Volume 18 Issue 1

Meet Our Staff

TableofContents

Aleen Mirza

Amillia Keagle

Writer, Editor &,

Writer & Editor

Emily Yang

Evan DeAngelis

Writer & Editor Writer & Editor

Meet Our Staff

Jason Lei

Graphic Designer

Maia Dragowski Maya Krauss

Writer & Editor

TableofContents

Writer & Editor

Judy Wu Writer & Editor

Meet Our Staff

Katie Marra

Writer & Editor

Writer & Editor

Kendall Sotto

Kailey Purnell

Graphic Designer

Miranda Ma

Writer & Editor

Meet Our Staff

Lexi Tassone

Lindsey Wiessner Writer & Editor

Philip Kim

Writer & Editor

TableofContents

Priyal Patel Editor-in-Chief

Graphic Designer

Meet Our Staff

TableofContents

Shan Chen

Graphic Designer

The Benefits of Environmental Advocacy

By: Kendall Soto

A C h a n c e f o r R u t g e r s t o

M o b i l i z e w i t h C l i m a t e

A c t i o n

A s h o r t t r a i n r i d e a w a y l a y s

t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e 2 0 2 4

N e w Y o r k C i t y C l i m a t e

R e a l i t y L e a d e r s h i p T r a i n i n g .

T h i s A p r i l , s t u d e n t s a p a r t

o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l

a d v o c a c y o r g a n i z a t i o n

i n v i t e t h e R u t g e r s

c o m m u n i t y t o j o i n t h e m i n a

t h r e e - d a y c l i m a t e a d v o c a c y

t r a i n i n g . P r e s e n t a t i o n

s p e a k e r s w i l l f e a t u r e t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s F o r m e r V i c e

P r e s i d e n t , a n d C l i m a t e

R e a l i t y f o u n d e r , A l G o r e ,

t h e S e n i o r A d v i s o r f o r

S t r a t e g i c P a r t n e r s h i p s a t

A m e r i C o r p s , t h e F o u n d e r o f

E a r t h U p r i s i n g

I n t e r n a t i o n a l , a n d m o r e

T h i s s a m e o r g a n i z a t i o n h a s

t r a i n e d 4 5 , 0 0 0 r e n o w n e d

C l i m a t e R e a l i t y L e a d e r s

w h o r e p r e s e n t 1 9 0

c o u n t r i e s , a n d a l l 5 0 U . S .

s t a t e s . T h i s c o l l a b o r a t i o n i s

m a d e u p o f a c t i v i s t s f r o m

a l l a g e s a r o u n d t h e w o r l d ,

r e s i l i e n t i n t h e i r f i g h t

a g a i n s t c l i m a t e c h a n g e ,

w i t h d e p e n d a b l e s u p p o r t

f r o m t h e H e a d Q u a r t e r s i n

W a s h i n g t o n D . C . .

S i n c e 2 0 2 0 a t R u t g e r s

U n i v e r s i t y N e w B r u n s w i c k ,

s t u d e n t s h a v e m o b i l i z e d a s

a p a r t o f T h e C l i m a t e

R e a l i t y P r o j e c t ( C R P ) i n

n u m e r o u s w a y s . T h e

s t u d e n t s h a v e c o l l a b o r a t e d

w i t h t h e O f f i c e o f C l i m a t e

A c t i o n , S t u d e n t s f o r

E n v i r o n m e n t a l A w a r e n e s s ,

R U P r i m a t e s , a n d m o r e .

F o c u s e d o n c u l t i v a t i n g a

c u l t u r e o f a c t i v i s m , t h e

s t u d e n t s o f C l i m a t e R e a l i t y

e n j o y c r e a t i n g i n f o r m a t i v e

p r e s e n t a t i o n s o n p r e s s i n g

e n v i r o n m e n t a l i s s u e s , s u c h

a s m e t h a n e : a l e a d l e s s e r

k n o w n c o n t r i b u t o r t o g l o b a l

w a r m i n g C l i m a t e R e a l i t y

m e m b e r s m e e t e v e r y o t h e r

W e d n e s d a y a t 7 p m t o l e a r n

a b o u t t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n - w i d e

c a m p a i g n s l i k e N e t Z e r o a n d

c r e a t e e v e n t s f o r g r a s s r o o t s

a c t i v i s m . I f y o u w e r e t o a s k

s o m e R u t g e r s c a m p u s c o r p s

m e m b e r s , t h e y w o u l d s a y

t h e y m o s t e n j o y i n f o r m i n g

t h e i r p e e r s o n g l o b a l

c l i m a t e a f f a i r s , s u c h a s t h e

a n n u a l C o n f e r e n c e o f

P a r t i e s .

W i t h t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e

s t a f f b a s e d i n W a s h i n g t o n ,

D . C . , s t u d e n t s h a v e h e l d

z o o m l e s s o n s o n l o b b y i n g ,

f e a t u r i n g a c t u a l l o b b y i s t s .

T h i s h e l p e d w h e n s t u d e n t s

p u r s u e d m e e t i n g s w i t h

l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t o f f i c i a l s

t o v o c a l i z e y o u t h s u p p o r t

f o r e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y -

c o n s c i o u s b i l l s , l i k e t h e

I n f l a t i o n R e d u c t i o n A c t .

A n a l y s e s o n t h i s b i l l

s u g g e s t a p a t h t o c u t t i n g

t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s 2 0 0 3

e m i s s i o n l e v e l s b y 4 0 % i n

2 0 3 0 . T h e t e a m i n D . C .

i n c l u d e s y o u t h

c o o r d i n a t o r s , r e g i o n a l

c o o r d i n a t o r s , p u b l i c p o l i c y

e x p e r t s , a n d e v e r y o n e i s a

s e a s o n e d e n v i r o n m e n t a l i s t .

T h e c l u b r e g u l a r l y m e e t s

o n c e a m o n t h f o r 1 o n 1

s t r a t e g i c p l a n n i n g s u p p o r t

a n d a s e c o n d m o n t h l y

m e e t i n g w i t h o t h e r r e g i o n a l

c h a p t e r s t o u n i f y t h e l o c a l

e n v i r o n m e n t a l m o v e m e n t

A s a C l i m a t e R e a l i t y

C a m p u s C o r p s m e m b e r , I

h a v e f e l t e m p o w e r e d t o

c o n t i n u e m y a d v o c a c y a n d

p e r s e v e r e t h r o u g h

n a t i o n a l l y l o w p e r i o d s o f

e n v i r o n m e n t a l a w a r e n e s s .

C l i m a t e R e a l i t y ’ s e x t e n s i v e

i n t e r n a t i o n a l n e t w o r k i s n o t

o u t o f r e a c h f o r R u t g e r s

s t u d e n t s T h e y c a n a c c e s s

t h e R e a l i t y H u b , b e c o m e

f r i e n d s w i t h e a c h o t h e r o n

L i n k e d I n , a n d m e e t a t t h e

c o n f e r e n c e !

T h e t r a n s i t i o n f r o m c a m p u s

c o r p s t o a l o c a l c h a p t e r i s

v e r y s m o o t h .

F o r a n e x a m p l e a b o u t h o w

c l o s e t h e n e x t

e n v i r o n m e n t a l s u p p o r t

g r o u p a c t u a l l y i s , t h e N e w

J e r s e y G r e a t e r G a t e w a y

C h a p t e r m e e t s i n N e w

B r u n s w i c k . A s t h e O u t r e a c h

D i r e c t o r f o r t h e p a s t t w o

y e a r s , I r e m e m b e r t h i s

d i s c o v e r y q u i t e w e l l . A t t h e

s t a r t o f o u r o u t r e a c h

e f f o r t s , w e l o o k e d t o o t h e r

c a m p u s c o r p s , s u c h a s t h e

U n i v e r s i t y o f M i a m i N e x t ,

w e u p g r a d e d t o a n

i n t e r g e n e r a t i o n a l a p p r o a c h

w i t h t h e N e w J e r s e y

G r e a t e r G a t e w a y C h a p t e r ,

h e l p i n g

d i v e r s i f y

p e r s p e c t i v e s t o e x p a n d o u r

i m p a c t . A d m i r a b l y , t h e l o c a l

c h a p t e r m e n t i o n e d t h e c i t y

o f N e w B r u n s w i c k a s a

h a p p y c e n t e r f o r a l l N e w

J e r s e y a c t i v i s t s t o t r a v e l t o

a n d c o l l a b o r a t e i n

W h y J o i n C l i m a t e

R e a l i t y ?

