OCTOBER 2021
UIUC
The Green Observer The Autumn Issue THE ONLY STUDENT-RUN ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLICATION ON CAMPUS
University of Illinois' only student led environmental magazine
Made Possible by:
Editor's Note Dear Observers, As we continue to navigate the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, we invite our readers to explore their passion for sustainability. Our fall issue is filled with editorial pieces reflecting current politics and environmental lifestyle tips.
As college students that value the environment, we hope to create a community of inspired individuals through our publication.
Join us as we reflect on the change of seasons and the future of environmental sustainability.
Zoe Huspen Lexi Delmonico ZOE HUSPEN AND LEXI DELMONICO CO-EDITORS IN CHIEF
Our Staff
Reid Wilson
Maggie Sampson
Lauren Gould
Julia San Miguel
Grace Gudwien
Michelle Bishka
Table of Contents Bishka 1
Simpson 3
Photos 5
San Miguel 7
Photo 9
Gudwein 10
Wilson 11
Delmonico 13
Gould 15
Acknowledgements 17
Wildfires in the United States written by Michelle Bishka Over the course of the past few decades, wildfires have generally increased in quantity and worsened in effects, particularly in the United States. The trend of climate change, particularly the warming and drying out of environments, has created favorable arid conditions for wildfires to start and spread, lengthening fire season. The spike in wildfires contributes to climate change, creating a positive feedback loop between the two. Substantial amounts of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane are released into the atmosphere during a wildfire. These greenhouse gases further contribute to climate change, a wildfire instigator.
As of September 18th, 2021, a wildfire has reached California’s Giant Forest, threatening its giant sequoias. The outcome of this fire may mimic that of the California Castle Fire of 2020, which killed 10% of the world’s grown sequoias. Though ecosystems can benefit from the nutrients released from fires and recover from them due to their built-in resilience, if wildfires occur so frequently that the ecosystem does not have enough time to recover, it can collapse as a result. Because wildfires are happening at increased rates, it is not shocking that the rate of ecosystems falling would, too, increase.
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Not only do the gases released by wildfires affect the environment, they also affect human health. Wildfire smoke consists of fine particulate matter, or soot, that creates severe respiratory and cardiological issues, killing an average of 500 elderly people a year in the United States. Children are also heavily at risk from these health complications.
Sources https://www.rff.org/publications/explainers/ wildfires-in-the-united-states-101-contextand-consequences/ https://www.usda.gov/media/pressreleases/2017/09/14/forest-service-wildlandfire-suppression-costs-exceed-2-billion
The aftermath of wildfires can also impose financial burdens. Wildfires can destroy transportation routes and limit state tourism, affecting workers and their hours. 60% of the $150 billion damage caused by California’s wildfires in 2018 can be attributed to the disruption of normal economic activity. Over the past few years, to combat the higher rates of forest fires, federal and state wildfire budgets have increased in the United States. In 2017, the U.S. Forest Service fire suppression costs had exceeded $2 billion dollars, and it grew to $2.25 billion dollars in 2020. This budget is projected to continue increasing.
Wildfires are multifaceted in the consequences they pose and need to be prevented. This starts by properly handling the ever-growing climate crisis that has led to the degradation of life on Earth.
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Home Gardening on a College Campus written by Maggie Sampson
Looking for a way to reduce stress and connect with nature? For centuries, gardening has been a way to sustain ourselves nutritionally, and to sustain our connection to the environment.
How to Grow Your Own Herb Garden Herbs like basil, mint, and cilantro only require 4-6 hours of sunlight a day, and tend to run on the dry side, making them a perfect start to an at home garden (If DIY isn’t your style, starting with a premade growing kit is another great option). Additionally, since you are planting indoors, you can start your garden in any season!
Starting your own garden may seem a daunting task (especially on a college campus), but with the right tools, it can be a relaxing and fulfilling experience. Studies have even shown that people who have a garden find reductions in depression and anxiety and increases in quality of life and sense of community. The first step is deciding what you want to grow. Lettuce, basil, and other microgreens are great options for a confined space and a college lifestyle. With enough water and sunlight, they flourish in small containers, and require relatively little attention. For those hesitant to maintain an edible garden, potted flowers and houseplants are a great alternative. Every plant requires different levels of attention and resources, so when deciding what you want to grow, keep in mind your schedule and living situation.
