#editiontwo – Ecosystemic Magazine

5Feb

By Ariana ThorntonNo Comments

Art & Multimedia

Mother

By Ariana Thorton, Philips Exeter Academy Mother Earth contains our identity, history, and future, and sadly, its destruction is becoming increasingly conspicuous. Polluting our own home will ultimately lead to the end of Earth's life as we know it– yet there is hope. Together we can renew and preserve the beauty of our Earth and secure a future for those to come. Original Design Ink, Watercolor, Micropen

5Feb

By Krish GuptaNo Comments

Pop Culture

How to Go Vegetarian

By Krish Gupta The recent popularization of vegetarian and vegan diets across the world has occurred as a result of growing consciousness about the health benefits of these diets, the animal cruelty that is central to the production of meat and animal products, and the meat industry’s environmental recklessness. Despite all the benefits associated with vegan and vegetarian diets, misconceptions about plant-based diets remain prevalent, causing many to disregard the idea of transitioning to a new, environmentally-conscious diet. As a recently-turned vegetarian who feels healthier than ever, I can tell you that the majority of these ideas are false — a vegetarian or vegan diet can supply you with all the energy and nutrients needed to remain healthy, while also allowing you to enjoy delic...

5Feb

By Jaiden SaranNo Comments

Global News & Policy

The Nigerian Heat Crisis

Jaiden Saran McLean High School As months pass and global temperatures rise, West African climates are warming far faster than the global rate. In Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, the temperatures are reaching startling highs of up to 99 °F nearly every day. And these temperatures will continue to increase. For decades, people have used fossil fuels that contribute to climate change. However, with every generation, the use of fossil fuels has increased. The newest generation has polluted the most, resulting in a half-degree increase in temperature over the past century. In Nigeria, the rising temperature has led to alarming issues such as water scarcity, food shortages and poverty. Part of the reason Nigeria is affected by climate change is due to its abundant fossil fuels and oil-...

Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Agroforestry

4Feb

By Alma BielenbergNo Comments

Eco-STEM

Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Agroforestry

Alma Bielenberg, Sidwell Friends School Endless stretches of corn and grain illustrate the American farming ideal, but mass plantings of a single crop are not effective nor enduring compared to less mechanized methods. An ancient farming practice, agroforestry, provides an alternative. As Earth’s human population grows, nourishing the world poses a new challenge. To make the most of the land around us for the longest possible time, nature’s resilience and adaptability could serve as a guide. Reintroducing trees into farming practices is one way to maximize efficiency and ensure sustainability to fulfill our need for food. Agroforestry, a low-tech and traditional farming practice already used in one billion hectares of land worldwide, can be easily applied to our farmland for the b...

4Feb

By Ariana ThorntonNo Comments

Literature

Blessings

E. Ariana ThorntonPhilips Exeter Academy At my childhood home in Ashburn, surroundedby woods and hills, I watch my mom tendher many-hued garden frombehind the kitchen sliding-glass doors.Today, I join her:crouchingclose to the dirt in a floppy pink sun hat, pullingweeds or planting seeds (Chinese okra,parsley, strawberries),relishing the sensation of wet earth in my small palm,the dewy grass dampening my bare feet. SwiftlyI’m reminded of photographs fromNational Geographic Kids Magazine,of breathing soil and centuries-old trees,earthworms my hands arecupped around. I dash aroundour living yard,breathless, laughing,imagining the Earth’s ovenlike core rumblingbeneath my feet—upon my fingertips,the blessings of the atmosphere. Photo by Megan Chopra (Sidwell Friends School)