This book made me recall the line 'Stop the world — I want to get off'. (I think it's actually the title of a Broadway musical back in the 1960s.) I won't attempt to do a review of Bright Green Lies,* but the opening gives you a glimpse of the problem: “We need to stop being guided by the general story that we can have it all,” Derrick concluded, “that we can have an … [Read more...] about Bright Green Lies
sustainability
Lit Coffee is Doing Sustainability Right
During the brainstorming phase of the "Rethinking the Food" Project, we were thinking of local restaurants we could focus our project on. Who could we talk to that could give us insight? Who's setting a good example in a world of fast food and convenience? Lit Coffee Roastery & Bakeshop, located in Bethlehem, PA, has been on our radar from the beginning stages of the … [Read more...] about Lit Coffee is Doing Sustainability Right
Who Are We?
By Robert Jensen Editors’ Note: This is the Introduction to the book An Inconvenient Apocalypse, by Robert Jensen and Wes Jackson. In the many phone conversations between the authors when this book was under construction, one of us would say that a particular point was so important that we need to get it right up front. After a few of these comments, we joked that there … [Read more...] about Who Are We?
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
‘Fragile Beauty’
by Tara Zrinsky “The gentle entanglement of vines and grass form an image that is both beautiful and fragile. At any moment, a single strand could be pulled to unravel what has been crafted and crowned with and silenced by a single rose. Yet, if you look long enough and the features of the intense stare, a delicate nose and strong jaw line subtly reveal the vulnerability … [Read more...] about ‘Fragile Beauty’
What They Never Taught Us
As a senior in college, I have been reflecting on my education throughout the years. In elementary, middle, and high school. I find myself angry at our country. Our schools have failed us by teaching that Martin Luther King Jr. solved racism, and Christopher Columbus was a hero who discovered America. The current political climate has divided our country into those who think … [Read more...] about What They Never Taught Us
The Environment, the Beauty Industry, and the Responsibility of Women
by Sakura Shinjo We generally understand today that we need to cut our consumption of fossil fuels: we must end the use of plastics in our foods; we should try to make more responsible decisions in transportation; however, some of these issues are more easily tackled than others. Millions live in food deserts where the question of healthy foods cannot yet be asked. And … [Read more...] about The Environment, the Beauty Industry, and the Responsibility of Women
Cultural Sustainability
by Jenna Ashton Winton "What’s that?” is the most common question I’m asked when I tell people I work in cultural sustainability. My go-to explanation is “It’s supporting communities in maintaining their collective cultural identity during times of crisis or great change.” Cultural sustainability practices retain the social resources of a community’s unique local knowledge … [Read more...] about Cultural Sustainability
Sustainability Practices for Cafés and Restaurants
[See link at bottom to download the full report] Executive Summary We live in a world filled with concerns about climate change, food and health, and other factors critical for sustainability, and these problems are growing at exponential rates. We all need to take action to prevent these problems from spiraling out of control, including taking a close look at our … [Read more...] about Sustainability Practices for Cafés and Restaurants
Wrapping Up: Sustainability & Public Health
The semester is coming to a close, which means it will be my last time posting on my blog. This experience of writing on this blog weekly has been a memorable one. Not only have I attempted to inform readers about issues of sustainability and public health that I was aware about beforehand, but I have also learned a great deal about other relevant issues as well through … [Read more...] about Wrapping Up: Sustainability & Public Health