Category: Democracy

Why I am not surprised by Trump’s attacks on science, climate, education, & human health.

February 7, 2025

The Trump administration’s attacks on climate, on science, education, and on human health was completely predictable. Its roots are in the confluence and cooperation of big religion and big oil. These two factions in American life have been in a tacit alliance that goes back decades. As I’ve written in previous posts, it became clear … More Why I am not surprised by Trump’s attacks on science, climate, education, & human health.

Ten Centre County governmental entities have signed on to a historic solar agreement

February 1, 2025

From PennEnvironment: On Monday, January 27, ten governmental entities in Centre County have officially entered into a 15-year contract to supply their operations with renewable energy from a nearby solar project. It is believed that this cooperative solar purchase agreement is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania.  “The ten members of the Centre County … More Ten Centre County governmental entities have signed on to a historic solar agreement

Kitzmiller v. Dover: When a school board invites a fight

January 13, 2025

This entry continues my journey back through what’s motivated me to explore “The Mindful Ecological Citizen.” Most recently, I’ve been focused on learning from the Centre County solar power purchase agreement and “a prescient note on climate change to Jimmy Carter.” But I want to return to where I left off in a recent entry exploring … More Kitzmiller v. Dover: When a school board invites a fight

Early lessons from the Centre County solar power purchase agreement

December 26, 2024

I want the lessons of the Centre County solar power purchase agreement (SPPA) working group (WG) to be as accessible as possible. As readers know, 10 of central Pennsylvania’s local governments are finalizing the largest-by-member SPPA in the Commonwealth and maybe the country. This entry is my first deliberate crack at it. Here, I will use the World … More Early lessons from the Centre County solar power purchase agreement

Some lessons from the PPA: Openness. Honesty. Skepticism. Trust. Consistency.

December 19, 2024

In the last week, we’ve had more wins for the power purchase agreement. Last Tuesday, the Centre County Commissioners voted 3-0 to enter. On Monday, the State College Borough voted 6-1 to join. Tonight, Last night, Patton Township’s Board voted 5-0. They join the State College Area School District and Harris Township. All told, there are about … More Some lessons from the PPA: Openness. Honesty. Skepticism. Trust. Consistency.

Three sets of questions about the solar PPA

December 19, 2024

Taking a moment here to think about the solar power purchase agreement today from the point of view of the “mindful ecological citizen.”  I want to understand how our democratic system allowed it to take shape. It would be (maybe will be) fascinating to retrospectively examine how the working group and project management team moved … More Three sets of questions about the solar PPA

Kitzmiller v. Dover: A Trial Reveals a Plan to Transform American Life

November 28, 2024

This entry begins my journey back through what’s motivated me to explore “The Mindful Ecological Citizen.” In 2004, Tammy Kitzmiller and 10 other parents filed a lawsuit against the Dover School District for passing an “intelligent design” policy that called the Theory of Evolution into question. Covering the story for a small paper, I came … More Kitzmiller v. Dover: A Trial Reveals a Plan to Transform American Life

We have to get s*** done for the climate regardless of who is in the White House.

November 10, 2024

“A second Trump term is game over for the climate – really!” That’s what Michael Mann told The Guardian. “If we are going to avert ever more catastrophic climate change impacts, we need to limit warming below a degree and a half Celsius, a little less than three degrees Fahrenheit. Another four years of what … More We have to get s*** done for the climate regardless of who is in the White House.

If the last week was a college application essay, Harris would get in. Trump definitely wouldn’t.

November 2, 2024

Last week, my son completed his college application essay. He chose to write about what he learned about himself and about leadership by serving on two hiring committees at his school. He goes to a “democratic school fostering choice, voice, and diversity of thought to develop engaged citizens and inspired leaders.” The particulars of his … More If the last week was a college application essay, Harris would get in. Trump definitely wouldn’t.