What is green chemistry?

On the next Your Call, we'll have a conversation with Elizabeth Grossman about her book Chasing Molecules: Poisonous Products, Human Health and the Promise of Green Chemistry. Consumers are becoming more aware of the potential health and environmental hazards of plastic products. Grossman argues that green chemistry could offer a new manufacturing process that is "benign by design." So could we get away from plastic entirely? Join us at 10 or email us at feedback@yourcallradio.org. What do you want to know about the pros and cons of green chemistry? It's Your Call with Malihe Razazan, and you.

Guests:
Elisabeth Grossman, who writes on health and environment, author of Chasing Molecules: Poisonous Products, Human Health and the Promise of Green Chemistry

Click to Listen: What is green chemistry?

What is in store for the US Postal Service?

On the next Your Call, we'll have a conversation about the possible closure of 3700 post offices and 120,000 workers around the country. Who will be affected? Join us at 10 or email feedback@yourcallradio.org. The post office will handle an estimated 167 billion pieces of mail this year. Is your post office on the list? What will the closure of post offices mean for your community? It's Your Call, with Rose Aguilar and you.

Guests:

Gray Brechin, the project scholar of the Living New Deal Project at UC Berkeley's Department of Geography

John Beaumont, president of the California State Association of Letter Carriers and member of the National Association of Letter Carriers

Click to Listen: What is in store for the US Postal Service?

Are the benefits of smartmeters worth the risks?

On the next Your Call, we’ll look at so-called “smart meters” being installed in homes and businesses around the country. Utilities and sustainable energy advocates say smartmeters help people make more informed choices about the way they use electricity, and make it possible for us to downsize our electrical grid. But critics say they’ve jacked up rates and depend on wireless technology that may be dangerous to our health. What do you want to know about smartmeters before one is installed at your house? Or has it already happened? Join the conversation on the next Your Call with me, Rose Aguilar and you.

Click to Listen: Are the benefits of smartmeters worth the risks?

How is computer use affecting our health?

On the next Your Call, we'll talk about how our minds and bodies are affected by our increasing use of computers and digital devices. 70% of the U.S. workforce now sits on the job, many in front of computers. From repetitive stress to eye strain to depression, scientific studies show that we need to take better care of ourselves. How is your body and well-being affected by computer use? Join us at 10 or email feedback@yourcallradio.org. Could this be a public health issue? It's Your Call with Rose Aguilar.

Guests:
Andrew Lui, ergonomic specialist and associate clinical professor at UCSF in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

Dr. James Sheedy, professor of optometry and head of the Vision Performance Institute at the Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove, Oregon

Dr. Joanne Cantor, professor emerita at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, author of Conquer CyberOverload: Get More Done, Boost Your Creativity, and Reduce Stress and president of Your Mind on Media

Click to Listen: How is computer use affecting our health?

Why is the U.S. government embracing destructive energy sources?

On the next Your Call, we'll have a conversation about U.S. energy policies. The Canadian oil and gas company Trans Canada plans to build a $13 billion pipeline that would carry polluting tar sands from Canada to oil refineries in Texas. And the U.S. government is planning 10,000 fracking wells over the next two years. Who's making these decisions? How would you grade the administration's energy policies? It's Your Call, with Rose Aguilar, and you.

Guests:
Kassie Siegel, as director of the Climate, Air, and Energy Program at the Center for Biological Diversity

Joe Romm, a Senior Fellow at American Progress and the editor of Climate Progress

Brant Olson, a strategist on national corporate campaigns in the retail, finance, energy and forest sectors with the Rainforest Action Network Blog.

Click to Listen: Why is the U.S. government embracing destructive energy sources?

How is the Internet changing how we think?

On the next Your Call, we'll have a conversation about how the information age is re-shaping our minds, memories, and relationships. Those who are optimistic say we're becoming more sophisticated in our capacity to learn, remember, and network. Others argue that Google is making us stupid and distracted. How has the Internet changed you? Join us at 10 or email feedback@yourcallradio.org. How has constant connectivity affected your ability to process information? It's Your Call with Rose Aguilar.

Guests:
Betsy Sparrow, assistant professor of psychology and researcher at Columbia University

Maryanne Wolf, professor of child development at Tufts University and author of Proust and the Squid: How the Brain Learns to Read and the Different Brains that Don't

Clifford Nass, professor of sociology at Stanford and author of The Man Who Lied to His Laptop: What Machines Teach Us About Human Relationships

Click to Listen: How is the Internet changing how we think?

How are magazines surviving?

On the next Your Call, we'll have a conversation about changing trends in the magazine publishing world as the industry continues to be affected by the financial crisis and the proliferation of online and digital publishing. How are magazines adapting? We'll speak with editors of the Utne Reader, the Sun, and Bitch magazines. Join us live at 10 or send us an email at feedback@Yourcallradio.org. What do you get from magazines that you don't get from other media? What's your favorite magazine? It's Your Call, with Rose Aguilar and you.

