the wilting bush is right in front of a sitting area, a tupperware full of homemade cookies in the shapes of trees on the table. a pitcher of iced tea, minty and fresh, made just for us on a small plot of land adjacent to the embarras river. it reminds me of my grandparents’ farm. the colorful set of wind chimes strumming chords into the air carries the same cadence of those hung from the trees around my grandmother’s vegetable garden.

this is someone’s backyard, someone’s home, but the greenery that makes this place so vibrant is dying because of herbicide drift. patsy hopper is one of many farmers living in the rural midwest. she’s angry about what she sees, yet approaches anyone who will listen with kindness and hospitality.

hopper’s story calls into question the experiences of people who make their way on small farms, like many of my family members, the many that aren’t aware of the dangers under their noses, and the corporations behind mass herbicide misuse. 

we see firsthand the damages of herbicide drift. the curling, dehydrated leaves are evidence of attempts to bolster crop output for higher profits. according to prairie rivers network, farmers and corporations in the row crop industry have oversaturated their fields with herbicides, often disregarding the scarcely enforced regulatory guidelines. 

in a six-year comprehensive study, prairie rivers network showed that herbicides are drifting more than a mile from the source, threatening human health, trees, crops, and pollinators, with ripple impacts through the ecosystem. this affects the environment and people, like hopper, their livelihoods, health, and quality of life.

hopper tells us that she used to use herbicides like most farmers in central illinois, but went organic after learning more about the dangers and seeing the effects firsthand. this puts her in a minority. only 1% of farms in the united states are certified organic. 

as a descendant of many generations of family farmers, on both my mother and father’s sides, i consider my ties to this damage. how much of my own family uses herbicides? misuses herbicides? have bushes like patsy’s, dying and brittle, in their backyards? 

if you know a farmer, you know what it means to them, to be in touch with the land. however, the nature of farming in illinois has changed dramatically over the years. according to the illinois department of agriculture, since 1959 the average farm size has more than doubled. more than 49% of illinois farmers hold other jobs, treating farming as their secondary occupation. large scale family farms and non-family farms account for the bulk of farm production. for most, farming alone is no longer a sustainable way to support a family.

yet these small farms, scattered between the sterilized sites of the larger industry, are personal. there are the rows of hay bales we would climb and run along as kids, the corn fields we would weave through in a game of hide and seek, the trees we learned to climb. there are the backyards where the tired farmer takes a breath after a long day amongst the corn, the vegetable garden that feeds a family. these places are under threat, and the threat is largely invisible, “hidden in plain sight,” as prairie rivers network says in their 2024 report. 

greenpeace international’s “4 myths about industrial agriculture” discusses how industrial agriculture pushes the idea of “feeding the people,” using the narratives of the actual farmers who earn their livelihood from the land. however, the reality of corn production in the u.s. tells a different story.

according to the usda, 45% of corn grown in the united states is used for ethanol. in illinois alone, the department of agriculture records that 274 million bushels of illinois corn are used each year to produce about 678 million gallons of ethanol– more than any other state.

beyond diverting crops from food production, ethanol contributes to environmental damage. the us energy information administration states that ethanol and ethanol-gasoline mixtures burn have higher evaporative emissions from fuel tanks, contributing to smog formation and air pollution. rather than feed the people, the crop industry is growing gasoline, and increasing pollution while they’re at it.

hopper tells us how heavy branches drop out of her trees on a windless day. the dull thud of a rotted life plucked from something once beautiful and full. she grieves the ghostly falling limbs, whole trees dying from the chemical infection. i consider this as we say goodbye to her. she insists we take tea and cookies for the road. hopper’s humanity stands in contrast to the detached systems of corporations, illustrating their distance from the individuals impacted. individuals, kind, good people, are affected. 

who is responsible for herbicide drift — the individual or the institution, the absentee land-owner farmer or the hired hand? many farmers may not even know the impact of herbicide drift. does my family? blame moves in circles — from the government to the corporation, to the individual, and back again — but proximity to the damage is often closer than we realize.

after all, patsy hopper, a dedicated and informed organic farmer, is the outlier. we need to heed the message, the warning, of the echo of limbs falling from trees on a still afternoon.

milan, italy is recognized as a global leader in design, art, and business. in the city’s bustling center, one can see leonardo da vinci’s last supper alongside the fashion houses of prada and giorgio armani — all while cooling off with a cup of gelato.

