(Tompkins Weekly, 8-12-26, by Elizabeth Keokosky) As early as 1972 American law professor Christopher Stone wrote a detailed, 52-page, seminal article, “Should trees have standing – toward legal rights for natural objects.” Stone writes, “Throughout legal history, each successive extension of rights to some new entity has been, theretofore, a bit unthinkable.” The article acknowledges…
(Tompkins Weekly, 7-7-26, by Charles McKenzie) When federal food benefits were cut over the past year, the impact didn’t fall evenly — it landed hardest on children in households already stretched thin by low wages and the rising cost of living. Families who were already walking a tightrope soon found themselves balancing over a canyon.…
Tompkins Weekly, 5-13-26, by Patrice Lockert Anthony Let’s start with something uncomfortable: sustainability doesn’t begin with government laws. Consent of the governed doesn’t begin at the ballot box. It begins with self-governance. One person. Then that person-in-community. Therein lies the dilemma. Until individuals—and the communities they build—actually behave as holders of power, politicians (whose moral…
(Tompkins Weekly, 3-11-26, by Joey Diana Gates) In the efforts to reduce waste the mantra, “Refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle,” is very familiar. This hierarchy of actions offers the best ways to keep food packaging out of landfills. While efforts to encourage Refuse/Reduce such as Bring Your Own containers, and Reuse, such as the provision…
(Tompkins Weekly, 2-18-26, by concerned Danby community members) We acknowledge that Water is Life and that we are living on land continuously inhabited by Indigenous GayogohÓ:no people. There is a book of Iroquois teachings written by Tom Porter (Sakokweniónkwas), titled And Grandma Said…It’s interesting that Porter’s book notes that the Iroquois recognized that white people…
(Tompkins Weekly, 1-14-26, by Elizabeth Karabinakis) Healthy Food For All (HFFA) was founded in 2006 to help low-income households gain reliable access to locally grown produce while supporting nearby farms via Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). What started with just a few farms feeding 18 households has grown into a nationwide best-practice model helping to nourish…
Tompkins Weekly, 12-10-25, by The Danby Resilience Community Prompted by community concerns with our collective well-being, Danby Food and Drink (DF&D) proprietor, Kartik Sribarra, invited folks to meet at his store to explore opportunities to engage in mutual cooperation and to discuss local resilience. “There was no specific agenda or target audience,” shared Sribarra. “I…
(Tompkins Weekly, 11-12-25, by Joey Diana Gates) Since its beginnings back in 1991, the folks organizing the GrassRoots Festival have partnered with local volunteers to help divert as much waste as possible from neighboring landfills. This includes what has become robust compost and recycling systems that can be seen all over the festival. The waste…
(Tompkins Weekly, 10-7-25, by Gay Nicholson, President, Sustainable Finger Lakes) Thanks to excellent coverage by local journalists at Ithaca Voice, Tompkins Weekly, and Ithaca Times, our community has been briefed on the basic issues of the proposed hyperscale AI data center at the old coal plant site in Lansing by bitcoin miner TeraWulf. Local opinion…
Tompkins Weekly, 9-10-25, by Emily La When conversations about climate change make headlines, it tends to be dominated by national or global voices, overlooking perspectives closer to home. Not only can this lead to feeling overwhelmed when it comes to taking climate action, but a 2022 Pew Research study found that some Americans also discredit…
(Tompkins Weekly, 8-13-25, by Peter Bardaglio) The big news from the Ithaca 2030 District is that 2024 marks the second year in a row that the District exceeded the 2025 targets for both energy and water consumption. The District realized overall energy savings of 36% from the baseline last year and used 55% less water…
(Tompkins Weekly, 7-9-25, by Eric Banford) After years of effort by various dedicated volunteers, the Coddington Valley Trail (tentatively named) is finally coming to fruition. The New York State Public Service Commission approved the sale by NYSEG of an easement to the towns of Ithaca, Dryden, Caroline and Danby for a “rail trail” that will…
Tompkins Weekly, 6-18-25, by Aimée Lehmann The Soil Factory in Ithaca, NY is a community space at the edge of town where art, science and sustainability come together to create new collaborations, new experiences and new ideas. We celebrate experimental learning while exploring new partnerships, and as artists, students, scientists, farmers, entrepreneurs, and interested community…
Tompkins Weekly, 5-15-25, by Eric Banford The Gayogo̱hónǫ́ Learning Project will continue their series of free, thought-provoking films by showing “Neither Wolf nor Dog,” based on the award-winning novel by Kent Nerburn, at Cinemapolis on Sunday, June 1, at 2:30 p.m. This initiative aims to “foster understanding and open minds by sharing diverse stories and…
(Tompkins Weekly, 3-9-25, by Joey Diana Gates) Spring has come again, and its zigzagging weather has me closing windows and thermal shades as the heat pump restarts while I write. Baby plants are emerging, local farmers markets are opening for the season, and calendars are filling with opportunities to learn about our shared home. Earth…