Eastside: April 2017

www.eastside-online.org

Vol. 50 No. 7

Cherry Hill High School East: 1750 Kresson Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

April 2017

Hurley maintains ideal, sustainable lifestyle

thrift shopping for clothes, she’s at home making her own. “[Making clothes] is fun for me, For many of us, maintaining and allows me to be creative in dean eco-friendly lifestyle may seem ciding what to do with fabric,” she too far-fetched or challenging to said. attempt. But for Lauren Hurley Her drive to create her own (‘17), it’s habitual. Hurley’s lifestyle clothes has led her toward her paschoices make her stand out in a high sion for pattern grafting. After she school community that is considbought a book on pattern grafting ered relatively apathetic across the about a year ago, she immersed herspectrum. The list of things Hurley self in the art of tailoring and now does in an efbetter underfort to better stands how patcare for the terns work. environment Transitionis so extening to a more sive that a eco-friendly written arlifestyle takes ticle simply effort and dedidoes not do it cation and cerjustice. tainly does not Hurley occur overnight. collects her Hurley serves own water as an example using what to all of us that she calls a passions can be “rain barrel.” uncovered alShe refrains most anywhere. from using Her passions for it in the winsewing and patter because tern grafting are the ice somedriven by math, times causes which she often damage, but applies to her in the sumdesigns. These mer she uses passions have the collected enabled her to water to upheavily reduce keep her how much she garden. She spends on storegrows a wide Courtesy of Lauren Hurley (‘17) bought clothes.

Courtesy of Lauren Hurley (‘17) Courtesy of Lauren Hurley (‘17) variety of Hurley grafts yarn and creates her own A d d i t i o n a l l y , Hurley gathers rainfall to water foods, rang- Lauren Hurley (‘17) composts trash her food choicing from pep- to reduce the amount of waste at the plants in her garden in the clothing instead of buying new clothes es and garden at stores. summertime. pers to beans her house. maintenance to pumpkins tage of Whole Foods’ yearly disMoving are in part moto garlic. count on bushels of apples; they buy away from her food-related contritivated by her desire to eat locally To reduce her family’s trash acone or two entire bushels and make butions to the environment, Hurley and organically. cumulation, Hurley utilizes a coma yearlong supply of applesauce by stresses the importance of buying While Hurley does do all that poster. The amount of trash the mixing the apples with lemon juice used objects and clothing items. She she does because she cares about composter has reduced over seven (which is a sugar-free recipe). frequently purchases her clothes the environment, she has fun while years is truly remarkable. All While applesauce is a great side, from thrift shops, which allow condoing it. We’re all passionate about type of vegetable products Hurley mainly uses it to make sumers to get nice clothes for fairly something; Hurley proves that pascan go in the composter, as granola bars. She used to love eatcheap prices. But when she’s not sions can make a difference. well as other ma■ By Joe Levin (‘17)

Eastside Opinions Editor

terials like eggshells and even dryer lint. Hurley looks forward to putting compost in her garden because doing so yields all kinds of “mystery plants” come harvesting time.

Hurley is cautious about the food she buys and where she buys it. She does her best to rely solely on Whole Foods organic produce all year round, while also buying farmer’s market produce in the summer.

Hurley and her mom take advan-

ing store-bought granola bars, but eventually grew tired of the constant accumulation of trash. So, recently, she started baking trays of granola bars every Sunday that last her throughout the whole week.

The wrapper she uses for them is reusable—it’s made out of old denim and plastic tablecloth.

“Our society is so wasteful and is constantly creating new things,” Hurley said.

The Hurleys have solar panels on their roof to cut down on the amount of nonrenewable energy used.

Inside This Issue

Sustainability grows in Cherry Hill Sustainability, Pg. 6

Veganism diets collect popularity Lifestyle, Pg. 8

Courtesy of Lauren Hurley (‘17)

Bee population decomposes from human activity Insects, Pg. 12

LOCAL POLICIES

Page 2

Cherry Hill removes Recyclebank program

■ By Gregory Rothkoff (‘19)

Eastside Community Editor

Since the beginning of 2016, Cherry Hill Township has no longer included Recyclebank as a part of its recycling program.

Recyclebank, a company that offers points based on the amount you recycle, first came to Cherry Hill in 2008. The points that were earned could then be redeemed on Recyclebank’s website for prizes such as magazines, technology, gift cards and much more.

The end of the Recyclebank program was in part because of cost, according to Bridget Palmer, the Cherry Hill communication director in an interview with the Cherry Hill Sun. Cherry Hill saved $300,000 from opting out of the Recyclebank program.

The township saved an additional $1 million from switching to an automated recycling and trash pick-up program.

After the inception of the Recyclebank program, the township saw residents double their recycling efforts. Cherry Hill has been awarded several grants totalling $170,000 for its green attitudes, evident through the town’s recycling efforts.

Additionally, the points from Recyclebank were used to fund several programs for Cherry Hill Public Schools as well. Recyclebank supported the building of a greenhouse on the grounds of Beck Middle School through points earned by Cherry Hill residents.

Although Cherry Hill no longer participates in the program, residents can still redeem their previously earned points by logging onto their Recyclebank accounts. Other points can be earned by participating in activities through Recyclebank.

To the right is a list of local recycling centers that specialize in specific types of recycling:

EASTSIDE

April 2017

Lamp Safe LLC 829 Beechwood Aveune Cherry Hill, NJ, 08002 Come to Lamp Safe LLC to recycle your fluorescent light bulbs and toxic batteries. Located right here in Cherry Hill, Lamp Safe LLC can respond to all of your e-waste needs.

Best Buy Stores Market Place at Garden State Park, 2130 Route 70 W, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 (Cherry Hill location) Best Buy stores have a wide range of options when it comes to your recycling needs. Come bring in your ink and toner as well as your 50” televisions. For an additional fee, Best Buy will haul-away large kitchen appliances as well.

Cherry Hill Township Recycling Center DPW complex, #1 Perina Boulevard, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003.

The recycling center in Cherry Hill offers a widerange of recycling options, specifically e-waste. For a full list of what it recycles, visit its website.

Mom’s Organic Market 1631 Kings Hwy N. Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 The organic market in Cherry Hill offers a wide range of trash options.

Bring your compostable materials, plastic products, e-waste and much more.

Armor Metals and Recycling 8300 National Highway, Suite 2 Pennsauken, NJ 08110 The metal-lover’s dream in Pennsauken offers recycling options for nonferrous metal products. It will pay you a fair price for what you choose to recycle.

Green Energy Asset Management 204 Rabbit Run Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 Although it is a national company, Green Energy Asset Management is located in Cherry Hill. It assists in the removal of products relating to solar and wind power.

Joshua Sodicoff (‘18)/ Eastside Multimedia Director

LOCAL POLICIES

April 2017

EASTSIDE

Page 3

“Roadmap To Our Future” expands town sustainability ■ By Joshua Sodicoff (‘18)

Eastside Multimedia Director

Last May, Cherry Hill Township took a step toward a greener future with the unveiling of a report.

For the two years prior, the mayor, council and a number of community groups had worked together to create a plan to sizably increase the role of the municipality in the effort to increase sustainability. Yet, time and time again, the town has said that the outline is not meant to be purely about conservation efforts, but instead a broader outlook for the town, as reflected by its title “Roadmap To Our Future”.

The new plan was neither the first nor the last initiative to further the ideals of sustainable living and business in the town. Since 2009, Cherry Hill has won a number of awards from Sustainable Jersey, a nonprofit organization run by the Sustainability Institute at the College of New Jersey. Most notably, the introduction of the Recyclebank program received its Creativity and Innovation award, and the Sustainability Champion award, for having a large number of sustainability certifications.

Yet, the objectives are not as cut and dry as would be imagined of a sustainability plan; rather, they are broad and in many ways only tangentially connected. Although the typical elements of education and citizen efforts are present, the plan extends into the realm of wellness and the arts. As a result, the “Green Team” created a forward-thinking document, capable of directing the efforts of town officials and residents for years to come.

The first objective outlined is town wellness. Wellness is generally not respected to the same extent as other aspects of sustainability when introducing a plan of this magnitude. The most interesting aspect of this part of the plan is not only the reliance on environmental goals, like pollution reduction, but also recreational ones, such as increases in access to fitness activities. Over the next few years, the town will attempt to become a “Let’s Move” community, reduce idling and fertilizer use, and put into place incentives for restaurant sustainability. A number of complementary goals exist as well, such as the clean-up of the trails for use in physical activity.

The plan then refers to strategies to work with business and transportation. The methodology of the township is focused on the use of data as both a tool for education and for reference. The introduction of tools to teach businesses and consumers about the benefits of recycling would be phased in at the same time as a campaign to attract environmentally sustainable business. As well, alternate transportation methods are to be promoted while the number of paths accessible to these vehicles are increased.

Education is also incorporated as a valuable method for improving town sustainability. Several broad goals are brought up in this section, the first being the training and empowerment of government officials to propose and implement new ideas for green governance.

The report also considers delegating the creation of sustainability plans to neighborhoods to best design and introduce. Children and adults alike are to be taught about environmental topics.

The community vitality section relies on the development of methods to keep the town clean and full of vegetation, as well as to market

it. The objective relies on the hiring of a director for further sustainability efforts. These efforts will include neighborhood clean-ups, the creation of a campaign to market the culture and ecosystem of the town, and the consideration of a policy to keep the amount of flora in the town constant for years to come.

The final and most unique component of the plan is the focus on cultural and artistic events. A large number of smaller changes, such as gaining more sponsorship events and utilizing township space to a greater extent, compose the objective. Although not specifically “green,” empowering the culture of the town acts as a method of sustaining the presence and vigor of the town well into the future.

“Roadmap To Our Future” has not yet turned one year old, but already the promise of an enduring future for Cherry Hill has become embedded in the consciousness of the town. As other programs, such as “Hate Has No Home,” come into the forefront of the minds of citizens, we must remember the commitment that we as a town have made to preserve our climate and posterity.

Joshua Sodicoff (‘18)/ Eastside Multimedia Director

Cherry Hill Township’s “Roadmap To Our Future” incorporates a cluster of objectives in order to lead the community to a greener future.

Page 4

EASTSIDE

Thursday April 13 Saturday April 29 Sunday April 30 Thursday May 4 Friday May 19 Saturday May 20 Monday May 29 Monday June 26

April 2017

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Star Wars Night

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Kids to Parks (Free Ice Cream) sĂƌŝŽƵƐ WĂƌŬ ^ŝƚĞƐ

Memorial Day Ceremony

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For information about these and other events, check us out on Facebook @Cherryhillrecreation or email us at recreation@chtownship.com or call 856-488-7868. *Requires a pre registration. Visit register.capturepoint.com/cherryhill

April 2017

MISCONCEPTIONS EASTSIDE

Page 5

Eastside conducted a survey asking 128 East students what they know (or think they know) about environmental issues. Here are the results of that survey.