but talk to the city’s residents and they’ll reveal a secret that will make you drop your spoon. behind milan’s glitz and glamor lies a difficult truth: the city suffers from the most polluted air of any eu metropolis, a status that threatens the city’s future.

numerous factors make milan vulnerable to elevated levels of air pollution. italy’s second-largest city is home to much of the country’s heavy industry and agriculture. both sectors produce substantial amounts of pollution from waste and burning. milan is also situated in northern italy’s po valley, a low-lying area surrounded by mountains that trap dirty air. with a lot of pollution with nowhere to go, milan’s unique economic and geographic features turn it into an air pollution pressure cooker.

polluted air isn’t just a cosmetic issue. valentina bosetti, a professor of climate change economics at milan’s bocconi university, notes that air pollution can have a lasting impact on our mental and physical health. the world health organization (who) agrees, stressing that exposure to particulate matter can increase the risk of strokes and heart disease. the american lung association echoes these claims, while also linking air pollution to higher rates of cognitive impairment and alzheimer’s.

it’s health concerns like these that compelled anna gerometta, founder of the milan-based nonprofit cittadini per l’aria (citizens for the air), to push for change. as an adult, gerometta recalls that she was aware of milan’s air pollution but didn’t give it much thought. that changed when her daughter experienced dermatitis and allergies that worsened with exposure to milan’s polluted air. newly motivated, gerometta threw herself into the issue of air pollution in northern italy and started cittadini per l’aria.

after founding cittadini, gerometta launched her groundbreaking no₂, no grazie! (no₂, no thank you!) campaign, one of the first air pollution citizen science projects in italy. gerometta began by gathering over 200 milan residents — a process she described as “not easy” — and helped them place small air quality sensors near their homes, schools, and workplaces.

she then collaborated with researchers to transform the sensor data into moving visuals. cittadini’s interactive maps show not just air quality, but also the estimated increase in hospitalizations, heart attacks, and other conditions expected due to pollution.

in 2023, the no₂, no grazie! campaign exploded to 1500 volunteers across italy, with a motto of sai cosa respiri? (do you know what you’re breathing?) gerometta’s success has won the support of international environmental organizations, with patagonia and wwf italy supporting her fight for clean air.

despite cittadini’s achievements, gerometta notes that air pollution remains an “invisible issue.” individuals can rarely see, smell, or feel particulate matter in the air — as a result, it’s easy to ignore. a generational divide also exists.

at a recent cittadini event, several young activists discussed their decision to leave milan because of concerns for their children’s health. however, the science surrounding air pollution has accelerated past the ability of researchers to communicate said science to people of all ages.

professor bosetti at bocconi university has witnessed this gap firsthand. bosetti is a leading climate change researcher, but she has often heard air pollution described as a “fifth-order problem.” she has since abandoned her air pollution research, describing the results as too depressing.

however, bosetti notes that progress is possible towards cleaner air. milan’s city government has already implemented notable changes: when air quality declines, the city introduces low emissions zones and lowers speed limits. but air pollution is not a tangible issue, and these measures have resulted in pushback from italian citizens.

this three-way tug of war between activists, the government, and the public can make the issue of air pollution feel intractable. the success of the no₂, no grazie! model lies in its ability to assemble disparate groups of people — including nonprofits, researchers, and citizens — to make a change.

in 2023, the city of milan sponsored cittadini’s data collection efforts. this raises the hope that the no grazie! campaign will be used not just to inform and educate, but also to improve local policy.

milan is a place that never stops running, as if the city is constantly indulging in italian espresso. but at night, the city’s tension fades. it’s times like these that i ask locals how they feel about the air. it seems everyone knows someone who has moved away because of pollution.

anna gerometta’s activist friends have moved. professor bosetti lost a colleague who became fed up with long stretches of unhealthy air. i’ll leave this city eventually, too, as part of a cohort of young people leaving partially due to pollution.

we aren’t alone. from mexico city to lahore, india, air pollution represents an under-discussed threat to public health.

if what you see concerns you, talking to a friend or neighbor can help raise awareness. for those looking to make an even greater difference, the no grazie! campaign offers a model as radically collaborative as it is impactful. it only asks us to consider a future of smog and respond: no, thanks. no, grazie.

in the heart of manitoba, a prairie province in canada, there exists community filled with the narratives and wisdom of its indigenous elders. this narrative explores the experiences of four elders from distinct communities, each offering a brief narrative on coexisting peacefully with mother earth. their stories serve not only as a representation of a vibrant cultural legacy but also as an essential lesson in caring for the environment and demonstrating resilience.

