Category: environment

Pennsylvania Democrats need to understand the energy future right now, Tom Wolf most of all.

April 8, 2018

To my Dem friends, I’m going to be really blunt about John Fetterman & Governor Wolf: They have to deal with the fracking industry in a responsible way. Fetterman might win because no one is paying attention, but Wolf…if he doesn’t clean up his shop and commit to a modern energy economy…he’s toast. The people who … More Pennsylvania Democrats need to understand the energy future right now, Tom Wolf most of all.

There’s no blue heaven with Nestle: A rebuttal to their PR

March 13, 2018

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” ~Upton Sinclair Last night, three Nestle representatives came out to the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology to pretend to provide the public with answers about their proposed $50 million plant. Led by their natural … More There’s no blue heaven with Nestle: A rebuttal to their PR

The soul of our community is not for sale

March 3, 2018

How much of your soul are you willing to sell to make a few bucks? That’s really the question you should ask about the Nestle plant in Centre County. But it’s not the question that Nestle Waters representatives want you to consider. They’d like you, your neighbors, and your representatives in government to “soberly” weigh … More The soul of our community is not for sale

Does that sound fair? I think not Nestle.

March 1, 2018

I just did a back-of-the-envelope calculation about the proposed Nestle bottling plant in Spring Township. On plastic alone it’s not pretty. Just so that you know, I’m interested in the systemic impacts and the ethical issues. So far, I’ve been looking into Nestle’s business practices (awful), what economic development should be for the region (regenerative), … More Does that sound fair? I think not Nestle.

“A clean, reliable water supply is the life-blood of our community…” Clearwater Conservancy’s statement on the proposed Nestle bottling plant

February 20, 2018

I just received this. We should all note that Clearwater Conservancy has hesitated in the past to come out with statements this strong. You don’t need to read between the lines to see that they know what we know–if Nestle’s past indicates the future, they will take whatever they can get and the community and … More “A clean, reliable water supply is the life-blood of our community…” Clearwater Conservancy’s statement on the proposed Nestle bottling plant

How about some regenerative and dignifying economic development in Central Pennsylvania?

February 12, 2018

There’s nothing like some astroturf campaigning to make life interesting. Yesterday, a spokesperson for Focus Central Pennsylvania advanced Nestle’s cause in the Centre Daily Times. They trotted out some fuzzy nice-sounding business speak to show us that Nestle’s on our side. But before you take them seriously, you should see who’s buttering their bread. May we … More How about some regenerative and dignifying economic development in Central Pennsylvania?

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.