To view the results of additional questions, click here.

71% believe that the hole in the ozone layer causes global warming.

HERE’S WHY THEY’RE WRONG: The ozone layer is a part of the upper-atmosphere that contains high concentrations of ozone gas that protects the planet from the sun’s radiation. Specifically, the hole is caused by man-made chemicals called chloroflurocarbons (CFCs), which are often found in hairsprays. While the hole does allow for more ultraviolet radiation to reach Earth, this does not correlate with increased temperatures. Global warming and ozone depletion are two completely different problems.

7% believe that global warming and 25% believe that climate change are natural processes.

HERE’S WHY THEY’RE WRONG: Global warming and climate change do occur naturally, but not like they are happening now. They are both happening at an alarming rate due to man-made changes to the environment. Earth experiences cooler and warmer periods, but the warmer periods are not this warm. The largest Ice Age took 50,000 years to end. There is no natural reason for Earth to be warming this quickly.

96% belive that the melting ice caps will raise water levels.

HERE’S WHY THEY’RE WRONG: The ice caps, unlike floating ice or ice shelves, displace water. Imagine a glass of water with ice in it.

Once the ice has melted, the water is still at the same level. Why? The amount of water that the ice caps will melt into is the same amount of water that they already displace. Thus, the melting of the ice caps will not raise water levels.

87% belive that eating locally produced food is good for the environment.

HERE’S WHY THEY’RE WRONG: Eating locally produced food is often considered both good for people and the environment.The former can be true, but the latter is not. What people often forget is that “food miles” (how long a food travels) is not the only factor that makes pollution. In terms of the pollution caused by non-local food, only 11 percent is caused by transportation, the rest by production. In fact, the carbon emission from locally grown food is often higher than that from farms that are far away.

34% believe that plants are dependent on humans.

HERE’S WHY THEY’RE WRONG: Plants have been around much longer than humans have. They have already survived without us, and they could most definitely do it again. Farming is a manipulation of one of the natural processes that plants experience. These processes can be enhanced or changed, but they have already existed.

MISCONCEPTION: It is too late to save the Earth.

HERE’S WHY THAT’S WRONG: 2016 was the hottest year on record, the Arctic warmed up much faster than was predicted, and in just over 40 years, there has been a 60 percent decline in wildlife across land, sea and freshwater. Needless to say, our planet is at its breaking point and if we continue to neglect our planet in such a way, the future is questionable at best. Even so, it is never too late to save the Earth. Remember the hole in the ozone layer, a once major problem? After three decades of observation, scientists at MIT have finally found concrete evidence of the hole closing up. This proves that if treated properly, there is hope of tackling other large environmental issues as well.

The first step to repairing decades of damage, however, is through education. Only through educating society are we able to eliminate the misconceptions once and for all and restore our precious Earth.

Art by Sabrina DeAbreu (‘18)/ Eastside Art Director Blurbs by Shari Boiskin (‘17) / Eastside Underground Editor and Nafessa Jaigirdar (‘19) / Eastside Webmaster

Page 6

SUSTAINABILITY EASTSIDE

April 2017

East’s recycling conspiracy:

How rumors about our trash can teach us to think greener

■ By Ilana Arougheti (‘19)

Eastside Community Editor

2.5 million—that’s how many plastic bottles Americans throw away every hour. 25,000—that’s how many cans the average person could potentially recycle during their lifetime. 28 billion—that’s how many glass bottles and jars go to the landfill every year.

The importance of recycling is typically presented to children as one of their first lessons in ecology.

Recycled material and recycling programs are all around us. And yet only 22 percent of America’s waste is recycled every year. This is reflected at Cherry Hill East by a rampant and long-standing rumor regarding the school’s recycling policy. The classrooms and cafeterias do contain separate receptacles for trash and recycling. But many students claim that the garbage and recycling is not actually sorted out —that it goes to the same place, and that the presence of recycling opportunities is just for show. Regardless of the truth, there is no widely recognized proof of this matter.

Lingering in Cafeteria Two a few moments after the end of lunch break, one may notice members of East’s custodial staff arriving to collect and condense the contents of the trash tumblers and recycling receptacles. Upon closer observation, the following is seen: one can of trash is dumped into another, leaving the can empty. From that point forward, the recycling bins are dumped into that empty trash can, and more trash cans are consolidated into the bins that already contained trash.

Although the recycling is technically moved into a garbage bin for storage, it was observed to remain separate from the garbage at all times and did leave the cafeteria separately.

When asked about the

recycling process, one member of the East custodial staff noted that the recyclable materials are in fact gathered at a loading site at the end of the day, to be transported to a recycling plant.

Their final destination, he insisted, is not in fact the same Dumps t e r where the day’s garbage will reside.

Watching bins and bins of material flow out of the cafeterias in the middle of the afternoon, students may not necessarily recognize the difference in content at a moment’s notice. Therefore, the fidelity of Cherry Hill East’s recycling program is called into question.

The prevalence of these rumors may seem to reflect dishearteningly upon the transparency and current operating status of the school district’s recycling program. However, it does seem to indicate an interest in increasing conservation throughout the school. This is somewhat aligned with the actions of the school district in recent years regarding the sustainability of schools.

The district’s current sustainability plan, which is intended to be imple-

the district website where concerned residents can submit their specific sustainability, recycling and utility issues.

The form allows space for the problem’s specifics and location, down to the exact classroom, to be pointed out.

It appears as part of a previous local initiative called the Utility Conservation Corps, described as “an enterprise between our Facilities Department and our 19 schools, to inspire and instill a culture of conservation in our administrators, teachers, students and visitors” by the district.

While the Department of Public Dani Shoshany (‘17)/ Eastside Staff Works was currently mented through June 2017, unavailable for comment lists “support [of] recycling on this issue, a 2015 audit efforts in the classroom” of Cherry Hill East’s waste and recycling of “non-tradimanagement and recycling tional materials” as some of programs, performed by its goals, and also initiated Cherry Hill’s Green Team the idea of pilot programs in conjunction with the Dethat would let up to three partment, did find that the district schools ship out orschool had a recycling rate ganic waste to be composof 68 percent. ted. Other stated pilot proIt’s also notable that, acgrams denoted the intent to cording to a 2014 newsletter improve indoor air quality, article by former district sumanagement of storm waperintendent Dr. Maureen ter and general energy conReusche, the recycling bins servation. in the cafeterias of Cherry To involve individual Hill schools are not mandacommunity members, there tory, but rather available has been – at least at one upon request. This fact point – a contact form on makes the mere presence of

recycling bins in East classrooms and cafeterias a step in the right direction, the effectiveness of the overall program aside.

Perhaps one consideration that ardent followers of the recycling rumors could take into consideration is that students can and do have a role in making the East recycling program more effective, rather than just looking to trashcan conspiracies to prove a lack of environmental awareness. Lunch sites such as the hallways, courtyard and even the cafeterias themselves are often speckled with litter and refuse at the end of Lunch Break Two. If potentially recyclable litter remains on the floor, then its chances of going to the proper recycling plant shrink to zero.

Another way that the East community can improve the success of the school’s recycling program is by taking the care to actually deposit their waste in the correct bin. Recycling bins and trash cans in classrooms are often treated indiscriminately, each being filled with a mix of some paper and plastic content that could have been recycled and some food waste or other discarded items that would only belong in the garbage.

This lack of adequate sorting means that a lot of potential recyclable material misses its chance to be transported to the plant, and what does make it out is contaminated. Students who still find the recycling program flawed beyond repair might venture to speak to the school district in hopes of discussing or proposing a better plan.

At the end of the day, the best way for the student body to address flaws, ideas or improvements regarding East’s recycling and sustainability programs and issues is through research, awareness and activism, rather than through the perpetuation of rumors.

Sustainable Cherry Hill educates community residents the events, providing information and creating partnerships with groups in the community like businesses.

According to the Mer“Just because something riam-Webster Dictionary, seems like a great idea for sustainability is defined the environment, and lots as “a method of harvesting of people agree or using a rethat it’s a great source so that idea, it’s usuthe resource ally a lot more is not depleted complicated to or permanentactually implely damaged.” ment in an orgaSustainabilnization. In fact, ity is a concept the bigger the that stretches organization, all around the the harder it is globe.

Howto make changever, there is es,” said Caren a local susKaufman, Presitainability dent of the board program right of Sustainable here in Cherry Cherry Hill.

Hill, SustainSCH thrives able Cherry on ideas from Hill (SCH).

SCH is a Courtesy of Caren Kaufman c o m m u n i t y non-profit or- Woodcrest Elementary School students show ways members. Green Drinks is an g a n i z a t i o n to be sustainable. event held on the that values iting connections within the first Wednesday of every self on community, leadercommunity, hosting events, month from September to ship, empowerment, courcreating task forces to drive June, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. age and equity.

■ By Jenna Simons (‘17)

Eastside News/Features Editor

SCH has three main mission goals: enacting environmentally friendly practices, educating the community and pushing for legislation. These goals are completed through mak-

Courtesy of Caren Kaufman

East alumni volunteer at the annual Earth Festival.

At this informal event, community members gather to share ideas and network.

Every year, Sustainable Cherry Hill’s hard work culminates at the annual Earth Festival. The event is held at Croft Farms. This year’s theme will be “Love Your Earth” and will fea-

ture educational opportunities, healthy food, bike rides, entertainment and more.

Kaufman said, “We are truly a community organization and we know that change only happens when people feel connected and heard.”

SUSTAINABILITY

April 2017

EASTSIDE

Page 7

Ketterer details her life-long pursuit of sustainability ■ By Jenn Pacitti (‘17)

United Nations as a the issues exrepresentative, paristing globticipating in internally; one must ships with Disney take action in When she was eight, and General Motors the pursuit of Amanda Ketterer (’16) read and joining the U.S. change. a quote that said, “every National Youth Lead“You can individual matters, every ership Council. talk all you individual can make a difOne of her most want about ference and we have choice, prominent memowanting to what kind of difference do ries is standing up make a difyou want to make?” against the ambassaference or not This quote by Dr. Jane dor of Russia at a UN liking how Goodall initiated a lifestyle meeting over LGBT things are, but for Ketterer, a lifestyle of rights when she was until you realhelping others and of beonly 14 years old. ly step in and coming a global citizen.

