Systemic Approaches
Here we focus on rethinking the ways we live and the ways society and its systems are structured. It includes approaches, perspectives, and philosophies that can empower our pursuit of sustainability, getting more specific about the frameworks for thinking and action given in the Finding Solutions part of the Think Globally section, namely, the models of change available to help us understand the various aspects of the problem we are facing and to help us move towards sustainability.
The change paradigms are a varied lot. Some focus on specific objectives, some are holistic. Some are weighted toward “taking action” strategies, some toward conceptualization, some are rather balanced in dealing with both theory and practice. They all can find expression in local, regional, national and/or world-wide actions. They all can inspire us and help us find the way.
Please contact us about models for change that you would like to see added to this listing.
Earth Day 2016: An Experience at Muhlenberg College
by Molly Majewicz This year on Friday, April 22nd, the day was overcast and humid, but the predicted chance of rain didn’t deter many passionate Muhlenberg students and community members from creating a sustainability-centered fair, of sorts. On-campus groups like … more
Campus Sustainability: How LVAIC universities are making big changes!
By Molly Majewicz The LVAIC Campus Sustainability Conference on February 20th featured a number of specialized sessions where various aspects of sustainability were explored in depth. They ranged from power conservancy to sustainable agriculture, to school-to-farm efforts, and community relations … more
Campus Sustainability? Yum!
By Molly Majewicz At the LVAIC Campus Sustainability Conference on February 20th, food on college campuses was a big topic of discussion. In congruence with the keynote speaker’s main message of changing campus ethos, many of the sessions that day … more
Campus Sustainability: A Window into How We Can Change National Ethos
by Molly Majewicz At the LVAIC Campus Sustainability Conference on February 20, 2016, keynote speaker Dr. Shana Weber, Director of the Office of Sustainability at Princeton University, urged the forward-thinking students and faculty present to strongly think about ethos—our character, … more
Riddle: How is Capitalism Like an Elephant?
The system is broken. Everyone knows that. But do you know that no one knows what the hell the system is? We may be missing the obvious, like the proverbial elephant in the room, that we’re blanking out to, as … more
Is Sustainable Urban Living a Viable Outcome of Our Current Political System?
“Without systemic change, sustainable communities are not possible.” This is the opening statement from a whitepaper by Ben Price, Projects Director for the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF). He is speaking here of our political system and goes on … more
Social Research | Social Justice Conference
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
Statement from the NYC General Assembly
Following is the first collective statement from the New York City General Assembly, issued October 5 2011. As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together. … more
Rights of Nature
As the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) points out in discussing its “Rights of Nature” work, environmental laws “regulating how much pollution or destruction of nature can occur under law”, are actually permitting the environmental harms to occur. CELDF’s approach takes … more
Earth Charter
The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental ethical principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society in the 21st century. It seeks to inspire in all people a new sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for … more