Guests:
Krista Bremer, an associate publisher at The Sun

Andi Zeisler, co-founder of Bitch magazine

David Schimke, Utne Reader's editor in chief

Click to Listen: How are magazines surviving?

Should video games be treated as a form of expression?

Should video games be treated as a form of expression like books and music? On the next Your Call, we'll have a conversation about video games and free speech. The Supreme Court recently struck down a California law that banned the sale of violent video games. Video game advocates celebrated the ruling saying there's more to games than violence. They say they're a form of expression and the law now says they are art. Do you agree? Join us at 10 or email feedback@yourcallradio.org. Do you play video games? What do you get out of them? It's Your Call with Rose Aguilar.

Guests:
Evan Narcisse, freelance writer who covers comic books, pop culture, and video games

Alan Simpson, vice president of policy for Common Sense Media

Peter Brinson, videogame developer, filmmaker and instructor at the Interactive Media Division of USC School of Cinematic Arts

Click to Listen: Should video games be treated as a form of expression?

What happens when sharing becomes big business?

On the next Your Call, we'll talk about car-sharing, work-sharing, cloud computing and the creative commons -- all the ways sharing has emerged as a way to organize economic production. Are you part of the growing economy of sharing? Join us live at 10 or send us an email at feedback@yourcallradio.org. It's Your Call, with me, Matt Martin and you.

Guests:
Neal Gorenflo, the co-founder and publisher of Shareable Magazine, a nonprofit online magazine about sharing.

Lisa Gansky, author of The Mesh: Why the Future of Business Is Sharing and the founder of Mesh Studios.

Click to Listen: What happens when sharing becomes big business?

How did plastic become so pervasive in our lives?

How did plastic become so pervasive in our lives? On the next Your Call, we'll have a conversation with Suzan Beraza, director of Bag It, a documentary that explores the world of plastics and their effects on our waterways, oceans, and even our bodies. Plastic bags have become a pervasive symbol of a throw-away society and a serious environmental problem. 60,000 plastic bags are used in the U.S. every 6 seconds. Join us live at 10 or send us an email at feedback@yourcallradio.org. What can we do to use less plastic? It's Your Call, with Rose Aguilar and you.

Guests:
Suzan Beraza, director of the documentary film, Bag It

Click to Listen: How did plastic become so pervasive in our lives?

How did we end up in a love affair with plastic?

How did we end up in a love affair with plastic? And is it time to end it? On the next Your Call, we'll have a conversation with Susan Freinkel, author of Plastic: A Toxic Love Story. Freinkel's book explores the history of plastic products, the power of the plastics industry, how plastics became so ubiquitous in our lives, and how they might be harming our health. What do you want to know about plastic? Join us at 10 or send an email to feedback@yourcallradio.org. Is there any way to remove plastic from our lives? It's Your Call with Rose Aguilar and you.

Guests:
Susan Freinkel, author of Plastic: A Toxic Love Story

Suzan Beraza, producer of Bag It, a documentary

Click to Listen: How did we end up in a love affair with plastic?

How do you strike a balance between green technology and the environment?

On the next Your Call, we'll have a conversation about the tradeoffs of green technology. Google and General Electric have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in solar and wind projects. Environmentalists and native rights activists say the solar plan in the Mojave Desert should be relocated to protect wildlife and sacred sites. Can the drawbacks of big green tech offset the benefits? Join us at 10 or send an email to feedback@yourcallradio.org. It's Your Call with Rose Aguilar and you.

Guests:
Michael Haederle, contributing editor for Miller-McCune Magazine, where his recent articles are "Rooftop Solar Power to the People?" and "Are New Solar Power Projects Anti-Environmental?"

Matthew Kahn, professor at the UCLA Institute of the Environment, the Department of Economics, and the Department of Public Policy and author of Green Cities: Urban Growth and the Environment.

Bill Powers, member of the Solar Done Right coalition and principal of Powers Engineering

Click to Listen: How do you strike a balance between green technology and the environment?

What can we learn from the history of green tech?

What can we learn from the history of renewable energy in the US and how far back does it go? On the next Your Call, we'll have a conversation with Alexis Madrigal, author of Powering the Dream: The History and Promise of Green Technology. He says in order to move toward a green energy system, we need to look to the past. What is the history of green technology? Join us at 10 or send an email to feedback@yourcallradio.org. How can past inventions help us solve today's environmental crisis? It's Your Call with Rose Aguilar and you.

Guest:
Alexis Madrigal, a senior editor at The Atlantic. He's the author of Powering the Dream: The History and Promise of Green Technology.

Click to Listen: What can we learn from the history of green tech?

How has WikiLeaks changed your view of the world?

