. If you can't make the meeting but would like to support our efforts, please let us know and we can keep you informed of future meetings and ways you can get involved.
To RSVP for the meeting or for more information about joining the Benefit Committee, please contact Holly Magliano.
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Conservation Spotlight: Forests
Over the next year, the YPG will be highlighting forests, essential to the health and quality of human life and a source of livelihood for more than one billion people living in extreme poverty around the world. Here we take a look at some of the news surrounding The Nature Conservancy's forest conservation activities around the world:
Indonesia, which is home to some of the most biodiverse forests on Earth, also has the world’s highest rate of deforestation. Approximately 52 square kilometers a day of forest are destroyed. This is exacting a great toll on sensitive endangered species such as the orangutan, which some scientists predict could go extinct as early as 2011 if current rates of deforestation continue. Jack Hurd, director of The Nature Conservancy’s Forest Trade Program, has been instrumental in this work and is quoted in a recent Newsweek article citing Indonesia's recent efforts to begin dealing with this problem. Click here to read the article.
The Nature Conservancy's Lead Scientist, Sanjayan, was featured on the Today Show speaking about The Nature Conservancy's work in Canada's Great Bear Rainforest, where life continues to exist in much the same way as it has 10,000 years ago. Click here to view the video online.
Earlier this month, we hosted our YP Forest Launch Party at Aldine. Joined by more than 150 people, we enjoyed drinks, hors d'oeuvres, live jazz and drinks sponsored by Bacardi and Peak Organic to learn more about forest conservation and celebrate the end of 2008! Click here to see photos from the party.
Special thanks to Naomi Arbit, who compiled the content of this newsletter. Questions? Email Naomi.
For all other inquiries, please contact us.
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