JagWire Newspaper: Volume 21, Issue 4

JW

JAGWIRE

Mill Valley High School | Shawnee, Kansas Volume 21, Issue 4 | April 19, 2021

THE STATE OF THE PLANET

A look at environmental issues and what people are doing to help

2

Inside Cover Cover by Tatum Elliott

April 19, 2021

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Hey Mill Valley!

Welcome to the fourth issue of the JagWire! With only the senior issue left to follow, this will be our last paper this year under our new special edition format.

In this issue, we focused on the importance of protecting the environment and what students can do to help fend off climate change. The subject of the environmental problems and potential solutions is something that our staff has wanted to cover in the paper for a long time. Before the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to move fully online during March of last year, we were in the middle of planning an environmental issue similar to this one. Whether it is large scale changes such as limiting corporations or passing new policies, or small things such as increasing recycling or being conscious of where our food comes

from, there are a lot of ways to make a difference.

We are so excited to bring you this issue and can’t wait to share with you what we have learned about protecting the environment. With one quarter left we are excited to keep bringing you new content. Have a great fourth quarter, Jags!

Your Editors,

5900 Monticello Road Shawnee, KS 66226 Phone: (913) 422-4351 Fax: (913) 422-4039 Email: jagwirenewspaper@gmail.com Adviser: Kathy Habiger khabiger@usd232.org JagWire, a monthly publication of Mill Valley High School, is printed by Valley Offset Printing, Inc.

Censorship Policy

The Kansas Student Publications Act guarantees the same rights for student journalists as are guaranteed for professional journalists. These rights include, but are not limited to, all First Amendment rights, including the rights of freedom of speech and the press, insofar as published items may not contain libelous, slanderous or obscene statements, may not incite or promote illegal conduct and may not cause a substantial disruption to normal school activity. This law also prevents censorship of any kind by the adviser, building or district administration.

Editors in Chief Hannah Chern

jagwire.hannahchern@gmail.com

Tatum Elliott

jagwire.tatumelliott@gmail.com

Tanner Smith

jagwire.tannersmith@gmail.com

Online Editors in Chief Steven Curto

jagwire.stevencurto@gmail.com

Anna Owsley

jagwire.annaowsley@gmail.com

Ben Wieland

jagwire.benwieland@gmail.com

Photo Editor Evan Sherman

jagwire.evansherman@gmail.com

PUBLICATION INFORMATION JagWire Office

STAFF

Professional Associations

Kansas Scholastic Press Association National Scholastic Press Association Journalism Education Association Journalism Educators of Metropolitan Kansas City The 2019 JagWire earned an All-American rating from NSPA and an All-Kansas rating from KSPA. It is also a member of the NSPA All-American Hall of Fame.

Editorial Policy

We value your opinions. If you wish to submit a column or a letter to the editor to the JagWire, you can do so by handing it in to a member of the staff or to the print journalism room (C101). Additionally, you may email any member of the staff with opinions, as well as tweet us at @millvalleynews. Anonymous content will not be accepted. Please understand that we have the right to edit all copy that runs in this publication.

Assistant Editors Aiden Burke

jagwire.aidenburke@gmail.com

Quinn Franken

jagwire.quinnfranken@gmail.com

Reporters & Photographers Gabby Delpleash

jagwire.gabbydepleash@gmail.com

Avery Gathright

jagwire.averygathright@gmail.com

Jordan Prestia

jagwire.jordanprestia@gmail.com

Hayden Resch

jagwire.haydenresch@gmail.com

Madelyn Welch

jagwire.madelynwelch@gmail.com

FIND US ONLINE Mill Valley News - mvnews.org @millvalleynews

@millvalleynews1

Mill Valley News

JagWire

Design & Illustration by Tatum Elliott

3

Staff Editorial

BIGGER THAN US

Large corporations cause the most environmental harm Gabby Delpleash

Writer/Photographer

Tanner Smith Editor in Chief

S

ince the ‘80s, the narrative around climate change has been focused on one thing: what can individuals do to prevent it?

This question has spawned massive efforts to promote recycling, encouraging people to limit the amount of harmful material they use and to take other small actions to make sure the environment is being protected. While these are all important steps to help mitigate the negative effects that climate change causes, the problem is they really don’t do all that much.

Although individuals need to continue to do their part, corporations and other large businesses are the ones to blame for the vast majority of global warming. According to the Harvard Political Review, “only 100 investor and state-owned fossil fuel companies are responsible for around 70% of the world’s historical [greenhouse gas] emissions.”

In addition, the same study concludes that “individual actions have minute effects relative to these emissions” and that the “average American households produce only 8.1 metric tons of carbon dioxide out of a total of over 33 billion tons globally.”

This all paints a pretty clear picture of where the blame lies for much of global warming.

So why is the responsibility passed back to the consumer? The answer is simple: it allows corporations to continue to ignore the threats that global warming poses.

This problem is especially clear when it comes to recycling. According to EarthDay.org, the current narrative around recycling is “an industry sleight of hand” to allow manufacturers to

“continue to produce single-use plastics … without retribution.” Shifting the blame onto the consumer makes it easier to ignore, thus ensuring that corporations won’t have to change.

Although it is important to continue taking measures to protect the environment, change needs to come from the corporations that are causing these

issues. The best way to protect the environment is by promoting legislation that checks the amount corporations can pollute or protesting corporations that refuse to take climate change seriously. Only by holding those who do the majority of the damage accountable will we be able to see meaningful change.

4

CLIMATE CHANGE

April 19, 2021

CATASTROPHES

Climate change accelerates many of the environmental concerns facing our planet

LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY

Regional climates are continuously changing, leading to extinction of various native species

Bees are suffering from habitat loss and disease, causing a steep decline in their population.

