by Matthew Cavanaugh
The 2024 presidential election is in a month! Let’s explore each presidential candidate’s stances and prior actions on environmental policies.
Climate news! This month, we feature news on Taean Miracle in South Korea, wasteland slides in Uganda, and geothermal energy in Dominica.
How did the idea of environmentalism change and progress since its emergence? Read and learn about the the history and evolution of environmentalism in the United States!
Ellie Kim ‘25 is taking the Rhodes Fellowship Course in Social Entrepreneurship II! Learn about her social enterprise in increasing the linens reuse from the hospitality industry
What environmental work has happened recently? Read about Franklin County Fair volunteers, the Food Truck Festival, and the newly signed Affordable Homes Act!
by Ellie Kim ‘25
In a recent presidential debate, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump presented contrasting perspectives on climate change and related energy policies
Vice President Harris characterized climate change as an "existential threat" during the debate, emphasizing its real-world impacts such as extreme weather events affecting homeowners. She highlighted the current administration's efforts, including a $1 trillion investment in a clean energy economy and the creation of over 800,000 new manufacturing jobs in related sectors.
This stance aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration's recent actions In July 2024, they announced new initiatives to detect and reduce climate "super pollutants" such as methane, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and nitrous oxide, which are responsible for approximately half of today's climate change Additionally, in June 2024, the administration released agency climate adaptation plans, demonstrating a commitment to building climate resilience across government operations. Harris also pointed out that while focusing on clean energy, the administration has simultaneously increased domestic gas production to "historic levels." She expressed pride in opening new factories and investing in American-made products, particularly in the automobile industry, noting her endorsement from the United Auto Workers union.
In contrast, former President Trump did not directly address climate change in his debate response. Instead, he focused on what he perceived as the negative economic impacts of current policies. Trump claimed that 10,000 manufacturing jobs were lost in the previous month and expressed concern about auto plants relocating to Mexico. During the debate, Trump proposed implementing tariffs on foreign-made cars to protect American auto workers. He also raised concerns about the current administration's relationships with foreign countries, including China and Ukraine, suggesting these relationships might influence policy decisions.
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Trump's approach during the debate is consistent with his past actions and statements on climate change. His most significant climate-related action during his presidency was withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Accord in 2017, a decision he stated was made to protect American workers and citizens. The withdrawal of the U.S., one of the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters, from the Paris Agreement raised concerns about the effectiveness of global climate action The Paris Agreement aimed to keep global temperature rise well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and the U.S. withdrawal could have made this target more challenging to achieve.
The presidential debate clarified the candidates’ contrasting views as Harris emphasizes addressing climate change while promoting clean energy jobs, whereas Trump focuses on protecting traditional manufacturing jobs and industries without directly discussing climate change As the 2024 election approaches, voters will have to consider these contrasting approaches to climate and energy policy, weighing the potential impacts on both the environment and the economy.
by Cameron Philip
Geothermal energy is defined, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, as the heat stored within the earth. It is one of the most reliable renewable energy sources because heat is continuously produced inside the earth. All over the world, geothermal energy is being investigated because it can be used to generate electricity at a fraction of the cost that diesel generators can. Although it is very much in the early stages, there has been a major success in the use of geothermal energy in countries like Iceland, which uses 100% renewable energy sources, and Kenya. However, no region has such untapped geothermal potential as the Caribbean region. Based on the geography of the region, many places make it easy to utilize the natural heat of the earth to generate electricity or for tourism. However, in the whole Caribbean there exists only one active geothermal energy plant currently operating at 10% of its total estimated output. The country where I am from, Dominica, is located in the middle of the Lesser Antilles region with 9 volcanoes, the most in the region. It also has an estimated 1,390 MWe of geothermal energy power potential, one of the highest in the region as well. With a population of only 77,000 people,
Dominica’s geothermal resources far exceed its domestic needs. There have been attempts to try to implement a geothermal project, but that has been slowed due to persistent economic challenges, such as Hurricane Maria of 2017, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the loss of 226% of its GDP in recent years. Dominica has been and will continue to be, dependent on shipping fossil fuels from other countries to power its unreliable diesel generators to produce most of its energy.
by Ellie Kim ‘25
On December 7, 2007, serene waters off Taean Peninsula in South Korea became host to an environmental tragedy It was almost a perfect storm of unfortunate incidents; a giant barge crane owned by Samsung Heavy Industries collided with another vessel in raging winds The severity of the impact was such that the vessels collided a total of three times within 10 minutes. Because of this, an oil tank ruptured, spewing several thousand tons of crude oil into the sea.
