I have been at this activism game for nearly 50 years, and I have never met or worked with any media activists, anywhere, who were nearly as dedicated, tireless, intelligent, talented, fast and effective as they are. They have covered hundreds of crucial local and regional events and conflicts--and quite a few national ones--on very short notice, very effectively, and often without even their expenses being covered. There have been literally dozens of occasions when I have personally called them---maybe two days or three before some breaking event, or before a crucial seminar that needs to be recorded, or some protest that needs support---and one way or another they find a way to be there, either together or separately to get that job done, and well done. Sometimes I have been able to pay them their expenses--and rarely a fee---but often times not. But they will do it anyway because...their sense of priorities is so clear. But it's not only that they show up, they do the job with confidence, efficiency and expertise and without drama!!. And often as not, within 48 hours they have delivered a full length 30 minute or 60 minute clean, tight product and have started getting it distributed. There is no media team like this anywhere. They are guerilla media heros, and I am not kidding about that. They have one major flaw: They consistently drop the ball on getting themselves funded. It seems like the last thing on their agenda, and so they often find themselves scrambling to keep going, and to cover their basic operating expenses. Now, in hard times, I think they are feeling that pressure right now. If there was a Prize for Most Valuable Community Media Resource, they would win it every year. And beyond our community, they have covered events all over the country and the world, whenever someone is able to cover their costs, or even if they have to scrape the barrel somewhere to just get themselves to Europe, or South America or the Philippines....wherever something urgent is happening. We at ifg always try to bring them, when we can, and when they do come to cover, say, a seminar we are doing in London.....they find a way to hang out and dig up stories on other important things in the region, such as Rob Hopkins' work in Devon. They are great and I urge everyone to try and help them keep their great work moving forward
EON3.net is an outstanding, comprehensive, well organized, internationally acclaimed organization and website wherein one can find all the facts pertaining to the most important issues facing the world today. For years I have been able to rely on the remarkable journalistic skills of Jim Heddle and Mary Beth Brangan to get a clear, concise, up to date report on critical environmental, human health and human rights issues at both local and international levels. A remarkable team, the two are at the leading edge of each story, respectfully interviewing the key players on both sides of the picture. They can be found filming and recording the most important meetings worldwide. Their reports are thorough, complete, and well presented. Included in the dynamic video presentations, easily accessible on their website, www.EON.net, are interviews with eye-witness individuals, victims, perpetrators, scientists and legislators. The viewer is guaranteed the full picture, presented in a factual straightforward format, without any artifice or glamorization. Reports authored by the two are clearly stated and straight to the point. Any time I feel I do not understand an issue, I can turn to this dynamic duo for a thorough explanation that is understandable and accurate. Considered the best news team of today, I find it unnecessary to look elsewhere for the information I seek.
I have been delighted to collaborate with, and witness the work of Mary Beth and Jim, the co-directors of EON. Their vision of creating a just and healthy world for all, is a deep inspiration to me. At the day and age of manipulating through the mainstream media, EON’s video work of recording (local, national, and international) public events pertaining to our health and the health of the planet – and reporting on what really happened – are of EPIC significance! Both Jim and Mary Beth are deeply committed, reliable, and so easy to get along with. Mary Beth wrote several excellent articles for our publication, and Jim offered his invaluable video skills. I am honored to know EON and would recommend this organization to anyone interested in creating positive change on a local and planetary level.
Served for 40+ years on local, state and federal agency boards and commissions. Spent the past 2+ years as a SF Bay Area volunteer coordinator to end the CDFA's unnecessary and unsafe LBAM Eradication Program. Stop the Spray Marin and the North Coast Rivers Alliance worked closely with Monterey Bay Area residents who were aerially sprayed by the CDFA in 2007. We were able to bring this epic battle against entrenched state and federal agencies to the steps of the State Capitol and entrance to the Federal Courthouse and EON's dedication allowed Californians to
This organization, which operates on a shoestring, does a tremendous amount of work. They research a range of topics relevant to the continued freedom of choice for what goes into our bodies, air, streams and food and maintain an extensive dvd library and website. They attend, videotape and report on meetings that get little or no press review. They interview a diverse group of health and environmental experts, scientists and political persons to get to the truth of issues that affect humanity as a whole. They need updated equipment and a travel budget to get their information to the public in a timely manner.