Ketterer accredits try to change After reading that quote, much of who she is that or try to Ketterer began running today to her experido something lemonade stands to raise ences with Roots and about that, or money for Jane Goodall’s Shoots and the Jane try to make Roots and Shoots organiGoodall Institute. other people zation. Although the stand “Growing up… more aware of started out small in her parI was surrounded it, then you’re ents’ driveway, she continby people who reactually carued over the next 11 years, ally gave their whole ing,” said Ketraising over $30,000 for the lives to helping other terer.

“Just Jane Goodall Institute.

Courtesy of Caren Kaufman people and I wanted to talking about it “Roots and Shoots is a find my own way to do Amanda Ketterer (‘16) receives a scholarship from Sustainable Cherry doesn’t do anyyouth driven organization that. Through Roots Hill in 2016. thing.

Doing that was started by Dr. can impact the other, so you emphasizes that it is not and Shoots, as a young something about Jane Goodall in the early have to balance all three out enough to just talk about person, it really gave me a it changes the world.”

‘90s. It basically is a youth in order to make a sustainsegue into who I am today empowerment movement able world and that’s really and helping not just one all over the world. I bewhat I am devoting my life thing, I can see how people, lieve we are in every single to now is creating that form country right now, of sustainability.” including North KoKetterer attends George rea,” said Ketterer.

Mason University, where “Basically the Jane she is working on a major Goodall Institute in Public Relations with helps people, ania double minor in Women mals and the enviand Gender Studies and ronment, and tries to Environmental Sustainteach people how all ability. three of those things “My dream job would can coexist into a be to represent women in beautiful world and underprivileged countries a world that is a susthrough the Women’s Countainable place where cil of the United Nations. everything can live That’s where my internship together.” will be. I want to be a repreRoots and Shoots sentative of people and aniaims to educate mals and things that don’t children, from kinreally have a voice but that dergarten to college, really need to be heard. on how to not only That’s something that I’ve know what is going always wanted to do since on in their communiI was eight years old, so I ties and world, but tried to find a major and a how to take action job that would allow me to and become leaders. do that.”

This year’s Coffee Ketterer said that what House performance her experiences have taught at East donated its her the most is how to be proceeds to Roots Courtesy of Amanda Ketterer a global citizen, a role in and Shoots.

Ketterer with Dr. Jane Goodall at which you don’t just think Now, at 19 years a speaking engagement. about yourself, or your own old, Ketterer has country, but you think of had many experithe whole world and its inanimals and the environences including speaking habitants. She, along with ment all impact each other engagements with Goodall, the Jane Goodall Institute, and how by helping one it attending forums at the Eastside News/Features Editor

Cosenza participates in Sustainable Cherry Hill ■ By Andrew Cosenza (‘17)

For Eastside

It has been approximately two years since I became a part of Sustainable Cherry Hill. The main focus of our group is to educate all residents in Cherry Hill and surrounding areas on the dangers of polluting and destroying our environment and the many ways prevention is achievable. The goal of our group is to make a difference through awareness and small steps that yield enormous results.

An example of what we do in Sustainable Cherry Hill, after weeks of preparation, is our annual Earth Day festival stand. At our stand we create awareness of major issues, research and attempt to educate oth-

ers to assist in this important cause.

I first began my journey with Sustainable Cherry Hill when I was appointed last year as club representative. This appointment came through involvement and active participation in my Environmental Studies course. I am proud to represent the Environmental Club at Cherry Hill High School East, currently as its president.

I, along with a large part of society, care deeply about the environment and what we could do to sustain and improve it. Personally, my goal is to create an environment where we are able to live a healthy, long and safe life for generations to come. This can only occur if we each contribute to the bettering of our environment and build a foundation where our children could live, not only as we

do, but in a superior environment.

One large environmental issue is the use and disposal of plastic water bottles.

Studies have shown

that over 60 million plastic water bottles are left in landfills each day and over 22 billion plastic water bot-

tles are thrown away every year. Many waste disposal companies place these plastic water bottles in landfills, incinerators and our oceans.

This disposal of these toxic materials is killing our sea life and contaminating the waters that we rely on for sustenance.

One simple change that East students as well as our local communities can do immediately to help the environment is to use reusable water bottles.

If the use of plastic water bottles is necessary, then be sure to properly dispose of them by placing the bottles in recycling bins.

During my college years, I will continue to relentlessly pursue my goal of creating a better environment for us all. During my past two years in working with all the members of

Sustainable Cherry Hill, I have learned many new strategies on ways to help our environment while also meeting many new people with similar goals. I also feel that I contributed greatly to my community by dedicating my time and energy to help us live more sustainably and to help us preserve the world in which we live.

For me, I intend to continue educating those around me and joining as many environmental clubs as my schedule permits. I personally consider being a part of Sustainable Cherry Hill as one of my proudest achievements in my high school career, but also in knowing that I’m helping create a better environment, one plastic bottle at a time.

Art by Jenn Pacitti (‘17)/ Eastside News/Features Editor

LIFESTYLE

Page 8

EASTSIDE

April 2017

From seven years vegetarian to ten months vegan ■ By Ashley Cooper (‘17)

Eastside Editor-in-Chief

“Mom, I can’t do it anymore, I can’t eat meat.”

These are the exact words I said to my mother 7 years ago, at only 11 years of age, when I first decided to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle. My words came to my mother as quite a shock, as my obstinate statement had been a reply to a simple question: what lunchmeat would you like from the grocery store?

But despite the seemingly abnormal timing of my desire to go vegetarian, the silent desire had actually been festering inside of me for quite some time, just yearning to release itself out in the open.

I primarily desired to become a vegetarian after finding out about the cruelty displayed in factory farming. In my opinion, all sentient creatures have a right to life and freedom. Compassion is one of my cardinal traits and thus heavily guided my decision in becoming vegetarian. Along with compassion, empathy was also one of the key factors in my decision to go vegetarian.

Every day I think to myself: why should animals endure a life of suffering?

Why are their lives any less valuable than those of humans? By adopting a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, I am able to publicly stand against animal cruelty and animal exploitation every day.

Now, after seven years of being vegetarian and nine months as a vegan—and counting—my reasons for abiding by what some may call a “strict” lifestyle have only grown in number. For one, I have learned of the immea-

surable environmental benefits that a vegan lifestyle offers. One word: sustainability. Consuming meat is actually one of the worst things that one can do for the Earth. It is both wasteful and in additioncauses enormous amounts of pollution. Further, the meat industry itself is one of the biggest causes of climate change. Adopting a vegan diet is even more effective than switching to a “greener” car in the imperative fight against climate change.

I fall more in love with my lifestyle each and every day; knowing that I save more than 100 animals each year through a simple lifestyle change is immensely comforting and reassuring.

Further, I have learned that many of the claims against veganism are simply fallacy. For example, many meat lovers claim that vegans are unhealthy, yet exactly the opposite is true. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegans are less likely to develop heart disease, cancer, diabetes or high blood pressure than meat-eaters are. In fact, meat is often contaminated with feces, blood as well as other bodily fluids—this ultimately culminates in a surprising statistic which makes animal products the top source of food poisoning in the United States. According to a study conducted on supermarket chicken flesh at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 96 percent of Tyson chicken was contaminated with campylobacter, a dangerous bacterium that causes 2.4 million cases of food poisoning each year, resulting in diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain and fever. On the contrary, vegans are not affected by the contaminated meat, yet are still able to get all the proper nutrients required in order to lead a healthy life.

I urge everyone to at least attempt adopting a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. The ethical, health and environmental benefits are insurmountable.

The facts of veganism and vegetarianism ■ By Elissa Cohen (‘18)

Eastside Sports Editor

In recent years, it has become trendy and popular to adopt new eating habits: diets which lack animal products. Veganism and vegetarianism have been on the rise, but why?

imals as food uses a lot of our land mass, land which can be used to plant trees and increase the well-being of our environment. Chooseveg.com states that 30 percent of the earth’s land mass is used for raising animals as food.

As humans, we tend to forget about other species. By constantly consumi n g animal products, we increase deforestation around the world. Trees and forests are constantly being cut down to make room for cow pastures and

Video edited and filmed by Ashley Cooper (‘17)/ Eastside Editor-in-Chief Ronnie Mu (‘17) Interview by Elissa Cohen (‘18)/Eastside Sports Editor

produce dairy items like cheese, milk and ice cream. According to chooseveg. com, California is experiencing one of its driest years in history and it is also the country’s leading dairy supplier.

Video edited and filmed by Ashley Cooper (‘17)/ Eastside Editor-in-Chief Katherine Ji (‘18) Interview by Elissa Cohen (‘18)/Eastside Sports Editor

Veganism and vegetarianism, in fact, benefit the environment in a plethora of ways. Primarily, raising animals as sources of food produces excess emissions. According to chooseveg.com, the usage of animals as food creates more greenhouse gas emissions than all forms of transportation combined. By switching to a diet which eliminates or even just lessens animal product consumption, we can save 50 percent more carbon emissions than we can by driving an eco-friendly car.

In addition, pollution can be decreased if more people adopt a vegan or vegetarian diet. Meat requires fossil fuels to produce. In turn, if meat is eliminated, pollution is less likely.

Besides adding toxins to our air, raising an-

an allt i m e low because water is bei n g u s e d too often, in c o n junct i o n w i t h animal products, to

farms to feed us. Instead of using deforestation as a way of obtaining our food, we should plant more fruits, vegetables, and beans to nourish the environment.

Additionally, the animals need to eat food and drink water, too. To nourish their livestock, farmers grow grains which could be used to feed humans who are starving. The world’s water source is at

Overall, the vegans and vegetarians in the world may not be adopting their lifestyle in order to be “hipster” Video edited and filmed by Ashley Cooper (‘17)/ Eastside Editor-in-Chief or “trendy”; Emma Thurman (‘17) Interview by Elissa rather, Cohen (‘18)/Eastside Sports Editor quite a few of them may want to save the deteriorating environment. Of course, we do not all have to immediately adopt veganism as a lifestyle; however, we all have the power to reduce our consumption of animal products.

Art by Dani Shoshany (‘17)/ Eastside Staff

A journey to a healthier life: my decision to go vegan ■ By Luke Shin (‘19)

Eastside Video Editor

A vegan diet is one that is free from all animal products. This differentiates from a vegetarian product in that it also excludes cheese, eggs and, in certain cases, honey and white sugar.

While many follow a vegan diet for ethical reasons and animal rights, I follow such a diet for health and economic reasons. I slowly started a transition into a vegan diet two years ago, starting from a year of a vegetarian diet and then going completely vegan.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states that “vegetarians and vegans enjoy a lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease, lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, lower rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes, and lower body mass indexes, as well we lower overall cancer rates.”

