The Trail-Volume 16 Issue 3

TRAIL

Celebrating 15years!

GOODBYE FROM OUR SENIORS

JORDAN: THE WATER CRISIS

HEAR FROM A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL GUARD

THE WILLOW PROJECT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ALASKA'S WILDLIFE?

Letterfrom theEditor

HiTrailreaders,

Thisisaveryspecialissueforanumberofreaso Thisyearisthe15yearanniversaryofTheEPI Trail'screation.Sixteenvolumesanddozens , proudtohavekeptthispublicationrunningfor2years,following inthefootstepsofmanybeforeme.

Thisisalsothelastissuethatmyselfandseveralothergraduating seniorswillbeapartof.Itisabittersweetfeelingtoknowthatmy timehereiscomingtoanend,butIamthankfulforeveryoneI've workedwithandthebeautifulworkwehaveproduced.

Ihopethatyouallstaytunedfornextyear,asIknowthat TheTrailwillcontinuetoreflect thepassionanddiverseinterests ofEPIBstudents.

Sincerely,

MiaWeinberg Editor-in-Chief

Meet Ou S ff

Graphic Designer

Amanda Spinweber

Graphic Designer

Amillia Keagle

Photographer

Designer, Editor & Columnist

Meet Our Staff

Analiese Haag

Writer & Editor

Emily Sullivan

Writer & Editor

Evan DeAngelis

Writer & Editor

Chris McLaughlin

Writer & Editor

Meet Our Staff

Khush Patel

Writer & Editor

Lea Cerini

Writer & Editor

Mia Weinberg

Editor-in-Chief, Designer

Miranda Ma

Writer & Editor

Meet Our Staff

Shan Chen

Priyal Patel

Designer, Writer & Editor

Graphic Designer

Santiago Varela

Writer & Editor

Stella Campbell

Writer & Editor

Thank

Myundergr attendedcommunitycollegeforacoupleofyears,transferredto another school, and then transferred again to Rutgers in the Spring of 2022. I declared the Environmental Policy, InstitutionsandBehaviormajoronawhim.Priortocomingto EPIB,IfeltthatIlackeddirectioninmycareer.

Campbell(left)andclassmateVanessaThomasattheir thesispresentationwithadvisorDr.KarenO'Neill(right)

Stella Campbell

Now,IreflectonmypathtoEPIBatRutgerswithgratitude knowingthatmycuriosityandpersistenceledmehere.Inmy final article for The Trail as an EPIB student, I share what I cherishmostaboutmyexperienceinthismajor. As environmental policy students, we explore intersections between humans, systems, and our environment in varying capacities.Wegainfundamentalknowledgeofnaturalscience phenomena, risk perception, policymaking, histories of development,andissuesrelatingtotheclimate.Ourstudiesare designed to give us an ecological perspective, or a sense of “ecolacy”, whereby we consider things in their systems rather thanasisolatedentities.Whatisspecialtomeaboutthissortof interdisciplinarylearningisthatIcouldplacemyselfinallofit. HowIunderstandmyindividualroleintheworldaroundme haschangeddrastically:Ifeelmoreconnectedwiththepeople andplacesaroundme.Irecognizethatourchoicesimpactone anotherandfeelmoreintegratedinmynaturalsurroundings. My lessons challenged my existing worldview and challenged metogrowasastudentinmorewaysthanone.

I could discuss concepts and skills I gained from EPIB; however, as my studies encompassed whole systems, my learning enriched me as a whole person. Students, staff, and facultywithinEPIBfostersomethingreallyspecialatRutgers. In the three semesters I was here, I was welcomed, included, valuedandsupported.RatherthanfeelinglikeIhadtocompete withmypeers,Ihadtheopportunitytolearnfromtheunique perspectivesofthosearoundmewhilesharingmine.

Itookover20creditseachsemesterstudyingatRutgerssoI couldgraduateinMay2023.Ijuggledassignmentsandoften had to prioritize studying for one course over another. Last semester,Ihadlittletimetostudyforamidterm.Ididnotfeel readywhatsoever.Ijoinedastudygroupwithacoupleofpeers whofeltreadyfortheexam,anduponlettingthemknowIfelt unprepared,onesaidthat“wearegoingto getthewholeteamready”.Althougha seeminglysmallsentiment,this encapsulateswhatIwilltakewithmefrom EPIB.

HowIunderstandmyindividualrolein the world around me has changed drastically:Ifeelmoreconnectedwith thepeopleandplacesaroundme.

