No one is watching the traveling oil plumes in the Gulf of Mexico more than David Godfrey. Godfrey is the Executive Director of the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, which next week will change its name to “The Sea Turtle Conservancy”. This not-for-profit organization is continuing the turtle research and conservation efforts started by the late Archie Carr, the internationally acclaimed sea turtle expert from the University of Florida. Godfrey talked with WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend and says his staff is at alert status because of the BP oil spill.
Jean-Michel Cousteau has spent his entire life either on the ocean or educating the public about protecting the ocean. Jean-Michel is the eldest son of the late Jacques Cousteau who will forever be remembered as an ambassador of the sea. Jean-Michel spent much of his life traveling aboard the famous Calypso with his father exploring and videotaping the undersea world. He recently published a book about his life with his father called, “My Father, The Captain.” Jean-Michel talked with WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend about why he’s continuing his father’s work and how that work took him to the current oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Florida CFO Alex Sink wants people to know that Florida’s beaches are beautiful, the fish are biting and the only oil on the state’s beaches is suntan oil. Sink is worried that all the coverage on the oil spill has caused people to make vacation reservations elsewhere. Sink, who is running for Governor, wants to use $25 million dollars from BP to fund a global advertising campaign to get the word out that Florida’s beaches and waters are free of oil and open for business. She talked with WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend.
Alachua County Animal Services is holding a “Spring Cleaning “ adoption event on Saturday (May 15th) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at their headquarters on Northeast 53rd Avenue in Gainesville. The afternoon event will feature a variety of vendors and educational materials as well as food and a raffle. The main goal is to have people come out and take home a furry friend. Donna Green-Townsend walked through the animal services facilities and talked with Public Education Program Coordinator and Event Coordinator, Hilary Hynes.
Area residents are being encouraged to contribute needed items for oil cleanup. The Wild Iris Bookstore has agreed to be a drop-off point through Monday morning (May 17th) for items ranging from toothbrushes to towels and shovels. This effort came about when a Gainesville writer met up with a group of activists who were holding a meeting over another contaminated site. Donna Green-Townsend talked with writer Lola Haskins and one of the owners of Wild Iris Books, Cheryl Krouth about how others can get involved. For more information about ways to help you can go online to http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/whatyoucando.html
The University of Florida held a dedication ceremony on Tuesday (May 11th) afternoon for the new Biomedical Sciences Building on campus. Donna Green-Townsend has more on what this new medical facility is expected to offer to researchers.
Lou Young has been a top reporter for WCBS-TV in New York City since 1994. Has won 8 Emmy Awards, and most recently received an Emmy in the Spot News category for his coverage of the Bronx Zoo Skyfari Rescue. He also has been honored with awards from the Associated Press, United Press International, Radio-Television Digital News Association, and New York Academy of Television Arts Awards. Listen below to Donna Green-Townsend’s 2010 interview with Young on his experience reporting for WCBS-TV from ground zero following the 9/11 attacks.
UF Alumnus and WCBS-TV Correspondent Lou Young Shares Experience Of Covering September 11th, 2001 In New York (04/15/2010)
Long-time broadcast journalist and alumnus from the University of Florida, Lou Young, paid a visit to his alma mater today (April 14, 2010). Young, who works for WCBS-TV in New York is the recipient of numerous awards, including eight Emmys. His body of work includes coverage of the invasion of Iraq, the controversial 2000 presidential election and school shootings in Littleton, Colorado among many other stories. He’s considered one of the first to begin reporting online. He’s also coauthor of the book, “The Art of Justice” about high profile trials. Young sat down in the studio with WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend to share one of his most memorable reporting experiences.
Chile’s president is urging citizens along the coast of his country to move quickly to higher ground following five strongly felt aftershocks, including the biggest since last month’s eight-point-eight magnitude quake. A University of Florida geophysics professor is anxious to get to the Chile earthquake zone. Professor Ray Russo will work with a team of specialists from around the country to deploy and operate about a hundred high-sensitivity earthquake recorders to measure aftershocks in the area. The team hopes to determine the extent and nature of the fault that slipped in late February in Chile. Information gathered could provide insight into how adjacent segments of the Nazca-South America plate boundary might behave in the next few decades. Russo talked with WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend about the research team and how they plan to go about their work in Chile.
What started out as a science fair project for an Oak Hall High School student in Gainesville has turned into a “real life” energy strategy. Oak Hall Senior Erich Christian’s creation of a biodiesel facility which turns cooking grease into fuel has even gotten the attention of Republican State Senator Steve Oelrich. Oelrich has filed a Senate bill to help schools cut through red-tape when trying to implement similar projects. Christian and two other Oak Hall students will appear before the Senate Higher Education Committee on Tuesday (March 9th). Christian sat down for an interview with WUFTs Donna Green-Townsend.
The Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Inland Water Resources will hold a public hearing tomorrow morning from 8:30 to 10:30 at the Quality Inn Riverfront Hotel in Palatka. People are encouraged to attend to give their points of view on what are the best ways to protect all of Florida’s springs, rivers and other resources. As Donna Green-Townsend reports, the hearing takes place in the same location as a three-day “Rally For The Rivers” event.
