Categories
CULTURE

Sustainable Fashion on Campus: Spotlighting BU Closet

In her freshman year at Boston University, Iffany Zou’s professor prompted her to pursue a passion project. Zou, who had seen a mass amount of overconsumption on campus, knew immediately what she wanted to tackle. She collected donated clothing in a bin outside of her Kilachand Hall dorm room. When the donations piled up, she […]

Categories
CULTURE

King Cane: The Tyrannical Crop That Dictates Environmental and Public Health

The sugar industry has been sheltered in the United States since the 19th century, safeguarded by various protectionist trade barriers. Now, it has snowballed into Big Sugar, subsidized by the government and intended to benefit a small margin of Americans: producers and processors of sugar. This sweet empire is guarded at the expense of the […]

Categories
CULTURE

Boots on the Ground: How Volunteers Have Helped the Southern Resident Killer Whale From the Field

The ocean is one layer of the biosphere that is heavily affected by human-made climate change. More than half of all marine species are at risk of extinction by the next century. (How Is Climate Change Impacting the World’s Ocean?) There are many different problems, some having unimaginable scopes of issues. The Ocean Cleanup, a […]

Categories
CULTURE

The Activists’ Dilemma: When Does Civil Disobedience Go Too Far?

Wearing bright blue t-shirts with their motivations for protesting written across the front — their kids, the future, and Earth itself — climate activists from the group Extinction Rebellion Boston stopped traffic in front of South Station on the morning of September 21. More than 35 activists held signs and banners that read, “Governor Healey […]

Categories
CULTURE

Light Pollution: How Coastal Cities are Impacting Marine Ecosystems

Coastal cities have played a crucial part in societal development throughout human history. Necessary for trade purposes and access to coastal resources, civilizations have been built off of their coastal urban centers. As a result of this historical trend, ocean ecosystems are continuously forced to adapt to human activity. One aspect of anthropogenic activity that […]

Categories
CULTURE

A Look Into the First Zero-Waste Store in Boston 

Plastic packaging is everywhere and in almost every product sold on the shelves. Walking down the aisles of grocery stores and merchandise retailers, each individually sold item is wrapped and packaged in plastic containers, boxes, and bags—the majority being single-use plastics. By the end of a typical grocery run, the customer walks out with an […]

Categories
CULTURE

Our Brains on Nature: A Compelling Case for Conservation

Nature reserves that safeguard native biodiversity are not only critical for climate change mitigation, but also for our mental health. A few aspects of well-being come to mind: calmness, fresh air, and sunlight. What many don’t realize is that the health benefits of nature extend beyond ideas of recreation, gardening, ecosystem maintenance, and colorful landscapes.  […]

Categories
CULTURE

Is It All Downhill From Here? Why Climate Change Could Mean the End of the Ski Industry

When members of the U.S. ski team glided off the lift at the world championships in France this February, their sleek blue and white race suits were not just for style; they were intended to make a point about the sport’s future. Designed using satellite imagery of melting polar ice caps, the suits—and the athletes—made […]

Categories
CULTURE

Campus Conservation: The Changing Landscapes of American Colleges and Universities 

A student walking out the front doors of a residence hall at almost any college campus in the United States may be met with an expanse of bright green, freshly clipped and fertilized grass. The familiar quad is a symbol of the American collegiate experience, providing a space to stroll, study, or relax in between […]

Categories
CULTURE

Patagonia’s Business Model: A Company that is Financially & Sustainably Successful

In business, smart decision-making is imperative to the success of a company. Most would agree that it would be a poor decision to advertise a product that would discourage customers from buying it, yet Patagonia did just that. The company ran a public relations campaign telling customers to not purchase their jackets as an anti-consumerist […]