IamgoingtomissbeinganEPIBstudentupongraduation.I thrivedherelikeIhaveneverthrivedinmyeducationbefore.In three short semesters, I have grown immensely. I am sad to leave, but I feel grateful for all that I bring with me as I go. Thank you to my professors, to staff members, to fellow students,andtofriends.Yourkindness,visionanddedication inspireme.Thankyou,EPIB.

~ Stella Campbell

New

The Hope for the New Jersey Shore;

aninterview with Billand

Arlene Scirappa

The Living Shoreline Project, is engaged in building several coastal habitats, repairing dunes, planting native coastal shrubs and grasses, as well as setting coir logs and wirebound rock embankments. These efforts will be among many utilizedtoprotect,reinforce,restore, and beautify the vulnerable New Jerseycoastalwetlandssodamagedby development, erosion, and mismanagement.

In the process of looking into the matteroftheseefforts,Iinterviewed twocrucialdriversofthismovement andsubsequentproject,theveritable power-couple behind the project: Doctor and professor Bill Scirappa andhiswifeArleneScirappa.Atfirst I asked them both; “How was the livingshorelinefirstdevisedandhow diditchange?”

Bothofthetwowantedtohelpwork off of an old coastal bulkhead that was originally meant to be expanded using local was convinced to fall in behindthisprogressivethisneweffort was to be inspired by south coastal techniques with a town selected figure,AndrewRella,who’sconcrete mattress proposal was rejected by someexpertsandbythetownspeople. So, Captain Al Modjeski, from the American Littoral Society, and the Scirappas worked to find an alternative.SaidProfessorScirappa; “We needed something mild to maintain that small, natural estuary habitat. We don’t need to urbanize, wearen’ttheHudson.''

The effort aimed to strengthen the coast, mitigate flooding, and help to resurrect the coastal ecosystem. Arlene prevented the FEMA grant fromgoingtoabulkheadbypacking acouncilmeetingwiththemanylocal dissenters, engaging in community organizing. This is a goal Professor Scirappa is aiming at teaching his students and constituents that local involvementiscrucial.TheMaster

gardeners at Rutgers and other university groups have helped to expedite this development process.

Local NGOs cooperate extensively tomakethispossible.Followingthat, Iaskedthetwotoexplainhowtheir involvement in the SRCC (Shark RiverCleanupCoalition)dovetailed intotheLivingShorelineproject. The SRCC, for reference, is a Monmouth county based watershed protectionNGO.

AsArleneScirappasaid;“TheSRCC has been totally integrated since the beginning” the homeowners associationandlocalcommunitywas informed through the SRCC and triggered the community organizing thathelpedtabletheoldproposals.

Subsequently,Iaskedthemboththe following; “What was the proposal process like?” In a single word; “Arduous”waswhatIwastold.After apause,ProfessorScirappaexplained

that the initial proposal did not always resonate with the town, so publicpressureandprotest,inwhich the Scirappas were deeply involved. They played a pivotal role in redirectingagreatsumofthatFEMA grant money. Due in large part to theirworkings,FEMAtransferredthe grant money after a protracted quibble,andsoon wasconvincedto fall in behind this progressive new approach to reconstructive development. The secret for this achievement,Iwastold,wasto“keep rattling the cages ” according to Bill Sciraappa. Next the Scirappas were asked to explain to me the scope of the operations, and their role therein. A sudden change in leadership when the business administrator retired in NeptuneTownship,itcauseddelays andleftthemtolaynewgroundwork

and establish connections. Elaborating on their general involvement, Bill explained first stating;“Myrolewastoaffectchange in the design, and involve people in the process of using our experience throughtheSRCC,oratRutgers,to focusontheplantbiologyaspectof trying to bring about a healthy estuaryinSharkRiver.”Arlene,more succinctly, stated: “My role was communication and mobilization, and constantly staying in contact with all of the shareholders so that theystayontheball.”

In conclusion, I believe their work represents a promising step towards coastal recovery In New Jersey and environmental safety. It is work like this that puts our state and the countryonapathofprogress.

quirrels

aroundtheworl d

Coming to college, I was excited about a lot of things, but I was also very nervous. Like so many others coming to Rutgers, I was staying in the state but going away from home to a completely different setting. I would be leaving all the people I knew, leaving my safe suburban high school life, and entering New Brunswick. As someone who loves the environment, I was uncertain how to cope with limited green space and animals (my dogs and wildlife). For this reason, seeing squirrels around campus always brought me a sense of euphoria. Studying abroad in Costa Rica for spring break, I was awestruck when I

saw squirrels on the last day. Squirrels are widespread, so they are often overlooked, but many different types bring the wilderness to cities worldwide. In NJ, there are two types of squirrels, flying squirrels (which glide) and gray squirrels, which are gray with lightercolored underbellies (“Squirrels”). The Eastern Grey Squirrel is the most common in the United States. Their native range begins in southern Quebec, through NJ, down to Florida, and into eastern Texas. They have been introduced to many locations throughout the US (and have become invasive in Europe) ("Maryland

