By: Javayria Mudassar

Many of us have probably grown up using shampoo for a variety of reasons. The most obvious reason is that it keeps our hair clean, grease-free, and shiny. Every year, the number of companies that are branded as ‘sustainable’ cosmetics increase tremendously, whether that be for cruelty-free products or natural moisturizers. However, many fail to take in two extremely important factors: how it affects the environment after product use and the packaging it comes in.

Why are shampoos harmful to the body?
Traditional shampoos that are created using chemical formulas are extremely harmful to the hair and scalp. The harsh chemicals in the shampoo strip the hair down and remove natural oils that protect the hair from damage. Although the hair looks clean and feels silky temporarily, it is prone to breakage and irritation of the scalp. It is important to know that two ingredients that take the oil and wax off your hair, sulfates and ammonium, are actually detrimental to the environment and your health. Ammonium is known to cause cancer, hair loss, scalp rashes, and other health complications. 

How do they harm the environment?
Shampoo does not stay on your hair forever—it ends up going down the drain and entering water bodies. Sometimes, this can result in harmful substances that affect human drinking water, pollute rivers, and harm wildlife. The problem is in the makeup of the chemical formulas for shampoo. Sulphates, which are present in nearly every shampoo found in stores, are actually used as pesticides, which pose a threat to the biodiversity of lakes and rivers by killing larvae and aquatic insects. Chemicals such as sodium laureth sulfate can induce mutations in animals’ genetic makeup and can sometimes be fatal. 

What shampoo should I buy now?
Of course, we still need to keep our hair clean. However, there are plenty of more sustainable options available on the market that have minimal harm on both the environment and our bodies. Things to look for when purchasing shampoo or hair products in general include:

• Swapping out shampoo bottles for sustainable shampoo bars. They are fairly new to the market but definitely should not be overlooked. These bars are made up of natural oils such as coconut/rapeseed oil, shea butter, and essential oils for fragrance. They last around 40-60 weeks and are great for your hair’s health. They are also the most sustainable, since they arrive in paper packaging and there is no need to dispose of them. Any residual soap will travel down the drain, and even if it ends up in waterways, there is no harm since the ingredients are all natural. The one downside is that it takes time for the hair to get used to the difference in ingredients, but the environment and your body will thank you.
• Staying away from shampoos with an ingredients list that is incomprehensible. If you can’t read more than 5 ingredients, you quite plainly don’t need them on your hair. The extra ingredients are not needed for your hair to be clean but are only added as preservatives and fragrances. 

Most regular shampoos that we see in pharmacies or superstores are harmful to both yourself and the environment. Considering that the majority of the ingredients are non-degradable and have lasting impacts on living organisms, it is safe to say that finding a more suitable alternative will have a positive impact on the Earth and your hair!

Sources:
Green Matters
https://www.greenmatters.com/p/shampoo-effects-environment

Keeping Our Planet Alive (KOPA)
https://keepingourplanetalive.ca/blogs/blog/how-bad-is-shampoo-for-the-environment

By: Kay Kim

Sunscreens help protect our skin from harmful UV rays; by using sunscreen, we reduce the risk of sunburns, skin cancer, and ageing. However, these amazing inventions used to protect ourselves can potentially harm us. Most sunscreens contain oxybenzone which is a harmful chemical known to destroy our ecosystem. Currently, there are more than 3500 skincare products that contain oxybenzone itself. That’s not all, other harmful chemicals such as OD-PABA, nano-Titanium dioxide, nano-Zinc oxide, Benzophenone-8, Benzophenone-1, Octinoxate, and Octocrylene can be found in some sunscreens. When people shower or swim while wearing sunscreen, the chemicals in sunscreen become exposed to the environment and contaminate our waters.

These chemicals are harmful to marine life as it damages and kills corals by bleaching them. Thousands of marine species depend on coral reefs for shelter and protection; furthermore, corals are beneficial to humans as they act as natural barriers that stop powerful storms and waves. Oxybenzone can also create hormonal disruptions in the growth of green algae, fertility in fish, and defects in young mussels. Most of the organisms that are affected by these chemicals are the species at the bottom of the food chain. This means that chemicals can be transferred and accumulated as one species eats the intoxicated one. In addition, by disturbing even a single organism, the food chain will be affected. Marine species will continue to disappear if the use of sunscreen increases.