T h e s y s t e m o f t h i s

o r g a n i z a t i o n k e e p s a c t i v i s t s

p a s s i o n a t e , a c c o u n t a b l e ,

a n d s u p p o r t e d M a n y p e o p l e

h a v e f e l t t h e f e v e r s o f e c o -

a n x i e t y , a m o d e r n

p h e n o m e n o n r e f e r r i n g t o

f e a r s o f i m p e n d i n g c l i m a t e

d i s a s t e r s , i r r e v e r s i b l e

c h a n g e s , a n d a l a c k o f

c o n t r o l o v e r h u m a n - i n d u c e d

c l i m a t e c h a n g e . I n N e w Y o r k

s t a t e a l o n e , s e v e r a l

c h a p t e r s j o i n e d a c o a l i t i o n

c a l l e d R e n e w a b l e H e a t N o w

t o c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h c l i m a t e

o r g a n i z a t i o n s w o r k i n g t o

a c c e l e r a t e a j u s t t r a n s i t i o n

t o c l e a n e n e r g y . T h e N e w

Y o r k c h a p t e r s m o b i l i z e d t o

d e v e l o p p o p u l a r s u p p o r t f o r

t h r e e d i f f e r e n t b i l l s ,

u l t i m a t e l y s u c c e e d i n g w h e n

t h e N e w Y o r k S e n a t e p a s s e d

t h e A l l E l e c t r i c B u i l d i n g s

A c t i n 2 0 2 3 T h e i r w o r k

s t a n d s a s a t r a i l b l a z e r f o r

t h e f i r s t s t a t e w i d e b a n o n

f o s s i l f u e l i n m o s t n e w

b u i l d i n g s b y 2 0 2 6 . G r a s s r o o t

a c t i v i s m i s n o t o n l y

p o s s i b l e , b u t i t i s

e m p o w e r e d b y t h e C l i m a t e

R e a l i t y P r o j e c t c o m m u n i t y .

E a c h m e m b e r o f t h e C l i m a t e

R e a l i t y P r o j e c t h a s a c c e s s

t o i n f o r m a t i o n a l r e s o u r c e s

o n t h e l a t e s t d e v e l o p m e n t s

i n c l i m a t e s c i e n c e . A n n u a l

c l e a r c a m p a i g n s g u i d e

a d v o c a c y l e a d e r s

T r a i n i n g w o r k s h o p t o p i c s

i n c l u d e :

T h e l a t e s t d e v e l o p m e n t s i n

c l i m a t e s c i e n c e .

H o w t h e c r i s i s i s i m p a c t i n g

t h e w o r l d t o d a y .

T h e u r g e n c y o f s h i f t i n g f r o m

d i r t y f o s s i l f u e l s t o

r e n e w a b l e s

H o w o u r n e w e s t L e a d e r s c a n

e f f e c t i v e l y u s e m e d i a

o u t r e a c h t o a c h i e v e t h e i r

g o a l s a n d m o b i l i z e t h e i r

c o m m u n i t i e s f o r a c t i o n

R e a d y t o j o i n ?

F o l l o w i n g t h e t r a i n i n g ,

n u m e r o u s R u t g e r s s t u d e n t s

w i l l b e e q u i p p e d f o r a c t i o n !

J o i n t h e s t u d e n t s o f C l i m a t e

R e a l i t y a t R u t g e r s

U n i v e r s i t y . L e a r n a b o u t h a r d

s k i l l s , s u c h a s M e d i a

O u t r e a c h , T a b l i n g , P h o n e

B a n k i n g , E m a i l r e c r u i t m e n t ,

a n d t h e i m p a c t o f

g r a s s r o o t s o r g a n i z i n g .

F o r f u t u r e e n g a g e m e n t s ,

s t u d e n t s m e e t e v e r y o t h e r

w e e k a t t h e D o u g l a s s

S t u d e n t C e n t e r f r o m 7 - 8

p m a n d p o s t u p d a t e s o n

I n s t a g r a m @ c l i m a t e r e a l i t y r u

S i g n u p h e r e : C l i m a t e

R e a l i t y L e a d e r s h i p T r a i n i n g

i n N e w Y o r k | T h e C l i m a t e

R e a l i t y P r o j e c t

Launching Climate Revolution Action Network New Jersey

By:CassandraGelston

CRANrecognizesthattheclimatecrisisdoesnotjustharmtheplanet,buthasthe chanceoftakingawayourgeneration'sfuture.Betterpoliciesfortheenergy, transportation,investment,andeducationsectorsofNewJerseyaregoingtobe possiblebecauseofyouthminds.Currently,CRANisbeginningourdigital organizingcampaign,preparingtotestifyintheLegislatureandanyBoard, Committee,orCommissionwecangetintototakeonNewJersey’smostpressing environmentalissues.Werealizetheseverityofwhatwillhappenifactionisnottaken soonandwewanttoempowerGEN-Ztofixwhattheydidnotbreak.

ClimateRevolutionActionNetworkisagroupofenvironmentalstewardswho recognizetheurgencyforactiontosavetheenvironment.environmentalactionto addressissuesaffectingourlocalNewJerseycommunities.NewJersey’sdiverse ecosystemsdesperatelyneedhelp,andwearecommittedtoinitiatingeffectivepolicies thatfightagainstclimatechange.CRANwillnotacceptthatindividualsinourstate arebeingharmedbytheclimatecatastrophe.

Realchangestartsatthecommunitylevel.CRANknowsthatbybuildingitsmembers tobethebestandmostsuccessfulversionsofthemselves,everyonewins.Wewant youngenvironmentaliststoknowtheyareseen,andtheirvoicesmatter.Creatinga spaceforthenextgenerationstoleadimpactfulactionwillsavetheplanet.

Whetheryou'reastudent,anartist,ascientist,oranyonewhocaresdeeplyaboutthe planet,youhaveaplaceintheClimateRevolution.

JoinusinbuildingaresilientNewJersey!https://www.climaterevolutionan.com/join

Breaking Boundaries: Youth Plaintiffs Triumph in Milestone Climate Trial Against Montana

EMILY YANG

I n t h e s t a t e o f M o n t a n a ,

s i x t e e n y o u n g a c t i v i s t s ,

r a n g i n g f r o m a g e s f i v e t o

t w e n t y - t w o , h a d a l l e g e d

t h e s t a t e ’ s g o v e r n m e n t

h a d v i o l a t e d t h e i r r i g h t t o

a h e a l t h y e n v i r o n m e n t .

T h e y c l a i m e d t h e s t a t e ’ s

p r o - f o s s i l f u e l p o l i c i e s

c o n t r i b u t e d t o g r e e n h o u s e

g a s e m i s s i o n s a n d

t h e r e f o r e e x a c e r b a t e d t h e

e f f e c t s o f c l i m a t e c h a n g e .

T h e l a w s u i t a r g u e d t h a t

M o n t a n a ’ s p o l i c i e s

v i o l a t e d p r o v i s i o n s i n t h e

s t a t e c o n s t i t u t i o n t h a t

g u a r a n t e e d c i t i z e n s t h e

r i g h t t o a c l e a n a n d

h e a l t h y e n v i r o n m e n t . O n e

o f t h e p o l i c i e s t h a t w a s

t a r g e t e d b y t h e p l a i n t i f f s

w a s a p r o v i s i o n i n t h e

M o n t a n a E n v i r o n m e n t a l

P o l i c y A c t ( M E P A ) , w h i c h

d i d n o t a l l o w t h e s t a t e t o

c o n s i d e r h o w e n e r g y

g e n e r a t i o n a n d

c o n s u m p t i o n i m p a c t e d

c l i m a t e c h a n g e . I n

a d d i t i o n , t h e s t a t e w a s

b a r r e d f r o m c o n s i d e r i n g

g r e e n h o u s e g a s e m i s s i o n s

i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w s

f o r e n e r g y p r o j e c t s . I n a

l a n d m a r k d e c i s i o n , J u d g e

K a t h y S e e l e y d e c l a r e d

t h e s t a t e ’ s f o s s i l - f u e l -

p r o m o t i n g l a w s t o b e

u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l , a r u l i n g

t h a t h a s b e e n d e s c r i b e d

a s a “ g a m e c h a n g e r ” a n d a

“ s w e e p i n g w i n ” f o r y o u n g

c l i m a t e a c t i v i s t s i n t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d a r o u n d

t h e w o r l d ( N o o r 2 0 2 3 ) .

A c c o r d i n g t o J u l i a O l s o n ,

f o u n d e r o f O u r C h i l d r e n ’ s

T r u s t , w h i c h i s a n o n -

p r o f i t l a w f i r m t h a t

b r o u g h t t h e c a s e b e f o r e

t h e c o u r t a l o n g w i t h

W e s t e r n E n v i r o n m e n t a l

L a w C e n t e r a n d M c G a r v e y

L a w , s a i d , “ … t o d a y ’ s

r u l i n g i n M o n t a n a i s a

g a m e c h a n g e r t h a t m a r k s

a t u r n i n g p o i n t i n t h i s

g e n e r a t i o n ’ s e f f o r t s t o

s a v e t h e p l a n e t f r o m t h e

d e v a s t a t i n g e f f e c t s o f

h u m a n - c a u s e d c l i m a t e

c h a o s ” ( N o o r 2 0 2 3 ) .

I n h e r r u l i n g , J u d g e

S e e l e y b l o c k e d a n o t h e r

s t a t e p o l i c y , w h i c h m a d e

i t h a r d e r f o r g r o u p s a n d

i n d i v i d u a l s

t o s u e g o v e r n m e n t

a g e n c i e s o v e r d e c i s i o n s

m a d e u n d e r t h e M o n t a n a

E n v i r o n m e n t a l P o l i c y A c t ,

d e e m i n g i t

u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l . S t a t e

a t t o r n e y s a r g u e d t h a t

M o n t a n a ’ s i m p a c t o n t h e

c l i m a t e c r i s i s w a s

i n s i g n i f i c a n t , h o w e v e r , i n

h e r r u l i n g , S e e l e y f o u n d

t h a t t h e s t a t e ’ s

g r e e n h o u s e g a s e m i s s i o n s

w e r e “ n a t i o n a l l y a n d

g l o b a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t ” ( N o o r

2 0 2 3 ) .

