Manufacturers would like us to think that recycling is the answer to our waste problem: buy, use, recycle – easy – 
our consciences are clear. But is it? And are they? Humankind (7.6 billion people) produces 2 billion tonnes* of waste per year and of that, perhaps 20 percent is recycled. It is estimated that the US produces...
This September, in conjunction with our World Literacy Day book discussion of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba, the Education Team looks at literacy in Malawi, the setting for William’s windmills. As we read in the book, primary education is compulsory and free to all children in Malawi; in 1994,
There are many kinds of literacy – basic reading and writing, digital literacy, health literacy, cultural literacy, etc. – but one of the most fundamental is human rights literacy. Understanding our basic human rights is vital for social cohesion – emphasizing our common humanity above our individual differences. Human rights reflect essential human needs, establishing...
As we head into the last months of 2022, life in all its glory and pain keeps us moving forward step by step. Sometimes it might seem easier to give up. But when you hear about people you know overcoming obstacles, life seems to brighten a bit. The FAWCO Health Team presents two...
Armed conflict is bad for people, but most of us don’t think about the fact that it also has very bad and lasting effects on our natural environment. Land, air, water, plants, animals and all living organisms comprise the “natural environment.” A geographical environment is also called a natural environment, as it interacts with...
This June, the Education Team is thrilled to announce the next book in the Global Issues Book Discussion series: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba. This book showcases the importance of education and literacy as well as libraries. William tells the story of how he studied books in the school library and...
In June, the Ed Team is thinking about libraries and their importance for literacy and education. I read The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. The book’s protagonist, Belle da Costa Greene, was the real life personal librarian for J.P. Morgan. She helped him build one of the world’s finest collections...World Bicycle Day
is an important moment to raise more awareness about the many benefits of using a bicycle – it is an easy, affordable means of transportation, an environmentally friendly alternative to cars, and makes access to education, health care and other social services more accessible...
SHE MAPS for 2022, a word will be offered monthly for reflection and application in daily life. Use the words to set goals or intentions for areas of your life, improve relationships or enhance projects. Language is one of...
It is hard for me, an AWC member of 36 years, (who loves to read!) to imagine the club without a library! A lot has changed over the past 91 years. While members return more frequently to the US and come back...
