tellock saw a lot of food takeout packaging, utensils and plastic bags, and she began recruiting others to help her cover more ground. 

“i started cleaning my own neighborhood, then i ventured out to other areas and i eventually started to find such intense litter that i just could not do it myself,” tellock said. “so, i posted about it online and i started to gather some people to help.”

a communal effort

miranda carrico of the lake view east neighborhood was one of the first people to help tellock. both of them co-founded cleanup club chicago (cuc) in july of 2020, a volunteer group tackling litter pollution through land and water group cleanups, city outreach, and waste reduction advocacy. 

the environmental group has burgeoned to about 350 members from all over the city, carrico said. as of october, they collected 1,359 kitchen-sized bags of litter since their inception. cuc often collaborates with other organizations, companies, colleges, and wards like university of illinois chicago, dill pickle food co-op, and ward 25.

cuc has two group cleanups per month, running from april to november, and you can sign up here. tellock and carrico encourage people to always report litter issues through their alderman or 311 — the number that connects to city services like the department of streets and sanitation.

chicago generated 4.13 million tons of waste in 2020, but most recent data from 2018 reveals chicago’s average recycling rate is just 8.81%. cuc focuses on plastic litter, encouraging members to remove plastics from the environment whenever possible as the items can have detrimental impacts on habitats and animals like turtles and birds, trapping them, tellock said. 

“plastic pollution has some negative effects, especially on waterways and our soil,” tellock said. “along the river you can see very nakedly the impact that plastic pollution has on wildlife. it’s in their habitat, in their nests, they’re swimming in it.” 

a clean chicago

chicago has litter reduction initiatives, like the single-use foodware ordinance of jan. 18, which only restricts restaurant-caused plastic waste if patrons turn down disposable utensils. federally, the break free from plastic pollution act of 2021 is a proposed bill to reduce the production of certain products like packaging, paper, and containers. lastly, on the state level, the polystyrene foam ban bill seeks to prohibit stores from distributing disposable food containers made of the synthetic polymer polystyrene. yet, littering of this material continues with the lack of enforcement of these initiatives.

carrico said the pandemic increased the waste of single-use plastics and other items like gloves and disposable face masks, partly because the chicago parks district was not hiring maintenance workers, who typically target littering in parks across the city. 

carrico said cuc gives volunteers instructions and equipment like grabbers, gloves and buckets before each cleanup.

“we’re using eventbrite for people to sign up, which provides them instructions,” carrico said. “we will describe to them the goals of the cleanup, where we’re going and tips.” 

she added that the group holds activities like litter bingo and trash competitions to keep things engaging and fun.

tellock said the group is gaining many volunteers in communities across the city, especially south and west sides, so far doing work in humboldt park, pilsen, and hyde park, among others. tellock said cuc is a group that fosters community.

“i think it is a nice way to meet people that have a common interest in taking care of the community, and to get outside and do something productive with their time,” tellock said. 

full transcript:

from unclean air hovering over cities to unhealthy smoke in homes, air pollution continues to put human health and climate on the line. cameroon, popularly referred to as africa in miniature, is reputed for its geographical and cultural diversity, especially when it comes to traditional meals. for most cameroonians, the three stone fireside method of cooking transcends just making food. it speaks to generational cultures and bonds built over moonlight folklore and folktales of their shared history.

but, for the longest time, the process of preparing these meals has been largely powered by biomass fuels, made possible by the cutting down of trees. the health challenges associated with exposure to these cooking methods cannot be undermined as about 3.2 million worldwide deaths in 2020 were attributed to household air pollution, according to the world health organization. despite these health consequences, most people across sub-saharan africa still cannot afford clean cooking technologies.

aisata ibamie is a young renewable energy engineer, innovative clean energy activist, and a mandela washington fellow (mwf) from logone, a charey village in the far north region of cameroon, and she has had first-hand experience with the challenges of cooking in the country. (in full disclosure, mwf is where this author first met ibamie.) growing up in a rural community, fetching firewood for cooking was one of her least favorite chores –– a routine she shares with more than 70% of cameroonians who still do not have access to clean cooking technologies, as revealed by the world bank. 

driven by curiosity, ibamie’s rare passion and determination to change this narrative for cameroonians led to her creation of an energy efficient and affordable cooker: a cordless, portable, and non-electric bag made from cotton. ibamie hopes the asaab thermal cooker will go a long way to reduce deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions.

