The Invisible Rights That Hold Us: Flag Day 2025

Today is Flag Day, 2025. There's a lot of fanfare going on in and around Washington, D.C. today to honor that and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. All of which has caused me to reflect on our the flag and the heart of some of our founding American documents:

❤️ Our 1776 Declaration of Independence and it's powerful theme: “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” 

🤍 Our 1777 adoption of the flag and how Flag Day was first formalized in 1916 by President Wilson then officially recognized by Congress in 1949 as an annual day of honor and celebration.

💙 Our Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791, naming the first 10 Constitutional Amendments and our fundamental freedoms worth fighting for: free speech, religion, due process, right to assemble, and more.

Embedded in all of this is the knowledge there are other freedoms that aren't printed in these doctrines, but they are equally important. Ones with environmental impact, ones without which we cannot live. Maybe they aren't etched in marble or housed in the National Archives, but they are necessary. Quieter, simpler, maybe softer, silent, and invisible. Yet, they are vital and hold us all the same.

Click through the slides below to see the 10 Invisible Rights That Hold Us (and that we should hold dear):

“The Invisible Rights That Hold Us” by Dabrowka, Ms. Vicki

So this Flag Day, while the flags are raised for our country--a country with a long, layered history based on principles, resilience, strength, and democracy while also flawed and imperfect--let’s raise our awareness too of these other rights. These invisible rights. Let's protect them, and in doing so protect each other. 

Sometimes that comes quietly in observation, and sometimes we need to speak up when it counts. Here are three places that can help you do that:

• Learn how environmental law protects invisible rights at Earthjustice.
• Explore how enviornmental rights & human dignity are intertwined at The Center for Human Rights and the Environment.
• See how businesses are rethinking their impact in protecting our shared future via climate action at We Mean Business Coalition.

Images created at canva.com.

Earth Hour 2025 Is Here... And So Is World Water Day

If you saw my last post, you saw the "Save the Date" for tonight's Earth Hour. (If you didn't, go back and do so to up your learning potential!)

Your mission: Turn off your lights from 8:30-9:30 pm in your time zone. In doing so you take a stand with the environment by being a part of a global event, raising awareness for environmental sustainability, and promoting the importance of conserving energy.

As it happens, March 22nd is also World Water Day, as it is annually. (Earth Hour is usually the 4th Saturday of the March.) This United Nations Environmental Day was created to emphasize the global importance of clean water access to everyone.

This year's theme is "Glacier Preservation.

So perhaps while you are flipping the switch to turn out your lights this year for Earth Hour, you'll stop and think a bit about what a precious resource water is... and of ways to conserve water too!

To learn more, go to the UN World Water Day site and check out their many resources.  You can also check out WWF's list of 8 Water Scarcity Facts.

And, before you leave to go ready yourself for Earth Hour, check out this infographic:

Images from https://www.un.org/en/observances/water-day, https://www.un.org/en/observances/water-day/resources and https://airtable.com/app94t8jNhtOlADJB/shrcI29B30yOtAbo0/tblHs7wUvNUu12Ex9

I ❤️ FETC 2025

January 14th--17th I attended FETC 2025 in Orlando--the Future of Education Technology Conference.

FETC could really stand for "Freaking Excellent Tech Conference!" I'm still swirling about all I learned in those 4 days in my mind. It took the traditionally "feels-twice-as-long month" of January and made it magical for me this year.       (It didn't hurt that we went to Universal and Hogwarts afterwards either. 😊)

Even though it was over 2 weeks ago, I'm still mentally there every day. 

My Biggest Takeaway:

This 4 day conference and the immersion with like-minded people completely renewed my energy for teaching in a way I haven't had since before Covid and the perils of pandemic teaching. (Interestingly enough, I attended FETC in 2017 & 2018, also pre-Covid!) 

So many fresh, new, inspirational, innovative ideas in education. No surprise: half the offerings were on some version of AI. I learned SO much, and it is the gift that keeps giving as I am still learning from that experience. I am loving this energetic spark!  I have so many new websites and tools I want to check out. I've been compiling the wealth of session notes from the ones I attended (and finding slide decks on the digital FETC program of amazing ones that were held when I couldn't attend because I haven't yet figured out how to clone myself). I have a growing master document that I know is going to become like my own personal edtech handbook.