Without bees, ecosystems will be altered and common fruits and vegetables would be made scarce

Biodiversity loss in ecosystems can change the distribution of pathogens in animals. As a result, people, livestock and plants would be more vulnerable to disease

Source: Britannica

Source: CohabInitiative

As temperatures increase, coral becomes stressed and expels the algae that gives it its color in a process called coral bleaching. If high temperatures are sustained, the coral will die, alongside vibrant coral reef ecosystems Source: World Wildlife Fund

SEA LEVELS RISING

Warming temperatures are causing glaciers and ice sheets to melt, which causes sea levels to rise

The extent to which the rate of sea level rise is accelerating:

0.06 inches per year

0.14 inches per year

2006-2015

1900-2000

In many locations along the U.S.

coastline, high-tide flooding is now

300-900% more frequent

than it was 50 years ago

40%

of the U.S. population lives in a coastal area that may be vulnerable to sea level rise

GREENLAND ICE LOSS Source: Climate.gov

Average tons of ice loss per year between 1992-2001:

34

Average tons of ice loss per year between 2012-2016:

247

JagWire

Design by Quinn Franken | Content by Tanner Smith

DESERTIFICATION

Desertification is the process of once-fertile land becoming unusable due to droughts or deforestation

12 MILLION TONS

=

of productive land are lost to desertification and drought each year

20 MILLION TONS of grain annually

34.8%

79.5 MILLION HECTARES

EXTREME WEATHER More intense and frequent weather phenomena are occurring The 5 largest fires on record in California have occurred in the last 3 years

HURRICANES

5.4%

Overgrazing

Deforestation

52.1%

Agricultural Activities Overexploitation of vegetation for domestic use Sources: UNEP and Carbon Brief

7.7%

AGRICULTURE CRISIS

The American West is currently in the midst of a mega drought that ranks among the worst in the past 1,200 years

RAINFALL

Agricultural practices, ocean acidification, and overpopulation cause food and water shortages

40.9 80%

of plantable land is already in use

The UN predicts a 40% shortfall in global water supply by 2030.

Sources: Edie and Carbon Brief

WILDFIRES

Hurricanes are growing more powerful as global temperatures rise.

These storms draw their energy from warm ocean water

DROUGHT

2018 broke records with an average of 36.2 inches of rain falling over 12 months. This is more than 6 inches above average

Source: Earth Justice

MILLION

American households may not be able to afford water and wastewater services by 2022.

5

70%

more food will be needed by 2050

SUMMARY OF HUMAN INFLUENCE IN EVENT ATTRIBUTION STUDIES Source: Carbon Brief

2050 2017 2.5 billion people will live in urban areas by 2050

More severe or more likely to occur: 70%

No discernible human influence: 10%

Insufficient data: 11%

Less severe or less likely to occur: 9%

6

April 19, 2021

UP TO THIS POINT Aiden Burke Assistant Editor

Ben Wieland Online Editor in Chief

A rundown of recent environmental happenings

Arctic Circle Reaches 100ºF

California Wildfires Aug. - Sept. 2020

C

June 2020

An aerial photo taken on August 17, 2019, shows a view of the Apusiajik glacier, near Kulusuk, a settlement in the Sermersooq municipality located on the island of the same name on the southeastern shore of Greenland. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images/TNS)

I

n mid-June in Verkhyosank, a notoriously frigid Siberian town, temperatures soared to 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit for the first time in recorded history.

The measurement worried meteorologists in the area, who reported that the heat wave marked the first time Arctic Circle temperatures have ever exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature was over 45 degrees warmer than average recorded mid-June temperatures in Verkhyosank, a concerning sign for the region. “This warming increases the risk of extreme Arctic heat waves, such as this one, and moving forward over the next few decades,” climate scientist Zack Labe said in an interview with CBS News.

alifornia’s 2020 wildfire season was the most destructive in the state’s history; according to Cal Fire, over 4.1 million acres of land burned, over 10,000 buildings were destroyed, and at least 31 people were killed as a result of the blazes.

The 4.1 million burnt acres more than doubled the previous record for acres burned in a single California wildfire season, and one fire — named the August Complex — became the first fire in recorded history to burn over one million acres of land, and required the creation of a new classification of fire to describe it: “gigafire.” One UCLA climate scientist painted a grim picture of the situation in an interview with the Guardian: “There’s almost no statistic or dimension of this fire season 2020 in California that wasn’t astonishing or horrifying. Everything about this year has been kind of unusual or extraordinary.”

Most Hurricanes in a Season 30th recorded hurricane made landfall Nov. 24, 2020

A

s the hurricane season drew to a close, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shared grim news: the 30 named hurricanes produced in 2020 set a new record for named hurricanes recorded in a year.

The NOAA predicted an above-average hurricane season in terms of activity, but did not forecast the record-breaking pace at which new storms developed. Additionally, 2020 marked the fifth consecutive year with an above-average amount of activity, and the 18th such year in the last 26. “As we correctly predicted, an in-

terrelated set of atmospheric and oceanic conditions linked to the warm Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation were again present this year. These included warmer-than-average Atlantic sea surface temperatures and a stronger west African monsoon, along with much weaker vertical wind shear and wind patterns coming off of Africa that were more favorable for storm development,” Gerry Bell, a hurricane forecaster, said. “These conditions, combined with La Niña, helped make this record-breaking, extremely active hurricane season possible.”

JagWire

Design by Tatum Elliott

United States Rejoins Paris Climate Accords Jan. 20, 2021

A

Joe Biden signs $1.9 million COVID-19 relief bill on March 11, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

s one of his first acts as president, Joe Biden signed an executive order to rejoin the Paris climate accords four years after President Donald Trump left the multinational agreement to reduce emissions. The Biden administration will set a new national target for emission reduction by 2030 as their first step in rejoining the accords. “This is a global existential crisis,” Biden said in remarks to the Munich Security Conference. “We can no longer delay or do the bare minimum to address climate change.” The Paris climate accords were first ratified in 2015 by the United States under President Barack Obama. In total, 196 countries agreed to the accords, which aim to limit total warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius between now and 2050. To achieve this goal, the accords require each signing country to redetermine goals and objectives for reducing emissions between now and 2050 and submit their plan in writing to the United Nations. The accords also urge developed nations to contribute financially to less-developed nations to assist in the creation of sustainable infrastructures and economies, though the UN cannot legally mandate those financial contributions.

Deep Freeze Causes Power Outages Feb. 15, 2021

D

ue to extreme cold and high power demand across Kansas and other Midwestern and Southern states, power and energy companies were forced to roll out temporary power outages to homes and businesses across the country. The Southwest Power Pool, a group of energy companies that spans 17 states, urged the controlled blackouts as the only way to avoid unpreventable and unmanageable outages at later dates. The outages came as the region experienced its worst cold snap in decades, with temperatures plummeting over 40 degrees Fahrenheit overnight in some areas. One federal estimate suggested that over five million customers were without power at once during the peak of the outages. “I’ve been following energy markets and grid issues for a while, and I cannot recall an extreme weather event that impacted such a large swath of the nation in this manner — the situation is critical,” Federal Energy Regulatory Commission member Neil Chatterjee said in an interview with Bloomberg News. According to the National Weather Service, the cold snap was a byproduct of climate change, which the organization said will continue to cause more extreme temperatures and severe weather events across the globe.

