“It’s the top layer of the watershed from here on out!”

FEMA has ramped up considerably since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. As shocked as New Yorkers and other Sandy victims are with the proof of vulnerability, the number of domestic fatalities from Sandy stands at 109, while Katrina claimed 1,833. Many of Katrina's victims were poor, disabled, or elderly. Joan Sutton, writing for the Huffington Post, describes Sandy's impact on the elderly: "Now, we see pictures of what is called a mountain of debris. Surely it is a mountain of heartache."
FEMA has ramped up considerably since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. As shocked as New Yorkers and other Sandy victims are with the proof of vulnerability, the number of domestic fatalities from Sandy stands at 109, while Katrina claimed 1,833. Many of Katrina's victims were poor, disabled, or elderly. Joan Sutton, writing for the Huffington Post, describes Sandy's impact on the elderly: "Now, we see pictures of what is called a mountain of debris. Surely it is a mountain of heartache."

Sign Language Interpreting and Emergency Management

Outrage in the Deaf community over the ridicule of American Sign Language.

Language for the Eyes

It has only taken decades of advocacy and complaints to the FCC, FEMA, and State governments for public officials to respond to Deaf Americans who rely on sign language for communication.

DeafNation, emphasizing language, culture and pride, expresses “dismay and concern” to Chelsea Handler.
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Composting Steph

I sucker guests who come to a Solstice or Equinox dinner into making a pledge: "What I will do for the planet this season." This year I'll begin supporting the Luna Ring

When the time comes, I will recycle Steph. She will become a lovely basket for African violets. (Fall Equinox, 2010)

I sucker guests who come to a Solstice or Equinox dinner into making a pledge: "What I will do for the planet this season." This year I'll begin supporting the Luna Ring

When the time comes, I will recycle Steph. She will become a lovely basket for African violets. (Fall Equinox, 2010)

A Massive Leap of Imagination: Beyond Coal

If we had not argued so vigorously, I would not have thought so much about the potentials of pursuing this conversation...to set the planet on the path to climate recovery requires unprecedented cooperation across borders and among peoples. My friends' critique was targeted at U.S. unilateralism. Is Beyond Coal simply a(nother) movement by the (mainly white) middle-class so we can feel good about ourselves without giving regard to the consequences of our good deeds upon others? (Disclosure: I am white and middle-class.) "We need an unprecedented outpouring of human generosity, a massive leap of imagination, a kind of creativity that the world has never seen."
If we had not argued so vigorously, I would not have thought so much about the potentials of pursuing this conversation...to set the planet on the path to climate recovery requires unprecedented cooperation across borders and among peoples. My friends' critique was targeted at U.S. unilateralism. Is Beyond Coal simply a(nother) movement by the (mainly white) middle-class so we can feel good about ourselves without giving regard to the consequences of our good deeds upon others? (Disclosure: I am white and middle-class.) "We need an unprecedented outpouring of human generosity, a massive leap of imagination, a kind of creativity that the world has never seen."

Life in the Boundary Layer

Dr. Ambarish Karmalkar was careful not to be alarmist as he reported findings on experiments forecasting regional climate changes in Costa Rica and its neighbors. Dr. Karmalkar explains: "The frequency of temperatures in the future is something we have not experienced in the modern period." In the case of Central America in general, and Costa Rica in particular, he was referring to a probable future increase in the average temperature of 3-4 degrees Celsius (roughly 5-7 degrees Fahrenheit) before the end of this century.
Dr. Ambarish Karmalkar was careful not to be alarmist as he reported findings on experiments forecasting regional climate changes in Costa Rica and its neighbors. Dr. Karmalkar explains: "The frequency of temperatures in the future is something we have not experienced in the modern period." In the case of Central America in general, and Costa Rica in particular, he was referring to a probable future increase in the average temperature of 3-4 degrees Celsius (roughly 5-7 degrees Fahrenheit) before the end of this century.