Author: Grace Liu

Good News Friday 12/4/20

Author: Grace Liu ‘23

Welcome to our first Good News Friday of December! As we head into reading period and finals, let’s take some time to appreciate all the positive environmental developments that have been happening recently. Here are three hopeful bits of good news to kick off the holiday (and exam) season:

Image credit: photoshopper24 via pixabay.com
  1. Environmental Activists Recognized: The Goldman Environmental Prize (aka the “Green Nobel Prize”) honors six grassroots environmental activists, one from each (populated) continental region of the world. This year’s winners include: an Indigenous Karen activist from Myanmar who worked to establish the world’s first peace park in an active conflict zone, an Indigenous Mayan beekeeper who spearheaded a coalition to ban Monsanto soy beans in seven Mexican states, a French climate activist who pressured France’s three largest banks to stop supporting coal development, a youth activism leader who brought about a ban on single-use plastics in the Bahamas, an Indigenous Waorani woman who enacted legal action to stop oil extraction in a huge plot of the Amazon rainforest, and an activist who changed the trajectory of Ghana’s energy future. Read more about their inspiring stories here. 
Image credit: stux via pixabay.com
  1. Unlimited Geothermal Energy Startup: Eavor, a promising geothermal energy startup, has developed an innovative yet simple system, dubbed the Eavor-Loop, which harvests heat from deep in the earth to be used for commercial heating applications or to generate electricity. While conventional geothermal plants drill straight down into the earth, the Eavor-Loop consists of a pressurised self-contained loop where cold water is constantly heated underground and the heat is extracted at the surface. The system is essentially self-powered due to convection, and Eavor predicts it will be able to provide gigawatts of dispatchable energy anywhere in the world for less than $50/MWh by the end of the decade, making its technology cost-competitive with natural gas and coal.
Image credit: WAgencia via pixabay.com
  1. Lab-Grown Chicken Nuggets for Sale: For the first time ever, cultured meat grown in a bioreactor has been approved for sale. The “chicken bites,” produced by the U.S. company Eat Just, recently passed the safety review of the Singapore Food Agency. As of now, the lab-grown alternative is much more expensive than conventional meat, but Eat Just predicts that it will eventually be cheaper when production is scaled up. According to some scientists, cutting meat and dairy consumption is the single biggest action a person can take to reduce their impact on the environment, so this new development is a huge win for sustainable food production.

That’s it for this week! Tune in next time for more encouraging environmental news. If you’d like to share some Good News with us, please feel free to get in touch!

Good News Friday 11/20/20

Author: Grace Liu ’23

Welcome back to Good News Friday! I hope you’re ready to read some positive picks from recent environmental updates. This week, we’re happy to hear about Japan’s commitment to carbon-neutrality, rebounding bee populations, and an initiative to save coral reefs. 

Image credit: seagul via pixabay.com 
  1. Japan joins carbon-neutrality: During his first major policy speech, Japan’s new prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, committed the country to carbon neutrality by 2050. Japan is currently the world’s fifth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and the announcement comes just weeks after China, Japan’s regional rival, said it would reduce its net carbon emissions to zero by 2060. 

According to Mr. Suga, “There’s no question that having to make such a drastic change in the extremely short period of just 30 years is very difficult.” But, he adds, “I’m optimistic.”

Image credit: katja via pixabay.com

2. Bring back the bees: The latest bee colony report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows a 14% growth in bee colony numbers across the nation. Some states report an even more substantial increase. For example, Maine recorded a surprising 73% growth in bee colonies in the past two years. However, some native bee populations are still in decline, so the next step is to figure out how we can protect both honeybees and native bees.

Image credit: Francesco Ungaro via pexels.com

3. Scientists save coral reefs: Scientists with Raising Coral Costa Rica have been cultivating an underwater nursery for corals by snapping off coral pieces from existing reefs. This nursery helps the team test techniques to grow coral and restore ancient reefs in Golfo Dulce, southwestern Costa Rica. While the research helps revive local ecosystems, the group hopes to restore reefs in neighboring countries as well. According to scientist and diver Joanie Kleypas, “It’s exhausting but we’re rewarded with the fact that the corals want to grow … As long as they don’t give up, we won’t.”

