A few weeks ago, the Green Junction highlighted the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) program called the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). It requires industrial processes that release pollution to report specific toxic emissions and make this information available to the public. One concerning aspect of the program is the seemingly weak consequences for industries that emit pollutants…

Think about this: If we studied history on an ongoing basis, 1/3 of the time we watch TV, listen to music, or spend on social media, we might begin to see a new era of enlightenment coming over the horizon. Why is history so important today in our world? “Standing on the shoulders of giants”…

Many current farming practices inflict damage on the environment. For decades, agriculture practices have relied on applying the primary plant nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, often in excess, to ensure an optimized crop. Since the early 1960s, the amount of nitrogen used to grow crops has increased fourfold. Fertilizer from farm fields washes into surface…

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a program called Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) that requires mostly larger industries to report their toxic chemical discharges. The data are publicly accessible (https://www.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program) as part of a citizen’s right to know about pollution released into air, water and the ground. Currently, there are 787 hazardous chemicals…

For starters, I think Jeffrey Pugh’s work puts Bonhoeffer’s theology in perspective by revisiting some of the themes of his life that have found abiding significance in Christian theology and why Bonhoeffer is still important for us today; think of the work that generated the book AJBC and the times of the followers’ lives. Then…

I know Tony Annett coined the word “Cathonomics” I am suggesting we start using the term to understand how to bring about the greater good for People, the Planet, Purpose in Life, & Prosperity for the common good of all. The word “Cathonomics” is the integration of “Catholic Social Teachings” with “Economics,” which allows us to understand better how to…

My first experience viewing saguaro cacti in Arizona was as a young adult. I was fascinated by this desert plant, the largest native cactus in the United States, that can grow up to 40-60 feet tall. The largest saguaros are estimated to be about 200 years old and can weigh 6 tons or more with…

Many views of a healthy earth are misguided by desired appearances, such as the perfect lawn; these are promoted without an understanding of nature and its ecosystems.  The Washington Post reporter Dana Milbank decided to spend his winter months learning the difference between native and invasive plants, and landscapes that contribute to the loss of species vs…