The Tiger Hi-Line
EARTH DAY EDITION
Friday, April 22, 2016
“LOOK AGAIN AT THAT DOT. THAT’S HERE. THAT’S HOME. THAT’S US. ON IT EVERYONE YOU LOVE, EVERYONE YOU KNOW, EVERYONE YOU EVER HEARD OF, EVERY HUMAN BEING WHO EVER WAS, LIVED OUT THEIR LIVES... EVERY SAINT AND SINNER IN THE HISTORY OF OUR SPECIES LIVED THERE-ON A MOTE OF DUST SUSPENDED IN A SUNBEAM.”
Contents Opinion
Back to Our Roots One Step at a Time Earth Day Art Fair Clothing Consumption
-CARL SAGAN
News 3 6 7 8
Special Report on Climate Change Education Sinking Cities
Feature 4 10
Life From Loss Terrarium DIY Hit the Trails Traveling Back in Time
Articles contributed by Tiger Hi-Line staff. Design and Photos by Editor-in-Chief Sommer Danielsen.
10 11 12 14
Back to our roots
Benefits of gardening span from sustainability to spirituality
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OPINION
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ith processed food and nightly TV dinners have becoming even more of a regular feature around the globe, many of these communities adopting diets of convenience are blind as to where their food comes from, what’s in it and what it does to the environment. There has been a loss of connection between consumers and producers. It’s time people look into the art of gardening to create relationships, sustainable food and a more well-rounded agriculture community. Here in Cedar Falls, there are many local gardeners who swear by the practice being extremely healthy, therapeutic and beneficial to the environment. Cedar Falls citizen Jon Taiber has been quite infatuated with growing and consuming his food ever since the huge “buy fresh buy local movement.” “I always strive to be a healthy consumer. There are many reasons why gardening is important. It really comes back to that connection with the food source. It’s something very important. We put it in our body,” Taiber said. Local food is often, if not always, better food. Produce harvested from your backyard, local community gardens or farmers markets can be fresher, more nutritious and better tasting than produce that is often picked before it is ripe and shipped to the grocery store. “In a world where our agriculture has really become industrialized, I think we’ve lost touch with where our food comes from, how food is composed and the nutrients. I think people today may think food just comes out of a box. And in fact it has to start somewhere, and that somewhere is usually the ground,” Taiber said. The massive infrastructure associated with agriculture in Iowa is overwhelming. It’s time people take a step back to enjoy the simple art of watching a seed grow into something that can be consumed, sustained and enjoyed by the things around them. Recognizing the benefit to diets and budgets, people often overlook how gardening contributes to environmental conservation. By cutting the commodity chain short, gardens help us conserve resources used in transportation and reduce the packaging waste that ends up in the landfill. “I think a lot of times the massive business of industrialized agriculture values profits over sustainability. Sustainability is defined as more than just profits. Sustainability means reinvesting in the land and culture for better future health,” Taiber said, and that’s exactly what the people need to focus on. Aside from the many environmental benefits, there are numerous personal and community benefits planted within gardening. Susan Considine, CFHS science teacher and sponsor of the “Greenhouse Gang,” a gardening club that meets every power hour, recognizes the wonderful benefits of gardening as it has been
passed on through the generations of her family. “I share my passion of gardening with my kids, and it’s something that I got from my grandma, so it’s just one of those things, as far as sharing that tradition of being able to grow your own food and be responsible for your nutrition is something more people should be involved with.” The presence of gardens improves interactions amongst humans. Working in a community garden with others fosters a sense of ownership, personal agency and stewardship which in turn increases interest in social activism and other forms of community improvement. “Many times people value quantity over quality, but it’s really about bringing the communities together to produce something special,” Taiber said. Although many are very removed from the rural agronomy. We’re around it everyday. Every time you hop into a car or spend time in the country, we’re a part of it. “I absolutely find it spiritual,” Taiber said. “When I deal with work all day, it’s a much different activity than running a spreadsheet. I think it’s a very healthy activity to get outside on a regular basis, get your hands dirty and be outside. It’s very therapeutic to work in the soil. It’s much like exercising, reading or meditating.” Gardening gives people the satisfaction of self sufficiency and success. “Seeing something
Sommer Danielsen Photo
go from seed to final product is extremely satisfying no matter what you decide to do with it. Many times I just go out there and eat it right off the vine. There’s a freshness, a crispness, in knowing exactly where it comes from,” Taiber said. And Considine couldn’t agree more. “You do get a lot of satisfaction from growing your own food, and it’s also something that’s extremely therapeutic. I really want to share those two things with more kids at school. Something you can do on your own, really be a part of and invested in is always great.” It’s never too late or too early to start contributing to your own yard our local community garden. “Start very very small. Experience some of the outlets we have here to look into things. Start going to the farmers’ market. Get to know the local products that can be produced here in Iowa. You don’t have to have a big area. You don’t have to make it complicated. Make some space, purchase a few seeds to your liking and start from there,” Taiber said. There are many outlets available to start gardening. Buy a little pot, buy a seed, attend the farmers market, join the Greenhouse Gang or ask your fellow gardeners. People should come together and start building and growing the sustainable communities Cedar Falls was founded on.
