One of the largest facets of the environmental protection movement is biological conservation through protecting vulnerable species. There are many organizations and leaders dedicated to protecting wildlife and their ecosystems. The Gulf of California is a dynamic region where biological conservation, social justice, and other initiatives often collide.
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Original graphic made by Jakob Evans
Rejecting Rausser: The History Behind UC Berkeley Students’ Movement Against Private Donations
In March 2020, amid campus cries for a cost of living adjustment (COLA) for graduate students and the emergence of COVID-19, UC Berkeley’s College of Natural Resources (CNR) flaunted a 50 million dollar donation from former Dean Gordan Rausser that they would be accepting in exchange for the addition of his name to the College.
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Photo Credit to John Jekabson (c)1970
From Private to Public, Our Parks Are Our Histories
It has been a big year for parks. In the past twelve months of limited indoor activity, many people have rediscovered the joy of gathering in neighborhood and regional green spaces for leisure time, exercise, or a socially distanced hangout.
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It’s Time to Rematriate People’s Park
As the University tries to push through development, the fight for social and environmental justice must rise to meet the moment
Read MoreThe Land We Live On: History and Perspectives of East Bay Natural Areas
If you ask Berkeley students where they like to hike, chances are that someone will mention the Berkeley Fire Trails or Tilden Regional Park. These areas are prominent fixtures in Berkeley student life as hotspots for hikers, runners, nature-lovers, and overworked students alike, but there is much more to them than meets the eye. There is history behind Berkeley’s natural spaces - and all of California - that is valuable and important to be conscious of when considering their resilience in the face of forces such as global warming and the climate crisis which already impact our daily lives.
Read MoreSafe and Sustainable Sex: How to avoid toxins and petrochemicals
Sex is fun, good for your health, and often a key part of the college experience. However, it doesn't come without its risks, and safe sex is incredibly important for personal health and the health of your partner. Many options for safe sex however, come at the expense of the health of the environment. Common condoms, lubricants, and sex toys often contain toxic chemicals that can pose harm to water, air, and soil. There are however several options for more sustainable and safe sex.
Read MoreThe Pits Side of the Avocado
Social media influencers and dietitians alike have made avocados the quintessential health food. Pinterest boards of the abundant ways to eat avocados--from guacamole to avocado toast-- have increased sales and popularity of the fruit. While seeming like a harmless commodity, this growth in demand has had environmental justice implications for the farmers who grow these fruits.
Read MoreOpinion-Editorial: The Earthshot Prize is Off Target
This year, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, launched a new project: the Earthshot Prize. The Earthshot prize at its core is simple: if you come up with an innovative solution to five core environmental issues you can win one million pounds. These core issues, or “Earthshots,” are: protect & restore nature, clean our air, revive our oceans, build a waste-free world, and fix our climate.
Read MoreWhy I’m With #LandBack
Anyone following the 2020 US election knows that Arizona flipped blue for Democratic nominee Joe Biden. However, they may not have heard about the role Native Americans in the Navajo Nation played in turning the swing state blue for the second time in seventy years, where, despite facing the most severe rates of COVID-19 in the country, reportedly 60-90% of their eligible registered voters went for Biden. The Democratic party and liberals everywhere owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the Navajo Nation, and this debt should only be repaid by supporting the Land Back movement and the fight for Indigneous land sovereignty everywhere.
Read More“I’m Here to be a Storyteller”
If you’re active in the world of social media environmentalism, chances are you’ve come across Kristy Drutman. She’s a Jewish and Filipina American climate activist, and she runs the popular Instagram account “@browngirl_green,” where she posts about sustainable living and environmental awareness. Over the past three years, she’s amassed over 50,000 followers and has been a powerful voice for environmental justice and activism, speaking at conferences and universities across the country and hosting her own workshops. I spoke with her over the phone about how she got started, the lifestyle changes she’s made, and the power of social media as an educational tool.
Read MorePerfect vegans are good, imperfect vegetarians are better
I hesitate to write this column. I hesitate to write it, and even more to publish it, because it will reveal me as a person who is concerned about climate change. But isn’t that something to be proud of - not ashamed? Don’t we need more people engaged in this battle, not fewer?
Read MoreDisaster Kits on a College Budget
After the fires of November 2018, and the power outages of last fall, I set out to build a high value, versatile disaster kit that I could store in my closet and carry on my back. Here’s how I did it, and how you can too.
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