Sophie Cao – Ecosystemic Magazine

19Jun

By Sophie CaoNo Comments

Community News & Policy

Washington D.C.’s Hidden Methane Issue

By Sophie Cao with contributions from Doug Siglin of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network If you would like to read more, background information on what will be discussed, you can find it on this doc, this doc, and this doc. Many thanks to Doug Siglin for doing the interview. When thinking about air pollution in Washington D.C., one may think of big, polluting industrial factories, people smoking or vehicles releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. However, there is one contributor lurking in the darkness that is often overlooked: methane. The name might ring a bell, but most do not know much about it. Most do not know how methane can harm us, and how it can poison us. Its effects are not immediate; it is a slow killer, chipping away at our immune systems and our atmosphe...

22May

By Sophie CaoNo Comments

Global News & Policy

Democracy Gaps

By Sophie Cao The Constitution begins with the phrase “We the people” and with it, the American government establishes our defining democratic process. On the outside, America truly appears to have one of the highest functioning democracies in the world. After all, there are checks and balances between the three branches of government, amendments protecting individual rights to free speech, no religious obligations, local governments, state governments, and federal governments–– all with policymakers elected by voters. Additionally, there is a multi-party political system in America, which gives voices to a wide range of political opinions. However, the pillars of democracy in the United States are gradually crumbling apart as a result of two main gaps. One gap in the democrati...

19Mar

By Sophie CaoNo Comments

Art & Multimedia, Notes From the Editors

Consumerism During Wartime

A political cartoon by Sophie Cao

19Feb

By Sophie CaoNo Comments

Activities

Word Search

By Sophie Cao This word search is based on the interview conducted with Dan Schrag. The key will be posted in the next edition. We encourage you to print this out and offer it to students if you are an educator! Or print it out for yourself! HTW Y UZ E I L DH B DT M B AZ P UR X K P RY E EL E G MRXNSBZ C AD U CE L S IU VC UE A Y VR F AK T G LKT ENN C N AO Y BH I N CBHG RE E N HZ R OO N I D R LN IDA Y G XT N T G N F N B OS T&n...

History of Pollution: Plastic, Light, and Soil

21Jan

By Sophie CaoNo Comments

History

History of Pollution: Plastic, Light, and Soil

By Sophie Cao, Sidwell Friends SchoolWhen you think of pollution, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Plastic? You may not know that other forms of pollution exist, or the history behind them. Plastic is one of the most well-known types of pollution, because of how fast it has spread around the world. However, other types of pollution such as light, noise, and soil pollution are often overlooked despite their harmful effects. These forms of pollution date back to the Industrial Revolution and are caused by human waste and mismanagement. Leo Baekeland, a Belgian chemist, created bakelite in 1907 at the height of the Industrial Revolution. Bakelite was the first synthetic plastic ever made. Later, it was discovered that this synthetic could be molded to manufa...