AnalieseHaag

, , g , DC, was done as a part of the movement to bring nature into cities. While squirrels prefer nuts, seeds, and fruits, they are omnivores, will eat almost anything, and are willing to try new things. Their eating habits and their reception of people have enabled them to flourish in cities and become a part of the community (“History of American Urban Squirrel,” 2013).

as aforementioned, gray squirrels are the species that people see most often in their backyards and parks, but in some regions, they are invasive and disrupt the ecology. They were introduced to Europe purposely as an ornamental species in the late 1800s through the early 1900s until the damage they were causing was recognized. They eat the food from bird feeders, destroy the bark of trees, which costs the timber industry millions, and damage maize and fruit crops. Gray squirrels also eat native birds’ eggs and nestlings. Perhaps the worse outcome is their effect on the

native red squirrels which have been nearly extinct since the gray squirrels out-compete them for food and habitat and carry a lethal squirrel pox that kills the native species, but the invasive squirrels are immune to (“Economic and Environmental Damage,” 2023). While gray squirrels bring beauty to NJ cities, action must be taken to remove them from Europe to protect the red squirrels. Both red and gray squirrels live primarily in temperate deciduous forests, but squirrels live in tropical forests, such as the Variegated Squirrel. I saw some of these tree squirrels while they were trying to get people’s food at the hotel in Costa Rica, reminding me of the New Brunswick squirrels. They can be found in many other countries: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. Like the gray squirrels, this species is widespread. Seeing their fantastic coloration stopped me in my tracks. These squirrels vary in appearance depending on the individual population, ranging from dark brown to yellowish-gray with different stripes. All Variegated Squirrels are medium

size with long bushy tails. They are solitary, herbivores, and remarkably agile (“Variegated Squirrel,” 2023).

Wherever you visit, keep your eyes open to see the squirrels that can bring you a sense of home while revealing the wonders of wildlife worldwide.

Semester Wrap Up:

KisstheGround MovieScreening

CleanupatBoydPark

HostedGuestSpeaker: QuintonLaw

The club's goal is to empower students to becomeclimateadvocates.

If you are interested in joining, please follow @climaterealityruformore information on meetings andevents.

From Ancient to Environmentally

Conscious: Greek Islands and Renewable Energy Advancements Lea Cerini

Greecehasrecentlysetthegoaltobe carbonneutralbytheyear2050.The countryofGreecehas227islandsthat serve as popular summer vacation destinations.Astheeffectsof climate

months. This impertinent situation led to an initiative of Greece’s government to “transform Greek islands into models of green economy, energy autonomy, digital innovation and ecological mobility”(Kokkinidis,2023).

changehavegrownmoresevere,itis clear the islands are vulnerable. The island of Crete continues to experience dangerous floods from rising sea levels while the island Evia battles wildfires from rising temperatures.Inaddition,theislands are reliant on producing a large amount of energy to support the influxoftouristsduringthesummer

Remote islands like Mykonos and Santorini must generate their own energybecausetheyaretoofarfrom themainland.Theydosobyburning oil,withaverysmall proportionoftheirenergy generatedfrom renewablesources.The priceofoilhasbecome increasinglyexpensive, makingthesummer tourismmonthsquite costlyforthe municipalityand vacationers.The governmenthas

proposedasolutiontoencouragethe switch of oil burning to renewable energy. The 4.3 billion dollar Euro project aims to connect Greece’s mainland with the islands of the Aegeanwithunderseacablesby2030 (Bourtis,2023).Thecableswillstore energyandwillprovidefortheisland in times of low wind or sun. To preserve the accessibility and availability of the Greek islands as vacationsandarchaeologicaltreasures, the transition to renewable energy becomes critical to their protection andlongevity.

AlternativesandConsiderations

The group Movement for the ProtectionoftheIslandsfightsagainst the implementation of large-scale wind farms because of their fear of overdevelopment occurring on the islands. They are concerned with the adverseeffectsofthewindmills,such astheimpacttheyposeon

marine life and noise pollution. Instead,theybelievethatsmaller-scale projects of wind, solar and battery storage will achieve the island's goal of self-sufficient energy generation. Solar energy is considered the best renewableoptionforthisscenarioas wind power is controversial due to recent ocean wildlife deaths. The MovementfortheProtectionofthe Islands group also promotes community collaboration to find local solutions by involving the islands’ residents in the planning of these projects. Local community involvement encourages the generation of achievable solutions thatsupportthepermanentresidents oftheislands.

