We are what humans call “alien” life forms, from a distant land whose name cannot be pronounced by human tongues. Our society used up all our planet’s natural resources and polluted its atmosphere until we struggled to breathe and feed our population. Eventually, we had no choice but to leave our home in search of a new planet. After 29 years of searching, we stumbled upon your fine metropolis. We chose to settle in Atlanta because of its leafy tree canopy, biodiversity, and distance from the rising seas. Now we live among you, and we see the humans of Earth rapidly headed down the same path as our lost society. We also see many ATLiens seeking to reverse the damage. We wish to unite and amplify the work of these Green ATLiens so that we may continue to live in peace on planet Earth until your Sun implodes.
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FeaturedEarth Overshoot Day Earth Overshoot Day (EOD) is the date in any given year reflecting when human consumption of Earth’s natural resources has depleted more than the Earth can regenerate in a year. In 2020 Earth Overshoot Day falls on August 22, more than 3 weeks later than in 2019 due to COVID-19 lockdowns around… Read more
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FeaturedFridays for Future #24: Georgia Environmental Legislative Justice Updates
HB 901 – Georgia Environmental Finance Authority HB 901 has passed the Georgia House AND Senate and now approaches Governor Kemp’s desk. The passing of HB 901 would empower local governments and non-governmental entities to take out loans to improve local water quality, protect vulnerable communities from floods, protect wildlife including endangered and threatened species,… Read more
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FeaturedMonday Motivation: Julia Schneider
Greetings ATLiens! This week our #motivationmonday feature is local chef and locavore expert, Julia Schneider! You may recognize her if you ever frequented (pre-COVID) the Ponce City Market Farmers Market by CFM where she has been a featured Chef. She is a private chef and also works with Moveable Feast ATL, a local catering company. COVID… Read more
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FeaturedWorld Population Day & Atlanta’s Growing Population
Today is World Population Day. Why does it exist? To raise awareness of global population issues. Let’s be clear, in terms of climate change the issue is not population but how we support our population. Population growth necessitates that we adapt our systems so that we collectively will produce less and not more greenhouse gases.… Read more
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FeaturedFFF #23: Fridays for Future! Not fireworks.
by Meredith Bowen Unpopular opinion- I hate fireworks. There, I said it. I’ve never liked them, when I was little I could never get over the giant booms and the overall thought that the sky must be falling. Everyone around me would say, “but look at the pretty colors!” … to which I wish I… Read more
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FeaturedFridays for Future #22: FIVE Times the 2021 Atlanta City Budget Defunded Env. Justice to Fund APD
After the recent whirlwind of police killings of victims George Floyd in Minneapolis, MO, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, KY, and Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta, GA, there has been an increasing call from the people to defund police departments that have been the perpetrators of brutality, violence, and murder against black people for centuries in the… Read more
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FeaturedFridays for Future #21: Juneteenth & The Environmental Movement
By Sydney-Alyce Happy Juneteenth everyone! With the protests and unrest in our nation over police brutality, you may have seen this day mentioned on social media as an important day to reflect on how far we’ve come as a nation, and how much further we must go. What is Juneteenth? What is so special about… Read more
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FeaturedMotivation Monday #18 – March on Georgia Demonstrators
Happy #MotivationMonday GreenATLiens! Today we’re feeling motivated by the demonstrators who used their First Amendment rights today at the March On Georgia organized by the NAACP of Atlanta. It was GreenATLiens’ privilege to chat with a few of the demonstrators present today. Below are direct quotes from March on Georgia demonstrators on their recommended calls… Read more
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FeaturedMotivation Monday #17 – Dr. Brian L. Davis
Greetings ATLiens 🖖 This #MotivationMonday in observance of #WorldOceansDay we would like to meet Dr. Brian Davis, President and CEO of the Georgia Aquarium. Originally from New Jersey, Dr. Davis earned his B.S. in Environmental Science at Rutgers University in 1992 and shortly thereafter migrated to Atlanta for a position at Zoo Atlanta. The rest… Read more
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FeaturedFridays for Future #19: 10 Ways to Support #ThePeoplesResponseATL Right Now! Repost from Tea Sierra @colonizedlocal
10 Ways to Support #ThePeoplesResponseATL Right Now! Repost from local community organizer Tea Sierra @colonizedlocal 1. Join TPR! thepeoplesresponseatl.com 2. Research your property manager/landlord and share the info you find with the Housing Justice League at 404-946-9953. 3. Read & share this op-ed on our demands to Keisha Bottoms bit.ly/DearKeisha 4. Demand for your county to release ALL incarcerated… Read more