T h e p l a i n t i f f s ’ l a w y e r s

e f f e c t i v e l y p r e s e n t e d

e v i d e n c e , i n c l u d i n g

t e s t i m o n y f r o m y o u n g

M o n t a n a r e s i d e n t s

p e r s o n a l l y a f f e c t e d b y

c l i m a t e

c h a n g e ,

i l l u s t r a t i n g t h e h u m a n

i m p a c t s o f t h e g l o b a l

c l i m a t e i s s u e . T h e

o u t c o m e o f t h i s c a s e

e s t a b l i s h e s a n

e n c o u r a g i n g p r e c e d e n t

f o r f u t u r e y o u t h - d r i v e n

c l i m a t e l i t i g a t i o n a n d

i n s p i r e s s i m i l a r l e g a l

a c t i o n s i n o t h e r s t a t e s

a n d p o t e n t i a l l y

w o r l d w i d e . I n f o u r o t h e r

s t a t e s , i n c l u d i n g H a w a i i ,

y o u t h - l e d c l i m a t e

l a w s u i t s s u p p o r t e d b y

O u r C h i l d r e n ’ s T r u s t a r e

p e n d i n g , w i t h o n e s e t t o

g o t o t r i a l i n J u n e 2 0 2 4 .

“ I t h i n k t h i s i s t h e

s t r o n g e s t d e c i s i o n o n

c l i m a t e c h a n g e e v e r

i s s u e d b y a n y c o u r t , ” s a i d

M i c h a e l G e r r a r d , f o u n d e r

o f C o l u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y ’ s

S a b i n

T h e p l a i n t i f f s i n t h e n a t i o n ’ s f i r s t

y o u t h c l i m a t e c h a n g e t r i a l p o s e f o r a

p h o t o o u t s i d e o f M o n t a n a ’ s F i r s t

J u d i c i a l C o u r t o n J u n e 1 2 .

W i l l i a m C a m p b e l l / G e t t y I m a g e s

C e n t e r f o r C l i m a t e

C h a n g e L a w ( N o o r 2 0 2 3 ) .

T h e v e r d i c t a l s o

u n d e r s c o r e s t h e

i m p o r t a n c e o f s e e k i n g

c l i m a t e j u s t i c e t h r o u g h

t h e c o u r t s a s

d

e m o n s t r a t e d b y t h e

o n g o i n g c a s e s b r o u g h t b y

O u r C h i l d r e n ’ s T r u s t , f o r

t h i s r u l i n g r e i n f o r c e s t h e

n o t i o n t h a t l e g a l a v e n u e s

c a n b e p o w e r f u l t o o l s i n

a d d r e s s i n g t h e c l i m a t e

c r i s i s a n d h o l d i n g

g o v e r n m e n t s a c c o u n t a b l e

f o r t h e i r a c t i o n s . I n

a d d i t i o n , p r o m o t i n g

y o u t h - d r i v e n c l i m a t e

s o l u t i o n s i s p a r a m o u n t

b e c a u s e e n g a g i n g y o u n g

p e o p l e i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l

a c t i v i s m a n d p o l i c y m a k i n g

h a r n e s s e s f r e s h

p e r s p e c t i v e s a n d f o s t e r s

e m p o w e r m e n t . A s w e

s t r i v e f o r a m o r e

s u s t a i n a b l e f u t u r e , i t i s

e s s e n t i a l t o p r i o r i t i z e

y o u t h i n v o l v e m e n t a n d

g o v e r n m e n t

a c c o u n t a b i l i t y , e n s u r i n g

t h a t o u r a c t i o n s t o d a y

p a v e t h e w a y f o r a

h e a l t h i e r a n d m o r e

r e s i l i e n t p l a n e t f o r

g e n e r a t i o n s t o c o m e .

D e s i g n e d b y J u d y W u

Throughout Rutgers, there have been effortstoincreasethesustainabilityofour public transportation systems. Anyone who has used Rutgers transportation would agree that there is much room for improvement, both environmentally and beyond.Atsuchalargeuniversitywithfive different campuses, a majority of students rely on the Rutgers buses to get to classes andextracurriculars.Withthevastnumber of students who need to travel between campuses, it can be difficult to develop a system that satisfies everyone. Because of the many other aspects of the bus system that needed fixing, it did not always seem essentialtomakesustainabilityapriorityin Rutgers transportation. Ever since COVID, there has been an increase in dissatisfactionwithRutgersbusses,leading toprioritybeingplacedonotherissueslike overcrowding and bus malfunctions. However,studentinvolvementandafocus onsustainabilityacrossRutgershaveledto greentransportationfinallybecomingpart oftheconversationatRutgers.

Greentransportationisslowlybutsurely becomingimplementedattheinstitutional level.OneexampleofthisisthePresident’s

Task Force on Carbon Neutrality and ClimateResilience,specificallytheworking group for transportation (Kopp 2021). AnothersustainableinitiativeatRutgersis the promotion of biking and electric scooters across campus, by providing opportunitiesforstudentstorentbikesand scooters, as well as by updating infrastructuretobemorefriendlytobikers and pedestrians (Kopp 2021). Bikes on campuscanberentedbysemesterforonly $50,andVeoScooterscanberentedatany timeatarateof37centsanhour,afteran upfront $1 fee (DeFoe 2022). These options provide ways for students to have options other than driving or walking betweenlocations.

Inaddition,Rutgersprovidesstudents, staff,andNewBrunswickresidentswith

discounts on NJ Transit public transportation.Studentswhoapplyforthis programwillreceivea25%discountonthe monthly pass (Rutgers Institutional Planning and Operations 2024). This providesstudentswiththeopportunityto haveamoreaffordablewaytotraveltoand fromRutgers,besidesdrivingacar.Thisis especially helpful for commuters who consistentlyhavetotravelfortheirclasses. Finesonthecarsatthecommuterlotcan also help address the emissions created by commuters.

However,muchmorestillneedstobe done to increase sustainability in Rutgers transportation. There are many proposals forimprovementsthatcanbemade,suchas the goal of creating a carbon-neutral transportation system. This works in tandem with the plans set forth by the Rutgers Climate Task Force to reach carbon neutrality before 2041 and limit greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 (Kopp 2021). Another focus is to promote equity and resilience, which wouldimprovethehealthandwell-beingof all students at Rutgers (Alan M. Vorhees Transportation Center 2024). Other proposals include a shift of Rutgers infrastructure to prioritize walking and biking,asopposedtotheuseofbusesand carsoncampus.

Studentinvolvementalsoplaysanessential role in the development of green infrastructure and much more across the university. Multiple organizations across campus, including Students for EnvironmentalAwarenessandStudentsfor Environmental and Energy Development, have put a focus on inspiring and influencing Rutgers to become more environmentally conscious regarding transportation. Through student involvement,currentprograms,andfuture initiatives, Rutgers is making considerable progress in green transportation and sustainableinfrastructureallacrosscampus. Although, much progress still needs to be made to further increase sustainability in transportationandacrosscampus.

NewYork’sZeroWasteInitiatives

byPhilipKim

Asakidgrowingup,IvisitedNewYork City quite a lot, and even now, I still do. I wouldenjoywalkingaroundandenjoyingthe view.Butitalwayscaughtmyeyehowdirtyit was and the amount of trash just littered everywhere. Even now, it seems it hasn’t improvedorgottenworse,andIwouldalways wonder if New York will do anything. I recently found out that the city is trying to implement a plan to improve its waste management situation. New York State, renowned for its energetic cities and varied scenery, faces a significant obstacle: landfill management. Traditional landfill operations arebecomingunsustainableduetoincreasing garbageoutputandagrowingpopulation.

More than 6 million tons of waste are disposedofyearlyinNewYork,andwithno local landfills, the city’s current solution of trucking waste to out-of-state landfills not only has negative environmental and social consequences but is extremely costly (CITIES100: New York City, 2022, February 15). As a result, New York has started a broad effort to change landfill management, giving new disposal techniques, recycling, and trash reduction toppriority.

ThemainfocusofNewYork'sapproachis a deliberate attempt to reduce trash productionatitsorigin.Thestateworksto reducetheamountofwastethatendsupin landfills by means of public awareness campaigns,educationalefforts,andrecycling programs with incentives. Through a combination of waste reduction, reuse and recycling programs, and wastewater treatmentplantswithanaerobicdigestion

thatharnessfoodscrapstocreateenergy,the cityaimstoachievea90%reductioninwaste tolandfillandrenderlandfillsathingofthe past (CITIES100: New York City, 2022, February 15). Strong waste diversion initiativesandregulationsrequiringrecycling encouragecitizensandcompaniestoengage inrecyclingandcomposting,keepingorganic waste out of landfills and reducing environmentaldamage.

Acknowledging the drawbacks of conventional dumping methods, New York is investing in cutting-edge technologies to streamline garbage management procedures. Modern sorting and recycling facilities that maximize resource recovery while reducing dependency on landfills are outfitted with robotics and artificial intelligence to efficiently separate and process recyclable materials. The state is also investigating waste-to-energy methods “ , ” including thermalconversionandanaerobicdigestion, which produce renewable energy from organicwastewhilereducingtheamountof wastedumpedinlandfills.