joe zaste: a lifetime on the water

at 88 years old, joe zaste carries the legacy of both his cree heritage and french-canadian roots from his father, a fisheries entrepreneur in red deer lake, manitoba. growing up, joe’s life was deeply entwined with the community, where cree and saulteaux languages filled the air, and his family’s home was a hub of local celebrations. after a stint in the army and years working on power dams across manitoba, joe now spends his retirement in winnipeg, surrounded by a large family that spans generations. his story is a testament to the blend of traditional indigenous lifestyles and modern canadian life, encapsulating the spirit of resilience and cultural fusion.

geraldine shingoose: a survivor’s advocacy for healing and justice

geraldine shingoose, a 67-year-old saulteaux elder, grew up in the bush near hudson bay, shaped by the land and the harsh realities of the muscowequan residential school. her early experiences of cultural suppression and personal resilience have driven her lifelong advocacy for indigenous rights and healing. now a grassroots grandmother, geraldine is a vocal member of her community in winnipeg, actively engaging in dialogues to heal and empower through sharing her story and supporting others. her journey from the traumas of residential school to influential advocacy highlights a profound transformation, making her a beacon of hope and change.

fred boucher: life’s work in harmony with nature

fred boucher’s early life in barrows, manitoba, was rooted in the rich traditions of the cree, learning from his grandparents the essential skills of living off the land. at 68, he reflects on a life guided by the principles of sustainability and respect for nature, which he now passes on through his work with the sapotaweyak cree nation. his narrative captures the essence of a man who has seen the evolution of his land and community and strives to maintain the balance between progress and preservation. fred’s dedication to his community and environment is evident as he continues to serve, ensuring medical and essential supplies reach those in need across the province.

helen settee: education and empowerment through indigenous knowledge

at 62, helen settee, an anishinaabe elder and educator from winnipeg, has dedicated her life to bridging the gap between indigenous knowledge and mainstream education. her career has been marked by significant strides in integrating indigenous perspectives into educational curriculums, advocating for a more inclusive approach that respects and honours her heritage. helen’s journey from a dental assistant to a key figure in education administration exemplifies her commitment to empowering future generations through education. as a cancer survivor, her resilience extends beyond personal challenges, influencing her advocacy work and her role as a grandmother, continuously nurturing her family and community.

the stories of joe, geraldine, fred, and helen are a testament to the resilience and wisdom of our indigenous elders. their lives and teachings are crucial narratives that contribute to our understanding of and reflection of how to live in harmony with nature, as well as with one another. through their voices, we learn the importance of community, resilience, and the enduring wisdom that guides us toward a more sustainable and just world.

wildland fires have long been both a friend and foe to indigenous communities. while fires can bring destruction, they also play a crucial role in maintaining the health of ecosystems. as someone who grew up on an indian reservation, i have witnessed firsthand the delicate balance between these forces and the resilience of my community in the face of modern challenges.

this story explores the intersection of traditional fire management practices and contemporary innovations to address wildland fires, drawing on insights from community elders, fire management professionals, and local activists.

preserving tradition: the wisdom of controlled burns

for generations, indigenous communities have practiced controlled burns, or prescribed fires, to manage the land and prevent catastrophic wildfires. these burns help reduce fuel loads, promote new growth, and maintain the health of ecosystems.

i had the privilege of speaking with elder gerald banashley, a respected leader in our community, about the significance of these practices.

“controlled burns have always been a part of our way of life,” elder banashley said. “they help us live in harmony with the land and ensure the survival of both the people and the environment.”

elder banashley recounted stories of how controlled burns were traditionally conducted with great care and respect for the land. these practices were not only about fire management but also about preserving cultural heritage and fostering a deep connection with nature that has many connections. 

modern challenges: the impact of climate change

while traditional fire management practices remain vital, the reality of climate change has introduced new challenges. increased temperatures, prolonged droughts, and changing weather patterns have led to more frequent and intense wildland fires. to better understand these modern challenges, i spoke with laramie higgins, a fire management professional who works with the bureau of indian affairs (bia).