The immediate and far-reaching consequences included: the spill affected 400 fish farms covering 4,627 hectares of area; 100 miles of coastline; 15 beaches; and 24 islands.This black tide of oil was a threat not only to marine life but even to the livelihood of the locals. Local fishermen suffered trauma physical and mental- while their livelihood seemed to hang in the balance. The initial response from the government regarding the disaster was quite inadequate, and many people were left abandoned, feeling hopeless Some people took their lives in the face of such despairing hope.
Then, as soon as the news of the disaster had spread, something quite remarkable happened. Driven by the thought of one's co-citizens and the damage to the shared environment, South Koreans mobilized themselves in a gesture of solidarity. Altogether, 1.23 million volunteers, around 2 million including the unregistered volunteers, throughout the country entered the stricken areas without the expectation of payment or recognition
These unsung heroes were geared up with little more than safety suits, buckets, and tongs as they waded into the oil-slicked waters. From day to day, these volunteers worked relentlessly, starting from the
removal of oil from beaches and rocks right to wildlife animals. With the effect of the volunteers, the most visible scars of this disaster were gone in merely seven months. Over the course of the next eight years, through further cleanup and nature taking care of herself, the affected areas recovered to the state prior to the oil spill. Beaches came back to normal, and marine life reappeared; the ecosystem seemed very healthy again.
2 million volunteers manually cleaning the shore with buckets and tongs (Photo by Taean Oil Damage Overcome Memorial Hall)
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Since then, UNESCO has recognized it, along with its aftermath, and put it on its World Record Heritage list. This serves as a reminder, not of the disaster itself, but rather an acknowledgment of the human spirit and our capacity for good environmental stewardship. The Taean incident gives hope to the world, which often only watches media about natural disasters and fosters pessimism It goes to show that once people put aside their differences and personal interests for a greater cause, even the most impossible tasks can be achieved.
The Taean oil spill will be remembered for the great things that can be achieved when we act with empathy and put
the interest of the planet above temporary material concerns. It is a story continued to inspire and perhaps provides a model of how we might approach future challenges to our environment.
The recent waste landslide tragedy in Uganda serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of poor waste management. In August, a waste landslide hit a garbage dump in Kampala, Uganda, resulting in tragic loss of life. Poor waste management practices often contribute to garbage dump failures, thus leaving a significant risk to the local population The wasteland slide buried people, livestock, and homes of residents of Kampala while they were sleeping. The waste dump had been the country’s primary disposal site for decades which had turned it into a giant hill Residents had frequently complained about environmental hazardous waste polluting the environment and the dangers related to land pollution caused by the dump.
This incident is not the first one, Similar incidents have happened due to poorly managed waste disposal practices. The recurring nature of these disasters shows the urgent need for improved strategies regarding how communities dispose of their waste. The fact that Ugandans are buried under the weight of their waste, is evident of unmanaged solid wastes. This calls to everyone toward sustainable disposal of everything to safeguard both the people’s health and the environment.
by Kelvin Cheung
For recent decades, voices advocating for the preservation, restoration, and improvement of the natural environment have remained high. We see marches across cities, witness technological advancements for more environmentally friendly industrial methods, and even include environmental impacts as a criterion in ESG investing. It seems like environmentalism, the notion of protecting ecosystems and having a response to global ecological crises, only spread recently with the visible impacts of climate change. However, despite our modern perception, concepts similar to environmentalism emerged very early in history.
Long before the European settlement, the Iroquois people, an Indigenous American tribe, had developed the Three Sisters agricultural system, a type of companion planting that involved a sustainable farming practice by planting maize (corn), beans, and squash together in a mutually beneficial arrangement. Corn provides support for beans to grow. In return, beans replenish nutrients in the soil for the other two plants. Squash then provides moisture and weed control through its leaves and veins. All three plants, crucial to the survival of generations, create ideal growing conditions for each other so that more yield is retrieved and the soil is preserved from depletion. In Indigenous American communities, the three life-supporting plants were considered special gifts from Sky Woman's daughter, showing their immense respect for nature. Their sustainable farming practice ensured their diet and protected the soil from overplanting. Elements of environmentalism had already been manifested at their time.
In fighting against the over-emphasis on acquiring knowledge through reasoning and scientific methods during the Enlightenment, transcendentalism took the lead as a new ideology. Developed in the early to mid-19th century, it highlighted the inherent goodness of people and nature and promoted the focus on individuality and personal experience. The transcendentalist movement consisted of writers and literature authors. For example, Henry David Thoreau published Walden, a central piece that fueled the transcendentalists’ ideas, writing about his personal experiences living in the forest and his appreciation toward the various plant lives he had met. His detailed description of nature drew attention to the natural world. Ten years later, George Perkins Marsh, often considered America’s first environmentalist, wrote Man and Nature, a publication that raised awareness of the adverse environmental impacts large-scale deforestation caused. These writings truly inspired people to take action to protect natural resources.
