The system IS working?!
In the last issue of Sustainability Doings, dated 1/5/15, I blithely asserted: “The system is broken. Everyone knows that.” But then, bright and early on 1/6/15, Karen Henninger responded:
.
“I do not agree that the *system* is broken. I believe that understanding is a lack of understanding [of] the system.
“The system IS working for what it was designed to do and it has been tremendous in its success of how it is to function and what it has been doing traditionally for a long time, but more recently in a newer and more successful version than any other time in history. In all of history, wealth building has never been so huge and monumental.
“It is totally successful and thus the system is working beautifully.”
Below are some other more positive views on what’s happening, though we might question whether the matters referred to are indications that the system (capitalism?) is working or if they are negations of the system.
Lehigh Valley Impact Hub Information Meeting
Wednesday – 2/11/15 – 8am-9:30am
@ Pinebrook Family Answers, 402 N Fulton St, Allentown, PA
From: Tom Moroz, 1/28/2015:
Impact Hubs are part innovation lab, part business incubator, and part community center. They offer their members a unique ecosystem of resources, inspiration, and collaboration opportunities to grow impact and believe a better world evolves through the combined accomplishments of creative, committed and compassionate individuals focused on a common purpose.
On February 11, 2015, we will have a great opportunity to bring more awareness and support to the project, when The LV Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a breakfast meeting to explore the possibilities.
The Event is Free but Registration is Required.
Contact AngelaD@LehighValleyChamber.org to reserve your seat.
[Members of the Sustainability Commons can click here for more information.]
PASA’s 24th Annual Farming for the Future Conference
Pre-Conference Tracks: Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday – 2/3/15-2/5/15
Main Conference: Friday-Saturday – 2/6/15-2/7/15
@ Penn Stater Conference Center & Hotel, State College PA
PASA is the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture. Its annual Farming for the Future Conference is PASA’s signature event and its main vehicle for community building. Widely regarded as the best of its kind in the East, this event brings together an audience of over 2,000 farmers, processors, consumers, students, environmentalists and business and community leaders annually. Each year, it features:
- Intensive pre-conference programming to give you in-depth training on focused topics.
- Over 100 80-minute workshops on a variety of topics – there’s something for everyone!
- TradeShow with exhibitors representing the best of the sustainable agriculture business community.
- Delicious social hour receptions and meals featuring regionally sourced ingredients.
- An ag-themed Future Farmers program for kids (K to Grade 8).
- Many special events to entertain, educate, and more – including music, movies, yoga, knitting circles, seed swap, and much more.
Whether you go for one day, two days, or more, join them for an event that will inspire you!
Click here for more information.
PA Progressive Summit
Friday 2/6 – Saturday 2/7
@ Hilton Harrisburg, Harrisburg PA
The 2015 Summit is a time for progressives to come together to strengthen the movement, build stronger relationships with those working on the issues you care most about, and learn how to achieve real progressive victories. The experience is profound.
This year, the Summit team received so many outstanding proposals, we’ve expanded the number of sessions from 36 to 44. Our expert presenters will explore not just the what, where, and why of each issue, but how to create real change. Your challenge will simply be choosing among such a terrific array of sessions. 2015 Summit workshops are posted on the Agenda page. Summit Keynotes: Senator Bernie Sanders and Cecile Richards.
Click here to register.
On the other hand, maybe the successes of the most “successful” sociocultural system in history has come at unconscionable costs to people and planet and maybe that sociocultural system has structural flaws (“contradictions”)?
Essays invited for the Alliance’s 2015-16 Sustainable Lehigh Valley booklet
Submit an essay. 700 words or so on this year’s theme: “Time to address the elephants in the room”.
Jane Anne Morris has written, “It’s time we did the unthinkable and asked ourselves if we have been colonized”, one sure sign of which “is when you censor yourselves, and don’t even wait for others to do it.”
How would we frame the sustainability problems we’re concerned about, what causes would we say were at work, and what would our solutions to them be, if we weren’t censoring ourselves so as not to offend or not raise inconvenient truths or not put ourselves at risk? How does one speak truth to power?
What are your thoughts on what we can do that doesn’t have us fracturing our efforts, doing failed strategies over and over again, or describing the problem over and over again to each other in all its ghastly details, acting as if we thought that by describing the problem “enough, it might go away”?
We invite you to submit your thoughts. Sooner rather than later. Deadline: 2/16/15.
Contact directory@sustainlv.org
Pipeline/Compressor Station Protests in the Lehigh Valley
From Sheila Gallagher, organizer for Concerned Citizens Against the Expansion of the Milford & Easton Compressor Stations
[Note: compressor stations are part of the pipeline system for distribution of Marcellus Shale natural gas]
Let’s be the change we want to see! Get involved and tell FERC we don’t want this pipeline here or anywhere!
[Note: FERC is the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission]
1) Legislators’ Pipeline Meeting
When: February 5, 6:30-8:30 p.m
Where: Covenant United Methodist Church 2715 Mountain View Dr, Bath PA
Speakers: Marcellus Shale Gas, PennState Cooperative Extension, Julie Harthart and Marcia Hahn
Why go: To question and hold the industry accountable!
2) FERC Letter-writing Workshop – This is your chance to voice your opposition to this devastating project.
When: Thursday, February 5, 5-7 pm
Where: St. John’s Church of Morgan Hill, 2720 Morgan Hill Rd., Williams Township, PA
OR
Riegelsville Community Room, Borough Hall, 615 Easton Rd., Riegelsville
Who: YOU! Participate in this very important process of commenting to FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), which will decide whether the PennEast pipeline becomes a reality or is rejected!
Why: You’ll do it right, get it done, have it ready to mail
Bring: A pen, 8.5 x 11 paper and #10 envelope. . . any documentation you have to share.
3) FERC Scoping meeting February 10th at NCC!
Please Plan to Attend and State Your Concerns about PennEast and tell them about the many ways your community will be impacted.
Environmental, health, safety, economic, aesthetic, property values and quality of life issues are all among the issues that should be discussed and raised.
FERC describes the meetings as follows:
“The purpose of these scoping meetings is to provide the public an opportunity to learn more about the Commission?s environmental review process, and to verbally comment on the Project. Each scoping meeting will start at 6:00 pm and representatives from PennEast will be present one hour prior to the start of each meeting to answer questions about the Project.
“Affected landowners and interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend the scoping meetings and present comments on the issues they believe should be addressed in the EIS. A transcript of each meeting will be added to the Commission’s administrative record to ensure that your comments are accurately recorded.”
The schedule for meetings not yet held:
- Feb 10, 6:00 pm: Northampton Community College, 3835 Green Pond Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18020
- Feb 11, 6:00 pm: Penn’s Peak, 325 Maury Road, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
- Feb 12, 6:00 pm: Best Western Hotel & Conference Center, 77 E Market St, Wilkes-Barre, PA
To Learn More About PennEast: http://bit.ly/DRN-StopPennEast or www.stoppenneast.org
To Learn More About the Impacts of Pipelines – Expert reports and videos:
To promote the building of sustainable communities, we invite you to:
Donate to support the efforts of the Alliance
Click here to do so via PayPal.
Help make the changes in the Lehigh Valley you’d like to make!
Contact: steering@sustainlv.org
Comments welcome!!! You can contact us at:
sustainabilitydoings@sustainlv.org
Martin Boksenbaum, sustainability doings editor
To receive Sustainability Doings regularly:
Join Our Emailing List