InTending

Wanted to share this clip that resurfaced as I'm prepping a conference presentation on environmental justice:

I first saw this movie at the Sundance film festival last year. I was majoring in environmental studies, but was still surprised that the process of cleaning up oil spills causes as many, if not more, problems as it fixes.

Try to watch the full movie, The Cost of Silence, for more information/context, but this video gives some of the more pressing details. Check it out to find out how the 2010 BP oil spill (Deepwater Horizon) in the Gulf of Mexico and it's subsequent "cleanup" affected the wellbeing of 4 southern states.

This is important to know if you or a loved one live in coastal communities that have recently been opened up for offshore drilling (expanded to 90% of US coasts under Trump). It's crucial to be aware of these realities so we can better prevent harm for our communities and make informed decisions that actively pursue benefit.

New Documentary Explains How BP Covered Up the Oil Spill Health Crisis | One Small Step | NowThis This new documentary set out to uncover the true extent of the health crisis caused by the 2010 BP oil spill.» Subscribe to NowThis Future: https://go.nowth....

This is sobering.

We can avoid single-use plastics like bags, straws and bottles as much as possible, rinse and recycle plastic items, and encourage brands to pursue alternatives with your purchasing power.

A whopping 91% of plastic isn't recycled Billions of tons of plastic have been made over the past decades, and much of it is becoming trash and litter, finds the first analysis of the issue.

Here's an article following up a 2014 piece on the discovery of "plastiglomerate," a mineral-plastic composite that represents a permanent archaeological marker of how pervasive the "extract-use-dispose" production model/philosophy has become.

This statement is about Kamilo Beach, Hawaii, where the first plastiglomerate was identified:

"Here, the sand has been so contaminated with plastic fragments that in places there appears to be more plastic than sand; like plastiglomerate, the synthetic and the organic become so fused together that separation becomes not only impractical, but probably impossible without further damage to the natural system."

The consequence that is plastiglomerate First documented in 2014, plastiglomerate continues to proliferate across the Earth’s surface. While these materials represent long-lasting symbols of anthropogenic impacts on the environment, they also highlight the need to address the global plastic crisis.

Responsible by Nature: How Nature Exposure Can Influence Sustainability Outcomes Scientific research and personal narratives show that humans have an inherent affinity towards nature which can change how sustainably we live.

An article on sustainable architecture and the living structures of tomorrow.

The building of the future will be "an ecosystem by itself" says Chris Precht The third lecture from today's collaboration between VDF and reSITE sees Chris Precht of studio Precht explain his mission to design buildings that serve both environmental and emotional needs.

The Sierra Club's "Art and the Green New Deal" initiative married the concepts of art, environmentalism, and sociology.

The thrust of this project was harnessing artist's latent abilities to translate imagined realities of the Green New Deal into sustainable, tangible possibilities outside of our lived experience(s).

The implications of this initiative are discussed in the following piece:

https://www.sierraclub.org/articles/2019/11/creativity-and-activism-how-we-are-growing-green-new-deal

Creativity and Activism—How We Are Growing the Green New Deal

Envirobe: a wonderful example of combining biotechnology, environmentalism, and business. Thank you, Manyung Emma Hon!

What’s the Big Idea: Envirobe Manyung Emma Hon’s startup is developing plastic eating microbes as a solution to the world’s growing plastics problem.

While not environmentally-facing per se, these intersections of tech and art/creative thinking are inspiring models of innovation. Such thinking is sure to bring about sustainable realities in our modern world.

Experiencing Immersive Art in Colorado A place where words matter

Wild animals are exploring cities during the coronavirus lockdowns When humanity’s away, the animals will play.

I created this page as a resource to uplift examples of individuals incorporating sustainability into our ways of life.

Here I'm doing a little shameless self-promotion: I am an intern at the Sierra Club DC and was able to help initiate the "Art & the Green New Deal" program just a couple of weeks ago.

I did the interest graphic for our first artist call (below). We've gotten 140+ submissions already and will be sharing our favorites soon. Keep em peeled.

This is just the start of showcasing the people who live, work, and play in the ways that keep us here, enjoying it all for as long as possible.

Sierra Club wants to see your Green New Deal Art Calling all Artists - Can you help us imagine the Green New Deal? One of the best ways to do this is through art.