i began this project when i traveled to the ithaca farmers market to learn more about farming in new york. there, i was able to connect with justin jordan, owner of jordan farms in southern new york. justin was very kind to teach me about the barriers and difficulties of farming that have stemmed from overwhelming industrial farming. through this project, i learned about some of the ways that small-scale farmers are financially disenfranchised.

this video is intended to be a transparent example of what it takes to transform a living animal into a cooked chicken breast. through this artistic production, we are able to acknowledge at least some of the complexity of chicken processing. although graphic, the scenes are surprisingly beautiful and shocking as we are exposed to the vivid colors and textures of slaughter. there is also an underlying theme of zero-waste, throughout the video we see various ways to use the entire bird. feet and all! 

washington, d.c., is one of the participating cities of the climathon, and george washington university hosted the d.c. hackathon. students and professionals  from as far as north carolina participated. participants came from a wide variety of ages, backgrounds, and walks of life — from aspiring textile engineers to first-year undergraduate students. the theme of this year’s climathon was “closing the loop on textile waste,” as textile waste and sustainable fashion are topics not discussed enough in the climate conversation. 

perhaps the coolest thing about hackathons is that most participants enter solo, not necessarily already having a plan. it is during those 24 hours that participants form teams, brainstorm potential project ideas, and finally plan and present their idea(s) to the judges. truly, a day packed with innovation, collaboration, and potential for some world-changing proposals to arise.

the final projects ranged from mobile apps to blankets made from textile waste to clothing sorting services — all of which were truly reasoned, innovative, and creative approaches to reduce textile waste and make sustainable clothing options more available and accessible to the d.c. community — and beyond. 

one project in particular that stood out for demonstrating considerable potential on gw’s campus was “remix your loop” — a reimagined thrift store for gw students that makes a wide variety of clothes accessible to all students on campus. the idea was designed by some of the hackathon’s youngest participants: freshmen iradukunda claudine and alise ndacayisaba, and sophomore brianna reynolds.

claudine finds that the root of the textile problem is that “we are always overconsuming in america, whether it’s food or supplies or clothes, and we get lost in this influx of nonsense.” thus, this overwhelming issue fueled their passion to create a tangible, innovative project like remix your loop.

when pitching their project, these young women emphasized the shocking statistic that gw donates 97,000 pounds of textiles per year, coming from clothing donation bins on campus. oftentimes, these textiles are donated to companies that send the clothing abroad to developing countries, which creates more harm than intended as these clothing imports ultimately hurt local clothing businesses. thus, they envisioned an idea that would not only put these (literal) tons of clothing to good use on campus, but also engage the gw community on the important conversations that we need to have about sustainable fashion, responsible consumption, and other related topics. when they took a glimpse of the kinds of clothes that were donated on campus, they found all sorts of quality pieces of clothing. essentially, they thought to themselves: why not put these quality clothes back in the hands of the students?

from this discovery, came the proposal of their thrifting hub, remix your loop. the ladies explained the various perks and unique characteristics of their “reimagined thrift store”: it would provide students with far more affordable options to a wide variety of clothes, which is especially needed in an area where the majority of local clothing stores are high-end and expensive. the store would also provide students with a creative outlet. remix plans to partner with fashion and art students to serve as makeshift “fashion designers” for the store, who would help customers interested in customizing or revamping clothing pieces they find to their own unique liking. 

team member ira claudine finds potential in all clothing donations to be reused in some capacity, and this is where remix your loop would serve as the creative middleman. 

claudine said: “people always see an item as having use for one thing. but in actuality, you can easily turn an existing t-shirt into a tank top, instead of wasting your money and buying a new clothing item you may just wear once or twice.” 

the designers at remix your loop would help customers with such a process. they even considered having classes open to the student body where students would be able to sew and redesign clothing items — fostering a creative outlet and community that the school currently lacks.

there are plenty of other much-needed functions that this thrift store would serve. for example, for a school with a huge internship and professional culture, students often find themselves needing several professional outfits for their wardrobe, but may not be able to afford them. remix your loop would serve any students’ clothing or accessory needs for any occasion, simply using the existing supply of clothing donations from the gw community. 

luckily, a concept that already sounds too good to be true may just turn into a reality. the remix your loop team won 2nd place in the competition. they will receive a $2,000 grant to kickstart their project, as well as guidance from mentors to support them through the execution process.

interested in participating in this exciting event in the future? climathon is an annual event and can be found in cities around the world. if you’re local, gw has always been the host for the d.c. climathon, and this school certainly does not fall short of innovative minds. who knows? you may just be the mastermind behind the next big solution to climate change.

being amskapi pikuni (blackfeet) in a culture dominated by western ideals is something none of us are prepared for when we’re children. this direct clash between a family-based system and a property-based system has resulted in the world we now live in, and the issues we’re now scrambling to solve. as a child, these polar concepts were confusing to me. my young self couldn’t see the simplicity of the truth, so i rebelled. i chose to actively suppress my ancestral ways and stopped believing in the wisdom i learned from the cultural practices i’d participated in as a boy. this was the end of my childhood, and the beginning of my journey toward learning what it means to be a man, and toward realizing my own identity as a warrior.