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FeaturedMotivation Monday #16 – Atlanta Protesters
Last Friday our spaceship landed at Centennial Olympic Park for a march to the Georgia State Capitol to demand justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many other black lives that have been taken by police and white supremacists in this country for centuries. The protest we participated in on Friday, May… Read more
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FeaturedFridays for Future #18 – Biodiversity Series: Removing English Ivy for Climate
Removing invasive plant species from our own yards is an actionable way we can all help reverse the effects of climate change. As it turns out, our insect populations are being decimated by invasive plants, which out-compete native plants and create habitat “dead-zones”. Professor of Entomology and acclaimed author Bringing Nature Home, Doug Tallamy sums… Read more
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FeaturedFridays for Future #17 – Georgia’s Housing Future
We don’t often think of manmade structures as part of the environment, and yet they are. Humans, also not often thought of as part of the environment, dwell in these structures. Many others dwell without them, something humans have termed as “homelessness” -a loss of human habitat accepted by too many of the fortunate as… Read more
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FeaturedMotivation Monday #15 – Tanya “Tea” Povolny
Happy #MotivationMonday Green ATLiens!! We are headed into week ???? of Quarantine 2020 and who else is tired of staring at that English Ivy in their yard? This week’s Motivation Monday feature is Tanya “Tea” Povolny, founder of EcoLogic, an invasive plant removal service, and she is an expert on just that! Tea grew up… Read more
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FeaturedFridays for Future #16 – Atlanta’s Water Woes Part 1
A Deep Dive into ATL’s Water Supply When astronomers gaze into their telescopes to search the crevices of the universe for habitable planets, they are hoping to find one thing: water. Water is one of the most important elements necessary to sustain life. We use it for everything. Try to name at least one essential… Read more
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FeaturedFridays for Future #15 – Recycling Right in the A
Can ATLiens do better than a 20-25% recycling contamination rate? Here’s how you can fix your recycling fails & stop wish-cycling. We ATLiens are fortunate to live in a city that has a strong recycling program. But, if you’re like me, sometimes it’s tempting to toss an item into the blue bin hoping that it’s… Read more
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FeaturedMotivation Monday #14 – Stephanie Melara
Happy #MotivationMonday ATLiens! Meet Stephanie Melara, sustainable fashion stylist and ethical slow fashion boutique owner based in Atlanta. Originally from San Francisco and a long-time Floridian, Stephanie grew her ATLien antennae >3 years ago when she moved here with her fiancee and life partner for work. Stephanie brought with her impressive credentials in sustainable fashion… Read more
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FeaturedFridays For Future #14 – Development without Displacement
Bright and early on Friday, May 1, 2020 at 7:30am 158 or so people gathered in front of their computers to attend Southface’s first virtual Sustainable Atlanta Roundtable. This month’s roundtable was dedicated to a heated topic in Metro Atlanta – development without displacement. As the Atlanta Beltline and other developments have caused property values… Read more
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FeaturedMotivation Monday #13 – Natasha Dörr-Kapczynski
Happy #MotivationMonday GreenATLiens! Meet Natasha Dörr-Kapczynski, one of Atlanta’s leading youth climate organizers. Dörr-Kapczynski is making Atlanta greener through grassroots community organizing and education centered around climate change both on and off her high school campus! Currently completing her senior year at Campbell High School in Smyrna, Dörr-Kapczynski founded Atlanta for the Planet in March… Read more
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FeaturedFridays for Future #13 – Local Food is Essential
by Meredith Bowen “Essential business,” it’s the hot button phrase of the hour. But what is an essential business? How do we define it? What we deem essential is strongly affected by what position of privilege we come from. Essential needs; food, shelter, safety. But let’s go back to the first word. Food. Nourishment.… Read more
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FeaturedMotivation Monday #12 – Ree Shreeves
Annnnnnd we’re back! We temporarily pressed pause on our regular postings so we could form a larger team of writers and activists to keep this thing going! So without further ado, GreenATLiens is very proud to introduce one of Atlanta’s greenest, Anamarie “Ree” Shreeves! Meet Ree Shreeves. Ree is the founder of Fort Negrita, Atlanta’s… Read more
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FeaturedFridays for Future #13 – Georgia to oppose offshore oil and gas exploration?