By Staff Writer Allie
TAIBER
4 : Climate Change Education varies in Iowa Special Report:
NEWS
This article was created by a team of Hiline writers in partnership with Iowa Watch, a non-profit, non-partisian news organization striving to help young journalists excel in investigative reporting.
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is a strong body of scientific evidence supporting the existence of humancaused climate change, but Iowa teachers are split on how to educate students about it, and their students also have very mixed opinions on the subject. IowaWatch and student reporters from the Cedar Falls High School Tiger HiLine newspaper dug deeper into how climate change is being taught in schools around Iowa. According to a new study published in the journal Science, middle and high school science teachers In the United States are educating students on climate change “just one to two hours on average over an academic year.” The study’s accompanying survey received data from “1,500 teachers from high schools and middle schools in all 50 states.” It found that 30 percent of the teachers taught their students that global warming “is likely due to natural causes.” Twelve percent said they did not emphasize human causes, and half of that group did not speak about causes at all. The survey also found that many of the teachers did not have a grasp on the topic and were giving their students misinformation about climate change. There is strong scientific evidence suggesting that climate change is widely impacted by human activity. Though the evidence is there, teachers are still struggling with the best ways to educate their students on climate change. The Science study also found that almost one third of the teachers surveyed reported “conveying messages that are contradictory, emphasizing the scientific consensus on human causation and the idea that many scientists believe the changes have natural causes.” Students could be receiving mixed messages from their teachers about the subject. Recently, IowaWatch and the Tiger Hi-Line sent out their own survey to all science teachers in Iowa that aimed to find out how or if climate change is being taught in the state. They have found that the information collected from around the state of Iowa concurs with that of the nationally distributed study. Although over 90 percent of scientists agree that the dominant reason for climate change is human activity, the national study showed that only 30 percent of middle school teachers and 45 percent of high school teachers correctly identified the fact. This result is similar to the snapshot survey of 133 science teachers in Iowa in which one out of three (31.6 percent) reported that
human activity is the primary cause for global warming and climate change and should be included in lessons. Another 66.9 percent recognized human causes but said that teachers should make it clear that there are competing theories. Less than half — 47.7 percent — reported that they teach it as a theory without concluding whether or not it is right or wrong. Only 19.7 percent of 133 teachers reported that climate change should be taught as a fact. According to a bulletin put out by Cedar Falls High School, “In 2008 the Iowa Legislature approved steps that require all accredited public schools to begin implementation of the Iowa Core Curriculum by 2012.” The Iowa Common Core curriculum has mandatory sections that cover climate change. Mandi Sanderman, the AEA 267 consultant for science, said that the Iowa Science Standards include asking students to “analyze geoscience data and the results from global climate models to make an evidence-based forecast of the current rate of global or regional climate change and associated future impacts to Earth systems.” Yet, the head of the science department at Cedar Falls High School, Lynn Griffin, still said that teachers should be cautious when dealing with this subject. “You have to be careful in that you’re talking about theories of climate change and not facts, because everything is still a theory,” Griffin said. “There’s correlations, yes, but there are not direct results yet.” In her ecology unit, Cedar Falls High School biology teacher Debbie Paulsen recently started addressing climate change in her class, but beyond that, she leaves the issue up for her students to debate, due to her own personal beliefs. “There’s natural things going on, but even though we’ve had a significant impact, we’re getting pretty egocentrical to think that it’s just us,” Paulsen said. “We present some items of human’s impact in the environment, but they kind of leave it just there. In the future, that may change, but the curriculum is kind of evolving.” Chemistry teacher Jason Steffen shares a similar viewpoint and does not hesitate to question climate change. “I do link climate change to man-made causes, but I also link some climate change to natural causes. The debate then becomes on how much is caused by which factor,” Steffen said. “The science is very young. Is it happening? Yes. Is it all gloom and