My Favs:

1. Anything with Eric Curts, creator of Ctrl-Alt-Achieve. On his website he includes links to all that he shared at FETC. So. Much. Good. Learning!!!!

2. Christie Thompson-Cloud & Heather Brown's presentation "A Ravenclaw's Guide to the Latest & Greatest in EdTech" was completely engaging. Harry Potter's Ravenclaws love to learn, so what could be more perfect than a Ravenclaw-centric session in Orlando?! They followed thru the theme beautifully and I really need to go back and spend some time with all I learned from them.

3. Themes played out in other ways. 

• I attended a great Ted Lasso session called "Don't Stop Believing: Teaching Like Ted Lasso" by Janice Wintermyer, and it was by far not the only appearance in the session list by Ted Lasso.
• Another favorite thematic one was a take on the 1980s & John Hughes' films & the Brat Pack. So much in that alone to love! Ainsley Hill did a great job of blending the Brat Pack & PD in such an imaginative way with her "The T.E.C.H. Pack: Powering Up Professional Development". 
• Taylor Swift themes abounded too, like Dr. Rayna Friedman's "Be Fearless: Using AI in the Elementary Classroom." Though I'm not a total Swiftie (but I do like her music), it was a creative way to present her many, many good ideas.

4. Keynote speaker Guy Kawasaki was a true inspiration. I came home with his book Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life & Make A Difference. I haven't gotten a chance to read it yet, but it is at the top of my stack. He had 12 tips on "How to Help People Be Remarkable," starting with fostering a growth mindset and providing a growth environment. It truly was a "remarkable" talk and I adored his humor, expertise, and optimism! He has a podcast called "Remarkable People" that I also want to check out now too.

5. Another great keynote speaker was Dr. Sabba Quidwai, who talk was titled "From Classroom to Creator: Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow." Speaking on ways to thinks smarter, not harder, her talk centered on innovation, empathy, and the culture of your organization. It was phenomenal seeing a young female leader showing how innovate as an educator and tech dynamo.

6. Several sessions had tie-ins to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. I still firmly believe that innovation and technology are what we need to solve our environmental issues. I love that this was part of an edtech conference--and wish this was a larger conversation in the world. I imagine this is still something about which not near enough people know.

7. The annual ending is always a session called TECHShare Live with Leslie Fisher, Adam Bellows, and Dr. Adam Phyall III. They are hilarious and have great chemistry with each other. It was a fast action shout out on all sorts of amazing things tech out there. That right there could have been well worth the price of admission!!!

8. I was able to soak up ideas for STEAM, coding, robotics 3D printing, circuits, design thinking, maker ideas, and more to add to my K-5 Tech classes in the variety of sessions I attended. But my favorite part is that even though it's a tech conference, it's an education conference first. I think many people would be apt to think FETC wasn't for them because they as teachers, administrators, PD developers, educational leaders, or more don't "do" edtech. But WE ALL do edtech any more. In today's day and age--in 2025--we all use technology, therefore this conference would be engaging for everyone. 

As for my favorite new edtech tools.... More on that in a later post!!

UN Sustainable Goals image from https://sdgs.un.org/goals, Control-Alt-Achieve logo from https://www.controlaltachieve.com/p/edtech-links-of-week.html, and all other images from my camera from FETC, Jan 14-17, 2025

25 years

I recently celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary. Here's a condensed version of what I shared among friends regarding this milestone...

25: What a weird number when you start looking at it in the context of your life. Mainly--How are we "that" old? How have we been with ONE person "that" long? I mean, seriously, we don't feel that old! 

25: That's XXV in Roman Numerals, 5 squared, two & a half dozen, the sum of the first five consecutive odd natural numbers: 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9, & a quarter of a century. (Back to that weird number thing.)

Looking back... 
...We have seen a hurricane reroute our wedding in 24-hour window, followed up by a flight-induced sinus infection which sidetracked our honeymoon. A layover, an ER trip, and steroids got us back on track to our desired honeymoon destination.

....We wrestled the roller coaster ride of having a premature baby 8 weeks early at 32 weeks versus the typical 40. During my 2-week hospital hangout prior to our wee one's arrival, I attended my brother's wedding by phone, long before Zoom days. Then 6 days later we welcomed a very tiny baby at a whopping 3 lb 1.3 oz. I came home first, then our wee one stayed in the NICU for 5 weeks, but grew solid, strong, and healthy, and we all never looked back.

