‘Shop Local’ isn’t just a slogan. Our survival depends on it. Illustration by Jameela Wahlgren Question: Why should I “Buy Fresh, Buy Local”? The Right Question: What is a local economy, anyway? Most of us tend to think of “the economy” as the process of exchanging our money for goods and services, and of receiving
MoreIllustration by Anne Lambelet The Power of Not Working by Jerry Silberman Question: How can political power be mobilized on a local level to effect social change? The Right Question: How does a community really have power over its future? If you, dear reader, work for a paycheck, spend it on the things you need
MoreIllustration by Corey Schumann Water, Water Everywhere by Jerry Silberman Question: How can I reduce my personal water consumption to protect the environment? The Right Question: How can I reduce my energy consumption to protect fresh water? Kayaking down the Schuylkill a couple of weeks ago, in the zone of cool air just above the
MoreIllustration by Corey Brickley Blind Justice by Jerry Silberman Question: Is environmental justice available under our law? The Right Question: Is environmental justice the same thing as justice for the environment? We usually think of justice as the concept of fairness and equity: that everyone should be treated with the same respect, given the same
MoreIllustration by Abayomi Louard-Moore Politics as Usual by Jerry Silberman Question: What political program will best help limit the effects of climate change? The Right Question: Why should we think politics is a way to address climate change at all? Politics comes to us from Aristotle, who attempted in his treatise titled “Politics” to determine
MoreIllustration by James Olstein Blinded by Science by Jerry Silberman Question: Is sustainability a religious value?The Right Question: Can you have faith without respecting the world? “If then you obey the commandments that I enjoin upon you this day… I will grant the rain for your land in season, the early rain and the late.
MoreIllustration by Laura Weiszer School’s Out by Jerry Silberman Question: What college program can best prepare me for a career in mitigating and adapting to climate change? The Right Question: Is going to college the best choice? Education, especially college and postgraduate education, is extremely expensive. And yet, the proportion of young people enrolling in
MoreIllustration by James Olstein Victory or Defeat? by Jerry Silberman Question: How much can I grow in my garden? The Right Question: Do urban gardens have a place in a sustainable food production system? Food provides both all the materials we need to build our bodies and all the energy to run it. Any animal
MoreIllustration by Chelsea Manheim Let’s Trash the Idea of Garbage by Jerry Silberman Question: How much of my household waste can I recycle, and does it decrease energy and materials use? The Right Question: Why do I have waste, anyway? If you are my age or older, you probably remember when beer and soda came
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Illustration by Laura Weiszer First, Do No Harm by Jerry Silberman Question: How can our health care system develop the technology to cure illness? The Right Question: How can we build a system that maintains health for people and planet? When we think about making changes to limit the poisoning of our environment and the
MoreIllustration by Kathleen White Blowing in the Wind by Jerry Silberman Question: Is large-scale renewable electricity production sustainable? The Right Question: Is renewable energy the future for human society? The recognition that burning fossil fuels may burn us out of the planet’s ecosystem has made the abandonment of fossil fuel resources the right choice, regardless
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