doom? We don’t know yet. It’s in its infancy.” The elective Advanced Placement Environmental Science course at Cedar Falls High School carries a heavy focus on global warming. Science teacher Meghan Reynolds said that she frequently shows evidence of climate change within her lectures in her AP classes. “I think the data is fairly overwhelming. Even if there was natural warming occurring, the rate at which it’s increased and the correlation with increasing human activity is just a really strong cause-and effect,” Reynolds said. One of the students in her class, senior Sarah Gao, agreed that climate change is real and that it is a serious concern that warrants addressing. “Pretty much every single [climate] scientist in the world said that this is real. The glaciers are melting, and the icebergs are melting. The jet streams are getting all weird,” Gao said. “There’s all of this physical evidence that’s pointing towards climate change, so it’s really hard not to believe.” Gao is a part of the increasing 70 percent of American citizens who believe that climate change is happening, according to a Climatex Progress poll. Gao is passionate about green issues because she said she believes humans need to change their behavior to combat climate change. “The deadline right now is really pressing, so people need to get together before it’s too late,” Gao said. Despite the high numbers who are convinced of climate change, the generation of students in schools today also includes many skeptics of climate change evidence. Junior Ashton Cross said global warming is part of long-term climate phases that the Earth goes through. “Back before we had technology, the earth went through hot flashes and cold flashes in a way,” Cross said. “Melting and freezing has always been a big problem with the climate.” Other skeptical students, such as junior Brennan Kohls, said that the whole ordeal may have more hidden motives. “If you look at these groups who are doing the research, their main funders are the U.S. government, and what better way to increase your funding than telling your main funder what they want to hear? The globe’s been warming ever since it started. It’s never been dangerous,” Kohls said. “To me, it just seems like another one of those crazy apocalypse theories. If you look back in the eighties, everyone thought we were going to die from global warming.” Currently, Kohls is enrolled in the Cedar Falls High School’s environmental science
course, making the topic of climate change almost inevitable to avoid. Despite needing to learn about the topic for the class, Kohls still strongly maintains his beliefs. “I try not to get offended,” Kohls said. “I just suck it up and I listen to it anyway. If that’s their opinion, it’s their opinion. I’ll stick to my opinion.” There is concrete evidence that climate change is real. According to NASA, one of hundreds of organizations around the world that have conducted extensive research on the topic, “The current warming trend is of particular significance because most of it is very likely human-induced and proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented in the past 1,300 years.” There is compelling proof all around the world that it is taking place. Global temperatures are rising as well as sea levels. Oceans are becoming warmer, and the Arctic ice cap is depleting. The amount of snow and glaciers on mountain tops has “decreased over the past five decades.” The sea is becoming more and more acidic as well, which affects sea life. While most of the science staff at Cedar Falls High School were in agreement with the idea of climate change, there were a few outliers. Some science teachers in the school do not believe that climate change is caused by humans and is one of the most critical global challenges of the 21st century. Maria Perez, an adjunct instructor of biology at the University of Northern Iowa, said that climate change should not be a two-sided issue at all. In fact, it is her pet-peeve when people ask the question “Do you believe in climate change?” because there is evidence that proves it is real. “I think [climate change] is the main challenge we have right now,” Perez said. Perez teaches a capstone class to University of Northern Iowa students about the subject. “I look at the current impacts and show that climate change is a reality right now,” she said, explaining material she covers in her capstone. Perez also shows her students that “depending on what we do, the impacts are going to get really bad depending on our course of action.” It is very important to her that people are educated on climate change. She teaches a range of students, majoring in many different areas across the university. Yet, she tries to make the topic of climate change accessible to each of them.