I hope you enjoyed our selections this week! Please remember that there are always good things happening in the sustainability sphere if you know where to look. If you’d like to share some Good News with us, submit an article by contacting us.

Learning Lenape: Connecting with Amerindian America as Princetonians

Author: Christian Hernandez ’22

Whenever people ask where I am from, I respond, “near Houston, Texas”. The responses that ensue generally mention something they’ve heard about the state or a stereotype related to cowboy hats, dry western range, or chili containing no beans. Only the last item on that list is true for my home city of Manvel: it’s wet and many people there (including myself) prefer ball caps. 

Benjamin West‘s painting (in 1771) of William Penn‘s 1682 treaty with the Lenape4

Likewise, many people, even students at Princeton, often apply uninformed, stereotypes to Amerindian tribes and their histories. With the exception of the information provided by Natives at Princeton, our knowledge of the tribes that originally lived in our region is simplified and secularized. For example, a recent MOL 350 syllabus briefly noted that Lenni Lenape people once owned university land, but it did not provide the contact info for the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape communities still in New Jersey today! If you ask when the Lenni-Lenape ancestors arrived in New Jersey, most would guess 10,000 years ago. However, the Lenni-Lenape didn’t enter Princeton until around the High Middle Ages!1 Two years ago, I wouldn’t have known that there is a disputed yet fascinating literary record of Lenni-Lenape migration from Siberia (the Walam Olam). How many of us know that American football’s first professional team2 was named after 7-10 ft giants called the Allegewi (Allegheny) that were enemies of the Lenni-Lenape people?3

If you want to help mitigate the general ignorance on this subject, I invite you to join me in connecting with some of the oldest Americans (the Lenape say the giants were another). The Here and Then initiative focuses on connecting students with the past and present reality of Amerindians. In terms of involvement, students read oral histories, learn about places and people, uncover local-familial Amerindian ties, and seek out Amerindians with us today. My ultimate aim is for each student to incorporate Amerindian ideas and culture into their daily lives. For me, this has included familiarizing myself with Ojibwe uses for plants, interpreting Hopi rock art, or creating a Cherokee timeline involving my Cherokee ancestors’ migrations from Mayan Mexico (granted my distant grandfather Solomon Lynch is the only such relative). 

Please contact me at cah11@princeton.edu or visit my website at www.restorationecoculture.com if you’d like to get involved or learn more. It is very free-style and readily adaptable to a Princeton schedule: it’s what I do instead of Netflix. I hope to continually provide posts on specific tribes or time periods here on the Tigers Go Green Blog as well. I’d be glad to welcome you into uncovering the hidden history of Amerindian America.

This 400-year-old maple tree in southwestern Wisconsin was a Kickapoo tribes council tree. PC: Christian Hernandez

Christian Hernandez ’22 is a member of the USG Sustainability Committee

References

  1. Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape. (2007). Our Tribal History. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from https://nanticoke-lenape.info/history.htm
  2.  P. (n.d.). Birth of Pro Football. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/birth-of-pro-football/
  3. EsoterX. (2015, July 24). The Lenape-Allegewi War: A Native American Titanomachy. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from https://esoterx.com/2015/07/19/the-lenape-allegewi-war-a-native-american-titanomachy/
  4. West, Benjamin. Penn’s Treaty with the Indianslabel QS:Len,”Penn’s Treaty with the Indians”. from  until 1772 date QS:P571,+1771- -00T00:00:00Z/8,P580,+1771-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P582,+1772-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 1771. State Museum of Pennsylvania, Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Treaty_of_Penn_with_Indians_by_Benjamin_West.jpg.

Good News Friday 10/30/20

Author: Grace Liu ‘23

Welcome to the second edition of our Good News Friday series! Whether you’re excited about or dreading the results of the election, we can all use some good news. Here are a few happy happenings in the sustainability sphere to brighten up your week:

“Solar panels in the mist” by OregonDOT is licensed under CC BY 2.0
  1. China chooses carbon neutrality: In a surprising announcement at the annual UN climate meeting, President Xi Jinping committed China to reach carbon neutrality by 2060. This decision could lower global-warming projections by 0.3 degrees Celsius, the largest reduction ever estimated as the result of a policy change, according to Climate Action Tracker.  Every country that commits to carbon neutrality adds pressure on other nations to join this global effort. Currently, the US and India are two of the biggest economies outside of this committed carbon-neutrality group.