....We welcomed Baby #2 into our family 3 years later, who always kept us on our toes when young. Now, that one is on the cusp of adulthood, tackling college, serious-minded, working hard, and pointed toward their own goals.

In these 25 years, we...

• have lived in 2 different states with at least 6 addresses to call home;
• have had 6-7 jobs between us, owned a handful of cars, & had 3 crazy canines;
• survived surgeries and replacement parts and are both officially "new and improved;"
• made lifelong friendships, lost loved ones, and grown stronger together in so many ways;
• endured all the parts of parenting: taking family vacations, watching countless soccer/sport games/kid concerts/more, tackling intensive homework projects, teaching kids to drive, getting wisdom teeth out, watching our kids walk high school graduation stages, and the list goes on.

9,131 days is a lot of days!

In thinking about 25 years of "my" days, I mentally shifted to what else has changed in these 25 years of days. Newsworthy events which will make the history books. We've seen...

• 
  The Y2K roll over to 2000 and all lived to tell the tale.

• The election of the first African-American President in 2008: Barack Obama.

• The legalization of same sex marriage in 2015.

• The NASA confirmation of water on Mars in 2015.

• The #MeToo movement of 2017 and the #BlackLivesMatter movement of 2020 to strengthen both women's rights when it comes to sexual harassment and abuse and greater equality and justice for Black Americans.

• The rise of technology in so many ways--from the development of the first iPhone in 2007 by Steve Jobs which catapulted tech innovation to include the pros and cons of such things as social media, cryptocurrency, and artificial intelligence to new levels.

• The COVD-19 Pandemic, a year of shutdown (including 2020 Zoom-style graduations & weddings & at home, online learning, though luckily with the swift move of science and modern medicine we were able to create vaccines and come out from behind our medical masks.

• The shifts in the British Royal Family with the death of Queen Mother in 2002 at age 101, the marriage of Prince William & Kate Middleton in 2011 and Prince Henry & Meghan Markle 2018,  the lengthy 70 reign of Queen Elizabeth II with her death 2022 which led to the coronation of King Charles III in 2023.

And environmentally, we've seen many major environmental strides these past 25 years with...

• The Paris Climate Agreement was adopted in 2015 where only nearly every country in the world (minus Syria & Nicaragua) united to fight climate change. Likewise that same year, the UN Sustainable Development Goals were created.

• A rise in renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power as well as electric vehicles.

• Conservation strides such as growth in Marine Protected areas, the Trillion Tree Initiative to aid in reforestation, and endangered species recovery, downgrading their status from endangered to vulnerable for the giant panda and the American eagle, among others. 

• Shifts and advances in sustainable agriculture which have helped biodiversity and grown organic farming.

• Efforts to ban single use plastics and create more biodegradable materials while also increasing efforts on a company level for circular economy practices.

• Forward movement with green technology such as carbon capture and greater energy-efficient home appliances. 

• Steps toward greater environmental justice and awareness with movements working toward Indigenous land rights and louder voices from youth activists such as Greta Thunberg.

All of this goes to show us that even though sometimes while we feel like "the more things change, the more they stay the same," we actually CAN see and feel the forward movement. 

This level of awareness makes 25 years definitely worth celebrating!

Images created at Canva.com

United Nations International Day of Happiness: March 20th

"Happiness" is a concept that has popped up a lot lately. Most recently when my daughter was on an academic spring break trip in Spain, and mentioned that everyone, everywhere she visited, seemed happier than we do here in America. 

With school, we are currently just starting our spring break, which of course is the epitome of happiness for teachers and students alike. Moreover, after break, we have a faculty/staff book club starting with Shawn Achor's book The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life. Achor also has a TED Talk on the subject.

About a month ago, I was gifted tickets to see Dr. Laurie Santos at the Baltimore Speaker Series. Santos is a psychologist and professor at Yale, and her "Psychology and the Good Life" course has been Yale's most popular course in 300 years. It currently too is a free Coursera program of 10 modules, which starts March 16th. She also is the creator of the Happiness Lab podcast.

Or maybe it's just the cusp of spring, longer days, blooming flowers, and all of that, which makes me happy too. 