“climate change is exacerbating the conditions that lead to wildfires,” higgins said. “we’re seeing longer fire seasons and more extreme fire behavior, which makes it crucial to integrate traditional knowledge with modern technology.”

higgins emphasized the need for collaboration between indigenous communities and governmental agencies to develop effective fire management strategies. this includes incorporating traditional practices, like controlled burns, with advanced technologies such as remote sensing and predictive modeling.

community resilience: adapting and innovating

growing up on the reservation, i witnessed the strength and resilience of my community in the face of wildland fires such as the rodeo-chediski and wallow fires. despite the challenges posed by climate change, we have adapted and innovated to protect our land and people. local activist randall burnette, who leads a youth fire management program, shared his perspective on the importance of community-driven initiatives.

“our community has always been proactive in addressing fire management,” burnette said. “we’re educating the younger generation about both traditional practices and modern techniques to ensure that our knowledge is passed down and adapted to current conditions.”

burnette’s program combines classroom education with hands-on training in controlled burns, fire suppression techniques, and the use of modern firefighting equipment. the goal is to empower the youth to become future leaders in fire management and environmental stewardship.

a balanced approach to fire management

the story of wildland fire management on indian reservations is one of balance — honoring traditional practices while embracing modern innovations. by combining the wisdom of our ancestors with innovative technology, indigenous communities can continue to protect and preserve their land for future generations.

as elder banashley wisely said, “fire is a powerful force, but it is also a tool. when used with respect and knowledge, it can sustain us and the land we call home.”

in conclusion, the integration of traditional knowledge and modern innovations offers a promising path forward for wildland fire management on indian reservations. by fostering collaboration, educating the youth, and adapting to new challenges, we can ensure a resilient and sustainable future for our communities and the environment for generations to come. 

east of the anacostia river in washington, d.c., residents have only one grocery store to feed themselves and their families. but just a short walk from the congress heights metro station lies an effort to alleviate food insecurity in the area. thearc farm, one out of a network of farms owned by nonprofit building bridges across the river, produces nearly 60 crops to give out to community members for free.

powered by grants, collaboration with other organizations and a team of two farmers, thearc farm is entering its fifteenth year of serving ward 8. in this story, meet carrie vaughn, the farm’s director, as she walks through how the organization feeds, teaches, and uplifts the community.

click on the presentation below to read the full story!

biting back documents the efforts of an interdisciplinary team of scientists working at rutgers university (new brunswick, nj) to study the catnip plant’s usage as an insect repellent that could prevent the spread of disease. the team uses and develops approaches in disciplines including chemistry, genetics, and agriculture to harness the plant’s potential.

the film traces their scientific research and personal, human journeys as scientists. we seek to interest the broad public, and students in particular, in learning about who scientists are, what they do, and what drives them to dedicate years of their lives to a research project.

solvay processes, now known as honeywell, spent decades polluting onondaga lake in syracuse, new york in the production of soda ash – integral for many industries in the area – as well as mercury. in 1970, a fishing ban was put into place; the us attorney general estimated 25 pounds of mercury were being dumped in the lake everyday. as a result, onondaga lake was designated as a federal superfund site in 1994. the superfund site includes the lake bottom and subsites around the lake and along tributaries. in 2005, honeywell agreed with new york state to begin partial cleanup of the lake 

continue reading the full story by clicking the presentation below!

a long standing presence of the us military on the island of vieques, puerto rico has left its warm, turquoise waters and sandy, beach getaways tainted by ammunition waste and chemical contamination leaving spirited residents and restoration task forces to pick up the shrapnel.

in 1941, the u.s. navy purchased 27,000 of the 33,000 acres that comprise the island of vieques. for nearly 60 years, the viequenses people “coexisted” in the crossfire between the divided training areas on the 50.8 sq mile island, roughly the same area as the city of las vegas.

following the death of a civilian navy employee, david sanes in 1999, civil unrest ensued, eventually leading to the departure of the us navy presence in 2003. however, the navy left the island peppered with remnants of undetonated bombs, pfas chemicals, uranium, mercury, napalm and more. all of which are toxic materials known to have serious effects on human health along with generational impacts on the health of island youth.

caught in a crossfire: life on the island

the navy’s departure followed years of persistent displays of civil disobedience by viequenses. before that, residents on the island lived an alarmingly close 8.7 miles from the “live impact area” where military jets, traveling between 500 and 1,300 miles per hour, trained for high altitude bombing on the easternmost part of the island. according to author katherine t. mccaffrey, an error in four seconds of fire from a ship could land up to 14 or 20 miles from the target, while a four second error from an aircraft pilot could drop a bomb up to 50 miles from a target. 