My experience with EON is that they are personally evolved, deep democracy activists, strategists and media journalists holding a planetarian perspective whether acting on local or global issues. They are consistent outriders finding and bringing to our attention issues, people, perspectives that enrich our understanding of what is now, what is coming, and how to begin to have conversations to inform visions of what could be better and more effective for more people on more levels. They help activists by providing both detailed and synthesized information useful for influencing policy and key decisions as well as outreaching to the public to generate more action. The range of their work is stunning. The relevance is becoming more and more clear as their focused interviews, public process documentation are circulated more and more widely around the planet.
EON played a crucial role in the evolution of the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) movement. Mary Beth and Jim are veteran activists with finely-honed journalistic skills who succeeded in capturing essential elements of the LBAM issue on film. Their videotapes of LBAM public hearings, forums, and panel discussions not only documented our cause, but also made events accessible to viewers online, which is a public service for those who otherwise would not have had access to important information. In my opinion, EON's work contributes to a saner, more just and livable world, the value of which cannot be overestimated. Thank you!
My experience with Ecological Options Network, EON, has been as a journalist, website producer and viewer. I have coordinated media use with James Heddle and MaryBeth Brangan, posting many of their videos on our community group’s website, transitionwestmarin.org. As a citizen, I have viewed many of their videos about local and regional issues and find them to be timely, accurate, focused, and carefully edited to best communicate the truth, fulfilling the need for relevant news we can trust. I have found them to be the most hard-working couple I have ever met. I don’t know how they are able to produce so much footage in such a finite time. They shoot, edit and post to the web quickly and accurately. When they say, “public service by EON,” this is the real truth. James and MaryBeth are genuinely dedicated to public service. They have an authentic citizen’s sense of which issues are most important to cover. They have the astute ability to focus on the aspects of an issue which are the most important to highlight and capture for citizens who value their democracy. They use well-honed skills of journalism and videography that are of a caliber with that seen on national TV. And if being skilled professionals weren’t enough, they are also genuinely friendly and caring people to work with and to know. Our community is well-served by their efforts and we are lucky to have them.
EON has activated the activist in me. I have observed how myself and many individuals I know claim the excuse of not having time to involve themselves in social change because life is too demanding and the excuse of not having enough money to pursue a social change career because it doesn't pay the bills. Yet, subsequent to viewing the informative outstanding videos and reading the plethora of emails that EON makes available, I have become aflame with inspiration and forward emails and information about major social issues to my mailing list, marched in protest parades, held local meetings, showed videos, signed internet petitions, made donations, and dedicated the little time I have to making the biggest difference I can. Thus, EON has made a huge difference in my life and I wholeheartedly support their receiving as much support as possible. Jim & Mary Beth have indeed dedicated their lives to the support of the planed and humanity through social change and they do this from morning to night filming, editing, and creating documentaries on everything from the hazards of cell phone radiation to vote rigging and most recently climate change. In most cases their social change activities require filming on location on another continent such as the climate change summit in Copenhagen There are not enough kudos and accolades to express my esteem for this organization. If dedication and hard work to bring about positive change for humanity and the planet deserve support from us all, then EON (and Mary Beth & Jim) is at the top of my list for receiving it as they are the most deserving.