Although students of Cedar Falls High School do not have the benefit of taking a capstone class on the subject of climate change like college students do, Perez said it is vital that they are educated on the subject. “This is the generation that can change things,” she said. For students of public schools like Cedar Falls High School, Perez said they should be able to question how their school is impacting the environment. “Kids should be able to ask their schools for accountability on the actions they are taking,” she said. Though climate change can be a daunting
“IT SUDDENLY STRUCK ME THAT THAT TINY PEA, PRETTY AND BLUE, WAS THE EARTH. I PUT UP MY THUMB AND SHUT ONE EYE, AND MY THUMB BLOTTED OUT THE PLANET EARTH. I DIDN’T FEEL LIKE A GIANT. I FELT VERY, VERY SMALL.” -NEIL ARMSTRONG
subject, Perez is optimistic about the future. She mentioned more than once that scientists have evidence for climate change and solutions, but there just needs to be a political movement to implement real change. She gives her students evidence for climate change and then asks them which political candidates’ policies could do the most good for our environment. “We just need political will to change things, and I want them to know that they can influence that political will. So, I want them to take away that they can be part of the change,” she said. Kamyar Enshayan, the Director of the
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Center for Energy and Environmental Education agrees that climate change should not be controverNEWS sial and is a subject with solid scientific proof that should be taught in schools. Enshayan was shocked to learn that some science teachers do not fully support the evidence of climate change, politely saying that it is “unfortunate.” Enshayan holds firm that the issue of climate change is “not about believing. It’s about evidence.” He said that there should be an ongoing conversation about environmental issues, and that scientists should be able to hold their views, as long as they can soundly debate them in front of other scientists. However, Enshayan said that high school students need to be educated about climate change before graduation. “They need to know that climate instability, just like other forms of environmental degradation, are totally a human, cultural, social, economic problem. It’s not a physics thing.” Students need to know that it is the way that we as a species have “arranged our lives,” that is the real problem, Enshayan said. Enshayan said he is hopeful that by educating the masses, they can lead to changes to overcome the looming threat of the impacts climate change is already having and will continue to have on the planet. He said that schools can make a big difference by encouraging their students to think about environmental issues. “It’s fundamentally important for high schoolers to see, in their own schools, what is possible,” Enshayan said. By Staff Writers Olivia
MARTIN Tana
GAM-AD Sarah
STORTZ
One Step At A Time 6 OPINION
Renewable energy only serves as one step towards greener earth We
are a selfish nation. We think about what will satisfy us now, and what we can do to achieve that as quickly as possible, even at a cost. What about our future? Not even just our future per se, but the future of our children and their children, of the animals and of the world. According to the American Enterprise Institute, the United States is accountable for 80 percent of the world’s fossil fuels being consumed every year. This is an alarmingly high number, and it is unsustainable. Our current economy, lifestyles, habits and our everyday lives run on fossil en- e r g y — coal, oil and nat- u ral gas. The extraction, transportation, processing and burning/usage of these fuels is doing tremendous damage not only to people, but the biosphere (essentially the zone where life resides on Earth), reducing options for future generations — this means us. What a lot of people don’t realize is that this isn’t a problem that we can continue to push off for future generations. This is something already badly affecting us, and if we do not act now, it’s only going to get worse. We are accepting to continue the lives we live even though there is damage all around us. There is something e x t r e m e l y wrong with this high consumption lifestyle that we are living. With other issues in history, most of the time we did not try to find replacements, instead judging that things are simply not acceptable and eliminating it. In our case, finding a replacement for fossil energy is not enough. We need to realize that it’s the way that we live that needs to change. As citizens, we need to do as much as we possibly can to support renewable energy and to combat global warming, which is not a scare but instead a reality we have to address. We need to begin by understanding our situation and our lifestyles. Kamyar Enshayan, the University of Northern Iowa’s Center For Energy and Environmental Education’s director, is extremely passionate about renewable energy and the impact that humans have on the world. Change doesn’t happen dramatically or on a worldwide scale, though. It’s important that we understand that we can make an impact starting right in our own homes and towns.
Sierra Steen Photo Illustration “Yes, renewable energy actually makes a difference, but we have to let go of fossil energy and change our wasteful ways. We must begin by understanding our situation and our lifestyle. It is like going from unlimited credit card use to living within our means,” Enshayan said. Living within our means as Enshayan tells us is not as complicated as it sounds. “Examine the ways you use energy. Try for less consumption, less travel and less wasteful ways. Enjoy walking, biking and amusing yourself without going places and eating in restaurants so much. Go for a hike, start a garden, create a compost pile, dry clothes on a line. Once these become normal daily habits, you might consider more worldly impactful changes.” These harder-hitting changes can include involvement in the community and electing people
who are committed to moving away from fossil energy. Renewable energy, although a wonderful step in helping to keep the earth clean and healthy, can not sustain our lifestyles on its own. According to CFU’s website, if 100% percent of our energy was switched to windpowered, there would be no energy when the air is still. The goal amount of energy being produced by wind is 20 percent, which is the plan that the U.S. Department of Energy is trying to implement by 2030. CFU is also now beginning to sell solar panels, with more information on their website about a wait list and pricing. Enshayan said that we need to take it further than simply con- verting to renewable energy. “For example, it is a cold winter night in Iowa. It is 10 below. You have all of the windows open and you wonder why your furnace cannot keep up, so you ask, ‘Would be nice to have all renewable energy to solve this problem?’ No. Close your windows, insulate your house, turn off the lights that were left on unnecessarily.” It is not so much that we completely give up everything that we as humans do that slowly damage this earth. As a selfish race of beings, we need to instead begin to take steps in order to teach and help future generations how to take care of it and appreciate it. Renewable energy is fantastic, but it is not the complete solution. We need to set our greed aside and take action right in our own backyards in order to make this planet a livable one for generations to come.