local vieques resident, elda guadalupe carrasquillo, grew up during the navy’s occupation and recalls the windows of her grade school classroom shaking during active munitions trainings. carraqquillo was raised on various army bases before settling in vieques with her family around age 10. “when i was in a real military base, even though i saw a lot of military things, there were no actual live practices like here in vieques,” she said.

despite carrasquillo’s familiarity with the events that occur on a military base, she affirms these training sessions were “too close” for the safety and comfort of residents. today, carrasquillo works with an agro-ecological farm on the island, la colmena cimarrona, and is a middle school teacher. in addition to the violent nature of living so close to these “live impact areas”, residents also suffered from legacy pollution due to the chemical and material shrapnel. 

rates of cancer amongst viequenses are 31% above that of the rates of cancer on the main island along with 4 times the rate of hypertension amongst residents. coupled with this, pollutants like agent orange, depleted uranium, and pfas have leached into the island’s soil, groundwater, and air leaving residents vulnerable to exposure through a variety of mediums.

“we don’t know how contaminated our underground water sources are,” carrasquillo said. she also noted that a large majority of students on the island require individualized educational plans due to learning disabilities which recent studies have found links between cognitive development and pfas exposure.

uxos and remediated sites: successful strides in clean-up efforts

in 2005, the island was placed on the national priorities list, as a “superfund” site — one that requires investigation and clean-up by the u.s. government. today, several locations around the island have been successfully remediated to become recreational spaces for islanders and tourists.

a notable site from the eastern sect of the superfund sites, the puerto ferro lighthouse was constructed in 1896 by spanish colonizers. the lighthouse lies within the 535 acres that comprise uxo area 15, an unfortunate title that refers to the presence of unexploded ordnance like bombs and bullets on the land. despite the contamination, the scenic area on the southern coast of vieques overlooks a bright blue coastline and slopes upward as you move inland.

the area around the abandoned structure is home to a thin forest of mangrove trees, lagoons, and salt and sand flats. but in just one year, over 23,000 explosive bombs were dropped on these coastal hills. in 2013, the us navy initiated priority action to facilitate public access and to encourage recreational and commercial activities at puerto ferro and the surrounding beach areas.

the area was investigated for munitions and explosives of concern anywhere from 1 to 4 ft below ground surface level. the area was ultimately remediated seven years ahead of schedule, and upon completion provided public access to formerly restricted areas as well as educational kiosks and monuments for visitors to interact with.

moving to the western sect of the superfund sites, former open burn/open detonation sites (swmu 4 and uxo 16) were also successfully remediated ahead of schedule to provide further public access to recreational spaces like the beaches around the island. several pieces of munitions were removed from the site, however, not all were recollected. despite this, a 2018 remedial investigation report found the likelihood that these munitions were still physically present in the area was improbable.

balancing the health of the land and the people

a large part of the uxo sites on the island have been remediated, and are in the concluding or monitoring stages of the clean-up process. while numerous sites still remain around the island, within the next decade, most of the entire island is expected to be remediated.

nonetheless, carrasquillo expects challenges and uncertainty ahead. “we know it’s never going to be completely clean and maybe it’s not going to be usable for what the viequenses need,” she said.

still, carrasquillo characterizes viequenses as “resistant,” embodied in the peoples’ continued advocacy for their own health and the island’s environment. following the clean up of munitions around the island, she hopes to see the island begin to restore its emotional and mental wellness through strengthening their relationship with the land stating, “if we can heal our land little piece by little piece so we can also be healthy, maybe we can help vieques recover.”

senegal at a crossroads: economic prosperity or climate protection? 

“in electing me, the people of senegal have decided on a break with the past,” said bassirou diomaye faye in the first interview after his election as the president of the small but geostrategically important nation in western africa. 

in the midst of the “free sudan” and “free congo” movements, an amplified focus on african struggles has echoed through the american and european publics. meanwhile, senegal has also had a glimmer of hope to remedy some of the problems that have burdened its people in recent decades. 

in 2023, the country’s youth mobilized in protests aimed at opposing the efforts of then-president macky sall to stay in power for longer than two mandates, and in 2024 the country elected its youngest president to date, diomaye faye, as part of a leftist movement that promises to eradicate corruption and increase economic justice. 

however, one particular dilemma has arisen: is the move toward more progressive economic policies harmful to the environment? or must a break from the past be accompanied by environmentalism? 