Overall, following a vegan diet provides protec-

tion from various fatal diseases and health problems such as heart disease, cancer and strokes.

As one with a long family history of heart disease, especially one that is closely connected to unhealthy food consumption, I took these facts to heart.

Additionally, only animal products contain cholesterol. As many know, high cholesterol leads to a variety of detrimental and negative effects on the body. This includes plaque build-up in the arteries, gallstones in the digestive system, numbness in the legs, jaw pain, blockage in the brain, chest pain and heart attack. To me, the most effective solution to preventing such cholesterol build-up was to completely remove cholesterol from my diet as seen in meat, poultry and full-fat dairy products.

Overall, I personally believe that leading a vegan lifestyle has allowed me to become a healthier person and live a healthier lifestyle.

Additionally, as meat consumption has risen, more grains and vital foods have gone to feeding cattle. According to the United Nations Environment Program, “the calories that are lost by feed-

ing cereals to animals, instead of using them directly as human food, could theoretically feed an extra 3.5 billion people.”

Especially living in today’s society where many countries and people are still starving, a simple transfer to a vegan or vegetarian diet seemed to be a way to personally help this on an individual level. There are many other efficient forms of protein that require less waste such as soy, beans, pumpkin seeds, nuts, etc. To produce a single kilogram of chicken, two kilograms of grain are required. Similarly, four kilograms of grain are needed for one kilogram of pork, and seven kilograms of grain are needed for one kilogram of beef. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, almost 80 percent of land is dedicated to livestock, whether it be for grazing or growing crops to feed livestock.

Ultimately, by becoming vegan, I feel as if I myself have grown into a healthier person and live a healthier lifestyle concerning my food consumption. Additionally, I firmly believe that if livestock consumption decreases, the economy as a whole will continue to benefit from it.

LIFESTYLE

April 2017

EASTSIDE

Page 9

Kaufman strives to better the earth

buy the natural version of products when available, such as toothpaste, deodorant and cleaning From local eating to products, which tend to a food compost at home, contain harmful toxins.

Isabel Kaufman ('17) Fast forward ten years, knows a thing or two and Caren Kaufman about living a green lifeis now the president style. of Sustainable Cherry "We started our comHill. post pile, I would say "I've been sort of bomabout seven years ago. barded with all of this And it's basically a pile green energy, I guess. In that you keep in your my house, the furnace is backyard or wherever environmentally friendand you put anything ly. We got it replaced so that is biothat it’s better degradable for the environin it. So like ment. We can't egg shells, have solar panor banana els because of peels, any this huge tree sort of that's in our food that front yard, but is biodewe would. Our gradable," cars are envisaid Isabel ronmentally Kaufman. friendly. BasiO v e r cally anything time, the that we can do compost to help, we try will turn to do," said Isainto mulch bel Kaufman. and dirt Isabel Kaufthat can man has become then be very in tune to used to the effects that g a r d e n anything and and grow everything that plants. Eswe do has on the sentially, environment. the pile is She suggests recycling that people old food.

Photo courtesy of Isabel Kaufman (‘17) make more of The Kaufman family Caren and Isabel Kaufman attend the Clean Energy March in Philly. an effort to help the environment sees this as by simply not a great way to not only table garden, they found such as diabetes or osidling their car, turning save money on mulch, a much easier alternateoporosis — so he has off the lights when leavbut to also stay away tive. Over the summer, always been very into ing a room, or riding a from using chemicals the family takes advanliving a healthy lifebike instead of driving when gardening. tage of the Community style. Growing more everywhere.

Kaufman explained Supported Agriculture and more interested in "You have a carbon that dirt is all that one program. Every week, the healthy lifestyle inifootprint and it’s not needs to start a compost the Kaufmans pick up a tiative, Caren Kaufman helping the environgarden. A chicken wire box of organic fruits and began efforts to help ment. Everything that is also suggested in orvegetables that are sent the environment with you do has a conseder to keep out any anito Temple Beth Shapollution and climate quence...if you leave on mals. lom. change. the lights, it's killing Additionally, the "It's not too expensive Through the family’s polar bears," said KaufKaufman family unfor food that comes from healthy and green livman. "Even one little derstands the benefits a locally sourced farm," ing lifestyle, the family change can help make of eating locally grown said Kaufman. always uses reusable a difference...it's simple produce.

The food compost water bottles and snack to make these changes "A lot of the fruits and local eating is just pouches.

Additionally, and anything that you and vegetables from one of the many lifethe family will always do would help."

■ By Sara Messinger (‘17)

Eastside Community Editor

Infographic by Sari Cohen (‘18)/ Eastside Entertainment Editor

the supermarkets don't always come from areas close by, so most of them have pesticides and travel long ways...

Why not get it from here and have it be healthier? You know where it comes from, you know that they aren't using pesticides that are harmful to your body, you know that they are organic," said Kaufman While the Kaufman family first tried taking care of their own vege-

style changes the family has made over the years. About ten years ago, Kaufman's mother, Caren Kaufman, was diagnosed with breast cancer. As engaging in healthy behaviors may lower the risk of recurrence, Caren Kaufman actively began to be very health conscious.

Kaufman's dad, Steve Kaufman, is a endocrinologist — a physician who diagnoses diseases dealing with the glands,

Local eating provides life-long health benefits ■ By Brooke Greenberg (‘17)

Eastside Opinions Editor

Eating fresh, local food is a new trend popping up all around the country from ‘farm to table’ restaurants, fresh fruit smoothies and other various ways of incorporating local produce into your diet. However, many people are unfamiliar with the health and immunity benefits that eating locally grown food has on your body.

Eating fresh, local fruits and vegetables has proven health benefits to boost your immune system to allergens. When you eat an apple, for instance, that was grown in your native environment, there are allergens in the soil and around the fruit that you are exposed to every day.

Additionally, fruits and vegetables grown locally are usually from smaller scale rural farms as opposed to big mass market farms that ship all over the world.

That avocado from Mexico, or the apple from New Zealand, ends up messing with your immune system via your gut.

According to The Alternative Daily, “70-80% of the human immune system is located in the gut. Consuming fruits and veggies that have been treated with lots of chemicals can impair our health.”

The small-scale farms also provide the ben-

efits of not shipping the produce very far and without the obligation of having to keep it fresh for an extended period of time, as opposed to if you were to ship it across t h e

country. By not having that obligation, farmers can use as little amounts of chemicals and pesticides as possible to keep the full integrity of the fruit. Many fruits and veggies are “picked early, treated with gases, and coated with wax to keep them fresh while they ship,” according to The Alternative Daily.

Additionally, eating local, raw honey has also been linked to immunity. It is a simple concept that is almost magical to believe. Bees pollinate the flower which produces nectar. Once the nectar is produced, it is stored in honeycombs and created into the thick liquid by the bees “fanning” it with their wings over and over again. For people with pollen allergies, by consuming the raw honey you are also consuming the basis of pollen, which is a very typical allergen. With more exposure to the allergen, the stronger your immune system becomes to that allergen.

Next time you are hungry, pick up a fresh piece of produce from your local farm or farmers market. That delicious piece of produce has more health benefits than you think.

Brooke’s Picks: Honeygrow Amino Juice b.Good Jules Thin Crust Farm and Fisherman Tavern and Market Restaurante Tortilla Press Emelia Keller (‘17)/ Eastside Photo Editor

Fresh, organic foods help to sustain a healthy lifestyle.

WATER

Climate refugees remain in crisis

Page 10

EASTSIDE

■ By Luke Hinrichs (‘17)

Eastside Editor-in-Chief

Climate is changing. Sea levels are rising. The number of Climate Refugees is increasing. These are facts. Whether you agree with the 97 percent of the scientific community’s assertion that the cause is man-made or you believe that the earth’s climate is experiencing a natural cycle, we are witnessing a humanitarian crisis.

In the many geographic locations ravaged by war and famine, strained by civil unrest and despotic leaders, climate change is considered a threat multiplier.

In Indonesia, one of the countries that will be especially hit hard by climate change, 85 percent of its population currently lives in vulnerable coastal areas. The combination of rising sea levels, severe storms and flooding threatens to displace millions of Indonesians and create another wave of forced migration.

Bangladesh, already increasingly plagued by flooding and storms, could lose up to 15 percent of its land area to rising sea levels affecting the approximate 30 million people living in the coastal areas, all of which would become refugees, displaced individuals, families and whole communities without immediate shelter or homes to return to.

According to the United Nations, roughly 40 percent of the world’s population lives in coastal areas.

Rising sea levels are an imminent threat to 40 percent of humanity.

Throughout human history localized civilizations have collapsed, but today, we face the collapse of our global civilization.

But, the damage caused by climate change is not isolated to coastal areas. Drought, water shortages, overpopulation and food shortages are decimating once fertile and prosperous areas. For example, the Fertile Crescent, the birthplace of agriculture, has witnessed its agri-

April 2017

culture die and disappear. change could lead to a humanitargun in 2012 covers more than 60 East history teacher Mr. Tim ian crisis of epic proportions. We’re percent of the U.S. and, according Locke said, “The beginning of what already seeing migration of large to the United States Department we know as stratified civilizations numbers of people around the world of Agriculture, has affected over 80 and the beginning of towns and citbecause of food scarcity, water insepercent of productive agricultural ies began in the Fertile Crescent as curity and extreme weather, and land. these men domesticated plants and this is set to become the new norBesides the current drought, animals.” mal.” roughly 25 million Americans live However, today in areas vulnerthe area is best deable to coastal scribed as the Inferflooding and ristile Crescent. Due ing sea levels. to overexploitation Forced relocation and pollution, exdue to the manacerbated by the made effects of climate change occlimate change curring over a span has already beof many years, comgun. munities have beIn January of come uninhabitable, 2017, the Departcreating an aggregament of Housing tion of refugees and and Urban Deoverpopulation. The velopment anFertile Crescent ennounced grants compasses Egypt, totaling $1 bilIsrael, Lebanon, lion in 13 states Kuwait, Jordan, administered to Photo Illustration by Alon Goldfinger (‘17)/ Eastside Business Manager Cyprus, Iran, Syria The left image of a family impacted by the Dust Bowl is paralleled help communities and Iraq. adapt to climate with the right image of a displaced Syrian refugee family.