By Graphic Artist Sierra
STEEN
Earth Day Art Fair
Local artist hosts show benefitting Food Bank
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NEWS
Janna Fink-Bowman is a local artist hosting an art fair in her home with some of her pieces. The event is April 24 from 11 to 6. All pieces in the show have some type of environmental theme to them, from being made from recyled materials, to nature photos, to painted nature images. Ten percent of all proceeds from the day are being donated to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.
“THE ENVIRONMENT IS WHERE WE ALL MEET... IT IS THE ONE THING ALL OF US SHARE.” —LADY BIRD JOHNSON By Staff Writer Daphne
BECKER
8 Clothing Consumption FEATURE
As trends cycle faster, consumers buy anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 items a day, more than ever before comes depending on the size of the store. Keep in
W e are consumers. We purchase goods and services, filling our needs with the industries provided us. Acknowleding this, we can’t just discuss the broad, universal topic of consumption. We must get much more specific. We must talk clothing consumption. It’s become clear the fastpaced fashion we see today leads us to obtain much more than is necessary to fill our needs. In a sample of 30 CFHS students, the average number of clothing pieces owned was 190. Of those 190, only 55, or 29 percent are worn on a regular basis. This glaring disproportion is just one example of what we have and what we use, showing how consumers in the 21st century are buying beyond all reasonable limits. In this sample, most students admitted to buying a new piece for their wardrobe one-two times a month, and the reasoning for doing so is largely agreed upon. 90 percent of this sample agreed that the most common reason for buying new clothing is not necessity, but for building a wardrobe they admire or deem trendy. This recreational style of clothing consumption is prominent not just in this group of CFHS students, but around the nation. According to the most recent statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, spending on apparel and services climbed 11.3 percent from 2013-2014, being one of the largest increases in consumer expenditures. In comparison, the rise in average expenditures was only 4.7 percent. Something is taking shape with today’s consumers. Odds are the answer to this puzzle is simple: we are buying more. The fashion cycle is not just an opportunity for older people to wear clothes they wore at a younger age. The fashion cycle is an established concept, taught to students of fashion from textbooks, after having proved itself time and time again. In a traditional fashion cycle, a trend is first introduced as an idea on a runway by high fashion designers. From here, celebrities and the media give this idea even more visibility. After this, major high-street retailers work to create and manufacture accessible designs for the general population. Consumers then buy into this idea until it reaches its peak and becomes accepted as a trend. Now, it’s all downhill from here. The trend eventually be-
outdated, sometimes as fast it was adopted. We see it happen constantly. In recent years we’ve seen color-blocking, combat boots, cut-out shoulders, peplum and more, all of which have captured the attention, and pocketbooks, of consumers, only to be met with an inevitable plunge in popularity. So hug your Chelsea boots and minimalistic jewelry close, the time will come when you have to say goodbye. The most important thing about the fashion cycle is the speed at which it is beginning to move. Social media gives us constant access to people across the globe, instantly offering the opportunity to see what is being worn. In other words, the communication of fashion aesthetics is flourishing. Thanks to this international interconnectivity technology allows, the lag from runway to retail is shrinking, as well as the time to adopt and drop trends. Unfortunately, this speeding cycle often leaves us with masses of barely worn clothes, which we consider not acceptable for use. They pile in the back of our closets and fill our donation bags. We’ve accumulated so much stuff, that it no longer fits in our homes. Americans spend $24 billion each year on storage according to the Self-Storage Association. With its constant growth, the storage industry has been adjudged recession-resistant. Even with big closets and extra storage, all this stuff requires occasional sorting and tidying. So congratulations, you decided what you can get rid of, but where does it go? Do you sell online, go to a consignment store, donate or toss? The good news is, options are growing in terms of selling your gently used clothing. Websites like Poshmark, ThredUP and others make it easy to get some cash for unused clothing, as do local consignment stores like Stuff or Plato’s Closet. You may also opt to donate your unused clothing at places like Goodwill or the Salvation Army. At a local consignment store, Stuff marketing director Jody Hagerty has witnessed the rise of consigned clothing. “We have definitely seen an increase in the number of consignors and consignor items we enter each year at all of our locations,” Hagerty said. With six stores in Iowa, Stuff receives
