Best of The Leaflet
Original photo by Christine Haggin
When you think of mindfulness, what do you picture? Maybe someone meditating and practicing deep breathing, or someone journaling by candlelight before bed. Or, maybe someone in glittering platform heels pole dancing with a hypnotic flow to Hiatus Kaiyote…
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Wild tomato varietal being grown in the Indigenous Community Learning Garden in September of 2021
Over the past few years, land acknowledgements have become commonplace at UC Berkeley. You may see them in email signatures, lecture slides, and introductions to webinars. All too often, once the slide is clicked through or the next guest speaker takes the stage, the land acknowledgment, or any further information regarding Indigenous land and sovereignty, is not brought up again…
Read MoreClimate change, and the threat of wildfire that accompanies it, is often equated to a great, existential war between the extreme forces of nature and humanity. Much like wartime commendations of the men and women fighting on the frontlines, wildland firefighters are celebrated as the last line of defense on the wilderness frontier…
Graphic by Juliette Nast
The intersection between the environmental and feminist movements may seem clear. For example, in climate-related disasters women are 14 times more likely to perish. However, the ecofeminism framework illustrates that this connection runs much deeper…
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Hafez making the plant-based Zaatar Wrap (photo by Sadie Radinsky)
It’s a brisk, overcast Autumn morning -- stiff legs peel reluctantly out of their beds, buses lurch to their stops, and Berkeley begins to bustle. Through the cold and cloudy hues, warmth pours out of the Berkeley Organic Market. Smells of baking pita bread and sounds of Yemeni dance music beckon passersby in…
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Illustration by @artifexjay
On October 28, 2021, the Berkeley Food Institute brought together a panel of Black farmers, organizers, scholars, and activists to bring awareness to the ongoing struggles of Black agrarians and share their stories of anguish, resilience, and hope. Because the majority of Black farmers reside in the southern United States, their battle is one that is rarely discussed among west coast academic institutions…
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Original oyster illustration by Lia Keener
East Bay oyster banks are steeped in history rooted in the precolonial lives of Indigenous communities, and they are witnesses to the rise of what is now the modern day East Bay. Recent development projects and infrastructure have fundamentally altered the ecology of the oyster banks and have destroyed several traditional Ohlone shell mounds, formations composed of shell and soil formed by Indigenous groups once living along the coastal East Bay.
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Photo of Los Angeles taken by Likhi Rivas
Los Angeles is one of the largest cities in the United States and is widely known due to its portrayal in the media: a place people should visit if they aspire to be movie stars, Instagram models, or have a high social media following. It is this portrayal that has accelerated the green gentrification that is occurring to attract the young adult population.
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Mountain lion photo from the Bay Area Puma Project remote cameras
Hiking through the Berkeley Fire Trails always seems like a relaxing experience after a busy day of online classes, meeting, and projects. Coast live oak, deer, and other chaparral wildlife are certainly comforting sights. But during dusk and dawn, it is not uncommon for a crepuscular predator to roam through the hills.
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In fall of 2019, UC Berkeley undergraduate students formed “Pour Out Pepsi,” (POP) a campaign dedicated to breaking UC Berkeley’s corporate partnership with PepsiCo, Inc. As UC Berkeley votes to renew their contract with PepsiCo, POP is showing the campus that when universities function like businesses, they betray their commitments to their students.
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The chicks beginning to hatch on April 17
For five years, two peregrine falcons named Annie and Grinnel have been living peacefully in the Campanile on Cal’s campus. Peregrine falcons usually mate for life, and this couple has had five successful breeding seasons on campus, resulting in thirteen chicks being born. On April 19th, triplets hatched and can be seen on the livestream.
In the last year, climate activism has become more prominent, especially among young people to make their voices heard seeing that they will be the generation that is highly impacted by global warming and climate change. Youth vs Apocalypse (YVA) is an environmental justice organization started by high school students from Oakland that have fought against inequities perpetuated by environmental issues.
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