Category: Sustainability Education Forum

SEF News-Views Digest No. 193 (12-27-17)
Clifton Ware, Editor-Publisher

Knowing how hectic the holidays can be, I’m pleased that our holiday season has been a very peaceful one. Aside from having colds that caused us to miss some social festivities, we’ve also eco-simplified our holiday activities by not sending Christmas cards, reducing seasonal decorations, and agreeing with family members to eliminate gifts—except for cash. Our main activity was gathering with our family for a festive meal and stimulating conversation on Christmas Day, and it was a joyful occasion. I hope your holiday celebrations have also been restful, and that you are ready to face the New Year, and whatever it brings.

SEF News-Views Digest No. 192 (12-13-17)
Clifton Ware, Editor-Publisher

The number “three” appears in various forms throughout human history, and all relate to primary human concerns. Here are some brief examples:

Politics: Triumvirates have been associated with a structure of three ruling parties, as was the case in ancient Rome and in many nations throughout human history. In the U.S we experience the views of principal constituencies: rightwing (conservative), leftwing (liberal), and moderate (centrist).

Science: The number 3 defines the non-collinear points needed to determine a plane and a circle. The triangle, a polygon with three edges and three vertices, is the most stable physical shape for construction of objects. And there are three primary colors—red, yellow, and blue.

SEF News-Views Digest No. 191 (12-6-17)
Clifton Ware, Editor-Publisher

What are we compassionate humans willing to do in assuring a sustainable existence for Earth’s future life forms? More specifically, what personal sacrifices are we willing to make—as soon as possible?

In raising this query, I think of the long trips Bettye and I have taken—and would like to continue taking, using all means of transportation, including our personal vehicle and public transportation. Are we willing to forego enjoyable mind-expanding traveling experiences in order to reduce our carbon footprint? The best answer I can conjure is “We’d very much like to, but it would be so much easier to do in company with a cadre of like-minded activists, who would collectively commit to a massive-scale conservation movement”.  Otherwise, we’re inclined to continue indulging in personal travel, while continuing our regular conservation practices of reducing consumption, reusing items, and recycling as much as possible.

SEF News-Views Digest No. 190 (11-22-17)
Clifton Ware, Editor-Publisher

How dissimilar this Thanksgiving week is when compared with last year’s. Although last year the nation was still reeling from the surprising outcomes of the topsy-turvy political races and elections, most Americans still held hopes for a settling down of the socio-political turmoil that had roiled civil society. Little did we suspect that an energized rightwing populist movement would further expand partisan worldviews.

SEF News-Views Digest No. 189 (11-15-17)
Clifton Ware, Editor-Publisher

What will it take to awaken the mass public to the rapidly developing, long-term crises humanity is facing—and will continue facing, but on ever-more challenging terms? If you’re like me, you’re overwhelmed with increasing complexity—the hallmark of present-day civilization—as we individually and collectively struggle to create stability in such bewildering times.