Looking Ahead Earth’s environmental outlook moving forward

10 Billion People The world population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050

Rising Temperatures

If life on Earth continues as it has, without environmental intervention, there will be a global rise in temperatures of 2.5°C by 2100

Sunken Cities

If current ice cap melt rate continues, coastal cities like Miami, Atlantic City, Key West, and Long Beach will be submerged underwater by 2050 Source: U.N. and Union of Concerned Scientists

7

8

April 19, 2021

STUDENTS TAKE ON

CLIMATE ACTIVISM

Shawnee Sunrise Chapter members pose in front of banner supporting the Green New Deal on K-7 Highway Friday, Oct. 18. | Submitted by Taylor Doyle

National Sunrise Movement’s student-led, local hub is available for others to join Hannah Chern

Editor in Chief

F

ueled by a drive of saving the environment, various students from the school and community unite on the mission of bringing environmental change.

Senior Claire Burke, one of the organizers of the Shawnee Sunrise Movement hub, explains the intentions of the organization as a movement urging for changes for the future.

“Sunrise is a movement organizing for a better future and is mainly focused around climate organizing

Avery Gathright Writer/Photographer

but also works for other social welfare programs,” Burke said. “It is meant to advance the Green New Deal and other legislation that is environmentally friendly and better for the welfare of the world.”

The movement’s primary focus is the environment, and Burke believes that people cannot just ignore this focus.

“Our main goal is to make the environment a priority, to realize this isn’t an issue we can just kind of write off,” Burke said. “Our goal is to rec-

ognize all the different ways we can get sustainable energy and policies, and restructure our legislation in our communities to operate in a way that is better for the Earth.”

Similarly, junior Aneesa Ismail believes that the focus of the movement is to educate the community regarding the state of the environment. “[The goal is to] bring as much awareness to the community as possible because there’s a lot of people out there that aren’t informed on different political things that could possibly help

TESTIMONY FROM SUNRISE MEMBERS

Students in Sunrise share why they think others should join the movement “I think [joining Sunrise] is a great opportunity to make change as a student. It’s something really cool to be able to do, especially when you’re 15.”

Freshman Emma Clement

“It’s really important if something is important to you to do all you can to help.

There is not much we can do at our age, but joining the club is one step in trying to fix the problem.”

Junior Addison Chezem

“I need students to join, especially as minors so that they can put their voice out there, because you don’t have that ability to vote for different changes.”

Junior Aneesa Ismail

JagWire

Design by Quinn Franken

9

SUNRISE’S SOCIAL MEDIA

Sunrise connects with members and sends out calls to action on social media

Holding signs to protest the lack of climate policies, juniors Taylor Doyle, Grace Emerson and Sydney Wootton march as members of the Sunrise Movement. | Submitted by Taylor

Students involved in the Shawnee chapter of the Sunrise Movement create a banner advocating for the passage of the Green New Deal. | Submitted by Taylor Doyle

with our environment,” Ismail said.

While the Sunrise Movement has only been around in Shawnee for under a year, the movement has already brought awareness through a banner drop, where members hung a large banner promoting environmental activism near K-7 highway to inform Shawnee citizens about the climate.

Many of the movement’s goals last year were stopped due to the pandemic, but the organization has carried on virtually. Even with the challenges of virtual meetings, Burke believes that Sunrise Shawnee has a handful of common goals that they are working on achieving.

more climate-friendly legislation.”

Looking forward to the future, freshman Emma Clement is hopeful that the movement will grow.

“I don’t really know about near future impacts necessarily but just like inspiring change and getting more people involved, so we can grow and then tackle some bigger goals.” Clement said.

To Ismail, being a part of the movement allows her to be an active voice of change despite her age.

“The Sunrise Movement to me means change for our community as a whole, like a future progression that I feel everyone needs to really start thinking about because our environment is so important,” Ismail said.

“I feel like being able to be part of change is the most important part of it all.”

Likewise, Clement believes that the Sunrise Movement gives her a chance to bring change at a young age.

“It is an opportunity to make a difference as a kid, because it’s run by young people who go to our school mostly,” Clement said. “I think that’s really cool and I want to try and get more involved with it in the future.”

Ismail has her own hopes for the future of the movement.

“My personal goal is really to educate myself, my friends, and family about different environmental issues around the globe, especially with global warming and climate change right now and how much it’s affecting are on our planet,” Ismail said.

“The Sunrise Movement, to me, means change for our community as a whole.”

Junior Aneesa Ismail

“It’s a little hard to get together and organize with everything being remote but we are planning on doing some more stuff in the future that has to do with mutual aid,” Burke said. “We are also working with the hubs in Kansas City and Lawrence to push Kansas City and state legislators to implement

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM

@sunrisemvmtshawnee

10

ENVIRONMENT IN CURRICULUM

April 19, 2021

A variety of classes offered to students include curriculum about the environment Avery Gathright

w

Writer/Photographer

ith the effects of climate change becoming ever apparent, students and teachers alike see the importance of a curriculum that focuses on the environment. The Kansas curriculum asks teachers to teach students to “design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity,” something teachers have addressed in a variety of different ways.

Environmental science teacher Julie Roberts focuses on what her students can do to help the environment.

“The goal is to help other people to help educate communities and help them prepare for climate change.”

Tanner Smith Editor in Chief

mate change, and how Republicans feel about climate change, and the disagreements that take place,” Walden said. “Scientifically, it’s been proven that our temperatures are rising, but because of the politics behind it, we can’t get anything solved.”

Former student Nora Lucas, who is majoring in Environmental Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, felt that her environmental education from Mill Valley gave her a good base of knowledge for the classes she has taken in college.

“I’m learning about the land, the ocean, the atmosphere, the soil and the water, and those are kind of the big aspects of climate change,” Lucas said. “It’s definitely more applications from core classes that get applied into the environment.”

Over the years, Walden has seen

Madelyn Welch Writer/Photographer

a large change in how students have approached conversations about the environment in his classes.

“It’s evolved over time to where now students are coming in and they’re concerned already. Whereas 10 years ago, students were like ‘Man, why are we studying this?’” Walden said.

For sophomore Sydney Downey, science classes, while well intentioned, don’t go quite far enough when it comes to environmental education.

“It depends on the classes you take.

