In 1916, a few months shy of the U.S. entry into World War I, when the theory of evolution was still a controversial concept in religious institutions, Rev. John Dietrich was invited to become the minister at First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis (FUS). He had been a popular minister in Pittsburgh, who doubled membership and…
Humanism
An Introduction to Humanism
An unofficial summary of Humanism We learn by observing, experimenting and analyzing, as part of a human evolutionary process that serves ethical ideals. How do we find meaning in connection with others, working collectively to benefit society, without the need of a belief in God? There is, on the one hand, a notion that if…
Toxins
Seeding Change By Getting to the Table
Last year I had the pleasure of learning about the work of Dr. Cecilia Martinez and Shalini Gupta, co-founders of Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy (CEED), because of a writing assignment from Minnesota Women’s Press. On April 19, 2016, they participated in a discussion with me at the Earth Day-inspired Fierce Lament event, “The…
Toxins
FAQ: What Do We Know About Minneapolis Air Pollution?
An overview of how Minneapolis air pollution is impacted by shifting weather patterns, emissions from buildings and cars, and what we can do about it.After several people reported this week increased asthma issues — one friend ended up in urgent care — I looked into what we know about Minneapolis air pollution. From Minnesota Pollution…
Energy & Design
Can Minneapolis Meet Its Climate Action Goals?
Forum #3: Can Minneapolis Meet Its Climate Action Goals? Our city-wide series of “Sustainable We” conversations continued December 14 with a panel discussion at Fulton Brewery. This one was social, including cocktails and snacks, featuring spirited group conversation with sustainably minded building designers, home builders, and anyone interested in city planning issues. Thanks to Carbon Net…
Toxins
How Do We Make the Rape of Land and People Visible?
“Sustainable We” Forum April 19, 2016 The Club Room at Red Stag Sustainable We forum #5 was titled “The Visibility Cloak,” part of the citywide Fierce Lament activities coordinated by art activist Camille Gage. How are we making the rape of our land/air/water and people visible? How do important issues come to light — especially…
Energy & Design
Minneapolis Climate Action Plan: Why It’s Important
The Minneapolis Climate Action Plan is designed to cut city-wide carbon emissions by 15% this year and 30% by 2025. This series of graphs explains why.At the 2015 World Expo in Milan, garbage is deposited from street receptacles, compacted and separated underground, and whooshed at roughly 50 miles an hour directly to a waste storage…
Toxins
Do You Know What You Are Breathing?
When microbeads were brought to the public’s attention nationally as an unnecessary environmental toxin, it didn’t take much time for us to get legislation moving and to pressure manufacturers to phase out their use. Those tiny, shiny bits of plastic, used as a kind of exfoliant in personal care products, are visible. My theory is…
Commentary
My Conversion: A Story of Al Gore, Mayor Hodges and the Pope
How The Inconvenient Truth becomes personal.written in 2015 as Minneapolis mayor Betsy Hodges was heading to the Vatican for a conversation with city leaders around the world about climate change As a young girl growing up in Prior Lake, Minnesota, I was biking distance to the Franciscan Retreat House. At the time, it was almost…
Commentary
TEEN: Why I’m Tired of the Climate Change Discussion
Why a Minneapolis teenager is both tired, and hopeful, talking about climate change and Pope Francis.By Sophia Morrissette, 16, Minneapolis, as Pope Francis prepares his talk to U.S. Congress in 2015 As a teenager, I’m tired of talking about climate change. At school, I’ve seen An Inconvenient Truth about 20 times and done a project…