yet, such intimate encounters with nature are rare for texans. despite being the second-largest state in the country, only about five percent of texas is public land, ranking it 45th in available public land. this collegiate bikepacking experience offers young texans a chance to reconnect with nature on a personal level, using two wheels as their means of exploration while integrating principles of conservation and preservation into their lifestyles.

yet the land is unsuspecting. a landscape of such solitude offers little confidence in any type of water, but life flourishes here as all species adapt to a lifestyle of less consumption, including humans. 

the question, however, remains: “for how long?” 

scientists are walking a narrow walkway to establish the importance of water conservation to the community for the longevity of livelihood in the desert. it’s a balancing act of scientific communication. 

just south of oracle in tucson,  an oasis houses programs devoted to conserving a precious resource. as the sun beats down on the university of arizona campus, a slot canyon-shaped building on the edge of 6th street provides relief for clusters of students, practitioners, and wildlife. in tucson, water conceals itself in the large succulent trunks of cacti and the tiny leaves of desert-adapted trees. water that sustains human life hides either in discreet rain barrels or deep underground. the artificial canyon defies typical tucson ecology. its lush central garden whispers moisture into the air, and the rain catchments that cascade from the fifth floor sprinkle drops of rainbows to the floor below. 

within this slot canyon named enr2, is sharon megdal, ph.d., the director of the university of arizona water resources research center, a cooperative extension center. while her career now bridges communication efforts between those who consume water and those who do research on how to provide water to the scorching west, megdal did not begin her career in water, or even natural resources. because of her background in public policy work, she became involved in this fulfilling career. 

“i got an appointment to a high-level state regulatory utility regulatory body, by the governor of arizona at the time, and that literally changed my professional life,” medgal said. 

at the wrrc, megdal applies the center’s mission statement to her career of engagement and education, vowing for “greater depth, broader perspective for a clear water future.”

“we at the water resource center help convey and connect the folks who are working on the solutions with the folds who may benefit from the solutions or implement the solution. we’re mainly doing applied research, we facilitate work with the community,” megdal said.

the national institutes for water resources (niwr) plays a major role in addressing the unique water-related concerns of the individual states and the nation as a whole by providing a national platform for collaboration. the niwr network represents the only authorized federal-state program focused on applied water resources research, education, training, and outreach. 

“so we’re mainly doing applied research, we facilitate work with the community which is important to us, but they’re also their water resources are very important to us,” medgal said. “we ourselves are not the technical people, helping with connections, and bridging in both directions.”

megdal notes that this is a particularly difficult topic to communicate about. even more so in an arid area where water is rarely seen and does not stay long. 

“we are sometimes a victim of our success… [people] take water for granted in most places.” says megdal.  “so unless you’re in some kind of crisis, people just aren’t that interested, or unless there’s some big increase in their water bill, they’re just not that interested. yet, there are major investments that are going to be required or major policy acts.”

40 million people rely on the colorado river as a water source, namely residents of seven states and 29 tribal nations. the colorado river basin states representatives of the lower division states have agreed to conserve at least 3 million acre-feet of colorado river water in arizona, california and nevada by the end of 2026. in arizona, system conservation implementation agreement will commit water entities in tucson and phoenix to conserving water. furthermore, $8.3 million will be invested over the next five years for water infrastructure, including water purification, reuse, storage, conveyance and safety. 

the wrrc has hope that their unique team composition and exciting mission will change the face of water in arizona, and even the colorado basin. 

“we’re helping people, i’m helping with connections, and bridging in both directions. we’re gonna help people know what those efforts are and help those who think they have solutions, connect with opportunities, [and] get funding,” megdal said.

content creator lauren bash, known as relauren on social media, dedicates her online presence to the storytelling of climate change and activism. lauren is a self-proclaimed climate optimist, activist and storyteller who reaches her audience through short-form videos and social media posts. she uses solutions-based stories to educate followers on climate news, sustainability advice, and even skits portraying real-life, hard-to-navigate conversations.

listen as planet 世界杯欧洲预选赛免费直播 emma montgomery and lauren discuss the importance of being a climate content creator.

in west texas, the scorching hot sun beats down on the dry, never-ending landscape. prone to drought, the susceptible land endures 100-degree days with little to no relief of rainfall.

yet, lubbock, texas and the surrounding areas are known as the largest cotton patch in the country, and the lone star state proudly produces 42% of the country’s cotton. a crop used primarily for textile products like blue jeans, cotton is responsible for clothing people worldwide while also providing livelihoods millions of agriculturists.

jeremy brown has been in this industry his entire life. he has seen the impacts of climate change all around him and implemented the six principles of soil health to improve his crop from the ground up. 

the panhandle of texas offers miles-long stretches of two-lane roads; corn and cotton fields surrounding either side. blink-and-you-miss-it towns dot the landscape, often only marked by a flashing four-way stop sign or water tower. 

