Category: Politics

FERGUSON TOWNSHIP’S COMMITMENT TO ACT ON THE MORAL DUTY TO DO ENERGY SO MUCH BETTER

May 30, 2018

Today, I’ll be giving a Lightning Talk with Dr. Paul Shrivastava* at Penn State’s Energy Days. Our talk is on Energy Transition. My remarks are below. My name’s Peter Buckland and I’m the chair of the Ferguson Township board of supervisors. Ferguson Township is just a couple of miles to our west here, population of … More FERGUSON TOWNSHIP’S COMMITMENT TO ACT ON THE MORAL DUTY TO DO ENERGY SO MUCH BETTER

Reflecting on our decision to protest Tom Corbett’s fracking moves on Memorial Day 2014

May 28, 2018

In 2014, I co-organized a Memorial Day protest against former Governor Tom Corbett’s opening of state parks to the natural gas industry. I wrote this piece for a conference I attended the following fall as a reflection on environmental protest as a form of public moral education. It’s wonky at points, but heartfelt nonetheless. Given … More Reflecting on our decision to protest Tom Corbett’s fracking moves on Memorial Day 2014

Is there more to be done? Oh you bet. But in Ferguson, we’re acting on climate change.

May 25, 2018

A year ago, I put forward Ferguson Township’s resolution to act on climate change. Then in June 2017, we adopted Resolution 2017-14 (read the text here). We recognize that our well-being and the health of the interconnected web of being depends on the stability of the climate we’ve inherited. Its stability requires that we draw down … More Is there more to be done? Oh you bet. But in Ferguson, we’re acting on climate change.

When the local oligarchy works for a global predator, what do you say?

April 12, 2018

In recent paid-for opinion pieces, Dan Hawbaker has accused citizens of the Spring Creek watershed of “relying on emotion, opinion, and careless rhetoric.” This is classic distraction when you have no argument. We don’t have the joy of getting a multi-million dollar profit from a sweetheart deal from inside baseball. Folks are angry and more … More When the local oligarchy works for a global predator, what do you say?

Clean out the toilet. It’s time to flush Pruitt.

April 8, 2018

Wow. The Fox News interview with Scott Pruitt has a host of problems. He lies about what happened to EPA in pursuit of its mission, how it affected certainty in the market, and the fact that he wouldn’t answer questions about major ethical lapses. He spends a ton of time dodging questions about how he’s … More Clean out the toilet. It’s time to flush Pruitt.

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.

As we walk for peace today, I’m thinking about Jillian Robbins again.

March 25, 2018

Today is Palm Sunday, a day when people celebrate Jesus as the Prince of Peace. While I am not a Christian, I’m joining today’s Peace Walk and praying (in my own way) that we be filled by the spirit of peace, the will to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, and to love our neighbors … More As we walk for peace today, I’m thinking about Jillian Robbins again.

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