July, 2022 – Ecosystemic Magazine

31Jul

By Elson BankoffNo Comments

Notes From the Editors

If the Bells Would Ring

We are co-producing a play as an NYC Climate Week event! Click the button below for more information. Rehearsals are well underway! More to come! More info

Understanding the Supreme Court EPA Ruling as a Youth Climate Activist

31Jul

By Helen ManciniNo Comments

Global News & Policy

Understanding the Supreme Court EPA Ruling as a Youth Climate Activist

By Helen Mancini The Supreme Court’s EPA vs. West Virginia ruling was expected news for most Americans concerned with US climate policy. The week before, every environmental activism group and media outlet flooded social media feeds with headlines precidicting, correctly, that the conservative court would restrict the EPA from regulating the greenhouse gas emissions of power plants. But, in such a fast moving digital world, headlines quickly shifted before many people could grasp a deeper understanding of the ruling once it passed. Much of the climate movement is made up by young people, who, at the time, may have been too busy with school finals and the start of summer plans to learn more about the case. The legal jargon, too, may have deterred young people from gaining a deeper under...

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and Inclusive, Intersectional Activism

31Jul

By Alex RadtNo Comments

Activism & Social Change

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and Inclusive, Intersectional Activism

By Alex Radt It would be an understatement to say that the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, overturning the earlier ruling in Roe v. Wade, has sparked backlash. As a person who is both disabled and genderqueer, I have two reminders for others about keeping your conversations and action inclusive — something that is always necessary when fighting for real, positive change. First, many disabled people cannot attend protests. Individuals may have a variety of reasons for this, including mobility challenges, heat intolerance, sensory overload, and a high risk of being severely impacted by COVID-19. (One way you can make protests more accessible is by wearing a mask and taking other basic precautions, instead of choosing to needlessly put high-...

31Jul

By May ChanNo Comments

Pop Culture

Making Barbecues More Green

By May Chan Throughout Independence Day weekend, American magazines and newspapers across the South are full of barbecue recipes. Celebrating the holiday with grilled food has been an American tradition that dates back to the 1800s. After the Revolution, many people marked the national holiday with public dinners which quickly grew into large outdoor barbecues in many areas. Later on, the celebrations became standardized, and many states in the South similarly held Fourth of July barbecues. Despite the popular tradition, barbecues often have negative environmental impacts when done all at once by a ravenous and patriotic population. Artwork by May Chan In much of the world, barbecuing is done with charcoal, as it gives the food a particularly smoky flavor. Traditional charcoal i...

31Jul

By Sofia CalderonNo Comments

Art & Multimedia

The Ashes Are Sickening

Poem by Sofia Calderon The United States government. An entity who prioritizes the rich and fair skinned Over the towns and cities with Black, Brown, and poor people. Forever they have been used As a dumping ground, An excuse. Seen as a team that wouldn’t step up, One they thought no one would fight for. While the politicians continually push them down, The oppressed will always rise. Rise from the ashes that have settled from the incinerators. The ones that give Black children Asthma at double the rate of White children. The placement of parasitic polluting power plants Projects the pure disregard for communities of color around the country. These communities and the numbers shout thei...

The Suburbs Can’t Even Get the Bare Minimum Done When It Comes to Eco- Friendly Policies and Practices

31Jul

By Paula DemegretNo Comments

Community News & Policy

The Suburbs Can’t Even Get the Bare Minimum Done When It Comes to Eco- Friendly Policies and Practices

By Paula Demegret As we descend into an inescapable climate pitfall it won't matter whether a person lives in a city, suburb, or the middle of nowhere, their lives will change. However, the suburbs which make up the majority of American neighborhoods are behind on their eco-friendly policies and practices. If we want to make even a little progress on the climate crisis, then the suburbs need to step up their eco-friendly policies and may need to learn a thing or two from cities on how to do it. I have lived in the Northern Virginia suburb, Springfield, my entire life. I come from a very environmentally aware family; I've always been taught to recycle, never waste food, and to be conscious of my actions concerning the environment. My consciousness has led me to tru...

Interview with Sustainability Program Analyst at the Department of Energy and Environment in DC

28Jul

By Helen ManciniNo Comments

Interviews

Interview with Sustainability Program Analyst at the Department of Energy and Environment in DC

Interview conducted by Megan Chopra and Lia Nathan. Oana Leahu-Aluas is the Sustainability Program Analyst in the Urban Sustainability Administration at the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). According to their website, DOEE “is the leading authority on energy and environmental issues affecting the District of Columbia.” The interview, which focuses on the various projects that the Urban Sustainability Administration has undertaken and how COVID-19 has affected their timeline, as well as the relationship between social justice and environmentalism. How has COVID affected your work and the progress being made on projects? Oana Leahu-Aluas: I started at DOEE almost a year ago, so while I was not personally here for the normal operations before COVID-19 and then COVID-...