Check out our 21st issue — now available online! (Printed copies on the way.)
With all that‘s been happening in the U.S. and the world this year, it has sometimes been difficult to concentrate on the many steps of getting this publication together.
This includes, of course, the war in Ukraine — an illegal and immoral attack, even if partly triggered by years of quiet, U.S.-led provocation; the continuing expansion of neo-Nazism and white-supremacism here and throughout the world; lack of progress on real environmental justice; and Supreme Court justices—all of whom swore oaths to uphold the Constitution and justice—embracing radical, special-interest politics instead. And our so-called leaders’ ongoing abject failure to address climate change and other systemic issues. An extremist right-wing minority (in all branches of government) has no right to disregard the wishes of the vast majority.
We envision a world that’s more equitable for everyone, not just a select few with extreme wealth or power. The sense of urgency is striking, as is seeing that our so-called ‘leaders’ are failing to lead—but we also see hope for change, for a better future.
Once again, Sustainable Lehigh Valley presents thinking, writing, and art to raise essential questions and help us see things more clearly. Art has a wonderful ability to foster empathy and critical thinking in ways that data alone cannot. This issue features quite a few pieces by thoughtful and talented high-school students reflecting their thoughts and feelings on the climate emergency, environmental destruction, and other aspects of sustainability. These can be a springboard to the difficult conversations we need!
We encourage you to reach out to friends and colleagues to initiate free and open, non-judgmental discussions on these critical matters. And share your ideas and experiences with an essay, poem, story, or visual art in the next issue! Your opinion matters!
It has been said that ‘We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.’ Indigenous people have known for centuries the importance of making decisions considering how they will impact people seven generations into the future.
Can we act in time to protect a livable future with a decent society that honors and respects all people?
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