Author Archives: Peter Crownfield

Boston & ‘the Muslim exception’ to the Bill of Rights

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Peter Crownfield

A lot has been written about the Boston bombings, the Tsarnaev brothers, and the way the case was handled.  I don’t want to add to that, but here are links to some of the more insightful articles, along with a … more →

Posted in Civil Liberties, Discrimination, Human Rights, Justice System, Minority Rights |

Good News (UPDATED)

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Peter Crownfield

Here are a few news articles that report positive developments, starting with an article by Frances Moore Lappé on why it’s important to share stories like this…. Why Sharing News About Solutions Is a Revolutionary Act | YES! Magazine Food … more →

Posted in Advocacy & Activism, Building Community, Climate, Environmental Health, Food for Health, Going Local, Local Food, Media, Renewable Energy, School Food, Social Justice, Sustainable Growing, Worker Co-ops |

The Sustainability Commons

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Peter Crownfield

connect – discuss – collaborate – share The Sustainability Commons is a new space for individuals, organizations, and informal groups to connect, discuss, collaborate, and share on all sorts of sustainability-related topics and projects. The commons workspace is based on … more →

Social Research | Social Justice Conference

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Peter Crownfield

A unique and excellent addition to the Lehigh Valley’s offerings, the Social Research Social Justice Conference began in 2003 as a collaboration between faculty and students in the Department of Media and Communication at Muhlenberg College, with the goal to … more →

Posted in Air, Biodiversity, Buildings, Campus Sustainability, Climate, Community – Empowerment, Discrimination, Energy, Environment & Ecosystems, Environmental Justice, Fossil Fuels, Going Local, Green Building, Health, Media, Migration, Renewable Energy, Resource Extraction, Rights of Nature | Mother Earth, Shale gas, Sustainability Education, Systemic Approaches, Transportation, Unsustainable Energy, Unsustainable Transportation, Violence Against Women, War & Peace, Waste, Water & Watersheds, Youth Development | Tagged

FYI: The News They Don’t Want You to See

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Peter Crownfield

A roundup of informative and well-written articles covering points the mainstream media routinely & intentionally ignores, minimizes, or distorts. Industrial Ag Triggers Devastating ‘Web’ of Pollution | Common Dreams – Looking at the nitrogen and phosphorous cycles and their disastrous … more →

Posted in Biodiversity, Climate, Economic Justice, Food for Health, Going Local, Human Rights, Immigrants' Rights, Industrial Food Production, Middle East, Migration, Rethinking…, Rights of Nature | Mother Earth, Stewardship, Sustainable Growing, The Americas, The World, War & Peace, Water & Watersheds, Workers' Rights |

Brecht, the Iroquois Confederacy, and You

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Peter Crownfield

It seems pretty obvious that we’re on a track that leads to an extremely harsh future.  Can we stop, take stock of where things are headed, and make some serious changes — before it’s too late? Can each of us … more →

Posted in Advocacy & Activism, Arts & Culture, Biodiversity, Building Community, Campus Sustainability, Climate, Conservation, Diversity & Heritage, Energy, Environmental Health, Environmental Justice, Food for Health, GMOs - GE foods, Going Local, Green Building, Industrial Food Production, Land Use, Learning & Schools, Nonviolence, Permaculture, Precautionary Principle, Re-skilling, Rights of Nature | Mother Earth, Stewardship, Sustainability Education, Sustainabilty & Health, Sustainable Growing |

Commit to Leadership in Sustainability

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Peter Crownfield

The benefits of making a clear commitment can be dramatic, especially over the long term.  When students, faculty, staff, and alumni know that the college or university is making a broad and comprehensive commitment to sustainability, they are more likely … more →

Posted in Air, Bicycling, Building Community, Buildings, Campus Sustainability, Climate, Climate, Energy, & Environment, Demand Reduction, Endocrine Disruptors, Environment & Ecosystems, Environmental Justice, Food for Health, Green Building, Industrial Food Production, Renewable Energy, Rights of Nature | Mother Earth, Stewardship, Walking, Waste, Wildlife |

Endowment Investments with High Return & Ultra-Low Risk

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Peter Crownfield

This is another no-brainer. Recently, colleges and universities have been earning an average 6–8% return on their endowment funds. Most facilities projects to reduce energy & greenhouse gas emissions [GHG] have a 5–7 year payback — a 14%–20% return—which means … more →

Posted in Air, Banking & Financial, Bicycling, Buildings, Campus Sustainability, Climate, Demand Reduction, Endocrine Disruptors, Energy, Environmental Health, Food for Health, Green Building, Public Transit, Renewable Energy, Rights of Nature | Mother Earth, Stewardship, Sustainability & Business, Transportation, Walking, Waste |

‘Green Revolving Funds’

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Peter Crownfield

A ‘Green Revolving Fund’ provides funds for small projects such as the one described above, projects that will make the college or university more sustainable and, in most cases, pay for itself by reducing expenses for energy. Any project that … more →

Posted in Bicycling, Campus Sustainability, Climate, Demand Reduction, Food for Health, GMOs - GE foods, Green Building, Renewable Energy, Rights of Nature | Mother Earth, Walking, Waste, Water & Watersheds |

Open Letter to College Presidents & Trustees

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Peter Crownfield

Many colleges have made real progress towards campus sustainability, but in my opinion we can and should do more — and you should make sure your people realize that investing in sustainability make a dramatic improvement in your budget! The … more →

Posted in Banking & Financial, Campus Sustainability, Climate, Demand Reduction, Learning & Schools |