“if i want to cook red beans for example, it often takes us two to three hours with firewood or gas. with the thermal cooker, you need just 15 minutes of gas or firewood to boil it, take it off and place in the asaab thermal cooker and close. after 3 hours, it is ready. rice is just 25 minutes on the cooker after heating on any classical fire for 3 minutes. you can leave the food in the cooker for up to 10 hours and it will still be hot when you get back. our customers testify that they are preparing red beans, meat, and others. this is a way for the woman to be free. we have natural and artificial carbon footprints. using the asaab thermal cooker reduces co2.”

the tragic and avoidable chronic illnesses from unhealthy cookstoves continue to put women and girls at the most vulnerable positions as they often stand at the frontline of gathering fuels and preparing meals. to ibamie, providing the thermal cooker solution will not only save lives and the climate, but go a long way to address gender inequalities and promote girl child education in cameroon. 

“one of the motivations for the asaab thermal cooker is that i come from the far north region of cameroon, where women are often marginalized. so they don’t really go to school as they are are expected to take care of the family and not supposed to be educated in school. every time they are cooking — for up to three times per day. always cooking, so they don’t have to go anywhere because they are controlling food. for me, it was a way to give them a chance to take care of the family and also go to school, do business, or go on vacation if they want to. in fact, to be free of always going to the kitchen every time.”

a recent research publication in the pan african medical journal found that indoor pollution already kills about 7,000 people in cameroon annually. considering the numerous kitchen accidents recorded from cooking appliances, ibamie designed the asaab thermal cooker with user-safety in mind.

“i was thinking about safety. i wanted something light that customers would not need too much (experience) to use. the asaab thermal cooker is very safe to use as you don’t have to plug into current or put in the sun before using. it is very simple to use. even your children can come back from school, open it, and serve themselves easily — unlike gas, where you maybe worried that they are exposed to fire, which is very dangerous for the household.”

as the number of internally displaced women and girls continue to rise in cameroon due to security concerns such as the ongoing anglophone crisis in the northwest and southwest regions, and the boko haram insurgency in the northern regions of the country, ibamie believes the thermal cooker could not be more timely.

“the cooker is a blessing for displaced women because they are never stable. they are always moving from one place to another, so it is easy to handle. it is very light. it is less than three kilograms (approximately 6.5 pounds) and you can pack it in a handbag and you go anywhere you want to go with. i can say it is very practical.”

as an emerging young african leader, participating in the 2022 mandela washington fellowship at the university of reno, nevada, served as an opportunity to scale her business by expanding to new markets.

“i met fellows that i can work together with, in the same areas like cooking and climate change and thermal energy efficiency. so yes, i really met people and made customers who brought me other customers, so i have to ship asaab thermal cookers to the u.s.”

by helping to reduce the cutting of trees, ibamie is contributing to one of the focal points of the united nations environmental program (unep), which is to achieve a significant reduction in deforestation while boosting agricultural productivity. it also aligns nicely with one of the resolutions of the climate pact during the 26th edition of the united nations conference of parties in glasgow (cop26 glasgow climate pact), which hammered on the protection, conservation, and restoration of natural ecosystems such as forests.

according to project drawdown, if global adoption of clean cookstoves grows to 16% by 2050, 15.8 gigatons of carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced. as the world prepares to unite for the 27th u.n. conference in egypt to reflect on the progress with pledges and commitments to accelerate global actions in the climate fight, ibamie hopes that access to clean cooking will give climate delegates food for thought.

—

[editor’s note: this transcript was edited for clarity.]

in this video essay, against a backdrop of coral reefs and mangrove forests, planet 世界杯欧洲预选赛免费直播 kaitlyn copland reflects on her coastal upbringing and connects it to the importance of ocean conservation and education.

fabric incubator was founded in 2016 when designers angela johnson and sherri barry faced the lack of manufacturing resources outside of los angeles, and the unsustainable options for entrepreneurs wanting to get into the industry.

according to this un report, the fashion industry is responsible for 2-8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. the un says it takes 10,000 liters of water to grow the cotton needed for one pair of jeans, which is equivalent to a person’s water supply for 10 years. 

johnson says that the lack of resources forces aspiring fashion entrepreneurs to rely on manufacturing their clothes overseas in unsustainable factories. research by the harvard business review found that companies in countries with stricter environmental regulations offshore more often “particularly in countries with laxer environmental standards,” making them susceptible to excess inventory that gets burned or sent to landfills. the research found that tighter regulation results in a 43% increase in emissions abroad.

