Commentary
Commentary: Biden calls for a big expansion of offshore wind – but where will the turbines go?
The Biden administration has announced ambitious plans to scale up leasing for offshore wind energy projects along the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts. In an announcement released on Oct. 13, the U.S. Department of the Interior stated that it will “use the best available science as well as knowledge from ocean users and other stakeholders […]
3-Minute Civics: The jury is still out
“You’ve been selected for jury duty.” For some, it’s a thrilling opportunity for vital community participation. For others, it’s the worst news they’ll ever receive from a court. Of course, “You are hereby charged with the following crimes” is a far more chilling phrase, and thanks to the Sixth Amendment, these two statements will forever […]
Editor’s Notebook: Guy Clark Magical Music Hour
My older daughter was born six weeks early, arriving on her mom and dad’s first anniversary. And long before she announced her impending arrival in the middle of a quiet celebratory dinner at The Common Man in Concord, I had already started planning her musical education. I would never be able to teach her how […]
Commentary: How ‘managed retreat’ from climate change could revitalize rural America
Southern Italy’s rural Calabria region announced an innovative project in 2021 to breathe new life into its small towns. It plans to offer young professionals thousands of dollars if they move in and commit to launch a business, preferably a business the community needs. Northwest Arkansas has a similar program to draw new residents to […]
Commentary: The quality of diversity
American diversity is in the spotlight as racial discrimination in the United States reemerges as a major topic of public discussion, touching everything from education to housing to policing. The context of the quality of American diversity is inescapable as multiple debates around race relations continue to rage. We tend to think of diversity in […]
Commentary: Ivermectin is a Nobel Prize-winning wonder drug – but not for COVID-19
Ivermectin is an over 30-year-old wonder drug that treats life- and sight-threatening parasitic infections. Its lasting influence on global health has been so profound that two of the key researchers in its discovery and development won the Nobel Prize in 2015. I’ve been an infectious disease pharmacist for over 25 years. I’ve also managed patients […]
Commentary: How the climate crisis is transforming the meaning of ‘sustainability’ in business
In his 2021 letter to CEOs, Larry Fink, the CEO and chairman of BlackRock, the world’s largest investment manager, wrote: “No issue ranks higher than climate change on our clients’ lists of priorities.” His comment reflected a growing unease with how the climate crisis is already disrupting businesses. Companies’ concerns about climate change have typically […]
Editor’s Notebook: A tumultuous privacy of pandemic
Sometimes a bright red leaf on damp earth is enough to break your heart. I took the photo in August, during a long walk on a quiet road, a full four weeks before the official beginning of autumn. It was a warm Sunday afternoon, and I wasn’t so much caught in the rain as chasing […]
Commentary: If you want to support the health and wellness of kids, stop focusing on their weight
Since the pandemic started, people of all ages have gained weight. At the same time, the rate at which youth and young adults are seeking treatment for eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa and binge eating disorder, has increased. While the reasons for these changes are complex, pandemic-related stress and weight bias – the belief that […]
Commentary: State has created a mess with SPU, and now is the time to clean it up
Late last week the Department of Health and Human Services held the first information session via Zoom about the proposed forensic hospital on the New Hampshire Hospital campus. A representative from New Hampshire Hospital and the Department of Public Works were present to discuss plans thus far and answer questions. We at Advocates for Ethical […]
Commentary: Growing demand for deeper wells is tapping ancient water reserves
Communities that rely on the Colorado River are facing a water crisis. Lake Mead, the river’s largest reservoir, has fallen to levels not seen since it was created by the construction of the Hoover Dam roughly a century ago. Arizona and Nevada are facing their first-ever mandated water cuts, while water is being released from […]
3-Minute Civics: Public spaces make commonalities, town squares create allies
In just about every town in New Hampshire, you will find at its center a public common or town square. The ubiquity of these open spaces suggests that town and urban planners shared the same goal. They tried to create and maintain a public space or common area where the various social fabric that weaves […]