alcohol abuse, drug addiction, and misdemeanors became the dream of my life. i didn’t know at the time, but i was living a dream of hell. eventually, my rebellion waned, and my war for freedom began. i explored everything i could find for over a decade trying to find the answer to something my ancestors knew without words. i was searching for the truth.

although i’d attempted college in 2003, i walked away from that after four years, again falling into drug addiction, and again falling away from a path some would call “the straight and narrow.” i bounced from methamphetamine to cocaine to alcohol and back again for a couple of years while my true passions burned deep within. my truth was hidden by a tapestry of lies, woven into a perfect masterpiece of self-deception. then i experienced something that had a profound impact on my entire existence. this moment shifted my paradigm and got me taking small steps toward the things in life i knew were the real expression of the real me.

i came home from work one night and sat on the couch, turned on the computer, and softly placed my palm on my chest. i remember feeling the jaguar’s claw digging into my skin as i leaned back, my palm laid gently over the necklace under my shirt. i focused my attention on that beautiful and powerful animal. the jaguar…

suddenly, i was frozen, i couldn’t speak, i could barely breathe, and my non-functioning body sensed an overwhelming euphoria wash over it! as i experienced this rush of sensation, i watched a dark figure come through the wall and stop in front of me. my vision twisted into a distorted tunnel at this moment, forcing me to focus very intensely on this thing. it moved toward me and the feeling intensified. when i just couldn’t take anymore, the figure withdrew and i knew something was exchanged. this became the first experience in my adult life that was true without the need to rationalize it. once i finally regained control of my body, i realized i was crying.

the reason i tell this story is that at this point in my life i was completely against practicing my culture. i thought my traditions were bullshit, and that they were simply superstition and metaphors. boy was i mistaken. i remembered those ceremonies where people prepared for these kinds of things. i remembered preparing as a child and then walking away to learn in a different way as a young man. i wasn’t prepared for this experience, and it shook me to my core.

i continued to go about business as usual after that night, but something had changed inside me. a spark had been rekindled and i knew the land and my ancestors were there to guide me. but that it’s up to me to listen, and it’s up to me to learn.

with my new-found strength, i picked up the pieces of my young life. i forced myself onto a tribal college campus and into the enrollment office. everything seemed to move at the speed of light. before i’d even realized what happened, i was learning again and filled with a childlike joy that i hadn’t felt in years. the spark that kept me going in my darkest moments grew into a flame that set my world ablaze with beauty!

i successfully completed degrees in environmental science, forestry, and geospatial science. but these accolades are unimportant in the larger scheme of things. we’re facing unprecedented issues in the modern world. climate change is poised to change the face of the earth, but indigenous science teaches us to be adaptable. water shortages will force nations to war, but indigenous science can lead us back to the land. and food disparities will bring us to the brink of starvation, but indigenous science gives us the wisdom to reconnect to place and learn to listen. integrating indigenous knowledge into every discipline will be a vital step toward a hopeful future and a sustainable way of life.

this perspective comes from a strong indigenous upbringing, as well as the dissident path i followed. with these roots, i was able to flourish in a nation that’s oppressed my people for 150 years. now i can teach others that it’s not important to go to college to be successful, or to get a degree, or to learn in a certain way. no. it’s important to learn how to listen.

after all, what’s better than giving or receiving gifts that help us reduce our ecological impact? check out this roundup of tested and useful products that are perfect for anyone (yourself included)!

1. stasher bags

prices range from $9.99-$19.99

these reusable silicone bags are incredible: not only are they self-sealing and air-tight, but you can put them in the microwave, dishwasher, and/or the freezer. they’re perfect for packing sandwiches and snacks on the go, for organizing odds’n’ends, and have innumerable cooking and food storage uses. available in both sandwich size and snack size, and a variety of fun colors and patterns, stasher bags are one of the most useful, practical, and durable reusable bags on the market, and make for a wonderful gift your friends and family will use time and time again.

2. ecocrock compost bin:

$39.99

​perfect for the home chef or gardener in your life! food scraps make up a significant amount of waste in the united states, but this chic, in-kitchen compost bin can help your friends and family make composting easy. this compost bin offers a sleek and practical design, including two filters, and a charcoal filter to eliminate odor.

​3. senhai reusable utensils

$10.99

these utensils are perfect for reducing plastic utensil use on the go! a fork, knife, spoon, and set of chopsticks is tucked inside a zipper-seal pouch, which ensures utensils stay clean. the utensils are stainless steel and rustproof, and make a perfect stocking stuffer.

4. play animal beds and toys

prices range from about $6-189

perfect for your four-legged friend, or your favorite pet-lover! play is a gold certified green business that makes durable pet beds and toys from 100% recycled materials. they offer customizable dog beds made from plastic bottles, as well as an array of adorable dog and cat toys.

