History, Memory, and the Power of Storytelling

An Earth Island Journal salon featuring environmental activists, thinkers, and writers Annie Leonard and Jason Dove Mark.

In these times of great change — during which we are witnessing the vanishing of creatures great and small, the diminishing of beloved landscapes and seasons, and the rapid erosion of stable democracies — how can independent journalism help us resist historical and environmental amnesia and inspire action?

Join two deep thinkers and veteran environmentalists Annie Leonard and Jason Dove Mark for a provocative discussion about the power of fact-based storytelling to spark hope and drive social change. Earth Island Journal Editor-in-Chief Maureen Nandini Mitra will moderate the conversation.

Meet with Jason and Annie and enjoy some vegetarian hors d’oeuvres and non-alcoholic drinks in the lobby following the conversation. Their books will be available for purchase.

Annie Leonard is a lifelong activist who has organized and protested around the world. She led Greenpeace USA as executive director, created The Story of Stuff Project , and co-launched the Jane Fonda Climate PAC. She is also the coauthor of Protest: Respect It Defend It Use It , a new book that showcases 42 iconic social and environmental justice protests from around the world to shine a light on the urgent need to both protect and exercise our right to dissent.

Jason Dove Mark is a veteran environmental journalist who has served as editor-in-chief of Sierra magazine and Earth Island Journal. His new book, The Earth Said Remember Me: How to Revive Our Memories and Restore the Planet , has been called a “rallying cry and resistance manual” for the environmental movement. His writing has also appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and The Atlantic. He is currently a contributing editor and columnist for Earth Island Journal.

Maureen Nandini Mitra is the editor-in-chief of Earth Island Journal. She believes in journalism that lifts up issues, voices, and perspectives that might otherwise go unheard.