This was a well written article – and boy, we’re in for a hell of a ride. We need to start shaping cities to withstand larger bursts of precipitation with rain gardens, permeable surfaces, green infrastructure, and enhanced storm water systems. Fortunately, we have many non profits trying to address this with climate corps type jobs, but not as many young folks getting into the trades that we need (construction, plumbing, electric, architecture, engineering, carpentry, metalwork, etc.).

If you’re reading this and want to help in these fields, look into getting some basic certifications. Here’s a starter link. Also, look up your local environmental organizations and get involved! I’ve found that if you’re not interested in committing to a long term gig, you can find a grant funded position (or be the one who seeks grants on behalf of an organization). Getting involved can look like a lot of different things, and the variety of roles is vast.

I never stopped being fascinated with atmospheric physics. Although I miss being paid to be a researcher, I’m still trying to help on the other end by understanding the economy of green/sustainable industries to bring the two together.

More, more growth, more more billion more

In short, no. We’re just rounding the corner on the “fuck around and find out” roller coaster, and the drop is about to happen. Between all the distractions and chaos, the small improvements are still happening - they need amplifying and more people to get involved.

Always good to reiterate these points - you’re absolutely spot on. We just need to be the ones to remind ourselves of this, and sign up to fight the good fight. It’s certainly not easy, but it’s required to repair the damage done.

Additionally, each state has an environmental permitting process, often managed by whatever state regulatory agency that exists, some programs much more robust than others. The best of them require that any proposed project that wants a permit to build must go through a public notice process where the locals get to participate in a public comment period before a permit is considered. If the public can demonstrate significant opposition and good reasons to deny the permit, it won’t get built.

This is the part that all of us have to play in how this shakes out. If you don’t know much about your state’s permitting process and don’t get involved, you’re silently accepting whatever comes your way. Learn about how you can get involved and show up! Numbers matter at City council meetings, at demonstrations, and for submitted comments to local officials. If you’re already doing this, keep it up! It’s making a difference!

Thank you for your kind words, and I agree about it being an honor! Also, it’s tough that I don’t see them often, but the beautiful thing about long term friendships is that they survive these long stretches of time before we find each other again. 😊 Cheers, friend!

This is awesome, thank you so much for posting it!

I just got a never ending loop of captchas… And the original link doesn’t work for me either. Anyone able to paste the article text here?

There was an article linked at the bottom of this one for the truck I really want - the Telo MT1. I’m willing to pay more to have a compact and capable vehicle. And there’s an option for a full solar panel roof.

I came to this realization in 2020 and thus started my journey of distancing myself from passive visible harms (especially social media, aside from Lemmy, ofc). News was coming in fast, and it felt like everyone was paying attention to the pandemic. It was in many respects a global unifying moment, but our collective mental health was also in new territory.

If you’re committed and intentional about how you decide to change your approach to life, it can alienate you from your friends, and it takes a lot of effort. The change was mainly in how I use my phone, and how often and how quickly I respond to texts and emails, and I definitely relapsed a few times using Meta products along the way. Those that understand and work with you in that journey are worth bringing closer, and I’m in a better headspace with being mindful on how much time I spend on things that give me anxiety. Just paying attention to my body and emotional response has saved me. It’s what I can control.

They are in Pulp Fiction.

Not safe, not even remotely well thought out, and outright dangerous for so many reasons.

Hear hear! I see that desperately needed grassroots work being done in small pockets everywhere! It truly starts with us, and I still have the radical hope that it can be done in my lifetime - to spread sustainable practices and reap the benefits for the next generation. They’re gonna need all the help they can get surviving on this planet. It’s not worth scrapping; it’s worth saving!

I have a favorite bodega in Brooklyn (shout out to Omega Deli and Cafe!) and there are so many more that deserve this win. I can’t wait to see this sort of small business support flourish and hopefully expand to the rest of the state for years to come. It’s pretty much the only hope we have to combat the rot due to undue sudden divestment from the federal level.

This resonated with me because I’m a chronic worker and I don’t get out much. There also seems to be a mindset that you can get that social need fulfilled by people you encounter during work days, and thus, all your needs for socializing are met. That is problematic in itself for a variety of reasons (What if you don’t like them? What if you’re constantly working and don’t get face time with the ones you do like?). When you’re at work, you can’t relax, and if you work a lot, you have to rest when you’re not working, and don’t have time or money to “have fun”. Gasoline and events are more expensive too.

Time poor and money poor is where most folks are these days, and when everything is too expensive, and we’re too tired, it makes sense we aren’t having fun. Have you seen our built environment lately? Most cities are too dangerous for pedestrians and bikers, and that’s usually a good way to get out and encounter fun or new things.

Rant aside, lots of community groups are meeting this challenge and creating low or no cost ways to establish third spaces to get outside and around like minded people. Be sure to check your local environmental organizations to see what kinds of events they hold, and if they aren’t hosting events, maybe there’s a place for a volunteer to stand that up!

I too am in the same boat and would kindly like to know the answer to your question!

There’s a nonprofit rideshare in Ithaca, NY for inspiration! https://www.ithacacarshare.org/

So I’m already assuming all Amazon trucks, any other large delivery vehicles, (edit to add all Teslas, probably) city fleet cars, city buses,Google maps/TomTom and others with those 360° cameras all do this already. Now I have to worry about school buses too? From what I understand, Flock (ALPR) cameras also do facial recognition and tracking (is this right?). WHERE DOES IT END

Texas seems to be the proving ground for some of the harshest human and environmental rights violations we’ve seen to date. What I want to know is how we combat this. Any decision can be undone with enough pressure from the public and lawmakers.

Work is wearing me out, but I’m still trying to address the volume of tasks thrown at me every day. Hoping to get more staff soon since we were told to expect 2 more (although 8 more would be better). Still excited for what’s to come, and who knows where we all will be in a year. I have to keep reminding myself to take it one step at a time because that’s what I have in my control. We wake up, we try our best, we rest, and then we keep trying.