>>> TALK HAD BECOME CHEAP FOR JOURNALIST WILLIAM GENEST.

NOW AN ACTIVIST, POLITICIAN, AND EDUCATOR, GENEST HAS BEEN SPREADING HIS PASSION FOR MINDFUL ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY.

HE IS MY GUEST NEXT ON PROFILE "PROFILE".

>>> CLAUDE WILLIAM GENEST, SON OF BELOVED CANADIAN ACTOR EMILE GENEST, BECAME A TELEVISION AND FILM ACTOR HIMSELF.

THOUGH HE STILL PICKS UP ROLES FROM TIME TO TIME, HIS LIFE TOOK DIFFERENT TURNS.

HE'S WORKED AS A JOURNAL LIST 4 THE "MONTREAL DAILY NEWS" AND HOSTED A PROGRAM FOR C.T.

V. CURRENTLY HE IS AN ECOLOGY ACTIVIST, SERVING AS DEPUTY LEADER OF THE CAN NAMED DEANNE GREEN PARTY AND FOUNDER OF THE GREEN MOUNTAIN PERMACULTURE INSTITUTE, TEACHING SUSTAINABLE LIVING TECHNIQUES IN VERMONT FROM HIS HOME IN ISLE LA MOTTE.

IN CONJUNCTION WITH SOIL, HE IS A PRODUCER AND HOST OF A NEW TELEVISION SHOW CALLED "REGENERATION", DEVOTED TO SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR LIVING IN BALANCE WITH THE EARTH.

FANTASTIC.

AND TWO SHOWS ARE JUST BEING COMPLETED NOW AND SHOULD BE AIRING IN APRIL.

RIGHT?

>> YES, MA'AM.

APRIL 18 AND 25 AT 7:30.

"REGENERATION", THE ART OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING.

ONE OF THE FIRST SHOWS OF ITS KIND.

IT'S GOING TO FOCUS REALLY ON THE SOLUTIONS.

SO MUCH OF WHAT WE HEAR ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT TENDS TO BE DOOM AND GLOOM AND NEGATIVE AND PESSIMISTIC AND SCARY AND GUILT INDUCING -- YOU KNOW -- AND PEOPLE, I THINK, ARE FED UP WITH THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HUNGRY FOR SOLUTIONS.

HOW DO WE MOVE FROM SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO SOMETHING WE CAN DO.

>> RIGHT.

FROM THE HOME TO BUSINESSES.

AND WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE.

FIRST WE'RE GOING TO STEP BACK A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO COME FORWARD AGAIN.

BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE KNEW HIM AND LOVED YOUR FATHER, LEE LEGENDARY CANADIAN ACTOR, EMILE GENEST -- >> GOOD FELLA.

>> YEAH.

YOUR FIRST SEVEN YEARS WERE IN LOS ANGELES OF COURSE BEFORE THE WHOLE FAMILY MOVED BACK TO MONTREAL.

>> YEP.

>> WHAT IN YOUR CHILDHOOD OR YOUTH, WITH THIS VERY FAMOUS FATHER, INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU ARE TODAY?

>> IT WAS STRANGE, BECAUSE I GREW UP WITH SORT OF A FALSE IDEA OF WHAT LIFE WAS GOING TO BE LIKE BECAUSE WE'D WALK INTO RESTAURANTS OR WHATEVER AND PEOPLE WOULD STOP EATING AND LOOK AT HIM.

THEN, WHEN HE'D COME TO PAY, NO, MR.

GENEST, PLEASE, IT'S OUR PLEASURE.

SO I'M A 6-YEAR-OLD KID GOING, WOW!

LIFE IS FREE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

IT'S A BIT OF A ROUGH AWAKENING LATER IN LIFE PANLD THEN MY FATHER ALSO LATER IN LIFE TOOK A REALLY STRONG STAND AGAINST SEPARATISM IN QUEBEC.

HE WAS THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES FOR ALL THEN PREMIER CLAUDE RYAN SPEECHES AS PART OF THE FEDERAL UNITY, AND THAT COST HIM A LOT.

I'M TALKING BOMB THREATS AND KIDNAPPING THREATS, AND WE HAD A LIVE-IN BODY GUARD FOR A WHILE, LITERALLY FOR WEEKS ON END LIVING IN OUR HOUSE.