With transcendentalists laying the foundation in drawing public attention to natural beauty and pivotal publications motivating active changes, environmental protection became a national topic during the progressive era. The increased awareness of environmental problems led to a series of political and social efforts advocating for the conscious and efficient use of land and its natural resources, often referred to as the Conservation movement. The early movement was split into two camps of ideologies. The Conservationists, led by former Governor of Pennsylvania Gifford Pinchot and supported by former President Theodore Roosevelt, favored sustainable management and use of natural resources to benefit society. Public agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) were founded with conservationist ideas and aimed to wisely extract natural resources. On the other hand, Preservationists, led by author and geologist John Muir whose essays and books about his adventures in the mountain Sierra Nevada gained widespread popularity, believed in
(continuing from the previous page) the preservation of wilderness areas in an untouched state. For example, the famous Yellowstone National Park was established at the start of the Conservation movement. During Roosevelt’s presidency alone (1901-1909), 5 national parks and a total of 230 million acres of public lands were established. The Forest Reserve Act, which allowed the US President to declare a forest area as a federal reserved region, was also passed during the movement.
The urban Conservation movement started roughly in the mid-20th century. In 1962, Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring dropped a pebble into the uncovered marine pollution due to the spread of disinformation regarding chemicals in pesticides, which was accepted by government officials unquestionably. In 1969, the Santa Barbara oil spill, the largest oil spill in United States waters at the time, occurred and killed numerous organisms with the increasing spills. The next year, the first Earth Day was held to protest environmental actions. Amidst the
Cold War, various organizations initiated the anti-nuclear movement, opposing the widespread construction of nuclear power plants and the serious nuclear fallout due to nuclear weapon tests. All these events, social pressure, and exposure forced the federal government to establish the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to tackle all environmental problems on a national level and pass numerous laws including the Clean Air Act of 1970 or the Clean Water Act of 1977 that are still important to our life right now.
In recent years, climate justice, focusing on the disproportionate impacts of climate change on marginalized populations, has taken a lead in contemporary environmentalist movements. Factoring social problems and other intersectionality into the discussion of climate actions aims to promote more equitable solutions to climate change, reducing the impacts of those who are disadvantaged in this global issue. Though often associated with topics like income disparity, racism, or gender inequality, climate justice is not simply about being considerate to those who might be affected more by climate change and pollution; it is about the large institutes and people who enjoy the economic benefit of industrialization should bear more environmental responsibility for the carbon emissions they had already led to. In other words, climate justice is the integration of equity into a system of inequality in fighting climate change, becoming a civil rights issue that raises awareness of the disproportionate impacts. Advocates for climate justice are calling for actions to devise fair solutions that are supported by science and data.
Historically and especially in recent decades, environmentalism has continuously shaped America’s political atmosphere. Nevertheless, the fight against climate change and environmental pollution should not be associated with any one political party. It is a global issue that deserves our consideration and attention as a global citizen who lives on our one and only planet Earth; we need to find solutions because we are still facing the immense threat of running out of all our natural resources. Environmentalism continues to fuel our future vision. It reflects itself through each NMH’s LEED-certified buildings, every student-led initiative in making our campus more sustainable, and every one of us who takes even the smallest steps in composting, recycling, and volunteering. Now, whether we should tackle this immense problem through technological advancement that will not deter economic growth or through sustainable management and regulations remains a question for each NMH student who has a voice in deciding their future living place. Perhaps the solution is not a black-or-white answer but rather a combination of policy changes and scientific breakthroughs. It is apparent that we need to do something for the environment, and these solutions will only happen when each of us is taking active steps in understanding, experiencing, and improving the situation. Let’s work together in protecting our and all organisms’ planet because we live here, and on all the future planets as well.
by Ellie Kim ‘25
The hospitality industry in the U S is responsible for an enormous amount of waste each year Hotels and inns, in particular, contribute significantly to this problem by discarding large quantities of linens and other hospitality materials that are still functional but deemed unsuitable for guest use. According to recent estimates, over 800,000 tons of textile waste come from the U.S. hospitality sector annually. This waste includes sheets, towels, curtains, and other fabric-based items. In Massachusetts alone, hotels dispose of thousands of pounds of linens each year, often due to minor damages such as small tears, stains, or wear that could easily be repaired or repurposed
These discarded materials, while no longer pristine enough for high-end hotel use, still have life left in them Unfortunately, much of it ends up in landfills, contributing to the crisis of textile waste. However, there is a growing movement toward sustainability in the hospitality industry, and one solution is the redirection of these items for reuse and resale, benefiting both the environment and local communities in need.
That’s where Linens Loft Resale steps in. As an innovative entrepreneurial project, Linens Loft Resale aims to give these materials a second life. We partner with hotels and inns across the U.S. and Massachusetts, gathering linens that are lightly damaged but still functional. Instead of sending these materials to the landfill, Linens Loft Resale redirects them to service shelters and consignment stores, where they can serve individuals and families who need them most.
