Daily Archives: July 29, 2022

By Julianne Malveaux

(TriceEdneyWire.com) The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, signed into law on June 25, 2022, was a win for the Biden-Harris Administration. The legislation was genuinely bipartisan, more so in the Senate, where 15 Republicans joined 50 Democrats to pass the legislation, than in the House, where only 14 Republicans joined Democrats in passing the legislation.

While I often think of the Senate as the more partisan of the two legislative bodies, it is notable that 30 percent of Republican Senators were willing to join their colleagues to stop gun violence and to provide funds for mental health, and community violence intervention, school safety, and some control.

In contrast, fewer than 7 percent of Republican Congressional representatives were willing to cross party lines.Buoyed by the legislative victory,

President Biden has now released a Safer Communities Plan, which is reflected in his 2023 budget.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/07/21/fact-sheet-president-bidens-safer-america-plan

While many aspects of this plan are laudable, one of the most troubling aspects is the plan to commit $13 billion over five years to flood the streets with 100,000 more police officers.The program uses the correct language by saying it will support accountable policing, but not a week goes by when we do not learn of the unaccountable policing that rankles anyone who believes in human rights.

We dont have to go back down memory lane to call the names of Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, or George Floyd. Just this year, there have been more martyrs. Joyland Walker was executed in Akron.

Patrick Loyola was killed in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Amir Locke was asleep on a couch in his cousins apartment in Minneapolis when a no-knock warrant allowed police offers to enter and shoot him in the head.

And yet we need more police? Violence is in the news, and it is escalating.

During the weekend of July 23-24, 65 people were shot and five killed in Chicago.While many describe Chicago as the epicenter of gun violence, no city is immune to it.

No city is immune to other forms of violence, as well.I think, especially of economic violence, how economic tools are used to forcefully take life, liberty, and supply from people.The market forces that create homelessness are forms of economic violence.The gentrification that pushes people out of their neighborhoods is a form of economic violence.Rising prices and the inflation that hits poor people harder are also forms of economic violence.

We can get exercised about physical violence, but we are far too silent about economic violence. The World Health Organization defines violence as The intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community that either result in or has a high likelihood resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation.Unpacking that definition, it is clear that this country was built on a foundation of violence.

Taking Native land and eliminating much of the Native population was violence. Enslaving African people was violence.Lynching was violence.More benignly but still harmful, mass incarceration, gentrification, segregation, and blighted schools are violence. We pass legislation to combat some forms of violence.We decry gang violence without asking where these gangs come from, how they were formed, and what in our culture glorifies violence.I will not make excuses for those who pick up guns and kill folks, even when it is young men shooting each other in the street.

There are not enough mental health so-called explanations to contextualize the rabid monsters who shot up Black elders in Buffalo, New York, or baby Latino innocents in Uvalde, Texas.

And there is no excuse for the economic violence that traps people in poverty-tinged existences with either inadequate housing or none, with food bank food or less.Poverty is a form of economic violence.Joblessness is a form of economic violence.Predatory capitalism is a form of economic violence, and many corporate entities benefit from economic violence.

If we want to combat violence, we need to fight all of it, from the shootings in the streets to the racist killings in supermarkets to the capitalistic violence that pushes people into poverty that can generate nothing but pain, despair, and violence.

The Safer Communities Plan is a step in the right direction, but it is a misstep if it hinges on putting more police on the streets.

Dr. JulianneMalveauxis an economist, author, and Dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at Cal State LA. Juliannemalveaux.com

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Economic Violence and the Safer American Plan By Julianne Malveaux - Seattle Medium

Sean Goode

By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium

In recent weeks, the King County Council held a series of meetings to discuss gun violence and the impact that gun violence has on our communities.

According to Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles, the purpose of the meetings was to put a face to the families that are left to pick up the pieces of gun violence, and to hear from the families who are advocating for change and how the are having to heal and cope with the death of a loved one.

I believe that it is critical that we hear from survivors and impacted individuals of gun violence, plus those on the ground trying to make a difference by promoting peace, said Kohl-Welles. It is my hope that these conversations will lead us as body coming up with tangible ideas that will make a difference in our communities to detour the cycle of violence and harm caused by firearms, its no easy task.

Erin Cizmas, a woman who lost her father to suicide, spoke about the death of her father and shed light on the diversity in which gun violence can impact families and community

In 2002 my dad killed himself with a gun the loss was immeasurable, says Cizmas. Our lives were forever changed. There are many families out there like mine. Families that have been devastated by suicide, families whose personal experiences with gun violence that dont make the headlines, we are the faces of everyday gun violence. We are part of a bigger story of gun violence in America and it is really important to see the entire story. It is important to see us and its important to do what we can to curb this through education and outreach and whenever possible gun legislation.

Lynniah Grayson who lost the father of her child to gun violence in 2021, believes that government agencies need to invest in curbing gun violence as a public health issue and strengthen the support for the families of the victims.

Gun violence is a public health issue, a public health crisis similar to covid 19, say Grayson. [I believe that] it will take similar investments as what we saw with COVID in order to see a difference with gun violence. A public health approach does require mutual accountability amongst partnerships across varies agencies. Theres a lot of work being done in King County, and I am thankful for the work that is taking place however that work does not include the most vulnerable.

It saddens me that the support does not exist for mothers and children who are impacted, she added.

Sean Goode, Executive Director of Choose 180, a non-profit organization that transforms systems of injustice and supports the young people who are too often impacted by those systems, says that support and intervention are needed it order to curb the cycle of gun violence that is present in our community.

All of us come to this work in a variety of different ways and all of us are grounded in whats happening problematically but with our lived experienced that informs our approach. Thats important to me, says Goode. I want folks to know that what we are talking about here is not a pie in the sky aspiration thats grounded in some sort of hope to get people who caused harm off the hook or from not getting penalized for what it is that they have done, but because we dont understand the victims perspective.

Because all of us, each and every one of us have also been harmed by gun violence, Goode continued. But what we know because of the journey that weve been on is that a circle or cycle of harm will not be interrupted by causing more harm but by only introducing people to an intentional healing journey, and the quicker we are able to engage people who have been harmed and those who have caused harm in a healing journey the more likely we are to stop this redundant cycle of violence that continues to plague our community.

Renee Hopkins of Alliance for Gun Responsibility says that it is important that people dont turn a blind eye to gun violence, and recognize that the data related to gun violence, regardless of the format that it is viewed, represents real people, real victims and their families.

We can talk about data for days and the data is vitally important, but we must remember for every data point there is somebody lost to gun violence, injured by gun violence or threatened by gun violence, says Hopkins. There is a person, and that person is connected to family and that family is connected to a community. Every life lost has devastating consequences that ripple through our society.

In her closing arguments Grayson reached out to the legendary human rights activist and first Black president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela to bring her point home quoting.

Safety and security dont just happen they are the result of collective consensus and public investment we owe our children the most vulnerable citizens in our society a life free violence and fear.