ransom canyon, texas, is bursting at the seams with just over 1,000 residents. nearly 20 miles away from lubbock, one of texas’ larger cities, this community sits lakeside with unique architectural and geological features. what it doesn’t have, however, is reliable access to food and security in nutrition. 

ransom canyon isn’t the only place lacking food security. the united states department of agriculture evaluates food access by measuring accessibility to healthy food sources, individual-level resources that affect accessibility, and neighborhood-level indicators of resources. any one or a combination of factors, such as distance from a grocery store, having a low income, no vehicle availability, or low access to public transportation results in food deserts. these stressors contributed to leaving 10.2% of u.s. households food insecure in 2021.

filling the nutrition gap

allison childress, ph.d., rdn, cssd, ld, is an assistant professor at texas tech university, chief clinical dietician at the nutrition and metabolic health institute and licensed dietician. she said she sees dollar stores as an aid to food insecurity while intensifying nutrition insecurity.

“​​we are reducing food insecurity but at the same time, there are things that i wish [dollar stores] would do to increase nutrition security,” childress said. “let’s start thinking of ways we can increase the nutritional content of the food that [dollar stores] sell.”

nancy haynie, a resident of ransom canyon, pushes a bright yellow shopping cart through a cluttered dollar general. her cart holds milk, bread, microwavable meals, and snacks. she said she frequents this store, coming in three to four times a week.

“what you spend here, you save in gas going all the way into town,” haynie said, gesturing to her cart. 

haynie said she has a fixed income and the addition of the dollar store to the community holds a significant convenience factor for residents, as well as the low price point. this specific storefront now offers a small produce section, offering peppers, corn, lettuce, grapes and more. 

“it’s terrible to have to drive almost 20 miles into town for a tomato,” haynie said.

are dollar stores the solution or the problem?

however, the dollar general in ranson canyon is the exception, not the rule. there are more than 34,000 dollar stores in the united states, which is more than there are starbucks, mcdonalds, target and walmart storefronts combined. while dollar general has announced intentions to make more stores similar to traditional grocers, with options like fresh produce, meats, cheeses and other goods, this plan would amount to 10,000 of over 30,000 total dollar stores.

“i really like the little store,” haynie said with a grin and a nod. however, not everyone expresses those sentiments. 

previous studies find that dollar stores, like dollar general, family dollar and dollar tree exacerbate food insecurity and food deserts in america. small food retailers are less likely than supermarkets to sell healthy staple foods, leading to a diet of ultra-processed foods. some cities have passed policies and ordinances to restrain the number of dollar store expansions to support full-service grocery stores.

there has been exponential growth in these stores in low-income communities, most often affecting marginalized groups. as a result, studies show these communities are significantly less likely to have accessible full-service grocers that offer quality, affordable, healthy options compared to higher-income and majority-white communities.

childress said eating healthily starts with knowing what is on your plate. 

“you want half of your plate to be fruits and vegetables, a fourth of your plate to be grains, preferably whole grains, and a fourth of your plate to be protein,” childress said. “you want to have healthy oils in moderation.”

when limited to products on dollar store shelves, childress said to look for canned and frozen fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, cereal with less than 10 grams of added sugar, canned tuna and chicken, and nut butters as healthy options. 

“you really have to get creative with how you’re going to design the plates, how you’re going to cook the items, how you’re going to store the items,” childress said. “then, you have to be very creative in making sure that you have something from all of those different food groups.”

expanding nutrition education and access

childress said education about nutrition is key to finding solutions to nutrition insecurity and can be implemented in dollar stores. visual guides, signs and nutrition reminders on labels are great ways to connect with a customer, according to childress.

experts like childress are not the only advocates for decreasing nutrition insecurity. 

food bank usage has been on the rise with the assistance of mobile pantry programs, and community gardens expand health, sustainability and economic security. beyond these tactics, community members like danielle demetria east are taking creative approaches to contribute to food equity. 

east founded the east lubbock art house, a non-profit, community-based arts organization, working toward benefitting the east side of lubbock, texas, a historically marginalized community exposed to higher health risks from industrial zoning and lack of food and nutrition security. this program hosts the lubbock community fridges, a place where anyone can put food in or get food out. 

“our community fridge is our hope at helping eliminate food waste and help transient individuals,” east said. 

east said the community fridge has received positive feedback, as seen by the continuing donation and pick-up cycle and helping as many as 20 people to regularly get food from the fridge. the steady supply of food provides residents with food security at no cost.

“people feel positively about [the fridges],” east said. “it’s all about meeting the need in the community.”

east encourages people to donate to the east lubbock art house and community fridges to grow the program and inspire other programs in other areas. accessibility to food, especially nutrition food, is revolutionary to residents in food and nutrition deserts. 

creative, community-centric programs and the spread of dollar stores contribute to solving food insecurity, meaning fewer people live their lives with a daunting hunger. yet, the gap in nutrition insecurity remains. when it comes to solving nutrition insecurity, education and communication are keys. 