Community cooperation and engagement are essential components of New York's landfill management plan. Through the developmentofrelationshipswithindustrial stakeholders, environmental organizations, andlocalgovernments,thestateguarantees

that projects are customized to meet the specific requirements of varied areas. The cityisalreadywellonthewaytoachievingits goal, as initiatives such as expanding the collection of organics, implementing more zero-waste school programs, increasing recycling of textiles and electronics, and reducingtheuseofnon-recyclablematerials haveledtoa22%dropinemissionsfromthe solid waste sector (CITIES100: New York City, 2022, February 15). In order to accomplish common sustainability goals, public-private partnerships are essential for putting creative waste management ideas into practice. They also help to pool resourcesandknowledge.

Tosumup,NewYork'sall-encompassing strategy for managing landfills highlights its steadfastdedicationtoresourceconservation, sustainabledevelopment,andenvironmental responsibility.Thestateispavingthewayfor a more resilient and ecologically responsible futurebyreducingwaste,utilizinginnovative technology, investigating landfill options, and working together. New York seeks to reducetheenvironmentaleffectsoflandfills while fostering a sustainable culture for future generations by continuing to place a highpriorityoninnovationandteamwork.

Latin American Film Festival

Amillia Keagle

T h i s s p r i n g s e m e s t e r ,

e x p l o r e n a r r a t i v e s o f

e n v i r o n m e n t a l j u s t i c e ,

s u s t a i n a b i l i t y ,

r e s i l i e n c e , c u l t u r a l

i d e n t i t i e s , v a l u e s ,

b e l i e f s , a n d i n d i g e n o u s

p e o p l e s t h r o u g h t h e

m e d i u m o f f i l m . J o i n u s

f o r t h e L a t i n A m e r i c a n

F i l m F e s t i v a l : N e w

A s s e m b l a g e s i n L a t i n

A m e r i c a a n d t h e I b e r i a n

W o r l d

F r o m F e b r u a r y 2 6 t h t o

A p r i l 2 9 t h , e a c h f i l m

w i l l b e a v a i l a b l e o n l i n e ,

c o m p l e t e l y f r e e o f

c h a r g e t o e v e r y o n e , f o r

a s e l e c t i v e t w o - w e e k

p e r i o d . T h e s i x f i l m s

s h o w c a s e d i n t h e

f e s t i v a l f o l l o w a t h e m e

o f N e w A s s e m b l a g e s i n

L a t i n A m e r i c a n a n d

I b e r i a n W o r l d s .

A s s e m b l a g e s , i n t h i s

c o n t e x t , a r e d e f i n e d b y

t h e i r r e l a t i o n a l n a t u r e ,

c h a l l e n g i n g t h e

c o n v e n t i o n a l s e p a r a t i o n

o f n a t u r e a n d c u l t u r e .

T h r o u g h a s o c i o -

m a t e r i a l l e n s , t h e s e

f i l m s d i s m a n t l e

t r a d i t i o n a l b o u n d a r i e s ,

i l l u s t r a t i n g t h e

i n t e r c o n n e c t e d n e s s

b e t w e e n h u m a n

s o c i e t i e s a n d t h e

e n v i r o n m e n t . E a c h f i l m

c o n t r i b u t e s t o a b r o a d e r

c o n v e r s a t i o n a b o u t t h e

c o m p l e x i n t e r p l a y

b e t w e e n h u m a n

a c t i v i t i e s a n d t h e

n a t u r a l w o r l d . I n

e m b r a c i n g t h i s

p e r s p e c t i v e , t h e f e s t i v a l

o f f e r s a u d i e n c e s a

n u a n c e d u n d e r s t a n d i n g

o f t h e m u l t i f a c e t e d

c h a l l e n g e s f a c i n g o u r

T h e f i l m f e s t i v a l i s

o r g a n i z e d b y a t e a m l e d

b y M i l d r e d L ó p e z

E s c u d e r o , a P h . D .

s t u d e n t i n t h e S p a n i s h

a n d P o r t u g u e s e

d e p a r t m e n t w h o s e

r e s e a r c h i n t e r e s t s

e n c o m p a s s s t o r y t e l l i n g ,

c o m m u n i t y t h e a t e r , a n d

e n v i r o n m e n t a l j u s t i c e .

W i t h t h e s u p p o r t o f h e r

a d v i s o r , A s s o c i a t e D e a n

J o r g e M a r c o n e f r o m t h e

H u m a n i t i e s D i v i s i o n

S c h o o l o f A r t s a n d

p l a n e t a n d t h e d i v e r s e

w a y s i n w h i c h

c o m m u n i t i e s a r e

s t r i v i n g f o r p o s i t i v e

c h a n g e .

S c i e n c e , M i l d r e d

s e c u r e d t w o g r a n t s t h a t

f a c i l i t a t e d t h e c r e a t i o n

o f t h e f i l m f e s t i v a l .

A l o n g s i d e h e r , t h r e e

u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s ,

S a m a n t h a C a r h u a y a n o ,

M e r i d i a n C a r s k y - W i l s o n ,

a n d m y s e l f , A m i l l i a

K e a g l e , a r e a c t i v e l y

i n v o l v e d ; a l l o f u s a r e

e n r o l l e d i n D r . J o r g e

M a r c o n e ' s c o u r s e f o r

t h e n e w m i n o r i n

C r e a t i v e E x p r e s s i o n s

a n d t h e E n v i r o n m e n t .

D r . M a r c o n e ' s i n v i t a t i o n

t o M i l d r e d t o p r e s e n t i n

o u r c l a s s p r o v i d e d

s t u d e n t s w i t h t h e

o p p o r t u n i t y t o

c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e

o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e f i l m

f e s t i v a l . I p u r s u e d t h i s

o p p o r t u n i t y t o e x t e n d

a n i n v i t a t i o n t o t h e

R u t g e r s e n v i r o n m e n t a l

c o m m u n i t y , e n c o u r a g i n g

y o u a l l t o e m b r a c e t h i s

e x c e p t i o n a l l e a r n i n g

o p p o r t u n i t y .

M e r i d i a n , t h e c r e a t i v e

m a s t e r m i n d , c h a n n e l s

t h e i r a r t i s t i c p r o w e s s t o

m e t i c u l o u s l y c r a f t

p r o m o t i o n a l f l i e r s . S a m ,

a n e n t h u s i a s t i c m e m b e r

o f A c t i v e M i n d s a t

R u t g e r s , a d e v o t e d

o r g a n i z a t i o n c o m m i t t e d

t o s u p p o r t i n g s t u d e n t s '

m e n t a l h e a l t h , i s s e t t o

h o s t a n i n - p e r s o n

s c r e e n i n g o f t h e f i l m

" O k l a h o m a M o n A m o u r "

o n A p r i l 9 t h ( f u r t h e r

d e t a i l s f o r t h c o m i n g ) . A s

t h e l e a d f o r t h e R U

R e c y c l i n g c a m p a i g n

w i t h S t u d e n t s f o r

E n v i r o n m e n t a l

A w a r e n e s s ( S E A ) , I a m

e x c i t e d t o e x t e n d t h i s

i n v i t a t i o n t o T h e T r a i l ' s

a u d i e n c e . A d d i t i o n a l l y ,

w e a r e o r g a n i z i n g a n i n -

p e r s o n s c r e e n i n g o f t h e

f i l m " C a r r e t e r a

C a r t o n e r a " S t a y t u n e d

f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n !

G i v e n T h e T r a i l ’ s

a u d i e n c e , I p r e s u m e w e

s h a r e a n a w a r e n e s s o f

t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n a l i t y o f

e n v i r o n m e n t a l i s s u e s

a n d s o c i a l j u s t i c e . I f

n o t , l e t m e c l a r i f y i t

s u c c i n c t l y a s ‘ d a m a g e

t o t h e l a n d i s d a m a g e

t o t h e p e o p l e ’ T h e

h i s t o r y o f

e n v i r o n m e n t a l i s m i s

m a r k e d b y a g r o w i n g

r e c o g n i t i o n o f

e n v i r o n m e n t a l

d e g r a d a t i o n a n d i t s

p r o f o u n d i m p a c t o n

h u m a n l i v e s . P e o p l e

f r o m d i v e r s e

b a c k g r o u n d s w o r l d w i d e

a r e c o m i n g t o g e t h e r t o

TableofContents

a d v o c a t e f o r f a i r a n d

e q u i t a b l e t r e a t m e n t o f

b o t h h u m a n i t y a n d t h e

p l a n e t . T h e s i x f i l m s

f e a t u r e d i n t h e f e s t i v a l

o f f e r n a r r a t i v e s o f

e n v i r o n m e n t a l i s m a t a

g l o b a l l e v e l , p r o v i d i n g

i n s i g h t i n t o h o w

c o m m u n i t i e s a c r o s s

d i f f e r e n t r e g i o n s a r e

d e v i s i n g s o l u t i o n s

t a i l o r e d t o t h e i r

r e s p e c t i v e

e n v i r o n m e n t s . M o r e o v e r ,

c o l l a b o r a t i o n i s

i n t e g r a l t o t h e s u c c e s s

a n d a d v a n c e m e n t o f t h e

e n v i r o n m e n t a l

m o v e m e n t . R u t g e r s '

e n v i r o n m e n t a l i s m h a s

t h e c h a n c e t o u p h o l d

t h e m o v e m e n t ' s

c o l l a b o r a t i v e t r a d i t i o n

b y d e m o n s t r a t i n g

s u p p o r t f o r t h e L a t i n

A m e r i c a n f i l m f e s t i v a l

E x p l o r e o u r w e b s i t e

f o r t h e f i l m f e s t i v a l

h e r e : F i l m F e s t i v a l :

N e w A s s e m b l a g e s . T h e

w e b s i t e i s d e s i g n e d i n

b o t h E n g l i s h a n d

S p a n i s h t o

a c c o m m o d a t e N e w

B r u n s w i c k ' s s i g n i f i c a n t

S p a n i s h - s p e a k i n g

p o p u l a t i o n T h i s

b i l i n g u a l a p p r o a c h

p r o v i d e s a n o p p o r t u n i t y

f o r o u r n e i g h b o r s i n

N e w B r u n s w i c k t o e n j o y

t h e m o v i e s w i t h t h e i r

f a m i l i e s . T h e f i l m s w i l l b e

e x c l u s i v e l y a c c e s s i b l e

t h r o u g h t h e w e b p a g e ,

w i t h a c c e s s l i m i t e d t o

t h e i r t w o - w e e k

s c r e e n i n g p e r i o d .