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Materials Soil Pot: Find a size that works best for your space and your growing goals 2-4 inch diameter pots work well for starting out You can find affordable pots at most targets, walmarts, and hardware stores You can also find a greater starter set on amazon Soil: For soil, it is best to find a mix specially tailored for indoor gardening You can find one specifically for herb gardens on amazon or any local plant nursery/garden shop Seeds: Typically, seeds are bought in packs, this is nice for when you want to try planting lots of different things in your garden without taking up too much space You can find seeds in most walmarts, hardware stores, and nurseries On amazon you can find a pack specifically for an indoor herb garden
Instructions 1. Fill your pot/container about ¾ full of soil 2. Place seeds on top of the soil (seed amount varies—make sure to check the seed package) 3. Place layer of soil about ½ inch thick on top of the seeds 4. Water until soil is moist (Make sure not to overwater, soil should never be dry, but avoid standing water) 5. Label which plants are in which pots, feel free to be creative and decorate your pots too!
Sources https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P MC5153451/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083GGG7WJ/r ef=sspa_dk_detail_1? psc=1&pd_rd_i=B083GGG7WJ&pd_rd_w=XCIO X&pf_rd_p=887084a2-5c34-4113-a4f8b7947847c308&pd_rd_wg=1IZVw&pf_rd_r=HZ HB4EMQ7B7ZCYSBR0RE&pd_rd_r=c09700a11bd7-4237-a56fa5bc282be0a6&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGl maWVyPUExNlk4R0taTVZRR01TJmVuY3J5cH RlZElkPUEwMTc2MTYwRkVBQkhZTzlKSlhDJ mVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3MDYxMTkyTDIz RTUwRFRNOERJJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZG V0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvT m90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ== https://www.amazon.com/GROWNEERStarters-Seedling-BiodegradableGermination/dp/B07ZYV9C4V/ref=sr_1_14? dchild=1&keywords=Soil+Pots&qid=1632787645 &sr=8-14 https://www.amazon.com/Mixture-PlantersSpecially-BlendedPlanting/dp/B08KSFR7PZ/ref=sr_1_8? dchild=1&keywords=Soil+for+herb+garden&qid =1632787913&sr=8-8 https://www.amazon.com/Urban-LeafVarieties-EssentialMedicinal/dp/B07N1174GY/ref=sr_1_14? dchild=1&keywords=herb+garden+seeds+indo or&qid=1632788100&sr=8-14
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America's New New Deal written by Julia San Miguel
What is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill? On Tuesday, August 10th, the U.S. Senate passed President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework by a vote of 69-30, with 19 Republicans joining their Democratic counterparts. The bill is a sweeping increase of an investment into America’s infrastructure; the total infrastructure package has a $1 trillion price tag. A little more than half of that funding would be new spending over five years, on top of what Congress already would have allocated to infrastructure in the future. The White House claims this infrastructure bill would be the largest investment into improving and modernizing American infrastructure in almost a century, and the single largest investment into Amtrak since its creation fifty years ago. This is certainly the most ambitious infrastructure bill in recent memory, and has managed to attract crucial bipartisan support from a gridlocked federal government.
What Environmental Provisions are in the Bill? The vote in the Senate came shortly after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released their 2021 report. This report raised major red flags for the planet given the world’s current consumption of fossil fuels, and pushed for more direct action to mitigate climate change from the world’s largest polluters. The bipartisan infrastructure bill includes major provisions meant to curb the effects of climate change, including major investments into public
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transportation help lessen the use of cars, which contribute significantly to global carbon dioxide emissions. The bill also encourages an increase in the use of personal electric cars by building more electric charging stations along highways and in rural and disadvantaged areas, while also supporting the electrification of school and transit buses to reduce emissions.
Many progressive Democrats have signaled that they will not support the bill unless the Senate passes another, more costly package that makes significant headway on Democratic initiatives. The vote on this second package is expected to occur sometime later in the fall; until then, the fate of the bipartisan infrastructure bill is uncertain.
President Biden claimed to help facilitate getting the country to net-zero emissions by 2050; a crucial step along that journey is shifting the economy to run on renewable energy. This infrastructure bill would address that $65 billion in spending would go towards upgrading current power infrastructure, which includes building new transmission lines to both attempt to prevent power outages and prepare the power grid for an uptick in renewable energy.
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In terms of cleaning up American communities, the bill includes provisions to restore water and land quality across the nation. $21 billion would go towards environmental remediation projects, or large-scale cleanups of abandoned industrial and energy sites. Another $55 billion would go to completely replacing the millions of lead pipes across the country, improving the drinking water quality in small and large communities alike.
