Connecting to Place, Working with Community, and Building the Movement — I have had the honor of working with local nonprofits in recent years. Their work is critical to solving local and global problems. I’ve seen firsthand their ability to effect needed change through collaborative efforts such as— Literacy for Environmental Justice, the YMCA of SF, and others in San Francisco…

Finding Hope for Society in Troubling Times — In some of our darkest days, hope and light will not be denied. Historic, though not perfect, climate change legislation is finally getting through Congress! Voters across partisan lines stood up for female reproductive rights in a state where this was not expected to happen. The many leaders and activists…

To chart a new course for society, we must first see beyond the separation that plagues our society and acknowledge the harm of our historic and current ways. As a privileged white male, I cannot speak for the lived experiences of many people. …

Manage the flow of information in your life to boost happiness. — How many times do you check your phone each day? Or if you’re on your computer, check e-mail, social media, or news while working on something else? If you check your phone somewhere between 58 to 96 times a day, you’re not alone, according to two surveys from RescueTime and…

We started 2021 with much hope. The worst of the pandemic appeared to be in the rearview mirror. Real possibilities for finally addressing climate change and equity were emerging. Then, Delta and Omicron struck, and the pandemic continued to take lives. COP26 agreements led to some progress at the international…

Reflections from a Week Backpacking in the High Sierra — My daughter Katharine’s feet protested with four blisters and many aches. My water filter needed repair multiple times. Some climbs were tough and long, testing our stamina and patience. And long downhills pounded our legs and feet. …

Connecting to nature and leaving no trace in the climate era — “Who designed this? It’s perfect,” my sixteen-year-old daughter frequently exclaimed during our week backpacking in the California High Sierra. And each time, we paused to take in our surroundings and agreed that nature’s design was indeed perfect. I’ve been backpacking in the Sierras for over twenty years, but to experience…

The morning light awakens you from your slumber. You slowly roll out of bed. The first sound you hear is the hum of car traffic outside your home. You don’t know the neighbor next door who has lived there as long as you can remember. In fact, you barely know…

On Black Friday, large retail corporations hope we shop, shop and then shop some more. Despite the alarming spread of the coronavirus, many chain stores will be open for business. As proclaimed on retailmenot.com, …