Greenfire Coalition Writer's Forum
Things to Consider in 2022
Mike Sauers A new year is upon us and we are presented with a dizzying array of choices. Many of these choices will affect us, our families, our communities and our planet. The following are suggestions based on my 71 years of life. They are not prioritized as each...
Driving With Blinders On—-How the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association Views Corporate Welfare and Hydraulic Fracturing (“Fracking”)
Mike Sauers In a recent edition of Broad + Liberty, Carl Marrara, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association opines a very narrow but breathtakingly informative view of "corporate...
Education——Economic Development——A Full Life
Mike Sauers We live in precarious times. The onslaught of information, accurate or not, is daunting. Information/news/opinion sources have exploded in a variety of formats. Data, facts and fractured information comes at us twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week...
Why the Push for Clean Renewable Energy?
Mike Sauers My maternal grandfather, Andrew Hissick, was a licensed anthracite coal miner. His sons; John, Hubert and Daniel were his laborers. My fraternal grandfather, Michael Sauers, was a pump operator at the mines. I grew up surrounded by deep mines, culm...
Government Spending Priorities-Who, What, When, Where
We are all busy. Families, careers, earning a living, retirement and a host of other things absorb our energies and resources. We strive to be productive, law abiding citizens. We participate in the electoral process. We pay our taxes. We fully expect that our...
Testimony of the Greenfire Coalition as Presented to the House Republican Policy Committee Task Force on the Environment
Mike Sauers Delivered January 23, 1992 at Pottsville City Hall Council Chambers This is an interesting piece of history. Much of what was presented then could be said again today. Not much has changed. At least one Republican Committee member at that time, Dave...
Sustainability–Can It Be Achieved?
Mike Sauers Sustainability is an awesome and humbling word. Whether it is environmental, quality of life, economic, or any essential endeavor it requires research, knowledge, planning, implementation, commitment and ongoing evaluation. That is a challenge that...
Our Dilemma-Population Time Bomb
Mike Sauers Today the Earth's population is about 8 billion. It is projected to reach 10 billion by 2050. This is a root cause of many existing problems that grow worse with each passing day. Population growth with a penchant for overconsumption and waste or...
Pennsylvania’s Ancient/Old Growth Forests—Where They Are and Why They Are Important
I recently participated in a survey regarding Weiser State Forest Resource Management Plans. This was an opinion poll of interested people. As a life long outdoor enthusiast I am impressed with the results. The overwhelming majority of responders favor treading...
Earth Day Tribute to Greenfire Coalition
Mike Sauers Northeastern Pennsylvania has a very checkered history regarding environmental stewardship. After all, the area was settled and developed based on furs, logging, railroads and the mining of anthracite coal. This resulted in the abuse of animals, labor,...