FAST COMPANY 04/24/18 By Michael Shank and Maxine Bedat Everyone in fashion is talking about “circularity,” but just focusing on reuse isn’t enough to lower the industry’s massive carbon footprint. Imagine if every piece of clothing you own could be recycled into fully new garments when they were worn out, […]
VTDIGGER 03/25/18 Michael Shank & Maxine Bédat Editor’s note: This commentary is by Michael Shank and Maxine Bédat. Shank, of Brandon, is the communications director for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. Maxine Bédat co-founded the sustainable apparel company Zady and is a leader in […]
FAST COMPANY 03/23/18 By Michael Shank and US Congressman Matt Cartwright The USDA is formulating its next set of dietary guidelines. An advisory panel has already recommended an increase in plant-based diets, and the USDA should listen to them. The latest developments in the food industry show how fast the […]
TIMES ARGUS 02/16/18 By Michael Shank and Mary Falcon We don’t need a mega-prison in Vermont. We need a mega-commitment to keeping people out of prison. When Human Services Secretary Al Gobeille proposed building a new $150 million mega-prison in Vermont with taxpayer money — which CoreCivic (formerly the scandal-ridden […]
VTDIGGER 02/13/18 By Michael Shank and Leilani Münter Editor’s note: This commentary is by Michael Shank and Leilani Münter. Shank, of Brandon, is the communications director for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and Urban Sustainability Directors Network and writes in his personal capacity. Münter is a biology graduate turned professional race […]
VTDIGGER 12/10/17 By Michael Shank Editor’s note: This commentary is by Michael Shank, Ph.D., of Brandon, who is the communications director for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. He writes in his personal capacity. Economists love it. Republicans love it. Democrats love it. Big multinational […]
12 Ways to Improve Climate Change Communications HUFFINGTON POST 11/22/17 CNCA 11/08/19 By Michael Shank Environmentalists have long depended on good data and sound science to determine the direction of their advocacy agendas. Climate change campaigns are an excellent example of this. They’re reliant on rigorous modeling, and the science-based […]
VICE 9/22/17 By Michael Shank As diplomats meet at the United Nations this week, it’s more important than ever that all people are empowered to engage the challenges of these times. This September, as world leaders gather in New York City for the General Assembly of the United Nations, the […]
VENTURA COUNTY STAR 08/28/17 By Mike Harris The Thousand Oaks/Oxnard/Ventura metropolitan area ranks eighth among the 100 most populous such areas in the nation in terms of progress toward sustainable development, according to a new survey by a group that works with the United Nations. The Sustainable Development Solutions Network […]
THE HILL 08/21/17 By Michael Shank and US Congresswoman Yvette Clarke This country desperately needs a positive vision, some goals for where we’re going. Instead, it’s all negative all the time; a daily slashing and burning of hard-fought protections. Take the environment, for example. In this month, the Trump administration […]