I think they try, but it’s very difficult to cram that into a regular science class,” Downey said. “Being informed is a lot better than not, having that idea of ‘oh this is what I’m doing and this is how it’s affecting everything’, and just being aware of the bad is important.”

For Lucas, who wants to use her knowledge of geographic informa-

Former student Nora Lucas

“We spend a lot of time talking about what types of things we can do to help the environment,” Roberts said. “You can turn off lights when you leave a room. Not leave unnecessary things charging all night like leaving you phone charging all night or leaving your computer on and not turning it off.”

In his Political Participation class, George Walden takes a different approach, focusing on the politics surrounding climate change.

“In Political Participation, we look at … how Democrats feel about cli-

Observing a pigeon in Zoology, one of the classes offered that teaches about the environment, junior Soledad Stevanov talks with her fellow classmates about the bird’s anatomy. | Steven Curto

JagWire

Design by Quinn Franken

11

Holding up an environmental science textbook, science teacher Julie Roberts reflects on how teaching climate change is less stigmatized now than at the start of her career. “13 years ago there was more skepticism when it came to climate change. We don’t really see that anymore.” | Steven Curto

tion systems, learning about climate change has the potential to help people adapt to its effects.

“You can map a lot of different things … that have so many applications of helping communities prepare for natural disasters.” Lucas said.

“The goal is to help other people to

help educate communities and help them prepare for climate change.”

Walden feels that now is the time for the change, before the effects become irreversible.

“It’s super important and I hope someday we make changes,” Walden said. “I feel like we’re at a kind of tip-

ping point right now. We’re still driving our cars and flying our airplanes, and I don’t know if that’ll ever stop.

I think if something catastrophic were to take place, maybe people will all wake up at once. I don’t know if that’ll happen. And if it does, it might be too late.”

LEARN ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT

Classes available to students that teach about aspects of the environment

CURRENT SOCIAL ISSUES

Students will analyze issues currently confronting the nation and the world, like climate change, and evaluate multiple action plans to address each issue, and ultimately argue and defend their own positions on each issue.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Students engage with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world.

ZOOLOGY

Selected topics in animal biology such as taxonomy and evolution, animal physiology, and ecology.

Laboratory research skills are developed in the classroom and outdoors.

PLANTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Field and lab course where students will gain knowledge of the niche that plants fill in the natural balance of the biological spectrum.

Content deals with plant anatomy, identification, classification, etc.

12

April 19 , 2021

THE LITTLE THINGS All of the little things that students and staff are doing to help the environment Jordan Prestia Ben Wieland Writer/Photographer

Online Editor in Chief

JagWire

Design by Tatum Elliott

Remembering Recycling

13

Students and staff recycle to reduce landfill waste

B

y utilizing something that most teachers already have in their room, a recycling bin, students have the opportunity to make a positive environmental impact by doing a simple action: recycling.

Spanish teacher Jennifer Dillon offers separate bins for paper and plastic or cans. She prompts students to use the right bin during class.

“I encourage recycling and I think sometimes if you remind students, then they won’t just automatically put it in the trash,” Dillon said.

Graphic design teacher Jerry Howard takes recycling a step further in his classroom, even including the carbon footprints that students create in his class projects.

“I teach in my class, during some projects, like the one I am currently doing in my Graphic Design class that involves product packaging, the footprint that things make is important to consider,” Howard said.

Howard also makes a positive environmental impact at home by recycling seemingly useless items such as food scraps into a nutrient rich garden fertilizer.

“I have a garden at my house where I recycle vegetable and food scraps into a compost pile. I also use the waste from my horses and chickens to create fertilizer to put on my garden, that way everything I am doing I try to use and not just scoop it into the trash, I can reuse it,” Howard said.

In A-hall, junior Gabe Fuller helped fill up a cart with more recycling for the betterment of the environment. | Hayden Resch

Making Use of Reusable Water Bottles Reusable water bottles help students limit their plastic waste

O

ne option for students to reduce the amount of waste they create is using reusable water bottles. While environmental factors often aren’t the main reason students choose to use reusable bottles, it is a nice benefit along with the convenience they provide.

For sophomore Izzy Sommerfeld, the benefits outweigh the cost of a reusable water bottle.

“The investment of a reusable water bottle is worth it because, although

plastic water bottles are cheap, they do add up over time, whereas a reusable bottle will sustain over a long period,” Sommerfeld said.

Junior Carly Hey sees other benefits to using a reusable bottle, such as the ability to track her water intake.

“My water stays cold all day and after I drink two of my Hydro Flasks, I know I have drank enough water for the day,” Hey said.

Environmental factors often play a role in people’s decision to carry a reusable bottle. For freshman Olivia

The Plastic Problem

1 2

Huston, it allows her to reduce the amount of plastic she uses.

“Instead of throwing away a plastic bottle, I can help the environment by not throwing a bunch of plastic away,” Huston said.

Similarly, Sommerfeld makes an effort to avoid plastic bottles, but offers an alternative for when she forgets.

“I do try my hardest to exclusively use reusable water bottles and if I don’t remember my water bottle, I try to use water fountains,” Sommerfeld said.

Harmful consequences of plastic usage

Chemicals added to plastics can be absorbed into the human body and cause adverse health effects

3

Plastic buried deep in landfills can leach harmful chemicals into groundwater

Plastic debris can be ingested by marine animals and injure wildlife

4

Pieces of plastic floating in the ocean are used as transportation devices for invasive species

Source: Environmental Health News

14

April 19, 2021

Hit the Brakes Breaking down the environmental impact of cars on the environment

Production and Destruction

Creation of cars requires the creation of steel, glass, paints, and toxic battery acids and plastics that stay in the environment

Fuel Usage

Extraction of petroleum damages natural ecosystems and can cause oil spills

Air Pollution

Vehicles are the biggest air quality compromiser in the United States and account for 1/3 of all of the United States’ air pollution

Encroaching Infrastructure

Building roads disturbs natural habitats and contributes to urban sprawl (the expansion of low-density urban areas)

Source: National Geographic

Alternate Transportation Students and staff bike and carpool to get to school

C

ommuting via alternative methods — for example, biking to school or carpooling instead of simply driving — is another common choice made for environmental benefits.

Junior Jordan Manning, who has been riding his bicycle to school since middle school, initially made the decision because he found biking faster than walking and driving due to the congested morning traffic.

“I never had a good reason to stop since I’ve found biking to be faster than driving to school,” Manning said.