You might be wondering, how does this harm our quality of life? Well, when one organism becomes endangered or extinct, it impacts the entire food web. Studies show that as animals continue to go extinct, the organisms at the top of the food chain will be negatively impacted the most. For instance, if green algae go extinct because of the way we toxicate our oceans, fish will begin to starve, and other organisms that rely on fish and algae will go hungry; in the end, humans will be left with nothing to eat. Moreover, there is a possibility that humans will get sick from the bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals.

This is not to say that we should stop wearing sunscreen, but instead, we should seek alternative solutions that are more sustainable. Firstly, a way to reduce toxic chemicals ending up in the waters is switching to mineral and reef-friendly sunscreens. Mineral sunscreens do not contain oxybenzone, octinoxate, or octocrylene; however, depending on the brand, there may still be chemicals like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, so it is important to check the ingredient list. There are also reef-friendly sunscreen alternatives as well. For individuals that have sensitive skin, these might be easier on your skin than chemical sunscreens. Secondly, you can also avoid sun exposure by staying inside from 10 am to 2 pm (when the sun is at its peak). And lastly, wearing protective gear like sunglasses, leggings, sunhats, sun shirts and umbrellas will lower the amount of UV exposure to your skin. In the end, it is our actions that contribute to the future of the Earth; therefore, it is our responsibility to make an effort to provide a sustainable future. Let’s continue to protect our skin and marine life.

Sources:
National Ocean Service 
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html

Surfrider Foundation
https://www.surfrider.org/mission​

By: Akilah De Souza

The year is 2021, and a growing number of people are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Many of them are turning to veganism, but why? What is the correlation between veganism and a reduced carbon footprint? For starters, a vegan diet has been linked to the reduction of deforestation and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Sources:
BBC
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/vegan-diet-better-environment

Greenpeace
https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/forests/issues/agribusiness/​

By: Kai McLaughlin

​In late 2019, Jane Fonda was an award-winning actress and activist living in Los Angeles surrounded by the spoils of her years of work in the film and television industry. She was also paralyzed by fear of the broad-ranging effects of climate change, and as a seasoned activist who protested the Vietnam War, she wanted to do something but found herself at a loss. Despite her connections and resources, the problem was enormous and multi-faceted, so what could she do? In her newest book What Can I Do? My Path from Climate Despair to Action, Jane takes the reader along with her on her journey to figure out exactly what she could do; specifically, how she used her experience as an activist, her drive, her resources, and her connections to take action on climate change when so many seemed resigned to apathy.

Inspired by the actions of Greta Thunberg and her proclamation that “our house is on fire,” Jane moved to Washington, D.C. and partnered with Greenpeace to start Fire Drill Fridays, a monthly teach-in and protest at the capitol demanding direct action from Congress on climate change. Specifically, their major demands included a Green New Deal, an end to new fossil fuel projects in the United States, an immediate and rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, and a just transition to a renewable energy economy. The idea capitalized on Jane’s platform as a recognizable celebrity to draw attention to a broad range of climate related issues and to the work of current climate activists. Each week began with a teach-in where Jane spoke with climate activists and highlighted the interconnected nature of climate change as it impacts nearly every sector of human life on Earth. Their discussions often focused on the path to a green future and how such massive and immediate change could be implemented.
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Following the teach-ins each Friday, Jane led a march each week to the Capitol steps where protestors volunteered to risk arrest in order to bring immediate attention to the issue. Jane Fonda, marching in a bright red trench coat that became an icon of the movement, was arrested five times including on the eve of her 82nd birthday, which she spent in a Washington, D.C. jail. While the first Fire Drill Friday brought a crowd of about 50 to hear Jane and other activists speak in front of the capital, the movement grew quickly. Soon, Fridays in Washington, D.C. meant hundreds of people representing dozens of distinct environmental and justice organizations, states, countries, and indigenous tribes marching on the capital in a sea of red coats, hats, and scarves. Later marches also included appearances from celebrities like Sally Field, Sam Waterson, and Ted Danson, who both served to draw media attention to the issues and to speak from their own expertise. Ted Danson, as Jane Fonda writes, has been an environmental activist focused on ocean protection for decades and currently serves on the board of Oceana which works to protect ocean habitats. Jane uses the narrative of her book to spotlight the words of these celebrities moved to action as well as scientists, environmentalists, and human rights activists from many walks of life, all of whom are seeing the immediate impacts of climate change on their lives and communities.