6-FOOT 8 GUY.

NEVER FOR GOAT HIM.

HE TAUGHT ME TO REALLY TAKE A STAND FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN AND NOT BE AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT IT.

HE WAS A GREAT ROLE MODEL FOR ME.

>> CLEARLY.

AND YOU PURSUED ACTING.

YOU'VE HAD MANY ROLES IN TELEVISION AND FILM, AND YOU WERE A LEAD IN A TELEVISION SERIES CALLED "SIRENS."

AND HERE WE HAVE SOME OF YOUR GREAT ROLES.

WAS THERE AN CNFLICT FOLLOWING IN YOUR FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS OR IS THIS JUST COMING NATURALLY TO YOU?

>> I ALWAYS SAY THAT, IF MY DAD HAD BEEN A FIREMAN, I WAS GOING TO BE A FIREMAN.

WHATEVER HE WAS DOING, I WAS GOING TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS 'CAUSE I LOOKED UP TO HIM SO MUCH.

IT WAS THE FAMILY BUSINESS.

IT'S WHAT I DID.

I NEVER WENT INTO ACTING WITH FALSED IDEAS ABOUT WHAT IT COULD BE.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS A JOB.

YOU DID YOUR JOB WELL.

YOU CAME HOME FROM THE JOB, AND YOUR WIFE SAYS, TAKE OUT THE GARBAGE, SO IT KEPT YOU GROUNDED AND THAT'S JUST WHAT YOU DID.

LATER IN LIFE, I REALLY DID HAVE SORT OF A CLICHE MID 30'S MOMENT WHEN I GO, IS THIS WHAT IT'S ABOUT?

DID I REALLY CHOOSE THIS FOR MYSELF?

WHAT REALLY WOULD I LIKE TO DO IF I COULD?

THAT'S WHEN A GOT A HANKERING TO COME LIVE IN VERMONT AND SORT OF CHECK OUT FROM THE WHOLE THING, AND THAT'S WHEN I STARTED TO HAVE MY SEEK LOGICAL AWAKENING -- MY ECOLOGICAL AWAKENING.

>> HOW DID YOU GET THE "TRAVEL, TRAVEL" GIG?

IT'S THE DREAM GIG EVERYBODY WANTS.

MOST OF THE CLIPS YOUR WANDERING ON A BECH IN THE CARIBBEAN SOMEWHERE TALKING ABOUT EXOTIC PLACES.

>> YEAH.

WELL, THE SEQUENCE WAS I'D COME BACK FROM TRAVELING THE WORLD.

I GOT A JOB AS A JOURNALIST WITH THE "MONTREAL DAILY NEWS."

THEY HIRED ME AS A COPY CLERK.

THEY SAID, YOU CAN COME IN ON WEEKENDS.

THE FIRST WEEKEND I WENT IN, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY.

MONDAY, I CAME BACK IN, AND I JUST KEPT GOING.

THEN I GOT A BIG PART IN A BIG TELEVISION SERIES CALLED "HE SHOOTS.

HE SCORES "IN CANADA.

NOW I'M GOING TO GET TO BE A HOCKEY PLAYER.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY ACTING THING BEGINS AND, TAKING THE ACT OUT, I COULDN'T -- ACTING ROUTE, I COULDN'T PASS UP THIS SERIES.

AND THEN THERE WAS A CHANCE TO AUDITION FOR "TRAVEL,TRAVEL."

UP TILL THEN, I'D WONDERED, GEE, HOW DOES ALL MY WORLD TRAVELING, WHICH I TRAVELED TWO YEARS AVERSETY, JOURNALISM, AND ACTING -- HOW DO THOSE JIVE?

AND THEN HERE COMES "TRAVEL, TRAVEL" WITH THAT EXACT SKILL SET.

>> WHAT CHANGED YOU TO DEVOTE YOUR LIFE, YOUR ENERGY, YOUR PASSION TO ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY.

>> PART OF IT WAS I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH MY PLACE ON ISLE LA MOTTE.

WHEN I FIRST MOVED THERE, I WAS STILL DOING "TRAVEL, TRAVEL."

THEY WOULD CALL AND SAY, WE'RE DOING A TWO-WEEK SHOOT IN TURKEY.

AND I'D BE LIKE, OH, NO.

I'VE GOT TO LEAVE ISLE LA MOTTE?