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King County Council Holds Meetings Addressing Gun Violence And Its Impact On Families and Communities - Seattle Medium

Vice Presidents ResidenceWashington, D.C.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Good evening, everyone.AUDIENCE: Good evening.THE VICE PRESIDENT: Good evening, good evening. Welcome to the official residence of the Vice President of the United States. Welcome to all of you. What a wonderful sight to see.The Second Gentleman and I were so looking forward to this evening to welcome you into our home to thank you.I think that Senator Harkin said it so well: This is a movement. We we rest on broad shoulders of folks who through their activism, their courage, their commitment, have allowed us to celebrate this 32nd anniversary. But still, if we are to live as part of their legacy, we also know we have a lot more to do and that we are part of a movement whose work is unfinished.But Im so honored to be with all of you today. Senator Harkin, I just want to thank you. I was in the Senate, as many of you know, for about four years. He is a legend among senators. (Laughter.) Any senator who dares to even think that they may offer any role of leadership as it relates to fighting for disability rights in America, first consult with Tom Harkin to make sure theyre on the right track and are consistent with everything that he had as a vision during his days there.Tony Coelho, I want to thank you. I the work that you have done, it has always been extraordinary. I have being from California, doing this work, I know of the longstanding work that you have done to be a very powerful advocate, and so it is an honor to be with you as well.General, thank you for understanding. And it has been said, but you have had a long career of fighting for civil rights and for justice. And certainly this movement has been the movement that is about the ongoing fight for civil rights and for justice and for equality.So, Im very honored to be with all of you this evening.You know, when I think about where we are today, I think weve come a long way, but we have a lot to do. I should start by saying that my pronoun is she and her. I am a woman wearing a light blue suit standing on steps (applause) and looking at everyone here (laughs) to talk about these issues.And so think about it: Thirty-two years ago to this very day to this very day, July 26 the Americans with Disability law was signed into law.And yes, so we celebrate what that day meant for so many people who deserve to be seen, deserve to be heard, deserve to be felt and known and understood.But yet, as has been said, theres still so much to do when we think about the issue of housing, when we think about the issue of education, when we talked about today with many of the leaders who are here about the importance of fighting for disability communities around the issue of reproductive health and access to reproductive health, what we must do in the continuing fight to fight for dignity for all people.The spirit of this movement has always been also about understanding the importance of self-determination, understanding the right that all people have to self-determination and what we as a whole community must do to ensure that right exist for all people, regardless of where they live and who they are.But we do have a lot to celebrate. Jalyn, you talked about it in terms of, during the course of your lifetime, what has been made possible in the world you have known and then the world you know about, and the world we know about, which still we need to do some work. But it was the world where a person could be a person with disabilities could be fired from a job because they requested accommodations. It was a world where a student can be refused admission to a school because they used a wheelchair; where people could be denied the freedom to vote simply because they needed assistance in casting a ballot.Some of this stuff sounds like were watching the evening news tomorrow right? in terms of the issues that still exist.You know, Ive often said: Its one thing to talk about, you know, in places like Washington, D.C., that we will celebrate the fact and the glasses will ching about something got passed, but the real measure of the success is: Has it actually hit the streets? Has it actually been part of the reality of a lived experience for all people it is intended to benefit? And so thats why we know that theres still more work to do.I do want to also express greetings from President Joe Biden, who he knows that we were all getting together tonight. He wishes he could be here. But there is some work that our administration has done on this issue that has been quite intentional.So, for example, what we have done is to make America more accessible and equitable by saying that we need to invest in our children with disabilities. And to that end, we have dedicated $17 billion to help children with disabilities succeed in the classroom for a long time. (Applause.)As many of you know, a large part of my career has been to fight for the rights of women and children. And so when we think at this particular point on this issue about the importance of IEPs and what we need to do to strengthen a process where we ensure that it is real and not just something on paper; that it is resourced, that it is a priority for our schools, and our educators, and administrators; to make those Individual Education Programs and plans real in a way that they have impact for the children we have put $25 billion into home and community-based services. (Applause.)And as Senator Harkin mentioned, thats about saying, Yeah, okay. It should have happened. And I know you fought for it, originally. But through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are now able to dedicate billions of dollars to say that homeowners should have the support to build a ramp, to make their home accessible and livable for all people, including folks with disabilities, so that they dont have to go somewhere they dont want to go.Part of this point about fighting for the freedom and the self-determination is fighting to give people a choice. And therein lies also the connections between it all.With the leaders who are here today who visited with me in my office earlier today, we talked about that the intersection between all of these movements when it comes to the fight for freedom and liberty and choice and self-determination. All of this is connected.And in that way, as the Second Gentleman, my husband Dougie, said: Were all in this together. (Laughter.) Were all in this together.You know, when I think about what our administration has been able to do to weve now committed to ADA-compliant transit stations, and were in the midst of retrofitting 900 transit stations. That, again, is about making this promise real but understanding the intersection between all of the communities that will benefit.You know, when we lift up any one of us, all people rise. And thats part of what this movement has always been. We think about it in terms of what we have done because of the leaders of this movement and the sacrifices and the determination, and how thinking about accessibility not just as a concept, but then how does it actually play out, how that impacts everybody.I think about including the single mother whos got three kids, one of whom is in a stroller, who is trying to get down the block and down a few blocks to get on the bus to get to work and what this movement has done to benefit her. What this movement has been about, to say: When were thinking about things like advances in technology, do all people have access? But doing it in a way that people are connected and not disconnected, not relegated to say, Okay, now people can work from their home. No, this is about choices that include integration.Accessibility is about integration. Think about this: how all of these points overlap. Integration. Equality. Accessibility. Freedom. Liberty. Choice.Thats what this movement has always been about. And in that way, the leaders of this movement who are here have led always in the civil rights movement of our country and, by extension, as a model for other countries around the world.So, I want to thank everyone here. It has not been easy to get to this place and, in particular, for those who directly have so much at stake.But this is a moment to rejoice in recognizing that when we put up the fight, we do see progress. Its a moment to reflect that nothing we gain will ever be permanent if we are not vigilant. It is a moment to then recommit ourselves to the knowledge that it is the nature of the ongoing fight for rights and civil rights and disability rights. That we cannot tire. We cannot be overwhelmed. We are always fueled with optimism to see what can be unburdened by what has been. Its not a fight against something; its a fight for something. (Applause.)And so with all of that, I say again, being Vice President of the United States and watching what this movement has done as I travel around the country yes, I was in Indiana yesterday. (Laughter.) We can talk about that later. (Laughter.)But when I see the progress that this movement has made for the benefit of all people in our nation, I have nothing but incredible and deep gratitude to you, the leaders of this movement, and for all the folks who may not be here right now but who we praise for allowing us to have this moment to celebrate the victories that have been achieved, but to recommit ourselves to what we have yet to do.I thank you all very much. Thank you. (Applause.) END

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Remarks by Vice President Harris at the 32nd Anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act Reception - The White House

By Hamilton Richardson

Elmore/Autauga News

Top Photo: Marcus Williams

For one local veteran, helping others who have experienced difficulties since leaving the military is a top priority as well as letting others know about the struggle vets face and pointing people to important resources.

According to Michelle Cheesman, Senior Account Manager with Sturges Word Communications, Marcus Williams is a Marine vet who was born in Selma and now lives in Prattville working with an initiative called #StillServing.

Williams is also National Chaplain for Theta Nu Beta Veteran Fraternity, whose mission is to empower veterans to reach their full potential through personal and educational resources and engage veterans with intentional experiences that inform them of their rights and privileges owed to them due to their honorable service to our country.

The #StillServing campaign is a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) initiative that was launched in March, 2020 to recognize the many veterans who continue to serve in their community after the military.

Williams specifically works locally to help Prattville area veterans who need housing or assistance applying for medical benefits through the Veterans Administration, said Cheesman in an email communication. He is currently trying to start an Alabama chapter of Theta Nu Beta.

Williams began his military career in the Navy on October 15, 1996.

