September 19, 2024

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The challenges we face today are complex. The issues demand immediate action and innovative solutions, many of which are already taking shape. In this month’s “First Fridays” episode, we explore groundbreaking approaches like creating fabric from cocoa waste, recycling critical minerals from old electronics, and using data to improve healthcare access in underserved regions. These solutions give us hope and remind us that with collaboration and creativity, a more sustainable and equitable future is possible!



The foundation remains committed to raising public awareness and fostering discussions around the issue of radioactive waste management. For instance, there are millions of pounds of radioactive waste stored in a nearby location, which is highlighted on our website. We encourage you to stay informed, and take action.

Bart Ziegler, PhD

President, Samuel Lawrence Foundation

Solutions for the Future

Making fabric out of cocoa waste,

Refrigerators saving lives,

Recycling critical raw minerals from our old phones, so we don’t need to mine more from our planet.

What do all of these have in common? They are all innovative solutions for a more sustainable future!

Watch this exciting webinar - timed with the upcoming Summit of the Future at the UN - featuring leaders from across the globe working toward solutions for our future.

Vanessa Nakate, a climate activist from Uganda, shared her experiences and insights on how we can support climate activists in their efforts. “We are seeing lawyers in court supporting activists, we are seeing people doing work in sustainable fashion. We are seeing businesses trying to make their operations more sustainable. It's really just adding ‘activist’ to what you are already doing,” said Nakate.

Kristen Dunlop, CEO of Climate-KIC, Europe’s leading climate innovation agency, is part of a positive movement in both European and North American cities. “When we start to really understand ecosystem services and tune in to learn how every single natural system has ways of renewing resources… You start to get abundance thinking, you start to open up all these possibilities,” explained Dunlop.

Josh Whiton, founder of MakeSoil, a platform connecting communities to nearby compost sites, commented on the potential of regeneration work. “Humans are needing more purpose and they're wondering what to do with themselves. We're worried AI is going to take all our jobs away. Then you look over here, it's nothing but jobs to be done in regenerating the planet, in harmonizing our civilization with the biosphere. So, I'm really excited for when that really obvious tension collapses into a new stabilized state where humanity realizes how exciting it is to work together to take care of the planet,” said Whiton.

Nithya Ramanathan, CEO and co-founder of Nex-Leaf, an innovator in vaccine storage and distribution worldwide, highlighted the complexities of vaccine distribution. “The thing is, most countries operate differently than the US. Most countries are very centralized. Imagine that all the vaccines for every baby in the US landed in Denver, and they had to be sent out to every child four times a year, from Denver, with cars, bicycles, and motorcycles… It's a miracle,” said Ramanathan.

Shannen Henry, founder of The Kaylia Group and a leader in sustainable fashion, emphasized the interconnectedness of industries. “I think sometimes we work in silos. I work in sustainable fashion, but it's really interconnected with agriculture, with technology, with cities, and overall just lifestyle. We all have just different assets that we can offer to help move each other's initiatives forward,” said Henry.

Sarabeth Brockley, Senior Director of CarbonBetter, which helps businesses align environmental and financial goals, spoke on leveraging markets for sustainability. “There is a goal to leverage the power of markets to drive sustainable growth. We are seeing what types of key roles we can incorporate by leading efforts in carbon strategy and sustainable development,” said Brockley.

No Amount of Radioactivity is Safe

We owe our awareness of tritium radioactivity violations at the San Onofre nuclear waste site, to the diligent reporting of Orange County Register journalist Teri Sforza. Without her investigative efforts reporting the CEP, these critical issues may have gone unnoticed by the public. Southern California Edison, the plant's operator, has faced more safety violations during SONGS’ operational years than any other nuclear facility in the country (www.sanonofresafety.org). Edison has historically fired whistleblowers, and have covered up violations as things went wrong. Our trust has been undermined by Edison’s culture of facility mismanagement. Now during the current San Onofre decommissioning Edison continues to file waivers of regulations that allow them to potentially circumvent what are considered standard safety protocols. 

Hudson Elliott, a local resident, says, “We find it a bit disturbing that the contractor entrusted with dismantling the San Onofre site shipped the large pressure vessels without noticing 190 gallons of water inside. What else have they ‘accidentally’ shipped without proper inspection? As a fisherman, when I transport a boat over the highway in most states, I can’t even have a cup full of water in any part of my boat! These rules exist to prevent the movement of invasive species. Enforcement is strict. Now we are talking about enough water to FILL a small boat that could have potentially been radioactive! We need better monitoring of this (mess)!”

Tritium exposure carries significant health risks, including an increased likelihood of diseases such as cancer. No threshold of radioactivity has been identified as safe. Dismissing these concerns by claiming that “tritium poses no threat” is a scientifically unfounded claim, and undermines the gravity of the situation.



Calling all Musicians to Play for the Vote!

At the Samuel Lawrence Foundation, we believe in the power of music to inspire change and unite communities. That's why we're excited to highlight Play for the Vote, an independent initiative boosting voter turnout through the universal language of music.

This Election Day, Play for the Vote invites passionate musicians to perform at polling places, creating a welcoming and energizing atmosphere to encourage everyone to exercise their civic duty. By turning Election Day into a musical celebration, they aim to uplift voters and remind them that every voice counts.

Here’s how you can get involved:

• Amplify Voter Turnout: Use your music to create an inspiring environment that motivates more people to vote.
• Connect with Your Community: Perform at your local polling place and make Election Day a memorable experience for all.
• Be Part of Change: Support democracy through your talent, reminding voters that their voices truly matter.

To learn more, sign up to perform, or share this call with other musicians, visit Play for the Vote.

VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!

Sign up, and spread the word to fellow musicians!

Learning Equality Luncheon

Thank you so much for joining the Samuel Lawrence Foundation and Learning Equality last month! We had great conversations, amazing food, and shared our passion for making education more accessible to everyone. We got to dive into Learning Equality's incredible impact — from helping refugee children in Uganda to using AI to bring top-notch edtech to communities that need it most.

What started as a small San Diego organization just 10 years ago has now grown into a global movement, reaching over 10 million learners in 220 countries and territories! They’ve helped U.S. inmates earn high school diplomas, boosted math scores in rural Guatemala, built educator confidence in India, and advanced girls' education in Sierra Leone.

Want to continue to support this important work? Consider making a donation — all contributions through September 30 will be matched! Or, stay in the loop by signing up for their newsletter and following along on social media at learningequality.org



Learning Equality believes everyone, regardless of circumstance, deserves equitable access to education.

Write Your Representative

Click HERE to email your local representatives to express your concerns and advocate for policies that safeguard our communities and environment.

Sign The Petition

Sign the petition linked HERE to support the monitoring and move of the toxic nuclear waste to a safer location.

Share This Newsletter

Please share this newsletter with your friends, family, and colleagues. Encourage them to join the SLF community to keep informed about critical issues related to nuclear safety, environmental health, and more.

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Together, let’s create a larger impact and drive meaningful change. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to making a difference!

Like these topics? Check out our "First Fridays" Series on YouTube or Spotify, where we bring together leading experts to discuss climate change, nuclear safety, environmental issues, energy solutions, and public health and wellness.

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