2023 June

COSMOS

HANKUK ACADEMY OF FOREIGN STUDIES/ JUNE 2023

ENVIRONMENT INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES Avocado's ugly truth Plastic bags: are they really bad?

Can bioplastics be the perfect solution to plastic pollution?

Apple, marketing genius or a faithful follower?

People consider stock prices more important than the apocalyptic climate crisis Nuclear fusion: 21st-century version of nuclear optimism?

Masks' dark side of impact: a threat to the environment Nuclear power: is it actually lethal to the Earth?

GROUP ARTICLES VARIOUS ANIMALS THAT SAVE THE PLANET The predator of the sea: a shark Earthworms: the most valuable fertilizer Our oceanic hero, whale Creatures that help our environment: bees

FAKE NEWS: WHY ARE WE DECEIVED? Fake news vs. Confirmation Bias EM Mudballs: the false treatment of aquatic ecosystems The threat of fake scientific articles Why do people fall for fake news?

Greenwashing: the tragedy brought about by excess

COSMOS

Contents

INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES

07 10

AVOCADO'S UGLY TRUTH - SOOAN LEE AVOCADOS DO MANY GOODS FOR HUMAN HEALTH; AT THE SAME TIME, IT HARMS THE EARTH, CONTRIBUTING TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

PLASTIC BAGS: ARE THEY REALLY BAD? - WOOJIN JEONG PLASTIC BAGS VS. PAPER BAGS PLASTIC BAGS VS. COTTON BAGS

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CAN BIOPLASTICS BE THE PERFECT SOLUTION TO PLASTIC POLLUTION? - SEOYOON WON

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APPLE, MARKETING GENIUS OR A FAITHFUL FOLLOWER? - CHANSOL YANG

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PEOPLE CONSIDER STOCK PRICES MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE APOCALYPTIC CLIMATE CRISIS - JENNY IN

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NUCLEAR FUSION: A 21ST CENTURY VERSION OF NUCLEAR OPTIMISM? - CHANWOO LIM

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MASKS’ DARK SIDE OF IMPACT: A THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT - SHIHWAN KIM

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NUCLEAR POWER, IS IT ACTUALLY LETHAL TO THE EARTH? - WOOYEONG KIM

BIOPLASTICS, TOUTED AS THE SOLUTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, MAY NOT BE THE COMPLETE ALTERNATIVE.

MANDATORY ESG REPORTING ACTING AS SUCCESSFUL ENVIRON-POLITICS

AS PSYCHOLOGICAL BIASES MAKE PEOPLE DOWNPLAY THE CLIMATE CRISIS, A DIFFERENT APPROACH SHOULD BE TAKEN TO INDUCE CHANGE IN THEIR PERCEPTION.

FUSION TECHNOLOGY MIGHT NOT BE SO ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND ECONOMICALLY REASONABLE

THE GROWING CONCERN OF THE WIDESPREAD USE OF MASKS FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

ON OUR SHORTCUT TO NET-ZERO

GROUP ARTICLES :: VARIOUS ANIMALS THAT SAVE THE PLANET ::

29 31 33 35

THE PREDATOR OF THE SEA: A SHARK - HAERAM YANG EARTHWORMS, THE MOST VALUABLE FERTILIZER - SEOYOON WON CREATURES THAT HELP OUR ENVIRONMENT: BEES - WOOJIN JEONG OUR OCEANIC HERO, WHALE- SOOAN LEE

:: FAKE NEWS: WHY ARE WE DECEIVED? ::

39 41 43 45 47

FAKE NEWS VS CONFIRMATION BIAS - CHANSOL YANG EM MUDBALLS: THE FALSE TREATMENT OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM - SHIHWAN KIM THE THREAT OF FAKE SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES - CHANWOO LIM

WHY DO PEOPLE FALL FOR FAKE NEWS? - JENNY IN GREENWASHING: THE TRAGEDY BROUGHT ABOUT BY EXCESS - WOOYEONG KIM

INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES

AVOCADO’S UGLY TRUTH

Sooan Lee

Avocados do many goods for human health; at the same time, it harms the Earth, contributing to the climate crisis.

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reenly Avocados. They are incredible in taste and health. Avocados are abundant in nutrients that cannot be easily found in other fruits, including vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and vitamin E, healthy fats, potassium, and so many more nutrients that we need.

