Sustainability and Connectivity
-
Addressing the Shortfalls of Mainstream Environmentalism Through Food Justice
Marian Mwenja’s passion for fairness began at a young age: “My mom tells me that as a child, even when I was the one getting the good end of the deal, I would get upset if something wasn’t fair for everyone.”
“This concept of environmental justice really made my soul light up—I can do something to protect this beautiful Earth that I love so dearly while also tending to this ache I have for all the harm and violence that is happening to people all the time,” says Mwenja. Believing that environmental destruction is rooted in the control and oppression of certain groups of people, Mwenja can’t fathom talking about climate crisis without talking about anti-Blackness and colonialism.
-
Urban Walkabout: Traveling Afoot Sustains a Sense of Community
While traveling abroad, Dan Burden fell in love with some cities, but was unable to pinpoint why. “Then I realized that they were just like American cities, except they were designed the time-honored way, for people, and just accommodating their cars, not the other way around,” he says.
Imagine a busy, people-filled scene in Austin, Texas, Fairbanks, Alaska, or New York City, in contrast to an empty street in a sprawling, suburban neighborhood, with many garages, but few sidewalks and community parks. As co-founder of the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute (WalkLive.org), headquartered in Port Townsend, Washington, Burden has spent the last 20 years imagining and fostering walkability by shifting the design focus of cities from cars to people. He believes a community qualifies as walkable when walking around in it is a natural activity.
-
Whole School Sustainability and Conservation in Alabama
When Auburn University Associate Professor Dr. Lisa Kensler began pursuing her doctorate degree in educational leadership, it became obvious to her that sustainability was not part of the curriculum. This realization, coupled with her personal career path, working as an ecologist for U.S. Fish and Wildlife before becoming a secondary science teacher for 10 years, resulted in her current dedication to whole-school sustainability. Kensler says, “This has become the focus of my research— how do we prepare our school leaders so they are able to facilitate a passion for sustainability in their school communities? How can we apply ecological principles to make schools more environmentally, economically and socially responsible?”
-
Sharing the Road and Educating the Community
The streets of Fairhope are undergoing a makeover. As the first city in Alabama to adopt a Complete Streets policy, the city has made it a priority to make the streets safer for everyone— drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.
Over a period of several months, unfamiliar markings and a new approach to striping has begun to appear on the downtown roads. During this transitional period, many Fairhope residents are unsure of the changes.
Mayor Tim Kant says, “I know the new markings and lines look odd. They are different from what we are used to seeing, and they represent a new way to think about streets and traffic. Streets used to be designed just for the benefit of cars and drivers. New ways of thinking leads to streets that work for everyone, and this requires slower traffic.”
-
Inspiring Campus Sustainability at University of South Alabama
As the country experienced economic decline during the Great Recession, global studies warned that green initiatives on a corporate level would be put on hold. However, in many cases, the pressure to cut spending actually initiated environmental efficiency as demonstrated by the formation of University of South Alabama’s (USA) Sustainability Committee in 2010.
“We formed the committee to improve sustainability and resiliency around campus and initially our emphasis was on energy conservation as a way to reduce resource consumption and spending,” says one of the committee’s founders, Associate Professor and Assistant Director of University Honors Doug Marshall.
The team of faculty and students launched awareness campaigns to educate students about the impacts of things such as leaving electronic devices plugged in overnight and leaving lights on in unoccupied rooms. “On an individual basis, these are small amounts of energy being wasted, but as a campus, this consumption adds up to be substantial,” says Marshall.
-
Learning to Ride a Bike Again: Social Bicycle Rides Foster Alternative Transportation
While Lance Armstrong is a household name for most, the fast-paced sport of cycling and its streamlined clothing isn’t for everyone. Fueled by the desire to have fun and a growing appreciation for active and sustainable living, a new bicycle movement is taking off in Mobile and Baldwin counties. This slower paced form of two-wheeled transportation boasts enjoyable social activities, healthy lifestyles and a heightened sense of community.
When Niklas Hallberg moved to Mobile with his wife and kids, he noticed that not as many people walked or biked to town as did he and his family. Having lived in cities where active lifestyles are more common, the Hallbergs started Mobilians on Bikes (MOB) (Facebook. com/Groups/MobiliansOnBikes) to meet like-minded individuals and encourage others to become more active. Hallberg recalls, “We thought there must be other folks who would like to ride their bikes as a means of transportation. It’s good for the environment, good for your health— it’s the healthier way to get around.”
-
Paving the Way for More Bicycles and Pedestrians
Community-driven bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly initiatives have been on the rise for many years in the Bay Area. After 15 years, The Baldwin County Trailblazers have nearly completed the Eastern Shore Trail, a 32-mile multipurpose trail from Battleship Park to Weeks Bay Reserve. More recently, groups such as Mobilians on Bikes and the Slow Bicycle Society have formed to promote cycling as both a leisurely recreational activity and viable mode of transportation. Municipalities and transportation planning organizations on both sides of the bay have taken note and are now bringing together citizens, advocacy organizations, planners and elected officials to make walking and bicycling more convenient and safe for the residents of Lower Alabama.