Thinking too about happiness led to me to think about mental health, and how we as an American society are facing a mental health crisis of epic proportions and all-time highs. The post pandemic epidemic.

As I was pondering all of that, I came to find out that here, during my school spring break, the United Nations' International Day of Happiness falls right smack dab in the middle of it--on March 20th annually. First celebrated in 2013, the UN General Assembly aimed in the day to honor and recognize “a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes the happiness and well-being of all peoples.”  It ties to the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals and views happiness and well-being as a basic human right. Here is the video introduction including Pharrell William (creator of the song "Happy" speaking about happiness its global impact.

Additionally, the World Happiness Report for 2024 is due out at noon (EST) on UN's International Day of Happiness. In it, it will reveal general overviews of the trends as well as a list in order of the happiest countries in the world. Last year's 2023 report placed Finland at #1 for the 6th year in a row, based on these key features: social support, income, health, freedom, generosity, and the absence of corruption. This January 2023 article from CNBC also proposes that countries like Finland place a stronger emphasis on the following than we do in the United States: more vacation time for employees, a stronger sense of community, lack of a comparison view of each other, and a tie to nature are key features also at play. Might be something there!

For some ideas on. how to bring a little more happiness into your life, check out the website International Day of Happiness.

Videos from: https://youtu.be/fLJsdqxnZb0?si=sqjhkTy6HjyVwxF9 and https://youtu.be/VMbaOcyDtsQ?si=oQ0nxLIBgNGmuHzj and https://youtu.be/ISRAWFwLoyw?si=ivcy7um7bHEK0ztr, infographic from https://nationaltoday.com/international-day-of-happiness/#:~:text=When%20is%20International%20Day%20of,the%20celebrations%20may%20change%20that!, image from https://www.dayofhappiness.net/

Things To Love This February: World Thinking Day

World Thinking Day is celebrated annually on February 22nd in the arena of Girl Scouts, and has been for 98 years--since 1926. Officially "Girl Scouts" falls in the more largely named "World Association of Girl Guides & Girls Scouts." This is an organization that touches 10 million girls in over 150 countries.

World Thinking Day is a day dedicated to international friendship, and thinking about global issues that impact each other. Themes differ from year to year, but this year's theme is Our World, Our Thriving Future: The Environment and Global Poverty.

Recent themes in years past (which also tie to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) include:

• 2023: Our Planet, Our Peaceful Future
• 2022: Our World, Our Equal Future
• 2021: Stand Together for Peace - Peacebuilding
• 2020: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Whether you are a Girl Scout to any degree or not, thinking about our world, it's thriving future, and how the environment ties into global poverty is an important issue to think about. 

Here are some places you can learn more: 

• World Thinking Day 2024 Activity Guide--A 13 page activity guide which includes the story of "The Power of One Tree."

• WAGGGS.org's The 2024 World Thinking Day activity pack: Our World, Our Thriving Future--Here you can download a 58 page activity pack that includes how environmental issues can be solved through innovation and technology, including learning some environmental skills and tying into the natural world.

• To learn about the history of World Thinking Day, check out their WAGGGS.org official history link: 

Image from https://www.wagggs-shop.org/en/products/world-thinking-day/2024-world-thinking-day-badges

Wastewater Gets Recycled

I've mentioned before how beneficial I find Richard Byrne as an educator's resources. Not only does he amaze me by the vast amount of free edtech information he puts out for all of us tech-centered teachers with his Free Tech For Teachers website but also his Practical EdTech website...all while keeping his own teaching day job, presenting, and raising his own family. He's a rockstar in so many ways!

In Richard's August 17th, 2023 entitled "How Wastewater Gets Recycled," he discussed just that: bringing together both the environmental and edtech sides here at GTG. He describes the new TED-Ed lesson How the Water You Flush Becomes the Water You Drink. In it, viewers learn the difference between grey, yellow, and black water. The video also differentiates between direct potable reuse wastewater and indirect potable reuse water. He also shared that lessons and resources are available at  the TED-Ed website.