“Inside the Eelgrass beds” by eclectic echoes is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
  1. Seagrasses save ecosystems: As part of a 20-plus-years project, researchers and volunteers from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and The Nature Conservancy have spread more than 70 million eelgrass seeds over the salt marshes off the southern end of Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The eelgrass beds have grown to cover 3,612 hectares, and long-term monitoring of the restored areas reveals a thriving and resilient ecosystem, with the seagrasses acting as a carbon and nitrogen sink. The researchers say that the success of this project provides a glimmer of hope for ecosystems and the climate.

“Snow Leopard” by Sideshow_Matt is licensed under CC BY 2.0
  1. Legislation restores leopard populations: Despite their resilience and superb hunting abilities, most leopard species are endangered due to habitat degradation and poaching. However, according to collaborative research from the University of Copenhagen and colleagues from China, leopard populations in northern China are on the mend. This population rebound is linked to the Chinese government’s 13th five-year plan, which was implemented in 2015 to restore biodiversity in the area.

Even though the news is filled with debates and disasters (or disastrous debates), there is always hope hidden in the margins. If you’d like to share some Good News with us, submit an article by contacting one of the Blog Editors.

The Lazy Student’s Guide to Sustainability

Author: Grace Liu ’23

Do you want to help save our planet but also can’t be bothered to get out of bed? Well, this is the blog post for you! Here are some sustainability tips that require almost no effort at all.

Level 1 – Couch Potato 

Don’t want to move an inch? There are plenty of ways to be green on the internet.

Level 2 – Sweet Potato

These tips you can do from the comfort of your home. Some of them even require net negative effort!

  • Take shorter showers – Need I remind you that nobody can see your legs on zoom? “Shave” minutes off your shower time instead and save gallons of water! While you’re at it, might as well let your hair air dry instead of blow drying.
  • Eat more plant-based meals – Look, I’m not asking you to go fully vegan or anything, but do you realize how much time and effort it takes to cook a steak? You could whip up a quick veggie pasta or salad in a fraction of the time (and a fraction of the cost)!
  • Adjust your thermostat – as the temperature cools down, there’s no need to turn the heating up. Instead, cozy up with some blankets and tea/coffee/hot chocolate.

Level 3 – Hot Potato

Who’s a couch potato? Not you! Here are some quick tips for when you’re out and about.

  • Carry a reusable water bottle or utensils – Want to reduce your single-use plastic waste while safely dining out? Use a reusable water bottle or reusable utensils – all you need is a metal fork wrapped in a napkin for most meals!
  • Buy ugly produce – Reduce food waste by picking the funny looking fruits and veggies while shopping. They are just as nutritious, and it’s what’s on the inside that matters 😉
  • Bike/walk instead of driving – On the surface, this might sound like a lot of effort, but if you get your exercise in while commuting, there’s no need to go to the gym later…

Sustainability doesn’t have to be difficult. Whether you’re surfing the internet or marching in a climate strike, we can all do something positive for the planet!

“Heart potato” by cuorhome is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

Sustainability on a Budget!

Author: Adam Wickham ’22

While browsing social media, it may seem like you need to buy a lot of new, sustainable gadgets and gizmos in order to be environmentally friendly. However, you don’t need to go into debt in order to be sustainable! In fact, you can actually save money through some straight-forward changes in shopping, eating, cleaning, and organizational habits. As the motto goes: reduce, reuse, recycle! While we EcoReps often stress recycling, it is even better to reduce your consumption and reuse things that you’ve already consumed! Below are some tips on how you can be more sustainable on a budget:

  1. Buy seasonally (and locally)!

Eating locally doesn’t mean you have to break the bank at an upscale supermarket like Whole Foods; it just means that you are conscious of what you eat and when it’s in season. Fortunately, when something is in season, it’s generally cheaper! While farmers’ markets offer the greatest variety, local produce carts and supermarkets of immigrant communities offer good options too if they’re available in your area. 

