Hello John,

Alma here, Communications Manager for Stewardship Utah. Last week we shared an email with you about ways to keep trudging forward given the current political climate. With the legislative session well underway and a constant barrage of new headlines regarding state and federal decisions, we wanted to give you some more specific tools for furthering your understanding of the issues we work on.

I sat down with our team and asked them to share some of their favorite educational resources for each of their topics:

RadioWest Series: The State and Fate of Great Salt Lake

The series that started it all. Since 2021, Radio West has been reporting on the declining lake. Many lake-facing activists (myself included) credit the podcast for waking the community up to the crisis at GSL. Start with parts one, two, three, four, five of their State and Fate of GSL series, then check out the rest of their catalog of GSL episodes.

Looking for a quick overview of the basics? This PBS segment provides a short (30 min) overview of Great Salt Lake – its history, internationally renowned ecosystem, and importance to Utah’s economy, along with some of the efforts being made to reverse its decline.

Irreplaceable: a collective praise poem for Great Salt Lake

What began as a poetry project during a Vigil for Great Salt Lake throughout the 2022 Utah Legislative Session is now a published body of work full of hundreds of community voices. Read it here.

Cadillac Desert

Probably the seminal text on water in Western US, Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner examines the history of water development in the region with a major focus on the federal government’s role in funding massive water infrastructure projects that have transformed the region’s landscape and economy at significant ecological and financial costs. Reads like investigative journalism – lots of drama!

Rivers of Empire

Donald Worster’s Rivers of Empire takes a similar look at water development in the west, but with a stronger critique of the power dynamics involved and the influence of capitalism as a driving force behind environmental degradation and social inequality. This book is a bit more academic and theoretical than Cadillac Desert but I found it to be more engaging.

Water Wars

Vandana Shiva provides a comprehensive overview of the global water shortage – what she calls “the most pervasive, most severe, and most invisible dimension of the ecological deviation of the earth.” Although not specific to our western water challenges, this book is shorter, more approachable, and offers some brilliant insights into the spiritual dimensions of the water crisis, and the importance of “ecological democracy.”

Erin Brockovich 

This movie is a little dated, but as a kid, it made me want to fight against polluting corporations when I grew up, and I still watch it as my comfort show! It tells the story of a single mother of three who takes on a legal case against Pacific Gas and Electric Company, who were contaminating a community’s water with carcinogenic Hexavalent Chromium and lying to the residents about it. Based on true events! I recommend it if you enjoy watching Julia Roberts being snarky to CEOs. 

How Beautiful We Were 

This one is pretty heavy, but such an important read. Written by Cameroonian-American novelist Imbolo Mbue, this book takes place in the fictional African village of Kosawa, wrought by environmental degradation from an American Oil Company. Described as “a masterful exploration of what happens when the reckless drive for profit, coupled with the ghost of colonialism, comes up against one community’s determination to hold on to its ancestral land.”

This Changes Everything 

Essential reading for understanding the relationship between capitalism and climate change! 

Human Health and Economic Costs of Air Pollution in Utah 

This paper, authored by 23 local researchers and specialists in Utah, outlines the very real, material ways that air quality is impacting our public health, lives, and economy. It’s the foundational text for our work, and it has great talking points for discussing why addressing air pollution matters within our state. Click here to read!

Driftwind 

Shameless plug here! I worked on this book with some friends and published it locally. This anthology consists of creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, personal narrative, photography, and illustration. It explores the intricacies and idiosyncrasies of life in the Anthropocene, as experienced on the shores of Great Salt Lake and beyond. A quick read!

Join or Die

This documentary follows the half-century story of America's civic unraveling and reveals how the connections of everyday people could hold the answers to our democracy's present crisis. The film is a great way to get inspired from average community members who started and joined groups and clubs across the country. Available to watch on Netflix! 

Vote for US: How to Take Back Our Elections and Change the Future of Voting

This book tells the stories of democracy champions all over the country who are engaged in a positive, grassroots effort to improve our democracy! Anyone can work on positive voting reform in their communities. It’s also a chance to learn more about the policies that can make a big impact in a fun and informative way.

Parks and Recreation

Any list about civic engagement would be remiss without highlighting this fun and light-hearted TV series. The show humanizes local government and illustrates that anyone can get involved in their community (for better and sometimes for worse!). Positive change can take time, but persistent people who care about their community can make a difference. Available on several streaming platforms!

Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing

This book is next up on my to-read list! With glowing reviews, Dedicated addresses the 21st century problem of endlessly “keeping our options open” and instead argues for the transformational act of deep commitments. I’m excited to learn lessons from people who have committed to particular places, professions, and causes, and I hope to apply these lessons to how we can continue to improve our communities and democracy.

Unfortunately (for our email lengths), our team has too many suggestions! Keep your eyes peeled for recommendations on energy, public lands, and elections coming to your inbox next week.

Onwards,

Alma Baste,

Communications Manager

[email protected]

www.stewardshiputah.org