D u r i n g t h i s t i m e , a Q R

C o d e o r l i n k w i l l

a p p e a r o n t h e w e b p a g e .

S i m p l y s c a n t h e Q R

c o d e a n d f o l l o w t h e

p r o v i d e d i n s t r u c t i o n s

t o e n j o y t h e f i l m s .

TableofContents

WhyIntersectionalityisImportant intheEnvironmentalMovement

JudyWu

As climate change becomes more intense and frequent, more and more vulnerable populations are threatened either by natural disasters or man-made oppression. Since the rise of the civil rights movement and the feminist movement, the path of environmental justice has followed a similar approach. An article in Medium defined environmental justice as “ the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies (Allen et al., 2022).” Climate change exacerbates the social, economic, and environmental problems the general population faces, and the complexity of addressing the multidimensional social dilemma becomes more tangled under the systems of oppression such as patriarchy, whitesupremacy,andcapitalism.

Theintersectionalityframework,introduced by Kimberly Crenshaw, addresses these complicated social issues by conception oppression experienced by women of color anddisadvantagedpeopledependingontheir race, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, culture, economic background, and other elements of prejudices they might face.

Influencedbyherframeworkofanalysisand considering the multi-sectional oppression faced by individuals, environmental justice essentiallyaddressesthedisproportionallevel ofadvocacyofenvironmentalprotectionfor marginalizedcommunitieswhoarethemost vulnerableyetareignoredorsilenceddueto social inequity. Only by addressing environmental racism, and how industrial, governmental,andcommercialoperationsor policies have forced marginalized communities to bear a disproportionate share of negative environmental and health impact. Under the systemic social injustice and inequality, those in marginalized communities, such as people living in poverty and or rural areas, people of color, and people with disabilities, particularly women who are black and indigenous and live in rural areas have limited support and voices to address the environmental issues theyface.

Theearlyenvironmentalmovementsthat were mobilized by white suburban women whowereworriedaboutthehealthoftheir children with the case of Love Canel, expended as the Civil Rights Movement brought awareness to the general public about the disproportional health impact causedbyenvironmentalhazardsduetothe social and economic suppression of racial oppressionandsegregation.Blackwomenare traditionally excluded from the environmentaldecision-makingprocess,due to America’s long history of racial discrimination and institutionalized racism, theyendupburyingtheburdenofhazardous materialsonthesecommunitieswithlittleto noconcernfortheirhealthandsafety.

Dr. Skyler Jackson, Associate Research Scientist at the Yale School of Medicine, believes that an intersectionality framework can provide a better understanding of systemicsocialinjustice, “ an intersectional lens provides a more completeandhonestpictureofthemultiple factorsthatshapepeople’severydaylives.It canbeedifficultandsometimesmessy, but

whether you ’ re a scientist or an activist, thinking about various forms of oppression in a simultaneous, integrated manner will likely help you arrive at a better and more equitable answer to the problem at hand (Taylor,2022).”

Byanalyzingindividuals’uniqueidentities and the systems of power that shaped an individual,andtailoringsolutionstoachieve equitableoutcomes.Comparedtotraditional research, which only focuses on onedimensional social issues, intersectionally providesabroaderpointofviewandproves the most equitable solutions for each occasion. Involving multi-disciplinary fields of study can help reach solutions that are instrumental in addressing the impact of climatechangewithoutcreatingwidersocial discrepancywhileensuringtransparencyand equality. Having conversations with peers outside your field can introduce you to different perspectives and concerns that would not be known to you, as well as insightsintodifferentsolutions

A

Ring In Your Spring

guide to welcome the warm weather with bee-friendly plantings

By Evan DeAngelis

HereinthegreatstateofNewJersey,we have a long history of settlement and agriculture, this is truly a fascinating background.Thisalsomeansthatthestateis lacking in regions of natural space that are still occupied by naturally occurring biodiverse landscapes and native plants. Examples,ofcourse,doexistfornativeand healthy ecosystems that used to exist here commonly prior to extensive colonial and post-colonialhumanactivity.

Anexcellentwaytoreduceourfootprint and improve the state of pollinator and native-wildlife-friendly habitats is planting nativeplantsandwildflowersthatcanassist inattracting,housing,andfeedingallofthese variouscreaturesandplants.Aswithallsorts ofplanting,notallplantsnativetoone

region are suited for all landscape types within the boundaries of that region in question.VariousregionsoftheNewJersey area (especially the northern half) vary greatlyforsuchasmallarea.

Thetransitionfromthemountains’Ridge and valley landscapes and highlands of and around upper Appalachia to the Piedmont belt, Pinelands, and the coastal plains. The area is packed with marshlands, riparian zones, hillsides, marshes, and meadowlands. Alloftheseareasrequiredifferentvarietiesof native vegetation. Depending upon where you reside, you will do the most good by plantinginharmonywiththeearthbeneath your feet. There are ways to obtain this information; one great approach is to use stateresourcesorenvironmentalcenters.

Therearedifferentapproachesaswell.If you want to assist pollinators, then you are bestoffplantingflowers.Ifyouwanttoassist birds and animals as well (and don’t mind a littlemess),thennativefruitingspeciesarean excellent addition to the garden as well. Additionally,manyplantingscanbemadeto preventerosionandfloodingdamage.

For erosion prevention and bank reinforcement,itwouldbewisetoseeknatural solutionstotheproblemswecannotcontrol. We are better off trying to develop low embankmentsnearthebaseofanyslopedareas with native erosion-reducing plants especially woody, low, densely growing understory hydrophilic plants. Here is a list of some helpful plants that are native or safe in our area, some of which are actually bee and butterfly-friendly: Great blue lobelia, Blackeyed Susan, New Jersey tea, Purple coneflower, Butterflyweed, Dwarf huckleberry, Mountain laurel, Smokebush, Shrub Althea, and Willow trees. Fruiting plantstoselectforassistingbirdsandanimals in a place starved of native bounty are also many,suchaswildgrapes,dwarfhuckleberry bushes, highbush blueberries, chokeberries, crabapples, and more of the sort. And when planting for pollinators, there are many speciesthatareidealforthetask.Amongthese are Trumpet creeper, butterfly weed, and Viburnum, among others. All of these have theirpurpose.Andallofthemwillserveyou wellintheirownways.

Stelf-reproductive plants are not a new thing to this planet; a lot of types of orchids, sunflowers, and smaller flowers havebeenknowntoreproducethisway. Whatwehavenotseenuntil recently,are flowerswhose reproductionreliedonbees suddenlybecomingselfreproductiveplantsaswell. FrenchscientistAcoca-Pinoleand histeamattheUniversityof Montpellierrnotedrecently,in

December of 2023, that the insect populations, specifically those that act as pollinators to other flowers, are decliningrapidly.Thelossofpollinators isgoingtocauseissuesforflowers thatrelyonthemto reproduce,andapatternwas foundwiththedeclinein pollinators.Themore pollinatorpopulationswent down,themorescientists sawflowersbecomingself-pollinators

rather than waiting on the pollinator insects.But what does this mean for the pollinators? What does it mean for the flowers, and how did they do it? Does it meananythingforusashumanbeings?

Theanswertothefirstquestionis simple: pollinators will sadly continue to decline.Astheseflowersevolvetogiveup on their pollinator partners, they will slowlylosepartoftheirvitalcontribution to the environment. This will also be toughtoreversesinceplantshavealready begunanewevolutioncausedbythelack ofpollinators;theywillcontinuetoevolve.

Scientistsarenothopefulofbeingableto reverse this evolutionary change, so there must be a focus on simply repopulating thepollinatorssonootherflowersfollow suit.

Intermsoftheflowersthemselves, they’redoingprettywell,evenevolvingto catch up to their ever-changing environment.

This evolutionary change was taken uponbythemforthesimplereasonof avoidingapopulationdecline,theyare ensuringtheycontinueforgenerations. This isn’t the first time selfreproductiveflowershavebeenseenin Europe, but their sudden increase is new.Theflowers,atleastinEurope,are taking evolutionary measures against the harm caused by human climate change. Many of these flowers will simplydecreasetheirnectarproduction, which in turn attracts fewer insects to the flower. While this is exciting for people who want to see evolution occurring in real-time, it means less foodforinsectsallaround.Thislossof insects and gain in self-reproductive plantsmaynotseemlikeitwouldaffect human beings all too much, but the rootcauseofthisallcomesbacktous and how we ’ ve harmed the environment.Theinitialdeclinein

pollinators can be attributed to the harm humanshavecausedviagreenhousegasses, deforestation,andgeneralmaltreatmentof theenvironment.Thisdeclineiswhatled to the nectar decline, and then the pollinator decline, and it will continue in that circle. Humans benefit from highly diverse ecosystems, and with the loss of pollinators and evolving flowers, this benefit will be lost, and we will be losing extremelyvitalpartsofourecosystems.