“Biking is just relaxing to me.”

Though the environmental benefits of biking weren’t Manning’s chief motivator in his decision, he believes they are a good side effect of his decision.

“It is a nice comfort to know that I’m helping myself and the environment,” Manning said.

Science teacher Landra Fair, who

has carpooled with Spanish teacher Edith Paredes from Lawrence to Mill Valley High School wsince she arrived at the school in 2009, had three reasons for making the decision: to save gas money, to help the planet, and to enjoy the camaraderie of commuting with a fellow teacher.

Fair strongly advises students to either carpool or, if they live reasonably close, bike to school.

“If I lived close, I would not drive to work,” Fair said. “When I worked at the University of Kansas, I rode my bike to work every day that was dry and above 20 degrees.”

Like Manning, though Fair’s main motivation for her choice wasn’t the environmental implications, she still appreciates that carpooling is better for the environment than making a one-person commute.

“Anything a person can do to reduce their use of fossil fuels is a good thing,” Fair said.

Eco-Friendly Households Families limit their home’s harm to the environment

E

fforts to reduce carbon emissions can extend into the household.

Some families particularly conscious about their environmental footprint have changed their habits and lifestyle to cut down needless waste and emissions.

For junior Isaac Steiner and his family, that means avoiding single-use products as much as possible, instead opting for reusable alternatives.

“We primarily try to recycle and just do the best we can to buy not too many single-use products,” Steiner said. “At home we have reusable straws, chopsticks, and really anything that we would use semi-regularly.”

Senior Cory Schiffman’s family has taken it a step further, even installing solar panels on their house to produce renewable energy in lieu of utilizing less-green power sources.

“We have made an effort to cut

down on water and gas usage and we recycle wood from construction sites for fire wood,” Schiffman said. “We also make an effort to cut down on electricity use in hopes that our solar panels can give back to the grid.”

Schiffman recommends a litany of minor steps individuals can take to reduce their footprint: cutting water and electricity usage, traveling on foot or bicycle instead of via car whenever possible, and limiting air conditioning in the fall and spring are some of his recommendations.

Steiner, though he is skeptical that individual action can have a real impact on the climate crisis, still urges people to do what they can.

“I think that people can’t help the environment a ton because ultimately their carbon footprint is tiny compared to things like the US military or private companies,” Steiner said. “Despite that, they can still do their best.”

JagWire

Design by Tatum Elliott

15

Whenever she doesn’t want to eat something from the school’s limited vegan options, junior Olivia Franco brings a mix of salad and fruit. | Evan Sherman

Following a Vegan Diet Students adopt plant-based diets due to their environmental and health benefits

D

uring her sophomore year, Olivia Franco decided to try something new. She’d been a vegetarian for as long as she could remember, and chose to experiment with becoming fully vegan — at first, because “I just figured, ‘why not?’”

After making the switch from vegetarianism — not eating meat, but still consuming other animal products — to veganism, which eschews all animal products in any form, Franco immediately began to notice benefits to her well-being.

“There are specific things people eat that are really not great for the body. In terms of health impact, being vegan definitely makes me feel a lot better,” Franco said. “On top of that, I felt really bad about the environmental impacts I was making. Switching allowed me to help animals, the environment, and myself.”

Junior Taylor Roberts followed a similar path when she chose to switch

to a vegan lifestyle; her initial decision was made with diet and health in mind. Roberts has since realized how much of a positive impact her lifestyle has on her environmental footprint.

“Switching [to a vegan diet] allowed me to help animals, the environment, and myself.”

Junior Olivia Franco

“There are studies that suggest that eating a vegan diet could be the single biggest way to reduce the environmental impact on earth. Farming is one of the primary causes of mass wildlife extinction, and greenhouse gas emis-

sions have a detrimental effect on the environment,” Roberts said.

The study Roberts references, conducted by researchers at Oxford University, suggests that removing meat and dairy products from one’s diet can reduce one’s carbon footprint from food by nearly 73%.

Both Franco and Roberts agree that they would recommend trying a vegan lifestyle and diet to others. Franco suggests that people cautious about making such a drastic switch try to start small.

“Just starting off small is really helpful,” Franco said. “Things like putting just one vegan or vegetarian meal on the table a week or buying local for your meats and cheeses can be extremely helpful.”

Roberts recommends people try a temporary switch, and see if they’ve gleaned the health benefits of the plant-based diet.

“I would absolutely recommend people at least try going vegan simply for the health benefits,” Roberts said.

“Heart disease is linked to a diet high in fat which includes a lot of meats, and plant-based products are more easily digested and provide lots of nutrients.”

16

April 19, 2021

DEBATING THE DEAL WHAT IS THE GREEN NEW DEAL? Background information of the proposal

Source: ocasio-cortez.house.gov “The Green New Deal Resolution outlines the framework for a comprehensive and ambitious plan to combat climate change by creating millions of high-wage jobs in new green industries, transition our energy system and building new infrastructure. It is about more than just solar panels and wind turbines, it establishes the foundation for a successful and sustainable 21st century economy.”

Elements of the Bill

5

Green New Deal goals

14

Mobilization projects

15

Guiding principles

that would help to reverse our carbon footprint. The best way to reduce climate change is to pass legislation like the Green New Deal. Conservatives’ and moderates’ common arguments on the Green New Deal include cost, timing, and loss of jobs.

The GND is important to keep our planet alive Taylor Doyle

W Guest Writer

e have six years left until the effects of climate change are irreversible, and in six years we will all be either in college or young workers, and being young makes me even more scared about climate change. I am optimistic that we, as teenagers, have the capability to influence climate policies

“We already have the money to pay for the Green New Deal, it’s whether or not we choose to have a future.”

Junior Taylor Doyle

To start off, the Green New Deal’s plan is to reallocate money the federal government already has to climate justice. This means that the money would not be coming out of our pockets. In 2020, the military budget was around $721.5 billion, and some of this money could help as we transition to all renewable energy. I’m not arguing that

Green New Deal Goals

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions

Establish millions of high-wage jobs and ensuring economic security for all

Invest in infrastructure and industry

Secure a sustainable environment for all

Promote justice and equality

we need to reallocate all of the military’s yearly budget, but even a quarter of that could be invested into our future. We already have the money to pay for the Green New Deal, it’s just whether or not we choose to have a future. No amount of money should be too much to save our planet.

