Community News & Policy – Ecosystemic Magazine

Habitat Loss in Los Angeles and What to Do to Help

14Jun

By Esme HyattNo Comments

Community News & Policy

Habitat Loss in Los Angeles and What to Do to Help

Image courtesy of nps.govBy Esme Hyatt I live in Los Angeles, California. California is home to unique habitats and resources. For instance, the majority of California is situated in The California Floristic Province, a biodiversity hotspot. California is one of 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world. Santa Monica, which is in Los Angeles County, is known for its beaches and mountains. In the Santa Monica Mountains, biodiversity is especially important with the rare species located in the area. One-third of all plant species growing in The California Floristic Province is solely found in the Santa Monica Mountains. Habitat loss has been rapid in the area for a number of reasons, firstly due to population growth. Los Angeles has a large population (3.8 million people in...

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 infras...

Sustainable Agricultural Practices Help Farmers Adapt to Climate Change

10Nov

By Tara PrakashNo Comments

Community News & Policy

Sustainable Agricultural Practices Help Farmers Adapt to Climate Change

By Tara Prakash Jose and his wife, Aurelia, are farmers in Guatemala, working on the land their families have owned forever. The views are breathtaking, with endless fields covering lush mountains, and the air is clean and fresh. But, it’s a difficult life. Farming on a steep mountainside, Jose and Aurelia’s fields are often subject to harsh weather. Relying on a single cash crop (coffee), their income is precarious and shockingly low. They earn roughly two hundred dollars per year if they’re lucky. They live far from cities in an isolated and rural area with limited access to resources. Planting on poor mountainside land with unpredictable rainfall and no irrigation, they have no control over global coffee prices or the weather patterns that affect their crop growth and therefore, t...

8Nov

By Iris ZhanNo Comments

Activities, Community News & Policy, Resolutions

Slides on Climate Justice

Part of our mission is to provide resources for student leaders to use at our schools (Mutual Education). Iris Zhan, founder of Fridays for Future Digital, created these slides for us to present to our clubs! Click the link below to access them! Thank you, Iris! https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18kdjvmCHNlWDHdXXhbKR8cu2pCst0K7UIeEz38D_HZE/edit#slide=id.p

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...

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 atmosph...

A Bill to Establish the District of Columbia Youth Environmental Sustainable Development Council

19Jun

By Elson BankoffNo Comments

Community News & Policy, Resolutions

A Bill to Establish the District of Columbia Youth Environmental Sustainable Development Council

By Elson Bankoff It is time that the youth get a say in local policy relevant to sustainable development. Similar to the mission statement of the Los Angeles Youth Climate Commission, the D.C. one would seek to uplift narratives, provide a forum for passionate discourse, and learn from diverse perspectives. These benefits would exist within the context of fighting environmental inequality; making a structural change to our city, connecting with youth and all residents, collaborating with people in positions of authority, and providing spaces to organize and educate our peers. The benefits of establishing a Youth Environmental Sustainable Development Council (YESDC) stretch beyond the existence of a Youth Advisory Council or a Purpose: The Council develops plans and objectives for ...

Composting: What It Is, Where It Is, and Its Impact on the Climate Movement

19Jun

By Lucas FlahertyNo Comments

Community News & Policy

Composting: What It Is, Where It Is, and Its Impact on the Climate Movement

By Lucas Flaherty Composting is a vital method of food waste management. Although an extensive issue, composting is often neglected in public policy. The process from farm to table is a long journey with numerous checks to ensure the food is “acceptable” to eat. Composting targets consumers directly who, unlike retailers and manufacturers, have a choice as to what happens to their food. Many cities in the United States, especially those on the West Coast, have already implemented composting programs. Washington D.C., for example, has experimented with composting programs through education on composting and the establishment of centers where residents can compost food scraps. Even with these programs, this is not enough. Luckily, in recent months, D.C. Council’s Committee on Trans...

Dear people who care: 4th Grade Student’s Call to Act

4Jun

By Krish KubbaNo Comments

Community News & Policy

Dear people who care: 4th Grade Student’s Call to Act

By Krish Kubba Dear people who care about the environment, Polar bears are going extinct. That’s the simple explanation. There are too many greenhouse gasses in the world, the polar ice caps are melting, and 36.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide will not disappear while you sit around watching TV and eating Doritos. The faster we ruin the planet, the faster it will die. There are many ways to help. All of you have probably heard about polar bears going extinct because of climate change but not a lot of people know why. Greenhouse gasses are the reason. Most of the people reading this have probably heard of greenhouse gasses. But do any of you actually know what they are and how they work? Greenhouse gasses are actually good for the planet, but you know the quote you can have ...

Roseville Area High School’s List of Demands

16Apr

By Niamh MeeNo Comments

Community News & Policy, Resolutions

Roseville Area High School’s List of Demands

By Niamh Mee AS THE STUDENTS OF RAHS, WE WANT: The City of Roseville to declare a climate emergency. Though this is a largely symbolic action, declaring a climate emergency shows that the City of Roseville cares about climate change, and will take future action on climate-related items. Roseville Area Schools to join the Minnesota GreenStep Schools. This is a program that provides a framework to allow schools and districts to reduce their environmental impacts and costs, and provide effective environmental and sustainability education for students and staff. Find more information about joining the program here. Organic waste disposal at RAHS. Similarly to the elementary and middle schools, the students of RAHS want organic waste disposal at all lunches. A ...