In a study done by change by buildthe Proceedings of ing stronger lethe National Academy of Sciences, The climate refugee crisis is not vees, dams and drainage systems. researchers directly correlated clisimply a foreign issue. It is a naThis construction is a temporary mate change in the Fertile Crescent tional problem that will inevitably Band-aid placed on a far more serito the extreme drought in Syria that bring great change to America. ous wound. played a major role in the violent Many East students in their junior Facing this impending disaster, uprising. Due to poor government year will read The Grapes of Wrath Winston Churchill’s words ring policies and water shortages, mil(a must-read even if it is not astrue: “The era of procrastination, of lions of Syrian farmers were forced signed), which chronicles the huhalf-measures, of soothing and bafto evacuate as climate refugees to man suffering that resulted from fling expedients, of delays is coming overcrowded cities. The combinaa devastating drought in the Great to its close. In its place we are ention of water shortages, ruined land Plains region in 1930s depressiontering a period of consequences.” and corruption fomented revoluridden America.

We are now experiencing the contion. The resulting conflict has creToday, the nation is embroiled sequences of our procrastination, as ated 4.8 million refugees. in what many consider to be the the proliferation of warlike aggresClimatologists say that Syria is worst drought in the U.S. since the sions against the environment on a grim preview of what could be in “Dust Bowl” days of the 1930s that which our well-being depends. We store for the larger Middle East, rendered some 50 million acres of are at war with nature rather than the Mediterranean and other parts farmland barely usable. Back then, being its ally. We have equipped the of the world. Brig Gen Stephen drought conditions, combined with weapons of unbridled pollution and Cheney, a member of the US Depoor soil management practices, careless destruction. And, to do so, partment of State’s foreign affairs forced approximately 2.5 million we are killing ourselves. Now is the policy board and CEO of the AmeriAmericans to leave their homes. time to make peace, take action and can Security Project, said: “Climate The recent drought that had besave ourselves.

Water crises dim future for world peace ■ By Alon Goldfinger (‘17)

Eastside Business Manager

Water is a need for every living human being on Earth. Even though 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is water, this necessary resource is much rarer than many think.

According to Vikram Mansharamani, lecturer at Yale University and senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, climate change and a global population boom are making water a very scarce resource.

This means that as time goes on, countries are going to find it harder and harder to provide fresh water for

their people.

In fact, the Nature Conservacy labels one in every four cities as “water stressed.” It is important to note that this statistic does not only apply to cities in third-world countries.

In 2008, Barcelona was on the brink of running out of water, having to resort to physically importing tankers of water for its citizens.

As many are aware, California has been suffering one of its worst droughts in history, having to place many restrictions on water usage for its citizens.

With such a scarcity in water occurring, many wonder how this will affect

Photo Illustration by Alon Goldfinger (‘17)/ Eastside Business Manager

This map depicts water crises around the world. The 36 most water-stressed counrties, which are highlighted in blue.

the world in the future. This is where the crisis reaches the peak of its danger.

“During the next 10 years, many countries important to the United States will experience water problems — shortages, poor water quality or floods — that will risk instability and state failure, increase regional tensions and distract them from working with the United States on important U.S. policy objectives,” said the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in an inRose Ni (‘18)/ Eastside Staff telligence community Soldiers guard remaining water supply from citizens. assessment. ing water as an oppression not be controlled, climate These tensions are tool. However, water is not change can be mediated. already starting to grow like other resources. Other Many think that climate around the world, especialconflicts are not economic change is only making the ly in Asia. Pakistani Islamissues; water conflicts are world hotter. However, the ic radicals have already behumanitarian ones. While consequences of climate gun to call for “water jihad” a lack of other resources change are happening right against India. This water hurts a country’s economy, now. People are dying and conflict worsens the growa lack of water kills its peocountries have the responing tensions between India ple. sibility to prevent these and Pakistan, making it Simply talking about deaths. harder for both countries to the water conflicts of this Now you might be askachieve a peace. world does not help those ing: what can I do?

Similarly, many other who are suffering; governCall your representative Asian countries such as ments must take action. As and tell him or her about China and Tajikistan are mentioned before, climate your concerns. Make sure trying to produce dams that change and a global poputhat your representative would limit water supplies lation boom are the two knows that he or she has a to New Dehli and Uzbekimost pronounced causes of responsibility to keep the stan, respectively. these water crises. While world safe for the sake of These countries are only the world’s population canthe numerous countries betwo of many who are us-

WATER

April 2017

EASTSIDE

Page 11

plagues Desalination will save U.S. water Lead water systems ■ By Asher Maitin (‘17)

Eastside Entertainment Editor

The facts are irrefutable: over ninety-nine percent of the earth is covered in salt water, and of the one percent that’s drinkable, only half is accessible. But desalination is changing that.

“Desalination removes salt and other minerals to create fresh, drinkable water,” said Adam Levinson, president of the company MOJO Water. “Desalination is used where fresh water supplies are short but seawater is plentiful, to supply a community with potable water for households, manufacturing or agriculture.”

MOJO water is a nationwide company based out of Pennsylvania which sells water purification systems.

Levinson said that sometimes the same technology used in the process of desalination is also used in the company’s systems.

The process used at plants is often called “reverse osmosis.”

“It involves forcing sea-

water through a membrane decided to make a change. with holes so tiny that the They used desalination. water molecules can pass Desalination plants through but larger salt erupted at three major molecules cannot,” said sites: Ashkelon in 2005, HaLevinson. dera in 2009 and Sorek in There are several compli2016. Advancements in the cations with the process, however. Some may perceive it as a waste of other forms of energy.

“A huge amount of energy is required to create enough pressure to shove the water through the membranes,” said Levinson, “but clever engineering has cut energy use of the plants in half in 20 years.”

Less than a decade ago, Israel found itself in its worst drought in nearly ten centuries. DryPhoto Illustration by Asher Maitin (‘17)/ ness of the air caused Eastside Entertainment Editor farmers to dig into the ground in search for a water supply. When the technology of these sights wells dried out, dust storms from the Zuckerberg Instiemerged. When faced with tute for Water Research at this same scenario, Syrian Ben-Gurion University of farmers were neglected by the Negev in Beer-Sheeva, the government, but Israel Israel, lifted Israel so far

out of its valley that there is now an excess.

There is hope that the same mentality can be brought to drought-ridden parts of the United States.

The same company that built Israel’s plants, Poseidon Waters, built the largest desalination plant in the United States in Carlsbad, California, which began operations in 2015 and brings in over 50 million gallons of water every year.

That was not the first desalination plant in the U.S., as many small scale plants are in operation. Levinson sees desalination plants growing across the United States.

“Texas, facing persistent dry conditions and a population influx, may build several ocean desalination plants. Florida has one operating already and may be forced to build others as a rising sea invades the state’s freshwater supplies,” he said.

Look for desalination plants to continue popping up across the entirety of the United States and the world.

released in the processes of manufacturing and packaging the water bottles.

Plastic water bottles are made out of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The Pacific Institute reports that for each ton of carbon PET products created, three tons of carbon dioxide are released. Also, the transportation of t h e bottles from the packaging facilities to store shelves increases the carbon footprint.

While PET is recyclable, the National Park Service wrote on its website, “about 70 percent, —almost 2 million tons—of single-use plastic water bottles

the amount of oil used each year.

An easy eco-friendly solution to the world’s plastic water bottle issue is to simply fill reusable bottles with clean tap water. Jason Cheng (’18), a student who uses a reusable water bottle every day, said, “I do trust the water at East, and it’s so easy and convenient to have a bottle on my desk during class.”

Slate Magazine reports that it costs 0.004 dollars per gallon of tap water. By filling a reusable water bottle 8 times a day over a year with tap water, this would cost approximately 11.70 dollars. In comparison, eight single-use bottles of water each day would cost nearly 1,400 dollars annually.

By using reusable bottles, people can save both money and the environment.

Bottled water drains society of money and resources ■ By Eric First (‘18)

Eastside Underground Editor

At Cherry Hill East, it has become commonplace to see students with plastic water bottles sitting on their desks during any given class. However, the popularity of plastic water bottles is not just confined to the classrooms of the school; nationwide, people use bottled water because of its convenience and a guarantee of safe contents.

While bottled water may be easy to trust and use, the bottles do have a harmful effect on the environment.

For single-use plastic water bottles, there is more fresh water needed to create the bottles than the bottles themselves can actually hold. Ertug Ercin of the Water Footprint Network told NPR that all of the freshwater used from drilling the oil for the bottles to packaging the bottles can add up to seven times the amount held in the bottle.

Greenhouse gases are

in the United States are not recycled, and instead end up in landfills, lakes, streams and the ocean.”

According to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, once plastic beverage bottles end up in landfills, it takes approximately 450 years for them to decompose.

The Ban the Bottle organization found that 17 million barrels of oil are used annually to create water bottles. This is enough oil to fuel 1.3 million cars per year. Reducing the use of plastic water bottles would not just reduce plastic but also significantly decrease

Photo Illustration by Emelia Keller (‘17)/ Eastside Photo Editor

■ By Eric First (‘18)

Eastside Underground Editor

The clean water crisis is not a third world issue. It is a global issue that we all must confront. Primarily, clean water is least accessible to the most vulnerable and poorest of the world. While nearly 1 billion people in the developing world do not have access to clean water, industrialized countries including America face the same epidemic. We are not immune. We are infected.

More than 5,300 water systems in America are in violation of the EPA's lead and copper rule and roughly eighteen million Americans live in the communities with these contaminated water systems.

Due to rampant neglect by the governor, mayor, EPA officials and emergency managers, the Flint water crisis grew to a deadly magnitude.

In early May 2016, NJ Governor Chris Christie announced that New Jersey public schools would be required to test all sources of drinking water for lead, and immediately inform families of the results.

On February 3, 2017, after collecting 71 samples from Cherry Hill East, a letter was sent home to all of the students’ families stating that 7 samples tested above the Environmental Protect i o n Agency’s (EPA) Lead Action Level of 15 parts per billion.

The highest lead concentration w a s 99.2 parts per billion in the water fountain at the girls’ East Gym locker room.

Clean water is an inalienable human right that has been denied to far too many.

Photo Illustration by Emelia Keller (‘17)/ Eastside Photo Editor

Culture Corner: Students’ take on the water issues On average, how many water bottles do you use per week?

Do you trust the water fountains and tap water at East?

Where in the world do you think there are clean water isues?

What is the greatest issue facing America today?

Two or three because I use a reusable water bottle.

No.

All countries around the world.

Political division and unrest.

One every day. About seven.

No.

America is up there with some of the most issues.

Immigration.

Three to four.

No, they are gross.

The issues are everywhere around the world.

Trump and politics.

Andrew Hrubiy (‘17)

Sam Biotti (‘18)

Kevin Thunberg (‘20)

INSECTS

Page 12

EASTSIDE

April 2017

Rise of bee deaths stings environment ■ By Hope Rosenblatt (‘18)

Eastside Entertainment Editor

While one Queen B is currently thriving as she expects twins in the upcoming year, it’s time to start focusing on some bees that are not doing as well.

