Today, the U.S. Senate caved. They passed the One Big Bullshit Bill, carrying out one of the most destructive attacks on the American people in history. It will send us deeper into a debt spiral, make us a global pariah where energy is concerned, throw millions of people into poverty, medical debt, and despair, and … More An all-out assault on America’s future
Over my ten years in municipal and school government, higher education, and non-profit leadership, I have witnessed children and families advocate for each other and our community. As I share in an op-ed piece today at StateCollege.com, they are “wise and trustworthy. We should listen. They have urged the municipal board in Ferguson township that … More Our families are wise and caring. Trump is attacking them.
We have a four-alarm fire for higher education. President Trump is abusing Columbia University. As the son of an English professor and a college adviser, an award-winning teacher and engaged scholar at a major university, a resident of a college town, and someone who’s held leadership in NGO’s and elected and appointed office for ten … More Universities and college towns and cities need to stand in solidarity with Columbia
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
Yesterday was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day for 2025 and Inauguration Day for Donald Trump for the second time. I accept these facts, their juxtaposition and paradox. All I know is that I am in control of myself, that I am called to something greater than myself, and that the climate action and ecological citizenship … More As Gandalf said, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
Today, I sat down and read Dr. King’s sermon on “Unfulfilled Hopes.” He invites us all to see that when we are thwarted in our goals, we have choices between “bitterness” and living with “a dynamic will.” He works from the example of St. Paul, who wanted to reach the far edge of the known … More Reflecting on Dr. King’s “Unfulfilled Hopes” sermon
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
The day before my first birthday–July 7, 1977–a climate memo was prepared for Pres. Jimmy Carter. It was titled “Release of Fossil CO2 and the Possibility of a Catastrophic Climate Change.” It recognized the pending impact from warming caused by the amplification of the greenhouse effect from exponential fossil fuel combustion. Carter saw it. I … More 7.7.77: A prescient note on climate change to Jimmy Carter
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.
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
Peter Walks for Democracy 