I joined the military because I wasnt doing anything with my life in Selma, Williams said. One of my football coaches sent a tape up to a Christian College in Rhode Island, but I didnt even try to go and check it out. I had a friend and cousin that pushed me through school because they knew I could do it and I did. But I loved the streets until I went in front of a judge. I knew then I had to make some changes in my life and thats what I did.

Williams, who is a retired disabled vet, is married with five kids. He has a degree in Biblical Studies and a degree in Arts. He will will be working on his third degree in Business this fall at South Universityin Montgomery.As a veteran, we always want to look out for our brothers and sisters, because people dont know what we go through, said Williams. They might think they do when they see us with our hat or shirt on. When they say, Thank you for your service, that means a lot.

Williams explained how he began helping other vets.

I suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and one Veterans Day I was having a bad day and I told myself I was just going to Walmart and get something to put on the grill, Williams said. But as I was walking out of the store this little girl saw me and said, Excuse me, sir, I just want to say thank you for your service and happy Veterans Day. Out of all the people that saw me in that store, this little girl wasnt any more than four or five. I couldnt do anything but cry right there. So that is why I take #Still Serving to the heart because Im always going to help my brothers and sisters in need.

The local veteran said that the #StillServing initiative impacts vets and the community in many ways.

If we work as a team, we can do more to help each other out, he said. There are so many vets out there that have so many skills that they got out of the military, but we cant use them on the civilian side because we are over-qualified. I have vets right now who cant find jobs because of theirjobskills in themilitary. Dont look at our jobskills, lookat theperson thatcomesinto the interview.

Another way the program helps is by providing basic information that vets may not know exists.

Coming back home as a vet, a lot of us dont know about the benefits thatare out there for us and our families, ifwe are marriedor if we have kids, Williams explained. So, as a veteran to another veteran, Im going to help my brother or sister get on the right path to get the help they need. Because that is what happenedto me whenI was home on terminalleave, someone helped when Ihad a breakdownand almost committed suicide.

According to the website, http://www.todaysvfw.org the VFW encourages veterans and service members to share stories on social media with#StillServingto show how they continue to answer the call to serve in their communities. In addition, family and friends can use the hashtag in social media posts to honor a veteran in their lives who continues to serve.

Williams said community recognition of vets is a great way to start helping those who are struggling.

Continue to be the patriots you are every day, not just on special events or days that make a big difference to us because the love you show us means a lot, he said. I even tell my brothers and sisters still in uniform,thankyou for your service.

Those interested in supporting the #StillServing initiative, can go online to http://www.todaysvfw.org

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Marcus Williams: Prattville Disabled Vet Helping Bring Awareness to the Cause #StillServing - Elmore Autauga News

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (PRWEB) July 28, 2022

The Beryl Institute releases The Impact of Bias on Health Equity and the Human Experience, identifying what bias looks like in healthcare and acknowledging its serious and lasting consequences on patient outcomes and overall experience. In this paper, healthcare leaders share what they have learned about addressing bias and acknowledge the immediate need to begin rebuilding trust with those they serve. Patients and families share their lived experiences of being exposed to bias and how it has impacted their overall approach to healthcare and what needs to change.

The paper is grounded in the foundational ideas of The New Existence, a call to action by the Institute community focused on leading to a new future for healthcare. The paper demonstrates the communitys commitment to a declaration to transform the human experience in healthcare, to dismantle systemic racism and prejudice, tackle disparities and provide the highest quality, most equitable care possible. The Impact of Bias on Health Equity and the Human Experience offers tangible ways in which organizations, leaders and the community can create a path to health equity through intentional action to address bias.

The contributors to this paper include Karen Bonner - Buckinghamshire Healthcare; Jennifer Carron Passon - BJC Healthcare; Irfan Dhalla - Unity Health Toronto; Nat Guyton - University of Maryland Medical Centers, Midtown Campus; Maxine Legall - Jewish Board; Dwight McBee - Jefferson Health; Nikki Montgomery Madvocator Educational and Healthcare Advocacy Training; Kodi B. Pride Consultant; Brittany R. Randall-Pope - Ohio Guidestone; Kimberly Richardson - Black Cancer Collaborative; Allysa Ware - Family Voices; and members of the Standing Committee on Equity & Inclusion - The Beryl Institute.

Key takeaways include:

For far too long, words have not inspired action. We would be guilty of that same offense if this paper were not something more than words. Jason A. Wolf, PhD, CPXP, President & CEO, The Beryl Institute. That is why on the pages of this paper, through the raw voices of lived experience and the passionate voices of healthcare leaders, we hope to frame an issue not simply to educate us on what its core ideas bias, inequity and human experience mean.

To access the executive brief, PX paper, and patient reflection visit https://www.theberylinstitute.org/page/PXPapers

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About The Beryl InstituteThe Beryl Institute is a global community of healthcare professionals and experience champions committed to transforming the human experience in healthcare. As a pioneer and leader of the experience movement and patient experience profession for more than a decade, the Institute offers unparalleled access to unbiased research and proven practices, networking and professional development opportunities and a safe, neutral space to exchange ideas and learn from others.

We define the patient experience as the sum of all interactions, shaped by an organizations culture, that influence patient perceptions across the continuum of care. We believe human experience is grounded in the experiences of patients and families, members of the healthcare workforce and the communities they serve.

About this PX Paper Sponsor: QualtricsQualtrics helps healthcare and life sciences organizations design experiences that improve satisfaction, loyalty and trust. Qualtrics helps organizations deliver a seamless and compassionate healthcare experience by optimizing the moments that matter most to patients, employees and communities. Qualtrics delivers the most comprehensive platform for strategic experience management, helping healthcare organizations listen to patients and employees on their terms, uncover what matters most and act quickly to create meaningful impact. The AI-powered solutions also help leaders understand the key drivers of patient, staff and member behavior, predict what patients want and automate actions that make it faster, easier and more efficient to personalize experiences at scale. Qualtrics is a CMS-approved vendor for all required CAHPS programs, and the only HITRUST-certified and FEDRAMP-compliant experience management platform on the market, so organizations can confidently collect and analyze data knowing sensitive information is secure. To learn more, please visit qualtrics.com/healthcare.

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The Impact of Bias on Health Equity and the Human Experience - PR Web

July 21 - The Covid-19 pandemic was a disaster for the cruise ship industry. Images of plague ships with stranded passengers and crew, many ill with the virus, travelled around the globe.

The fastest-growing sector in the travel industry which carried nearly 30 million passengers in 2019, has long been criticised for its impact on the environment and coastal communities. With Covid, it was under an additional spotlight for health and safety. It was hard to see how it was going to bounce back from this reputational damage that saw its share prices tumble.

Yet in April, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) predicted that the industry would exceed its pre-Covid record highs in terms of passenger numbers and revenues by next year, and grow to 12% above pre-pandemic levels by 2026.

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At the same time, it announced a series of sustainability commitments that will drive innovation for a more efficient future, including a target of achieving net-zero carbon cruising by 2050.

We are reducing the carbon footprint of our ships while at berth and at sea, investing in advanced environmental technologies and partnering with cities and ports on sustainable destination management. By equipping cruise ships with the ability to connect shoreside electricity, and using it where available, the cruise industry is prepared to eliminate emissions while at port for the benefit of local communities.

CLIA also said it would join the Global Maritime Forums Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonization, making zero-emission vessels and fuels the default choice by 2030.

