Climate activists around the world had big plans for Wednesday, April 22 2020, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Traditional in-person Earth-themed demonstrations and community gatherings in honor of the occasion were cancelled due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Still, members of the environmental community at UC Berkeley joined forces to create a virtual Earth Week for students to participate in while remaining safely indoors.
Read MoreIn a quick survey of the many viral videos and stories of environmentally-related COVID-19 stories, they can be broken down into two categories: large scale trends of climate, carbon, and oil, and stories of changing animal behavior. Of these categories we can ask two questions: is this truly a coronavirus related trend, and if so, how long will it last?
Read MoreBlocks of solid carbon, biochar, are produced when organic materials such as wood chips or walnut shells are heated without the presence of oxygen. When correctly added to soil, biochar can lead to massive increases in plant growth and water retention.
Read MoreAfter 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.
Read MoreEighty percent of United States citizens dwell in cities. We celebrate, socialize, despair, earn, and learn in these grey grids, dotted with green if we are lucky. An average of ninety percent of our lives are spent indoors in our homes and offices. Escapes into forests, in a Kayak on a glassy lake or in skis down a powdered peak are largely available only for the wealthy. Save for farmers and the rural few, Americans learn of nature and urban life as a dichotomy to be traversed when money flows.
Read MoreFrom February 6-7, I attended the Berkeley Energy and Resources Collaborative (BERC) Energy Summit along with undergraduates, graduates, professors and leaders in energy and resources. This event occurs yearly, and this year was called “The Race Against 2°C,” as an homage to reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warn that an average global warming of two degrees is “the maximum temperature threshold the global community can achieve while averting the worst of climate change.”
Read MoreAnother Valentine’s Day is approaching, and this year consumers are expected to spend a staggering $2.3 billion U.S. dollars on flowers, an increase of $400,000 from 2019. Buying into fresh-cut flowers this Valentine’s Day will contribute to an even higher cost on the environment.
Read MoreIn late 2016, UC Berkeley’s Capital Strategies department officially declared its intent to develop student housing on the only agricultural facility within walking distance of campus: The Oxford Tract, a 2.5-Acre plot of land containing greenhouses and a field. A combined force of students, faculty, alumni, and community members rose up in defense of this critical space, beginning a contentious debate that would span years.
Read MoreThe demonstration was held during the UCSF-Mission Bay Board of Regents Meeting. A letter from the United Nations was delivered that is in support of the Kia’i and condemns the University of California for their involvement in the TMT project.
Read MoreUnlike large-scale, rural monocropping, urban farms contribute to a food web that is locally sourced and regenerative in nature. Multiple crops can grow simultaneously and communities have reliable access to local, seasonal produce with less energy embodied in it.
Read MoreDoing environmental work can be exhausting — our values are often at odds with societal norms, and it feels like a constant uphill battle to get to where we want. In a world where convenience and profit are put above all else, how can we remember to be kind to the environment, but also to each other?
Read MoreBirth control is not simply a way in which women can prevent unwanted pregnancy. It is a way that they can employ autonomy and experience equality, while simultaneously mitigating the environmental impacts that ensue from a lack of family planning.
Read More