5. bee’s wrap reusable food wrap

prices range from $6-$19.

this plastic wrap alternative is perfect for wrapping up leftovers, cheese, produce, bread, or to cover bowls to keep things fresh for extended periods of time. made from bee’s wax, bee’s wrap is washable, reusable, compostable, and adorable!

6. yeti tumblers

price range from $19.99-$129.99.

yeti makes durable, vacuum-sealed water bottles and tumblers, perfect for keeping beverages hot or cold for extended periods of time. whether you’re shopping for a student, a working friend, or an adventure-seeker, reusable water bottles and tumblrs help reduce waste from people always on the go.

7. green toys

prices range from $5.99-$49.99.

green toys makes adorable plastic and dough toys for the young ones on your list. made in california from 100% recycled materials (mostly plastic milk jugs), green toys is trying to do toys differently, in a sustainable way.

8. reuseable bag, scarf, or newspaper instead of wrapping paper

free.

rather than purchase gift wrap this year, consider using newspaper or gifting your bag in a reuseable tote, which are available at many grocery and mega-stores like target. you can also wrap your gift with a scarf in furoshiki style, a traditional japanese way of wrapping gifts. not only will this save money and reduce waste, it’ll be an extra bonus to your gift.

according to the institute for energy research, a 2015 study showed that roughly 10% of the total u.s. energy supply comes from renewable sources. many cities already have plans to convert to 100% renewables in the near future — and four cities already have been successful in doing so.

why make the switch? with climate central reporting that the 10 hottest years globally, all of which have occurred since 1998, we have reached a pivotal moment in history. it’s becoming more and more obvious that human activities have caused a dramatic change in the global climate. some of the damage already may be done but it is up to our generation to put us on a better path. and luckily, we are starting to see these changes happen here in the u.s.

greensburg, kansas

the first u.s. city to reach 100% clean energy was greensburg, kansas. however, it took a traumatic incident in order for this city to evolve. with a population of only 771 people, according to the u.s. census bureau, greensburg is as small-town-america as it gets. the name may sound familiar because in 2007 the town was hit by a major tornado, which destroyed 95% of the town and resulted in 11 deaths.

during reconstruction, the city council decided that the entire town would be run on green-energy, adopting the motto: “rebuilding…stronger. better. greener.” as of 2013, the city’s energy comes from a 12.5 megawatt wind facility.

the story of greensburg is somewhat symbolic. it paints a picture of what the future holds if humans around the world continue down a path of environmental exploitation. with the disappearance of the polar ice caps and destruction of the world’s coral reefs, humans have no choice now but to evolve.

aspen, colorado

another small city that has reached 100% clean energy comes as no surprise: aspen, colorado. as a ski resort town, aspen’s entire economic success rides on the environment. aspen’s utilities and environmental initiatives director david hornbacher said, “…we are powered by the forces of nature, predominantly water and wind with a touch of solar and landfill gas.”

the aspen times reports that prior to the switch to clean energy, the town already was running on 75% to 80% renewable energy.

burlington, vermont

burlington, vermont — a city of more than 42,000 — also has achieved 100% renewable energy. according to the boston globe, the burlington electric department had purchased a hydroelectric plant on the winooski river. the burlington electric department with the washington electric cooperative collectively now supply the city with 100% renewable sources.

the manager for burlington electric, ken dolan, said, “the transition in thought from 2004 to 2008 was ‘we want to do this’ to ‘this actually makes economic sense for us to do this.’”

the boston globe also reports vermont is on a statewide mission to push for 90% renewable energy for electric, heating, and transportation by 2050.

georgetown, texas

looking toward texas, it would seem very unlikely that this oil-rich state would harbor one of the largest cities to reach 100% renewable energy, however georgetown, home to some 67,000, has done just that.

a city that lies about 30 miles north of austin, decided to make the switch after their power contract was up in 2012, according to ari shapiro from npr. shapiro reported city managers came to realize that wind and solar energy are much more predictable in prices, compared to that of oil and gas.

surprisingly, the switch to renewables was due in part to rick perry, who implemented changes to texas’ electrical grid, allowing georgetown to receive its energy from wind farms in west texas.

georgetown mayor dale ross said in the npr interview, “it’s a great economic development tool because there’s a lot of high-quality companies in this country that have robust green energy policies.”

so while the switch to renewables was motivated by economic factors, georgetown demonstrates that renewable energy can be a better economic decision than fossil fuel sources.

the switch to renewable energy is not an easy one. each u.s. city has its own unique circumstances and there is not one set path in seeking green sustainability. greensburg, aspen, burlington, and georgetown have showed us that the switch is not impossible, and in some cases it’s even beneficial for the town’s economy.

according to business insider, san diego, san francisco, and san jose in california; rochester, minnesota; grand rapids, michigan; and east hampton, new york, all have adopted plans to make the switch to 100% renewable energy within the next 20 years. what all these cities have in common is that the push to go green is local. while the federal government may not be passing renewable energy legislation anytime soon, citizens can motivate their local governments to begin the switch themselves.