Category: Democracy

The great warning: Those closest to Trump are not voting for him.

October 23, 2024

We are now under two weeks until Election Day 2024. With Donald Trump seeking office a second time, citizens should understand that Trump’s own cabinet and a swath of staunch Republicans oppose him. For those RepublIcans who revere the Constitution and believe in the rule of law–folks who supported Nikki Haley but worry about Kamala … More The great warning: Those closest to Trump are not voting for him.

Don’t Be Distracted by ‘Inactivists.’ Solar Is the Present and Future

October 14, 2024

Today, I have an opinion piece, “Don’t Be Distracted by ‘Inactivists.’ Solar Is the Present and Future,” published on StateCollege.com. It is a response to Josh Portney’s misguided and ill-informed opinion piece on the regional solar power purchase agreement (SPPA). While Portney presents himself as a sleuth and advocate for the truth proves he has a … More Don’t Be Distracted by ‘Inactivists.’ Solar Is the Present and Future

“I support action on climate change, but …” We know what that means.

October 11, 2024

Having read Jacob Michael’s article in the Sept. 29 issue of The Centre Daily Times on the Solar Power Purchase Agreement (SPPA), former State College Borough Council member Jesse Barlow and I wanted to add some clarifying details. We felt this was important given that we have both been involved with the project since its … More “I support action on climate change, but …” We know what that means.

Local Climate Action Program wins national recognition and we are so grateful.

October 11, 2024

On Thursday, the Local Climate Action Program was awarded the Ryan Moser Reilly Award from the Engagement Scholarship Consortium. The Award “recognizes a campus or an entity on campuses (e.g. college, department, school, unit, program) that has made a significant contribution to transforming institutional culture that promotes community-engaged scholarship…[lifting up] institutions or units within that … More Local Climate Action Program wins national recognition and we are so grateful.

Do hard things like advance solar. Don’t do pointless things like argue with dining room tables.

October 3, 2024

In the next two months, ten (maybe eleven) of Centre County’s local governments will vote to adopt affordable, carbon-free, Pennsylvania-supplied solar power at a truly ambitious scale. With the power purchase agreement in its final steps, our citizens and taxpayers will be able to celebrate how a coalition of committed public servants put together a … More Do hard things like advance solar. Don’t do pointless things like argue with dining room tables.

Working on climate action in Pennsylvania inspires climate action in a California

September 23, 2024

Last week, our Local Climate Action Program (LCAP) graduate Joe Thompson accepted an award on behalf of the Orange Sustainability Plan. Joe has taken a remarkable step that we hope for and dream of: applying the skills he learned in the LCAP and in his Energy & Sustainability Policy degree to his civic and professional … More Working on climate action in Pennsylvania inspires climate action in a California

Taking on the Merchants of Doubt in 2024

September 22, 2024

I’ve been watching people get wrapped up in manufactured controversies—manfufactroversies—lately. The zombie armies of climate change deniers, doubters, boomers, and climate inactivists are out in force. Their goal is to undermine the public’s confidence in good actions. Who are they and what do they do? When some special interest sees an issue as a threat … More Taking on the Merchants of Doubt in 2024

A note on self-worth

September 9, 2024

“When our self-worth is dependent on outside factors, we have what researchers call a contingent self-worth. We derive our sense of self from what people think and how we are judged. We give over control to external factors. When we utilize idle praise and combine that with undeserved rewards, we create an environment ripe for … More A note on self-worth

The Assault on Women’s Rights: Project 2025

July 12, 2024

Trump’s and the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 is a regressive manifesto that places far right fundamentalist Christianity over Americans’ liberty. It is an all-out assault on women’s autonomy. Two years ago, the six reactionary Christians on the Court wiped out women’s privacy, women’s autonomy, and a woman’s right to plan her family. On numerous occasions, … More The Assault on Women’s Rights: Project 2025

Schools are not and should not be apolitical.

June 24, 2024

“Schools should be apolitical.” I hear this a lot. Most recently, this has come up because Louisiana’s governor has signed a law that requires schools place the Ten Commandments in schools. Last year and the year before, it was the Moms for Liberty trying to ban books based on their religious hopes for indoctrinating your … More Schools are not and should not be apolitical.