Since the late 1990s, beekeepers in the United States have reported high rates of decline in the number of honey bee colonies. In 2016, seven species of bees native to Hawaii became federally protected under the Endangered Species Act, and in the first weeks of 2017, the rusty patched bumble bee made the federal endangered species list.

However, some people have been worrying about the bees long before they ever showed serious rates of decline.

“If the bee disappeared off the face of the earth,

man would only have four years left to live,” wrote Maurice Maeterlinck in his 1901 book, The Life of the Bee.

single crop on a farm, usually causing hives to only be able to eat a single type of food for up to ten days at a time. As for pesticides, they

As of now, Maeterlinck’s statement is a hyperbolic viewpoint supported by few; however, the dependency that humans have on the bee population does not actually need to be exaggerated.

Joel Sternin, a local beekeeper and active member in both the South Jersey and Mid-State NJ branches of the New Jersey Beekeepers Association, lists the Varroa Mite, a lack of forage, monoculture and pesticides as some of the main factors that negatively affect the bees.

The Varroa Mite attacks honey bees and leads to disease in hives while a lack of forage stems from the building of places such as malls and parking lots. Monoculture is the cultivation of a

are often found in all types of places ranging from agricultural settings, to homes, to golf courses.

“The pesticides come back into the hives and it affects the young as they’re being brought up as it affects the wax,” said Sternin.

Honey is not the only

means to thrive and produce fruit, flowers, vegetables and more. Bees also keep many types of plants alive and, if that isn’t enough, there are many personal benefits many do not realize indirectly come from bees.

Think about the perfect spa day.

It includes beauty products, maybe some nice scents, and a lot of skin and hair care.

Honeybees may play more of a role in self-care than you think. Honey is often used as a protector against wrinkles, and there are many honeybased products used to clear skin.

Those nice candles used for relaxation come from beeswax, which is also used in many beauty products such as lip balm while also helps to make hair shine.

Fortunately for those in Cherry Hill, there are small

benefit that humans are able to reap from bees. Due to the pollination process, bees provide crops with the

ways to combat the decline of the bee population.

“If the homeowner uses less, preferably none, but

less pesticides and insecticides in and around their

home, that’s how they can help. If they want to plant something, local native plants, that will help,” said Sternin.

As for Sternin, he is on the swarm catchers list, meaning that if a honey bee swarm is found, he collects it to start a new hive.

Sternin became a beekeeper in 2008 after he took a beginner course given by an NJ State Apiarist. He now has over 25 hives and provides pollination for two local farms, one being Springdale Farms, where his honey is sold.

“The bees can deal with so much, but when too much gets put upon them, it causes the decline,” said Sternin.

Photos by Courtney Finnegan (‘17)/ Eastside Sports Editor

Check out more from our interview with Joel Sternin by clicking here.

Controversy around bioethics increases as science evolves ■ By Ezra Nugiel (‘17) and Liz Lee (‘17)

Eastside Opinions and Photo Editors

In almost every facet of the modern world, developments in technology have led to bigger, better and bolder products. While agriculture might appear to be a simple industry, it has been subject to many modifications in order to meet the demands of a rapidly growing market.

There is nothing we like better than a freshly picked peach. When we break into its tickly texture, our taste buds are overwhelmed with the flavor and juiciness of each bite. However, our bliss has been infringed upon lately as we have pondered over a commonly investigated agricultural frontier: the use of pesticides.

Many fruits, such as peaches, are sprayed with

pesticides. If pesticides can kill insects, what are the dangers they have on our body and the environment?

The word “pesticide” comes from the French root “cide,” meaning killer. A pesticide is any substance that is used for the prevention, repulsion or destruction of pests. The term “pesticide” includes substances that kill weeds (herbicides), insects (insecticides), fungus (fungicides), rodents (rodenticides) and several others.

While pesticides play an important role in maintaining yields of agricultural crops, the residues from pesticides have detrimental influences upon our environment.

The increasing demand for food products has led to widespread use of pesticides. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA), the world used approximately 2.4 megatons (5.3×109 pounds) of pesticides in the year 2006.

A c cording to George Miller in his novel Sustaining the Earth: An Integrated Approach, over 98 percent of sprayed pesticides reach a destination other than their target species, because they are dis-

tributed across entire agricultural fields. Pesticides can contaminate soil, water, turf and other vegetation.

Pesticides can be carried into aquatic environments through runoff, and wind can transport them to other fields.

When chemicals that have the capability to kill are introduced into delicately balanced ecosystems, they can wreak havoc that reverberates through the food web for years. In addition to killing insects or weeds, pesticides can be toxic to a host of other organisms including birds, fish, beneficial insects and non-target plants.

According to the North American Pesticide Action Network (PAN), the use of pesticides has led to plummeting Honeybee populations nationwide, male frogs exposed to atrazine (a pesticide) becoming females

and dramatic bat die-offs.

No local pesticide companies were able to make a comment about their commitment to environmental responsibility. It is clear that a capitalist desire for large-scale food production has overcast environmental implications.

Many alternatives exist to reduce the effects pesticides have on the environment. It is imperative that governments, not just in the United States, but all over the world, reform current environmental policies to limit non-organic pesticide use. Agricultural producers must also pull their weight and search for more environmentally friendly forms of pest control. This way, everyone can enjoy delicious products (whether they be peaches or not) while protecting the very Earth that produced them.

Art by Liz Lee (‘17)/ Eastside Photo Editor

ANIMALS

April 2017

EASTSIDE

Page 13

Should animals be kept in zoos?

■ By Joshua Pipe (‘20) Eastside Staff

The nominal sect of the English language has a funny way of normalizing speciesism, the practice of restricting the natural rights of some beings because of their place in the Animal Kingdom.

To name a few examples: the place that holds marine life of all kinds captive against their will (and their Maslowian psychological and safety needs) becomes ‘Sea World;’ the brutal spectacle in which equines are beat mercilessly to gain speed and then slaughtered after they have outlived their usefulness becomes ‘horse racing’; and finally, the forceful relocation and captivity of land animals (and sea animals) under the guise of conservation is called a ‘zoo.’

The fact of the matter is that zoos are prisons. Many people will undeniably argue that they promote conservation and teach kids about the animals of the world which, while true, does not negate the fact that zoos hold animals in captivity against their will.

Zoos are not sanctuaries.

Zoos are entirely private entities made for one purpose: making money. Sanctuaries are non-profit organizations with the sole charters of preserving animals and educating the public. There is a monumental difference between them.

Humanity has this obsession with degrading animals and making them hostages of avarice and selfishness. The tigers behind the cages have lives, the penguins wandering in an environment 30 degrees too hot (at best) have lives, and those lives are not only reduced in quantity by captivity, but by quality also. For example, on top of being imprisoned in small confinements, elephants in zoos live to only half of their life expectancy, according to Nature America.

Now, zoos will claim that the natural habitat of (insert animal here) is being preserved and that their whole operation is conserving wildlife, but it is all a web of deceit; captivity is not conservation nor is it sanctuary, but it is an injustice.

Is the solution to close all the zoos? In an ideal world, yes; in the world that actually exists, no. What zoos need is to stop taking animals from their homes unless it is for the sole purpose of rehabilitation. Furthermore, the animals should not be in confined spaces; if zoos are truly the animal’s home, the animals should have more space than the humans.

If that means getting rid of a food court or two, so be it, humanity will live.

Simply reforming zoos, however, ignores the larger issue.

Most of the animals that need to be preserved are only endangered

(‘1

8)/ Sa because Eas brin tsid a D of human e A eA rt D bre activities.

Tigers irec u tor would not be in danger if not for hunters invading their homes and killing them for their skin. If the ivory of the elephants at the Philadelphia Zoo were not useful to humans, millions of their brothers and sisters would still be alive, and the problem of their endangerment would itself be extinct.

Instead of continually giving money to the continued captivation and enslavement of animals, plan a visit and a monthly donation to the nearest wildlife sanctuary, like the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge near the Philadelphia Airport, if conservation is really the end goal.

■ By Louis Zimmermann (‘18) Eastside News/Features Editor

Zoos immediately provoke ideas of caging up animals in what seems to be unhealthy conditions for species that are meant to be living in the wild. Zoos consistently provoke the thoughts of disgusting caging that is not updated frequently enough. However, people generalize and harshly criticize the ideas behind the creation of such institutions without truly weighing the positives and the negatives hand in hand.

When the topic of zoos are mentioned in discussions, typically, people decide to think stubbornly and view zoos with two primary thoughts: they are made solely to make large sums of money and they t r e a t all of

the a n i m a l s and exhibits without care. Although certain zoos do not have the best reputation for conserving their animals in healthy living conditions, generalizing is a big hindrance in the ultimate view of zoos. There are still big improvements necessary for these institutions to reach their full potential. Although police brutality has been rising and certain police officers are corrupt, the entire institution should not be combatted from enforcing the law. The same principle lies with zoos. Although certain zoos may not be fulfilling their duty of upkeep, animal welfare institutions cannot justly be deemed as worthless.

Rather, betterment should and will be seeked.

The fact lies in that zoos have to be subject to harsh criticism when being inspected to stay open or closed down to the public. On the other hand, certain

farms, dealers and breeders are not inspected and have conditions that are far worse than those of zoos, including indoor confinement, poor air quality and unnatural light patterns.

The biggest issue people have regarding zoos is the enclosure sizes and harsh captivity. Although zoos cannot provide species with unlimited space while also providing care for them, the USDA and the AZA have set specific caging guidelines for each class of species to ensure sufficient functioning and living space.

Also, the AZA has set a principle stating that animals should be displayed in exhibits replicating their wild habitat, while keeping them in numbers sufficient to meet their social and behavioral needs. Not only this, but these captive animals will not suffer from the threat of predators, pain of parasites, starvation or drought.

Rather, they will avoid the frightening, yet true terrors of the wild.

Concerning animals, therefore, the statement that having a life that is ‘free’ is one that is ‘good’ is a fluid one.

The future lies in the hands of zoos. One may argue that keeping animals in captivity for education of children is a selfish act of the human race; however, without research on how different specifies act, live and react, the human race will not be able to repair ecosystems or save animals nearing extinction. Animals are an enormous part of the ecosystem, and without research on these creatures, that part of the ecosystem will be lost to our education.

Furthermore, one of the biggest benefits of zoos is saving animals from extinction. Without their dedication efforts zoos set forth, some animals would be lost to us forever. According to statisticbrain.com, approximately 1,040 different types of species nearing extinction, ranging from Blue-eyed Black Lemurs to Amur Leopards, were saved by zoos across the United States.