mind, Stuff also has to send one-third, to one-half of what they receive away because it does not meet their standards of quality. Thankfully, Stuff does offer alternatives to people looking to get rid of old clothing. They encourage people to donate or to take advantage of Stuff’s recycle option. “For those consumers that are environmentally conscious, consigning their gently used items is a great solution for their unwanted items. It gives items a longer life span so less ends up in landfills,” Hagerty said. While these remedies are great options for our excessive activity as consumers of clothing, they are only treating the results of overbuying. They are like medications for the side effects of a deeply rooted disease. These remedies do not address the real problem at hand: the extreme degree of our clothing consumption. Being mindful of our purchase decisions has become genuinely difficult. Even those who turn a blind eye to what fashions are gaining traction are not exempt from the desire for new things. Constant advertising also plays a role, convincing consumers of what they should buy.The world is telling us what it is we want; the Earth, however, doesn’t have a voice that speaks so loud. It is our responsibility to act as conscious consumers, being mindful of our purchases. The best thing we can do is to limit what we buy and make do with what we have. This strategy can only hold for so long before genuine need arises. Because of that, we should take advantage of all of our second hand clothing sources. Shopping at thrift stores can help those with a serious and relentless dependence on the retail experience, as long as they have open minds. Senior Jessica Huffman can speak for the huge benefits of shopping second hand. Finding everything from vinyl records and graphic tees, to repurpose-ready mom jeans, Huffman thrift shops to create her own, unique aesthetic. “You can find things that you know no one else will have, and you can put your own personal spin on it. Let’s say you find and old T-shirt. and it is a bit baggy and worn out, find a way to cut it up and make it look unique,” Huffman said. Not buying all items at full price provides a lot of financial liberty. Huffman has had more money to pay for things like her phone, car and one day soon, her education. While being frugal is valuable, it isn’t the only benefit of shopping second-hand. “Not only do
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FEATURE you save a lot of money by making/altering your clothes yourself, but it is a good feeling knowing that you have made something that no one else can find or replicate,” Huffman said. Throughout the Cedar Falls and Waterloo area, Huffman has found lots of destinations for second hand treasures, including the Salvation Army, Goodwill (pro tip: always choose Waterloo over Cedar Falls), St. Vincent DePaul, 18th Street Vintage and the secondhand section of Mohair Pear. After obstaining from shopping, and then shopping secondhand comes the third best option: shopping ecofriendl y .
BeGood is a T-shirt company for men and women that starts at just $20. They provide tasteful basics at a very reasonable price. Mayamiko provides jobs to people in African countries constructing clothing using traditional African techniques. Their upcycled collection features clothing made from recycled fabrics, ranging $30-$60. While shopping for eco-friendly pieces, it should also be noted that fairtrade and organic pieces may not be eco-friendly. While the two causes are very important and should be important to buyers, their manufacturing could still be harming the environment as much as any other company.
“EARTH PROVIDES ENOUGH TO SATISFY EVERY MAN’S NEEDS, BUT NOT EVERY MAN’S GREED.” - MAHATMA GANDHI
N e w b u s i nesses are emerging with heightened attention to their environmental footprint. Unfortunately, some eco-friendly companies operate within a higher price range, simply because being kind to the planet takes a little more dough. For high schoolers, these purchases will be harder to make, but an occasional purchase could be plausible for some. At the higher end of the price spectrum is Reformation, an eco-friendly, cuttingedge company definitely worth mentioning. The company says it best: “We make killer clothes that don’t kill the environment.” Their modern clothes embrace the minimalism of the early 2000s, while also featuring with whimsical prints and textiles. BeGood and Mayamiko are both companies with a more affordable price point.
This is one m o r e thing to consider as we make buying decisions. We will continue to participate in this life as consumers, filling our needs with the industries provided. However, it’s time we had a real discussion about the effects of our never-ending buying. We have certain responsibilities as consumers of clothing. It’s time to be mindful of what we acquire and how those things came to be.
