Category: Sustainability Education Forum

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.

SEF News-Views Digest No. 121 (3-9-16)

• Citizens for Sustainability: Meeting-Forum, Sat., Mar. 12, 10am-noon, Silver Lake Village Community Center, 3301 Silver Lake Rd.

The SEF e-newsletter is back in circulation, a week earlier than previously announced. Our three-week getaway trip to the scenic Texas Hill Country (roughly, 75-100 miles west of Austin and San Antonio) proved to be a stimulating, invigorating travel experience. Activities included: sightseeing a variety of landscapes, from open plains to forested rolling hills and small mountains; visiting 17 museums (art and historical, including the LBJ Ranch complex and four missions in San Antonio); and 10 state parks and nature areas, including our favorite state parks—Enchanted Rock, Pendernales, Garner, and Palo Duro Canyon (near Amarillo), which we visited on our return-homeward drive. We highly recommend the Hill Country—and other equally attractive Texas areas—as travel destinations, especially for snowbird retirees.

Because of our sustainability interests, we tend to view everything through “green” lenses. So it’s always discouraging to observe humanity’s negative impacts on the environment, from crowded, expanding cities and deteriorating infrastructures to widespread degradation of natural habitats.

SEF News-Views Digest No. 119 (2-10-16)

Citizens for Sustainability: Meeting-Forum, Sat., Feb. 13, 10am-noon, Silver Lake Village Community Center, 3301 Silver Lake Rd.

Many old timers (like me) recall hearing the Sons of the Pioneers singing the song Cool Water in Roy Roger’s cowboy movies during the 40s. It’s easy to appreciate the thirst-quenching reward of cool, clear water that hot, dusty, sweaty cowboys relish when trekking on long, demanding cattle drives.

Because our bodies consist mostly water, up to 65% for men, the recommended minimum daily consumption for maintaining proper hydration is approximately 6-8 glasses of water daily. Failing to ingest enough water-based liquids can lead to severe physical and psycho-emotional health problems.

What would we do without wonderful cool, clear water, this most precious liquid that many have considered “liquid gold.” Sadly, as the media increasingly reports, this essential element for sustaining life is in jeopardy worldwide.