On a larger scale, animals would not only be lost to us, but the ecosystem would be poorer because of it. Animals such as Black Rhinoceros and African Savanna Elephants would not be walking on the same ground that we do today if it were not for zoos. People take zoos for granted without recognizing the colossal amounts of animals that have been saved from ultimate eradication.

The world right now is rich because of the presence of zoos. Not because of wealth and not because of material goods, but because of the amount of animals still contained in the ecosystem.

Aquariums negatively impact dolphins’ behavior ■ By Mia Colclasure (‘20) Eastside Staff

To most people, the aquarium is a fun place to go to on a rainy Saturday with family, look at exotic fish and buy a colorful Tshirt from the gift shop.

When someone says “aquarium,” most people probably associate it with elementary school field trips and day trips with friends, but they don’t usually think about the negative and immoral aspects of keeping these animals in captivity.

Yes, aquariums are fun and extremely interesting, but is creating a few good memories worth losing some species to extinction?

Aquariums are supposed to help the animals and prevent them from becoming endangered, but in reality, they are adding to the problem, especially with

dolphins.

Many different kinds of dolphins are endangered, and according to dolphins-world. com, “over 95% of dolphin deaths are directly attributable to man-related causes.” People hunt dolphins, and aquariums should protect the dolphins from the hunters, but dolphins are still under very poor conditions in the aquarium.

Courtney Vail, a biologist and environmental lawyer, wrote “all capture methods are inherently inhumane and can result in death and injury.”

Not only are the dolphins being taken from their family and moved to someplace

that they are completely unfamiliar with, but the capture and transportation is also ex-

tremely dangerous.

“They are bombarded with foreign sounds, sensations, changing air pressure during flights, and are known to vocalize and thrash out in fear,” wrote Lisa Arnseth.

After the transportation, the actual living conditions of the aquarium are unsafe and unfair to the animals.

The Camden Aquarium does not have dolphins, and the Baltimore Aquarium will move all of its dolphins to a safer and more natural sanctuary by 2020. Two aquariums that do have dolphins are the Marineland of Florida and the Georgia Aquarium. In captivity, dolphins lose their complex societies and only associate with about five other dolphins if they are lucky.

They can’t swim nearly as far, and they only swim in

circles day after day. They can become extremely depressed, and some refuse to eat and end up killing themselves.

The stress that humans are putting on these animals is inhumane and completely unfair. Dr. Liz Slooten, from Otago University, believes that 62 percent of dolphins will be gone by 2050. Not all of that is due to aquariums, of course, but dolphins dying in captivity is a large part of the possibility that dolphins may be wiped out. Almost all of dolphin deaths are due to humans. It’s not too late yet, but it will be soon, so if people stop hunting, polluting and keeping animals in captivity, the future generations can enjoy a healthy and diverse planet.

Art by Rose Ni (‘18)/ Eastside Staff

TECHNOLOGY

Page 14

EASTSIDE

April 2017

Apps Can Save the World

Want to help the environment, but you’re plagued with laziness? Check out these three apps to help you make an impact!

Carma allows you to drive for a better future ■ By Sabrina DeAbreu (‘18)

Eastside Art Director

Go to soccer practice. Go to a Chipotle fundraiser. Drive a brother to meet his friend. The list could go on for quite a while. This non-stop routine of driving everywhere proves to have negative effects on the environment. Fuel released by automobiles is contributing to air pollution and climate change.

These repercussions, however, may not be permanent; people must work to reduce the amount of harmful gas released by cars. On January 31, 2017, the app Carma was updated. Carma is a carpooling system that families, individuals and children can use. This update made it almost effortless to partake in a “smarter and more sustainable transportation system.”

The point of carpooling, sharing a

ride with another person going the same direction or place, is to limit the number of cars on the road. A decrease in car use results in less carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the air.

Carm a

going to destinations within a close range will be paired up. With Bluetooth technology, Carma app users are easily detected. A special Bluetooth piece is sent to users to keep in their glove box.

Credit card information is kept on the app to pay for small fees.

High Occupancy Vehicles (two or more passengers) receive high occupancy toll discounts. The car sets out to pick up as many passengers that can fit and are going in the

works to make every passenger count. If Carma is implemented in your own region, users

same general direction.

There is practically no human interaction involved when using the app. The only face-to-face encoun-

a survey. The survey takes information such as number of vehicles driven, miles per gallon, how much a member flies, the amount of heating oil one's house u s e s a n d other basic life-

The app tracks the amount of carbon a person may be releasing based on what users purchase and consume. Along with this, it monitors the carbon value when one drives and does daily work around the house. Oroeco shares useful tips which are generated specifically for the user to aid in lowering their carbon footprint. After the app collects data on the carbon value one person has, it accurately shows the user how they impact the climate

s t y l e habits.

The information is then used to calculate a member's carbon footprint.

change.

Oroeco not only appeals to individuals, but also communities as a whole. The app builds competition by displaying how one user is doing compared to their own neighbors

use. If humans’ lack of care for the environment persists, the limited supply will continue to deplete.

The company values education.

Once people are educated, only then can they truly make a difference.

Dropcountr partners with water utilities in various cities. If your water utility has not yet connected to Dropcountr, the app encourages you to “make your voice heard.” It even allows you to send a direct message to the

Founder Robb Barnitt has managed to cut his family's water use from 211 to 136 gallons per day since the app has come out.

Along with tracking water usage and giving helpful tips, Dropcountr collects data on users’ homes. If users have a leak or leave their hose on, they will automatically be alerted. These alerts are daily reminders to be mindful of the amount of water one uses.

Dropcountr is rated 3.5 stars out of 5 in the App Store. Although the rating may appear low, the compa-

company. The innovative app helps both families and individuals to cut down on their water supply. After pairing with the utility members’ use, Dropcountr tracks the amount of water used up by showers, sinks, refrigerators, etc. within households. It then works to help limit the number of gallons.

ny is constantly working to improve the app.

The app also provides users with helpful tips to save water. The average household uses 400 gallons per day; Dropcountr shows members that such a large amount is not necessary.

It is estimated that 500 dollars per family is spent each year on wa-

ter happens during the ride where participants choose whether or not to converse. After its update a few months ago, the app is doing quite well, with a five-star rating in the App Store.

Carma has not yet been used within South Jersey. Nevertheless, anyone can bring the app to this region after inquiring about how to get it started. The app has been becoming more popular within large cities, and is slowly working its way down to smaller communities.

If Carma were to be used at least twice a week by one pair of people, 1,600 pounds of greenhouse gases would not be released. On a larger scale, if 100 users utilized Carma each day, the air would be down 1,320 pounds of carbon monoxide and 2,376,000 pounds of carbon dioxide. Carma offers a simple way to take advantage of technology in an

Oroeco wants to minimize your carbon footprint ■ By Sabrina DeAbreu (‘18)

Eastside Art Director

In the twenty-first century, daily activities have become stressful, lives are hectic and people often do not have time to rest.

However, not everything must be so complicated.

What if preventing climate change could be fun, easy and rewarding?

With Oroeco, an app created in 2015, it can be.

The app works to help members “discover [their] planet saving powers” after taking

and friends. When using the app, one can see how everyone around them is helping the environment.

This works as a motivator for many of the app users.

Oroeco is rated five stars out of five in the app store, proving that it may be working wonders in some communities.

The company empowers others to “join a community of climate crusaders” in efforts to better the only currently inhabitable planet. Its mission is to help alleviate harsh climate change.

Animals are becoming extinct, food and water sources could grow scarce and catastrophic weather will come into play if nothing is done.

Humans happen to be the problem. Yet, they are also the only solution. Downloading Oroeco is a simple first step towards preventing climate change across the globe.

Dropcountr wants to drop your water waste ■ By Sabrina DeAbreu (‘18)

Eastside Art Director

Water is 65 percent of the human body and 71 percent of the globe, yet people continue to waste this natural gift. It is estimated that one trillion gallons of water are wasted each year. Meanwhile, some countries have no clean water or are experiencing droughts. Dropcountr, an app created in 2016, was intended to help people

understand how to better use their water supply.

Becoming eco-friendly only takes three easy steps with Dropcountr.

Download the app. Make a goal.

Start saving money and water.

That’s all it takes to help the environment in a small way.

Less than one percent of Earth’s water supply is available for human

ter bills. With the use of Dropcounr, this amount will decrease quickly.

Although Cherry Hill does not yet have a utility set up with Dropcountr, East students can still take a stand. By emailing the district, a utility could be connected. In the meantime, Dropcountr’s website shares helpful information on other steps that can be taken. The people of the Cherry Hill community will greatly benefiot from having a utility connected to the app. The website encourages people to “get up for the challenge.”

With technology on the rise, apps like Dropcountr are necessary.

Beginning with simple things such as turning the sink off while brushing your teeth and making sure your dishwasher is fully loaded are easy ways to get involved.

Take a minute out of your day to download Dropcountr, and begin the change.

Ilustrations by Jared Fisch (‘18)/ Eastside Underground Editor with logos from Carma, Oroeco, and Dropcountr

TECHNOLOGY

Page 15

EASTSIDE

April 2017

Where do we discard our old technology?

■ By Abigail Richman (‘18)

Eastside Business Manager

Over time, electronics have been revolutionized into fascinating products. Smartphones, iPads and computers are just a few of the electronics that people use on a daily basis. Considering how many people use these electronics, few actually know what materials are used to build them, and the harmful effects that these materials can have on our environment. Most importantly, where does all this old technology go after people are done with it?

E-waste, a term used to describe electronics nearing the end of their “useful life,” is a huge factor in determining where all of the old technology goes. According to Planet Green Recycle, “the EPA estimates

Courtesy of Reference.com

Even low doses of mercury can be toxic and may cause kidney and brain damage, which Apple sought to minimize.

that only 25 percent of the electronic waste within the United States is collected for recycling, so that means that 75 percent of e-waste is ending up somewhere else.”

In some cases, old electronics can be reused. However, Planet Green Recycle estimates that “in some cases, electronics sent to developing countries for reuse are only used a short time and then dumped in areas that don’t have proper hazardous waste facilities.” Although this sounds ideal, much of the e-waste today ends up in landfills. The toxic chemicals in these electonics often leak into the ground or are released into the air.

Scary, right? People all over the world improperly handle these devices as if they have no effect on anyone. This toxic waste that is used to construct most electronics

Courtesy of northernih.com

Humans are very familiar with the negative health effects of lead, including brain damage, particularly in children.

is extremely harmful. When people and the environment are exposed to these chemicals in large doses, health and sometimes death, are at risk. Not only does this add dangerous waste into the environment, but improper recycling of e-waste is an opportunity lost. Almost all electronic waste contains some form of recyclable material, including plastic, glass and metals.