For more information about wastewater, what it is, and how it gets recycled, check out these resources:

• Metropolitan's Council: Wastewater Treatment for Kids (where you'll find another cute and informative video for students)
• Project WET's Water Reuse Activity Booklet for upper elementary and middle school aged students
• Aquatech's Wastewater: Our Essential Guide to Wastewater Treatment, Management, & Solutions
• Seametrics' 15 Facts About Water Recycling That You Should Know

Video from https://youtu.be/SYia4zqcE4g, Image from https://www.aquatechtrade.com/news/wastewater/wastewater-essential-guide

Ocean Elders

In Native American cultures and tribal communities, the elders are known for their widsom. They are the revered older members of the tribe that brings knowledge, sage advice, patience, honor, and expertise.

It was from that mentality merged with The Seventh Generation Principle (based on the Iroquois Great Law of Peace--which also served as the model for the US Constitution) that the Ocean Elders was created. From their website: 

"Ocean Elders is an independent group of global leaders who have joined together to serve as a catalyst in the conservation and protection of the ocean and its wildlife. These individuals use their collective influence, supported by science and data, to promote ocean conservation, pursue the protection of the ocean’s habitat and wildlife, and preserve its ecosystems and species biodiversity."

With sustainability at the center and the vision to work to benefit the next 7 generations ahead, the Ocean Elders are committed to protecting our oceans. They also are committed to the Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water--a fundamental piece of ocean conservation.

I view them sort of like the Marvel Marine Superheroes or the Eco Avengers, who are here to help save the oceanic day! At the very least, here to LEAD the way. The list of people involved--the Ocean Elders--reads like a "who's who" of the environmental world... which is where I think I get the superhero vibe. It's an impressive list of likeminded leaders.  You can find links to the bios of each of these elders here.

• H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco: Explorer, Environmentalist
• Richard Bailey: Founder, The Brando, Tetiaroa Society, & Blue Climate Initiative
• Sir Richard Branson: Founder & Chairman, Virgin Group & Founder, Virgin Unite
• Jackson Browne: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Environmentalist
• James Cameron: Founder, CAMERON Companies & Founder, Avatar Alliance Foundation
• Dr. Rita Colwell: Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland & Johns Hopkins University
• Jean-Michel Cousteau: President & Chairman, Ocean Futures Society, Explorer, Film Producer
• Dr. Wade Davis: BC Leadership Chair in Cultures & Ecosystems at Risk, University of British Columbia
• Dr. Sylvia A. Earle: President & Chairman, Mission Blue: The Sylvia Earle Alliance, Oceanographer
• Dr. Jane Goodall: Founder, The Jane Goodall Institute, UN Messenger of Peace
• Graeme Kelleher: Former Chairman & CEO, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
• Sven Lindblad: Conservationist, Explorer, Founder & Co-Chair, Lindblad Expeditions
• Gerry Lopez: “Mr. Pipeline,” Surfer, Shaper, Actor, Yogi
• H.M. Queen Noor of Jordan: International Public Servant, Founder, King Hussein Foundation
• Catherine A. Novelli: Former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, & the Environment
• Dr. Frederik Paulsen: Explorer & Chairman, Ferring Pharmaceuticals
• Prof. Bertrand Piccard: Explorer & Chair of the Solar Impulse Foundation
• President Tommy Esang Remengesau, Jr.: Former President, Republic of Palau
• David E. Shaw: Managing Partner, Black Point Group LP & Co-Chair, Aspen Institute High Seas Initiative
• Nainoa Thompson: Master Navigator & President, Polynesian Voyaging Society
• Ted Turner: Chairman, Turner Enterprises, Inc. Founding Funder of UN Foundation Founder of CNN & TBS
• Captain Don Walsh: Oceanographer & President International Maritime Incorporated
• Bob Weir: Founding Member, Grateful Dead, Environmental Advocate, UN Goodwill Ambassador

• Ocean Elders Emeritus 
• Sheila Watt-Cloutier: Environmental, Cultural & Human Rights Advocate
• Neil Young: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Activist, Humanitarian
• José María Figueres: Former President, Costa Rica & Co-Chair, Global Ocean Commission

• In Memoriam
• Dr. Walter Munk: Emeritus, Institute of Geophysics & Planetary Physics, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
• Dr. E.O. Wilson: University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University

The inspiration for Ocean Elders began in April 2010 on the Mission Blue voyage. This trip had more than 100 scientists, business and philanthropic leaders and long-time/big-name entertainers going to the Galapagos Islands to support Dr. Sylvia Earle's TED Wish to garner protecting the ocean. By combining both a base of experts in the field along with social and business/governmental leaders, their mission could move farther and faster. These Ocean Elders, much like tribal elders, serve as the voice of ocean and environmental conservation. 

