As the general population becomes more aware of our environmental challenges and the emerging energy crisis certain words have become popular in the media.  Not too many years ago words like sustainable, green or renewable would bring snickers from people who thought the environmental movement and search for alternative energy sources were just hoaxes perpetuated by those with purely political agendas.  Not anymore.  Just about everywhere you look in media and advertising people are talking green and sustainability.

One unfortunate side effect of having meaningful words become marketing buzzwords is that what these words mean and represent is often lost in a barrage of advertising and shallow quasi-news reporting.

The words sustainable and sustainability are powerful words with meaning that reveals great wisdom for the future of humankind.  It is important that we preserve the power of these words to help us understand what we must do to provide a high quality of life in the years ahead.  It would be tragic to be seduced by the spin doctors that because we put a green or sustainable label on something that we are properly addressing our long-term challenges.

Problem: Low voter turnout in elections is a challenge to maintaining a healthy democracy.

Solution:  In the UK some districts have switched to all-postal ballots.  Voter turnout is substantially increased.  

 This article was reprinted from a website maintained by the BBC.  

New voting methods 'increase turnout'

All-postal ballots appear to have increased turnout for this year's local elections - even before polls close on Thursday.

Early indications suggest that many local authorities in the 32 pilot areas have received more votes already than at the final count in the most recent comparable elections.

In 17 other local authorities, up to 1.9m voters have been given the chance to cast their vote electronically - in the biggest voting experiment to date - by text message, internet, electronic kiosk, and for the first time, digital TV.

The Electoral Commission - the independent body responsible for promoting participation in elections - says so far the figures show that convenience enhances the voting process.