But the industry has its work cut out to reduce its environmental impacts. According to a recent study published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, a large cruise ship can have a carbon footprint greater than 12,000 cars, while passengers on an Antarctic cruise can produce as much CO2 emissions on a seven-day voyage as the average European in an entire year, the study said. Meanwhile, the industry is a major producer of waste, with the total amount of rubbish produced by a large cruise ship exceeding a ton per day.

Cruise ships are firmly in the sights of environmental groups such as Friends of the Earth (FoE), whose U.S. chapter produces an annual Cruise Ship Report Card evaluating 18 cruise lines on four environmental factors: sewage treatment, air pollution reduction, water quality compliance and transparency.

Despite noting pockets of improvements, its 2021 report is damning. Unfortunately, everything that cruise ships come into contact with are likely to be harmed along their journey. The air, water, fragile habitats, coastal communities, and wildlife are all affected, the report said. The disregard for public and environmental health continues with the recent restart of the cruise industry in the U.S. in 2021. Without legally binding regulations, the cruise industry will continue to pollute and threaten public health at will.

One of the lowest-scoring cruise companies on FoEs list is Carnival, the worlds largest cruise ship company, with a fleet of 92 ships that under normal operations carry 13 million passengers annually to 700 ports, nearly half the overall global cruise market.

In January this year, Princess Cruise Lines, owned by Carnival, was fined $1 million by the U.S. Department of Justice after pleading guilty to violating, for a second time, a five-year probation. This was imposed in 2017 after it pleaded guilty to felony charges stemming from deliberate dumping of oil-contaminated waste from one of its vessels, and intentional acts to cover it up. The $40 million penalty in 2017 was the largest-ever fine for intentional pollution from a ship.

In 2019, while still on probation, Princess was fined $20 million for six further violations, including the dumping of plastic waste into Bahamian waters and falsifying records. This years fine relates to the failure of both Princess and Carnival to establish and maintain an independent internal investigative office, according to the Department of Justice.

Yet Carnival is one of 500 signatories to the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, which was launched at the COP 26 climate summit last year, under which organisations commit to halve their emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2050 at latest.

Carnival is also highlighted in the World Travel and Tourism Councils Net Zero Roadmap for Travel and Tourism for commitments including a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions per available lower berth per day (ALBD), and a 50% reduction in absolute air emissions of particulate matter by 2030.

Asked to respond to the FoE report, and to its recent fines, Roger Frizzell, a spokesman for Carnival, said Princess is no longer under court oversight. He said this was something that was not reflected in FoEs scoring system, which he described as arbitrary and unscientific.

He also challenged the F score for lack of transparency, saying data was available online and on its sustainability report. Our ultimate goal across all our brands is net-zero greenhouse emissions by 2050 and we are making strong progress, by any measure, through our many initiatives that include electrical shore power capabilities, advanced wastewater treatment plants, reduction in plastics and waste, and implementation of new green technologies such as LNG (liquified natural gas), fuel cells and large storage battery systems in addition to our air quality systems installed on our ships.

The CLIA, which met in Genoa, Italy, in June for the industrys first summit decarbonisation summit, says cruise lines are currently investing upward of $25 billion in new vessels with improved environmental performance.

In large part this is to meet new rules from the International Maritime Organization, which came into force in 2020 for the entire shipping industry, slashing the sulphur content of fuel oil from 3.5% to 0.5%.

CLIA says 76% of global cruise ships capacity currently use exhaust gas cleaning systems, known as scrubbers, which meet or exceed air emissions requirements. There is also growing use of LNG, which cuts CO2 emissions by about 25%, and contains little sulphur and nitrogen oxide. While only four ships in service are LNG, 52% of ships on the order books are scheduled to use the fuel, which CLIA views as a bridge to lower carbon solutions, including biofuels, synthetic fuels, ammonia and methanol.

It provides immediate benefits while aggressive research and development is simultaneously underway for a transition to new fuels, a spokesperson said.

One example is MSC Cruises newest ship, MSC World Europa, which will be the worlds largest LNG-powered cruise ship when it launches in October.

Amongst other features, the ship has advanced wastewater treatment technology, shore-to-ship connectivity, and a 150-kilowatt solid oxide fuel cell demonstrator, which MSC says will help us prove and refine environmental technologies for the future of our fleet.

But there are conflicting studies on the environmental implications of the widespread use of scrubbers, which green groups say allow the industry to continue to use heavy fuel oil.

Others, including Friends of the Earth, question whether LNG should be used as a transition fuel. The International Council on Clean Transportation, a U.S. based NGO, warned in a 2020 study that while uptake of LNG will cut CO2 emissions, it could actually make the shipping industrys impact on climate change worse, due to leakage of methane, a greenhouse gas (GHG) that is 86 times more potent than CO2 in the short term.

The study found that even the most efficient, high-pressure injection dual fuel engines emitted 4% more lifecycle GHG over 20 years than marine gas oil, while more commonly used low-pressure dual fuel engines emitted 70% more lifecycle GHGs than marine gas oil.

Given this, we conclude that using LNG does not deliver the emissions reductions required by the IMOs initial GHG strategy, and that using it could actually worsen shippings climate impacts, ICCT said. Further, continuing to invest in LNG infrastructure on ships and on shore might make it harder to transition to low-carbon and zero-carbon fuels in the future.

The CLIA counters that while methane slip is an acknowledged problem, engine technologies have significantly improved since the early 2000s and the industry now expects that there will be minimal methane slip by 2030.

It also says the number of ships with shoreside power capability is rapidly growing and within five years at least two-thirds of the global cruise fleet will be equipped with this capability, which could dramatically reducing emissions of ships while in port.

However, one big challenge is that only 14 passenger cruise ports worldwide have berths offering ship-to-shore power.

At the Genoa event, Marie-Caroline Laurent, CLIAs director general in Europe, said the industry will need help from regulators. The cruise industry has already taken firm and robust measures towards achieving its decarbonisation goals and, collectively, is committed to deliver . We now need a clear legislative framework to encourage the investment and innovation that will be required for industry to achieve the 2030 EU Fit for 55 (climate) objectives and ultimately our 2050 ambitions.

But as the cruise industry resumes its rapid growth trajectory, environmental impact is only one big cloud over the industry. Another is the return of over-tourism concerns that saw port cities, particularly in Europe, impose taxes and limit numbers to keep from being overwhelmed by swarms of cruise ship day-trippers.

The CLIA says sustainable tourism is a priority, and that it partners with city authorities, ports, and other organisations on sustainable tourism initiatives to help preserve the integrity, cultural heritage, and beauty of the worlds most treasured destinations.

But its not just in crowded European port cities where over-tourism is a concern.

The bringing of a million cruise passengers a year into a pristine marine environment was cited as one of the main concerns by local and international campaigners opposing Disney Cruise Lines project to build a new port on a 750-acre site on the southernmost tip of the Bahamian island of South Eleuthera, which had been proposed as a marine protected area.

Construction on the $400 million project began in March, after the Bahamas government accepted Disneys environmental impact assessment, (EIA) which found that no loss of marine or terrestrial biodiversity could be expected as a result of the project, which will develop less than 20% of the property, with a further 25% donated to the people of the Bahamas.

Cruise ship passengers will access the site via an open-trestle pier that extends into deep water, to avoid the dredging of a ship canal, while an environmental management plan includes the relocation of coral, Disney said.

Marcie Keever, who heads up Friends of the Earths oceans programme, said Disney Cruise Lines, with its four large ships, regularly receives top marks in its cruise report card for its environmental efforts and transparency, but was marked down a letter grade in this years report card, to B-, because of its decision to push through with the Lighthouse development. She said the EIA did not address the risk of over-tourism.

