close to home, close to the heart

I grew up on and still live on the edge of the Menomonee River Valley in Milwaukee, once home to a huge complex of railroad yards, factories and a  mostly industrial landscape (I worked in one of those industries myself - a huge foundry). I played on the edge of the Valley - although we were strictly warned to stay away from the trains and the tracks. Now part of it has been reclaimed for people and nature. I've studied the birds in various parts of the Valley for a decade. There are not a great many species of birds present here in winter - it's mostly used by birds during migration. But it's a great place for a winter's day walk, though - in the wonderful Three Bridges Park ( see: http://www.menomoneevalley-fromthegroundup.org/three-bridges-park1.html  - the result of the efforts of many good people to create a space for nature and people in the middle of the city). Now it's also "looked after" by many people - especially the wonderful folks at the Urban Ecology Center ( see:
 http://urbanecologycenter.org/our-branches/menomonee-valley-from-the-ground-up.html ).

So the place still "calls" to me, albeit somewhat differently than it did when I was a boy.

Moral Ground -- a worthwhile read

An exceptionally fine book, published a few years ago (but I'm just getting to it this winter), Moral Ground - Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril, edited by Kathleen Dean Moore and Michael P. Nelson, details "the testimony of over 80 visionaries — theologians and religious leaders, scientists, elected officials, business leaders, naturists, activists, and writers — to present a diverse and compelling call to honor our individual and collective moral responsibilities to our planet." The contributors consider the ethics of "doing the right thing for our planet, its animals, its plants, and its people." An amazing collection of chapters from this long list of activists and scholars - it is inspiring and idea-generating from start to finish.

carbon offsets - a re-examination

Although some voices have discounted the effectiveness of carbon offsets, I am continuing to gain an understanding of their value. This is one resource that furthers that goal: http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/buyersguides/energy/carbonoffsets.aspx

a great read

A fine editorial, from the January 2, 2016 Palm Beach Post

http://fore.yale.edu/news/item/time-for-leaders-to-make-moral-choice-on-climate-change/

"Healing humanity's grief in the face of climate change"

Some advice from a wise scientist and activist: http://tinyurl.com/gt7uxvk