Avocados also serve as an amazing food ingredient: people often eat them with salad, smash them onto toast, or put them into their sandwiches. Because of its wonderful taste and nutritious abundance, people’s fondness of avocados led to an increase in avocado demand. According to the data provided by USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), “U.S. demand for avocados has increased steadily over the past two decades. Per capita consumption of avocados has tripled since 2001 to 8 pounds per person in 2018.”

However, avocados are not as good for the planet as they are for human bodies. In fact, they are detrimental to the environment.

<statistics credit: USDA>

"Avocado Requires a Massive Amount of Water Resources."

Avocado requires a huge amount of water, compared to other fruits and vegetables. In Chile, the world’s one of the main avocado-producing region, an average of 1280 liters of fresh water is required. This means that approximately 320 liters of water are needed to grow one avocado, while one tomato requires 5 liters of water, in contrast. As can be inferred from the numeric data, a massive amount of freshwater irrigation is required for avocado farms, over-exploiting the water resources.

This causes serious harm to the planet. Avocado farms require an over-irrigation of water to their farmlands. Over-irrigation leads to water loss, leaching of micronutrients such as nitrogen, and increased amount of energy used for pumping. It also impacts the soil, increasing the salinity of the soil. Over-irrigation even causes drought, deforestation, and desertification, deteriorating the Earth’s terrestrial environment stability.

<Photo credit: Department of Agriculture and Food>

Avocado’s Carbon Footprint is Too High Another problem that avocado brings out is its high carbon footprint. The carbon footprint of avocados is simply the total amount of greenhouse gas emitted during the process of avocados being transported until they finally arrive on our plates. Avocado farming requires a specific climate to grow in fine conditions. Avocados can grow at their finest in tropical or semitropical areas with some rainfall in the summer. Since avocados are climate-specific, they are also region-specific. Some of the largest avocadofarming regions are located in the Americas: Mexico, Peru, and Chile are the core countries that produce massive amounts of healthy avocados. Due to its region-specificity, avocado transportation creates an excessively high carbon footprint. For example, if avocados are to be on a French plate, those avocados have to travel over 5600 miles to get to France, flying overseas and requiring high carbon and energy emission activities. If two avocados are to be on a Korean plate, that avocados have to travel 8111 miles, ultimately emitting 846.36grams of carbon dioxide.

<Photo credit: Greenly>

08

Further Problems of Avocados, a ‘Green Gold’ As mentioned previously, the core avocado-producing countries are Peru, Chile, and Mexico. These countries are facing a chronic economic crisis. Since avocados’ economic value is high, avocados are also called the ‘green gold’. This also means that avocados are considered an economic breakthrough in these countries. In order to make an economic recovery, people in these countries started to widely expand the avocado industry. They started to allot a large portion of their lands for avocado farming, over-irrigating the water to their farmlands. They even cut down the trees in forest areas, which ultimately led to severe deforestation.

The avocados made the Americas face another problem: the environmental crisis.

But…We Still Have Alternatives Despite all these problems avocados are bringing out, the avocado industry is still such a lucrative and therefore attractive business to many people. Also, because of its abundant health benefits, avocado demands are increasing on a global scale. However, we still have alternatives for avocados! Well+Good suggests pesto, nut butter, bananas, chia seeds, silken tofu, hummus, and edamame as alternatives for avocados for their similarity in taste and nutritional abundance. The writer suggests and encourages the readers to reduce avocado consumption and try to find alternative food ingredients that can both protect the planet Earth and still be…. yummy!

<photo credit: Stocksy/Natasa Mandic>

2023.03.01 Sooan Lee leesonia0609@gmail.com

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Plastic Bags: Are they really that bad?

P

Woojin Jeong

lastic bags, which are less economically burdensome, help people enjoy a convenient life.

Nowadays, however, numerous critics are claiming the abolition of plastic bags, insisting that plastic bags increase environmental harm, and plastic bags in some states such as San Francisco are rigidly banned. Despite this public opinion currently perched, plastic bags are the best among obtainable resources, and the comparison with other alternatives highlights the supremacy of plastic bags.

