Green JunctionRecycling is vital to the multifaceted strategy required for dealing with our used stuff - our garbage. Much of our stuff should be viewed as valuable resources instead of garbage. Recycling is a way to keep those resources in circulation and reduce waste. According to the latest data (2018) tracked by the US EPA,... Continue Reading →
Green Junction: Planting season is upon us. by Julie Peller Ph.D.
In many geographic regions, it is (or near) planting seeds season! For professionals and non-professionals in the gardening world, there have been some shifts in the planting season over the past several years. In response to our warming planet, the USDA updated its plant hardiness zone map this past November. About half of the country... Continue Reading →
Green Junction: how do we reduce our negative impact on nature? By Julie Peller, Ph.D.
We live in a dynamic time where new technologies and industrial processes are moving forward, and others are on the horizon. Our laws and policies establish limits on pollution for industrial processes, but often only for protecting environmental and human health and future generations. In Pope Francis’s Laudate Deum, he warns, “We have made impressive and awesome... Continue Reading →
“air travel burns 400 billion liters of jet fuel annually”
Green Junction by Julie Peller, Ph.D. If you take the time to calculate your personal carbon footprint, you might find that airline travel elevates your carbon dioxide emissions far more than other activities. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global carbon dioxide emissions from air travel are only 2% of the energy sector... Continue Reading →
What happened to Church Social Movements?
I was thinking about the Church in Europe and the US during the 30s,40s,50s, and early '60s. A church that had a mantra and focuses on restorative justice, social programs, worker rights. We saw such movements that were collectively known as "Catholic Action" and involved more laypeople than a hierarchy to some extent in their... Continue Reading →
So where is the beef? BY Julie Peller Ph.D.
Plant-based burgers are becoming more popular, as more restaurants and fast food venues are offering non-meat “burger” options on their menus. According to Business Insider, the plant-based meat options (Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods) are expected to balloon into a 140 billion dollar industry. This food feat took scientists years to attain a recipe for a... Continue Reading →
The Difference it makes
I would like to share with you some thoughts about the world of technology that for many of us we enjoy, seem to not be able to imagine living without it even when it is at times frustrating. What is the difference it all makes? As we enter the autonomous revolution, understanding philosophy, which I... Continue Reading →
Is it time to revisit “Mater Et Magistra”?
Pope John XXIII wrote an encyclical in 1961, and he believed at the time there was a need to continue the tradition of Rerum Novarum (1891) and Quadragesimo Anno (1931). In the '60s, the world had changed considerably when you compare it the 1891 and even 1931, both politically and economically. When 1961 came around... Continue Reading →
“The way we treat the environment signifies our will to please God”. by Julie Peller Ph.D.
In Psalm 40, the prayer is “Here I am, Oh God, I come to do your will.” When we look around and see garbage in every parking lot, farm field and roadside, are we doing the will of the Creator? When we purchase lots of unnecessary stuff, disposable and highly packaged goods, all which require... Continue Reading →
For Great Lakes communities, there are a few clear links of climate change to everyday life: drinking water, fishing, and recreation. ~ Julie Peller Ph.D.
An informative report sponsored by the Environmental Policy and Law and Center summarizes the impacts and concerns of climate change on the Great Lakes and surrounding regions. A team of experts on climate change compiled “An Assessment of the Impacts of Climate Change on the Great Lakes.” Part of their conclusions states “Scientific analyses clearly... Continue Reading →
Innovate ~ Educate ~ Collaborate 
You must be logged in to post a comment.