By Editor in Chief Sommer
DANIELSEN
life from loss 10 FEATURE
Burial design gives ultimate opportunity to give back
Death is never a very fun thing to talk about, but it’s something that is inevitable. We’re all used to funerals where the body is laid to rest in a casket. This is to pay as much respect as possible to the body. Caskets and coffins can even have extra protec-
reasoning gives people the option of cremation. The Catholic denomination has changed to allow cremation, but Eastern Orthodox still prohibits it. Now that the history of death-care has been explained, we can discuss what options are available to us now. Inside the green movement, which has been
ing process, where they drain the body of blood, feces and urine, and fill it with formalin (a dangerous chemical) to preserve the body for the funeral. Imagining these things can be disturbing to some so it’s good to have other options for themselves or loved ones.
tive layers added to delay the gruesome but natural decomposition of the body. Coffins are still used during cremation as well. Cremation was originally discouraged in many religions, but today it has become more accepted. Long ago, Greeks and Romans paid little attention to the body and practiced cremation because they believed the spirit was eternal. On the other hand, Christian gravesites are sleeping places for the people who believe in future resurrection, similar to the resurrection of Jesus. If the body is cremated, the vessel for the soul is demolished. In the case of martyrs being burned to death, Christians believed that God would bring them back undamaged upon resurrection. This
going on for decades, a smaller focus is what we do with bodies after the funeral. Many support the idea of the earth taking our bodies and allowing the life cycle to manifest naturally. Staying with the traditional idea of using a casket, there are different materials that work nicely for allowing decomposition of the body. Caskets made out of bamboo, hemp, teak, wool, cork and many others are classified as “low-impact” caskets. This means they break down much easier and cost less. Commercially produced caskets take a very long time to break down in the soil because of the chemical treatments to the wood as well as metal decorations and attachments. Another thing that scares people away from traditional caskets is the embalm-
For the future, there are many different hightech methods like sending ashes to space and freezing the body for a possible future revival with some sort of medical advancement. But an idea from the Capsula Mundi project will bring us back to our roots. The Italian duo, Anna Citelli and Raoul Bretzel, created a design for a biodegradable pod that turns the person’s remains into nutrients that will nourish a seed connected to the pod. Instead of depressing cemeteries, there could be magical forests full of the spirits of loved ones. It would add beauty to the sadness of losing a loved one, as well as covering the earth with trees and green. By Staff Writer Haley
NEWS
ERICKSON
Sinking Cities
The disappearance of coastline cities could be a new reality for our country and the world.
If carbon continues to be emitted at its current
rate, scientists from the non-profit organization Climate Central predict a global temperature rise of just over seven degrees Fahrenheit, which will raise sea levels 23-29 feet over several centuries. A rise in sea levels this large would affect 627 million people currently living on coastal cities. The following cities are at risk for being submerged by these rising seas.
Atlantic City, New Jersey Baltimore, Maryland Boston, Massachusetts Charleston, South Carolina Fort Lauderdale, Florida Honolulu, Hawaii Houston, Texas Jacksonville, Florida Los Angeles, California Long Island, New York Miami, Florida Mobile, Alaska New Orleans, Louisiana New York City, New York Northern California
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Portland, Maine Portland, Oregon Providence, Rhode Island Sacramento, California San Diego, California Savannah, Georgia Seattle, Washington Tampa Bay Area Virginia Beach, Virginia Washington D.C. Wilmington, Delaware By Staff Writer Olivia
MARTIN
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How to:
Make a Terrarium
FEATURE
Terrariums are nice reminders of the beauty of nature to have around your home, and they are surprisingly easy to make! You will need: A glass container Pebbles or gravel Slightly larger stones Sand Soil Plants Before you begin, you will need to get yourself a glass container. Glass containers specifically for terrariums are an option, but they can be expensive, so you can also use an old coffee pot or other thrift store find as an alternative. Then, get some small pebbles, larger stones and sand. You will also need to find plants for your terrarium, which is the fun part! The plants should complement each other and be able to thrive in similar environments. Some plants that will work well in terrariums include mosses, Baby’s Tears, African Violets and Creeping Fig. Remember that terrariums can trap moisture, creating a humid environment. Any plants that do well in humid environments and need little light are great for terrariums. Succulents and cacti can also grow in terrariums; however, it is better to use an open container to reduce humidity. Once you have your materials, you can begin!