How many cruise ships are planned? What is the plan to expand if they do develop? What will this mean on a weekly basis for the region? There is nothing in the EIA on the impact of the massive number of people on these ships, she said.

Hrvoje Cari, a researcher at the Institute for Tourism in Croatia, says lack of transparency is a major issue for all the sector's impacts. We cant get any confirmation of the claims they are making about biofuel innovations, for example. Where are the third-party confirmations or the audits? If they are under a flag of convenience, you can always doubt it.

Daniel Skjeldam is chief executive of Norways Hurtigruten Group, which announced in May that ships on its Norwegian coastal routes will be emissions-free to sea and air by 2030.

He believes that the industry can be a force for good by opening up the minds of cruisers to new cultures, and the need for conservation to protect the worlds wildest places. The cruise industry is also a major source of income for many destinations, particularly in developing countries.

But in the prelude to the companys latest sustainability report, he called for greater transparency in industry ESG reporting to instill confidence that it is on the right trajectory.

Its clear that the cruise industry and the wider travel sector have a lot of work to do to credibly tackle the climate emergency. There must be a collective effort between the travel industry, communities, governments, NGOs and academic institutions, for one company or community cannot do it alone.

Additional reporting by Terry Slavin

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Opinions expressed are those of the author. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias. Ethical Corporation Magazine, a part of Reuters Professional, is owned by Thomson Reuters and operates independently of Reuters News.

Caroline Palmer is a freelance journalist specialising in business, health, sustainability and the artisan economy. She has worked for the Financial Times, The Guardian and The Observer and is a contributor to Ethical Corporation magazine.

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Cruise industry faces choppy seas as it tries to clean up its act on climate - Reuters

How did you get into music?

I grew up in a house with a lot of music and instruments. I guess it awoke a natural curiosity in learning how to play and create my own music.

Which artists were a major influence on you?

I think a lot of the artists Ive ever listened to somehow influence me, so I dont think my music resembles one specific artist or genre. Though I grew up listening to a lot of my dads rock records from the 70s and 80s, like John Lennon, Patti Smith, David Bowie and Grace Jones.

How would you describe your music? What do you want listeners to take from it?

Its unpretentious and playful. Its a great mix of genres and emotions.

Whats your process when it comes to crafting a song?

I usually start with a small idea like tracking some chords on my guitar or sample a drumbeat recorded on my phone. Then I add other instruments like bass, violin, or midi keys. Then I probably cut and edit it and move it all around. The vocals are sometimes done in one take, sometimes its never done. I realize that when I struggle too much with the vocals and lyrics, it never turns out well, it has to come naturally. I really ditch a lot of songs and ideas.

Your sound has a very raw feel and quality to it. I assume that was an intentional choice. Who handles most of your production? And where do you pull all of these different sounds from?

I am writing, recording, and mixing most of it by myself. Ive been experimenting pretty heavily with lo-fi recordings, effects and styles and sampled random sounds and memo recordings. Like, the sound of a squeaking chair on a vocal track that turned out to work perfectly as percussion. I make a lot of random stuff that no one else will probably ever get to hear. I just like to try out different things and I hope to continuously develop and expand the sound and style in my songs.

Youve had experience working in bands and other collaborations, how would you say that differs from working on your own solo stuff? Have those past experiences helped you in what youre doing now?

I have had some amazing experiences being in a band and I love playing and writing music with others. But I also think its so much fun to explore what you can do by yourself with just a laptop and a few instruments. I somehow felt like Ive started over when I started working on my solo stuff, because I didnt know exactly what I was doing or where the music was heading. Its strangely liberating, but then again, you are also limited by your own skills and ideas when working alone, so I think its necessary to work with and learn from others from time to time to avoid getting stuck in the same old routines.

Also, congrats on being a part of the Roskilde Festival! Will this be your first festival as a solo act? If not, what are some of the main differences between playing a festival as opposed to a more intimate show. Which do you prefer?

Shit, I love both. Roskilde Festival is a favorite, it has such an incredible vibe, I always know a lot of people attending and Ive seen some of my best concerts there too. This past year Ive also been lucky to play some smaller really great festivals in Denmark and abroad, like SPOT festival (DK), Left of the Dial Festival (NL), Det Gyldne Liv festival (DK) and next up is Frigjort Festival in one of my favorite parts of Copenhagen, Christiania.

Ive also played a few more intimate shows at smaller clubs and venues in some European cities that I havent been before, and those trips really knocked me off my feet. I hope to be able to do that a lot more in the future. Its a dream to explore new places and meet people and other creative communities through music.

Youve just released a new single, Happiness is Real. Whats the meaning behind the title and the song?

The song is about an inner conflict and societal brainwashing. I guess the title is pretty ironic.

The single has these crazy contrasts between your softer vocals/instrumentation and these big hardcore breakdowns full of distortion. Is that something that you like to experiment with in your music?

Yes, I like contrasts when moods and sounds clash somehow. My music probably reflects my mixed feelings about everything, its my own inner conflicts expressed through sound, haha. I also think those hardcore contrasts make it sound more interesting and real, I like it when its a little strange and unpredictable.

We like to say to be a creative and put yourself out there to the public eye that you have to be fearless. Do you agree with that?

Well, Im most definitely not fearless, I often doubt myself and my music, but the public eye is probably not very focused on my music anyway, so I guess its not a huge problem for me, ha. Still, I guess everyone will have to put themselves out there in one way or the other, to be able to relate and connect with others. Creating and sharing music is just one way of doing it.

What can people expect from you in the future?

I have a new EP coming out later this year and its quite different from my first EP Happy Metal. You can expect both a contrasting and playful mix of feelings, sounds and moods.

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Interview: LINN Talks About "Happiness is Real," Experimenting with Sound, and More - LIVING LIFE FEARLESS

Tune in, turn onand heal Jewish trauma using psychedelics?

Timothy Learys famous and somewhat repurposed 1966 quote contributed to what is a common cultural assumption about LSD and psychoactive drugs: that they are countercultural and dangerous. While theres certainly risk involved, especially in unsupervised situations or reckless circumstances, some psychologists have long believed these substances under the right circumstances and as part of a regimen of care may revolutionize the future of mental health care and healing from trauma.

The use of substances that are entheogenic derived from the Latin entheos, full of the god, inspired, possessed can also provide an opportunity for people of various faith communities to connect more deeply to their spiritual tradition, to heal from mental illness, and to cope with Jewish trauma. Despite the fact that many may still not see the words Jewish and psychedelics as natural companions, the renewal of interest in psychoactive substances is finding an audience and a group of supporters who are funding medical trials and faith-based explorations.

Since the 1960s, Jews have been using drugs in casual and conscious ways, Rabbi Zac Kamenetz, founder and CEO of Shefa, an organization that offers virtual integration circles and other kinds of Jewish-related community for people who have had entheogenic experiences, told eJewishPhilanthropy. Theyve been using them at concerts, in their basements, at dinner parties, Shabbat dinners But theres also been Jews who have been using psychedelics and other substances as a way of investigating or deepening their own Jewish sense of self, their own practice, their own desire for mystical experience, said the former director of Jewish living and learning at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco.