It has been thirty-three years since James Hansen, a NASA scientist said that climate change was caused by humans. In that time we could have made steps in the right direction, and now we only have six years to solve this problem so legislation needs to be immediate. People worry about the loss of jobs in the fossil fuel industry when the US goes to only renewable energy, but the beauty of this is that new jobs will be created in the renewable energy industry. Plus, the Green New Deal is devoted to creating jobs with livable wages. I think no matter what our political beliefs are, we have a common goal to provide the best lives for Americans. As COVID-19 has caused an economic decline, it is important to develop new jobs in the renewable energy, public transportation, and farming industries.

Design by Hannah Chern

JagWire

17

Guest opinion writers discuss their takes on enviromental sustainability policies

SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL The bill remains supported by only Democrats while Republicans propose their own plans

WHO IS INVOLVED?

Key figures involved with the Green New Deal bill

PROPOSERS OF THE BILL The bill was proposed by two Democrats Feb. 27, 2019 • Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of NY • Sen. Edward Markey of MA

Democrats: • Rep. Ilhan Omar of MN • Rep. Rashida Tlaib of MI • Sen. Bernie Sanders of VT

OPPONENTS OF THE BILL There is bipartisan oppostion against the proposed bill, both parties seeking alternative solutions

Alex Whipple

T

Guest Writer

here are a multitude of problems with the Green New Deal including unattainable goals that will leave the American economy in shambles and crush the working class, all while not even solving the original problem.

The main problem with most “green energy” legislation is the un-

The leading causes of greenhouse gas emissions Source: EPA

Republicans: • Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell • Sen. Lindsey Graham of SC

“A majority of the goals...don’t account for the enormous strain w economy would be put under.”

Senior Alex Whipple

“upgrading all existing buildings in the United States” and “building or upgrading to energy-efficient, distributed, and ‘‘smart’’ power grids.” This would plunge the American economy into shambles. By attempting to upgrade all existing buildings and power grids, the U.S. Government would need to generate trillions of dollars.

27%

28% transportation

electricity

22%

Democrats: • House Speaker Nancy Pelosi • Sen. Amy Klobuchar of MN

realistic goals. A majority of the goals within these resolutions don’t account for the enormous strain the economy would be put under. In the Green New Deal, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey want to try

The GND would be bad for the US economy

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?

industry

10% agriculture

12% commerical & residence

The only way they could hope to attain that much money would be to tax the American people into oblivion.

The Green New Deal hopes to “provide unprecedented levels of prosperity and economic security for all people of the United States” but will only widen the socio-economic chasm. The Green New Deal hopes to phase out the coal and fossil fuel industries entirely. Approximately 1,122,700 jobs are created by the fossil fuel industry and a majority of them are held by blue-collar workers. Among the hardest hit will be our American farmers.

Farmers rely on fossil fuels from combines and tractors to fertilizers and pesticides, so taking away gasoline will render farms inoperable. The rich and powerful, like Ocasio-Cortez, advocate for the destruction of millions of Americans’ livelihoods while traveling on private jets that guzzles gasoline.

The largest problem with the Green New Deal is it doesn’t account for the Chinese Communist Party.

The Green New Deal wants America to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero but fails to mention that China accounts for 30% of the global greenhouse gases emitted every year.

18

Design by Hannah Chern

April 19, 2021

MORE CHANGE IS NEEDED The district needs to add more measures to encourage enviromental sustainability within schools

Ben Wieland

C

Online Editor in Chief

reating an environmentally sustainable future is a daunting task that will require introspection and upheaval in nearly every aspect of our daily lives, and school is no exception. Though USD 232 has taken some successful steps towards sustainability, such as the district-wide recycling program and the continued shift away from paper assignments to Canvas, there are still major changes that could be made to make our schools more environmentally friendly.

One opportunity for improvement comes in the form of solar panels.

The Solar Foundation estimates over 7,300 schools across the country have installed solar panels on their rooftops or above their parking lots, saving on energy bills and reducing fossil-fuel usage. Though installation is expensive, third-party organizations like Solar Schools can work with districts to affordably complete projects, and once a school’s solar grid is up and running, the economic and environmental benefits are massive. One Arizona school district reduced their carbon emissions by 38.7 million pounds per year and will save an estimated $43 million over the next two decades.

Composting offers another chance for the district to become more environmentally friendly. Eco-Cycle, a Colorado nonprofit, estimates that compostable organics such as food and non-recyclable paper make up nearly 35% of waste in school buildings. Whether the district organizes a large-scale waste compost program or individual science classes choose to experiment with vermicomposting, or composting done by worms, the process provides a valuable tool to reduce waste while also providing opportunities for students to learn environmentally friendly habits in a hands-on way.

A third potential step would be the creation of a community garden. A small plot of land near each school could be set off for gardening, and the process of growing and maintaining food could be delegated to environmental clubs at each school. This process would be both educational for students and beneficial for local families in need. Community gardens are commonplace in other schools across Kansas and around the country — there’s no reason they couldn’t be implemented at buildings across the district.

“There is no catch-all solution to climate change — addressing the problem will take global action on a variety of issues.”

Senior Ben Wieland

Progress doesn’t have to stop there, either. More broad commitments like a large-scale revamping of science curriculum to focus on climate change or a focus on completing future district expansion projects in an environmentally sustainable manner could be made. These more general goals could focus future decisions through the lens of sustainability.

There is no catch-all solution to climate change — addressing the problem will take global action on a variety of issues. Decisions like these are simple steps the district and its organizations could take to reduce our environmental impact and move towards a sustainable future.

SUSTAINABLE IN SCHOOL Current measures in the district that encourage enviromental sustainability RECYCLING • District used to get paid to recycle until recycling company started asking for fees • Roughly $10,000 of district budget allocated for recycling every year ENERGY CONSERVATION • The district’s Energy Conservation Program started in 2012 • Parking lot street lights replaced with LED lights • Encouragement of turning off power sources when not in use • $5 million saved since 2012 WATER CONSERVATION • 40,000 gallons of water saved in one year with waterless urinals in male restrooms • Water leakage monitors installed on majority of athletic fields at Mill Valley

JagWire

Design by Hannah Chern

ROOTED ON A FAMILY FARM

19

Students share their experience of having a family farm

FOUND ON THE FARM

Breakdown of what can be found on Hanna’s farm

10

acres of farm land In Tonganoxie, sophomore Maddie Hanna’s family owns a farm. | Submitted by Maddie Hanna

I

Gabby Delpleash Writer/Photographer

n suburban Kansas, where the expectation of vast farms, wheat fields, and hay bales are far from the reality of what’s really in Shawnee, a small group of students can attest to having agriculture play an essential role in their life.

