#greencitysavior

christencciviletto

Apr 22, 2016
3 min

It's Not Just a #Hashtag

It happens every April 22nd. People all over the world plaster their social media with stunning pictures of ancient sea turtles, budding flowers, or placid seascapes. We pause to appreciate creation in all its glory. We pledge to use less, recycle more. We are inspired. It’s #EarthDay2016 after all. But as I surf the Internet and enjoy these gorgeous posts, I can’t help but wonder. Have we forgotten that Earth Day is more than a hashtag? We have Gaylord Nelson to thank for th

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RABBLEWRITER! Creatively Exposing Wrong Things

christencciviletto

Apr 1, 2016
3 min

RABBLEWRITER! Creatively Exposing Wrong Things

Great fiction has sometimes changed the way the world thinks. Readers may have identified so closely with a character’s plight that inaction at the end of the story was not an option. Or, an author’s vivid portrayal of filthy housing conditions, chain gangs, or slavery sparked a movement that fostered social change. Books like Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle come to mind. (Sinclair’s novel about the unhealthy conditions in the meatpac

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christencciviletto

Feb 9, 2016
6 min

The Meaning of the Word.

I’m used to the odd looks. Person talking to me: “You’re an environmentalist ... and a Christian?” Me: “Yep.” Cue the [raised eyebrows] [barely concealed smirks] [twisted theological doctrines]. The reactions come from people of all stripes. People outside the faith are understandably perplexed. “Seriously, you Christians care about these things?” And who can blame them? Modern-day followers of Christ haven’t exactly embraced environmental causes as a c

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Flint, Michigan: It's Not Just About the Water

christencciviletto

Jan 19, 2016
4 min

Flint, Michigan: It's Not Just About the Water

The emerging toxic water crisis in Flint, Michigan, is about more than water. It's about moving swiftly to help those who’ve been affected by this travesty. It's about righting some terrible wrongs. It’s about accountability. Transparency. In short, it’s about morality. Here’s the basic facts: The city of Flint, Michigan, was in serious financial trouble. The state took over management of the city’s budget. In an attempt to save money, in April of 2014, state officials decide

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The Microbead Ban: A Good Start, But Where’s the Corporate Accountability?

christencciviletto

Jan 3, 2016
3 min

The Microbead Ban: A Good Start, But Where’s the Corporate Accountability?

Microbeads are tiny plastic balls that are used in personal care products. They’re the muscle behind facial scrubs. They give toothpaste its shine. A single cosmetic product can contain up to 300,000 beads, each no larger than a grain of salt. Given their small size and widespread use, microbeads seem harmless enough. But they’re not. Microbeads are an environmental hazard that will have far-reaching consequences for the world’s waterways – and any living thing that relies up

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Amidst All The Climate Summit Hoopla, Let’s Not Ignore This Pitfall.

christencciviletto

Dec 8, 2015
3 min

Amidst All The Climate Summit Hoopla, Let’s Not Ignore This Pitfall.

Political agendas are getting greener. But is there a hidden downside? More than 30,000 diplomats and delegates from all over the world have gathered in Paris to hash out an agreement that will commit countries to reduce their respective greenhouse gas emissions. The summit is historic. Monumental. And will no doubt ignite an explosion of inventions, start-ups, and government-funded green initiatives. In its wake, we’ll see new ideas and new products. Indeed, Bill Gates has j

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PEACE? Let’s Start With What We Share, Not What Divides

christencciviletto

Oct 13, 2015
2 min

PEACE? Let’s Start With What We Share, Not What Divides

This week at a conference I met three women sitting next to each other. The woman closest to me was Muslim. Next to her sat a Jewish woman. And the woman on the end? You guessed it: Christian. Interesting coincidence, I thought. Then I learned that they are part of an intentional community. They live together. Eat together. Side by side, they study, garden, clean, cry, exercise, and debate. Muslim, Jew and Christian. In fact, lots of other women and men live in this community