such questions have become pressing particularly as the new administration has promised to begin working with australia’s woodside lng, a liquified natural gas company and a large contributor to fossil fuel pollution, to ensure that senegal’s natural resources are utilized to increase the nation’s prosperity. 

pollution is a persistent problem

long before the election of diomaye faye, pollution has been a problem, especially in the capital city of dakar. walking through dakar, one may walk past market stands full of fruits and vegetables, bustling streets filled with people proudly donning traditional clothing, and speedy motorcycles zooming through the busy traffic. 

but exploring the city quickly turns painful due to the immense amount of smog generated by second-hand cars brought from european countries and burning trash. in 2019, prior to the pandemic, bbc reported that air pollution levels were exceeding by more than seven times the world health organization’s limits of particulate matter (pm), and according to the united nations environment programme the situation has only worsened since.

with the capital city of dakar already struggling with decreasing air quality, what do people in senegal have to say about the choice between progress in the western sense and the promise of additional revenue versus the need to preserve the peoples’ and climate’s health? 

kéba djibril mané, who teaches french, wolof, and several other languages spoken in africa to foreign students affiliated with the peace corps and additional international programs in the city of dakar, said he is appalled about the pollution situation in senegal.  

“pollution has reached an extraordinary level,” he said. “i know many people who have health problems because of pollution. and this pollution is largely due to cars. you wait for a taxi in the street. a car passes, but there is smoke. everyone is affected.” 

a choice between health and opportunity

beyond his passion for languages, djibril mané is also interested in politics because he has seen the effects pollution can have on health and wants to see this issue being addressed effectively by the country’s leaders. his sister-in-law, the wife of his older brother, became sick from the air pollution in dakar. because she developed a respiratory disease, he said, her family had to move to a rural area where there are fewer economic opportunities but the air is cleaner.

stories like that of djibril mané’s sister-in-law are common in dakar. in an article published in the new york times in 2019,  the chief of the pulmonology unit at a hospital in the capital of senegal was quoted stating that asthma is one of the main childhood diseases in the city and that over a third of the city’s population has some form of lung disease. 

moreover, according to an article published in the journal of pulmonary and respiratory medicine in 2019, there is a direct correlation between the poor air quality and the prevalence of respiratory manifestation in dakar. 

specifically, during a six year period (2011 to 2016), nearly 350,000 patients in dakar were treated for respiratory symptoms, which gradually increased over time. the manifestation of both upper and lower respiratory diseases was strongly correlated with exposure to sulfur dioxide (so2) and nitrogen dioxide (no2). due to the poor quality of the air in dakar, children and adults were likely to not only contract a range of respiratory illnesses, from cough and acute respiratory infection to asthma, bronchitis, and angina, but also to have persistent forms of such diseases and recurrent outbreaks.

mask up to protect against (covid) toxic air quality

according to djibril mané, pollution has become such a prevalent issue that many have realized the masks of the covid era should be worn all year around for protection not against viruses but against the toxic substances in the air. 

“you have to hide your face in your sleeve, we cover our faces like that after about a minute on the street. even today, there are people who wear masks,” he said. “now, people are used to the masks because of covid, and covid came and went, but people have continued to wear masks. i have. if you ask why you want to put on the mask again, it is very useful, not only to protect yourself against covid, but for dust, pollution in general during the day. when i go to town, there are too much dust, fumes, toxic gases, etc.”

djibril mané said he is aware that second-hand cars constitute one of the biggest sources of pollution in senegal and overall in africa. he also knows a key reason for this pollution is that european nations such as france impose bans on older cars, but that countries in africa then import those refurbished cars from europe. 

“it’s not just cars by the way, it’s a lot of things. many things are imported second-hand, there are tvs like that, large or small. there are refrigerators and there are gas stoves and other materials which are not within the environmental standards at the international level, they are prohibited for use in europe,” he said. “when they can no longer use them in france, they say ok, we cannot use them in france, but we will use them among africans.”

“not good for health. what should we do instead of destroying them? recycle them?” djibril mané said.

“there is the buñuul. it means black in wolof. this is what french people call africans pejoratively. he’s a wolof. it is the only wolof word that is in the french lexicon.”