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Plastic bags vs. Paper bags: How plastic bags supplement the quality of the environment The most well-known and essential components of people’s daily life, especially in terms therefore many people tend to use paper bags more frequently. Unlike the current trend, paper bags carry big negative aspects. People should consider whether the bags they use ruin their lives. According to scientific research and studies, plastic bags produce 50 times less water pollution than paper bags. Furthermore, plastic bags need less energy than paper bags when being recycled. (Tara Energy, 2021) By the ULS Report, Plastic bags emit 39% less greenhouse gas than uncompacted paper bags and 68% less greenhouse gas than composted paper bags.

(Perfect Packaging, 2019)

<Photo credit: Pixabay>

Plastic bags vs. Cotton bags : Why plastic bags surpass other alternatives Cotton bags are one of the rising alternatives to plastic bags which are well-known to be eco-friendly. But are cotton bags eco-friendly enough to deserve to be the priority equipment? Cotton bags, primarily, are less sustainable than plastic bags. Furthermore, the requisite amount of energy and material for cotton bag production is much larger than that of plastic bags. Cotton, the fundamental factor of cotton bag production, requires massive water demand and the use of a variety of chemicals. (Gammage, 2022) Here, it is unambiguously proven that cotton bags harm the environment rather than being eco-friendly. For a bag to be highly eco-friendly, the bags should be made of materials that can be recycled, and most crucially, the bags should be produced and utilized a lot. Thus, plastic bags, used 5 trillion times per year, should be merited as the most eco-friendly bag of all. Furthermore, according to a United Kingdom government report, to be more eco-friendly than a plastic bag, a cotton bag needs to be used 173 times. At the end of the day, using plastic bags will be the best, and even a considerate option that supervises our beloved nature.

So, are plastic bags really that bad?

No, as mentioned numerous times in this journal, plastic bags are currently the most preeminent, the most eco-friendly bags that people can afford. The actuality of other alternatives that are universally known to be better than plastic bags is proven erroneous due to comparisons. Plastic bags emit less energy, require fewer materials, and the proportion they occupy in terms of environmental pollution is less than any other alternatives. The current public opinion towards plastic bags should be necessarily altered, if the world consists of substantial people who acknowledge themselves as environment savers. Environmentalists are developing and seeking innovative inventions to create eco-friendly tools and facilities. Until stabilized and unlimited inventions emerge, plastic bags will be the best options for people to choose from.

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Can bioplastics be the perfect solution to plastic pollution?

Seoyoon won

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Bioplastics, touted as the solution to environmental pollution, may not be the complete alternative

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t a time when environmental pollution due to the waste of plastics was getting worse, bioplastics which are eco-friendly plastics, were just like a savior to our polluted planet.

There were two biggest main problems with the original plastics. First, the original plastics created environmental pollution because they couldn’t be decomposed for thousands of years.

Also, plastics weren’t free with the problem of the depletion of petroleum oil which is the raw material of plastics.

<Plastic Pollution. Credit : “The Status of Plastic Waste in the United States” Environmental Pollution Centers, 2 Jan. 2019>

To solve this disadvantage of original plastics, a lot of research was processed. Eventually, eco-friendly plastics appeared. It was the advent of bioplastics. Then, what are bioplastics?

Bioplastics are a type of plastics made with renewable sources. Renewable resources are sources that can naturally replenish themselves over time. Bioplastics are made with plants or other biological substances such as corn starch or sugarcane, which are renewable sources, instead of petroleum oil. Biodegradable plastics and bio-based plastics are types of bioplastics. Biodegradable plastics are completely decomposed to water and carbon dioxide unlike original plastics due to the interaction of microorganisms. However, unlike biodegradable plastics, bio-based plastics are not completely decomposed because they are made by mixing biomass, which are derived from plants, and chemical materials, which are derived from fossil fuels. Then, how could bio-based plastics be eco-friendly even if they are not completely decomposed? It is because bio-based plastics have much less carbon dioxide emission amounts in the manufacturing process than original plastics. Furthermore, they mainly recycle and use agricultural waste in manufacturing, and are even recyclable after disposal. Based on these reasons, bio-based plastics too are eco-friendly to the environment.