I buy and watch all the videos that Eon produces as I find that they tell the truth on important topics and do so with clarity and brilliance. They also interview people who really know the scoop. I don't have time to read all the alternative political information coming down the pike but they do that reading for me and then send me the most important articles so that I really know what is going on
EON sounded the alarm nearly 20 years ago about a planned nuclear waste dump in the California desert. We teamed up to work together and became part of a successful state-wide campaign that defeated the proposed Ward Valley dump. I will never forget that EON co-directors Mary Beth Brangan & Jim Heddle drove down to the Mojave desert on very short notice to videotape the first press conference in Ward Valley which was organized with five local Native American tribes. The collaboration that grew out of that work together has been very meaningful & long-lasting. I always find the EON team to be incredibly generous with their time and expertise. They approach their work from their hearts, and they are fun to work with!
have worked with EON for almost two years; they have been a dream to collaborate with and I am so glad they exist.
I contacted Eon3 and on very short notice, they videotaped my report back on our trip to Iran and then made a dvd of the talk, made copies available, and put it on their website and made it available for other websites - all free of charge. I have the sense that they know the planet and our civilization are in a fragile place and are happy to be of service in whatever way they can to grass-roots groups working for peaceful and positive change.
There I met Jim Heddle and Mary Beth Bangan who were doing a series of documentaries on Palau's struggle to maintain their democratic right to stay nuclear free. They were most supportive to the Palauans and to the internationale peace team: knowledgable, efficient and compassionate. Their aom was to let the world know what was going on: suppression and courageous resistance. This was in the 80's and I have followed them since
EON has videotaped the key energy events in California for the past ten years, sometimes on behalf of WEM, sometimes for other funders, often on their own dime. They did it because they deeply understood that these are some of the most important events of our time. From the Calif. energy crisis (which kicked off the financial crises of our decade), through multiple campaigns for local public control of energy, EON's videos have exposed the phony greenwashing of the investor-owned utilities and vividly demonstrated that our communities can and must take charge of developing clean energy and addressing climate change.
I rely on EON to video and bring important, timely hearings and topics to my computer where I can view them - and take action as appropriate. I have a chemical disability and often cannot travel to many of the meetings EON covers. Also many people - including public officials - cannot attend because of work or family commitments. EON brings them these important happenings in a way they can view them when they have time.
EON makes government hearings and community forums more accessible by posting videos of them on the internet. This is a tremendous service, particularly for people who are unable to attend due to disability, or work and parenting schedules. Their videos help the public hold government agencies acountable. Their footage of communities speaking out amplifies the voices of many, who are too often censored and silenced. By documenting movements of social and political change, they help extend the reach of such movements beyond regional boundaries that might otherwise keep us isolated. Their focus on public and ecological health, as well as social and environmental justice, is urgently important in these increasingly toxic times, and global climate change.
Life is very busy and I can not attend meetings in Sacramento, Santa Rosa or in other distant locations, but Mary Beth and Jim seem to get to them all. They video tape and then place on the web hearings and meetings for everyone to see and understand what is going on. They are amazing people who not only record meetings but interview people most knowledgable about subjects within the environment. They also forward quality information that comes across the wire; most of which I do not see at any other location. They are indeed a most valuable resource in the larger community residing in the world wide web as well as our local area. We are indeed fortunate to have such dedicated environmentalists using their trade for good.
Ecological Options Network has become invaluable to me as a source that can document the importance of certain issues (often times environmental and health related) and bring them to those that can not attend certain meetings, hearings or can not displace themselves from thier county to another. For that, EON has become beyond helpful; they have become a critical part of circulating uncensored and professionally documented information California-wide, nation-wide and world-wide.
I am a Professor of Management Systems, Environmental Economics and Statistics. The information and videos provided by EON allowed me to maintain expertise in this field regarding California Pesticides when I was unavailable to attend a variety of hearings and board meetings. Even those I attended, I consistently used EON reports and videos for records to review the actual statements and testimony as documents for reports that I wrote. I also have been reading EON materials on numerous other subjects as that has assisted me with recognizing patterns of strategy within certain causes, particularly those attempting to fool a busy and naive public.