Saturday, December 21Maximizing our Collective Impact

Author: May Chan

Rural Communities are Vulnerable and Need Our Attention
28Jan By May ChanNo Comments
Community News & Policy, Global News & Policy

Rural Communities are Vulnerable and Need Our Attention

By May Chan Inhabitants of rural areas might love their large stretches of field and woodland, or the ability to recognize every face at the local post office, but the small size of their community and relative isolation can work against them when a storm hits, floodwaters rise, or a fire blazes. In our interview with Kristy Drutman, she discussed the problem of plastic pollution in rural areas and the links between incarceration and natural catastrophes. Her interest in this subject demonstrated how vulnerable rural areas are to both natural and man-made calamities. Due to a number of variables, such as inadequate access to emergency infrastructure, geographic isolation, and financial instability, rural areas are frequently more vulnerable. To begin, rural areas have medical infrast...
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Mangroves Combat Climate Change
8Nov By May ChanNo Comments
Eco-STEM

Mangroves Combat Climate Change

By May Chan  In Hong Kong, there is a coastal wildlife reserve full of trees with dense tangles of prop roots; the roots make trees appear to be standing on stilts above water. Those odd-looking trees are called mangrove trees. According to the National Ocean Service, mangrove trees: “only grow in areas with low-oxygen soil of tropical or subtropical latitudes near the equator,” and where slow-moving waters allow fine sediments to collect. Their location makes them adept for protecting coasts from erosion and acting as a haven for living creatures, such as cormorants, snails, and insects. Moreover, a recent study found that mangrove trees are capable of absorbing significant amounts of carbon, which plays a large role in regulating the Earth's climate. Source: May Chan (A view o...
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Making Barbecues More Green
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 is...
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A Heart With Green
16Apr By May ChanNo Comments
Art & Multimedia

A Heart With Green

By May Chan Economic activities that harm the environment and yield profit, neglecting their impact on people, are not strides of development, but destruction.
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