“nutrition is a science just like medicine, and the research is changing all the time,” childress said. “the science is going to change, always. there’s going to be new nutrition recommendations.”

looking ahead

dollar store retailers have plans to expand their access to healthy options. federal policy requires retailers that accept ebt and other benefits to have coolers for meal staples, like milk, eggs and meat. dollar general, specifically, has announced its intention to increase the availability of produce and other traditional grocery store staples.

access to fulfilling, nutritious food is a human right, but one that is denied to millions of people in america. enticing dollar stores may not be a complete solution, but they may turn a new leaf into becoming more helpful than harmful. a strong emphasis on the availability of healthy options, education and outreach programs, and reliability to residents could make dollar stores the solution to food and nutrition insecurity in america.

as hit artist björk stood behind a dj booth, her music filled a busy square as whale bones and roses scattered the ground. dozens of roses were placed around the space representing the 148 fin whales killed off the coast of iceland the previous season. the crowd was filled with young and old, natives and tourists gathered to make their sentiments about whaling known. 

ida harris, a 17-year-old icelander, stood proudly in a bustling crowd in downtown reykjavík, the capital city of iceland, wielding a sign at a protest. her light, curly hair framed her young face and pale skin while her eyes were alive with passion for a cause she has dedicated years of activism efforts toward. 

“[whales] decrease the amount of greenhouse gas emissions,” she said. “on the animal cruelty front, it’s completely inhumane.”

whales are the only carbon-sequestering organisms in the ocean comparable to the role of large trees on land. studies find that the natural death of a great whale sequesters significant amounts of co2. as a whale falls to the bottom of the ocean, approximately 33 tons of co2 is captured and not resealed back into the atmosphere, while a tree only absorbs an average of 48 pounds of co2 annually. furthermore, phytoplankton, which contribute 50 percent of oxygen to the atmosphere, feed on whale waste and cultivate a cycle of fostering phytoplankton growth. 

the 2022 whaling season was the first to be officially documented and audited by the icelandic government. despite explosive harpoons being used to hunt these whales, results showed 41% of whales were not killed in an immediate and painless manner as required by current whaling regulations. 

according to the professional council on animal welfare, “when hunting large whales, it is not possible to meet the conditions necessary to ensure the welfare of animals during killing.” therefore, the hunting of whales does not align with the provisions outlined in the animal welfare act.

a report on the economic impact of whaling showed that hvalur hf., the last remaining whaling company operating in icelandic waters, has not turned a profit in years. this is largely in part to a widespread decrease in demand for whale meat and byproducts. in fact, this disinterest is coupled with restrictions across 183 countries on the transportation and trade of whale products by the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora (cites). 

harris encourages visitors to iceland to boycott restaurants serving whale meat. she says it does not represent the culture of a modern iceland. 

“whaling in iceland has no cultural significance. it is not a historic thing like people like to say it is. icelanders have been very recently modernized,” harris said. “old icelanders have never eaten whales, caught whales, done anything with whales. just us now.” 

a board member of the youth environmental association of iceland and an active participant in the fridays for future protests, harris has advocated for environmental justice and change since she was just 13 years old. now she and other environmental organizations in iceland have resumed protests against whaling after the ban was lifted on sept. 1, 2023. 

“we demand a revocation of the whaling license and that these brutal killings be stopped and banned once and for all,” the organization hvalavinir stop whaling in iceland stated, accompanying a global petition.

local icelanders are not the only activists working against the whaling industry. 26-year-old american lillian seibert spent her fourth time visiting the land of fire and ice at a whaling boycott. after she knelt down to sign her neat signature, denoting her defiance to the industry, she took photos and videos to share with her thousands of instagram followers. 

“culture evolves, and some things go out of fashion when they go out of necessity,” seibert said, glancing around the crowd of tourists and icelanders. “i think that that’s just part of the growth of culture that becomes part of your history.”

while not native to iceland, seibert said she has dedicated her travels to sustainable tourism practices. a petition to ban whaling in iceland that was shared in reykjavik and online has now garnered over half a million signatures from all over the world. much of this initiative was led by young activists fighting for the rights of animals and for their right to a healthy world. 

hvalur hf.’s permit to hunt fin whales will expire in december of 2023. activists are hopeful that their work to stop whaling once and for all will take root in 2024. a bill has been proposed in the icelandic parliament to shut down whaling operations. 

“it is proposed to make whaling illegal by repealing the act on whaling, no. 26/1949, and bring whales under the law on the protection, preservation, and hunting of wild birds and wild mammals, no. 64/1994,” according to the bill. 

anti-whaling groups like hvalavinir-stop whaling in iceland have continued to organize gatherings in recent weeks, mobilizing followers on social media to continue protesting the whaling permits and speak in support of the proposed bill.

“i’ve always been really passionate about the health of this planet and how intertwined it is with human existence. any species that we share this planet with has just as much of a right to be here as we do. so, i’m for stopping whaling. i think everyone else here can agree with that too,” seibert said with a nod, grinning as she scanned the crowd of passionate environmentalists.