I JUST WAS IN LOVE TO IT.

BUT I HAD THIS HUGE LAWN, AND I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO MOW THE LAWN.

THAT WAS BASICALLY I MY ORIGINAL IMPETUS.

I STARTED SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.

AND I FEEL REALLY ALMOST LIKE I DID 79 PROVIDENCE I COME ACROSS THIS STUFF CALLED PERMACULTURE.

A SYSTEM OF ECOLOGICAL DESIGN WHOSE GOAL IS TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE HUMAN HABITAT THAT IS AESTHETIC:BEAUTIFUL, EKE LOGICALLY BENEFICIAL, AND FINANCIALLY PROFITABLE.

THIS JUST RESONATES.

THIS MAKES SENSE.

WHAT'S THIS?

YOU HAVE A I GO TO LEARN ABOUT IT.

AND I ALWAYS SAY, WHEN I CAME INTO KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE WORLDWIDE PREDICAMENT, I HAD ZERO BACKGROUND.

I HAD NO IDEA.

SO, WHEN I GOT THE INFORMATION, WHICH IS SO WELL ARCTIC CUEDED AND -- ARTICULATED IN THE COURSE, IT HAD A QUADRUPLE EFFECT ON ME THAN IT MIGHT HAVE HAD ON SOMEONE ELSE.

I JUST HAD NO IDEA.

THIS IS HAPPENING?

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

IT JUST HIT ME LIKE A LIGHTNING BOLT.

>> YOU TAKE ALL THESE COURSES.

>> YEP.

>> AND YOU'RE PRACTICING IT AT YOUR FARMHOUSE IN ISLE LA MOTTE.

>> YEP.

>> WHERE YOU LIVED.

YOU WERE A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER.

>> YEP.

HI, FIREFIGHTER FRIENDS.

>> [LAUGHTER] >> WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU DID RIGHT OFF?

>> RIGHT OFF, I CREATED A GRAY WATER RECYCLING SYSTEM.

YOU SEE, ONE OF THE BIG ITEM NETS OF PERMACULTURE IS THAT THERE'S NO SUCH THING WAS A THING CALLED WASTE.

REALLY IT'S NOT A NOUN.

IT'S A VERB.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WE'RE THE ONLY SPECIES ON THE PLANET TO CREATE A THING CALLED WASTE.

>> HM.

>> FOR EVERY OTHER SPECIES ON THE PLANET, WASTE IS A RESOURCE.

WASTE EQUALS FOOD.

SO, BY GRAY WATER, I MEAN EVERYTHING THAT'S NOT YOUR TOILET.

YOUR DISHWASHER, YOUR SINKS, YOUR WASHER.

ALL THAT WATER I CHANNELLED INTO A CONSTRUCTED WET LAND THAT I CREATED A USED WHAT IS TYPICALLY SEEN AS USELESS WEEDS, CAT TAILS AND REEDS, WHICH TURN OUT TO BE WATER PURIFIERS EXSTROARD DIN NAIR, AND AS A RESULT, WHAT EXITS IS NO LONGER A WASTE BUT A NUTRIENT-RICH RESOURCE.

THAT WATER GETS CHANNELLED WHERE IT CAN DO SOME BENEFIT.

LITERALLY, EVERY TIME I BRUSH MY TEETH, I'M NOURISHING SOME PLANTS.

I'M TURNING A WASTE INTO A RESOURCE AND KEEPING THE WASTE FROM DESTROYING THE RESOURCE THAT IS LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

WIN/WIN.

>>> YOU FOUNDED GREEN MOUNTAIN PERMACULTURE INSTITUTE SO YOU CAN EDUCATE PEOPLE ON THIS SAME STUFF.

YOU ALSO WENT TO TOWN MEETING IN ISLE LA MOTTE, WHICH IS HAVING QUITE A TIME THESE DAYS -- >> ALWAYS DOES.

[LAUGHTER] >> HOW DID THE TOWNSPEOPLE REACT TO YOU INTRODUCING SOME OF THESE IDEAS THERE, BECAUSE YOU WERE SO EXCITED ABOUT THEM AND THEY'D WORKED FOR YOU?

>> THAT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD.

I'VE COME TO REALIZE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO BEGIN A CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE ABOUT THE SOLUTIONS UNTIL SUCH THING THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THERE'S A PROBLEM.

