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Collaboration is a practice that many providers say they are doing but rarely do we see it translated into the actual work that staff connected with our learners--our customers--do. Our customers face multiple barriers in their desire to succeed and move forward. Leadership with a focus on creating partnerships to address the multiple barriers of these customers is critical. Leadership with a focus on collaboration must be done with intentionality, for it is hard work. We must proceed recognizing that trust among partners is essential, and we must give up individual control of the final product created. This paper examines important lessons learned through many collaborations among a rural program, Southwest Adult Basic Education (SW ABE), workforce partners, Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU), and additional agencies and offers concrete examples of successful results.

The erroneous communication of the urgency of global warming and public role in minimizing it has made people believe that their individual actions in the matter would be ineffective. A 12-step plan to jerk people from the state of denial outlines the actions that can be taken by the individual and at the community level to make a change.

The microscopic dust that comes off tyres contains unique combinations of known carcinogens, neurotoxins, heavy metals and other poisons that are linked to serious diseases such as heart failure. Humans are not the only ones to be affected since animals are also prone to the particulate, inhalation of which can damage both the hearts and the lungs of living beings.

Environmentalism is undergoing changes in view of the mainstream's adoption of sustainability. Environmentalism should go deeper and more radical in order to remain relevant. However, the mainstream sector's use of objective data is seen as different from how environmentalists utilize them.

Towns and cities can become models of sustainability and what is clear is that energy use is at the core of any sustainable city plan. Embracing energy conservation ensures a better future for us all and improves the quality of life for city-dwellers and saves them money.

Bicycles need regular maintenance with the use of lubricating oils, but these products contain substances that may harm the environment. Chain lubes contain Teflon, which is composed of perfluorinated chemicals (PCFs), which may accumulate in body organs. Other details about the hazardous properties of lubes are discussed.

Nutrients attributed to the consumption of soybean-derived foods are found in everyday foods and the requirement of the consumption of high quantities of soy-based foods discussed. The myth surrounding consumption of soy based foods for better nutrition and protection against disease is exposed.

The actual truth behind the anti-dandruff shampoos being all advertisement and publicity and not actually very useful in either keeping the hair clean or removing dandruff is discussed. Most anti-dandruff shampoos contain chemicals for the hair and the actual usefulness of some of them including Head & Shoulders is evaluated.

The article offers scientific evidence to demonstrate that Monsanto's Roundup Weedkiller is not as ecologically safe as claimed by the company. The active ingredient in the herbicide is glyphosate, which, in combination with surfactants, poses several health and environmental dangers.

Scientists are predicting that an atmosphere rich in carbon-dioxide as a result of climate change is beneficial to agricultural production as the carbon-dioxide acts as a kind of airborne fertilizer. While this may be the case in greenhouses where higher levels of carbon-dioxide help in producing higher yields, the effect in the real world is not so, in fact rising carbon-dioxide levels will lead to problems of hidden malnutrition in the developed world and famines in the poor countries.