What Has to Happen for the Bill to Become Law? Having already passed one chamber of Congress on August 10th, the bill now faces an uncertain future before it is voted on by the House of Representatives and then signed into law. Democrats in the House are divided on where they stand on the bill; a significant Democratic caucus believes the bill doesn’t go nearly far enough in protecting the environment and preventing the worsening of climate change.
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Being a Sustainable Student at UIUC written by Grace Gudwein As the 2021-2022 school year begins and things are opening up a bit, now is a great time to consider sustainability here at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. From courses, to Registered Student Organizations, to activities in the community, there are plenty of ways to incorporate sustainability into your life on campus.
works to conserve native prairies in east central Illinois. They host monthly volunteer restoration events for anyone who wants to participate. Another off-campus nonprofit is the Prairie Rivers Network, a group that promotes clean waters and land through science and advocacy; their website provides a list of volunteer opportunities.
In the classroom, there are many courses about sustainability and the environment in general Illinois’s Institute of Sustainability, Energy, and the Environment (iSEE) provides a spreadsheet on its website. One notable course is Earth Systems (ESE 200), which teaches the basics of sustainability and the environment. In another course, Environmental Writing (ESE/ENGL 360), you will learn how to write about the environment to convey all the great things you learn in other sustainability classes to others.
This article provides just a small taste of what options involving sustainability campus and beyond has to offer. With all of these opportunities, there is bound to be something for everyone, so get out there and live sustainably.
In addition, several Registered Student Organizations (RSO’s) revolve around sustainability. Students for Environmental Concerns leads campaigns to advocate for sustainable practices, such as their current campaign for fossil fuel divestment. The Red Bison does restoration around and just beyond campus, including prescribed burns and removing invasive plants. UIUC’s chapter of the Wildlife Society promotes conservation in order to protect wildlife and their habitats. These are just a few examples of environment-focused RSO’s on campus, but iSEE’s website provides a longer list. Off of campus, there are other groups in the Champaign-Urbana community promoting sustainability. Grand Prairie Friends is a nonprofit organization and land trust that
Sources https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx? src=https%3A%2F%2Fsustainability.illinois.edu%2 Fwpcontent%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F04%2F04272021List_of_Sustainability_Courses_Fall_2021.xlsx&wd Origin=BROWSELINK https://secsatuiuc.web.illinois.edu/about-us/ https://illinois.campuslabs.com/engage/organizati on/RedBison https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheWildlifeSoc ietyUIUC/ https://sustainability.illinois.edu/10-environmentalgroups-to-join-on-campus/ https://www.grandprairiefriends.org/ https://prairierivers.org/
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Are we Paying too Little for Gas? written by Reid Wilson Today in Central Illinois, a gallon of gas generally costs between three and four dollars. For many, at first glance, that seems like a high price to pay for just one gallon of gas that will only take them about 20 miles. However, many environmentalists and organizations have begun to vocalize the idea that we are paying too small a price when considering what actually goes into making and consuming that product. According to a landmark video by the Center for Investigative Reporting, there are countless invisible costs to the mining, transport, purchase, and consumption of gasoline. What this organization did is followed a gallon of gasoline from the time it was mined until its use in a vehicle and found that there is much more to the price we pay for gas than meets the eye. A defining set of statistics from the Center are as follows: One gallon of gas being used produces about 25 lbs of greenhouse gas pollution. American drivers each use an average of 557 gallons of gasoline a year. This means that a single US driver creates about 10,000 lbs of greenhouse gas every year, which takes about an acre of forest to clean from the air. This may seem like a lot, and it really is especially when it’s taken into account that there are about 238 million cars and trucks in the United States. The pure time, energy, and material cost of completing such tasks would be immense, much more than the cost for any other good which we so readily use. This is the consideration that allows the argument to be made that the United States is not paying enough for gasoline.
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German citizens pay more than $8.00 for gasoline. Why? They have implemented a social tax due to the massive environmental, health, and agricultural problems associated with the harvesting and use of gasoline. In LA, the average cost of pollution adds up to more than $1250 per person per year due to ER visits and missed work or school days. Factoring in externalities, greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental costs, the general estimation for how much gas would cost in the United States is up to $15 per gallon. The social tax paid by citizens of Germany is just over $1, but it’s certainly a start. The reason why many activists and institutions want these taxes and infrastructure costs integrated into the gas price itself is much like the situation that our country is facing with cigarettes and other nicotine products. Taxes paid on those products will not only demotivate people from starting the habit or having easy access to these addictive substances, but also fund health programs, and be given as subsidies for groups who try to stop children from starting drug habits. In the context of gasoline, these taxes would help not only with paying for treatments for people who are having health issues due to the Benzene and other foul emissions, but also for infrastructural change to help fund more efficient electric car projects or renewable energy plants.
