Focus on Pages
The "Focus On" section provides in-depth information and opinion on many facets of sustainability. (Although these topics may appear quite distinct and separate, it’s important to remember that they are interconnected and interdependent in multiple ways — in general, the 4 basic principles of ecology apply to all complex systems.)
When you select a Focus On… topic, the system will select all the articles and posts in that category with the most recent pages at the top, just under a brief introduction to the topic. (Many articles appear in multiple categories.)
Background & detail information is organized into the main categories listed in the left sidebar.
Climate & Energy
The categories of Climate & Energy are linked because it’s almost impossible to consider energy issues without considering their impact on the Climate.
Also see: Environment & Ecosystems, Food, Transportation
The Looming Climate Catastrophe & the Great Silence
Faramarz Farbod It’s a do-or-die moment for humanity as it comes face to face with a looming ecological catastrophe. Yet there is a great silence when it comes to seeing the root cause of the crisis:the rule of capital. “We’re going to lose everything,” said Dr. Peter Kalmus, a NASA scientist. He and other scientists had chained themselves to a JPMorgan Chase building in … [Read more...] about The Looming Climate Catastrophe & the Great Silence
We Need to Switch to Regenerative Organic Agriculture Now
Max Fern From water quality to climate change, how we treat our farmland affects so much of the environment around us. Agricultural chemicals run off into waterways, creating dead zones that strip marine ecosystems of life and poison the water that we drink – these same chemicals also destroy beneficial insect communities and weaken the food chains of the pollinators … [Read more...] about We Need to Switch to Regenerative Organic Agriculture Now
Cuba Prepares for Disaster
Review of Disaster Preparedness and Climate Change in Cuba: Adaptation and Management, edited by Emily J. Kirk, Isabel Story, & Anna Clayfield Don Fitz The September 2021 Scientific American included a description by the editors of the deplorable state of disaster relief in the US. They traced the root cause of problems with relief programs as their “focus on … [Read more...] about Cuba Prepares for Disaster
CODE RED!!
Raymond Nat Turner Calling all street heat shoe leather legislatorsCalling all pavement policymakers bored by the bigtop: clean coal clowns; fossil fools; net zero acrobats; carbonjugglers...Bored by greasy-thumbed grifters and jingoistgangsters; Bored by junk metal-chested generals disguisedas donkeys inside elephants Tethered to tits on Wall Street’sbull... Blocking! … [Read more...] about CODE RED!!
Notes from the Editor
The war in Ukraine has taken much of the attention of the media. The saturation coverage displays subservience to state power and omits many important aspects of the current crisis. This double issue of Left Turn features many pieces offering alternative perspectives and correcting for the media’s omissions. Additionally, the media are ignoring the other ongoing war against the … [Read more...] about Notes from the Editor
Solar Power in PA | Solar United Neighbors
Why is Pennsylvania So Far Behind Neighboring States on Solar Implementation And What Can We Do About It? Implementing solar energy technology, particularly solar PV, offers enormous opportunities including job creation and workforce development and economic growth. If properly implemented, it can also produce electricity bill savings for everyone (not only those … [Read more...] about Solar Power in PA | Solar United Neighbors
‘Youth Voices’
The following statements by students and young adults reflect their thoughts, their deepest hopes and fears on climate change and aspects of sustainability in the past, present, and/or future. We encourage you to share your thoughts with us: just email the editors or post a comment on the Alliance’s website! [A few quotes were very lightly edited to fit the print … [Read more...] about ‘Youth Voices’
#TeachTheTruth
Peter Crownfield and Devon Jewell Editors note: This essay is adapted from the Alliance summer internship report on Climate Change Education, for which Devon was the lead author, and from a longer article on environmental justice written that Devon and Peter wrote for the upcoming State of the Lehigh Valley report. Why do some serious, widespread problems persist year … [Read more...] about #TeachTheTruth
Don’t Open the Door
Cecelia Tabor The electric buzz of the lights was constant, like crickets on a summer’s night. The noise would only stop when the blackouts hit. But these were occurring more and more frequently. The lights would flicker, sputtering feebly in the damp rooms, and then die. Silence would fill the underground world as large white eyes blinked rapidly, adjusting to the … [Read more...] about Don’t Open the Door