environmentalism

In the scope of environmentalism, there are many creative alternatives to trashing your household goods. Sustainable modes of reusing not just clothing, but also items have sprung up as ways to repurpose materials without engaging the process of recycling and large industries of redistribution.

Vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, Meatless Mondays, I’m sure you’ve heard all of these terms thrown around when people discuss eating practices that are environmentally friendly. These methods all have a common thread: reducing or eliminating the amount of meat, especially red meat, that you consume in order to reduce your personal carbon footprint.

For now, we are experiencing the effects of large-scale rainfall on a smaller scale than what is surely to come as climate change intensifies.

I’ve had to dive into the world of purchased gifts and online shopping to fulfill my gift giving duties. A world, filled with glitter wrapping and shiny new objects, that we should all approach thoughtfully, as it has many negative impacts on the natural world we rely on.

Driving past a forest that is ravaged by a fire can often look like going through a scorched ghost town. The trees are charred black, leaves are nonexistent and no wildlife seems present. It is almost apocalyptic as you pass through, with all semblance of a once thriving ecosystem erased in a matter of minutes. 

Thanksgiving has connotations of cornucopias, endless amounts of food and family time. Considering this, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that the holiday has a large environmental impact.

Water is so important to Berkeley, especially in these increasing periods of drought. I hope these rainy days persist, not only for the excuse to drink hot chocolate under a blanket, but to replenish, even just a little bit, the dry earth of the Bay Area.

Environmental artwork, which can range from all forms of visual art - painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, filmmaking - provides a platform for the creation of a personal connection with the natural world.

When asked about the most important habitats for biodiversity and carbon dioxide sequestration, most people will respond with the rainforest or coral reefs. However, very few recognize the immense benefits that wetlands provide for natural habitats, human utilization and climate change mitigation.

“We Are As Gods” is not one of the better films of this year, but it is one of the most relevant, and it resists the mistakes that many other documentaries commit.