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.
Read MoreThe California 2070 Project: Offshore Wind Energy: The Good, The Bad, & The Unforeseen
California passed SB 100 in 2018 to set a state goal of moving to 100% clean energy by 2045. While an admirable effort by legislators to encourage and insist upon clean energy for our future, the question remains: how exactly can we reach this target?
The Vanishing Vaquita: A History of Social and Ecological Conflict
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.
Read MoreWe’ve Got Beef
in Op-Ed, Agriculture, Food
Most of us are familiar with the Old McDonald—the man from the nursery rhyme who had a farm. We picture the farm with a stereotypical red barn with hay, a few pigs rolling in mud, horses, and a couple cows out in huge pastures. This romanticized version of the American farm is no longer a reality.
Read More
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.
Read More
The 5th Annual Women in Tech Symposium Sheds Light on the Ag-Tech Field and Inclusivity
In order to share the experiences of women in the technological field, the Women in Tech Symposium selects a tech-related topic each year and holds panels and discussions to dive deeper into the area of focus. This year marked the 5th Annual Women in Tech Symposium titled The New Era in Human-Computer Interaction.
Read More
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.
Read MoreThe California 2070 Project: The Impending Doom of California’s Power Grid
When the power grid failed in Texas, millions were left without electricity, struggling to get basic necessities. Frigid temperatures led to increased energy demand as people cranked up their heaters to stay warm. If Californian leaders don’t take action, the state risks a similar power grid failure affecting the safety and comfort of millions of residents.
Abalone shells at the Student Organic Gardening Association (SOGA), components of a larger shrine on the farm recognizing the Ohlone People. (Photo courtesy of Rosen.)
Modern Hunger: How the Berkeley Student Farms Coalition Stands Up to Big Agriculture
in Food, Agriculture
In 2016, the American dairy industry dumped out over 43 million gallons of milk. Farmers poured gallon after gallon into fields, manure pits, and animal feed. The dairy industry had grown so large that the market was flooded with more milk than consumers wanted, and prices subsequently plummeted.
Read More
One of the herb beds at the Brown’s Cafe Herbal Garden
Sowing the Seeds of Community: Berkeley Student Farms and the Fruits of Gardening
in Food, Lifestyle, Agriculture
While cities can often appear to be a losing battle ground between Mother Nature and concrete, efforts in recent years have yielded a surprising increase in the amount of green speckling the maps of urban areas. Collaborative cultivation of public land through the creation of community gardens is steadily growing in popularity.
Read More
Sunset at the South Berkeley Tuesday market
Global Pandemic, Local Food: The Unsung Heroes of the Berkeley Farmers’ Markets
in Food, Agriculture, Lifestyle, local
In the seemingly endless list of everyday practices interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, shopping for food has been, for many, a source of stress and difficulty. Border closures and trade restrictions have disrupted global food chains and affected millions of farmers, farmworkers, and consumers.
Read MoreOur Nitrogen: A Threat to Local Biodiversity
in Ecology
Although the Bay Area has the widely beloved BART system to provide public transportation at low emission rates, many people still depend on commuting with their own vehicle. Getting caught in a gridlock is nothing out of the ordinary for a local resident…
Read More