Most of us don’t have the immediate resources of Jane Fonda (notably, the money to move across the country at a moment’s notice nor the celebrity friends to draw immediate attention to our issues), but Jane’s memoir of her movement stands out as remarkably down to earth. Not only does she point out the privilege she has to create such a movement, but she also uses that platform to give space to activists and scientists who need to be heard and to highlight the particular impacts of climate change on disadvantaged communities. The book not only provides a blueprint to other activists who want to simply “do something,” but it does so with humor, compassion, and an activist’s heart on every page. It is clear from the narrative that Fonda not only wants to inspire others to join her campaign but also to start their own. Ultimately, Fonda’s success with Fire Drill Fridays in drawing national and immediate attention to climate change came from her years of experience as an activist during the Vietnam War and her plain and simple love for people.

As enormous and terrifying the existential threat of climate change can feel, the book is, notably, filled with images of people smiling (often, as they’re being led away in handcuffs by Capitol police). The ultimate problem of climate change is that it is deeply connected to every part of our lives from weather to global health, food security, just labor practices, consumer practices, and energy consumption—as well as systemic issues such as misogyny, racism, and classism. But, as Jane’s narrative circles back, again and again, on the experiences of people from all parts of the world and all walks of life, we recognize that we are too deeply connected to each other in ways we cannot fully comprehend. These connections form the very fabric of our humanity and they are what will keep us going through this fight against climate change. Jane reminds us that we are connected to each other and the environment such that we cannot possibly act in a vacuum and that it is in our nature to want to help wherever it is needed. As such, Jane Fonda’s book serves as a bright call to action not only on climate change but also to every person who sees injustice and feels powerless. She reminds us that we are not alone in our fear or anger just as we are not alone in our joy or our passion. You can find more information on Fire Drill Fridays at https://firedrillfridays.com/
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By: Sabrina Yang, Paleesa Kapoor, Kevin Lau, Shraddha Subash & Dorismar Cuevas

How do you think climate change is fueling the especially severe polar vortex in the South and Midwest? 

Sabrina: I believe that global warming is the root cause of this severe polar vortex because we know that the Arctic is warming at a speed double that of the rest of the world, which means that many glaciers have shrunken and significant amounts of ice have melted. In addition, with less sea ice to reflect solar radiation, the warmer the Arctic waters are getting, thus causing clouds of warmer air that may trigger the polar vortex. Without addressing these issues caused by climate change, our world will continue to be affected by these harsh conditions and crumble, which is why we must take action and spread awareness about these environmental issues caused by climate change.

Paleesa: I think climate change is to blame for fueling the severe polar vortex in the South and Midwest. The implications of the climate crisis are warming higher latitudes and reducing the temperature difference between the warmer mid-latitude and polar regions. This weakens and destabilizes the polar jet stream, causing it to dip into lower latitudes, bringing polar air farther into areas like the South and Midwest.

Kevin: ​Climate change has affected the way a polar vortex operates, especially in the South and Midwest. The increase of temperature on the planet has caused loss of Arctic ice, leading to a darker surface which absorbs more heat. This destabilizes the polar jet stream which ultimately brings cold air farther south. It is expected that if this continues, habitants can expect more extreme and unusual weather. It is important to recognize and address these harsh conditions to provide stability to the ecosystems in the area. Politicians and leaders can help battle the issue by providing more funding to climate change initiatives and raising awareness to the public. 

Shraddha: ​As we may know, climate change often propels extreme weather and natural disasters. With increased temperatures and higher sea levels worldwide, the result has left more precipitation in various areas. With more precipitation, especially during colder months, the severe weather often takes locals by surprise and leaves them quite devastated. In Texas, snowfall and freezing winters are not common instances. Because the severe weather was uncommon, many locals suffered: the snowstorm resulted in broken pipes, loss of electricity, and even homes going up in flames from people trying to stay warm but not operating fireplaces properly. Climate change is a worldwide problem that not only affects colder areas by making them warmer; the opposite is also true. 

