Coal, Oil, and Gas brought us the Industrial Revolution. They brought us mass production, factories, automobiles, air flight, warmth in the winter, air conditioning in the summer, and the amazing array of consumer goods that fill our homes and make us comfortable, or at least keep us occupied. It has been the foundation of our economy and our way of life.
But we are now paying a terrible price for all that abundance. The burning of fossil fuels is destroying the biosphere upon which we all depend. It is causing wildfires, not just on our West Coast, but all across the world, even inside the Arctic Circle. Paradoxically, it is bringing us both floods and droughts, both heat domes and the polar vortex. read more
Kathy Kelly has traveled to war zones and lived alongside ordinary people in Afghanistan, Iraq, Gaza, Lebanon, Bosnia, Haiti and Nicaragua. She and her companions in various peace team delegations believe the U.S. should end all U.S. military and economic warfare and pay reparations for suffering already caused by U.S. wars. In 2009, she lived with a family in Gaza during the final week of Israel’s “Operation Cast Lead” aerial attacks. In 2013, she arrived in Gaza just after a cease fire was declared following Israel’s “Operation Pillar of Defense.” In 2003, she entered the Jenin refugee camp, in the West Bank, while it was under attack. Kathy wrote eyewitness reports about the suffering and destruction she and her companions witnessed. read more
Responses to the FVC4PNJ questionnaire for candidates for the ECC Board of Trustees:
We send the questionnaire to all four candidates. Two responded. Two did not respond.
Joyce Fountain
1) Is ECC doing a good job of protecting the health of students, faculty, and staff during the covid-19 pandemic? What would you do differently to strengthen those efforts?
I have been retired from ECC for approximately 15 months, but it appears that ECC is taking the important steps to protect the health of individuals that come to campus during the pandemic. Routine activities have been modified including most courses being taught virtually, many faculty have modified their styles of teaching to improve student learning and are in contact with students more frequently; all individuals’ temperatures must be taken to access the campus; most employees are working off campus and the campus is cleaned more regularly and effectively.read more
Five candidates responded to our questionnaire. The other candidates did not reply. Click on Read More and Scroll down to read the responses of all five.
Anthony Ortiz
How would you address homelessness in Elgin?
I believe the community, City Hall, non-profits, and our neighboring villages and cities need to work hand in hand to help try to solve this problem. Homelessness is an issue that is impacting all communities.
I support PADS and their great efforts to help the homeless in Elgin and the surrounding areas. The city owns many buildings through-out Elgin and 600 S. State Street is one of them. This property is located on the edge of Elgin away from all the downtown soup kitchens and public transportation. So, is this building the best suitable location? Maybe it is, but again I would like the everyone to work together on this and not force it into a certain neighborhood without community conversion where all the stakeholders can voice their thoughts and ideas.read more
FOX VALLEY CITIZENS FOR PEACE & JUSTICESCHOLARSHIP
To be considered for this $750 scholarship, you must meet the following criteria.
Be a senior in a District U-46 high school
Be enrolled in or have an application pending at an accredited college
The following items must be mailed no later than April 9, 2021, to Fox Valley Citizens for Peace and Justice, PO #3, Geneva, IL 60134.
A recommendation from a teacher and/or supervisor
An essay of no more than 1,000 words, typed
The application form below, completed and stapled to the essay
The essay: Many of the issues that Fox Valley Citizens for Peace and Justice addresses are on the back of this page. After reviewing them, select one or an aspect of one and explain in your own words why you believe it to be important. Include any volunteer work or social action you have participated in to advance this and/or any other of these issues.read more
Promoting peace, a stronger democracy, and social and economic justice through education, dialog, and action
