In Zuccotti Park by Michael Greenberg | The New York Review of Books

In Zuccotti Park by Michael Greenberg | The New York Review of Books

Occupy Wall Street Drives Economic Coverage | Project for Excellence in Journalism (PEJ)

Occupy Wall Street Drives Economic Coverage | Project for Excellence in Journalism (PEJ)

Generally Assembled at #OccupyWallStreet—By Nathan Schneider (Harper's Magazine)

Generally Assembled at #OccupyWallStreet—By Nathan Schneider (Harper's Magazine)

Gearing up for another School year for all, our environment deserves a stronger focus in both action and curriculum:

________________________

Education should begin with what all life begins with: Energy. 

(“Energy” includes everything from the enthusiasm of students and teachers to the focus of their studies.)  

With the rise and set of the sun, it must be the foundational subject on which all others are built since there can be no humans without plants and photosynthesis and there can be no learning without enthusiasm. 

This makes it clear that oil is the product of ancient non-renewable sunlight and taking it from deep in the ground, burning and dumping the result in the atmosphere is a transformation of global ecological magnitude (- even if oil were in infinite supply, we would still have the problem of the ability of the atmosphere to accommodate the entropy that results from burning it). 

Once we all know this as the primordial organizing principle on which we depend, the natural curiosity and creativity of people/students (from the youngest ages) will be encouraged and inspired to develop renewable sustainable means of energizing our lives and societies.
_____________________________

Its all a matter of energy, in everything we do.

Learning needs to start with this subject on which to chew.

And when we learn the truth about our current thirst for joules,

We will quickly realize the entropic extent to which we’re fools.

Humans are all-dependent on plants and photosynthesis,

Without these there can be no Australopithecus.

Since the bicycle is the most efficient universal traveler,

Teach them what goes in our tanks is the ultimate sustainer or unraveller. 

________________________ 

So many things in our world are downwrong out of whack.

Just look at what some corporations think is a wholesome, healthy snack.

And then there’s the unappreciators who love to hate the teachers.

Cultivating such acrimony makes its hard to learn about creatures.

So one thing we could start with is a sincere and full apology,

And move on to learn about our vital earth ecology.

Crying out for recognition are the conditions of our very possibility.
Magnificence becoming blurry as pollution obscures our creativity.
We learn most when life on earth inspires our curiosity and wonder.
This is how education will lead renewability away from blunder.   
When we resolve to learn about the real costs of our conditions,
Education will inspire greater nobler human missions.
 ____________________________

Crying out for recognition are the conditions of our very possibility.

Magnificence becoming blurry as pollution obscures our creativity.

We learn most when life on earth inspires our curiosity and wonder.

This is how education will lead renewability away from blunder.  

When we resolve to learn about the real costs of our conditions,

Education will inspire greater nobler human missions.

 

________________________________

Don’t hold your breath, but the greenest thing a school can do is… turn blue. 

Skip the drastic plastic ‘cause water fountains are clean and true.

The real meaning of recycle lies way outside the mobius loops.

It has to do with pedals, frame and rider and two big spinning hoops.

If our education system is to flourish and we are not to shirk.

The least consumptive practices are the ones with which to work.

_______________________________

Charitable Contributions in McDonald's 2010 Annual Report

In his opening statement to McD's "valued shareholders," Jim Skinner (Vice Chair and CEO) provides a long list of the ways in which McDonald's is increasing market share and increasing profits. Near the end of the intro he provide the following statement:

"It starts with delivering a great restaurant experience every time and extends to a host of areas to which we are strongly committed — from charitable giving and supporting the communities we serve, to environmental stewardship and animal welfare."

This is the only reference to "charitable giving" in the entire report.  There is no evidence provided of how much and to whom any charity has been given.

How Defining Planetary Boundaries Can Transform Our Approach to Growth | Solutions

A new article in Solutions Journal by Robert Costanza ("Ecological Economics" Pioneer) et al.

How Defining Planetary Boundaries Can Transform Our Approach to Growth | Solutions

The Life You Can Save

Ever wonder how you can save a child from dying a readily preventable death right now?

This Web site is Peter Singer's (Ethical Philosopher) idea.  It uses "Givewell" to determine a short list of agencies in the best position to directly save a person's life with your donation.

It does not take much.  $1 = a day-long struggle to many.

Think of it as giving CPR to someone who needs you right now. A few compressions and you just revived two hearts!