Conservation
Nature is good for you
“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, ‘”This is what it is to be happy.’” As one of our favorite nature quotes, Sylvia Plath was onto something when she wrote The Bell Jar. And she is right, science has determined nature is good for you. Recently, PLOS…
Read MoreWhat will happen to the environment under Trump?
This article was updated March 29th, 2017 “You know what this says, right? You’re going back to work.” On March 28th, to a smattering of applause, Trump signed an executive order that begins the long process of dismantling Obama’s Clean Power Plan. He said the order, known as “Energy Independence” would deregulate the industry, “reverse…
Read MoreWater, Water, Everywhere? Not Really
In many places, clean drinking water is so commonplace that it is often something that most of us take for granted. In the United States, functional water amenities have become so familiar that in many places they are simply automatic. This is, however, not a luxury that the rest of the world shares, and in…
Read MoreVolunteer in South Africa with Afri-Campus
Recalling what she learned in her training, Beth’s eyes followed the direction the giraffes were gazing. It didn’t take her long to realize that all of them were being watched by one of Africa’s Big Five. Not too far away, a leopard lay benignly under a bush, casually assessing lunch options. Using her intuition and…
Read MoreConflict Palm Oil and the Destruction of Rainforests
This article was updated September 19th, 2017 The rainforests are the lungs of the earth, provide food to many people, and are an amazing ecosystem for some of the world’s most beautiful flora and fauna. With that in mind, there’s little doubt that the effects of rainforest deforestation would be devastating to both people and…
Read MoreCompanies That Give Back To The Rainforest
The rainforests of the world are astounding, and from where almost 80% of food originated. Just imagine millions of giving trees handing out everything from shampoo to coffee to moisturizer and you’ll almost be there. Humans have known the giving potential of the rainforests for thousands of years, relying on it’s flora and fauna for…
Read MoreEffects of Overfishing: Soon There May Not Be Many Fish in The Sea
Overfishing Our Oceans: A Real Possibility The prospect of an overfished ocean is a truly scary thing; what we once thought were an inexhaustible resource has fallen to overconsumption and greed. The oceans are being abused, and everything from sharks, to tuna to humans will feel it. Just looking at the stats, at the rate…
Read MoreA Cruel and Unsustainable Practice: How Can We Stop Shark Finning
Humans often have a history of conquering what we find scary in some seemingly perverse way of proving ourselves. However, in the midst of some recent incredibly cruel actions towards other predators, shark finning might very well be the worst. Shark numbers are dwindling fast, and in order to keep these beautiful creatures alive, we…
Read MoreInspiring Conservation and Nature Quotes
A good conservation quote can really move you to action. A lot of wise people throughout time have said a few things about conservation and the environment. World leaders, philosophers, actors, and even our favorite gun-toting 70’s musician have their share of nature quotes (I’m looking at you, Ted Nugent). “If we wait for the…
Read MoreIf You Like The Environment Than You Should Love This Guy (If You Don’t Already)
Titanic Responsibilities To the general public, it’s hard to make conservation cool, sexy, or otherwise interesting. Enter the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. As well known as Leonardo DiCaprio is for his films, he could arguably have more of an impact on future generations through his intense conservation efforts. If you caught his Oscar speech for The…
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