How has the latest round of revelations from WikiLeaks changed your view of the world? On the next Your Call, we'll talk about WikiLeaks. Do you think the release of state secrets is important for your understanding of U.S. foreign relations? WikiLeaks has published nearly 250,000 diplomatic cables from the State Department in Washington and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is under attack. Join us live at 11 or send us an email at feedback@yourcallradio.org. What compels you most about what WikiLeaks has exposed? It's Your Call with Rose Aguilar and you.

Guests:
Sanjoy Banerjee, professor of International Relations at SFSU

Melvin A. Goodman, former CIA analyst and senior fellow at the Center for International Policy

Adrienne Pine, assistant professor of Anthropology at American University specializing in Latin America.

Click to Listen: How has WikiLeaks changed your view of the world?

How important is "snail mail" to you?

On the next Your Call, we'll talk about the health of the country's mail carrier system. The U.S. Postal Service is facing a fiscal crisis that's threatening to close post offices, raise rates, and reduce services. Can digital communication take the place of postal correspondence? Join us live at 11 or send us an email at feedback@yourcallradio.org. How do post offices help create community? And what's at stake when the Postal Service loses ground? It's Your Call with Sandip Roy and you.

Guests:
John Beaumont, California state president of the National Association of Letter Carriers

Mandalit Del Barco, NPR reporter covering USPS proposal to eliminate Saturday mail delivery

Noah Adams, NPR reporter covering USPS rural deliveries

Philip Rubio, Assistant Professor of History at North Carolina A&T State University and author of There's Always Work at the Post Office

Click to Listen: How important is "snail mail" to you?

Will the Internet be taken over by corporate monopoly?

On the next Your Call, we'll have a conversation with with Tim Wu, author of The Master Switch: The Rise and Fall of Information Empires. Wu, who coined the term "net neutrality," says "The Master Switch" is the moment "a corporate power centralizes and takes control of society's latest technological medium." Is this already happening with the Internet? Join us live at 11 or send us an email at feedback@yourcallradio.org. Why is it important to fight for a free and open Internet? It's Your Call with Rose Aguilar and you.

Guest:
Tim Wu, Columbia Law School professor and author of The Master Switch: The Rise and Fall of Information Empires

Click to Listen: Will the Internet be taken over by corporate monopoly?

Are cell phones making us sick?

On the next Your Call, we'll talk to epidemiologist Devra Davis, author of Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry Has Done to Hide It, and How to Protect Your Family. Many countries have issued warnings against cell phone use by children. Why has the U.S. refused to participate in cell phone health studies? Join us live at 11 or send us an email at feedback@yourcallradio.org. Should we advocate for safer technology or can we tailor our cell phone use to be safer? It's Your Call, with Rose Aguilar and you.

Guest:
Devra Davis, author of Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry Has Done to Hide It, and How to Protect Your Family.

Click to Listen: Are cell phones making us sick?

How do you live a good life in the digital age?

On the next Your Call, we'll rebroadcast a conversation we had with William Powers, author of Hamlet's BlackBerry, and virtual reality pioneer Jaron Lanier, author of You Are Not a Gadget. Do our digital lives leave us with less time to reflect and relax? Is technology affecting our individuality and creativity? How do virtual relationships affect how we connect in person? What is your relationship with technology? It's Your Call, with Rose Aguilar and you.

Guests:
William Powers, author of Hamlet's Blackberry: A Practical Philosophy for Building a Good Life in the Digital Age

Jaron Lanier, author of You Are Not A Gadget: A Manifesto

Click to Listen: How do you live a good life in the digital age?

What's in store for the future of the open/free Internet?

On the next Your Call, we'll continue our Agenda for a New Economy series by talking about the recent Google-Verizon deal, which would allow Internet service providers to speed up access to some content while leaving the rest behind. How will this change the way you access the Internet and what does it mean for digital democracy? Does the deal mark the beginning of the end of the Internet as we know it? Can it be stopped? It's Your Call, with Rose Aguilar.

Guests:
Aparna Sridhar, Policy Counsel with Free Press

Barbara van Schewick, Associate Professor of Law and (by Courtesy) Electrical Engineering and Director, Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School

Click to Listen: What's in store for the open/free Internet?

What does modern-day mining look like?

On the next Your Call we'll talk about what's being extracted from the earth. New elements are being harvested to make today's technological gadgets. Decades ago, it was silicon. Today, it's lithium. What else is being extracted in the 21st century? How does the extraction process affect the land, workers, the environment, and the economy? Who's profiting? Join us live at 11 or send us an email at feedback@yourcallradio.org. Is it possible to harness the earth's resources efficiently and equitably? It's Your Call, with Rose Aguilar and you.

Guests:
Jean Friedman-Rudovsky, freelance journalist covering lithium extraction in Bolivia

Robert Moran, hydrogeologist and geochemist

Click to Listen: What does modern-day mining look like?