Eco Nana

Some of you may know that I’ve been fighting for offshore wind in California. Right now, it feels like those of us who care about keeping our planet livable are losing ground. Recently, the fossil fuel industry won again. They have managed to stall or shut down offshore wind projects all over the world, helped by the current political administration — leaving China as the only major country still moving forward at full speed. They keep finding new ways to block progress. They pour money into ads, lawsuits, and even local groups pretending to be “environmental organizations” that spread fear and false information. They’ll use anything—misleading photos, rumors, and scare…

I’m what I guess you could call a “NASA Insider”. Mind you, NASA is huge, and I know only a slice of the pie. This week, I had lunch with one of my favorite scientists from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). He left a couple of years ago, but we still share a deep connection—one rooted in our time working together on making Earth science communications fun and interesting. We tried not to get too political, but it didn’t take long before our conversation turned to a heartbreaking subject: what’s been happening to JPL and NASA science, to our satellite missions, and to the people who’ve devoted their lives to…

After a string of interviews — including group panels — I joined the the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) in 2007. I made great friends and learned a ton, especially about how disinformation (people deliberately spreading false information) can shape public opinion. I also learned about endangered orangutans, which only deepened my commitment to protecting wildlife and wild places. My title was Public Outreach Specialist: I translated complex environmental issues into clear, accessible information for the public. One of my main assignments was the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL), a sprawling site between Ventura and Los Angeles counties. At first I thought, “No big deal.” I was wrong.…

Okay, so here’s the deal—I thought I was going to be a great paralegal. Turns out, not so much. My first temp job was at a law firm in downtown Los Angeles, which sounds fancy, but in reality? It was brutal. Oh, and did I mention that I had just gotten divorced and decided to move to LA? Yep, big life changes all around. At that law firm, sleep was optional. And by “optional,” I mean most people just gave up on it entirely. Some paralegals lived in their offices. I saw moms missing their kids’ soccer games and even their babies’ first steps. Me? I was so sleep-deprived that…

The next chapter of my journey dates back to 1982. We moved to New York City for my husband’s work. Even though I grew up in a pretty big city and had lived in Los Angeles for 10 years, Manhattan was a complete shock. On our first day there, someone broke into our car. Welcome to our new home! We rented an apartment in doctors’ housing. When I opened the door, I found a giant pile of dirt and debris on the floor. The view from the 9th floor might have been nice—if the windows weren’t too dirty to see out of. I burst into tears. I wanted to go…

It’s a long story! It’s been a long journey to explain how I decided to start Eco Nana. Believe it or not, it all started when I went to UCLA as a German major. I loved learning languages and dreamed of working as an interpreter at the United Nations. By my junior year, though, I realized I wasn’t quite like the other German majors. There were only 12 of us left, and I was the only one who didn’t grow up in a German-speaking household. I had been fascinated by German because my best childhood friend spoke it at home, and I never knew what they were saying! That inspired…