GreenTourism

Greentourismistheideathattravel destinations and lodgings will be determinedbyhowenvironmentally

sustainable the location is. Certain hotels in popular destinations have already tapped into the concept of green tourism by creating zeroemissionhotelswiththeprioritization ofeco-friendlyfeaturesthatpromote sustainability. Tourists are likely to choose a hotel because of their environmentalconsciousness.

TheGreekIslandscangreatlybenefit from green tourism as tourism increases and small municipalities bearhighcostsforenergy.Halkiisthe firstGreekislandwithzero-emissions as established by the Greco Islands. The island has a solar park that provides energy for residents, allowing them to zero their energy bills and save money. In one year residents saved 200,000 euros and reduced carbon emissions by 2,246 kg. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos MitsotaxishasdeclaredHalkiandthe

Dodecanese Islands as “sites of dynamic investments in green and cyclical economies,” translating to “cheap electricity and new jobs for the residents'' (Kokkinidis, 2023). Energyresiliencehasthepotentialto create a sustainable relationship between the environment and tourism in small communities. The Greek economy will flourish from sustainingcarbon-neutraltourismin localcommunitiesthatprioritizethe environment and permanent residents.

TheTRAIL 22

JORDAN

In2019,IspentayearinthecountryofJordanwiththeNewJerseyArmy NationalGuard.Blisteringhottrainingevents,coldnightsinthedesert,and lotsofteawiththeJordanianArmedForces(JAF)soldierswasmylifefora year.OfthemanymemoriesIholdfrommytimeoverseas,thereisonething alwayssticksout:thewater.Onourbase,wehadaplethoraofmassivepalates of Aquafina bottles for the taking. The tap water was not suitable for consumption due to a myriad of reasons. While we indulged in as many bottlesaswewantedwheneverwewanted,theJAFdidnothavethatluxury. Their water bottles or hydration systems were never full. The water they boughtwasinarefurbishedgastanker,thoughthesoldiersnevertookfrom that. They were constantly asking for our Aquafina bottles. With limited naturalresourcesandincreasingdemand,Jordanisstrugglingtoprovideits citizenswithaccesstosafeandcleanwater.

Thecrisisisprimarilyaresultoftwofactors:climatechangeandpopulation growth.Jordanisoneofthemostwater-scarcecountriesintheworld,withan annualrenewablewatersupplyofjust145cubicmeterspercapita,wellbelow

PhotobyMcLaughlin

theinternationalwaterpovertylineof500cubicmeterspercapita(UNICEF). Thesituationhasbeenfurtherexacerbatedbyrisingtemperatures anddecreasingrainfallduetoclimatechange.Additionally, Jordanhasexperiencedasignificantincreaseinpopulationinrecent years,whichhasputimmensepressureonthecountry'salreadylimitedwater resources.TheconsequencesofthewatercrisisinJordanarefar-reaching.

Withoutaccesstosafeandcleanwater,peopleareatriskofwaterbornediseases like cholera, which can be deadly. In addition, the crisis has significant economic implications, as businesses and industries that rely on water are struggling to stay afloat. The agricultural sector, which accounts for a significant portion of Jordan's economy, has been hit particularly hard, with farmers forced to abandoncropsduetolackofwater.

ThecrisisisparticularlysevereinthecapitalcityofAmman,whereover4

millionpeoplerelyonanundergroundwatersupplythatisrapidlydepleting. Currentlythe12aquifersthatsupplyJordanwithwater,allarebeingdepleted beyondtheirrechargeablevolumes(UNICEF).Thesituationhasbecomeso direthatthegovernmenthasbeenforcedtoimplementstrictwaterrationing measures, limitingaccesstowaterforhoursorevendaysatatime. Toaddress thewatercrisis,theJordaniangovernmenthas

implemented several measures. These include promoting water conservation and efficiency, investing in alternative water sources such as desalination and wastewater reuse, and implementing policies to encouragewater-savingpracticesin agriculture. International organizations, including the United Nations, have also been working to support Jordan in its effortstotacklethecrisis.

However, more needs to be donetoaddresstherootcauses of the crisis. Jordan needs a long-term sustainable solution that will ensure access to safe and clean water for its citizens forgenerations

PhotobyMcLaughlin

Krka National Park of Croatia

Lozovac, Croatia

Located on the Krka River in southern Croatia, this nature reserve is full of beautiful surprises with trails, flower covered grounds, medieval castle ruins, riverboat rides, and a 7-series of waterfalls.

