Month: January 2018

We shape our businesses and then our businesses shape us. What’s that mean about Nestle in Centre County?

January 29, 2018

Winston Churchill once said, “We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.” This is probably more true of businesses. They create and distribute the products and programs we use every day from computers to chips, cars to cash machines. Their presence is so pervasive that they are practically invisible. But once the code is revealed, … More We shape our businesses and then our businesses shape us. What’s that mean about Nestle in Centre County?

Nestle doesn’t care about communities. We do.

January 26, 2018

The people of Spring and Benner Townships have a difficult decision to make. Should the Nestle Corporation be allowed to build a bottling plant that would extract over 400,000 of gallons of water from the aquifer each day and sell it in single-use plastic bottles? The importance of this decision can’t be overstated. Given the public relations … More Nestle doesn’t care about communities. We do.

Game on. We want a just, sane, and sustainable world? Then we are the ones who are going to do it.

January 26, 2018

“No one can survive in this world without help. No one.” ~ Ser Jorah Mormont, Game of Thrones  On the the night that Donald Trump was elected, I went to sleep feeling like my insides had been carved out. I was stunned. Shaken. Despondent. The next day I woke up more clear-eyed. It was clarifying to … More Game on. We want a just, sane, and sustainable world? Then we are the ones who are going to do it.

Nestle has too much power. Do we have the knowledge and sense to make up the difference? I hope so.

January 26, 2018

Citizens from across Centre County are very concerned about the proposed Nestle plant for Spring, Walker, or Benner Township. In case you don’t know, the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County (CBICC), has championed Nestle’s coming here. This announcement, combined with previous issues with CBICC prompted some of us to act. Last week, the … More Nestle has too much power. Do we have the knowledge and sense to make up the difference? I hope so.

I’m pretty excited to teach again this semester.

January 5, 2018

Next Tuesday I’ll be teaching Foundations of Leadership in Sustainability for the fourth time. There are a bunch of things I’m excited about. Three stand out.   1. We have some new materials in this course. We will explore Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante to bring Indigenous people’s issues more to light. My co-teacher … More I’m pretty excited to teach again this semester.

The Ulysses Sonata

January 2, 2018

This is a four-movement work for viola and piano inspired by the Tennyson poem, “Ulysses.” Movements: 1. It little profits that an idle king, 2. Meet adoration to my household gods 3. The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep Moans round with many voices. 4. One equal temper of heroic hearts Chamber … More The Ulysses Sonata