The group of substances known as psychedelics, psychoactive drugs (or entheogens) includes psilocybin (mushrooms), Ayahuasca (a psychoactive mixture of plants), MDMA (known as Ecstasy or Molly) and mescaline (known as San Pedro), peyote and LSD. Marijuana is now legal for medical use in 38 states and recreational use in 19 states and the District of Columbia, but is also along with MDMA, LSD and Ecstasy considered a Schedule 1 substance, with no medical value and high potential for abuse. But this status discounts the fact that many psychoactive substances are medicines integral to Indigenous cultures or were developed in research labs and delivered great healing promise in early trials.

In the new Netflix documentary series How to Change Your Mind, journalist Michael Pollan (who wrote the book of the same name) explores the world of psychedelics, speaking with practitioners of shamanic medicine, scientists and mental health professionals. The fourth episode profiles patients whose traumas from violent family losses to traumatic wartime experiences were treated by taking MDMA in a controlled and supervised context, for a limited duration, within the larger context of talk therapy.

That episode features the work of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and educational organization founded in 1986 by Rick Doblin, who grew up in a Conservative Jewish family in Chicago. MAPS has grown from 14 people to 200 people and is having an impact abroad, including in Israel.

According to Keren Tzarfaty, co-founder of the Hakomi Institute of Israel, a trainer for MAPS in Israel and the clinical investigator in the FDA-approved clinical trial examining the impact of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy on severe PTSD patients, the trial is running in two governmental hospitals (Sheba Medical Center and Beer Yaakov-Ness Ziona Mental Health Center). They are now in the third and final phase of the MAPS study, Tzarfaty told eJP in an email.

MAPS works, first and foremost, to develop MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of PTSD through the FDA process, said Natalie Lyla Ginsberg, MAPS global impact officer, who founded MAPS policy team when she joined the organization eight years ago. However, she added, MAPS also works to end drug prohibition through decriminalization and regulation; its mission is developing medical, legal and cultural contexts for the safe and beneficial use of psychedelics, including marijuana.

Were one to two years out from having legal MDMA with a therapist, she said, noting that doesnt mean MDMA shops will pop up when the therapy is approved, she explained MDMA would only be available in that medical therapy context.

Highly Grounded: Jewish Psychedelic Connections

In her work with MAPS, Ginsberg noticed that the spaces exploring psychedelics attracted a lot of Jewish people; as she engaged with them, she discovered that many never explored Jewish ancestral and mystical and spiritual practices.

For me, personally, its been an incredibly grounding, nourishing, deeply, deeply important process to connect to my ancestral songs and traditions that I grew up [with], singing many of these prayers, and then to be able to use them in a really intentional context for my own spiritual growth or healing, has just been really powerful, Ginsberg said.

The 2020 discovery of cannabis residue on two altars in Tel Arad, Israel, and some scholars interpretations of the Torahs mentions of kaneh bosem (fragrant blossom) to mean cannabis, helped Ginsberg connect to her work even more deeply.

For me, its important that it doesnt feel so out of nowhere and brand new, Ginsberg said. But at the same time, it also feels important that we, as modern Jews, can engage with these practices in ways that are supportive to us.

In therapeutic environments, she added, some facilitators who observe and interact with the person who is receiving the medication may not be familiar with the history of Jewish trauma or Jewish culture; but if, for example, in an Ayahuasca ceremony,people are processing Holocaust-related or Jewish mystical visions, having a Jewish context can be quite beautiful for people who want that, she said.

We have in our traditions talented, religious, spiritual geniuses, that have experienced expanded states of consciousness through no drug use: mystics, tzadikim, holy people who have traveled to far-off worlds, worlds inside and worlds beyond, into abstract concepts, pictures of the cosmos. We see all of these different permutations of the divine name, or all these like very wild and vivid maps of how all of the sephirot work together, said Kamenetz, referring to kabbalistic attributes. And those are expanded states of consciousness. And so when someone eats a couple of [psychoactive] mushrooms, and encounters God knows what, I have found that people are looking for something inside their own tradition, to help support their own integration, to make meaning, to ground those experiences in a way that feels like its an ongoing part of their life, and not just something that happened in the past.

The Jewish Psychedelic Summit

In 2021, Ginsberg and Kamenetz teamed up with journalist Madison Margolin, founder of Double Blind: A Psychedelic Magazine about Science, Culture & Consciousness, to found the Jewish Psychedelic Summit, a virtual gathering of 1,500 participants who tuned in for conversations about why ending the war on drugs is a Jewish and psychedelic imperative, why so many Jews are drawn to India and whether or not Jewish mysticism can be a psychedelic framework and more.

We all knew that there was this hidden community amongst us that lots of Jews have done psychedelics, but there was this, for obvious reasons, like a stigma around celebrating that publicly, Kamenetz said, adding that while people might have talked about it privately, they never said, we are Jewish, we are psychedelic and we want to celebrate thatwe knew that that was so important and meaningful to so many different kinds of Jews, that it felt like there was a need to have a coming-out party.

Margolin does deep reporting on the intersection between psychedelics and Judaism; her most recent Double Blind article focuses on an emergent movement of religious and/or Hasidic Jews who are questioning the strictures of their communities and exploring the use of psychedelics. In a way, current drug experimentation among young Hasidic Jews could be interpreted as an attempt to regain the spirituality that was lost over years of just trying to control and survive the trauma, Margolin writes in that piece.

Jews are interested in reclaiming lost lineages and traditions, Kamenetz added. Specifically in the psychedelic space, theres something around the lineage of indigenous plant workers, plant medicine, wisdom holders, right, they talk about their lineage so often, and thats how you have some sort of authority to speak about it in the present, or to be giving people medicine in the present. We have lost these lineages of students and teachers, who were speaking and teaching and training young people and older people about achieving these ecstatic statesSo I think people are desirous of starting to, like, reaffirm those lineages for themselves and see themselves as being part of those traditions that have been lost or forgotten.

Philanthropy

The work of psychedelics research and drug reform could not have happened without philanthropy, Ginsberg said. This work literally would not have happened without philanthropists, because it historically has not been supported by the government, and at times has even been opposed by the government, she said, adding that although they do work within government systems (including the FDA) to do the research, philanthropy is a huge part of MAPS, weve raised over $130 million, philanthropically over 36 years.

Jewish funders have been a big part of that picture, too, Ginsberg said, including board members David Bronner, the top executive at Dr. Bronners Magic Soaps, and entrepreneur Joe Green, who both serve on the MAPS board, and Tao Capital Partners managing director Joby Pritzker, now board member emeritus. MAPS health-equity initiative, providing access to treatment and training opportunities to bring MDMA-assisted therapy to communities that need it, is funded by Pritzkers Libra Foundation, Dr. Bronners, George Soros Open Society Foundations and Psychedelic Science Funders Collaborative (PSFC), co-founded by Joe Green. Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies provided support for the initiative, as well, designating some of the funding for training scholarships. And the Steve and Alex Cohen Foundation, one of the largest private funders of psychedelic research in the country, has given more than $18.9 million to psychedelic projects, including MAPS.

Kamenetz has received funding for Shefa from Dr. Bronners Family Foundation and the Riverstyx Foundation, in addition to other Jewish backers.

Moving Forward

Another Jewish Psychedelic Summit is in the works but has not yet been publicly announced. The plan is for the conference to be biennial, so the next one would be in May 2023.

The popularity of the summit and the recent selection of Shefa for the 13th cohort of the UpStart Venture Accelerator mark some increased visibility for the venture.

Kamenetz said he still gets calls from rabbinical students who credit their psychedelic activity for their career path, or who are getting psychedelics treatment for depression, and want to Jewishly ritualize it by incorporating or writing new liturgy, visiting the mikvah etc. People are desirous to Judaify this, and it feels like a little bit of spiritual affirmative action, he said.

