As an intern for Alliance, I was able to meet and hear the concerns of local officials and important community stakeholders. We discussed issues and gathered advice from a diverse array of people like city councilmen, NGO leaders, and company executives. I learned of the extensive detail and nuance that is necessary to create an effective sustainability assessment. It was a … [Read more...] about My summer internship: Sustainability Impact Assessment
Community & Culture
Strong communities allow more sustainable practices to empower the people to create a more sustainable society.
Working together on common interests creates opportunities for both personal and community growth, promotes involvement in the arts and local government, and fosters equality.
Out of Left Field: On the unsustainable path in Latin America
The ravaging of the homelands and attacks on the Indigenous Peoples of Colombia and Honduras (and why people might leave their home countries to come here . . . ) About attacks on indigenous communities that are fighting against the encroachments of international interests and assassination of indigenous peoples and their leaders . Dot #1: Colombia: The FOR Peace Presence in … [Read more...] about Out of Left Field: On the unsustainable path in Latin America
Peter’s blog: ‘Development can be sustainable — or destructive’
Some municipalities require impact assessments for proposed projects, but they often are inadequate or focus primarily on economic considerations. An integrated and comprehensive sustainability impact assessment is essential to understanding the range of inter-related impacts a project will have on climate change, community, health, environment, and economy. This summer, a … [Read more...] about Peter’s blog: ‘Development can be sustainable — or destructive’
We Need to Hold Boys Accountable
“Boys will be boys,” the mother says as her son pulls a girl’s hair because he wants her toys. “Boys will be boys,” the teacher responds dismissively as they hear high school boys objectifying a female student. “Boys will be boys”: a phrase used to excuse the intolerable behavior of boys instead of trying to correct the problem. At surface value, this phrase does seem innocent. … [Read more...] about We Need to Hold Boys Accountable
Decolonizing America for a Sustainable Future
by Maison Allen What if Europeans never settled in North America? Would the land in this country have remained unharmed? Would the environment be in better condition than it is today? Unlike colonists, the Native people did not treat the Earth as a consumable good. While there is no way to answer these questions, taking a look at the way Indigenous people lived … [Read more...] about Decolonizing America for a Sustainable Future
Guns: don’t ban, regulate!
On February 14, 2018, another school was terrorized by gun violence. In Parkland Florida, 17 victims were killed at the hands of a malicious shooter who rampaged through Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. While this is a tragedy, it is also, frankly, nothing out of the ordinary. It isn’t the most recent shooting in American and it’s just one in a long list of mass shootings. … [Read more...] about Guns: don’t ban, regulate!
How Are Our Problems Connected?
As my semester at Moravian College and my internship with Alliance come to an end, I’ve been ask to write a piece that weaves my semester’s work together. In the past few months, I’ve been able to write pieces that focus on colonialism in America, sexual assault, gun control, racism today, and what we teach about Columbus. What do all of these pieces have to do with … [Read more...] about How Are Our Problems Connected?
The Importance of Black Panther
It’s been about two months since the release of Marvel’s Black Panther and somehow, it’s still turning up a significant profit weekend after weekend. In fact, it just surpassed Titanic on the list of highest-grossing films of all time. This film is part of the Marvel Universe saga and ties in with other popular films like Captain America: Civil War, which could explain some of … [Read more...] about The Importance of Black Panther
Black Lives for Gun Control
by Maison Allen Plastered on the cover of the April 2nd issue of Time magazine are the prominent members of the #NeverAgain movement, with the bold enlarged caption, “Enough.” These students have been leading a revolution of sorts. After the tragic school shooting that left 17 members of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School dead, these students are speaking out about the … [Read more...] about Black Lives for Gun Control
Acknowledging the original inhabitants of this area
We are located in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, a small part of what was Lenni-Lenape territory for over 10,000 years. We understand that the Lenape were friendly and accommodating — until the settlers gradually, and often violently, forced them out. We acknowledge the injustice and mistreatment indigenous people faced (and still face) as a result of colonialism. We recognize … [Read more...] about Acknowledging the original inhabitants of this area