These bioplastics might be seen as great innovations to people. What advantages of bioplastics made them so popular? First, they are not affected by the fluctuation in prices of petroleum oil because their original substances are extracted from nature, unrelated to petroleum oil. In addition, there is less risk of environmental pollution with bioplastics that are decomposed into water and carbon dioxide in one or two years. Therefore, bioplastics, which take the convenience of original plastics but naturally disappear in short duration, were regarded as the solution to plastic pollution.

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<Bioplastics. Credit : “What Are Bioplastics? Can They Become a Viable Alternative to Pet?” Quest Resource Management Group, 9 Aug. 2019>

The Dark Side of Bioplastics However, are bioplastics really a perfect substitute for original plastics? There are a few disadvantages appearing these days. The strongest advantage of bioplastics was that they prevent environmental pollution than original plastics. However, the researchers found that even bioplastics made a great amount of pollutants in the chemical process of making the organics into plastics. Moreover, bioplastics have much more fragile physical parts and processability than original plastics due to weak mechanical strength. For example, bioplastics made with starch as a raw material have high water permeability, and result in being easily torn and brittle.

Considering all the positive and negative aspects of bioplastics, it seems yet bioplastics are not the perfect substitutes for original plastics. Until technologies are developed to produce bioplastics that are reformed with current’s disadvantages, we can do a certain task at this point. We should actively follow the basic steps to protect our environment: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Maybe this would be the best method to make a healthier planet rather than creating the perfect alternative to plastics.

2023.02.28 Seoyoon Won swon1359@gmail.com

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APPLE, marketing genius

Chansol yang

< Tim Cook on his Apple event 2022: https://appleinsider.com/articles/23/01/13/tim-cook-salary-to-drop-40-at-his-request>

or a faithful follower?

Mandatory ESG reporting acting as successful environ-politics

15

A

<A Picture of Taz: Environmental Progress Report>

s Apple unveiled its new iPhone in their launching show, people were discontented with the absence of a charger for the package of the product. A myriad of people criticized Apple’s arrogance toward its consumers by giving them no choice but to buy an extra charger to use their product. In spite of the negative public sentiment, Apple exultantly pronounced their increasing profit in 2022. Since then, the negative sentiment has surprisingly evaporated as Apple released its Environmental Progress Report 2022.

Furthermore, business experts applaud Apple for its efficient ESG marketing which even ends up enhancing the semantic value of Apple’s ridiculous decision.

By identifying the significance of ESG reporting in image making, it seems urgent to implement the mandatory ESG reporting for domestic giants.

As aforementioned, Apple announced that iPhone 12 won’t come with earbuds or a wall charger at its event on October 13th. Apple replied about the public’s negative response, “ At Apple, we believe in making bold commitments to improve the world around us — and taking bold steps to meet them.”

Besides the bold decision, Environmental Progress Report 2022 elucidates Apple’s overall accomplishment in protecting the environment. In addition to ditching chargers, it proudly introduces its new patent Taz. Taz was developed in order to recycle rare materials that are necessary for producing components of the iPhone. According to the report, Apple used 45% recycled rare earth elements consisting of 30% recycled tin, 13% recycled cobalt, and certified recycled gold by their new disassembly technology Taz. While many considered Apple’s ESG marketing from the report of 2022 as overly strategic, in fact, ESG reporting is compelled by law. In several countries including the US, the national government obliges annual ESG reporting to every mid-size or greater business. However, it is also true that Apple effectively utilizes mandatory ESG disclosures for their image making.

2023.02.28 Chansol Yang cldvce5216@gmail.com Adjusting the image as luxurious by raising the price, Apple has occupied the top position within the electronic device market. Trend-setting advertisements with characterful music and cinematography have increased iPhone’s popularity among young generations in particular. In addition to the aesthetic distinction, Apple set their image as a socially contributional company so that consumers can recognize the price as reasonable.

Moreover, Apple expands their social influence by strategic contributions: large donations with Apple Pay, and provision of Apple products to students of low income families.

US giants including Apple not only utilize mandatory ESG reporting as a successful marketing strategy, but also expand their market through free offers. On the other hand, global organizations such as EU(European Union) and UN(United Nations) compel ESG reporting to every enterprise engaging in their projects. In other words, the world is in the flow of requiring mandatory ESG reporting in order to assist the protection of the environment.

