Originally published in Southern Seasons Late Spring 2013
Spring is here! On April 22, we’ll all get together to celebrate the 44th Earth Day.

Earth Day started as a movement, a series of protests and demonstrations across the nation in 1970. The efforts of Earth Day organizers have helped bring the environment to the forefront of American life, and now, the annual event keeps us talking about the life-saving changes we need to make to keep ourselves and future generations healthy. (more…)

I recently attended the launch of my friend and amazing photographer Roger Moenks’ new book, I Am Eco-Warrior, at the Ralph Lauren store in Lenox Square. I was very honored to be included in the book and to share my story about the Captain Planet Foundation. There are more than 50 people featured in the book, including Richard Branson, Sylvia Earle and Stella McCartney. Several of these environmental leaders, including my dad, joined me for a book signing. (more…)

This year’s Captain Planet Foundation Gala was an amazing success! I am so excited to announce that we raised over a million dollars! Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who attended, as well as donated.

This year we had some really amazing guests and award recipients. Jimmy Carter, Richard Branson, Ted Turner and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson all participated on a panel, discussing a wide array of environmental topics. (more…)

This past Saturday night, I attended the 22nd Annual Environmental Media Awards! The episode of Real Housewives of Atlanta we did with Captain Planet was one of three nominations for the Reality Television category. Unfortunately, we didn’t win, but National Geographic’s amazing reality show Superfish: Bluefin Tuna took home the award.
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I was recently interviewed by Michael Charles Tobias from Forbes.  We covered a lot of ground including the future, some of my recent travels with the Turner Foundation, as well as, reproductive rights.

Michael Tobias: Laura, like your dad, Ted Turner, whom I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for nearly a quarter-century, you fluently manage a vast ecological portfolio of convictions, commitments, and philanthropy. Georgia, your home state, appears to play a key part in that, as does clean air and water, robust river environments, LEED-standard housing, environmental education for youth, and collaborations with corporations, as well as a strong fellowship with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. At the same time, you’ve mentioned to me your commitments to family health in parts of West Africa, and the Captain Planet Foundation. You’re everywhere. Most recently, you were at the Rio+20 Summit, and then in Scotland for the TEDGlobal 2012 event.  With so much positive energy flowing your way, what are you most worried about? (more…)

On April 22, 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson called for teach-ins across the country to raise awareness on local and global issues affecting our environment. His grassroots effort rallied the support of 20 million people and thus the very first Earth Day was born. Forty-two years later, the Earth Day Network is still dependent upon this “grassroots effort” and is calling for the individual actions of 1 billion people to do their part to restore and protect the natural systems that support all life. (more…)

Hello from Ghana! I’m in Ghana to speak to the Rotary Club of Accra Airport Saturday night as they launch their foundation to raise money for community service projects. I’m also here to support the Ghana Planeteer movement. The Ghana Planeteers were founded last year and have now grown to over 200 members. These young professionals, comprised mostly of 20 and 30-year-olds, want to make a difference in cleaning up the environment in Ghana. Their projects include beach and river cleanups, working in the schools to educate the younger kids about the importance of recycling and helping to clean up throwaway plastic items that have littered the ground. (more…)

2011′s Captain Planet Foundation Benefit Gala was an enormous success. We raised over $855,000 for our children and the environment. The money raised will help fund Captain Planet Foundation’s mission, to support hands-on environmental projects which are designed to encourage innovative, game-changing initiatives that will inspire and empower the next generation of environmental stewards. (more…)

I recently hosted an event with Elizabeth Dupree-Lynch, my Captain Planet Foundation Benefit Gala co-chair, at the Lynch-Helvie estate to honor patrons of the Captain Planet Foundation. (more…)

When reflecting on the success of Captain Planet, I must say that arguably one of our greatest accomplishments is the creation of the Planeteers. The Planeteers’ movement is a truly global movement that has withstood the test of time and trend. All over the world Planeteers make a difference in their communities, and their ranks continue to grow. My good friend Barbara Pyle co-created Captain Planet with my father. Today, she serves on the board of the Captain Planet Foundation and is the driving force behind the Planeteer movement. Recently, she shared with me some news about the Ghana Planeteers. (more…)