For sophomore Maddie Hanna, who’s daily commute to school is 28 minutes, the recent move to a farm in Tonganoxie has encouraged her family to grow more of their own produce and raise livestock.

“The four of us moved to the farm in early August of 2020. The land is 10 acres with a garden space where we grow onions, tomatoes, potatoes, beans and asparagus along with some radishes,” Hanna said. “We have several fruit trees that grow apples and pears, and we’re looking into getting chickens this coming summer.”

Working outside more often now than before, Hanna credits her family’s farm for her newfound worldliness.

“I can definitely identify plants better than before. Previously I had no idea what an onion looked like,” Hanna said. “Moving here has taught me

more about the world around me.”

Farming has held a special place in senior Theresa Bell’s family for over 50 years. Both of Bell’s grandparents own farms in Northern central Missouri where Bell occasionally helps with carrying out tasks.

“During the summer I get to help with preserving some of the garden vegetables. One of the biggest activities with the gardens are canning tomato juice and preserving the corn,” Bell said. “The tomato juice my family makes is always better tasting than store bought.”

Both farms of Bell’s family have been around for over 50 years and were primarily purchased so that they could be a place “distant from neighbors” and could be used for “hunting, fishing, and bailing hay” according to Theresa’s mother Candy Bell.

Working on her grandfathers’ farms for over a decade has taught Bell more about herself than she expected.

“I have learned that I like being in the country and having the ability to grow my own vegetables. I like working with plants and watching them grow, and being able to literally enjoy the fruits of my labor,” Bell said. “I am able to grow a few plants at my house but it is nothing like what my family does in the country.”

Onion

Tomato

Radish

Asparagus

Potato

Beans

FRESH PRODUCE

Chicken

LIVESTOCK

20

ETHICAL ATTIRE

April 19, 2021

Small steps people take to reduce the fashion industry’s environmental impact Steven Curto Online Editor in Chief

Madelyn Welch Writer/Photographer

BUY SECOND HAND

Sophomore Sonny Pentola and Junior Corben Keungkhamphong thrift some of their clothing

Pentola: It’s opened my eyes to the dangers to our environment when creating clothing. I also feel Sonny Pentola: I first started like most high-end clothing stores thrifting to find clothes for spirit are boring and seem very repetitive week at school and football games. with the clothing they sell.

Eventually, I started to go with my friends for fun and I really enjoyed JagWire: Would you recommend thrifting to someone and if so why? the clothes there.

JagWire: How did you get in to thrifting?

JW: Is there an environmental component or reason for why you thrift? If so what is that?

Sophomore Sonny Pentola

Pentola: At first, I started thrifting just for the fun of it and because I liked finding interesting clothing. This summer is when I started researching more and looking at the benefits of thrifting JW: What are the benefits of and figuring out it’s an easy way to buying clothes second hand? go green and reduce the pollution Keungkhamphong: The benfrom making clothes. efits of buying clothes second hand are that the prices are cheaper than JW: How has thrifting changed your perspective on fashion or the normal brand name clothes and helps to prevent clothes from being fashion industry? thrown into a landfill.

FAST FASHION FRENZY Low prices and unique styles caused a spike in fast fashion, but cheap clothes come at a significant environmental cost To lower prices, companies turn to cheap fabrics, like polyester, that break down into micro plastics and harm marine ecosystems

Corben Keungkhamphong: Yes, I would recommend thrifting to people because if you have the time and day to search for clothes, you’ll be able to find an item that others probably don’t have and are significantly cheaper than other stores.

Fashion uses

1/10

of all water used industrially

Junior Corben Keungkhamphong

What is fast fashion?

57% of discarded clothes go to a landfill each year

Inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends

3,000 =

liters of water

1 cotton T-shirt

Source: Princeton University

Design by Quinn Franken | Photos by Jordan Prestia

JagWire

RESELLING CLOTHES Freshman Madeline Epperson uses Instagram as a platform to sell her old clothes to her peers

JagWire: How often do you sell clothes on Instagram?

JW: Is it easy to find people to buy clothes from you?

Madeline Epperson: It depends.

I usually sell them whenever I decide to clean out my closet and find things I don’t wear anymore.

Epperson: Yes. It depends on what I sell. Some stuff sells really quick and others not so much. It’s pretty random.

JW: Typically, what kind of clothing do you sell?

JW: What is the best thing about selling clothes on Instagram?

Epperson: I mostly sell leggings, Epperson: The best thing would probably be the feeling of things not going-out tops, and skirts. I have going to waste instead of just getting also sold shoes, jewelry, and shorts. rid of old clothes.

21

ADVANCING FASHION STANDARDS

The fashion industry has many options for creating an improved, sustainable future

SUSTAINABLE FASHION

Creating products that have the lowest possible negative impact on the environment surrounding pollution, water use, and waste production.

CIRCULAR FASHION

Products that are designed with high longevity, resource efficiency, and recyclability, to keep items in circulation instead of creating new ones.

ETHICAL FASHION

Refers to the treatment of people throughout the process and environmental impact. Excludes the use of sweatshops, child labor, abuse of workers and/or animals.

Source: Medium

BORROW AND SHARE

Seniors Kendall France and Stella Uriarte share clothes with each other to tailor to their personal style

JW: What is your favorite part about sharing clothes with one another?

France: Our favorite part of sharing clothes is how we can explore different styles without fully committing to paying for the clothing piece.

JagWire: How did sharing clothes come about between the two of you?

Kendall France: We always complimented each other’s outfits and certain pieces we wore. Eventually one of us asked to borrow a shirt for an outfit and it continued from there.

JW: Would you say sharing clothes has given you a better understanding or appreciation of one another’s fashion choices?

France: Yes, it’s made us appreciate how we can style the same item differently to match our own style.

JW: What environmental benefits arise from sharing clothes between two people including yourselves?

France: Sharing clothes helps lower the support of fast fashion and limit waste production. If one of us doesn’t like something we bought we just give it to the other.

22

April 19, 2021

THE LEGACY WE LEAVE BEHIND Aiden Burke Assistant Editor

Anna Owsley Online Editor in Chief

A look into carbon footprints and their environmental impact

This problem of misled environmentalism among students is echoed by sophomore Ella Doyle. Doyle “was surprised by how big of a carbon footprint [she] had” because she thought that she was doing things to curtail her carbon footprint.