IF IT AIN'T BROARVEG, WHY FIX IT?

THEN THERE'S A CATCH 22.

YOU NEED TO START TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS.

BUT THEN THE DANGER IS, WELL, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEM, YOU'RE ONE OF THESE NEGATIVE DOOM-SAYING ECOLOGICAL PEOPLE, AND WE DON'T WANT TO TEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

I PULLED BACK FROM THAT APPROACH AND SAID, THE BEST THING I CAN DO IS CREATE A MODEL ON THE GROUND.

IF IT'S SEEN AND SEEN TO BE COOL, IT HAS AN EFFECT.

THAT WAS THE EXACT THINKING FOR THE TV SHOW.

LET'S NOT FOCUS ON THE PROBLEMS.

IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT, IF WE'RE FEATURING SOLUTIONS, WE ARE INHERENT -- IT'S AN INHERENT ADMISSION THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM TO BE DEALT WITH.

SO I SORT OF CIRCUMVENT THAT WHOLE TYPICAL WAY OF APPROACHING THIS DISCUSSION TO KEEP IT POSITIVE.

MY WISH IS THAT PEOPLE LOOK AT WHAT I'VE DONE OPEN THE GROUND OR LOOK AT THE TV SHOW AND GO, NEAT.

WHY DON'T WE HAVE THAT?

>> RIGHT.

AND CERTAINLY NOW PEOPLE ARE MUCH MORE AWARE OF GLOBAL PROBLEMS.

SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST YEAR WHERE WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE, THIS TRAILER FOR YOUR SHOW, IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO RESONATE A LITTLE BIT EASIER MOST LIKELY, ONE WOULD THINK.

>> YES.

I, TOO, HAVE NOTICED IN THE LAST YEAR IT'S BEEN AN EXPONENTIAL CHANGE IN PEOPLE.

PEOPLE ARE VERY ATTUNED TO IT AND OPEN TO IT AND READY, WILLING, AND ABLE TO HEAR ABOUT SOLUTIONS.

THEY'RE EAGER.

THEY'RE HUNGRY TO CONTRIBUTE, TO DOING THE RIGHT THING.

>> SO YOU'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN THIS TV SERIES FOR A WHILE, AND YOU FINALLY HOOKED UP WITH "VERMONT PUBLIC TELEVISION" AND HAVE CREATED A COUPLE PIE ALTHOUGH ITS THAT WILL AIR IN APRIL.

SO, AGAIN, WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO WITH THESE SHOWS?

YOU LACK AT HOMES.

YOU LOOK AT BUSINESSES.

>> IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT THE TYPICAL THREE R FORMULA THAT WE'VE ALWAYS HEARD OF REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE WAS INSUFFICIENT.

I CAME UP WITH REPAIR, RESTORE, REGENERATE.

HENCE THE NAME OF THE SHOW, "REGENERATION."

SO THAT'S SORT OF THE BENCHMARK FOR HOW I CHOOSE THE FEATURE.

IT DOESN'T MERELY DO THE WRONG THING RIGHT.

IT DOESN'T MERELY MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO.

IN ITS OWN WAYS, IT IS HELPING TO ACTUALLY REGENERATE, REPAIR, AND RESTORE.

AND IF I COULD, WHAT DOES SUSTAINABILITY EVEN MEAN?

YOU KNOW?

>> YEAH.

>> SOME OF THOSE WORDS GET THROWN AROUND, AND WE DON'T -- WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN?

AS ONE PERSON ON OUR SHOW SAYS REALLY WELL, WHAT ARE WE SUSTAINING ANYWAY?

ECOLOGICAL COLLAPSE?

SO THE DEFINITION OF SUSTAIN THAT ABILITY THAT I USE THAT I GOT FROM PERMACULTURE IS, WHERE DO WE LOOK FOR A MODEL OF SUSTAINABILITY?

WHERE IS IT TO BE FOUND IN NATURE?

A TREE.

A TREE DOESN'T MERELY SUSTAIN ITSELF.

IN FACT IT IS CONTINUALLY BANKING EVER MORE RESOURCES.

MORE FERTILITY CREATES EVER MORE.

TATS SUSTAIN THAT ABILITY, A BANKING OF THE RESOURCES, A REGENERATIVE PRACTICE.