Some of the their big projects include being involved with the following: Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition, Cuba's Marine Ecosystems, Half-Earth Project, Hope Spots, Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage, Monaco Explorations, Palau Pledge, Roots and Shoots, & 1,000 Solutions to Protect the Planet. You can learn more about each one on their Showcase page.

May we all be the wise ones.

May we listen to these leaders.

May we learn from their voices of advocacy, sustainability, and our future.

May we all learn to be stewards, protecting our oceans.

Image from https://www.oceanelders.org/, video from https://youtu.be/dEwprXvNev8

World Water Day Is Today: March 22

As detailed in my last post, World Water Day (and its importance) is today. If you missed it, make sure to scroll back for a revisit to learn about why water is so important...and why we have the need for a World Water Day.

While knowledge is power, action leads to traction. From the UN World Water Day site, here is a list of things you can do today, even if you didn't plan ahead. Easy actions you can take to show a personal commitment to making this world a little better place. How many can you do? Even better: How many people can you inspire to join you to conserve water and take part in making a global difference?

And sneak preview....Earth Hour 2023 is this Saturday, March 25th from 8:30 pm -9:30 pm in your time zone. Not sure what Earth Hour is all about, check out some of my past posts. More coming this Saturday!

Image from https://www.worldwaterday.org/

Lazy Person's Guide to Saving the World

"Lazy" often times gets a bad wrap. It comes with a negative connotation and it makes us feel sub-par, like we're not doing all that we "should." 

However, we all feel a little lazy sometimes. And sometimes we NEED to be a little lazy. We can't be on the go all the time. We need time spent lounging in a hammock, taking an afternoon nap, reading a good book, watching entertaining shows, or just being a couch potato. 

What if there was a way to work on saving the planet while being a little bit lazy? It's an enticing thought. We can't all be 24-7 activists. And even those out there who are busy changing the world, they need time to sleep.

I think that's why the United Nations "Lazy Person's Guide to Saving the World"appeals to me so much! It leaves me thinking, "Hey! I can do this!" Sometimes big things (like saving the planet or addressing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals) just feel too big!

The United Nations has created a fabulous website that creates a "can do" approach to help tack global issues. In the "Lazy Person's Guide to Saving the World," the UN has broken action items of things you can do into 4 levels. Smaller always feels more doable than a huge monumental task. With bite-sized bits, we can begin to make a true difference. 

Here's an overview, but be sure to check out there website!

• Level 1: Sofa Superstar - Things you can do from your couch
• Ideas here include online versus paper statements, staying informed of the issues (and staying away from "alternative facts"), turning off lights that aren't in use, and more!

• Level 2: Household Hero - Things You Can Do From Home
• Ideas here include taking shorter showers, eat less meat, turning down your thermostat, and more!

• Level 3: Neighborhood Nice Guy - Things You Can Do Outside Your Home
• Ideas here include avoiding impulse buys, bringing a refillable water bottle, getting vaccinations, and more!

• Level 4: Exceptional Employee - Things You Can Do at Work
• Ideas here include mentoring younger folks in your field, carpooling when possible or take public transportation, reducing waste, and more!

Images from https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/envision2030.html, https://www.thinkwithniche.com/blogs/details/lazy-persons-guide-to-saving-the-world, and https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/takeaction/

Major US Climate Steps Through the Inflation Reduction Act

Amidst the cacophony of new cycle clutter this week, something happened that isn't getting the media recognition that it should. (Which sadly sometimes happens in given the noisiness of partisan politics here in the USA.):

This week in the United States, some monumental steps went forward with Congress passing the bipartisan Inflation Reduction Act [IRA] which President Biden signed it into law. Not only is it the biggest climate action we've taken as a country, it also serves as the largest US federal investment in clean energy. Finally, it's a move towards taking action and addressing the climate crisis

• Electric vehicles will be cheaper, as will solar panels.
• We finally have a united push to cut greenhouse gases by 2030.
• Tax credits will be available to individual for using energy efficient technology.
• There are incentives in place that will potentially influence companies and corporations to push clean options over polluting ones. 
• The same is true for innovative entreprenuers to push to creating new companies, new techonologies, and new jobs
• Environmental justice is factored in by protecting those who live in impoverished areas and who typically get the brunt of ecological injustice.