“by re-shoring manufacturing and making small batches, that is the number one way that we are sustainable,” johnson said.

 as of today, fabric has helped 800 apparel entrepreneurs start their business locally without over-production overseas. they’ve also provided $6.8 million in free and discounted programs and services. 

“that’s the main reason that we started this, is so that somebody with a good idea for a niche product could compete with the industry, with the bigger brands. and we are doing that by providing them with all the resources they need to get through all the complexities,” johnson said.

the company offers many resources to help entrepreneurs start their business and create their product. they have several scholarships that give recipients access to resources and education needed to enter the market. the city of tempe granted the non-profit access to the city’s performing arts center, and it is now a full time event space and runway with a photography studio, makeup room, audio visual equipment, and so much more for designers to bring their designs to the spotlight. 

one of fabric’s biggest accomplishments is that they manufactured 800,000 reusable hospital gowns to help minimize ppe waste during the start of the covid-19 pandemic. they claim this initiative helped keep 80 million disposable medical gowns away from landfills. president biden and vice president harris visited to recognize this effort to minimize waste in the healthcare industry. 

another initiative is their creation of arizona eco fashion week where they feature local sustainable brands. they also started their “refabricate” program where the scraps left over from designs are donated to local designers to be re-purposed rather than sent to landfills. they get turned into new garments, insulation, bedding for dogs, and even art installations. fabric has also partnered with the centers for habilitation to re-purpose arizona state university’s old banners into tote bags that are sold at asu campus stores.

asu’s president, michael crow awarded them the president’s award for sustainability for this effort. fabric was also awarded the az department of environmental quality’s voluntary environmental stewardship program award.

their growth and demand has been evident throughout the years. they have held tours for entrepreneurs wanting to get started every week since fabric was founded. barry even opened a second factory down the street to help keep up with the demand for automated manufacturing for designers that have grown out of fabric. 

johnson says that it’s important for everyone to think about how the clothes we wear every day are impacting our planet.

“the fashion industry is the second most polluting industry on the planet, so if you want to get to the core root of why things are so messed up, that has to be one of the things that we all care about. and all of us wear clothes, so this is all of our responsibility,” she said. 

––

disclaimer: as a member of the digital audience lab at arizona state university, i work directly with fabric incubator for their marketing needs. this is not for profit and simply a learning experience offered by the school.

the course, offered at chapman university, examines scientific communication across a diverse range of audiences and effective methods for strategic framing, developed by the national network for ocean and climate change interpretation (nnocci). as a student in the course, i was thrilled for the opportunity to combine my background in creative writing with my passion for the climate issue to affect change in my community. 

in partnership with tanner’s socio-ecological adaptations & climate resilience (seacr) lab, we developed materials for a communications toolkit addressing the oil spill and its connection to our reliance on fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which contributes to climate change. well-equipped by tanner’s immersive and collaborative approach for this course, we worked in teams to identify key audiences within orange county and researched shared, cultural values within these communities to inform purposeful language and effective metaphors. 

identifying and emphasizing a set of shared values like the protection of lands and peoples and the responsible management of resources in science communication unifies diverse communities toward a common goal. metaphors explain scientific concepts and illustrate connections between environmental issues and human action. we employed metaphors approved and tested by nnocci to shift the perception of oil spills as “accidents” to consequences of global reliance on fossil fuels. 

my classmates berkana mcdowell (‘23, environmental science & policy, peace studies, studio art) and lexi hernandez (‘22, environmental science & policy, sociology) developed an infographic advocating for indigenous knowledge and traditional management practices. they employed the metaphor, “indigenous knowledge keepers are scientists without lab coats,” to advocate for the amplification of indigenous voices. 

