Whose House? With Democrats back in power at the House of Representatives environmental issues will now be acknowledged. For eight years Republicans have been in power of the House, but now that Democrats have control more policies will be passed to protect the environment. House Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson, Raul Grijalva, and Frank Pallone Jr….
Arctic Region is Beginning to Melt
The artic region of our planet is very important to our survival and the stabilization of our climate. The artic contains a large amount of ice, which not only provides a climatic service to Earth but also a habitat for people and animals alike. With the recent increase in overall warming of our environment, it…
Overpopulation
Consider this article from an environmental journalist describing the insidious logic concerning some arguments that arise in discussing over population. Among the points addressed they acknowledge the fact that overpopulation has a definitive impact on the environment, but they argue and explain as to why they do not write about it. It outwardly seems nonsensical,…
Coming to Terms With the Midterms
Congress is made of two bodies, the House of Representatives and the Senate. These two bodies, along with the responsibility passing legislation, have very distinct powers in the US system of checks and balances. The House is larger with 435 representatives with the number per state determined by state population who serve for two-years before…
A Vegan Thanksgiving
Calling all vegans and others interested in creating a sustainable Thanksgiving meal. You can still celebrate the holiday the same way everyone else does; by eating a lot of good food. Here are some of the best vegan recipes for the holiday: Vegan Cornbread: Not only will this recipe satisfy carb cravings, but it also…
Who should you discuss climate change with?
In the past I have considered how, for some topics, certain individuals are more easily persuaded compared to others. Karin Kirk, in her article for Yale Climate Connections, introduces the spectrum of persuadability. There is a good figure in her blog post illustrating the spectrum. As Kirk explains, the spectrum of persuadability includes the following…
Hog Waste Overflows in North and South Carolina
So, I’m sure we all heard about the effects of Hurricane Florence, but the effects of the hog waste overflows on the local communities have been devastating. To preface, the main perpetrator was Smithfield Foods, where millions of gallons of hog waste escaped from two of their lagoons. These lagoons can hold billions of gallons…
Freezing Rain Still Means Global Warming
The freezing rain and snow falling down on Pittsburgh this past week officially kicks off winter. With this, also begins the naysayers of global warming. Frigid temperatures and snow throughout the United States shows only a small percentage of global climate. Temperature measurements taken on land and from water over the past decade shows upward…
Wilkinsburg Weekly Part 3 – Vacant Home Art
In week three of Wilkinsburg Weekly, I wanted to share these photos of some of the Wilkinsburg vacant homes. Boarded up windows are colorfully painted and make the best of what would be drab, vacant, blight. Artists added paintings to the homes that are part of the Wilkinsburg Vacant Homes Tour, which aims to inspire…
Buses keep Moving Even With Electricity
Carbon emitting vehicles have played a major part in the reason why our air is so polluted. Forms of public transportation, like buses and subway trains, have helped with the reduction of air pollution. With public transportation, air pollution is reduced because those people aren’t driving their own vehicles, rather they are riding together on…