“The significance of high schoolers not comprehending their own carbon footprint is far more connected to corporate advertising ... than anything else.”

Associate Director of Environmental Studies Dr. Paul Stock

W

hile activism and awareness surrounding environmentalism have grown increasingly common in recent years, many people are unaware of just how far their carbon footprint can spread.

Sophomore Audrey Facer believes that both schools and individuals should spend more time spreading awareness about environmentalism, particularly on how individuals can reduce their personal impact.

“As a country, there are many things we could do such as limiting our unnecessary individual plastic packaging on food or other items, having school lunches locally sourced for each

district, encouraging less car transport and using public or other transportation for little trips,” Facer said. “Everyone should recycle and compost and learn how to grow their own food.”

According to Dr. Paul Stock, the Associate Director of the Environmental Studies program at the University of Kansas, high schoolers’ views, like Facer’s, on carbon footprints are largely shaped by corporations dictating the meaning of environmentalism.

“The significance of high schoolers not comprehending their own carbon footprint is far more connected to corporate advertising and lobbying and media portrayals of what environmentalism should look like ... than anything else,” Stock said.

Stock believes this emphasis on personal impact often takes attention off of industrial production, manufacturing and transportation, which make up roughly 75% of carbon emissions.

“We know that recycling and other individual and household behaviors do not go very far in reducing global carbon emissions on the level that are needed to enact actual change and yet we see towns and cities emphasizing those kinds of measures as triumphs,” Stock said.

Rather than focusing solely on individual ecological footprints, Stock believes a more effective approach would be to “broaden what we mean by dayto-day behavior to include learning how to become an engaged citizen.”

JagWire

Design by Tatum Elliott & Photos by Hayden Resch

Breaking It Down

23

Source: Global Footprint Network

Understanding different components of an individual’s ecological footprint

Food

Transportation

Housing

A person’s diet and food waste can have a significant impact on their ecological footprint

Where a person lives and the energy usage in their home can impact their ecological footprint

Questions to Consider

Questions to Consider

How often do you eat animal-based products?

How much of the food you eat is unpackaged, unprocessed, or locally grown?

Do you live in a freestanding house with running water?

A duplex? An apartment?

How energy efficient is your household?

What is the size of your home?

Does your house have electricity?

A Time for Reflection

The different methods of transportation people use and how often they travel can impact their ecological footprints Questions to Consider How far do you travel by car or motorcycle each week?

What is the fuel economy of the vehicle you use most often?

How many hours do you fly each year?

After using an ecological footprint calculator, students react to their environmental impact

Facer’s Results

Doyle’s Results

global hectares make up Facer’s ecological footprint

global hectares make up Doyle’s ecological footprint

9.2

“I was pretty surprised with my results, though I know I don’t always make the most sustainable decisions regarding the environment. The results definitely make me think that I should be more careful.”

16.4

Tons of carbon dioxide emmissions per year

5.4

Earths would be used up if everyone lived like Facer

Sophomore Audrey Facer Source: Global Footprint Network Ecological Footprint Calculator

4.6

“I was surprised by how big of a carbon footprint I had with everything I have done to try and make it smaller.

We try to be as environmentally friendly as possible.”

Sophomore Ella Doyle

8.2

Tons of carbon dioxide emmissions per year

2.7

Earths would be used up if everyone lived like Doyle

24

Design by Gabby Delpleash

POLLUTING PRODUCTS

April 19, 2021

Anna Owsley Online Editor in Chief

Jordan Prestia Writer/Photographer

Everyday consumer products are causing more harm to the planet than people may realize

FACE MASKS

w

ith mask requirements being enforced in schools, workplaces and other public spaces around the world, an estimated 376 million face masks are being thrown into the landfill each month, according to a new survey commissioned by Virustatic Shield. This is largely because 75% of individuals throw away masks regularly, according to the survey. An easy way to reduce this major blow to landfills would be to make a switch to reusable, cloth masks; this change could prevent the waste of hundreds of disposable medical masks since this pandemic is dredging on with no clear end in sight.

An even greener option would be to choose masks made from eco-friendly materials, such as deadstock and organic fabrics. Websites like GoingZeroWaste.com offer a range of options developed by companies that prioritize sustainability.

MICROBEADS

w

CONFETTI

w

hile glitter and confetti are popular in holiday decor, celebrations, and cosmetics like eyeshadows, few people consider their negative effects on the ocean and marine life. Due to these products being made of large plastic sheets which are cut into very small pieces, they are categorized as microplastics. These microplastics are found throughout the world’s oceans because they cannot be captured in water treatment plants. These small plastic particles are consumed by fish, other marine animals and birds, causing a collection in these animals’ stomachs, leading to starvation. To avoid the harm these products cause, try an environmentally friendly alternative to confetti such as a biodegradable brand or a homemade option like dried flowers. As for glitter, some companies have replaced the plastic core with eucalyptus.

ith sunscreen, face and body wash, and cosmetics like blush and foundation containing microbeads, it is necessary to evaluate the ingredients in these products and consider their negative effects. Microbeads are small, manufactured pieces of plastic five millimeters or less in diameter that do not dissolve in water, which categorizes them as a microplastic. These particles are often used in rinse-off cleaners as an exfoliant and makeup products to create gloss. The United States passed the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, prohibiting the use of microbeads in rinse-off

SUNSCREEN

A

s we enter the warm months of Spring, it’s time to start pulling out the sunscreen – and it may be time to find a new brand.

Dozens of chemicals commonly found in sunscreen products are catastrophically damaging coral reefs around the world, according to the Morro Bay National Estuary Program. In fact, two of the most common ingredients – Oxybenzone and Octinoxate – can bleach, or even kill, coral at concentrations as low as a single drop in six and a half Olympic-sized swimming pools, according to the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory. While most of these reef-bleaching chemicals come from sunscreen on people swimming directly in the ocean, Kansans have an equally important responsibility to use eco-friendly sunscreen because our water – which runs into the Mississippi watershed – also flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

cosmetics, yet some companies continue to use the particles in their products. These microplastics are not picked up in water treatment plants, which is harmful to humans and the environment because they contaminate the water we drink, leading to possible health problems. Microbeads also absorb toxic chemicals. Then, when they end up in the ocean and are ingested by marine life, they can cause harm. By simply checking ingredient lists for words like ‘polyethylene’ and ‘polypropylene,’ which often make up microbeads, people can avoid these products and can help keep oceans and drinking water cleaner.