The long awaited AR-6 report was released a few days ago. There are no surprises for anyone who's been paying attention, but there's lots of confirmation of how serious the problem has become and that there are still possibilities for reducing the impact — with actions, not words! Sticking to the basics, here are some statements about AR6: “The world is in deep trouble … [Read more...] about IPCC’s 6th Assessment Report
Environment & Ecology
Plastics — a ‘toxics crisis’ from cradle to grave
We knew plastics are harmful, but a new report by the Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health makes clear just how much harm plastics do at every step of their lifecycles. As reported in Inside Climate News, "…global plastic production, use and disposal patterns are responsible for significant harm to human health, the environment, and the economy, and are … [Read more...] about Plastics — a ‘toxics crisis’ from cradle to grave
Beyond Plastics – new video on train derailment
This morning, Beyond Plastics released an eye-opening new video that documents the reality on the ground in East Palestine, Ohio, where residents are dealing with the aftermath of the toxic train derailment. … [Read more...] about Beyond Plastics – new video on train derailment
Left Turn – Winter 2023 issue now available online
Go to the Winter 2023 Table of Contents to see what's in this issue and to download in PDF format. [link below Table of Contents] Look for some great work by Elaheh Farmand, Gary Olson, Lenny Flank, Michael Yates, Robert Jensen, and Vijay Prashad, among others. This issue is at the printer now, and we should have printed copies available early in March. … [Read more...] about Left Turn – Winter 2023 issue now available online
Recognizing the Rights of Nature
One path towards real environmental justice (EJ) is the growing movement to recognize that nature — encompassing plants, animals, and the air, land, and water — is not property, not something to own and exploit, but entities that have their own rights to exist and thrive. All too often EJ deals only with environmental racism and not the rights of all current and future beings … [Read more...] about Recognizing the Rights of Nature
Plastic-Free Giving
Beyond Plastics has a handy reminder sheet on how to avoid plastic during the holiday gift-giving season. A lot of it is common sense, of course — but the reminders are welcome! You'll find the online plastic-free giving guide online at https://www.beyondplastics.org/green-gifts Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont. … [Read more...] about Plastic-Free Giving
Rights of Nature
Many of you are familiar with the idea of the Rights of Nature / Rights of Mother Earth, but it's a long way from understanding the concept to seeing how it plays out on the ground, where someone (or a group) has to speak for the natural entity and then people have to figure out how to resolve the situation. Inside Climate News recently ran an excellent article on this … [Read more...] about Rights of Nature
You’ll love the new issue of the Sustainable Lehigh Valley booklet!
The new issue of the Sustainable Lehigh Valley booklet is loaded with creative writing and art, and a majority of the content comes from students — both high school and college — and young adults here in the Lehigh Valley. You can read it online or download the full PDF edition, which is formatted in two-page spreads so it's similar to reading the printed booklet. Print … [Read more...] about You’ll love the new issue of the Sustainable Lehigh Valley booklet!
Clean energy, batteries, & mining
Clean, renewable energy is essential for sustainability. The main problems with getting to 100% renewable energy are that solar and wind energy spend on weather and time of day, and this makes some sort of storage important. Improved and less expensive batteries are often touted as the solution to the intermittency of truly renewable energy. Unfortunately, the demand for … [Read more...] about Clean energy, batteries, & mining
Building Demolition
Those concerned about the dust that will be released by the upcoming implosion have good reason for concern. According to studies, including Nuruddeen Usman's 'An Evaluation of Buildings Destruction Technique and Its Menace', published in the EU, this method of demolition creates many serious health risks that can take years to show up. [PDF] It goes on to say that modern … [Read more...] about Building Demolition