With psychedelic medicine already addressing mental health issues, other practical applications for the substances may emerge. Ginsberg, working with Leor Roseman, a then-doctoral researcher with Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris at the Centre for Psychedelic Research (CPR) at Imperial College London, and Antwan Saca, a peace and nonviolence activist and interfaith group facilitator who was formerly director of programs at Holy Land Trust in Bethlehem, interviewed 13 Palestinians and 18 Jewish Israelis who drink Ayahuasca together; some participants had partaken more than 10 times each and some more than 100 times. That effort, documented in a paper she co-authored, Can Psychedelics Play a Role in Making Peace and Healing Cycles of Trauma? Early Reflections on Interviews with Palestinians and Israelis Drinking Ayahuasca Together, was funded by American-Israeli Moshe Tov-Kreps, a supporter of MAPS and the founder of Maqamat Music Center in Tzfat.

Though many reported connecting beyond identity, the authors state in the paper, many were also guided by the intergenerational beauty, wisdom, music, language, and spirit of the other side, prompting powerful visions of historical trauma, often experienced through an opposing lens. For example, one Palestinian man reported having a journey as an Israeli soldier, seeing through the lens of a rifle, and feeling a deep compassion for this 18-year-old. A Jewish woman recalls: [At] almost every retreat, there is a moment in which [a small group of Palestinians] are comfortable enough to sing in Arabic. This is always an amazing momentsuddenly you hear your most hated language, by far, maybe the only language in the world that you really didnt like, and suddenly it sends you to light and love.

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Peace, philanthropy and psychedelics: A Jewish lens on the ascendant popularity of psychoactive substances - eJewish Philanthropy

Joe Battista has been an integral part of the Penn State and State College communities since 1978. He is best known for his effort to bring varsity ice hockey to Penn State and in the building of Pegula Ice Arena. He is the owner of PRAGMATIC Passion, LLC consulting, a professional speaker, success coach, and the vice president of the National Athletic and Professional Success Academy (NAPSA). He is the author of a new book, The Power of Pragmatic Passion. Joe lives in State College with his wife Heidi (PSU 81 & 83), daughter Brianna (PSU 15), and sons Jon (PSU 16), and Ryan (State High Class of 2019).

Courage. It has been on my mind a lot lately. So many critics out there, so many people who are great at being a part of the problem but dont have the courage to be part of the solution. Why? Because its easier to talk a big game than to actually make a difference by having the courage to work with others and to get things done especially if it means communicating and possibly compromising to move the needle of progress.

I get so discouraged trying to find unbiased news sources and when I do watch or listen to the news its almost always negative. We are so good at playing the blame game and we will do just about anything to convince ourselves that our own point of view is correct without doing our due diligence. Oh yes, we do need to take a stand on some issues we believe in, especially involving your core values. That takes courage as well. But more and more often it is misguided courage for one reason: We have lost the courage to listen to and discuss issues with those who have a different opinion.

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This country seems to be more and more polarized politically at the very moment in history when we need the courage to come together. I believe that part of the reason we are in this current state of angry and often hostile rhetoric is because we have lost the ability to debate without being debatable. When someone disagrees, we too often want to take our ball and go home. This inability to have crucial conversations about serious topics ends up hurting everyone.

So, I get back to todays topic: courage. The courage to have the tough, intentional and meaningful discussions with loved ones, friends, managers, co-workers and those who are simply different from us. The courage to be open minded, to have respectful and dignified dialogue with people who come from a different point of view from your own. The courage to act on your ideas in a meaningful way to get things done. In the end, you may not have changed your position based on those discussions, but you will have more information, a better understanding of why the differences exist, and I hope you will leave the conversation with a foundation of common courtesy and mutual respect.

When you come across people who are closed off to discussing the pros and cons of topics, especially the polarizing ones, it can be so frustrating and feel like the weight of the world is on you. There are those who are so set in their ways that they will ignore the hard data and evidence staring them right in the face. Grace Hopper, the first female rear admiral in the Navy said, The worst phrase in the world is Weve always done it this way. But for those people who have dug in their heels and are stubbornly determined to ignore the obvious, sometimes you do need to simply remove yourself, especially if tensions begin to mount and you both cannot resist making it personal.

But there are also those who expect you to believe every new idea that comes along simply because its new. Trust but verify, folks! Especially true these days when misinformation and disinformation are spread by so many people within our country and from outside as well. Oh, and by both of our traditional political parties who keep pointing their fingers at each other about spreading fake news when they both do it repeatedly. Personally, I wish theyd all grow up and act like reasonable, commonsense adults more often. I am embarrassed by the behavior modeled by so many of our leaders these days.

I am fortunate to be back in Idaho to teach two weeks of hockey camps for the fifth year. Once again, the Sun Valley Writers Conference is also in town. My wife and I met retired Admiral James Stavridis, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, last year and were fortunate to speak with him again this year. His new book, To Risk it All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision is a book on leadership and decision making from real-life situations, not from Marvel Universe or a Star Wars reboot from Disney Plus.

It is, at its core, a book about courage. In his inscription when he signed my wifes copy of his book he wrote, Leadership matters. Especially in the first 10 seconds. He talks about the ability to make good decisions being like a muscle, it must be exercised carefully, trained to perform at peak readiness, and treated with respect.

We heard Heather McGhee, a dynamic speaker, advocate, lawyer, economic policy expert and author of a new book, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together. Its about how racism and the policies of exclusion have hurt everyone, and how our nation and the world would be a better place if wed get past our own biases. She talked about how we went from a football shaped economy with a bulging middle class to a bow tie shaped one with tremendous wealth on one side and desperate poverty on the other.

We heard Heather speak at the main pavilion and she had the courage to speak from the heart:

Our collective economic progress is being held up by a lie. The zero sum world view that, if someone gains, someone must lose, is a myth. We are not optimizing our economy. We are told we are not on the same team.

She emphasized that everything we believe comes from a story, but whos telling the story? She was the only woman and the only person of color at her job. She felt a growing sense of frustration at the data and policy blind spots that are less accurate about the real world than what she saw with her own eyes. She had the courage to quit her dream job at her economic policy think tank to hit the road to help solve an increasingly difficult problem to spread Radical Empathy.

As my time to complete my article reached its end, Arthur C. Brooks, an acclaimed commonsense conservative and libertarian, was about to speak about his new book, From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life. A subject rather near and dear to my heart these days as my wife and I enter the encore stage of life. His talk will focus about the science of happiness, which he teaches to his MBA students at Harvard Business school. This new book sprouted from what he calls me-search. He did a deep dive into himself. That takes courage. I will share what I learn in a future column.

Listening to these passionate speakers once again raises my passion for a movement toward a more centrist, commonsense party. A fellow speaker told me if you want to maximize your profits as a speaker you have to pick a side politically. Hmmm. But what if I want to pick None of the above? I guess the older I get the more I believe in the power of collective action. The most important things can only be achieved together. Common people coming together for the greater good.

I have personally become so tired of the radical left and the radical right. I worry whether our democracy can survive without people of common sense speaking up and saying, enough already. But that would take courage.

I am tired of some of the so-called experts, at least the ones with massive egos, many of whom come from think-tanks, government policy organizations, C-suites in corporations, the snobby halls of certain academic institutions, professional sports teams and the entertainment industry, who have very little in common with the average person in this country. They make the recommendations and rules without walking in the shoes of the people they supposedly care about and attempt to represent.

