Author: Clifton Ware

SEF News-Views Digest No. 126 (4-13-16)
Clifton Ware, Editor-Publisher

Citizens for Sustainability: Meeting-Forum, Sat., May 14, 10am-noon, Silver Lake Village Community Center, 3301 Silver Lake Rd. Free & open to public.

I’ve previously written about the three major metaphorical shades of green activism that most environmentally conscious citizens represent, in various degrees. They are: light green for those who address a few low-tech green actions, like recycling items or buying organic food; bright green for those who adopt high-tech green actions, like driving an all-electric car or owning an energy-efficient home; and dark green for those who, in addition to adopting light and bright-green practices, also strive to understand all of the integral relationships associated with the converging crises humanity and the planet are facing, such as resource depletion, climate change, and, most importantly, overpopulation.

SEF News-Views Digest No. 125 (4-6-16)

Citizens for Sustainability: Meeting-Forum, Sat., Apr. 9, 10am-noon, Silver Lake Village Community Center, 3301 Silver Lake Rd.

Two articles I read this week attracted my attention, and caused me to think deeply about work and remuneration for a worker’s expertise, time, and effort. Gail Tverberg, whose articles always draw my attention and offer insightful information, has written a sequel article (to last week’s posting) dealing with the expanding chasm between the top and lowest income earners (see “Why We Have A Wage Inequality Problem”, first article in Views). If the seven solutions she proposes seem familiar, it’s probably because one presidential candidate is actively promoting some of the same solutions.

SEF News-Views Digest No. 124 (3-30-16)

Citizens for Sustainability: Meeting-Forum, Sat., Apr. 9, 10am-noon, Silver Lake Village Community Center, 3301 Silver Lake Rd.

Commentary today is related to Gail Tverberg’s very informative and insightful article, the first one in the Views section. She explains, with eloquent clarity, the integral relationship that exists between the three Big Es: Energy, Economy, and Environment. In addition, she describes how these three areas affect a closely related E: Equity, (or Equality). [Throughout this commentary I reference Tverberg’s article, which I urge you to read.]

SEF News-Views Digest No. 123 (3-23-16)

Citizens for Sustainability: Meeting-Forum, Sat., Apr. 9, 10am-noon, Silver Lake Village Community Center, 3301 Silver Lake Rd.

Plan B refers to an alternative strategy for accomplishing a desired objective. This topic came to mind when reading an article (listed first in the Views section) about Europe’s urgent need for a Plan B. An American Plan-B expert, Lester R. Brown, is a noted environmental analyst, founder-president of the Earth Policy Institute and author of more than 50 books, including Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization (2009), which elaborated on his previous writings.

If a Plan B is needed for fixing what’s wrong with our world, it obviously implies that the current Plan A is no longer functioning well.

SEF News-Views Digest No. 122 (3-16-16)

Citizens for Sustainability: Meeting-Forum, Sat., Apr. 9, 10am-noon, Silver Lake Village Community Center, 3301 Silver Lake Rd.

Based on observations of some desperate presidential candidates—and their devoted supporters, there is an appalling lack of civil decorum. In the heated atmosphere of campaigning, the presidential race has brought out both the best and worst qualities of our citizenry. As we observe the pronouncements and actions of candidates—some acting very non presidential—there’s little doubt we are a highly divided nation, with the chasm between progressives and conservatives deepening and widening.

A friend posted a thought-provoking article on Facebook recently that engaged my attention. Though originally published in 2014 on the Psychology Today website, the information provided in Ray Williams’ article (“Anti-Intellectualism and The Dumbing-Down of America”) has grown even more relevant since then, intensified by a presidential race that has shocked and disturbed a majority of thoughtful, sane Americans.

In lieu of my typical long commentary, I strongly urge you to read Williams’ article, which follows in the Views section. Also, please check out the several articles that are focused on various aspects of climate change, which, thankfully, is increasingly being covered in the media. I can’t help but wonder how long dumbed-down citizens will continue denying this awful reality.