Here are some examples from the USDA. Price and availability vary by your region. 

  1. Clean with reusable rags and easy DIY cleaning solutions

When your clothes rip or wear out, don’t throw them away! First, try fixing them (such as with Mend), but if that’s not an option consider turning them into rags. Old t-shirts work great for dusting and cleaning (and they can even be adapted as Swiffer attachments), while old socks are great for dusting smaller areas and erasing dry erase boards. You can even make a water and vinegar cleaning solution, which is cheaper than traditional cleaning products and non-toxic!

  1. Use what you’ve already got!

In an ideal world, you wouldn’t have any single-use plastics, but you probably do. So, I’d recommend finding ways to reuse plastic bottles, glass bottles, and other containers that you already have. For example, takeout containers can be used for school supplies and other small objects. Yogurt containers can make good pencil holders, while a cut-up carton could be used for potting plants or for storage. As you may realize, I enjoy storage containers. 

I hope these tips aren’t too intimidating! For those of you who may not feel that you’re making much of a difference on a macro scale, remember that you can save money and still make a sustainable dent in your own home and community. 

Images from https://openclipart.org/

Welcome to the Tigers Go Green Blog!

Brought to you by Princeton EcoReps and the Office of Sustainability, this blog discusses all things at the intersection of sustainability and campus life. Even though we are scattered throughout the world, we hope that this blog will foster a sense of community amongst Princeton students, furthering an ethos of sustainability. The remote semester certainly poses challenges with regard to outreach, activism, and conscious decision-making, but we all have the chance to make the most out of our situation. 

Expect to see blog posts about sustainable living, environmental research, EcoReps activities, current events, ways to get involved, and more! While the creation of this blog was definitely brought on in part due to going remote, we also plan to continue blogging even after we return to campus. We hope that this platform will bring a sense of unity to individuals and sustainability groups on campus, provide opportunities for reflection and assessment, and leave a legacy of environmental stewardship beyond quarantine. 
We would love to hear your thoughts! If you have questions, concerns, or something to contribute to the blog, please get in touch with us! We will be accepting contributions for blog posts from the wider Princeton community.

Meet the EcoReps – Grace Liu ’23

Hometown – Daytona Beach, FL

How do you engage with sustainability?

I enjoy making plant-based recipes, thrifting clothes, and finding ways to reduce waste.

What do you study and why?

I’m studying Computer Science because I hope to eventually use it as a tool for environmental research. The emerging field of computational sustainability fascinates me and gives me hope for the future.

What other campus groups are you involved with?

ACM, Princeton Presbyterians 

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like visiting the geese on Lake Carnegie or playing anime covers on the piano. 

Share a fun fact about yourself!

I have watched all 9 seasons of How I Met Your Mother 6 times.

Meet the EcoReps – Marissa Mejia ’23

Hometown – Chesapeake, VA

Spring Location – Princeton!

What is your favorite EcoRep project that you’ve done?

I absolutely loved collaborating with CAF to create a series highlighting environmental (in)justice on the scales of New Jersey, the US, and the globe!

How do you engage with sustainability?

Sustainability is something that I incorporate into my day-to-day life through using reusables, composting at home, wearing thrifted or second-hand clothes, and encouraging my friends and family to adopt similarly sustainable lifestyles! I also believe in using my platform as well as my right to vote in order to push sustainability forward on a broader scale.

What do you study and why?

I plan to concentrate in Psychology because I am fascinated by the human brain and why we act the way that we do! I also plan to pursue a certificate in Environmental Studies because I want to help fight the climate crisis and believe that educating myself on this topic would help me do so more effectively.

What other campus groups are you involved with?

Princeton Conservation Society, Más Flow Dance Company, BodyHype Dance Company, Service Focus, Mathey College Council

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love to dance!! I also enjoy relaxing at the beach, surfing, thrifting, and hanging out with my friends, family, and goldendoodle named Ellie.

Share a fun fact about yourself!

I have taken dance classes since I was three years old!