From Robert Reich, an excellent primer on how things actually work here in the U.S.: … Power has been leached out of conventional discussions about what is occurring. … But you cannot understand American capitalism today without confronting power head on. It is the most important subterranean force. Power is exercised through institutions — big Wall Street banks, global … [Read more...] about Why American capitalism is so rotten, Part 1
Economy, Business, Finance
Two of the six Alliance goals focus on the importance of the local economy. In order to create equitable and livable communities, we need strong local economies and businesses need to adopt sustainable practices. This includes operations, sourcing & supply chains, and minimizing waste.
A billionaire causes a million times more GHG than an average person!
A new report from Oxfam-USA shows that billionaires are responsible for millions of times more GHG than the average person. (This is due in part to their heavy investments in the fossil-fuel sector.) Read the report: Carbon Billionaires: The investment emissions of the world’s richest people … [Read more...] about A billionaire causes a million times more GHG than an average person!
Connecting the Dots (1)
The shutdown of many businesses and activities during the coronavirus lockdown resulted in a significant reduction in fossil-fuel use, and the low oil prices make it cheaper to make plastic from fossil fuels instead of recycling plastic. And this leads to lower demand and lower prices for recyclables — in many cases, they now go straight from your recycling bin to the … [Read more...] about Connecting the Dots (1)
CDC’s real recommendations for ‘reopening’ from coronavirus
The U.S. disease-control experts at the CDC prepared detailed guidelines on how to safely reopen businesses and institutions, but the White House shelved the experts' recommendations and released a far less restrictive plan. CDC guidance more restrictive than White House School Superintendents Dismiss White House, Will Follow Leaked CDC Guidance on Reopening Actual … [Read more...] about CDC’s real recommendations for ‘reopening’ from coronavirus
Covid & Capitalism
Neither of these articles has any shocking revelations, but both are worth reading for the way they fill in some gaps in the mainstream narrative. “No. It’s Capitalism, Stupid.”, by Gary OlsonCovid-19 Profiteers Are Making a Killing, by Amber Colon-Nuñez … [Read more...] about Covid & Capitalism
Essential workers on strike
As of May 1, workers from the following places are on strike, primarily because those companies are making record profits, but won't protect workers with needed equipment and safe procedures: Amazon Instacart Whole Foods Walmart Target FedEx … [Read more...] about Essential workers on strike
Support your local businesses during the coronavirus lockdown
With schools, colleges, libraries, and private workplaces shut down, many independent local businesses are facing a drastic drop in business.This includes cafés & restaurants, grocery stores, hardware stores, and more. It's up to us to support them as best we can. … [Read more...] about Support your local businesses during the coronavirus lockdown
Summer interns’ work!
I'm very pleased to be able to point to projects that students completed this summer — check out the impressive results! Emma Coppock [Lehigh '20], Marayna Dorsey [Shippensburg '20], and Joseph Yashur [Cedar Crest '20] completed a project on Sustainability for Cafés and Restaurants. In the process, they also helped a number of restaurants solve specific sustainability … [Read more...] about Summer interns’ work!
If It’s Not Fair Trade, It’s Not Fair to Small Producers
Fair Trade America interviewed key people at three companies that have committed to Fair Trade. Their responses should be enough to convince you how important it is to buy / coffee, chocolate, & tea that has the FairTrade seal (and the Organic seal, of course). Vague terms such as ‘fairly traded’ or ’sustainably grown’ are often used to cover up products that aren’t … [Read more...] about If It’s Not Fair Trade, It’s Not Fair to Small Producers
Ag policy is health policy
Long a strong advocate for healthier food and small growers, Health Care Without Harm points out in a recent fact sheet what should be obvious: ag policy is also health policy (& climate policy). By supporting agribusiness and unsustainable crops, the US government makes a choice to undermine small growers that follow true organic principles, thus rebuilding the … [Read more...] about Ag policy is health policy