>> THERE ARE CERTAINLY MANY PEOPLE WHO GET THIS.

ONE OF THOSE IS A FARMER, THIS GENTLEMAN YANDOW.

AND WE HAVE A CLIP OF THAT.

>> OH, GOOD.

>> DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING QUICKLY BEFORE WE SHOW THAT CLIP?

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THE CLIP WE'RE GOING TO SHOW, BUT THIS GUY DROPS A BOMB.

THIS GUY DROPS A BOMB, BECAUSE HE'S SAYING A COUPLE OF HEAVY THINGS.

HE'S SAYING THAT, CONTRARY TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT CREATES 1000 YEARS TO CREATE AN INCH OF TOP OIL, HE'S GOING TO SHOW OUT HOW TO CREATE THREE TO SIX INCHES OF TOPSOIL A YEAR.

>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> HERE AT YANDOW FARM IN SAINT ALBANS, VERMONT, HE BRINGS HIS FARM NOT ONLY INTO THE BLACK BUT ACTUALLY BUILDS SOIL, CLEANS THE ENVIRONMENT, AND AFFECTS GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> SOIL IS THE FOUNDATION OF EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING ON EARTH DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT SOIL.

AND SOIL LOSS IS FOR EVERY BUSHEL OF GRAIN THAT WE GROW WE'RE LOSING FOUR BUSHELS OF TOPSOIL.

WE NEED TO MAKE NEW TOPSOIL.

>> I'VE ASKED THE VIEWERS.

NOW I WANT TO ASK YOU.

WHAT THE HECK DOES ORGANIC SUSTAIN NEIGHBOR FARMING HAVE TO DO WITH GLOBAL CLIENT MAT CHANGE?

>> WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND CLIMATE CHANGE.

TOO MUCH CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE ATMOSPHERE IS A BROKEN CARBON CYCLE.

THE CARBON CYCLE BEING BROKEN MEANS THAT ALL THAT CARBON THAT USED TO BE IN THE SOIL AS FERTILITY, AS STABLE ORGANIC MATTER, IS NOW IN THE ATMOSPHERE, AND IT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE MATTER TO RETURN IT.

THE NUMBERS ARE SO MANAGEABLE, I FIND IT VERY HOPEFUL.

WE'RE AT 380 MILLION PARTS CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

WE NEED TO DROP THAT VERY QUICKLY.

WORLDWIDE, ALL THE LAND THAT WE FARM AND GRAZE CURRENTLY, IF THE ORGANIC MATTER INCREASED 1.6%, EAT MOW SPHERE PICK CO2 LEVELS WOULD BE AT PREINDUSTRIAL LEVELS LIKE THAT.

>> LIKE THAT.

YOU HEAR WHAT HE SAID?

>> YES.

BUT YOU SHOULD REPEAT IT, BECAUSE IT IS A BOMB.

>> WHEN WE THINK OF CO2, AN EXCESS OF CARBON IN THE ATMOSPHERE, EVERYONE IS FOCUSED ON EMISSIONS.

WE FORGOT TO LOOK AT THE ROLE OF INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE AND THE ROLE OF SOIL.

SOLE IS ABOUT 58% CARBON BY DRY WEIGHT.

WHEN WE PLOW UP THE SOIL AND EXPOSE IT -- AND IT OFTEN GOES INTO THE ATMOSPHERE -- A HUGE PROPORTION OF EXCESS CARBON IN THE ATMOSPHERE IS SOIL.

BUT, MEANWHILE, A COVERED SOIL HAS THE ABILITY, HE IS ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A RICH TOPSOIL, TO SEQUESTER THIS CARBON.

SO BY SIMPLY ADDING, AS HE SAID -- HE'S GOT THE NUMBER.

1.6% ORGANIC MATTER TO THE WORLD'S SOILS, WE COULD REDUCE CO2 LEVELS TO PREINDUSTRIAL LEVELS LIKE THAT.

NOW, A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN VERY DISCOURAGEDDED AND DEPRESSED AND AND OVER WEMMED BY THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEMS WE'RE FACING, AND I THINK A LOT OF THE DENIAL PEOPLE HAVE IS, I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

BUT NOW THAT WE KNOW WHAT TO DO, WE CAN GET BEHINDING SOME.

>> -- BEHIND SOMETHING.