Through this initiative, we’re not only reducing textile waste but also helping shelters and thrift shops acquire high-quality linens that they might not otherwise afford. Linens Loft Resale bridges the gap between excess and need, offering a sustainable alternative to disposal By ensuring that these materials are reused instead of discarded, we’re contributing to the circular economy, reducing the environmental footprint of the hospitality industry, and supporting vulnerable communities.
Our goal is to expand Linens Loft Resale to reach more hotels, shelters, and secondhand markets, providing a scalable solution to the issue of linen waste. We’re committed to creating a business that not only turns a profit but also makes a lasting social and environmental impact Every sheet, towel, or pillowcase redirected by Linens Loft Resale helps decrease waste, save resources, and serve those in need.
By working together with the hospitality sector and local communities, Linens Loft Resale is turning waste into opportunity, one linen at a time.
by Kelvin Cheung
A few weeks ago, NMH sent a bus of students to have fun at the annual Franklin County Fair on Sunday. Some students are there to get the burgers from the local vendors, and others are there to go on rides with friends. However, a group of NMH students did not sign up to enjoy the events. Instead, they decided to volunteer in the recycling service project During the three-hours time frame, they served as compost collectors and trash sorters, replacing compost and recycling bins with new bags and ensuring that none of the recycling bags got contaminated Shout out to Charlotte, Angelina, Artiom, Klaus, Aly, and Cici for their work in recycling and composting, which significantly reduced the work of fair staff They helped keep the fair clean and tidy for all participants!
Gillian is a student currently attending the Rhodes Fellowship Course Entrepreneurship II course. Unlike conventional NMH courses, her class meet in a regular block, nor does she have any classmates sitting next to circleforadiscussiononentrepreneurshiptheories Instead,Gillianisworki ownsocialenterprise,whichreferstoabusinesswithaprofit-drivengoalbu missiontosolvesocialproblems.
Gillian’senterprise,calledArdentVendors,aimstoprovidetheNMHcomm cheap,freshandlocalgoodsbyinvitingnearbybusinessestocampussot nothavetospendmoneyontransportationtonearbystores,deliverywhen takeout, or shipping fee of our online purchases. On average, the NMH c ordered a total of 262 packages every day according to approximation enterprisehopestohelpincreaseearningsofparticipatingbusinessesandr carbonfootprintofonlinepurchasebyofferingon-campusstores TheSund TruckFestivalwaspartofGillian'sfirstattemptinbringingmorelocalbusinesseson neurialwork!
In January of the previous school year, 17 NMH students, some of whom have already graduated now, boarded a bus to the Massachusetts Statehouse in Boston for a Lobby Day event organized by Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition (MYCC) Marching from Old West Church, the NMH students, including Ecoleaders, shouted chants alongside 180 other passionate participants During 51 meetings with Massachusetts legislators, participants lobbied for five primary bills on issues like interdisciplinary climate justice education, or moratorium on gas system expansion, and endorsed the Zero Carbon Renovation Fund campaign that promotes justice in green building initiatives After 6 months, the Massachusetts Governor signed the Affordable Homes Act (H 4977) into action, which provides a total of $425 million in energy efficiency and decarbonization authorizations for green housing initiatives Thank you to all NMH Students who participated in the Lobby Day and earned almost half a billion dollars for green building initiatives! Special thanks to all adults, including our chaperone Pete Sniffen and Tim Relyea, who made this happen.
by Jane Namusisi
During the recent club fair, many students signed up to join the Climate Justice Coalition Club (CJC) We will be having summits such as the MYCC, and YCAN summit and working with you on some projects The Ecoleaders together with the CJC members have started to work together towards the Planting Companions Project: invasive species removal, which happens every Sunday. They were able to remove two piles of Bittersweet from the ground! This is a great opportunity for hands-on involvement in preserving the local ecosystem.
On Sunday the 21st of September, Ecoleaders along with Lee Ellen participated in a climate summit at Smith College where discussions were centered around how climate change affects communities locally, globally, religiously, and based on your gender perspectives.
The Book club resumed again. It is a wonderful opportunity to read, learn, and discuss more about climate change, and environmental issues while creating a positive change..
Stay tuned for more details about the Connecticut River initiative with Loomis School The eco leaders and many highschools along the Connecticut River will collaborate on an interschool initiative that aims to protect and improve the River’s wellbeing!!!!
On September 28th, two ecoleaders and eleven students (3 day students) attended an annual community clean up event: Source to Sea Connecticut River clean up!! It was such a great experience, where boarding school students got to help out a close-by community.
Shout out to Frank, Kiki, Angelina, Ben, Catherine, Callie, Sarah, Sophie, Amy, Charlotte, Griffin, Lydia, and Sam for volunteering their Saturday time for the community!!