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Start by putting a handful of the small pebbles into your empty container.
Pour a thin layer of sand on top of the pebbles.
Add a layer of soil to the mix. The amount of soil should be the thickest layer yet. At this point, what is in your terrarium should be about one-third the height of the container.
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Place your plants in the soil. Start with the largest plants and then add the smaller ones. Make sure not to over plant!
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Optional
If you so choose, you can put tiny figurines, geodes, colored stones or any other decorative elements to your terrarium for extra flair.
Remember to water your terrarium weekly, and to not put it in direct sunlight. Enjoy!
Sierra Steen Photo Illustrations
By Staff Writer Olivia
MARTIN
12 Hit the Trails FEATURE
Cedar Falls’ top-notch bike trails provide healthy, scenic outdoor activity
“ABC Quick Check” A -Air:
-Ensure your tires are inflated to the pressure listed on the side of the tire
B -Brakes:
-Replace pads if worn to less than ¼” and make sure they don’t rub the tire
C -Cranks & Chain:
-Ensure cranks are tightly bolted (the things that the chain is wrapped around) -Make sure your chain is free of rust and gunk
Quick -Quick Releases:
-Ensure quick releases are closed and pointed to the back of the bike (the things that go through the center of the wheels)
Check -Check everything:
-Ride around to check if everything is work ing properly
Share the Trails
• Keep right, except when passing
• Pass on the left • Announce when passing with a
bell, horn or your voice • Warn others well in advance • Use hand signals when traveling on roads • Always yield to traffic and other trail users • Use lights at night • Use a white front and red rear light • Clean up litter
Local Bike Shops Bike Tech
217 Washington St, Cedar Falls, IA 50613 (Cool new location!)
Europa Cycle & Ski
4302 University Ave # E, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
13 FEATURE
Ben Louviere Photos and Graphic
“THE LOVE OF WILDERNESS IS MORE THAN A HUNGER FOR WHAT IS ALWAYS BEYOND REACH; IT IS ALSO AN EXPRESSION OF LOYALTY TO THE EARTH...” - EDWARD ABBEY
By Staff Writer Ben
LOUVIERE
14 traveling Back in time FEATURE
Key moments in environmental history since the formation of the National Park Service
2006 An Inconvenient Truth A documentary written and starring Al Gore brings world wide attention to global warming.
2016 THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CELEBRATES 100 YEARS 2010 BP Oils Spill At Deepwater Horizon oil rig on the Gulf of Mexico explodes, killing 11 people and opens a well releasing oil into the Gulf of Mexico in the largest spill in world history.
2007 Greenhouse Gas Regulation The Supreme Court rules the EPA has legal authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions.
2009 Marine National Monuments President George W. Bush designated 200,000 square miles of Pacific Ocean islands, reefs, surface waters and sea floors controlled by the U.S. to be marine national monuments.
1989 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill 10.8 million gallons of gas contaminates Prince William Sound in Alaska.
2001 The Roadless Rule In one of his final acts as president, Bill Clinton proclaims 5.8 million acres of nation forests to be off limits to logging and road building.
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1984 Deadly Gas Leak in India A pesticide plant in Bhopal, India releases gas that kills 10,000 people and ruins the health of at least 50,000 others.
FEATURE
1986 1978 Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster Toxic Sludge at NiA nuclear reactor at a plan in Ukraine agra Falls, NY explodes, sending radioactive Discovering toxic sludge was pollution all across Europe. leaking into their homes from an abandoned canal caused many residents from the city of Niagara Falls to become ill and suffer chromosomal damage. 1970 Clean Air Act This act set limits on six different pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, small particulates and lead) identified as harmful for humans and the environment. First Earth Day April 22 was officially declared Earth Day in the United States and over 20 million Americans demonstrated.
1969 Cuyahoga River Fire It all started with an oil slick that had accumulated from years of industrial waste. Due to the amount of toxic waste in the river, it lit on fire. This event helped inspire passage of the Clean Water Act.
“THE EARTH WILL NOT CONTINUE TO OFFER ITS HARVEST, EXCEPT WITH FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP. -POPE JOHN PAUL II Photos by Hannah Sanderman
1916 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WAS FORMED By Staff Writer Hannah
SANDERMAN
“I see Earth! It is so beautiful.�
-Yuri Gagarin
Thank you to Heartland Paper of Cedar Falls for offering the Royal Sundance 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper for this special edition of the Hi-Line.