GreenFinancing RedStates,

The Inflation Reduction Act(IRA)passedwithout a single GOP vote. However, the biggest winnersfromtheIRAare ironicallytheRepublicans who voted against it. Roughlytwo-thirdsofthe major clean energy projects are in districts whose Republican lawmakers opposed the IRA, meaning that the money Democrats voted toinvestincleanpoweris largely spent in n Republican districts. Although Republicans continue to vote against climatelegislationlikethe IRA, constituents in red in

districtshavethemostto gain from these kinds of bills. This is so for three reasons: 1) red states are geographically the best sites for renewable projects, 2) red states are wherethemostemissions come from and 3) red states are where new infrastructure typically getsbuilt,duetoindustry incentives, space, and cheaperskilledlabor.

Thebenefitsforredstates is evident in a series of data-driven figures by Enersection, a new Houston-based company. For example, the best placeTableofContents

place to put up wind turbines is where there is lotsofopenspace,causing strong winds. Just 10 states roughly between the Mississippi River and the Rockies account for over 80% of US onshore wind power potential, andthatregionskewsred (70% of the House districts in those states have Republican representatives).

“Rural and semi rural districts offer more open, and cheaper, spaces to site electricity.

Thebenefitsforredstates is evident in a series of data

Khushbu Patel

data-driven figures by Enersection, a new Houston-based company. For example, the best place to put up wind turbines is where there is lotsofopenspace,causing strong winds. Just 10 statesroughlybetweenthe Mississippi River and the Rockies account for over 80% of US onshore wind power potential, and that region skews red (70% of the House districts in those states have Republican representatives).

“Rural and semi rural districts offer more open, and cheaper, spaces to site electric infrastructure than the urban and suburban areas that tend tovoteblue.Evenwithin states that tilt blue, wind capacity tends to be built in districts with Republican representatives.Ofthetop 15 districts for existing and planned wind capacity in states won by JoeBidenin2020,13are red” (Denning & Davies, 2022).

Forcleanenergy companies,itmakessense tobuildsolarfacilitiesin predominantlyredSun Beltstateswithanti-union laws.Furthermore,20out of25districtswiththe highestgreenhousegas emissionsfromindustrial sitesareRepublican.The IRAincentivisesclean energycompaniestobe drawntoredstates throughfederalsubsidies, taxbenefits,andcapital becauseredstatesneed cleanenergythemost.

“OklahomaGov.Kevin Stit

Stitt (R) is proud of the state’s standing as the nation’sthird-largestwind power producer - behind only Texas and Iowa. More than 40% of Oklahoma’s electricity comes from wind generation, and the state boasts more than 20,000 jobsincleanenergy,about 1.3% of its workforce” (Morehouse, 2022).

Nevertheless, Stitt staunchly disputed the notion that an expansion of the tax credits that led to Oklahoma’s wind boom

boomcoulddoanymore to help his state’s economy.

“Texas - whose governor, Greg Abbott, was one of 22 Republicans who signed an Aug. 4 letter opposing the IRAproduces more wind powerbymegawattsthan anyotherstate,thesecond most solar power in the country and ranks only behindCaliforniainclean energyjobs,atmorethan a quarter million. It also has tremendous potential for

for more. Texas leads in wind potential with 1.3 million megawatts in possible capacity, and ranks as the fourth sunniest state, with the highest capacity for solar in terms of land mass, accordingtotheNational Renewable Energy Laboratory” (Morehouse, 2022).

“Moving further to the right, there is Colorado’s 3rd District, represented by Lauren Boebert. In January 2021, she responded to the US reentry into the Paris Agreement by tweeting that she works “for the peopleofPueblo,notthe people of Paris.” Ironic, really, since Pueblo, one ofthebiggestcitiesinher district, has a 100% renewable electricity targetandisemergingasa regionalcleanenergyhub. Overall, Boebert’s district ranks 16th of the 435 districts for planned renewable energy capacity” (Denning & Davies,2022).

“Applying benchmark estimates of capital costs forwind,solarandbattery projects from Bloomberg NEF and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to planned capacity implies a $107 billion investment opportunity from the IRA - almost four-fifths of it in red districts” (Denning & Davies, 2022). The evidence is clearthatGOPlawmakers are seemingly enjoying economic development, jobs, and energy security from the IRA that they said the nation did not need

need. The success of the IRA has helped constituents in red and blue states alike, which incentivises the GOP to be more compromising movingforwardwithnew climatelegislation.Inthis polarizing nation, despite differing political affiliations,itappearsthat Americans have common interestsandgoals,evenif theGOPisslowtoadmit it.Hopefully,thebenefits to red states can change GOP attitudes towards the future of the clean energytransition.