“there is an umbrella of knowledge systems,” wrote mcdowell and hernandez, “and we need them all.” 

i developed infographics for non-native english speakers living in orange county with eva stanton (‘22, environmental science & policy, sociology, anthropology) and veronica warner (‘23, environmental science & policy), to be distributed in the areas affected by the spill. by researching the linguistic demographics within orange county, we identified mandarin-chinese and spanish to be the most common, non-english languages spoken in the targeted area.

we experienced challenges when we attempted to choose a metaphor for our infographic, and found that most of the metaphors approved by science communicators didn’t translate into mandarin. to accommodate this, we enhanced our messaging through design elements, and compiled a masterlist of community-based solutions in a link.tree, accessible through a scannable qr code.

warner (‘23, environmental science & policy) translated our infographic into mandarin-chinese. 

“this project allowed me to thoroughly understand how oil spills impact society environmentally, financially, psychologically, and socially,” she said. “it was a great experience to work on this toolkit with my classmates because it helped me learn about how this environmental consequence impacts non-native english speakers, a group i never thought to consider for these issues prior to the toolkit.” 

the toolkit includes resources for connecting citizens with civic leaders, a timeline for fishers to determine the toxicity of fish caught in a contaminated area, and “unpacking the oil spill” guidelines for elected officials to implement regulatory action, while an infographic for lifeguards tracks the impacts of the orange county oil spill on human health, and provides guidelines for swimming and recreation. 

an activity designed for k-5 students explores the lasting effects of oil residue in our oceans, emphasizing the importance of protecting our environments. this framework highlights the efficacy of the promotion of science literacy and environmental awareness in schools. students are encouraged to fill out a take-home reflections with their parents to open dialogues within their households and communities about environmental topics. 

tanner emphasized the importance of including our positionality in all of our communications and encouraged us to ask ourselves, “am i the most trusted communicator for this issue? and if not, who is?” we acknowledge that science is not free of bias, and recognize that our communications are influenced by our own perspectives and privileges. as students in higher education, our status as trusted communicators is limited. instead, we must lift up the voices of leaders and trusted messengers embedded in impacted communities. 

the project culminated in a virtual presentation attended by local environmental nonprofit representatives, including oc coastkeeper, la nature for all, california fish and wildlife, and the pacific marine mammal center. 

“being given the opportunity to work on this oil spill communication toolkit was quite impactful. the environmental non-profits that we were able to connect with and aid during this project can take the kit we created and incorporate it into the amazing work they’re already doing in the oc area,” said christian grevin (‘22 history, political science, environmental studies), who worked on an infographic intended to guide nonprofits in connecting citizens to civic leaders.“to be able to give back to the orange county community in a way that not only highlighted environmental issues in our local ecosystems but also brought attention to the broader topic of climate change was incredibly rewarding.” 

each group presented their research and invited attendees to continue this conversation in their spheres of influence. “interfacing directly with the community in this project was such a big opportunity for the students and my research program. i think we made some lasting connections that will facilitate community-driven research in the classroom, a really exciting prospect for all of us,” reflected tanner, “this project will definitely be part of the course moving forward and we will continue to seek out relevant environmental and social issues of pressing concern.” 

we hope this project prompts further discussion and research into oil spills as consequences of human action, and communication gaps between messengers and impacted communities.  

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orange county oil spill communications toolkit contributors: richelle tanner, amy asmussen, ruby baldwin-smith, max burrous, maya cheav, christian grevin, kate hartshorn, holland hatch, alexis hernandez, ben jensen, hilary lee, kelly ly, berkana mcdowell, eva stanton, hannah waldorf, and veronica warner. 

washington — instead of sleeping in on saturday morning, over a hundred volunteers turned to a day of action in honor of rev. martin luther king jr. day.

volunteers donned red gloves and headed into pope branch park to collect trash –– from plastic bottles to mattresses –– to honor the late civil rights leader. the event was planned for january 17, but was pushed back due to weather conditions. 

this year the total trash collected weighed 11,333 pounds. last year over 4,600 pounds of trash were removed from the area according to anacostia riverkeeper member trey sherard. 