The Georgia Senate is currently reviewing SR 88, a resolution sponsored by Sen. Lester Jackson (D-2) to oppose seismic testing and oil and gas drilling along Georgia’s coast. The resolution aims to protect Georgia’s fishing and coastal tourism industries, beaches and salt marshes, and marine wildlife through their opposition to offshore oil and gas exploration… Read more
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FeaturedMotivation Monday #11 – 74K ATLiens Fighting Climate Change & More with MARTA
Happy #MotivationMonday, GreenATLiens! Today’s Monday Motivation is the >74K MARTA Martians who make the city greener and the air cleaner every day by riding MARTA! Here’s a quick rundown of how MARTA Martians are helping reduce traffic, slow down climate change, and improve local public health. MARTA & Traffic Can you imagine another 74 THOUSAND… Read more
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FeaturedFridays for Future #12 – Georgia Plastic Bag Ban
The Earthlings of the Georgia Conservancy are monitoring the happenings of Georgia Senate Bill 280 – a proposal to “prohibit the distribution of plastic ‘grocery’ bags by retail stores to customers.” A number of other plastic bags and containers would be exempt from this legislation (source). Plastic bag pollution doesn’t just threaten Georgia’s endangered and… Read more
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FeaturedMotivation Monday #10 – Gwen Lynn
Meet Gwen Lynn, environmental scientist and consultant, owner and founder of @inagreenminute! In a Green Minute provides short educational videos on climate change and environmental science to disseminate information and know-how to the public. It only takes a minute to be green! When she’s not creating and circulating educational content on climate change and sustainability, Gwen… Read more
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FeaturedFridays for Future #11: Nighttime Closures of Edgewood Ave Block
Happy #FridaysForFuture Green ATLiens! Wednesday, February 19th ATLiens are gathering to discuss the future of Edgewood Ave, specifically nighttime closures of a block of Edgewood Ave from Jackson to Boulevard to pedestrians-only on weekends. This would no doubt create a safer space and less stressful pedestrian experience for those who want to enjoy the local nightlife in… Read more
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FeaturedMotivation Monday #9 – Zeb McLaurin
Happy #MotivationMonday, GreenATLiens! Meet Zeb, Sustainability Director of Goodr! Zeb and his team of DoGoodrs are actively reducing businesses’ edible and nonedible food waste in Atlanta. Edible food is taken to local food insecure communities who take what would have been methane-emitting landfill waste and turn it into nourishment for their families. Nonedible food waste is taken… Read more
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FeaturedMotivation Monday #8 – Jordan Herring
Time to #GetMotivated ATLiens! Meet Jordan Herring, a local #GreenATLien making the world greener through soybean genetic lab research at UGA. Soy as a crop is often derided by environmental conservationists because of the deforestation caused by soybean farming, particularly in rainforest regions in South America. Jordan is working with a team of scientists at UGA to increase soybean… Read more
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FeaturedFridays for Future #9: The Buy Nothing Project
Happy #FridaysforFuture, GreenATLiens! The map above shows the phenomenon that has been steadily gaining momentum in Atlanta, the Buy Nothing Project. These are neighborhood-based, “gifting economies” where we can ask our neighbors for what we need, give freely to our neighbors without expecting anything in return, and express gratitude. Every day people in Atlanta are giving… Read more
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FeaturedMotivation Monday #7 – Taylor Howard