>> HE HAS A WAY TO PLOW THE LAND SO THAT IT REGENERATES ITSELF.

>> YES.

IN A SHORT YEAR.

>> NOW, THE ECO GOLF COURSE -- >> FIRST ONE IN QUEBEC.

>> WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL?

>> THE OTHER DAY, IT WAS SO SIMPLE.

WE WERE SAYING SOMETHING PRETTY BOLD WHEN WE MADE THE PROPOSITION.

WE SAID, WE MAY BE ABLE TO HAVE THE WATER LEAVE THIS PROPERTY CLEANER THAN WHEN IT CAME IN AND DO IT NATURALLY.

AND IT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER WITH MY OWN GRAY WATER SYSTEM.

THE PRINCIPLE IS, WHERE THE WATER RUNS, YOU MAKE IT WALK.

YOU SLOW IT DOWN XZ PUS IT INTO THESE CREATED -- PUT IT INTO THESE CREATED WETLANDS, AND LET NATURE DIETS THING.

NOBODY UNDERSTANDS THIS BETTER THAN ONE OF THE PEOPLE WE FEATURE ON THE SHOW, THE GREAT DR.

JOHN TODD, WHO I JUST ADORE, WHO IS APPLYING THESE TECHNOLOGIES TO WASTE WATER THE WORLD OVER.

AND, AGAIN, NOT ONLY CLEANING THE WATER BUT HAVING YIELDS RESULT.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS -- I DIDN'T KNOW -- THAT THERE IS ONE OF DR.

TODD'S LIVING MACHINES AT A WELCOME CENTER ON ROUTE 809?

>> THE FIRST ONE COMING UP NORTH.

IT'S AMAZING.

>> IT GETS A MILLION VISITORS A YEAR.

AND ALL THAT WASTE WATER IS SENT THROUGH A BUNCH OF TANKS WITH PLANTS ESSENTIALLY.

WE DO IT IN THE SHOW.

IT SMELLS LIKE THE TROPICS.

A CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IS A WASTE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY.

OUTCOMES GOOD-QUALITY DRINKING WATER.

>> IN BOTH THE U.S.

AND CANADA, YOU ARE A VERY ACTIVE LIFE.

YOU WERE VERY INVOLVED IN POLITICS IN CANADA.

IS IT TRICKY WORKING BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER?

>> NOT AT ALL.

>> BECAUSE YOU WERE BORN IN HOLLYWOOD, YOU HAVE DUAL CITIZENSHIP, SO IT'S NOT AN ISSUE?

>> IT'S NOT.

IT'S NOT.

AND FURTHERMORE, I THINK, AS WE GO FORWARD, I FORESEE THE DAY WHEN THOSE BOUNDARIES, WHETHER THEY BE STATE, PROVINCE OR NATIONAL, ARE GOING TO DISAPPEAR, AND WE'LL LOOK MORE AND MORE AT BIOREGIONS.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE CONNECTION TO LAKE CHAMPLAIN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BORDER HAS US HAVING AN AWFUL LOT IN COMMON.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE COLLECTIVE SOLUTIONS IN THAT WAY.

>> HM.

>> ALSO I'D MUCH RATHER THAN DOING POLITICS IN CANADA THAN THE U.S.

THAT'S THE TRUTH.

>> [LAUGHTER] >> PEOPLE SAID YOU WOULD HAVE WON IF YOU HAD RUN FOR THE LIBERAL PARTY, WHICH OF COURSE YOUR FATHER WAS VERY INVOLVED IN.

>> YEP.

>> WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE GREEN PARTY?

>> SO FUNNY.

I REMEMBER THEY DID A NEWSPAPER FEATURE ON ME, AND THAT WAS THE SUBTITLE.

CLAUDE COULD EASILY HAVE WON IF HE'D RUN FOR THE LIBERAL PARTY.

WHEN I READ IT, I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, I NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED IT.

HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT IT NEVER CROSSED MY MIND, BECAUSE I NEVER HAD THE IDEA, TO THIS DAY, THAT I WAS GOING TO GO INTO POLITICS.

I STILL AND ON THE FENCE ABOUT -- I DON'T ENJOY POLITICS.

NOBODY DOES.

>> DID YOU NOT WANT TO BECOME -- GET THE OFFICE ANYWAY?

>> MY BROTHER SAID, CLAUDE, WHAT IF YOU WIN?