Key West Butterfly and Nature Conervatory Key West, Florida

This conservatory is a must for all who visit the beautiful island of Key West. Before entering the conservatory, there is a gift shop and a n education center displaying a few insect species and about the life cycle of the butterflies As soon as you enter the enclosure, you are transported to a fairytale land of butterflies fluttering all around you, the air almost feels lighter. Around the bend are more critters such as the Yellow Edged Owl Butterfly Chicago on the next page and distant relatives of dinosaurs... flamingoes and other tropical birds including this White Breasted Gouldian Finch pictured here. Once you've visited, you will be dreaming of butterflies forevermore.

Whatisthe WillowProject?

PriyalPatel

The Willow project has been getting a significant amount of attention globally. The Willow project is an oil drilling project allowing the corporation ConocoPhillips to drill on Alaska’s North Slope in an area that is part of Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve. This area was kept untouched in case of any increased threats to the nation's access to petroleum. The drilling project would become the largest oil drilling project in U.S. Soil. The project has groups battling on opposing sides, both for and against it. Environmental advocates say it would cause unfathomable damage to the region, stating that climate change effects could be increased with the commencement of the drilling project.

It could also completely undermine the state's ability to protect its resources. Animals such as “grizzly bears and polar bears, caribou and hundreds of thousands of migratory birds “ will be affected by the Biden Administration's decision to allow the continuation of the project.

The project had been in negotiations since the Trump administration and was set to be approved in 2021. However, due to a significant flaw in the government’s environmental impact assessments of the project, Judge Sharon Gleason of the US District of Alaska stopped issuing federal permits in 2021 (Cloutier, 2023).

She had declared that the environmental review did not “consider key climate and environmental impacts to wildlife in the area ” and left out crucial information about the effects of global warming as well (Neilson, 2023). Even now, Judge Gleason has stated that the effects of the drilling and construction on the land do not outweigh the economic benefits that will be provided (Neilson, 2023). The Biden administration did have its hands tied in the sense that ConocoPhillips does have rights to the land from decades-old leases. The Biden administration has not approved the project in its entirety; however, it has approved 3 of the five oil drilling wells, thus decreasing the size of the project(Elbeshishi, 2023).

Stakeholders' Point of View

ConocoPhillips is currently the biggest crude oil producer in all of Alaska.

They have leased over thousands of acres of land in the state alone (ConocoPhillips, 2023). The company is expected to help deliver anywhere from “ $8 billion to $17 billion” in profits & revenues to the U.S. federal government, the state of Alaska, and local communities like the North Slope Borough communities (ConocoPhillips, 2023).

ConocoPhillips was found to have increased its lobbying efforts in order to get the Willow project passed. The Non-Profit Opensecrets.org found that the firm spent around “$8.7 million on federal lobbying in the last year, ” which is almost double the previously invested amount(Cloutier, 2023). Some have also speculated that ConocoPhillips has given up the 68,00 acres of its existing leasing area not to reduce its footprint on the land but to gain public support.

It allows the business to receive some praise rather be under public scrutiny.

Alaskan Natives are torn. Some believe that the project would be good for Alaska’s economy and help increase jobs in the area for years to come. However, others feel their connection with Alaska’s native wildlife and natural resources is being jeopardized.

Environmental Activists are aggravated by the inability of the government to stop the project. Activists had previously sent millions of letters to the White House and had gotten 5 million signatures for a petition on change.org; however, they could not convince the government to stop issuing the permits. The Actvitist have continued their fight against the approval by sending lawsuits. Some Alaskan Native groups are actually sending some of these lawsuits.

How sustainable are LEED Buildings?

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED promotes sustainable, energy-efficient, and cost-saving designs for buildings.

LEEDcertificationisbuiltaround the three pillars of sustainability: people,planet,andprosperity(US Green Building Council, 2022).

LEED-certified buildings have manybenefits,andtheirinitiatives havediverted80milliontonsof

Santiago Varela

wastefromlandfills.Thatnumber is expected to rise to 540 million tons of waste by 2030. While there are important benefits that comewithbuildingsbeingLEED certified, it is important to recognize the negative consequences.Propertyvaluesare known to rise when they are LEED-certified, leading to gentrification in the environmental sector. Another issue that arises from LEED certifiedbuildingsisthat

implementing sustainable design inbuildingdevelopmentdoesnot guarantee an overall reduction in greenhousegasemissions.