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ENVIRONMENTAL PEACEBUILDING: An Old Idea Is New Again

christencciviletto

Sep 26, 2015
4 min

ENVIRONMENTAL PEACEBUILDING: An Old Idea Is New Again

There’s a new concept gaining steam on the international scene. It’s called "environmental peacebuilding” or “environmental peacemaking” (and sometimes “environmental mediation”). It’s based on the principle that our common dependence on the natural world—clean water, fresh air, usable timber, or accessible oil, metals and minerals—can provide a pathway to peace for parties in conflict. Put another way, it’s the idea that cooperation among countries is essential because natur

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My Prayer for the "World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation"

christencciviletto

Sep 1, 2015
2 min

My Prayer for the "World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation"

YOUR Glory, Lord, is evident everywhere in Creation—from the graceful arches of the willow tree, to the deep, abiding peace that comes with the crash of ocean waves. You are the creative force behind the spider’s web, the artist’s eye, the mountain’s craggy silhouette. Thank you for the cicadas that provide the backdrop to summer nights. For the whitewash covering of snow. Thank you for crisp air tinged with the smell of decaying leaves. For spring’s earthy aroma that evokes

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THE POLITICIANS MISSED THIS ONE: The Link Between Environmental Degradation & Poverty

christencciviletto

Aug 21, 2015
6 min

THE POLITICIANS MISSED THIS ONE: The Link Between Environmental Degradation & Poverty

More jobs! For decades, politicians have harped on the need for more jobs as the remedy for poverty. It’s the way to revive dying cities, they say. The path for bettering your circumstances, paying for college, securing your family’s future. Jobs are the answer. But perhaps those politicos have overlooked something. It’s hard to work when you’re sick. It’s hard to ace the job interview when you’re loopy from pain meds. Or when your eyes are red from lack of sleep. It’s hard t

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URBAN LEGENDS & MYTHS: Should We Investigate Rumored Toxic Dumps?

christencciviletto

Aug 1, 2015
6 min

URBAN LEGENDS & MYTHS: Should We Investigate Rumored Toxic Dumps?

These scenarios sound like the beginning of a horror movie: Kids running through the woods stumble across corroded fifty-gallon drums… Children’s fingers burning from the shiny rocks they’re tossing around… Rainbow-colored water pooling in a basement hole dug for a new home… If you grew up in Western New York, or in any aging industrial city, you’ve probably heard stories like these. They’re rumored dump sites. The places people have whispered about for years. Perhaps as kids

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ACTION & REACTION: Public Outcry Over Sewage Results In Change

christencciviletto

Jul 22, 2015
4 min

ACTION & REACTION: Public Outcry Over Sewage Results In Change

Last month, nearly seven million gallons of untreated sewage water were discharged into Scajaquada Creek. And that was just in one fourteen hour period. According to the EPA, Buffalo’s combined sewer system contributes over 1.75 billion gallons of sewage overflow to the Niagara River and its tributaries each year. You read it right. That’s billion with a “b.” Nobody wants to swim in a toilet. Yet, for many Western New Yorkers, that’s exactly what happens when they recreate al

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When It Comes To An Environmental Wrong, Which One Are You?

christencciviletto

Jul 14, 2015
3 min

When It Comes To An Environmental Wrong, Which One Are You?

Are you the Blamer, Fixer, Liar or Leaver? How would you respond to an environmental catastrophe? It depends, you might say. Is it close? Is there an immediate need, or is this a long-term problem? Are my children suffering? Are my pets having seizures? Does it affect my breathing? How much do I know? Good questions, all. In Green City Savior the main characters all had to decide how they would respond to an environmental disaster. And they each chose differently. Can you see

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ALL MEANS ALL - And It Might Just Wreck Your Stance On Environmentalism

christencciviletto

Jul 1, 2015
3 min

ALL MEANS ALL - And It Might Just Wreck Your Stance On Environmentalism

God has an amazing plan to redeem and restore things that became broken when disobedience entered the picture. He calls it reconciliation. The Bible says that He’s reconciling to Himself all things through Jesus Christ. And by all things, he means all. Things like people, animals, and the natural world. Creation itself. Here’s the kicker: we’re called to participate in this plan! Since His plan for restoration centers upon Christ, we should start there. Let's examine what He

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CRUDE AND THE CROSS: What Does Environmentalism Have To Do With Faith?

christencciviletto

Jun 16, 2015
8 min

CRUDE AND THE CROSS: What Does Environmentalism Have To Do With Faith?

