#dcedition1 – 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...

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 t...

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 Transp...

19Jun

By Elson BankoffNo Comments

Art & Multimedia

Posters to Shatter the Echo Chamber!

Below are some posters to print out on lawn signs, fliers, and wheatpastable paper to put around the city. Contact seasncontact@gmail.com to help us put these up in D.C. or in your school! Here is the link to all of the files: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1e2w0ij17cgb-fjieV9YXU-sbW5KX4vVO?usp=sharing By Lia Nathan L By Kidist Getachew By Elson Bankoff By Jasmine Flowers By Jasmine Flowers By Sam MacIsaac By Kidist Getachew By Sam MacIsaac

Metro Must Switch to Zero-Emission Buses Faster

18Jun

By Isabel LimaoNo Comments

Notes From the Editors

Metro Must Switch to Zero-Emission Buses Faster

By Tillie Owen, Isabel Limão, and Filipe Limão Earlier this week, I saw an article in The New York Times that said the Great Salt Lake is drying up. The article explains that, among other effects, this could lead to the air in the area occasionally turning poisonous as wind storms pick up arsenic in the exposed lake bed and carry it around the highly populated area. This dystopian-seeming event could become a reality if we don’t act soon enough to change it. This truth applies to various aspects of the climate crisis, especially public transportation. If DC wishes to meet its ambitious agenda to switch to renewables, we need clean transportation and we need it fast. By Dilinna Ugochukwu The current zero emissions transition plan is moving too slowly. Metro, or Washington M...