Though it doesn’t seem it can be, it’s alarming that flowers evolve this way. The loss of pollinators will be detrimental, but they are just doing whatisnaturalandpreservedunderany circumstance. Also, it is kinda cool to seetheevolutionarychangeinrealtime.

Dandel es:

B l o w i n g A w a y t h e M y t h s

S u r r o u n d i n g D a n d e l i o n s

Asspringapproaches,dandelionswill begintopeekoutfromtheground.This phenomenon is often met with excessive culling and an array of chemicals from gardenersandlawnowners,treatingthem as disruptive, nutrient-sucking weeds. However, dandelions are greatly misunderstood and possess a plethora of benefitsforhumansandtheenvironment.

Dandelionshavebeenhistoricallyamuchloved plant across the world, used in traditional Chinese medicine and planted in gardens across Europe (Sanchez,2007). This sentiment changed in the United States when the idea of a “perfect lawn” cameabout,withdandelionsexcluded

from the picture. Striving for a flawless green carpet across one ' s property, Americanshavelabeledallotherplantsas weeds given their non-aesthetic characteristics,insistingthatthebiological dead zones that we call “nice” lawns be dandelion-free. While they have been maskedaslawn-killerstoincreasethesale ofherbicides,dandelionsarebeneficialto yards due to their root structures. Dandelions possess a taproot, a type of rootthatgrowsverticallydownwarddeep into the soil and shoots off into small lateral roots. Dandelion taproots loosen the soil, naturally aerating the lawn and reducingerosion.Theyalsopullnutrients fromthedeeperareasofthesoilandmake them available for other plants (Sanchez, 2007). These features of dandelions providenutrients,aeration,andprotection tothelawn.Dandelionsarefullof

potential as beneficial plants which can serveecosystemsasawhole.

Dandelionsalsohavebeenwidelyusedfor their healing properties. Their scientific name,Taraxacumofficinalis,translatesto “disorder remedy” in Greek (Fotaneg, 2020), proving its significant medicinal use. Dandelions are highly nutritious, containing more vitamin A than spinach andmorevitaminCthantomatoes,aswell

as a great deal of iron, calcium, and potassium(Sanchez,2007).Theyalsohave been known to help heal a variety of conditions, such as inflammation, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and liver damage.Inaddition,dandelionshavebeen known to have anticancer effects, help withweightloss,boostimmunity,support healthybones,andbeaneffectiveskincare treatment(Ajmera,2023). Dandelionsare commonlydriedandusedintea,butasa rootvegetable,theycanalsobeconsumed whole. However, be e careful if choosing to consume wild dandelions as they may havebeenexposedtoherbicides.Instead,it isbesttopurchasethematalocalfarmers’ market or grocery store. The special qualities of dandelions make them useful to the organisms around them and prove theirworthasmorethanmereweeds.

Humans have always been drawn to water. Water has shaped the course of civilization, constructing culture around this magnificentlynecessaryresource.Buthasthis hydro-human connection with natural waterways diminished within the rise of industrializationandurbanization?

ThePassaicRiver.MostoftheNewJerseyans Ihavespokentohavealimitedknowledgeof it.ManyarefamiliarwithPassaicCounty but nottheriveritselfand,unfortunately,ifthey are aware of its existence, the image in their heads is not a pleasant one. In true Jerseyan fashion, they joke about the toxicity of the river,claimingthatthewaterwassopolluted thatjustlookingatitcouldgiveyouarash.

Describingthewaterasmurky-brownwitha foul smell it seems no surprise that the general consensus amongst downstream residents is to keep your distance from the PassaicRiver.

Howcansuchavitalresourcebeoverlooked?

Forgotten or turned into a punch-line. Left tobeamenacingpresenceinthebackground ofNorthernNewJersey.

Mercifully, there are still some who care aboutthePassaic(aslocalsrefertoit).People who have their memories and lives intertwinedwiththeriverandfighttobring it back to its former glory. Back to a time before the toxins and muddied reputation, whenpaintingsweredrawnandpoemswere

writteninodetothePassaic.MaryBrunois oneofthem.

GrowingupinNorthArlington,Brunowas among those who were cautious about the river.Itdidn’ttakemuchtoheedwarningsof stayingoutofthewater.Itwasfactchildishly apparent and universally accepted. This perspective mPaade a 180°–shift when she decidedtokayakthe“ominous”river.Itwas upclose where she was able to discover its beauty. She documented her journey in her book,AnAmericanRiver:FromParadiseto Superfund,AfloatonNewJersey’sPassaicand with the help of Scott Morris, Bruno’s reintroductiontoherchildhoodriverbecame afilm:“AmericanRiver”.

ThefilmfollowsMaryBrunoandherguide Carl Alderson on their 4-day kayaking trip down the Passaic River. They start their journeyattheriver’sstart:Mendham.Inthe upper part of the river, the water is shallow andnotpolluted.Paddlingdownthroughthe Central Basin and looking at the scenes within the film, it became increasingly apparent how urban vs rural neighborhoods areimpactingthewaterquality.Thefurther downstream they traveled, the more urbanizedneighborhoodsbecameandmore

infrastructurewastewasfound.AsBrunoand Alderson continued their journey through pollutedwater,theycametoasuddenoasis, free of civilization or human influence. Surrounded by giant trees and flourishingly diverse ecosystems, Great Piece Meadows is namedbyBrunoasthe“crown-jewel”ofthe Passaic. But this Passaic paradise didn’t remainthroughouttherestofthejourney. It starts small; a plastic bottle floating here and a discarded sports ball there. Then, it exponentially grows. By the time they reach Paterson Falls the pollution is very much apparent. Paterson was one of the first planned industrialized cities in the country. Factories of silk and automotive parts made dumping into the falls a norm. The Passaic suffered for the success of a new rapidly growingeconomy.Itisnowprotectedunder the umbrella of being deemed a Historical Park,butsomeoftheimpactsofgenerational pollutantactivitiesstillremain.Yetitisstilla sight to behold. The waterfall is loud and fierce.Constantrapidspeed,crashingintoits nextlocation.

ThePassaic’sfinaldestinationisNewarkBay. The water of Bruno’s childhood and its toxicity can be summed up into one word: dioxin. During the Vietnam War, the Diamond Alkali Company produced Agent Orange for agricultural warfare. A major byproduct of this was dioxin (a highly toxic carcinogen)causingcancer,reproductiveand developmental problems, and damage to the immune system. Diamond Alkali dumped thisfatalchemicalintotheriver,poisoning

Inherbookandwithinthefilm,Brunotalks about government projects that are in place tryingtoreversethesituationbydredgingthe soil.Thissolutionseemslikeanendlessone, but there are no quick fixes with a contamination issue on this scale. Having public officials addressing the issue and activelyworkingtofixithasbegunrepairing thepeople’srelationshipwiththePassaic.

After seeing the end of the river it's hard to remember where it began. The small stream inMendham.Inthemiddleofthewoods;a peacefulnirvanajustasonewouldexpectthe beginnings of a great river might start. Slow and peaceful; collecting inductee drops and moving them towards a grim fate. The dropletsarelikechildren,naiveandunaware ofthefuturethatisinstoreforthem.

Watchingthefilm,Ifeltthelifeoftheriver. Thereissomethinghumanaboutrivers.The way they move and bend; their journeys so simple in its predetermined path yet also complex in uncertainty. Resilient yet fragile. Loudattimesandquietatothers.Powerfully rapid and sometimes stagnant. Pristine and tainted. There is humanity in the Passaic. Thisistruefromyearsofbeingsubjectedto human activity, and metaphorically in its characteristics and experiences. I empathize withthePassaic.IcareaboutthePassaic.

Ifyoufeelequallydrawntothismagnificent waterway,therearewaysyoucangetinvolved andmakeapositivedifferenceforthePassaic. The Passaic River Coalition (PRC) is an organization that is dedicated to the preservationandtheprotectionofthePassaic River.OnthePRC’swebsiteisa“WhatYou Can Do” tab with ways to get involved and givebacktotheriver(PRC"WhatYouCan Do"). There are trash clean-ups groups who arealwaysinneedofvolunteerstohelpwith small-scalerestorationalongthePassaicRiver. There are also tasks that can be done from home in the form of social media volunteering. Sending the PRC pictures and/or videos of the river can also be extremely important in spreading awareness of the Passaic’s beauty. Educating others on the Passaic River and its importance makes peoplecare.Inorderforrealchangetooccur, peopleneedtocare.Sotellafriend,visitthe Falls, hike Great Piece Meadows, and advocate for Newark Bay. And if you find yourself in Mendham, wish the droplets godspeed on their journey to becoming the greatPassaicRiver.

Over the past few years, there have been excitingplanscallingforwolvestobebrought backtothewildacrossvariousWesternstates. While this idea has been in discussion for a while,itisonlynowthattheseplansarebeing actively implemented. Before the new year began, officials at Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) made history when they releasedatotalof10majesticgraywolvesin both Grand and Summit Counties in Colorado(Reardon,2023).

