Rafael was videotaped by Barry Heidt of sustainabletv with editing support by Tom Hopkins of Sustainable Today at

Rafael was videotaped by Barry Heidt of sustainabletv with editing support by Tom Hopkins of Sustainable Today at The International Ecotourism Society's (TIES) 2010 ESTC event in Portland, Oregon, September 8-10, 2010. 

Title: Environmental Sustainability and Saving Resources by Rafael Gallo

Rafael Gallo has pursued his passion for whitewater paddling from learning to paddle in the Great Smoky Mountains of the United States during college to founding and growing one of the best rafting companies in the world in his native Central America, based in Costa Rica. He has introduced thousands to the sport of paddling, led the fight to save the world-renowned Pacuare River from the first dam threat in the 1990s, purchased and protects 2000 acres of rainforest along the Pacuare and Rios’ eco-lodge. has planted almost 14,000 native tree species as part of the United Nations Environmental Program “Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign.”  More information on community development visit this Website.

Panelists: Arielle Crawford, Gene Baur, Jodi Monelle & Liz Dee

From the earth’s tallest peaks to the ocean floor, no part of the world is spared of climate change. Right now we

Panelists: Arielle Crawford, Gene Baur, Jodi Monelle & Liz Dee

From the earth’s tallest peaks to the ocean floor, no part of the world is spared of climate change. Right now we are facing a disaster of global scale, our greatest threat in thousands of years - climate change. In an effort to inspire change, we sat down with experts who have built sustainable organizations and are making revolutionary efforts to combat climate change by doing everyday activities in a more sustainable way. Collectively, we can make a world of difference.

About the Panelists:

Arielle Crawford -- is the founder and designer of ARIELLE, a sustainable apparel label committed to regenerative materials, fair-trade labor, supply chain integrity and consumer education. Her clean and timeless aesthetic encourages a “less, but better” approach to fashion, reflecting both legacy craftsmanship and modern versatility. She draws upon her resourceful upbringing in West Texas, her experience in the NYC fashion industry, her studies with indigenous communities in South America, and low-footprint living for the
inspiration of her mission-driven brand.

Gene Baur -- has been hailed as “the conscience of the food movement” by Time magazine. Since the mid-1980s, he has traveled extensively, campaigning to raise awareness about factory farming and the urgent need to fix our broken food system. His most important achievements include winning the first-ever cruelty conviction at a U.S. stockyard and introducing the first U.S. laws to prohibit cruel farming confinement methods in Florida, Arizona, and California. His efforts have been covered by top news organizations, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and The Wall Street Journal. Gene has published two bestsellers, Farm Sanctuary: "Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food" and Living the Farm Sanctuary Life (Rodale, 2015), which he co-authored with Forks Over Knives author Gene Stone. He was recently named one of Oprah Winfrey’s SuperSoul 100 Givers.

Jodi Monelle -- is the founder and CEO of global plant-based media company, LIVEKINDLY. With the highest engagement rate of any plant-based media publisher, LIVEKINDLY is focused on empowering people to make positive changes - big or small - in their own lives, and to show how daily actions make a difference in the world.

Liz Dee -- is Co-President of Smarties Candy Company, makers of Smarties candy rolls. She is CEO of Baleine & Bjorn Capital, a venture capital fund that invests in businesses creating solutions to outdated animal products, and founder of Vegan Ladyboss, a global community of organized, connected and empowered vegan women.

Moderated by Deepika Phakke.

Dr. Robin Kimmerer is a mother, plant ecologist, writer and SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor at

Dr. Robin Kimmerer is a mother, plant ecologist, writer and SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, New York. She serves as the founding Director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment whose mission is to create programs which draw on the wisdom of both indigenous and scientific knowledge for our shared goals of sustainability.

She addressed the attendees at the Center for Humans and Nature's 2014 Forum on Ethics & Nature held at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The theme for the conference was "A Cascade of Loss, An Ethics of Recovery." The Forum explored the topic of extinction, balancing information with ethical reflection about the possibilities of biodiversity and biocultural recovery. For more video visit here. Published on Aug 6, 2014