Laurel Green

Cutting fossil fuel consumption can make lives better

The Oct. 4 edition of The Commons' Voices section offered a winning double header about the climate emergency and the role of car-centric culture.

Then we had Indigenous Peoples' Day, when their leaders continued to tell us that we need to cut our consumption of everything, including the use of fossil fuels. In fact, Marcie Rendon. an Indigenous leader whose thinking I respect, asks us to cut our consumption in half this year and then in half the following year.

Some people say this will make our lives harder. However, I suggest this will make our lives better.

We can focus on the possibility of living more cooperatively; more connected with our families, friends and neighbors; and more in harmony with the Earth. The pace of life can be slower and more enjoyable.

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In a global climate crisis, we must let go of Harris Hill Ski Jump

The Harris Hill Ski Jump Competition needs to become a fond memory of the past - a memory of Vermont when we had enough snow in the winter to cover the jump and the target zone. When people had to bundle up to be spectators, oohing and ahhing at...

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Let’s hold our shared values for Rockingham

We have just passed the one-year anniversary of the Let's Take Action Rockingham program set up by our town. During our many hours of conversation and deliberation, we came up with a vision for the future of Rockingham. Today, as we look back over the past year and are...

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Yes, they’ve made changes

At the July 4th parade in Saxtons River, I spent the morning as a member of the local 350 Vermont Mountain Valley Climate Action group handing pennies to 60 people. I asked each the question, “Have you made changes in your life because of the climate crisis?” If they answered affirmatively, they put their penny in the jar marked “yes” and then got to tell about the changes they have made. I listened to folks from near and far, ranging...

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