Thisreintroductionplanallstartedduring mid-fallof2020whenColoradovoterswere introduced to Proposition 114, which has sincebecomeastatestatute.Accordingtothe CPW’s website, the main objective of the proposal was to outline the necessary steps neededto“recoverandmaintainaviable,selfsustainingwolf

population in Colorado” while simultaneously figuring out ways to reduce “wolf-related conflicts” with other animals and people (Colorado Parks and Wildlife, n.d.). Additionally, the approved statute mandated the Parks and Wildlife Commission to commence the reintroduction of the wolves in the region “westoftheContinentalDivide”bytheend of2023(ColoradoParksandWildlife,n.d.).

However,thisdeadlinewasquicklyachieved as the wolves were back in their neighborhoodinnotime! Onthedaysofthe release, multiple people gathered to witness the wolves run free into the wilderness. In one PBS interview, Professor Joanna Lambert from the Department of Wildlife Ecology at the University of Colorado expressed the joy of observing this momentous event. Lambert was quoted as saying how this initiative was a response to “staveoffthebiodiversityextinctioncrisiswe are living in” and that “this is a source of hopenotonlyforallofusstandingherebut forouryoungergenerationsaswell”(Blevins, 2023).Thiswinforenvironmentalistsmarks a pivotal moment because reintroducing wolfpopulationsisimperativeforecological stability. In other words, wolves play an essentialroleinhelpingensurethefunctions

and structures of ecosystems remain intact, balanced,andresilientbecauseoftheirability toregulatepreypopulations.

Whilemanyindividualswereabletobaskin the sheer happiness of watching these magnificent creatures reclaim their crucial spot in the animal kingdom, it makes me questionwhatisnext?ShouldotherWestern states follow in Colorado’s footsteps in restoringtheirwolfpopulations?Iftheywere to go about this process, could other extirpatedspeciesalsomakeacomeback e near future? All of these question e portant to consider when thinking about wconservationeffortscanpotentiallypave the way for other positive environmental initiativestothrive. Despitealltheunknowns ofthefuture,Ibelieveitisiimperativethatwe relishinthesuccessesofCPW’sen nd motiv others to do the As enviro talists,manyofusca hat weoftendwellonthenegativeasp hat ishappeningworldwide.

While this cycle of being concerned for the future, the planet, and humanity can feel never-ending,itiscriticalthatwealsosearch forthepositiveinitall.Althoughitmayseem like the world’s negative news takes center stage,Ibelieveembracingthetriumphsofthe environmental community further fuels our sense of purpose as stewards. By celebrating thesevictories,wecandefythenarrativethat the world is indifferent to anything but ourselves and make way for change to no longerbesomethingwedaydreamabout.

THIRIFTING: THIRIFTING: THIRIFTING: A CULTURAL SHIFT TOWARDS A CULTURAL SHIFT TOWARDS A CULTURAL SHIFT TOWARDS

SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAINABILITY

Sofia Little Sofia Little Sofia Little

Thrifting clothing and buying used

Thrifting clothing and buying used

Thrifting and used houseware items have gained popularity in items have gained popularity in items gained popularity in recent years, and attitudes towards second- recent years, and attitudes towards secondhandhavechangeddrastically.WhenItalked handhavechangeddrastically.WhenItalked about thrifting clothes in the past year, the about thrifting clothes in the year, the clothes in conversation went one of a few ways. Some conversation went one of a few ways. Some went a Some people think buying used items symbolizes think buying used items symbolizes think used status- either higher or lower, depending on status- either higher or lower, depending on either higher or on your upbringing and social background. I upbringing and social background. I upbringing and askedafamilyfriendifshehadorwouldever askedafamilyfriendifshehadorwouldever thrift clothing, and she retorted, “Do I look thrift clothing, and she retorted, “Do I look clothing, and retorted, “Do look like somebody who thrifts? I don’t want to like somebody who thrifts? I don’t want to somebody who thrifts? I buysomeoneelse’susedstuff”.Mymotherand buysomeoneelse’susedstuff”.Mymotherand IIwenttotheGoodwillOutletinHackensack, IwenttotheGoodwillOutletinHackensack, wenttotheGoodwillOutletinHackensack, NJ, over winter break, and my uncle heard over winter break, and my uncle heard and uncle about this and asked if we also bought used about this and asked if we also bought used asked also used underwear, which we didn’t, as he took underwear, which we didn’t, as took which didn’t, took buying used clothing as a sign of financial buying used clothing as a sign of financial used sign financial struggle. On the other hand, when talking struggle. On the other hand, when talking other with people at Rutgers about thrifted with people at Rutgers about thrifted at Rutgers clothing, people proudly state that they clothing, people proudly state that they they tthriftedtheirleatherjackets,tookatriptothe thriftedtheirleatherjackets,tookatriptothe hriftedtheirleatherjackets,tookatriptothe Goodwill Outlet in Brooklyn, or promote Goodwill Outlet in Brooklyn, or promote Outlet or their favorite thrift store. The generational their favorite thrift store. The generational favorite thrift store. generational difference in how society views used items difference in how society views used items used items hintsatabroaderculturalshiftinvalues,with hintsatabroaderculturalshiftinvalues,with younger generations placing greater value on younger generations placing greater value on on ttheenvironment. theenvironment. heenvironment.

Numerous statistics demonstrate Gen Z’s takingtosecondhand.Accordingtothe2019 StateofFashionReport,whichreportsglobal fashion industry trends, young consumers prioritize environmental sustainability significantly (Sicurella, 2021). Gen Z, which accounts for 40% of the global market, has taken to thrifting faster than any other generation, such as (Sicurella, 2021). 62% of Gen Z also report looking to buy items secondhandbeforelookingtobuythemnew (USCensus,2023).Youngerpeoplearemore open to experimenting with fashion, and second-hand clothing provides a way for themtohuntforuniquepiecesofclothingat cheaper prices. This cultural shift has impacted the global market greatly, with clothingsales“expectedtoexceed$77billion by 2025” and more than 120 retailers now reselling their clothes (Glenn, 2023). Right now, in the United States, there are over “25,000 resale, consignment and Not For Profit resale shops”, and e-commerce companies are expected to make up 20% of the fashion industry by 2030 (US Census, 2023). It is inspiring and hopeful that younger generations want to make a difference in the environment and that personal buying habits make a significant change.

Additionally, there are many ways to buy used clothing and homeware locally. For instance,manytownsinNewJerseyarepart ofaFacebookgroupcalled“BuyNothing,” where people post things they no longer wantandofferthemuptootherstopickup forfree.Asamemberofthegroup,youhave noobligationtopostanythingforfree,but youcanuseittogetridofunwanteditems or find new goods for yourself at no cost. Personally,IhavegottenthingslikeaCoach bag, a toaster, and a lamp from Buy Nothing, which has saved me money and createdlessproductionwaste.Additionally, many towns have local thrift stores, Goodwills,orMyUniquestoresnearby,and visiting these stores before buying from a conventional store reduces your carbon footprint.Evenbuyingclothingfromonline usedclothingsitessuchasThredUp,Depop, and Poshmark helps! The concept of a “Depop Girl” being trendy shows how much culture has shifted towards sustainability. Also, college kids buying furniture from one another is another simplewaywasteisreducedallthetime,and reducing the amount of new furniture circulated is convenient, cost-effective, and environmentallyfriendly.

I even see this desire for change in my interactions with college students outside of Rutgers. I was visiting a friend at New York University, and NYU film students wereexcitedtoengageindiscussionsabout the environment. We discussed the significance of individual habits on the environment and how to create positive change.Itexcitesmethatmypeerswhoare less engaged in environmental studies still careaboutmakingapositiveimpact.Itake their passion for making a positive impact asasignthatweasasocietyareheadingina more sustainable direction. Buying secondhandclothingandfurnitureisaway we can make a positive impact, and it is inspiring to see that, slowly but surely, thingsarechangingforthebetter.

The Tapanuli orangutan is the most threatened species of great ape, and the newly discovered stone oak variety appears to be a significant food source for them. A new species of stone oak, the first of its kind to be documented in the region in over a decade, has been discovered in northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The peat swamp forests of Borneo and Sumatra are home to some of the largest orangutan populations. In 2017, the two trees resided in the Batang Toru forest, which is home to the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan first encountered. The acorns of this tree species have been found to be a crucial aspect of the orangutan diet. However, due to habitat destruction, this species is forecast to be under threat in the near future, thereby making this food source scarce and the tree species critically endangered as well (Kimbrough, 2023).

To protect the newest kind of stone oak tree species and, in turn, the orangutan

populations of Sumatra, it is essential to combat the kinds of unsustainable practices that strip the region of its natural resources. This stone oak species is known as Lithocarpus Tanuliensis and was found in the Pilar Forest, which is part of the biodiverse Batang Toru ecosystem. Orangutans rely on stone oak species both for nest building and food. Stone oaks are native to Asia and only grow in the subtropic and tropic regions. Although they are related to the Querus genus of oaks, they have a unique evolutionary history with almost as many species as the Querus variety. The Batang ecosystem is threatened by habitat fragmentation and loss due to large-scale infrastructure projects, including mining, agroforestry plantations, and hydropower in the surrounding forest. Compared to other Indonesian islands, Sumatra’s plant populations lack documentation. More unknown tree species could be discovered with further surveying, which is essential to

conduct before species are lost permanently. One recommendation that Harapan provides is growing rare tree species outside of the forest in botanical gardens. Applying both strategies gives the tree species a better chance at survival (Kimbrough, 2023). There are five types of forest found in Indonesia: Dipterocarp forests, Peat Swamps, Mangroves, Heath Forests, and Montane forests. Evergreen dipterocarp forests are the major tropical forest variety found across Indonesia, and they provide habitat for numerous animal species, including orangutans. Widespread land clearing, chiefly in Borneo, has led to a considerable decrease in dipterocarp forests. However, they face a mounting threat from the expansion of estate farming as well as plantation forest areas that have been converted into pulp production (Kittie et al.). While converting this land

over the past twenty years has elicited short-term economic gains, it poses environmental and economic risks in the long term for Indonesia. Mangrove forests are occasionally home to orangutans as well. The heath forests of Indonesia also boast large populations of orangutans, most noticeably in the Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo. Although orangutans predominantly thrive in lowland forests, populations are also found at higher elevations in montane forests (Orang Utan Republik Foundation).