“it’s a day on, not a day off,” dolly davis, president of the pope branch park restoration alliance, said about the intersection between environmental justice and mlk day. 

davis’ grandmother used to say a “community’s cleanliness is next to godliness;” she believes king represented the same message. davis works within her community to educate her neighbors, teaching how to properly recycle, build rain barrels and be more conscious of the environment.

king is remembered for his role in the civil rights movement, and inspires days of service across the country. 

“it really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. we are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny.” king said in a 1976 christmas sermon. “whatever affects one destiny, affects all indirectly.”

davis said she believes in king’s message and wants to bring people together to enjoy the earth and instill his dream in her community. 

davis was one of several community leaders and members of local nonprofit organizations who worked with the environmental group anacostia riverkeeper in an annual event to clean up trash along the pope branch stream, which flows into the anacostia river.

the anacostia river is one of the rivers in the u.s. that was considered “impaired by trash” by the environmental protection agency over a decade ago.

christine burns of anacostia riverkeeper said trash that winds up in the stream will eventually flow into the river. the area in and around the park is often used as an illegal dumping site, she said. during the cleanup, volunteers found 290 tires illegally dumped off the anacostia freeway. 

“environmental activism is extremely important, especially in our watershed, and so using the mlk day of action to get people out here and participate is truly important,” burns said. 

will teass brought his two sons, austen and cole. teass’s company, teass warren architects, participates in the mlk day of service every year.

“i bring these guys along to teach about what we need to do in our community,” teass said. 

the two boys, both in elementary school, excitedly looked for trash with their grabbers and ran back to their father when they found litter. 

davis said she believes the collective efforts of the volunteers are what king envisioned when he spoke about change, but she wants city agencies to step in more and promote recycling and keeping communities clean.

“we shouldn’t be cleaning. we shouldn’t be out here today,” davis said. “we should not have people who [litter] or illegally dump. what we want to happen is to see more and more people to be responsive and responsible on how they recycle and throw away trash responsibility.”

this time instead of opting to buy the most on-trend eyeshadow color, i decided to buy with the intention of living a little bit more sustainably each day. some brands made my makeup bag’s renovation way more difficult: from high price points to low performance … and don’t even get me started on greenwashing. 

other brands were a glimmer — or should i say sparkle — of hope in the midst of what i like to call the cosmetics crisis. this name is fitting to describe the global beauty industry as it is now not because of the alliteration, but because of big cosmetic’s contribution to destroying 18 million acres of forests every single year. not to mention the fact that nearly 90% of the 10,500+ ingredients used in personal care products have not been evaluated by any safety or regulatory agencies. 

kirsten kjaer weis, ceo and founder of kjaer weis beauty, sat down with me to discuss a holistic approach to makeup and skincare. the danish makeup artist — whose work is no stranger to the pages of vogue magazine — champions the idea that all makeup should be expected to both perform well and be sustainable. 

kjaer weis is known for their products which all have organic and natural certifications, supply chain transparency and refillable packaging. they use almost no single-use plastic, and instead rely on creativity. 

in learning about kirsten’s background, personal definition of clean beauty and opinion on the future of the beauty industry, i felt a spark of inspiration. 

solutions may not be waiting for us, but innovators like kirsten and her team have restored my faith that we can make these solutions… and do it in style.

almost exactly a year ago, i made the decision to switch to clean beauty products. on a random september morning, i quite literally stumbled into the cosmetics crisis and my soon-to-be favorite store, take care, for the first time. i liked the lip gloss. i went back again when i ran out of my favorite mascara. then again and again and again. the more time i invested, the more inspired i became to learn more about the impact of my most beloved brands. it didn’t take much digging to learn that the beauty industry is bigger — and badder — than i had ever imagined. from 2018 to 2019, the beauty industry grew nearly 6%, generating around $320 billion in retail sales. 

i sat down with take care founder becky waddell to talk about our shared love of makeup, her inspiration for the shop and my quest to makeover my beauty routine for the better. i was most curious to get her expert opinion on what the term “clean beauty” really entails, as its use is diverse and debated. in waddell’s eyes, clean beauty is the creation of affective cosmetics without causing harm. the product selection she curates in her shop exemplifies this, as she strives to help customers new and old choose cosmetics that can “transform something that is aesthetic into something that supports our wellbeing.” 

