Sustainability in Ithaca
“The connection between good action, social justice, and sustainability is our ability to move forward as a people relying on the strengths of our relationships and our purpose of sustaining life and equity on our planet” (Ant)
We support the development and maintenance of conveniently located playgrounds and parks to be accessible in all sections of our city. In addition we support the reclamation of unused city land to be transformed into local urban farms/gardens that offer access to healthy eating in our downtown communities.
{Collaborating Organizations would be CCE, G4H, Groundswell, Sustainable Tompkins, The Congo Square Market, La Marketa, Market Box and small surrounding towns and farmers.
SUBSECTION OF GREENING OUR PUBLIC: We support movements against the contamination of our local community. We will do everything in our governing power to demand the timely cleanup and restoration of currently contaminated sites and also take seriously any new claims of health hazard in our community. In addition we will stand up against the future development of corporate exploitation and contamination of Ithaca land.
Recent Public Ecological concerns:
Exploitative gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale and all Hydro-Fracking and its impact on people and land in regions surrounding its implementation, Lead in the Ithaca Falls, Cayuga Lake-source cooling project, Waste water from the animal carcass digester at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine overflow into our water system, over-development on the Ithaca’s West end and the College town Consolidation, and many other developments.
We support the development and maintenance of conveniently located playgrounds and parks to be accessible in all sections of our city. In addition we support the reclamation of unused city land to be transformed into local urban farms/gardens that offer access to healthy eating in our downtown communities.
{Collaborating Organizations would be CCE, G4H, Groundswell, Sustainable Tompkins, The Congo Square Market, La Marketa, Market Box and small surrounding towns and farmers.
SUBSECTION OF GREENING OUR PUBLIC: We support movements against the contamination of our local community. We will do everything in our governing power to demand the timely cleanup and restoration of currently contaminated sites and also take seriously any new claims of health hazard in our community. In addition we will stand up against the future development of corporate exploitation and contamination of Ithaca land.
Recent Public Ecological concerns:
Exploitative gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale and all Hydro-Fracking and its impact on people and land in regions surrounding its implementation, Lead in the Ithaca Falls, Cayuga Lake-source cooling project, Waste water from the animal carcass digester at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine overflow into our water system, over-development on the Ithaca’s West end and the College town Consolidation, and many other developments.
Opinion: Sustainability is a practice that is often viewed as an adjustment in our ecology (relationship with the earth). This is a noble and rationale approach to sustaining the planet and our existence on it. However, in contemporary society, to truly become sustainable, we must look beyond our societal limitations of classism, racism, gender inequity and homophobia.
One quick example, in the United States there exist a major gap between those who can afford the expendable time and money to engage in the “popular” version of “sustainability”. Many people cannot afford the expensive organic foods, goods and accessories that are often being pushed on non-local markets. Many people are also kept from affording the expendable time and resources to ride a bike or compost their fruits and vegetables, or organize with local organizations associated with sustainability. These inequities are rarely the fault of good acting people who promote the cause of sustainability; even though these groups are often comprised of middle to upper-class white people who are unsure of how to include the rest of the people in the process. To the contrary, and the exact reason for the need to achieve social sustainability, is that the social structure that we live complacently under does not promote, and nearly allows for our diverse population of people to work together towards a future that can thrive at no persons expense.
That being just one example of the many social inequities that deny most people the access to a healthy and “eco-friendly” lifestyle. It is clear that we are going to be unable to obtain a sustainable ecology without also working as a collective with a common purpose.
What does Social Sustainability look like?
Being socially sustainable is being able to engage all people in the process of creating a future that will allow for us and the next generation to live in a healthy environment, with an equitable school system, a non-confrontational foreign policy, long lasting and well funded social programs, in a safe, sturdy and energy efficient home, with quality affordable or free healthcare …
This task seems daunting…and it is! To begin we should work towards being able to sustain our local population with local materials and supplies; as does Community Building Inc. This must happen across all race, gender and class lines (working class, middle class, upper class, farmers, local artisans and markets). The understanding and mantra needs to be “We as a local community will establish the model of modern day sustainability; socially, in our ecology and passionately”.
In addition we can use our local and state given rights to petition to the people who drastically impact all people in the United States. We must also continue to use our voice as people, together in the streets, and in our everyday living. When I say voice I am referring to our ability to overcome the temptations of ignorance and to fight for what we collectively KNOW to be our human rights…
(Anthony Gallucci)
One quick example, in the United States there exist a major gap between those who can afford the expendable time and money to engage in the “popular” version of “sustainability”. Many people cannot afford the expensive organic foods, goods and accessories that are often being pushed on non-local markets. Many people are also kept from affording the expendable time and resources to ride a bike or compost their fruits and vegetables, or organize with local organizations associated with sustainability. These inequities are rarely the fault of good acting people who promote the cause of sustainability; even though these groups are often comprised of middle to upper-class white people who are unsure of how to include the rest of the people in the process. To the contrary, and the exact reason for the need to achieve social sustainability, is that the social structure that we live complacently under does not promote, and nearly allows for our diverse population of people to work together towards a future that can thrive at no persons expense.
That being just one example of the many social inequities that deny most people the access to a healthy and “eco-friendly” lifestyle. It is clear that we are going to be unable to obtain a sustainable ecology without also working as a collective with a common purpose.
What does Social Sustainability look like?
Being socially sustainable is being able to engage all people in the process of creating a future that will allow for us and the next generation to live in a healthy environment, with an equitable school system, a non-confrontational foreign policy, long lasting and well funded social programs, in a safe, sturdy and energy efficient home, with quality affordable or free healthcare …
This task seems daunting…and it is! To begin we should work towards being able to sustain our local population with local materials and supplies; as does Community Building Inc. This must happen across all race, gender and class lines (working class, middle class, upper class, farmers, local artisans and markets). The understanding and mantra needs to be “We as a local community will establish the model of modern day sustainability; socially, in our ecology and passionately”.
In addition we can use our local and state given rights to petition to the people who drastically impact all people in the United States. We must also continue to use our voice as people, together in the streets, and in our everyday living. When I say voice I am referring to our ability to overcome the temptations of ignorance and to fight for what we collectively KNOW to be our human rights…
(Anthony Gallucci)