Landfills, most commonly known as a place to hold waste and contain potential soil and water contamination, are being dominated by the tons of hazardous waste on the ground. According to Jessika Toothman, a writer for How Stuff Works, “of the other heavy metals in landfills, e-waste accounts for about 70 percent of that pollution.”

The problem does not solely stem from the manufactures of these

Courtesy of dir.indiamart.com

Many connectors and motherboards include beryllium, which is considered a human carcinogen.

products. As stated by Toothman, “even if you made a well-intentioned effort to properly recycle your computer, there's a 50 to 80 percent chance your computer didn’t end up where you thought it would be.”

While many devices are eligible to be recycled, the hazardous metals within these keyboards, computers and phones still puts these devices in landfills. Once these toxic electronics are placed into landfills, the rare earth minerals cause damage to the enviroment.

Since technology is constantly growing in today’s society, it is important to fight against large amounts of e-waste. Support companies that engage in eco-friendly products. Return the products to the manufacturers if you’re done using them. Most importantly, if you don’t need it, don’t buy it.

Courtesy of kingofwallpapers.com

Cadmium has been shown to cause cancer, and when it accumulates within the body, it may result in kidney damage.

The Seabin aims to clean our polluted waters ■ By Jared Fisch (‘18)

Eastside Underground Editor

There are over five trillion pieces of plastic in our oceans, that is about 269,000 tons of debris. That is a problem. How do we solve that problem? Simple...a trash can for the ocean.

Pete Ceglinski and Andrew Turton, two Australian surfers, were tired of seeing trash in their waters. Turton was enamored by the amount of garbage in our oceans after taking multiple sailing trips around the world. He needed to do something about it, so he partnered up with Ceglinski, an industrial designer who once made the plastics that are often found in our waters.

Together, these two Aussies created the Seabin. The Seabin is a fixed trash can fastened to a dock.

A water pump connected to the bin creates a water flow that attracts debris to the can. All trash and de-

bris is then snagged in the “catch bag” while the water goes to the pump and back to the body of water it came from.

Ceglinski and Turton took their idea to Indiegogo, a crowdfunding website, in which they raised over 250,000 U.S. dollars. This money helped them get off the ground.

Unfortunately, the average Joe cannot buy this trash-collecting, earth-saving device. The Seabin is marketed towards marinas, ports and yacht clubs with a price just under 4,000 dollars per unit.

The Seabin is one step closer to cleaning our oceans and restoring the planet. Inventions like this are trying to fix the problems that we created for ourselves. Think twice before littering because your trash may end up in the ocean one day and the consequences for wildlife can be catastrophic.

Art by Jennifer Dong (‘17) / Eastside Art Director

TECHNOLOGY

Page 16

EASTSIDE

April 2017

Light pollution is leaving a visible impact ■ By Jared Fisch (‘18)

Eastside Underground Editor

It is a cool, crisp, summer evening in Cherry Hill. You lay peacefully on a hammock rocking back and forth with a stillness in the air.

All is quiet as you gaze up into the summer sky. As sad as it is, you can count the number of stars in the sky on one hand. You didn’t realize that you are affected by light pollution... until now.

Light pollution is the effects of manmade light on the night sky.

Manmade light pollutes the sky by brightening it, therefore making the stars and other celestial bodies more difficult to observe.

Many, including you perhaps, have never even noticed the effect of light pollution. In fact, you may wonder how this is even a “pollution” at all. When the term pollution comes to mind, many think of oil spills, carbon dioxide emissions

or littering. Oxford’s online dictionary defines pollution as “the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects.”

While some believe one’s inability to see the stars may not be harmful, others disagree.

The Dark Skies Awareness Project serves to teach people about the very real dangers of light pollution.

The project disproves the common misconception that “the negative effects of the loss of this inspirational natural resource might seem intangible.” Shockingly, “a growing body of evidence links the brightening night sky directly to measurable negative impacts on human health and immune function, on adverse behavioral changes in insect and animal populations, and on a decrease of both ambient quality and safety in our nighttime environment.”

Not only does light pollution leave a lasting impact on amateur astronomers and insect populations but it

adds to the aforementioned “real pollution.” According to the Dark Skies Awareness Project, “wasted lighting in the US releases 38 million tons of carbon dioxide i n t o t h e atmosphere annually.”

Outd o o r lighting at night leaves a lasti n g carbon footprint and a dent in our wallets.

Along with the physical impact left by light pollution, there is an emotional one, too. Since the beginning of man, the stars have been

there in the night sky, a friend looking down on us. Harriet Tubman helped slaves escape via the Underground Railroad with one tool to navigate: the North Star. If the effects of light pollution were around, would Tubman’s advice to follow the North Star lead slaves to freedom?

Many believe shooting stars are a sign of good luck. Would one be able to make a wish if a shooting star were no longer visible?

Going out west to less populated areas such as Sedona, Arizona, is sobering. Looking into the star-filled sky is far better than the nothingness in the suburban sky of Cherry Hill. Join the fight against light pollution by turning off unnecessary lights at night.

Turn off the lights so your kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and more can see the stars at night.

Art by Sabrina DeAbreu (‘18)/ Eastside Art Director

Eagles go green to help the environment ■ By Drew Hoffman (‘18)

Eastside Sports Editor

When Lincoln Financial Field opened in 2003, the Philadelphia Eagles were attempting to appeal to any potential fan. The team was experiencing historic playoff runs, a new stadium was about to open and the team needed a plan. They introduced the Go Green program, which became the team’s environmental initiative. The plan was brought to the team, and immediately kicked off into a community-wide approach.

The program involves a few aspects of environmental-saving phenomena. The three main focal points are recycling, reducing carbon footprint and solar energy.

Through the recycling aspect, the Eagles are able to divert 99 percent of all their waste from landfills. They are able to complete this feat by using products that are more environmentalfriendly and recyclable. For example, they implemented the use of corn-based food and beverage containers. In addition, the organization recycles cooking oil which is refined into biodiesel for trucks and other vehicles. They also commenced the Green Team, which sorts through bags of trash in search of items that can be recycled. The Eagles’ recycling efforts have helped them recycle more than 850 tons of material each year, which

can fill 22 tractor trailers. Recycling has helped the franchise avoid landfills and make better use of its waste.

In addition to recycling, the Eagles have also made a commitment to reducing the franchise’s carbon footprint. To coincide with this commitment, the franchise participates in reforestation projects.

Since 2007, the Eagles have planted more than 550 trees per year. Each year, they take part in a tree planting event at the “Eagles Forest” in Neshaminy, Pennsylvania.

They also contribute by purchasing seedlings for a wildlife refuge in Louisiana.

While recycling and tree-planting are major parts in the Eagles’ Go Green mission, the biggest contributor is the solar energy they use.

After the 2012 season, the Eagles installed 14

micro wind turbines at Lincoln Financial Field.

They are in sets of seven at opposite ends of the stadium. These turbines allow the stadium to use more alternative power than any other stadium in the league.

In 2012, Eagles’ president Don Smolenski predicted that the turbines will produce up to four megawatts of renewable energy each year, saving approximately 3 million dollars each year.

In addition to the wind turbines, the franchise introduced 11,108 solar panels on the property, which cover the sides of the stadium and are used to cover the parking lot. These panels have become the largest solar array in the Philadelphia area because of the monstrous power they produce.

The Eagles also agreed to a 20-year partnership with a leading energy company called NRG. The company is in charge of the design and operation of the turbine and panel system at the stadium. Because of the green energy used at the stadium, Lincoln Financial Field is now considered to be “off the grid,” or, in other words, not dependent on electricity.

While the team continues to strive for its first Super Bowl and put a winner on the field, it will always strive to help the environment and be an eco-friendly franchise.

Art by Danny Khan (‘19)/ Eastside Staff

Apple modifies iPhone parts over the years ■ By Abigail Richman (‘18)

Eastside Business Manager

iPhones: known as one of the leading smartphones in the world today, or more commonly referred to as “the world’s most powerful personal device.” Today, people update their cell-phones like it is no big deal, as if there are an abundance of modernized phones waiting to be put into the hands of another smartphone-obsessed consumer.

But, little do these people know, these new “updates” are doing more harm than good.

Every time Apple releases a new version of a phone, most people feel inclined to throw their old one away in order to have the most updated iPhone. However, the parts that

In June 2008, Apple releases iPhone 3G, which includes lead, mercury and cadmium in its parts.

are built inside an iPhone are simply not suited for the environment, a fact that consumers disregard on a daily basis. For example, when the iPhone 3G was first built, many rare earth minerals were used that released extremely toxic chemicals into the environment. Chemicals such as mercury cause brain damage. Every time an iPhone 3G was thrown away, its toxic materials would pollute the environment in a frightening way.

Over time, Apple has become more eco-friendly. The latest iPhones no longer include benzene and n-hexene-products that link to leukemia and nerve damage. They have also moved away from harmful elements such as beryllium and mercury, and moved towards more

By the end of 2008, Apple eliminates all toxic chemicals from its iPhones.

Apple’s iPhone 3G also includes arsenic in its display screens, as well as BFR’s and PVC’s in other parts.

recyclable parts in order for consumers to be able to trade in their old iPhones.

Although Apple reports that 77 percent of the greenhouse emissions come from the manufacturing alone, 100 percent of Apple Data Centers run on renewable energy sources. This means that any iCloud features such as Siri or iMessage have zero impact on climate change today.

As Apple is striving for a greener environment, it has since introduced its recyclable “robot,” Liam, to help do the job. Created in March of 2016, Liam exists with the sole purpose of destroying and recycling old iPhones.

Liam is a large robot with 29 freestanding robotic arms at many

iPhone 7 also features a lithium - ion battery, which stores more energy and allows the iPhone to last an average of two hours longer off a single charge.

New iPhone 7 is waterproof in order to eliminate the phone from going straight to the landfill.

stations within the Apple’s headquarters. While most robots help put together devices at assembly lines, Liam works hard to dissemble people’s returned, old iPhones.

Liam is capable of taking apart 1.2 million iPhones a year, making the parts easier to recycle.

According to Samantha Murphy, editor of CNN Tech, “Liam’s work is extremely precise as he works hard to separate each component and later sells them to recycling vendors so they can be reused instead of thrown in the landfill.”

Athough some parts in iPhones may be harmful to the the environment, Apple is continuing to establish more eco-friendly ways to save the perfectly working models out there today.

In March 2016, Apple introduces “Liam,” its robot who can desconstruct and recycle old iPhones.

Apple introduces an ‘A 10 fusion’ processor, which is more energy efficient.

Liam is capable of taking apart 1.2 million iPhones a year.

April 2017

EASTSIDE

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