AstudyconductedbyDickinson College shows that property values for new homes that are LEED certified are 8 percent higher than homes that are not LEED certified, adding onto the fact that energy efficient homes are already selling for 30 percent more. Consequently,theissueof neighborhood gentrification arises. Lower-income people can notaffordthesepropertieswitha rising value. Meanwhile people withhigherincomesareattracted totheseproperties,forcinglowerincome people to relocate to anotherareathatisnotinvestedin sustainable practices. A possible solutiontothisissettingupmore affordablehousingprogramsfor

Aplaqueindicatingthesilverlevelof LEEDcertification

LEED-certified residencies. Only 40 percent of LEED-certified projects have affordable housing programs (Benson, 2019). If this figure increases, then neighborhood gentrification becomeslessofaproblem.

Energy efficiency design in buildingsmustbeaccompaniedby sustainability behaviors in these buildings. Implementing sustainabledesignsisagreatwayof tackling greenhouse gas emissions, but it is not sufficient enough to solveourwasteproblems.Areport byastudentattheUniversityof

Virginia found that wealthier people who purchase LEEDcertified buildings tend to consume more energy and resources that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions than priortothebuildingbeingcertified asLEED(Breza,2020).

TheprocessofLEEDcertification is successful only when neighborhood certification is accounted for and when everyday practices from buildings and homeowners are sustainable. The great importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable building design must not overshadow the negatives of neighborhood gentrification and overuseofresources.Onlywhenall ofthesefactorsareconsideredcan LEED certified buildings be truly sustainable.

T h i n g s t o D o :

New Brunswick Community Farmers Market

New Brunswick, NJ

During the quieter summer months in the city comes the local favorite, New Brunswick Community Farmers Market. This market is geared to be accessible to all and focuses on bringing fresh, local produce to New Brunswick low-income residents. A true gem full of friendly staff, local vendors, and Jersey Fresh produce, and affordable prices Come check it out at both locations: NBCFM Market Pavilion near Douglass Campus and Kilmer Square Park near the train station.

Rutgers

Floriculture Greenhouse

Cook/Douglass Campus

Just a few steps away from the Red Oak Lane bus stop, is the Rutgers Floriculture Greenhouse. Typically open from 9am to 2pm on weekdays, this greenhouse has free admission! Come check out an array of plants and this Blue Poison Dart Frog!

NewBrunswickCommunityFarmersMarket

AlexaHaris

SOLIDAR FOREV FOREV

AUTHOREDBY MIRANDAMA DESIGNEDBY ALEXAHARIS

RITY RITY trail mixVER VER

Theweekof04/10-04/14 has been one for Rutgers’ history books. Roughly 9,000 faculty members organized and participated inastrikeagainstextremely low wages and close to no job security. The majority ofclassesandresearchatthe University were shut down as many of the students joined their professors, in solidarity,atthefrontofthe picketlines.Rutgersshould befirstandforemostforthe education of its students. Andweoweoureducation toourdedicatedprofessors. SothethemeofthisIssue’s Trail Mix is: “Solidarity Forever”. Here are 10 (11 withthebonussong)songs tolistentothatreflectthese currentevents.

TheTRAIL

"GonnaRollThe UnionOn"

byWoody Guthrie 1.

I thought this was an appropriate first song as it showcases the union’s role withinthestrike.Throughout strike week, the Rutgers unions emphasized the importance of power in numbers This idea is highlighted with Guthrie’s lyrics:

Theunionisfedupwiththe Universityadministrationand PresidentJonathanHolloway in particular. Which segways into the theme of the next song…

by Radiohead 2.

"Lifeina Glasshouse"

This jazzy Radiohead song reflects the disconnect between the University and the union. The first part of the song is from the perspective of President Hollowayandtherestofthe administration It starts with “Once again I'm in trouble with my only friend/ She is papering the window panes/ She is putting on a smile/ Livinginaglasshouse”.This “only friend” is all the lecturers/researchers/professo rs/students that provide Rutgerswiththeirprestigein education.Aseducationisat the root of any university, they should be treated like a “friend”.

by BobDylan 3.

"Diseaseof Conceit"

On a sadder tune, we have Bob Dylan’s “Disease of Conceit” discussing how the many people suffer at the handsofconceitandgreed.It gives a more pessimistic view on the control of an unjust system

"We’re gonna roll the union on/ Boss getsaway,gonnaroll itoverhim”

"Conceit is the disease that the doctorsgotnocure They'vedonealotof research on it but what it is they're stillnotsure"

"Finest Wokrsong" byR.E.M. 4.

This song can be used to reflecttheoppositeofDylan’s “Disease of Conceit”. Giving a more optimistic, call-toactionmessagethatshowsthe side of the strike that strives for/encourageschangewithin how the Rutgers education system treats their faculty members. The opening line: “The time to rise has been engaged/You'rebetterbestto rearrange ”emphasizesthatthe timeto“rearrange”thesystem is now. Now, that they have the attention of students, news outlets, and head administratorstheycancreate amorejustsituation.

by Dead Kennedys 5.