More than that too, it will feel real in our pockets as it caps out-of-pocket Medicare drug costs and reduces other health care costs, it closes tax loopholes used by the wealthy, and it also financially protects small business owners.

That's just a quick snapshot, but for a better one, check out this one-page Democratic fact sheet summary of the IRA.

Additionally, here are some great articles to learn more of how we are finally moving in the right direction climate-wise through the passing of this act:

• President Biden's 8/16/2022 tweet and the one minute video in it (make sure to watch it!):

The climate provisions I sign into law today are a big deal. Let me explain why: pic.twitter.com/b4QTqXGSaz

— President Biden (@POTUS) August 16, 2022

• The Congressional Progressive Caucus Center's Analysis of Climate and Energy Provisions in the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022"

• NPR's article "Biden Signs Sweeping Climate, Health Care, Tax Bill Into Law" by Barbara Sprunt

• Time Magazine's article "Biden Just Signed the Inflation Reduction Act. Now the Hard Work on Climate Really Begins" by Justin Worland

• The Center of American Progress' article "How the Inflation Reduction Act Will Drive Global Climate Action"

• The Citizens Climate Lobby's post by Steve Valk: "This Major Climate Bill is Signed, Sealed, Delivered. Good Job, Everyone."

Image from: https://www.marketplace.org/shows/make-me-smart/should-we-just-call-the-inflation-reduction-act-the-climate-bill/ and https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/calculate-bidens-inflation-reduction-act-save/story?id=88458834

Doomsday Vaults and Genetic Seed Banks

I first learned of Doomsday vaults a few years ago and had it in my list of things to write about one day here on GTG. At the time I first heard of it, I felt like I was living under a rock. Who knew this was "a thing." It sounded more like some subplot of the latest Zombie Apocolypse movie. 

But it and seed banks came up again when I was watching Zac Efron's Netflix series Down to Earth. In Episode 5, set in Lima, Peru, Zac and Darin Olien visited the International Potato Center where they have collected the largest number of potato strains in the world. Not just because they are crazy potato-lovin' people, but in order to collect and preserve the genetic informations of potatoes for biodiversity purposes if there's ever a great potato famine that endangers or causes strains of potatoes to become extinct.

In watching the show, I learned that there actually are a lot of doomsday vaults all over the world. Not just the biggie created in 2008: the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway... and the Peruvian International Potato Center (founded in 1971). About 11 minutes into this episode of Down to Earth there is a great map posted showing some of many of the different vaults and seed banks that are protecting plant life in case of an all encompassing wipe out or "super disaster. The map showed these vaults (however there are over 1,700 in the world):

• Forestry in Indonesia
• Fish in Malaysia
• Water management in Sri Lankna
• Semi-arid agriculture in India
• Agro forestry in Kenya
• Livestock in Ethiopia
• Potato in Peru
• Biodiversity in Italy
• Arid agriculture in Lebanon
• Tropical Agriculture in Nigeria (Africa) and Columbia (South America)
• Rice in Côte d'Ivoire
• Food research in USA
• Corn in Mexico

It kind of leaves you wondering why on Earth we need a place on earth that has all of this. However genetic back up is essential in case something does happen where the these "back ups" are necessary. That could include a myriad of events such as war, natural disasters, fires, global temperature change. As they mentioned it in the Down to Earth episode, it's like having photos backed up in the cloud. At all of these centers, not only is the safety and security of what we do have important, it is also a place where vital research is happening now in order to get the genetic code of our existing variations. Likewise, they are also important centers to help create strains that are more resilient--especially in the event of global temperature rising a few degrees...which we do seem to be on record for doing so.

All this agro-biodiversity brainstorming comes from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations where they have an International Plant Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Again, who knew? The purpose is to save and conserve what plant resources we do have on the planet and to share the seeds to ensure food security around the world.  Its one of the many ways through the United Nations that we can collaborate with the many countries of the world for the common good of our planet,

Seed Vaults are just one of the many ways we preserve plant genetics. This graphic shows all the ways in which we do:

In situ means they are conserved in their natural habitats. These tend to be those conservation places that come to mind.