“france has the right to choose that it needs good health for its population and it needs a good environment for its population. but africa doesn’t have that right. this is the inhumanity, the lack of humanism, of neocolonialism.”

while djibril mané is not opposed to developing new economic opportunities such as those related to natural gas, he thinks the association with western companies for such endeavors will not lead to success. he said he views western countries and companies as entities that seek to keep africa in poverty and africans marred by disease both by exporting used products to africa and by exploiting africa’s natural resources.

‘everything they do on other continents, they don’t do in africa the same’

“unfortunately, western policy toward africa is much more based on racism, because often everything they do on other continents, they don’t do in africa the same,” he said. 

el hadji faly, a college student who is interested in the betterment of african youth, mental health, and environmental action, and who published the book therapy is banned in africa, is somewhat more optimistic about environmental aspects in senegal. 

in high school, hadji faly had the opportunity to live and learn in the united states for a year and to compare the environmental situation in american and african settings. moreover, in 2023, to continue his studies during the political protests, he transferred from a university in senegal to a university in rwanda, which allowed him to consider how pollution fares across african countries. hadji faly thinks there are both challenges and opportunities in regards to environmental issues in senegal. 

hadji faly acknowledges the negative impact that pollution has long had in dakar. 

“yeah, it was definitely a problem because i have allergies, unfortunately. so when i was living in dakar, it was really tough sometimes because of all the smoke coming from the cars and the buses. it really affected my health and wellbeing,” he said.

dakar’s all electric bus fleet 

however, hadji faly also feels that pollution in dakar has come down a little since the introduction of electric buses. the city “just got a bunch of electric buses, but the old ones are still in use,” he said. “if we could get rid of the old ones and keep the electric ones, it would be really good for the environment. i guess it’s a process, but we can get there.”

in march 2024, dakar launched its bus rapid transit (brt) system which the administration claims to be leading the way for african cities. it is a nearly 20-kilometer (approximately 12.5-mile), fully electric bus system that according to the institute for transportation and development policy in dakar is expected to carry 300,000 passengers a day, reduce travel time per person to nearly half, and shift toward zero emission urban transport. with access to public transit, officials hope residents of dakar will use private vehicles less and thus contribute to the improvement of air quality. 

djibril mané agrees that electric buses provide some relief from pollutants, but he also thinks it is too little, too late. 

“this is precisely the problem. we are in the 21st century. those are tools that existed in other countries more than 20 years ago,” he said. 

in his view, senegal should be at the forefront of environmental innovation, but western european countries are not allowing african countries to develop and adopt new technologies at the pace needed to mitigate environmental issues while protecting valuable resources. 

djibril mané points out that  the contracts were actually signed under macky sall regime, and those contracts are disastrous for senegal because the vehicles are imported at high prices, with requirements to be repaired in western european countries, but without contribution from senegalese workers. 

djibril mané particularly fears the lobbying power regarding such economic advancements that disregard local needs of the economic community of west african states (ecowas). 

“we have to be sincere. we africans must know. we know it, the majority know it,” he said. “but there are always lobbies that are there, which do not want the people to follow these ideas,” he said. 

neocolonialism by any other name

“ecowas is not there for the interest of africans. ecowas is there to obey the orders of the settlers and continue to be the long arm, as we call it, of neocolonialism.” 

both djibril mané and el hadji faly believe that the new leadership of senegal will try to provide real solutions for both economic justice and environmental protection. according to djibril mané, the political movement of the new president resonated with youth because of the message “we are poor today, but in reality, we should not not be poor because we have mineral resources, we have human resources, the right people. if we are still poor, it is because a small group of people take the wealth of the country.” 

this movement now has a mandate to address economic issues. one of the critical challenges for the new administration will be to pay attention to justice for those who have been underprivileged while also maintaining mindfulness for environmental aspects. 

elsa park, a u.s. teen who spent 10 months in senegal during the 2023-2024 school year through the u.s. department of state’s kennedy-lugar yes abroad program, agrees that there are opportunities as well as challenges in regard to balancing the need for economic development with mindfulness for environmental action. during her stay in senegal, she saw change as the regime of macky sall was replaced by the new administration of bassirou diomaye faye. high school students were urged to spend multiple saturdays cleaning up their schools and to also participate in cleanups in the city, in their neighborhoods, and on beaches. “for young people, it was nice to feel that you were making a difference,” she said. 

under the new administration of senegal, additional environmental action initiatives have been started. specifically, $5.5 million will be dedicated to promoting environmental health. this will be achieved by reducing the release of unintentional persistent organic pollutants (upops) and toxic chemicals as well as establishing laws for the rational management of urban waste, a major contributor to harmful particle releases. moreover, senegal’s national waste management unit in collaboration with other agencies has installed 18 standardized collection points where communities can deposit their waste.

