Kelly Meyer: Citizen Reporter

Kelly Meyer is a passionate environmentalist who, over the past ten years, has worked with several national and local organizations and schools to encourage thoughtful action and behavior with regard to our planet. As head of the NRDC Leadership Council in Southern California and a member of the NRDC Global Leadership Council, she helps to educate the public on current issues and lobbies for environmental legislation.

In conjunction with Heal the Bay, she helped to pass the Environmental Education Initiative (EEI) which provides environmental education throughout all disciplines, in grades K-12, in the State of California. As the PTA President at Point Dume Marine Science School, she used her position and influence to encourage environmental education and action within the community. The education of children is key to her philosophy as an environmentalist, which led to her raising the necessary funds to install wind and solar power at the local elementary school, teaching by example. She also, together with her partner, built the first LEED Platinum home in California, used to educate people on Green building practices. Profits from the sale of the home were used to support local environmental organizations.

She is also a co-founder of the Women's Cancer Research Fund, which has raised over 30 million dollars in support of local institutions and the Biomarker Discovery Project, a consortium of world-class investigators working to find a blood test for early detection of cancers. As an environmentalist, Kelly understands the connection between the environment and a cancer free society.

Kelly is an avid stand up paddler, surfer, yoga devotee and tri-athlete. She is the mother of two, Carson and Eli, and wife of Ron Meyer, President and COO of Universal/NBC.

Show full profile

Protecting Our Oceans

Imagine a world without fish. It's closer than you think. And, it's not the legacy I want to leave for my children. As a Southern California resident and long-time ocean activist, I care deeply about the state of our sea and know we cannot take it for granted. It provides a wealth of economic, recreational and therapeutic benefits.

While issues like climate change and pollution seem to grab all the headlines, another equally dire problem lurks beneath the world's oceans. Or rather, it lurks above them, in party boats and rigs of all shapes and sizes that fish our waters to meet an ever-growing demand for fresh seafood. Our oceans cannot keep up with this pressure. The number of commercial fishing vessels and commercial fishing related revenue in Los Angeles County alone has decreased by over 50% since 1990. Some local fish populations are down 90% from their historical levels.

But, fish are in. Every doctor and health magazine seems to rave about their health ...read full post

Comments (1) | July 27, 2009
Turning a Cause into a Value at School

The modern day environmental movement began when rivers began to catch fire and our ecosystems began to fail. Brave citizens marched on Washington to demand that Congress enact laws; brilliant attorneys began to defend the rights of our people to live in healthy communities; and passionate advocates launched campaigns to protect the natural inheritance of future generations. And yet, environmentalism was still not a part of our national consciousness. In fact, being green was considered something that was only left to the elite or to “tree-huggers”. It wasn’t until our children got involved that it became part of our national values.

The general population began to see how all of us can – and should – go green when schools taught kids to recycle. Teachers inspired a new wave of environmentalism that wasn’t just about getting laws passed – this environmentalism required personal responsibility, encouraged ingenuity, and demonstrated economic viability.
...read full post

Comments (2) | May 22, 2009