The other sites (the ex situ) are for the "just in case" situations. They're the equivalent of cloud computing back up and all I've been talking about here. Botanical gardens are similar to field collections where they are designed to recreate the natural habitats. Seed banks or vaults tend to use a combination of the in vitro storage and cryopreservation, where they are frozen in time and cold temperatures. Great detail can be found about each of these terms here.

To learn more about these high security plant preservation systems, check out the following:

• Foodtank's 27 Organizations Working to Conserve Seed Biodiversity
• Listverse's "Top 10 Incredible Doomsday Vaults"
• How Stuff Work's How Seed Banks Work
• Unearthed Seed Banks (there are over 1,700 world wide!!)
• National Geographic Saving Seeds (Resource Library Article for Grades 5-12+)

Doomsday Vault infographic from https://phys.org/news/2017-05-norway-boost-climate-defences-doomsday.html

Plant preservation photo: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/11/6157/htm; Videos from  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYcpX9U6BxY&t=236s and  https://youtu.be/pwGcrSuAIuc; image from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/saving-seeds

Revisiting the Plastic-cyclopedia

After brushing up on our vocabulary a week ago with the Plastic-cyclopedia post, this mockumentary "commercial" post about "plastic soup" felt like the perfect follow up. Especially since it's Plastic Free July.

Yum, who doesn't want a bowl of that! 🙄

I've been doing some digging for an upcoming one day summer class I am teaching with a coworker: "Building Global & Environmental Citizens in Our Classrooms" where we are doing a deep dive into the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (more on that in a future post). Along the way with that research and also while I was doing a deep dive into plastic vernacular from my previous post, I landed on this article by Maria Westerbos (Founder & Director of the Plastic Soup Foundation): "How the Sustainable Development Goals Can Help Fight ‘Plastic Soup’-- 3 Actions Key to Curbing Plastic Pollution Around the World. In it, she noted show fighting oceanic plastic hits the following goals indirectly:

• #3: Good health and well-being--Our sea life won't be consuming toxic materials, which creates healthier food for humans.

• #6: Clean water and sanitation--Just take a look at that Plastic Soup video again for verification on this one!

• #11: Sustainable cities and communities--The lack of pollution will help eliminate toxic environments.

• #12: Responsible consumption and production--Eliminating a throw away mindset leads to the betterment of the planet.

• #13: Climate action--Plans for addressing climate change lead to a healthier planet.

• #14: Life below water--Plastic is detrimental to sea life.

• #15: Life on land--Smarter decisions regarding litter and plastic consumption overall will help create a cleaner environment.

Thin plastic (such as bags) could potentially photodegrade in a year in sunlight....but especially in a landfill, it could take upwards of of 500 years or more to decompose. One plastic cup could certainly become a multi-generational problem given those statistics. As I think of my fridge alone, I see plastic everywhere I look: the dreaded individually wrapped cheese (which I hate to buy but sometimes have no other options), milk containers, salad dressing jars, mustard containers, and more.

As Ms. Westerbos recommends in her article, the three things we need to do our best to do is:

• Keep plastic from entering our environment (what I like to call "refuse" -- the 4th of the 3 R's);
• Avoid health risks such as plastic products leaching into foods, beverages, and even the soil;
• Reduce comes before reuse which comes before recycle in the 3 R's.

Some of this starts with better waste management. (Recycling should be too much easier! Each municipality has its own rules based on its own sorting equipment, and often times it's as clear as mud, making me wonder if we are all wishcycling!!!) 

Additionally, in a world where the price of gasoline is downright ridiculous right now, what are we doing using so much petroleum on useless, single-use plastic?!

The Plastic Health Coalition is a good place to turn--companies dedicated to helping fight for the solution to our planetary plastic problem! Research and innovation to help solve the problem is always a good place to start! Likewise, it reminds me of this quote and how we each need to be starting individually--in our homes, places of work, communities, local and national governments!

Video from https://youtu.be/gUCx-j4Gk_k; UN Sustainable Development Goals from https://bthechange.com/how-the-sustainable-development-goals-can-help-fight-plastic-soup-3ce746fc1cba, quote from https://adviceyouneed.net/2012/02/26/lets-change-the-world/