Christians haven’t exactly been known as the protectors of the planet. They’re sometimes maligned as narrow-minded capitalists who would sacrifice the last green tree on Earth for the sake of corporate profit. Or heartless monsters who would gleefully log the spotted owl into extinction. Stereotyping? Perhaps. But, then again, where was the Christian outcry when the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster rained down radiation on Northern Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Europe? When po

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OVERWHELMED BY THE PROSPECT OF CONFRONTING AN ENVIRONMENTAL WRONG? Rest Easy and Read On

christencciviletto

Jun 1, 2015
6 min

OVERWHELMED BY THE PROSPECT OF CONFRONTING AN ENVIRONMENTAL WRONG? Rest Easy and Read On

“How do we start?” It’s a question I hear over and over. Many of you recognize that there are environmental problems in your area—or at least you’re concerned about the potential for one. But you’re overwhelmed with the thought of what you can do. After all, you’re just one person. You have a job or a household to run, or maybe both. You might feel that you’re too young or too old to take on a cause. Lots of you are sick. Many have no money. Rest easy. Today I want to offer a

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christencciviletto

May 12, 2015
6 min

PLOW THROUGH: Eliminate Bureaucratic Obstacles When You’re Taking a Stand.

It takes a great deal of persistence and fortitude to stand up to wrong things, especially when you’re sure to encounter major obstacles along the way. Obstacles like half-answers or non-answers. Here’s some tips on plowing through those barriers and getting something done: ● Keep the Goal in Mind. It’s easy to get sidetracked when you’re pressing for information, or trying to dig deeper to figure out what’s happening around you. You can get lost on a rabbit trail and emerge

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christencciviletto

May 12, 2015
5 min

WHAT LIES BENEATH? Start Here to Learn What's Buried Near You (part II)

I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard someone say “I can only imagine what’s buried in THAT landfill,” or “I wonder what poisons are flowing through THAT creek.” Or, worse, “we’re probably living on top of a dump and don’t even know it.” I’d be a rich woman. So, instead of nodding my head in agreement about the unknowables, I’ve adopted another response: Let’s find out. Let’s stop wondering. Let’s start researching. Some of the answers we seek are readily available.

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christencciviletto

May 2, 2015
4 min

WHAT LIES BENEATH? Start Here To Learn What's Buried Near You (part 1)

Have you ever wondered what’s buried in the ground near your house? What toxins are polluting the air in your neighborhood? What’s flowing through the water in the creek outside? Maybe you’ve questioned whether a toxic landfill is artfully hidden in the open, grassy area near your workplace. Wonder no more. New and old online sources of information hold some of the answers you need. It just proves that sometimes technology really can be … healthy. I’ve written before about wa

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christencciviletto

Apr 20, 2015
3 min

YOU CAN FIGHT CITY HALL ... AND WIN

I’ve heard this saying more times than I care to count. “You Can’t Fight City Hall.” Essentially, people are saying that it’s foolish to fight a battle you’ll inevitably lose. You’ll get tangled in a bureaucratic nightmare from which you’ll never emerge unscathed. You can’t, so you shouldn’t even try. I think that’s ridiculous. Let’s be clear: When you’re standing against wrong things, you can fight City Hall. And win. Let’s start with having the right frame of mind. Thinking

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LAW OFFICES OF

Christen E. Civiletto, Esq.

Attorney & Mediator