Author - The Durango Herald

Working to control dangerous methane emissions

For years, I had heard about a mysterious source of power here in La Plata County. This month I had the chance to see it for myself. Perhaps you have heard the term “San Juan Basi...

DATE: May 24, 2014 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Thank goodness for Pope Francis and his openness

Roman Catholic nuns and priests were a substantial proportion of the populace in past centuries. Their celibacy acted to slow population growth. Starting in the 12th century, prie...

DATE: Apr 26, 2014 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Support our community through support for Fort Lewis

One of the reasons we chose Durango as our home 37 years ago is it is a college town. Through the years, Fort Lewis College has enriched our lives in many ways. After graduation f...

DATE: Mar 22, 2014 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Old memes tie cultures to outmoded ways of thinking

Recently, a friend introduced me to the word “meme.” Now, I run across this concept frequently. The word “meme” is analogous to “gene,” but the former is information in our cultur...

DATE: Feb 22, 2014 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

How to age gracefully with slowing population growth?

Last July, when I turned 70, I wrote about my own aging. What happens as a large group of people age? Let’s look at the start of the process of demographic change, when birthrates...

DATE: Jan 25, 2014 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

How I honor my father in a rapidly changing world

We were listening to NPR when the news came on: “The dentist with the greatest name recognition worldwide died yesterday. Dr. Louis Grossman developed modern endodontia (root-canal therapy),...

DATE: Dec 21, 2013 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Recognize effective ways to save the world’s children

Two of my recent columns dealt with child deaths. The sad fact is that, worldwide, 19,000 children die every day – mostly in poor regions, and mostly related to inadequate nutrition. ...

DATE: Nov 23, 2013 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Countering starvation requires more than just food

July’s column described two Nicaraguan boys with severe malnutrition. Miguel had kwashiorkor, caused by lack of protein. Poor Van’s problem was inadequate food energy; he died from marasmus....

DATE: Oct 26, 2013 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Celebrate and support World Vasectomy Day on Oct. 18

It was time: I walked across the hall, lowered my pants and lay down on the exam table. Dr. Sam Callaway took good care of me. We had two great sons, and our family was complete. ...

DATE: Sep 21, 2013 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Remembering the faces of childhood malnutrition

For me, hunger has very real faces. There are Miguel and Van, and a woman whose name I have forgotten. In 1968, while in medical school, I spent a summer in Nicaragua on the Carib...

DATE: Aug 24, 2013 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Join me in the celebration of my 70th birthday

I’ve lived more than half my life here in La Plata County and have reached a milestone. This month I turned 70. My only sibling, Clara, died too young at age 71, although our parents both li...

DATE: Jul 27, 2013 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Time to officially repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery

After showing the film “Two Who Dared” about the Sharps, a Unitarian couple who saved thousands of children from the Nazis, Charlie Clements asked for questions. I stood and asked what curre...

DATE: Jun 22, 2013 | CATEGORY: Population Matters