the united states has taken an interest in collaborating with senegal’s new administration. in july, deputy secretary of state kurt campbell traveled to senegal and met with president diomaye faye and entrepreneurs. campbell highlighted the two nations’ shared dedication to good governance. he announced u.s. investments in senegal’s economy, including the millennium challenge corporation’s $550 million power compact to increase energy access solutions can boost economic growth and help address environmental challenges.

while concerns remain about the government’s collaborations with highly polluting organizations such as australia’s woodside lng, senegalese youth have found grounds to believe that it is possible to increase the prosperity of regular people while also engaging in good stewardship of the environment. 

said hadji faly: “i think we just need good leaders, some people who are ethical and who fight here for the population, not only for themselves.”

evanston, il – a team of northwestern university climate scientists teleport back in time with naturally preserved records they extract as cylindrical cores of lake sediment.

the sediment layers in the cores open the way to time travel through climate changes over the past 20,000 years. third-year ph.d. students bailey nash and aidan burdick analyze cellulose and carbonate materials, respectively, found in sediment over time to better understand how we can prepare for accelerating human-caused climate change now and moving forward.

after carefully extracting the sediment cores from lakes in greenland and the midwestern united states, the team brings them back to professor yarrow axford’s quaternary sediment laboratory on campus for the laborious analysis.

“this research is very iterative,” burdick said. “you do one thing, you learn something from it, you move on to the next, and eventually, you build a body of knowledge over time.”

burdick focuses his research on the midwest, looking at sediment deposits from lakes around the region. by building a record of illinois’s hydroclimate, his research will help serve illinois and midwest city officials by improving water resource management, among other applications.

“we can already see clear evidence of way more sediment being deposited after europeans arrived [in illinois], probably because of agriculture and things like that,” burdick said. “i’m using this core to try to understand lake chemistry in the context of carbonate materials. we can use the chemical variations in the minerals to see how the local hydroclimate has changed over time.”

while burdick is focused on the midwest and great lakes, nash noted that much of the team’s work takes them to the arctic, specifically in south greenland where deglaciation began around 15,000 years ago driven by rising air temperatures. this upcoming summer, nash will be visiting the community of narsaq to conduct her research.

“one of the primary questions that i’m trying to address through my ph.d. work is how arctic lakes respond [to climate change], especially in regard to their lake levels,” nash said. “so, did lake levels rise or fall during periods of past warmth? and what does that mean for arctic communities that rely on these similar arctic lakes today as a municipal water source?”

after extracting cellulose from ancient plant matter in the sediment, nash uses a mass spectrometer to analyze cellulose isotopes over time. cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer on earth, and the isotopic signature of cellulose that gets preserved in geologic materials can serve as a record of differing past climate conditions.

“these isotopic compositions can say a lot about whether lake level was higher or lower in the past,” nash said, “or if the environment was warmer or colder than it is today — those pieces of the climate story.”

it’s not well understood whether lake levels in the arctic will rise or fall in a warming world, but the risk of lakes either flooding or drying up is a climate concern across the world. thus, nash feels this must be investigated. because their work takes place on indigenous land, nash also emphasized the focus their group has on community engagement and performing scientific research respectfully and ethically.

“these communities have a very complicated relationship with western science in general and the people that we represent when we come back,” nash said, “so it really takes time and open-mindedness entering these communities and building trust, honestly, and laying the foundation of mutual respect and understanding.”

in a field dominated by men, nash gravitated towards axford’s lab not only because of her specialization on arctic paleoclimate research but specifically after reading axford’s science article titled ‘thanks to the glass ceiling breakers,’ outlining her experiences as a woman in stem.

“today, i’m living my dream,” axford wrote in her 2016 article, “and yet, despite how far science has come… i have lost track of how many times i’ve met a colleague for the first time and been told, ‘i’ve read your papers. i thought you were a man!’”

“i was just blown away by everything she had to say [in the article],” nash said. “i thought she seemed like such an incredibly strong glass ceiling-breaking scientist… the arctic is the most rapidly warming region on the planet today, which poses a very immediate concern for climate scientists. i was very compelled by the argument that studying past and current arctic climate change impacts can help us better understand and prepare for current and future climate change impacts globally.”