You may disagree with me, and I hope many of you do, but I hope you will consider my perspective and be willing to have intentional discussion about the topics and we can find a way to actually move the needle.

I am all about getting the right people, around the right table, at the right time. I am about working together to find commonsense solutions that make sense. I hope others will be inspired by this column and the messages from these authors to be more courageous about being intentional and getting things done.

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The courage to get things done - The Fulcrum

When the Camp Fire racedthrough Paradise, California, in 2018, the towns residents were faced with a decision: They could stay in their homes, which might burn to the ground; they could sit in traffic on one of the four clogged evacuation routes in the fires path; or they could retreat somewhere that might be protected from the encroaching flames. Around 75 people rushed to the west side of town, where they sought refuge in Bille Park, 56 acres of redwood groves, hiking trails and a playground. They spent hours in the citys green space, huddled under a large metal picnic pavilion, sheltering from flying embers, but they survived.

If theyd stayed at home, they wouldve likely perished, said Dan Efseaff, the Paradise Recreation and Park District manager. Sparked by electrical transmission lines, the Camp Fire was the deadliest, most destructive fire in California history. The blaze killed at least 85 people and destroyed 18,000 structures. And it showed how the usual suggestions for home hardening, such as clearing vegetation or removing propane tanks near homes, are not always enough on their own especially since not everyone can afford to do them. Efseaff and other Paradise government leaders realized that when a fire is that dangerous, individual actions arent enough to protect homes and people from future fires. Efseaff is now working on a project that he hopes can protect entire neighborhoods, not just individual properties: a combination firebreak and trail system that would encircle Paradise.

The large pavilion in Bille Park that residents sheltered in during 2018s Camp Fire. The park inspired a model of wildfire resistance that uses community green spaces.

Efseaff had the idea for a perimeter trail before the Camp Fire struck, but the conflagration gave the project a new sense of urgency. And the Bille Park survivors, who turned to a city park in their time of need, inspired him to see park land not only as a space for recreation, but also a potential firebreak. Our vision is to build a buffer around the entire community, he said. Its fire risk reduction from a community standpoint.Its an approach that could protect entire neighborhoods, not just individual homeowners with the time, money and space to landscape their yards and retrofit their homes.

THE PROPOSED COMMUNITY FIREBREAK in Paradise differs from conventional home hardening techniques, which focus on building-level strategies that require homeowners to shore up their own property. Local governments and federal and state agencies like CAL FIRE encourage removing potentially flammable items like stacked firewood, patio furniture and combustible plants like juniper and eucalyptus from a homes immediate vicinity. Homeowners can also install new roofs that replace untreated wood shingles with materials that dont burn as easily, such as concrete, metal and slate, and they can replace single-pane with double-pane windows. Lab research and post-fire analysis show that building materials and design are key factors in determining which homes survive. For example, in 2008, California enacted building codes for new homes in high fire risk areas that required fire-resistant materials and at least 100 feet of defensible space between homes and flammable foliage; in Paradise, about 50% of homes built after 2008 survived the Camp Fire, while only 18% of older homes remained.

Right, a family on a trail in Bille Park in Paradise, California. During the Camp Fire of 2018, some Paradise residents huddled in a pavilion in the park for hours, sheltering from flying embers. The blaze killed at least 85 people and destroyed 18,000 structures. Left, tree trunks burned in Bille Park.

While there are some less expensive measures people can take to protect their homes, like clearing gutters of pine needles, which can act as kindling, most suggested retrofits are neither cheap nor easy and that could leave some homeowners vulnerable. As climate change sets the stage for more frequent and more damaging fires, experts say that wildfire preparedness that protects the life and property of everyone, not just the wealthy, has become a climate equity issue. Retrofitting a three-bedroom home with a new wildfire-resistant roof can cost over $27,000, according to a price study done by Headwaters Economics. A lot of people dont have the time or space to think about wildfire, said Amanda Milici, who helps communities brace for fire at the Tahoe Resource Conservation District. Preparedness really is a privilege.

Current fire retrofit and mitigation recommendations are not designed with all types of housing in mind. Theyre implicitly assuming a single-family home on a large lot, said Kathryn McConnell, an environmental sociologist whorecently completed her PhD at Yale School of the Environment.And that, of course, leaves open the question: How do we protect buildings that are multifamily buildings, or mobile homes in close proximity to other homes? The Camp Fire incinerated the Ridgewood Mobile Home Park retirement community in Paradise; according to unpublished research by McConnell, the fire destroyed over 3,800 mobile homes.

Renters, too, are often left out: Theres often limited incentives for renters to make their own financial investments, and time investments, into improving a property thats ultimately owned by someone else, McConnell said.In South Lake Tahoe, Milici, a renter herself, created a renters guide for how to prepare for wildfire (available in English and Spanish) after she was evacuated during the 2021 Caldor Fire. Although not intentional, we realized our resources werent specifically relatable to nonhomeowners, Milici said. We realized renters wouldnt be able to find information about wildfire preparedness that only applies to them, like renters insurance and making a defensible space plan with your landlord.

And landlords may not take action, either. Brett Van Paepeghem, the southern Idaho project manager for nonprofit Idaho Firewise, helps run a demonstration garden of fire-resistant landscaping in Boise, Idaho. While hes assisted hundreds of individuals and at least a dozen homeowner associations with property consultations over the last 16 years, no landlords have approached him.

Left, a sign for the Camp Fire Survivor Resource Center. Right, Dan Efseaff, the Paradise Recreation and Park District manager.

Rather than just relying on residents to retrofit their homes to mitigate fire, Efseaffs proposal puts the onus of protection on the community. A firebreak could defuse a fire before it even reaches the residents homes. Paradises unique topography naturally sets the perimeter: Butte Creek and the West Branch Feather River carve canyons that create a triangle around the town. The canyons are steep, subject to high winds, and densely treed risky areas for out-of-control wildfire behavior that would benefit from a bordering firebreak. Local land managers will thin dense existing foliage, and then plant or seed new trees to create a narrow strip of healthy forest where theyd tend to potential fuels like overgrown bushes, shrubs and trees. That will also create space to build trails for runners, walkers and bikers. It might also incorporate techniques like prescribed burns and grazing to keep vegetation under control.

Efseaff applied for funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency in December 2020 and is waiting to hear whether the town qualifies. The parks department has acquired 100 acres of property to date, including donations from owners who dont want to rebuild. Its still far from its goal of a total of 16 miles encircling the community, but it has also received private funding that allowed it to hire a project manager to buy more property.

The firebreak wont be easy, or cheap, to create: Land acquisition and initial thinning could run about $30 million. Additionally, scientists dont yet know how effective large firebreaks would be; a literature review by the Conservation Biology Institute, Paradise Recreation and Park District and The Nature Conservancy found that little empirical testing had been done. More field experiments are needed to test firebreaks usefulness and limitations on a large scale.

But thinking outside the box is necessary these days, and Efseaff is optimistic that the project will not only succeed, but also spread the message that community-level wildfire preparedness should be part of every towns fire planning. It matters what happens in the neighborhood, he said. Fire doesnt stop at the fence line.

A swing set at Bille Park, 56 acres of redwood groves, hiking trails and a playground.

Kylie Mohr is an editorialfellow forHigh Country Newswriting from Montana. Email her at[emailprotected]or submit aletter to the editor. See ourletters to the editor policy.

The Institute for Journalism & Natural Resources supported reporting for this story.

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Protecting neighborhoods from future flames (It Takes a Village) High Country News Know the West - High Country News