I SAID, THAT WOULD SUCK.

BUT MY STAND, WHICH I COMMITTED TO SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WAS I WAS GOING TO GO WHERENEVER, WHENEVER FOR FUN AND FOR FREE AND SPEAK ABOUT THESE THINGS.

WHERE I AM CALLED, THERE I WILL GO.

I REMEMBER HAVING ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S QUOTE ON MY WALL.

I WILL STUDY, AND I'LL PREPARE MYSELF AND, WHEN I AM CALLED, I WILL BE READY.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO NO MATTER WHERE.

>> HOW DID YOUR FATHER REACT TO THIS?

>> HA.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I OWE THE WORLD TO MY DAD BECAUSE HE'S OF THE GENERATION, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, THAT HAD NO IDEA, COULDN'T REALLY CONCEIVE THAT THIS WAS THIS ECOLOGICAL PROBLEM.

IN HIS DAY, THE WORLD WAS INFINITE.

THERE'S NO WAYMAN COULD IMPACT THE PLANET.

AND FURTHER MORE HE LOVED HIS LAWN AS MUCH AS THE NEXT PERSON.

WITH MY DAD, IT WAS LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME IN REGARDS TO THESE DISCUSSIONS AND HE'S THE ONE WHO TAUGHT ME, WHO FORCED ME, SON, IF YOU'RE GOING TO TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS STUFF YOU, FIND A WAY TO GET IT ACROSS TO ME WHERE YOU'RE NOT BLAMING ME AND MY GENERATION AND WHERE YOU'RE OFFERING ME SOLUTIONS THAT ARE POSITIVE.

SO HE KEPT INSISTING THAT I FIND THE LANGUAGE TO MAKE IT PALATABLE TO HIM.

SO, FOR THAT, I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL.

>> THAT'S A WONDERFUL STORY.

AND YOU REALLY HAVE STRONG HOPES FROM YOUR RESEARCH AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

YOU REALLY THINK THIS ISSUE IS SOLVE ABLE.

>> ALL OF IT.

I REALLY DO.

I CAN EASILY SWAY THE OTHER WAY.

YOU KNOW, IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL?

SOME DAYS, I GO, OH, BOY, WE ARE IN SOME DEEP TROUBLE.

I DON'T SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT WHEN I AM OF THAT MIND.

SO I HAVE -- AND I'VE COME ACROSS SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE DOING SO MUCH GREAT WORK, AND THERE'S SO MANY HOPEFUL SOLUTIONS OUT THERE THAT I DO THINK IT'S DOABLE.

I ALSO FIND THERE'S SORT OF LIKE A CRITS CAL CRITICAL MASS THAT GETS ACHIEVED.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT REALLY ON THE RADAR SCREEN OF THE MASS MEDIA AND THE AVERAGE PERSON, BUT THERE IS A MOMENTUM HAPPENING UNDERNEATH THE RADAR SCREEN THAT ONE DAY IS GOING THAT EMERGE FULL-FLEDGED.

GREEN PARTY, LISTEN, IT'S THE BIGGEST POLITICAL MOVEMENT IN THE PLANET.

IT'S THE LARGEST POLITICAL PARTY ON THE PLANET.

>> STILL BARELY AROUND 10%, THOUGH.

>> 13%, BUT JUST NECK AND NECK WITH THE NDP.

WE WERE AT 2%, 3%, 4% JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

SO THE RISE OF IT IS VERY ENCOURAGING.

>> ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL IDEAS THAT YOU'RE VERY INTERESTED IN IS ECO TAXES.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT THAT'S ABOUT?

>> YES, I CAN.

I'LL GIVE YOU THE SIMPLE ANSWER.

THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS STOP TAXING THE GOODS AND SERVICES.

START TAXING THE BADS AND DISSERVICES.

THE POLLUTER PAYS.

PEOPLE HEAR TAX ACT THINK, WHAT?

MORE TAXES?

NO.

YOUR INCOME IS GOOD.

WHY NOT REDUCE THE INCOME TAX SO THAT THE INDIVIDUAL NOW HAS ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY, IF YOU WILL, TO CHOOSE WHAT THEY WANT TO BUY.

AND THIS IS THE TENET OF CAPITALISM.

THESE ARE MARKET MECHANISMS.

