VTDIGGER 02/23/21 By Michael Shank This commentary is by Michael Shank of Brandon, communications director for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and an adjunct faculty member at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs. Since receiving President Joe Biden’s nomination for secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack is […]
Author: Michael Shank
The US is Ripe for Climate-Friendly Diets
THE HILL 02/23/21 By Michael Shank Since receiving President Biden’s nomination for secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack is indicating that he’s newly committed to a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that prioritizes sustainability, regenerative and climate resilient agriculture. It’s a welcomed shift from previous stints as […]
Animal Welfare in Rutland County
RUTLAND HERALD 01/29/21 By Michael Shank For those who have been following this story in Brandon regarding our recently dismissed Animal Control Officer (ACO), a story the Rutland Herald covered recently, there’s some additional information and background that will be helpful in both unpacking what happened and preparing and equipping […]
Methane Is More Dangerous Than Carbon Dioxide — the Gas Index Can Help
THE HILL 01/01/21 By Michael Shank This month witnessed the launch of the first-ever “Gas Index”, which ranks American metropolitan areas on the leakiness of the gas supply chains that service their cities. This new index — which Burlington, Vt., ranks in the middle of — takes into account methane […]
Getting Off Fossil Gas
VTDIGGER 12/30/20 By Michael Shank Editor’s note: This commentary is by Michael Shank, of Brandon, who is communications director for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and adjunct faculty at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs. This month witnessed the launch of the first-ever “Gas Index,” which ranks American metropolitan […]
Electricity is Cleaner and Healthier
RUTLAND HERALD 12/26/20 TIMES ARGUS 12/26/20 By Michael Shank This month witnessed the launch of the first-ever “Gas Index,” which ranks American metropolitan areas on the leakiness of the gas supply chains that service their cities. This new index — of which Burlington ranks in the middle – takes into […]
Social and Climate Issues Top Local Writing Contest
RUTLAND HERALD 12/23/20 By Keith Whitcomb Jr. Staff Writer PITTSFORD — Police, climate change and LGBTQ issues were the topics that the winners of the first Brandon Writes contest chose to focus their essays on. Brandon Writes is a contest put on by Michael Shank, of Brandon, who was behind […]
The Future of Global Affairs: Managing Discontinuity, Disruption and Destruction
The Future of Climate Action: From Systems Change to Behavior Change 2021 By Michael Shank Podcast of the Article Editors: Ankersen, Christopher, Singh Sidhu, Waheguru Pal (Eds.) Explores agency beyond the nation state in Global Affairs, focusing on the role of coalitions, alliances and international organizations Imagines the future of […]
Working Toward Thriving Communities
VTDIGGER 11/04/20 By Michael Shank Editor’s note: This commentary is by Michael Shank of Brandon, who is vice chair of the Rutland Regional Planning Commission and the chair of the Brandon Planning Commission. He was an independent candidate for a Rutland District seat in the Vermont State Senate. When the […]
Free Conflict Training for Rutland County Leaders
RUTLAND HERALD 10/28/20 By Keith Whitcomb Jr. Two local leaders are offering to teach Rutland County board chairs some conflict resolution skills for free. Michael Shank, of Brandon, and Lisa Ryan, of Rutland City, said Tuesday they got the idea to offer this free training after learning about each other’s […]