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’
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.
Voices of the Valley
The Voices of the Valley category includes work by members of the Lehigh Valley community.
You can access Voices of the Valley essays that were published in the Alliance’s Sustainable Lehigh Valley booklet (listed by year published) or via the alphabetic list of authors, which also includes items published online and in Left Turn.
You can also search for individual essays (& other content) by category or tag.
The Last Real Town
David Fadem One day, In The Last Real Town, In the last real October, It will be the 31st—a Friday. And through some sympathetic working of the universe, All will open their eyes to a ceiling above. And hate will have not creeped under the pillows Of all the happy people. One day, In The Last Real Town in the last real October, The children will gaze in wonderment At the … [Read more...] about The Last Real Town
About “Paths with a Heart” & cover artist Don Morris
In 2019, Nurture Nature Center invited local artists to create two- or three-dimensional works around the theme of animal or human migrations. In this painting, completed in 2020, I’ve tried to show some of the motivations forcing millions of people around the world to leave their native countries. After seeing the film “Human Flow” by prominent Chinese artist Ai … [Read more...] about About “Paths with a Heart” & cover artist Don Morris
Remembering Joris Rosse
Bruce Wilson and Annie Prince I met Joris Rosse in the summer of 1979 shortly after I started dating my wife Annie Prince. Annie & I were married at his home on Creek Road in 1980, where he lived with Gloria Leight who was Annie’s best friend. Our wedding was the first major event at his farm. When Joris died on February 26, 2021, having recently turned 91, we … [Read more...] about Remembering Joris Rosse
The Clay People
Madeline Tade A long, long time ago, before time existed A bearded man named Atala Dug his fingers into the earth And rolled it into a sphere He then pushed his thumb into its center And shaped it into the first clay bowl He spun it around and chuckled Why, I could store anything I want in here, he said Hey! Aure! Come and see! He hollered A young un-bearded man Bounded up … [Read more...] about The Clay People
Terminally Ill
Hannah Flaven Bear witness now to an evil act Ever careful to separate lies from fact See this mom of many children Shaking and heaving Knowing that soon this form She may be leaving Body pushed past the limit Glassy eyes begging of you Enough is enough But why not see it through A kick to the ribs A knife to the gut Even those who feel bad Can’t help but make a cut They … [Read more...] about Terminally Ill
Awaken
Zoe Lowry It is extremely challenging to detach ourselves from the views of others and to recognize and live true to our own passions, gifts, and purpose. However, gaining this deep understanding of self is the only way to achieve unconditional happiness and sustainability--in the sense of meeting our personal needs (emotional, spiritual, and tangible ones) in harmony with … [Read more...] about Awaken
Misinformation Pandemic
Johnny Wilk Originally from Palmerton, Johnny has been aLehigh Valley resident for most of his life. … [Read more...] about Misinformation Pandemic
#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
Restorative Justice: A New Hope
Emily Kim The tension between marginalized communities and law enforcement officers has existed since the establishment of police forces. We acknowledge that the systematically racist and white supremacist issues regarding police forces are complex and therefore can’t be tackled all at once. The essay excerpt below focuses on restorative practices within the current criminal … [Read more...] about Restorative Justice: A New Hope