Originally published in State of the Lehigh Valley 2021, Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC) Peter K. Crownfield, Internship Coordinator, Alliance for Sustainable Communities – Lehigh Valley; and Devon Jewell, Junior at Moravian Academy The most basic level of environmental justice is making sure that poor or minority communities, often called ‘EJ … [Read more...] about The Future Of Environmental Justice
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.
Principles of Environmental Justice
We, The People of Color, gathered together at this multinational People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit, to begin to build a national and international movement of all peoples of color to fight the destruction and taking of our lands and communities, do hereby re-establish our spiritual interdependence to the sacredness of our Mother Earth; to respect and celebrate … [Read more...] about Principles of Environmental Justice
Teaching Climate
The Sustainability Society
The following is from the book jacket designed by cover artist Vivien Woolley. It is the start of summer vacation and Aster is desperate to save her favorite park, which has become run down and polluted after years of neglect. She soon begins to notice the pollution and disrepair all over her city and is determined to change it. With the help of her friends, Meg and … [Read more...] about The Sustainability Society
‘Foggy Fields
Haley Kerridge Haley is a recent graduate of Lafayette College, where she majored in Environmental Studies and Government & Law. She worked as a Climate Action intern and Editorial intern with the Alliance this past year and is interested in combining her experience in sustainability communications and climate action with policy and political advocacy work. … [Read more...] about ‘Foggy Fields
Flooded
Sienna Gallus Do you too feel like the ocean welling up and spilling out? Do you feel like the coast, torn away more each wave Retreating back, recoiling. until there is nothing left but sea And when our people lay,flamingwith the trees, with the worldWill it then, be enough? do you see storm clouds in the … [Read more...] about Flooded
Mother Nature’s Lament
Everet Smith Why are you hurting me? I am everything you see, smell, hear, taste, and touch. I am the air you breathe and the water you drink. I am your far away and your true home. I am quite literally everything to you, just as you are everything and more to me. Why are you hurting me? I have given you all I have to offer. I have given you grassy hills to roll … [Read more...] about Mother Nature’s Lament
Damaged Sky
Melanie Rios The sky is a precious individual made up of so many things.The sky graciously holds our sun, who sits fixedly in our horizon beaming with love,reflecting sunshine and warmth throughout our cities.Feeding the sweet and radiant flowers in our fields. Giving to the bees and butterflieswho pollinate our trees and give us air to breath. The sky holds our … [Read more...] about Damaged Sky
‘Do You Ever Feel Like a Plastic Bag, Drifting through the Wind?’
Lilyanna Nowak The title is a lyric sung by Katy Perry, originally related to the emotion of worthlessness, but can be also taken as a call for change, as the sight of a plastic bag in the wind is a commonality. It has become routine that when we go to the grocery store to just accept that there will be plastic bags to serve us. We place our fresh vegetables in plastic bags … [Read more...] about ‘Do You Ever Feel Like a Plastic Bag, Drifting through the Wind?’
A More Livable Lehigh Valley
Thomas Fortsch Imagine this:you and your family are trying to enjoy your day at Jordan Creek in Allentown. You are playing and fishing in the creek when suddenly a plastic water bottle floats by you, then another, then a styrofoam take-out container. As you sit and watch the water, plastic continues to float right by you. A few years ago, this was the reality of Jordan … [Read more...] about A More Livable Lehigh Valley