Cities vs. Suburbs: Burdens of Pollution

In New York State, there has long been an “Upstate vs. Downstate” divide. If a real New Yorker asks you what part of the state you’re from, they’re really asking you which of three places you’re…

The Blight of Highways

Today The New York Times ran an article entitled ???Does Louisville Need More Highways???? It tells the story of how so many cities upended urban life for expansion into suburbs for the use of cars. This…

Reflecting a Community’s Vision

A ???brownfield??? is vacant or underused real property that is, or perceived to be, contaminated.?? Developers and the public are reluctant to invest in a brownfield because of potential contamination.?? Consequently, with this reluctance comes neglect.??…

Navigating the High Seas: Why the U.S. Should Ratify the Law of the Sea Treaty

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS Convention) establishes a comprehensive framework for using and protecting the world???s oceans, which cover roughly 70 percent of the planet and contain a variety of…

“Green” Presidents: Perspective and the Importance of the 2012 Election

A new??poll??has environmental groups easily ranking Teddy Roosevelt as the “greenest” President we’ve ever had. Fourth on the list – behind Nixon and Carter – is President Obama. With Election Day only 47 days away, environmental…

Extreme Weather and Environmental Justice

When I moved to New York City in 2007 from Central New York, severe weather (aside from the occasional blizzard) was not something I expected to encounter. Even when I moved to Ithaca for college from…

RIP Russell Train

CUER is sad to learn that Russell Train has died.?? In this day of mealy-mouthed, focus-grouped politicians, Russell Train stands out as a giant.?? He was a??true environmental leader–a??pioneering environmental advocate who served as on Council…

The Fortune of Green Training

A few years before I started law school, I was a GED tutor volunteer at the Fortune Society, a non-profit organization that helps formerly incarcerated persons transition into society.?? Obtaining meaningful employment has been a strong…

Mug Share!

As I entered my school???s pantry the other day, there was a small congregation of students near the coffee machine.?? Amidst morning greetings and casual banter, I noticed my colleagues using reusable mugs, disposable paper cups,…

Climate Change and Poverty

When you think about climate change, you probably don’t think about an organization like the NAACP. Or about race and poverty. Jacqueline Patterson, Director of the NAACP Climate Justice Initiative, would like to change that. Through…