defining clean beauty also meant confronting one of the biggest obstacles i came across in my journey: greenwashing, or attempts by companies to convince buyers that they are doing more to protect the earth than they are. large makeup brands have hopped on clean beauty as a trend; but often call products “clean” or “natural” when they have floral packaging… as opposed to actually being eco-friendly. this practice is more than just misleading. 

as it turns out, huge consequences come in really small cute packages. zero waste europe reports that the global cosmetics industry produces more than 120 billion units of packaging every year.. most of which cannot be recycled. this means that even the most innocent of plastic shampoo bottles is likely to end up in landfills or the ocean where it will take 400+ years to decompose. environmentalist ellen macarthur claims that if we do not make a change, there will be more pounds of plastic than fish in the ocean by the year 2050. pretty scary right? 

there is some good news too. these scary problems have emerging solutions. brands like rms are innovating to reduce harm throughout their products’ lifecycles by using packaging made from 80% post-consumer recycled fibre and manufacturing using 100% wind power. another leading company, kjaer weis, has created packaging that can be refilled and reused. although such undertakings can be costly for companies — which in turn drives up prices — waddell offered me a new approach: a change in the way we think about how we consume. she calls for a more intentional approach to shopping, encouraging people to buy less things that means more. the industry still needs to make massive strides in terms of accessibility: it is my hope that one day it will be expected that all products do more good than harm. in the meantime, don’t toss your plastic moisturizer bottle just yet! however, when you are looking for a replacement i’d encourage you to invest some time into learning about more sustainable options… in trying something new, you might just find something really beautiful.

although it’s not the first time trump transformed an apolitical issue into a partisan topic, this newest addition to trump’s 2020 campaign online store sparked heated discussions immediately. 

surprisingly, i did not see an overwhelming amount of personal attacks this time. the center of the argument was the practicality of paper straws. while some said that the paper straws contributed to significant reductions in plastic use, others genuinely complained about how these eco-friendly straws are too soft to hold drinks such as milkshakes.  

here are five important things to know about the war around straws.

paper straws work.

they work because the popularization and usage of paper straws reduce the production of plastic straws and that in turn reduces ocean pollution. environmental scientists collected trash on u.s. coastlines over five years and estimated that nearly 7.5 million plastic straws are out there on american coasts. meanwhile, only about 1% of plastic wastes are collected globally. when it comes to sustainability, paper straws work.

many stores already abandoned plastic straws. 

starting in 2018, many companies began to take action in eliminating plastic straws. starbucks, for one, announced that it plans to eliminate plastic straws by 2020 around the globe. the coffee giant will provide recyclable straw-less lid instead. other big companies such as american airlines and alaska airlines also said that it would provide marine-friendly paper straws. 

paper straws are biodegradable and take less time to decompose. 

most plastic straws are made of petroleum-based plastic, which means that they are not biodegradable when they are disposed into the environment. then, it takes hundreds of years for them to decompose in landfills. even for straws made of biodegradable plastics, the process of disposing will yield carbon dioxide and inorganic compounds. 

on the other hand, paper straws can decompose into the soil in 2-6 weeks. besides, paper straws can be easily recycled and reused. the mill-processing is developed and efficient in cleaning and turning old paper products into new ones. 

paper straws are being developed to work better.  

the fragility is the most complained feature of paper straws. while paper straws function well while holding drinks such as water and coffee, it usually cannot hold smoothies or milkshakes. different brands of paper straws have different qualities, but they share the problem of disintegrating in the beverages too fast. that being said, there have been efforts in producing more durable paper straws. some manufacturers developed paper straws with cellulose paper and glues, enabling durability of up to 12 hours without losing shape. 

if 12 hours are not good enough, i won’t be too surprised to see even more durable paper straws out in the market. california sen. kamala harris, also a democratic presidential candidate, specifically advocated for more innovation around paper straws as an effort to ban plastics during cnn’s climate town hall in september.

paper straws work, but there are other options that work even better. 

while there are many benefits of replacing with plastic paper straws, they are still single-use consumer items. 

besides, paper straws only solve a tiny fraction of the issue. straws make up 0.025% of the plastic that is found in the ocean every year. many other plastic products are in our oceans, too. while popularizing paper straws is a right step on the track, it is a true baby step toward a more sustainable consumption culture. using a metal straw, or simply a mug is more sustainable in the long run.