"Soupis GoodFood"

IamabigDeadKennedysfan andwhenIfirstheardabout the strike and why it was happening, I immediately thoughtofthissong.Thisisa spooky sounding punk song is chock-full of dark/morbid humor about the realities of working under a corrupt system.Itisdefinitelywortha listenandalookatthelyrics to follow along to; but just giventhetitle,thesongpokes fun at how many jobs don’t pay well enough for their workers to live. So poorly in fact,thattheiremployeesstill have to eat at soup kitchens while management says, “Hey!Cheerup,soupisgood food!”

by Rihanna 6.

"B*tchBetter HaveMy Money"

Thisisjustafunsong(more onthelighterside)addedinto this playlist as many of the picketers are advocating for increased, equal, and appropriate pay. I attended some of the pickets on Cook/Doug and union memberschantedaparodyof thissongshouting,

“RUTGERS Better Have MyMoney”.

7.

"KnowYour Rights"

byTheClash

"Education" by PearlJam 8.

"BeTrueto YourSchool" by The BeachBoys 9.

It’shardnottohaveapolitical playlist and not include The Clash,apunkbandthatstood at the forefront of many liberation groups and movements. This is a very straightforward, slightly sardonic/cynical song reminding people that they haverightseventhoughmost times there seems to be no repercussions if they are violated by people with power

Thissongwaschosentogive a torn student’s perspective on the strike and how it affectstheireducationaltrack, graduating students in particular.Thestudentisata crossroads between caring about finishing school and earning a degree, and what meets them in the careerworld Will they have job security? Are angry unions andgreedyadministrationan inevitablepartoftheirfuture? And are they selfish for wanting to return back to classes in order to graduate, when their lecturers and professors are being mistreated and fighting for theirrights?

I’m a firm-believer in separating the administration from the actual university. Thissongisforallthepeople [like myself] who genuinely loveRutgersbutareunhappy with their treatment towards faculty It is not the administration who makes the school. It’s the lecturers and professors who inspire youinsidetheclassroom.It’s the students who teach you outsidetheclassroom It’sall thepeopleonVoorheesMall during strike week that came together in song and solidarity. That is Rutgers University. That is our school.So,asTheBeachBoys say, “[RU] Rah, rah, rah, be truetoyourschool”.

"Murderisacrime

Oh, know your rights"

"We'reNotGonna TakeIt"

byTwisted Sister

It was a given that I added some Twisted Sister within this playlist. [It’s worth mentioning that these guys haveaparodyoftheprevious Beach Boys song called “Be Chrool to Your Scuel”]

“We’re Not Gonna Take It” hasbeenananthemformany protests across the nation, especially in situations concerningeducationandfair pay.JustasDeeSnider[fully dressedinhisglam-hairmetal regalia] spoke eloquently against Tipper Gore and the PMRC (Parent Music Resource Center), many speakers came to Voorhees Mall to eloquently speak against President Holloway andtheinjusticesplacedupon theRutgersfaculty.

by Frankie Cosmos 11.

"Outsidewith theCuties"

Outside with the cuties I don't think the

My highschool-self was internally screaming! On Friday 04/14, Frankie CosmoscametoRutgersto haveafreesolidaryconcert, outside with all the strike solidarity cuties. After the show I got to meet the amazing Greta Kline and she even signed my skateboard.

Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health Living Wall

Cook/Douglass Campus

Installed in 2015 with the construction of the IFNH building, this living wall blankets the wall of about 1,320 square feet as listed by Michael Coraggio on Greenroofs (Coraggio, 2018).

As of 2018, it is the largest interior living wall in New Jersey, he writes.

Designed by Michael A Coraggio and Ryan M. Burrows, Ecowalls, LLC., the is vertical jungle dreamscape also won a "2016 Landscape Architectural Merit Award: Planting Design from NJASLA" (Coraggio, 2018).

Come relax and take in the luscious greenery after a doctor's visit at the health center or a delicious lunch from Harvest.

Alexa Haris, Ajna (2022), Digital Photo

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Alexa Haris, Ajna With Flowers (2022), Digital Photo

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Alexa Haris, Little One (2017, Digital Photo

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Meyerson, H (2023, January 24) The Democrats' Green Investments Are Going to Republican States The American Prospect. https://prospect.org/blogs-and-newsletters/tap/2023-01-24-democrats-green-investmentsrepublican-states/

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"HowSustainableareLEEDBuildings?"

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CampusSpotlight

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