ADAM SMITH IN THE "WEALTH OF NATIONS" SAYS VERY CLEARLY THAT, FOR THE MARKET TO REACT EFFECTIVE LIVE AND RATIONALLY, THE FULL PRICE -- THE FULL COST OF PRODUCTION MUST BE REFLECTED IN THE PRICE.

THEREFORE THE CONSUMER CAN REACT.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SAYING, WHY DON'T WE APPLY CAPITALIST MECHANISMS, LET THE CONSUMER CHOOSE, AND LET THE POLLUTER PAY.

VERY, VERY SIMPLE BUT NOT NECESSARILY SO EASY TO APPLY.

>> BUT SO MUCH AGAINST A VERY ESTABLISH THE SYSTEM AND A VERY POWERFUL CORPORATE LOBBY.

>> YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.

YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.

>> SO -- >> SO ALL CHANGE COMES FROM THE BOTTOM UP.

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF INDIVIDUALS TO CHANGE COURSE OF HIS TREE, TO QUOTE MARGARET MEAD.

AS PEOPLE BECOME AWARE OF THESE THINGS AND THE PRESSURE MOVES UP TOWARDS THE POLITICIANS, THESE THINGS WILL CHANGE.

I WATCHED A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR.

THE GUY MADE A GOOD POINT.

THE SEAT BELT REQUIRED A LAW.

SAFETY BAGS REQUIRED A LAW.

THESE LAWS DID NOT HAPPEN UNTIL THIS WAS SUFFICIENT PRESSURE FROM THE BOTTOM UP.

WHEN THERE IS, THE POLITICIAN WILL RESPOND.

>> WHAT'S THE GREATEST MISCONCEPTION AROUND THE GREEN PARTY?

>> WELL, I THINK THE GREATEST MISCONCEPTION AROUND THE GREEN PARTY OR ANYTHING GREEN, PERIOD, IS THIS COMPLETELY FALSE NOTION THAT, TO DO THESE THINGS, IT'S GOING TO BE ECONOMICALLY COSTLY.

JUST THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE.

THESE ARE TREMENDOUSLY PROFITABLE SOLUTIONS.

THESE ARE ABSOLUTE BENEFITS TO THE ECONOMY.

I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE TO BACK UP THE BOL AND AWE DISH SHUS -- AUDACIOUS STATEMENT I'M ABOUT TO MAKE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT MAKING LESS.

NO ONE'S FREEZING IN THE DARK WEARING BAR KEN STOCKS AND EATING BROWN RICE IN SCANDINAVIA.

THEY ARE, BUT IT'S BY CHOICE.

[LAUGHTER] IT'S NOT LESS.

IT'S MORE JOBS.

MORE PROFIT, NO POLLUTION.

LET ME BACK IT UP.

THERE'S A PLAN RIGHT HERE IN BURLINGTON DOWN BY THE INTRAVALE TO CREATE AN ECO INDUSTRIAL PARK, A PLIEFING AN ECOLOGICAL DESIGN TO INDUSTRY.

THERE'S A BEER MANUFACTURER THERE THAT HAS A WASTE PRODUCT CALLED BARLEY AND HOPS.

IT'S AN UNUSEDDED RESOURCE.

TAKE THAT AND USE THAT SUBSTRATE FOR SHITAKI MUSHROOMS.

FEED IT TO THE PIGS AND CHICKENS.

THEY USE IT.

THEY CHRISTMAS TREE YAID A PRODUCT -- CREATE A PRODUCT CALLED, PARDON TO THE VIEWERS, POOP THIS.

WHEN IT'S DONE, THEY BAG IT UP AS COMPOST.

THEN THEY USE SOME OF IT IN THE GREEOUSES AND THEY PIPE THE WASTE HEAT FROM THE BEER MANUFACTURER AND HEAT UP THE BEER HOUSE.

FIVE CASH CROPS OUT OF WHAT WAS A WASTE JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE TAKEN THE TIME TO DESIGN AND NOT CONCEIVE IT AS A WASTE.

>> QLOAD WILLIAM, I CAN SEE WHY THE FEDERAL GREENS HAVA A FEDERAL POSITION NOW.

IT'S FANTASTIC.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING A GUEST.

>> IS OUR HALF HOUR DONE ALREADY?

>> IT IS.

>> YOU CAN GO TO