The first Earth Day was fifty years ago today. Denis Hayes, a graduate student at Harvard and Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. senator from Wisconsin were the creative and political forces behind the genesis of this now global celebration. Twenty million people took part in first Earth Day demonstrations. So, how are we doing today? IfContinue reading “50 Years Ago Today”
Category Archives: Concerned Human
Yes! That’s it Exactly!
I was nearly brought to tears this morning when what I have been feeling, worrying about, and thinking for the last, well, for a long time, was encapsulated by three New York Times essays. That constant background noise of my thoughts, worries and emotions might be akin to an individual’s constant tinnitus or even theContinue reading “Yes! That’s it Exactly!”
It Comes Down To Empathy
We say we are all in this together. But we are not. We cannot even say the virus attacks one and all the same. Like everything else, we find that one’s income and zip code greatly affect how the world affects the individual. For example, the residents of the Navajo nation tribal lands are beingContinue reading “It Comes Down To Empathy”
PLASTIC!
How you are you doing sheltering in place? My family is healthy and able to adjust and continue with work and schooling. The biggest impact so far is psychological; it’s difficult to think or converse about anything else. My family is incredibly fortunate so far. However, it does mean that we stop thinking about otherContinue reading “PLASTIC!”
A Global Teachable Moment and a Bag of Carrots
My wife came home from work yesterday with her computer and other desk supplies in a box. Today she starts working from home. That’s my gig. We now have two home offices set up. My daughter arrived home from college late last week, but still taking a full load of courses. So, she’ll be workingContinue reading “A Global Teachable Moment and a Bag of Carrots”
Exposed
We’ve been exposed to and by covid-19. We are unprepared for a significant national emergency and interruption to our daily routines and economy. This interruption isn’t due to the number of individuals that are sick and actually afflicted by the virus, but instead our lack of preparation for the virus and our early responses toContinue reading “Exposed”
Don’t Feed the Fear Monster
Does it seem to you that we are collectively on the edge of panic and in a state of fear? The impact of this on our daily lives and our ability to make reasonable short-term and long-term decisions is not good. When in a heightened or prolonged state of fear, the upper (or conscious) brainContinue reading “Don’t Feed the Fear Monster”
Thinking About Being a Liberal
I participated in the Democratic caucus yesterday. In Minnesota it’s the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party. Because Minnesota now has a presidential primary in addition to the caucus the primary function was to select delegates for the next level of party nomination and platform-setting business and to solicit resolutions for the party platform. This has prompted meContinue reading “Thinking About Being a Liberal”
Water is Life
Water is life. Yet, the EPA, under the direction of the current administration is changing the interpretation and implementation of the Clean Water Act. This will result in up to 6 million miles of streams (half of the total in the U.S.) and 42 million acres of wetlands (again, about half) no longer being protectedContinue reading “Water is Life”
Well, That Was Unexpected
Twenty-two years ago, I stumbled into the house after a day of teaching and when my wife asked what was wrong, I collapsed onto the bed and tearfully let go of concealing the intense abdominal pain that had been building all day. After a few days of diagnoses and testing, they used a scope toContinue reading “Well, That Was Unexpected”