Happy #MotivationMonday GreenATLiens! Meet Taylor, a local wildlife conservation educator and leader in sustainability in Atlanta! Taylor currently spends her days educating the next generation about wildlife conservation at Zoo Atlanta, and actively dedicates her free time as a Climate Reality Atlanta member and Browns Mill Food Forest volunteer Born and raised in Decatur, Taylor first became interested in wildlife after… Read more
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FeaturedFridays for Future #8: PFAS Water Contamination
Happy #FridaysForFuture GreenATLiens! The blue dots on the map above show PFAS “forever chemicals” detected in the drinking water. See any where you or your loved ones live? PFAS can interfere with the body’s natural hormones, increase cholesterol levels, affect the immune system, and increase the risk of some cancers (source). A regular water filter won’t filter… Read more
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FeaturedMotivation Monday #6 – Parul Srivastava
Meet Parul Srivastava! @parul.s.srivastava is a GreenATLien making Atlanta greener by mobilizing her classmates to climate strikes on and off campus! An ambitious Georgia Tech Math major + CS minor from outside Des Moines, Iowa, Parul has always taken an interest in political advocacy. As a high school student, she founded the Community of Racial Equality (CORE)… Read more
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FeaturedMotivation Monday #5 – Baba Sol
#MotivationMonday – Meet Baba Sol! @baba.sol is a GreenATLien making Atlanta greener through indigenous plant walks, herbal medicine, and songwriting. Listening to a few tracks from his album Aquarian King you’ll hear verses on sustainability themes from plastic in the ocean and plant care to spending time in the woods and clean eating. Sol has maintained a vegan… Read more
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FeaturedFridays for Future #7: Support City Council Legislation to Make the City Responsible for Sidewalk Repair
Did you know that the City of Atlanta is not currently responsible for sidewalk repairs in Atlanta? Under current policy, the property owners adjacent to existing sidewalk are responsible for sidewalk maintenance. The policy is ill-enforced, which explains why so many sidewalks across Atlanta are in poor shape. But the future of walkability in Atlanta… Read more
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FeaturedMotivation Monday #4 – Martin Roseman of Roseman’s Remedies
#MotivationMonday – Meet Martin! Martin Roseman is a GreenATLien making Atlanta greener through his sustainable wellness company Roseman’s Remedies. Roseman’s Remedies harnesses the health benefits of CBD in their wellness products, and Martin has engineered their product packaging to reduce their environmental impact significantly versus the mainstream market. From using water-based inks and plant-based compostable plastics instead of… Read more
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FeaturedFridays for Future #5: EPA Will Begin Lead Decontamination of West Atlanta Soil in 2020
What You Need to Know After an Emory University team found unsafe concentrations of lead in Westside Atlanta’s soil, the EPA launched an investigation to test the soil of 368 Atlanta properties for lead contamination. Having received results for 124 properties, 64 were found to contain elevated levels of lead in the soil. The EPA… Read more
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FFF #25: Top 5 Events on the GreenATL Calendar for August
5. Georgia Conservancy: Outdoors as Economic Assets Tuesday, August 412:00-1:00PMVirtual Event –> Link Something similar to check out:Nature For All Atlanta 4. Sierra Club Cocktails, Mocktails, and Clean Energy Wednesday August 5, 20205:30-7:30PMVirtual Event –> Link Something similar to check out:Sierra Club Virtual Clean Energy Committee MeetingWednesday, August 19 5:00-6:30PM 3. Trees Atlanta Ask the… Read more
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