This Week In Sustainability - Edition 3

Sustainability In The Press

There’s a new viral game people are buzzing about, and it’s not what you’d expect. #TrashTag has taken over social media, where people post before and after videos of areas they have cleared of litter. If you feel inspired on your daily walk to clear the ditch of trash, be sure to join in the fun online!

Costa Rica has come forward with its own Green Deal, and it’s no small feat. They plan to completely phase out fossil fuels by 2050, and they are well on their way with hydropower, solar power, and being a carbon sink by covering half of their country in trees. What’s their first point of action? Overhauling transportation.

The energy company, Williams, has its eyes on putting a 23-mile long underwater pipeline carrying fracked gas from Pennsylvania to New York. Environmentalists are pissed, as they should be since fracked gas is obviously more carbon-emitting than renewable energy and a decision like this would lock in New York to non-renewable energy dependency. This will be an interesting decision to watch on behalf of Democratic green-minded governor Cuomo, who has banned fracking in New York and set goals to cut emissions 80% by 2050.

Speaking of fracking, here is an in-depth read on the history of fracking in the US. If you want to understand this issue from its onset, this is the ultimate article for you.

In the face of disaster, man-made or natural, there is an opportunity for what is called “civic-ecology,” the act of promoting restoration and stewardship. Learn what the Ten Principles of Civic Ecology are and how you can be a part of the healing process.

Sustainability Podcasts:

Sustainable Dish Episode 86: The Future of Food with John Kempf.

Sustainable World Radio Episode 148: Regenerating Land in Mexico at Sanandi Farm

Parting Thoughts:

Paul and I are set to travel to Vegas and the dreaded reality of trying to eat while traveling is upon us. So much of the [unhealthy] grab-and-go food at airports has packaging that winds up in the garbage, not to mention the copious amounts of food and drink in plastic on board the plane that are tossed too. How do we deal with it? This time around I plan on fasting during the duration of our travel, but Paul will be eating Epic Bars out of multilayered non-recyclable pouches. You win some, you lose some. We're not perfect, but we're aware of our actions and we hope to continue to do better.

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