Peace and the Environment

My absolute favorite college courses, which I did not take until winter and spring of my senior year (I would have changed my major had I discovered these sooner!), was a two-part Sustainability Studies series. And it was taught by the most interesting professor of my college career, a man named Richard Matthew. Among many things, he is works with the UN on peacebuilding missions providing environmental assessments  in post-conflict areas. He helps provide recommendations on what natural resources and environmental concerns are a priority to aid the country/area get back on its feet. If the water has been contaminated, helping people and governments is difficult if they can't get and stay healthy. If previous mining/logging/etc operations have caused environmental damage and erosion, then investment in restoring the land to enable crops to survive - and therefore food security/self-sufficiency - will be crucial. The environmental assessments provide a complete and well-rounded solution to areas like the Congo, Northern Pakistan and Sierra Leone - showing just how interconnected the environment is to both economic and social recovery. Each class during the first quarter covered a different country he'd visited and all the specific environmental issues that contributed to a lot of their issues and how fixing these would help move them to a better place.

What struck me most, I think, about listening to him speak in each class was the incredible hope and passion he had. He conveyed a complete lack of cynicism despite the terrible situations he's witnessed and is so driven toward finding lasting solutions.

 (via TEDxOrangeCoast)

Who inspires you in a positive way?

What are your thoughts about a holistic solution process, and where do you see this playing out in other areas?

Extra Credit:

Read Collapse by Jared Diamond - how the downfall of ancient empires can be directly attributed to environmental destruction. So fascinating for a history nut like myself. Hey Easter Islanders, maybe it wasn't a good idea to cut down EVERY tree on your island in order to support your giant statue rituals...

Thursday Thoughts

(via instagram from my October visit to Sacramento)

Nearly 6 years after starting this little blog, with the smallest of intentions (to document my summer abroad), I feel like my experiences and knowledge and interests and passions are all finally converging upon a single point.

In light of Cassie's post today about actually having an opinion and putting it out there, it's time to start unpacking and connecting all these different things that get me fired up. It can pretty much be summed up into a single word: Sustainability.

As I was taught in school, specifically a college course titled Sustainability (much much more on that to come), the most comprehensive definition comes from the March 20, 1987 United Nations Bruntland Commission. "Sustainable development is development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".

Seems simple right? Sustainability is essentially the center of a Venn diagram of economics, environment/ecology, and social justice. It's an idea that seems like a win-win-win yet people still reject the entire concept. I'm a big picture person, so sustainability instantly made sense to my brain and I was 100% behind it. It's an expansion on the environmentalist movement, which many people disdain as it appeared to put the earth and animals AHEAD of humans (and of course there are those who couldn't see how that would help their bottom line). The UN definition more accurately captures the fact that all is interconnected and if we can find the balance between the three, then all three aspects will benefit.

Sustainability has a role in everything: food, consumer products, construction, transportation, business models, etc. I've been on board with this for awhile, constantly researching and trying to share with friends and the occasional family member. My problem is that I lack the tools to communicate effectively to strangers and to actually defend my position in the instance of differing opinions and backlash. What does any of this have to do with travel? I think it starts with the perspective that comes with traveling; experiencing another culture, another ecosystem and place. Traveling provides depth for the idea of globalization, while I think technology, which has allowed globalization to happen and has benefited immensely, actually narrows and obscures what globalization truly means. Traveling exposes me to other people, putting faces to the compassionate social justice reasons for sustainability. The incredible sights I've seen reinforce the desire to preserve both the natural and built environment for future generations (and in doing so - also ensuring that there ARE future generations that are healthy and happy).

There's a lot that I want to say and I'm going to do my best to sort and organize it all. My plans for this little corner of the web will also include lots of travel, past trips as well as future (Africa!).

Presence

(via my instagram)

The past month of work has been unbelievably busy and frustrating and my 110 mile/3 hour round trip commute (I know...) has been getting worse and worse. Either because of, or on top of, this I have had the hardest time waking up in the morning. Just getting through each day is precluding me from even being able to look forward to upcoming events - such as Swaziland or my family being in town for Easter this weekend. Breanna Rose posted an amazing list of observations, and her comment about being present really resonated with me. Taking the time to stop and think about my feelings and perspectives and actions has been so calming!

MAKING plans to host a Kentucky Derby party with a friend next month!    

DRINKING coffee and water (cutting out diet coke is difficult...especially with the free supply at work)

READING Northanger Abbey / Game of Thrones / The Omnivore's Dilemma...I'm a multitasker

WANTING to attend the Living Future unConference in Portland next month (waiting for approval)

LOOKING at positions within sustainbility centers at various Universities...doesn't hurt to look right?

PLAYING needtobreathe & Rend Collective /  Air 1 radio

WASTING no food in my refrigerator (I hope!). I WILL perfect the art of not buying too many groceries. 

SEWING BUILDING (I work in construction after all) a plan / foundation / schedule to resurrect this blog

WISHING I had more time to read books and be active

ENJOYING our new apartment, we've been there almost 2 months and it already feels like forever. The size is perfect, the location is walkable to the downtown area, it has architectural character (built in 1922), it is quiet, peaceful, AND under our budget.

WAITING to hear about my next work assignment....

LIKING the amazing female friendships I've had the opportunity to deepen recently

WONDERING what local restaurants we should take my family to this weekend

COOKING not as much as I would like to lately, but I'm hoping to get back into my routine soon. Also need to attempt my first pie.

LOVING my husband. full stop.

HOPING to have time to walk over the Farmer's Market tomorrow morning (3 blocks away - did I mention I love our new place?)

MARVELING over God's love and the way He speaks to me. I've been recently mulling over Philippians 4:8.

NEEDING a nap

SMELLING coffee

WEARING my black seed stich Everlane sweater and Vans checkerboard slip ons (hooray casual Friday!)

FOLLOWING @london on instagram makes me incredibly nostalgic every day (ahem)

NOTICING that I never could have expected or planned for all the things that have already happened, and will happen, this year - God's plan is so much better.

KNOWING changes are coming, and trying to not be anxious about it

THINKING about the Veronica Mars movie I watched last night (I marathoned the entire series in the past month...) #marshmallow #TeamLogan

BOOKMARKING every article I can find supporting sustainable and socially responsible purchasing. Like this, this and this

OPENING myself up to healing in a big part of my life that I gave up on for a long time

GIGGLING about the Jason Schwartzman episode of The Nerdist podcast

FEELING excited to spend time with my parents and brother this weekend, they came down to visit only Husband and I exclusively for three whole days, no other commitments or family to get in the way

I should do this every week!