Land clearing for infrastructure projects and plantation agriculture will make the orangutans extinct if not curbed. Therefore, efforts to stop the spread of deforestation in Sumatra are essential to the future growth of endangered orangutans and tree species such as the Lithocarpus Tanuliensis. Therefore, in understanding the threats to Sumatran orangutan populations, it is crucial to note the importance of maintaining the habitat and food sources that they thrive on to expand their populations. Only then can this tree species solve the issue of curbing the dwindling of Sumatra’s orangutan population.

AChanceforRutgersToMobilizewithClimateReality

TheClimateRealityProject.(2022,August8).TheInflationReductionActWillTransformAmerica.TheClimateReality Project RetrievedMarch24,2024,fromhttps://wwwclimaterealityprojectorg/blog/inflation-reduction-act-will-transformamerica

TheClimateRealityProject (2023,July24) ClimateRealityNewYorkCoalitionHelpsPassLandmarkBuilding ElectrificationLegislation.TheClimateRealityProject.RetrievedMarch24,2024,from https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/climate-reality-new-york-coalition-helps-pass-landmark-building-electrificationlegislation

BreakingBoundaries:YouthPlaintiffsTriumphin MilestoneClimateTrialAgainstMontana

Campell,W (2023,August14) Theplaintiffsinthenation’sfirstyouthclimatechangetrialposeforaphotooutsideofMontana’s FirstJudicialCourtonJune12.Vox.https://cdn.voxcdn.com/thumbor/wdRhV69G9suZ4h8zZonQDdKV6BM=/0x0:6048x4024/1520x1013/filters:focal(2541x1529:3507x2495):form at(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus image/image/72362063/GettyImages 1258644270.7.jpg

Noor,D (2023,August14) ‘Gamechanger’:judgerulesinfavorofyoungactivistsinUS climatetrial TheGuardian https://wwwtheguardiancom/us-news/2023/aug/14/montana-climate-trial-young-activists-judge-order

RutgersGreenTransportation

AlanM VorheesTransportationCenter (2024) Healthy,Just,ResilientandCarbon-Neutral MobilityStudy AlanMVoorheesTransportationCenter https://vtcrutgersedu/our-projects/healthy-just-resilient-and-carbonneutral-mobility-study/ DeFoe,J.(2022,August9).ElectricScootersRollOntoNewBrunswickCampus.Rutgers AlumniAssociation https://wwwrutgersalumniorg/1766-magazine-2022/1766scooters/#:~:text=Students%20access%20the%20scooters%20through,of%2037%20cents%20a%20minute Kopp,R,&Lyons,K (2021,June23) ClimateActionPlan https://sites.rutgers.edu/climate-task-force/wp-content/uploads/sites/332/2021/09/RUClimateActionPlan Sept2021893.pdf RutgersInstitutionalPlanningandOperations.(2024).Parking&TransportationServices: InstitutionalPlanningandOperations.Parking&TransportationServices|InstitutionalPlanningandOperations. https://iporutgersedu/dots

NewYork’sZero WasteInitiatives

CITIES100:NewYorkCity-Zerowasteplantoeliminatewastetolandfill.C40Cities.(2022,February15). https://www.c40.org/case-studies/cities100-new-york-city-zero-waste-plan-to-eliminate-waste-to-landfill/ Zerowastechallenge.ZeroWasteChallenge-Mayor’sOfficeofSustainability.(n.d.). https://www.nyc.gov/site/sustainability/initiatives/zero-waste-challenge.page

WhyIntersectionalityisImportantintheEnvironmental Movement

Allen,S.,Lewis,H.,&Morgan,N.(2022,June5).IntersectionalityofEnvironmentalJusticeandWomenofColor| Spark:ElevatingScholarshiponSocialIssues.Medium.RetrievedFebruary20,2024,from https://medium.com/national-center-for-institutional-diversity/the-intersectionality-of-environmental-justice-andwomen-of-color-e17d1a2b34d6

KimberléCrenshaw:Theurgencyofintersectionality|TEDTalk.(2016,November14).TEDTalks.RetrievedMarch 12,2024,fromhttps://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of intersectionality?language=en Taylor,D.(2022,July28).YaleExpertsExplainIntersectionalityandClimateChange|YaleSustainability.Yale Sustainability.RetrievedFebruary20,2024,fromhttps://sustainability.yale.edu/explainers/yale-experts-explainintersectionality-and-climate-change

WhatIsClimateFeminism?(2021,March18).NRDC.RetrievedFebruary20,2024,from https://www.nrdc.org/stories/what-climate-feminism

“RinginYourSpring”

Lrichmond (nd) VinesandShrubs TheOfficialWebSiteforTheStateofNewJersey https://wwwnjgov/agriculture/divisions/anr/pdf/10 Vines%20and%20Shrubs%202011pdf

“FlowersAreBecomingSelf-Pollinators”

Butler,Stuart.“Flowersadaptingtoaworldwithoutinsects.”Geographical,23December2023, https://geographical.co.uk/news/flowers-adapting-to-a-world-without-insects.Accessed18March2024.

Horn,Ayurella “Flowersareevolvinginwaysthatcouldspellfurthertroublefortheplanet’spollinators”CNN,23January2024, https://wwwcnncom/2024/01/23/world/flower-self-fertilization-pollinator-decline-scn/indexhtml Accessed18March2024

“Dandelies:BlowingAwaytheMythsSurrounding Dandelions”

deVere,N.(2020,April29).Theimportanceofdandelions–aretheyreallyaweed?|.NationalBotanicGardenofWales.Retrieved February29,2024,fromhttps://botanicgarden.wales/2020/04/the-importance-of-dandelions-are-they-really-a-weed/ Marengo,K (nd) Dandelion:HealthBenefitsandSideEffects Healthline RetrievedFebruary29,2024,from https://wwwhealthlinecom/nutrition/dandelion-benefits Sanchez,A,&Jobson,J (nd) TenThingsYouMightNotKnowAboutDandelions-MaineOrganicFarmersandGardeners MaineOrganicFarmersandGardenersAssociation.RetrievedFebruary29,2024,fromhttps://www.mofga.org/resources/weeds/tenthings-you-might-not-know-about-dandelions/#:~:te

“TheHumanityinthePassaic”

Morris,S (Director) (2021) AmericanRiver[FilmDocumentary] PassaicRiverFilmsLLC PassaicRiverCoalition.(2023).WhatYouCanDo.PassaicRiverCoalition(PRC).https://passaicriver.org/donate-to-the-passiacriver-coalition/what-you-can-do/

“WhoLettheWolvesOut?”

Blevins,J.(2023,December19).Wildlifeofficialsrelease5wolvesfromOregonintoColoradoasreintroductionbegins.RMPBS. https://wwwrmpbsorg/blogs/news/colorado-wolf-reintroduction/ Coloradoparksandwildlife (nd) ColoradoParksandWildlife RetrievedFebruary13,2024,from https://cpwstatecous/learn/Pages/Wolves-in-Colorado-FAQaspx

Reardon,S.(2023,December22).WolvesreleasedinSummitCounty,bringingtotalto10inColorado.SummitDailyNews. https://www.summitdaily.com/news/5-more-wolves-released-in-colorado-bringing-total-to-10/

“Thrifting:ACulturalShiftTowardsSustainability”

Glenn,C.(2023,December3).Thriftshoppingincreasinginpopularityaspeoplelooktostretchtheirholidaybudget.CBSNews. https://wwwcbsnewscom/sacramento/news/thrift-shopping-increasing-in-popularity-as-people-look-to-stretch-their-holidaybudget/

Sicurella,S (2021,June18) Whensecondhandbecomesvintage:GenZhasmadethriftingabigbusiness NPR https://www.npr.org/2021/06/18/1006207991/when-second-hand-becomes-vintage-gen-z-has-made-thrifting-a-big-business USCensusBureau.(2023,August17).NationalThriftStoreDay:August17,2023.Census.gov. https://wwwcensusgov/newsroom/stories/thrift-store-dayhtml

RecentlyDiscoveredOakTreeCouldSaveSumatran Orangutans

Kimbrough,L (2024,January3) NewlydescribedtreespeciesfromSumatracouldbevitalforthreatenedorangutans Mongabay EnvironmentalNews https://newsmongabaycom/2023/12/newly-described-oak-from-sumatra-could-be-vital-for-threatenedorangutans/

RepublikFoundation,O.U.(2024).RainforestEcology.ourf.info.https://www.ourf.info/become-aware/biodiversity/rainforestecology

Uda,S.K.,Hein,L.,&Sumarga,E.(2017,April1).TowardsSustainableManagementofIndonesiantropicalpeatlands. SpringerLink https://linkspringercom/article/101007/s11273-017-9544-0