Sources https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RhYY_4Wzls
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Halloween's Favorite Fall Friend written by Lexi Delmonico
If there was ever a time of year where spotting a spider would be on par, Halloween is one of them. Unless you happen to be one of those people who think that the creepy crawlers are like little puppies, most of us are afraid of them. One particular spider however, is perfect for the spooky season. The pumpkin spider, or Araneus marmoreus, is a tiny arachnid that shows itself in bright warm colors. They can vary from light brown to orange, with striped legs coming in white, clear or black, and an abdomen that can be either white, yellow or orange that has a “marbled” pattern. This pattern also causes them to go by another name: the marbled orb-weaver. But I like pumpkin spider better. The pumpkin spider has a vast habitat and range of origin. They are found most commonly in Canada and the United States, preferring Northern regions like Russia and the larger Holarctic region. Quite like a Jack-o-Lantern, these spiders are nocturnal. They work their web during the morning then take time to rest before the nighttime hunt begins. Due to their small stature, the pumpkin spider sticks to smaller insects for food.
Impressively enough, some have been documented to catch up to 14 in one day. They communicate through hair sensors on their legs, which not only helps them hear, but sense the environment around them to easily attack prey. Creepy. The pumpkin spider is good for other things as well. They have a notable role in the ecosystem as food for wasps and various birds. A tragic end, but the circle of life never stops. If it does survive a predator attack, the pumpkin spider will live around six months. Eggs hatch in the spring, meaning that these spiders live out their lives mostly in the summertime to pass away before winter. So, in an ironic twist, the pumpkin spider, named for a favorite fall squash, dies in the fall as well. Maybe you’ll get lucky and spot one this Halloween.
Sources https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Araneus_mar moreus/
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Greenwashing the Fashion Industry: Don't Let These Brands Fool You! written by Lauren Gould
What is greenwashing? Green washing is when a brand uses environmental language to market their brand or products without actually taking steps to becoming more sustainable. At this moment, sixty percent of large fashion brands who claim to use sustainable practices are actually participating in greenwashing. It is important to know how to spot greenwashing in order to make a change!
How do I spot greenwashing Oftentimes, the brand uses terms such as “eco friendly”, “sustainable”, or “eco-conscious”, without any evidence to back this up. They will
attempt to give the appearance that they care about the environment, but it is only a marketing tactic.
Common Fashion Industry Culprits 1. H and M- a brand notorious for greenwashing H and M makes false claims of being environmentally sustainable. Looking at their website, they state that, “To qualify for a green hang tag, a product must contain at least 50% sustainable materials, such as organic cotton and recycled polyester — but many of our garments contain more than that. The only exception is recycled cotton, which can only make up 20% of a product due to quality restraints”. Doesn’t look so green now, does it? 2. Shein
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A brand known for grossly low prices that don’t pay workers fair wages. SHEIN attempts to use vague language to trick buyers into thinking they are making a smart choice. One article even states that, “There are tens of thousands of styles on the retailer’s site, and each day, about 1,000 more are added”. This means that while SHEIN is busy tricking consumers into buying more products, the environment and workers are paying the price.
Takeaways Become an informed consumer! Websites such as goodonyou can easily be used to show the true environmental cost of what you are buying!
Sources https://www.edie.net/news/7/Report--60--ofsustainability-claims-by-fashion-giants-aregreenwashing/ https://www.vox.com/thegoods/22573682/shein-future-of-fast-fashionexplained https://us.shein.com/campaign/csr
https://goodonyou.eco https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/books/re view/how-fast-fashion-is-destroying-theplanet.html
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We would like to end this issue by acknowledging that at the University of Illinois we are on the lands of the Peoria, Kaskaskia, Peankashaw, Wea, Miami, Mascoutin, Odawa, Sauk, Mesquaki, Kickapoo, Ojibwe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, and Chickasha Nations.
These lands were the traditional territory of these Native Nations prior to their forced removal; these lands continue to carry the stories of these Nations and their struggles for survival and identity.
As an environmental magazine, it is necessary for us to acknowledge these Native Nations and work with them to promote indigenous rights, especially to land, water, and other natural resources.
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This is not a disposable planet. It is the only one we have. ROBERT MAYNARD
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