Dorismar: ​What keeps the naturally occurring polar vortex stable is the polar jet stream that keeps cold air from moving south. This jet stream is maintained thanks to the Earth’s rotation and the temperature differences between the North Pole and lower regions; however, these temperature differences are disrupted because of climate change. The rising temperatures have not only caused the polar ice to melt and sea level rise among others, but it has made the temperature differences among the regions decrease, destabilizing the jet stream that keeps the polar vortex in the North Pole. This disruption brings extreme weather in unexpected areas, like the recent snow storms in the South, where the below zero temperatures are quite unusual. I think climate change is fueling this chain reaction of not only extreme hot weather but also extreme cold conditions. 

By: Jessica Martin

Wrapping presents is a tradition that has become a standard part of gift-giving. It is an action that many people who celebrate holidays don’t think twice about. But we should consider how something as seemingly simple as wrapping paper can have a negative impact on the environment. If every American family wrapped three presents in traditional wrapping paper, it would be enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields. Estimates conclude that about 2.3 million pounds of wrapping paper end up in landfills every year in the United States alone. 

Wrapping paper has a short life. We admire the pretty, shiny, snowflake-print paper for around 30 days and then tear it apart in five seconds to uncover our gifts, only for it to then be thrown into the trash—or wrongly, in the recycle bin. Throwing away wrapping paper in the recycle bin may seem effective, but unfortunately, most wrapping paper can not actually be recycled. If it is shiny, metallic, laminated, or full of glitter (which most wrapping paper is), it belongs in the trash. Even if your wrapping paper is not full of glitter, it most likely is lined with plastic and may even contain ink, which would also prevent the wrapping paper from being recycled. Additional gift wrapping items like bows and ribbons also cannot be recycled due to their plastic materials. 

Luckily, there are plenty of creative ways to wrap your gifts that are both aesthetically pleasing and sustainable! Some alternatives to wrapping paper include decorative bins, reusable gift boxes, head or neck scarves, tote bags, and cloth. For larger gifts, try a sheet or a blanket. If your sustainably wrapped gift needs a little extra charm, try adding a bow or ribbon made from cloth fabric or an old t-shirt cut into strips! 

If you need help with wrapping your gifts in cloth material, easy tutorials can be found on YouTube. One alternative to wrapping paper that can be found on YouTube is furoshiki. Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth that has been used since 1935. It is easy, beautiful, and sustainable.
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If none of these reusable options are right for you, try purchasing recycled brown paper. It is a plastic and ink free alternative that is closer to traditional wrapping paper, but it can actually be recycled when you are done with it. Just don’t forget to take off the tape before you toss it in the recycle bin! 

Sources:
HuffPost
www.huffpost.com/entry/ban-gift-wrapping-paper_n_5c1d5c12e4b0407e907af36c. 
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Stanford University Frequently Asked Questions: Holiday Waste Prevention | Land, Buildings & Real Estate
https://lbre.stanford.edu/pssistanford-recycling/frequently-asked-questions/frequently-asked-questions-holiday-waste-prevention

Earth911
earth911.com/home-garden/holiday-tip-dont-recycle-gift-wrap/. 

By: Manya Gupta

As our population grows, so does our demand for resources. We need jobs, food, housing… you name it! Millions of people are without these basic necessities every day. Some argue that urbanization, the building of infrastructure, cities, and telecommunication systems are the keys to solving this issue. After all, we have already seen its benefits today. But what implications does urbanization have on our environment?

By: Amaan Rather, Roxanne Riebel, Sabrina Yang, ​Anshika Ojha, Julia Nguyen & Rachael Willis

What are some environmental policies that Joe Biden should implement over his next four years as president? What is the effect of these policies and how will future presidents take precedent?

By: Julia Nguyen, Amaan Rather & Shraddha Subash

​What are some individual actions we can take in our everyday lives to mitigate our carbon footprints?

By: Manya Gupta

Hurricanes have been some of the worst natural disasters in history, and unfortunately, they’re only becoming worse. Due to climate change, we are seeing an unprecedented change in the severity of hurricanes.