Unlike such inclinations, policies toward Korean enterprises have far to go with advocating ecofriendly movements of markets. Coming back to the Environmental Progress Report 2022, Apple took a stand that they are willing to offer their technological patent Taz for free to other enterprises.

Considering the incomparable performance of Taz in recycling rare materials from second-hand products, it is worth enough for Korean electronic device companies to adopt the technology.

However, domestic enterprises including SAMSUNG seem to hold Apple’s offer in check.

Recycling technologies of domestic enterprises are far behind those of global giants due to the absence of mandatory ESG reporting.

If the Korean government enacts mandatory ESG reporting, domestic enterprises will struggle to get competitiveness in ESG reports by outstanding ecofriendly accomplishments. By devising original ESG marketing strategies like Apple has done for several years, mandatory ESG reporting will be one of the most effective environ-politics. It is speculated that the enactment will fulfill its prime role to encourage enterprises’ active engagement to environmental issues.

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People consider stock prices more important than the apocalyptic climate crisis JENNY IN

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2023.03.01. Jenny In injennyin@gmail.com

As psychological biases make people downplay the climate crisis, a different approach should be taken to induce change in their perception.

I

t is evident that mankind is facing a severe climate crisis. In ‘The sixth extinction’, Elizabeth Kolbert claims that unprecedented climate change is causing humanity to die out on its own extinction (Kolbert, 2014). According to the World Wildlife Fund’s 2020 Living Planet Report, human actions are the main cause of an average 68% loss of biodiversity (World Wildlife Fund, 2021). In addition, numerous scientific evidence and data prove the seriousness of the climate crisis.

Climate change is not an intriguing topic for people, however. People are extremely sensitive to a popular politician’s scandal and tomorrow’s stock prices, but to the climate crisis, they are not. Some climate scientists claim people should be enlightened to be more aware of the seriousness of climate change by more obvious and shocking scientific evidence. However, in his book ‘Don’t Even Think About It’, George Marshall criticizes this attitude rather turns people away from the climate crisis. What is important is to convert such data to attract human emotions (Marshall, 2015). The world has been focusing on developing technologies to help preserve the environment and conveying exact scientific knowledge. It is time to shift the focus to knowing why people do not take the risks of climate change seriously and how to induce changes in their behaviors.

<Illustration of two people making various colors of speech burbles out of their mouths. Credit: Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay>

In ‘The Psychology of Security’, Bruce Schneier states that humans downplay familiar risks than new ones, anonymous ones than vivid ones, and long-term, slow-evolving ones than immediate, sudden ones (Schneier, 2008): his research explains the situation of people overlooking the climate crisis. The climate is a subject that is too familiar, abstract, and long-term-based for people. Moreover, worse situations that can occur due to climate change are illustrated as a story of the distant future, and individual efforts to reduce climate change do not even show any immediate change. To some people, the apocalyptical description of the effect of climate change makes them feel powerless. This distance makes climate change a far-away and complex topic, which people tend to disregard. In fact, public concern for climate change has been declining for a few decades, according to Per Espen Stoknes’ research (Stoknes, 2014).

Considering the psychological biases, Korean cognitive psychologist Kyung-il Kim pays attention to two motivations in psychology: approach motivation and avoidance motivation. Whereas approach motivation is a drive to get a good outcome, avoidance motivation is a drive to avoid a bad one. He emphasizes that different motivations work more efficiently depending on the time: approach motivation is effective in future events and avoidance motivation is effective in current events. Accordingly, he argues people, especially experts, need to take a more enjoyable and less serious approach when addressing the climate crisis, such as by saying “Show your daughter the charming blue sky after 50 years” rather than “The Earth will be submerged in water in 50 years”, focusing on wishes rather than warnings.

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Nuclear Fusion: A 21st-century version of nuclear optimism?

BY CHANWOO LIM

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2023.2.27 Chanwoo Lim Adastracwlim@gmail.com

Fusion technology might not be so environmentally friendly and economically reasonable.

A

s the world's energy demands continue to grow, the need for efficient and sustainable power sources becomes increasingly important. Nuclear fusion power has long been touted as a solution, with its ability to generate large amounts of energy without producing greenhouse gasses. However, one of the critical challenges facing fusion power is the supply of tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen essential for fueling many commercial reactor designs.

Tritium is a rare and expensive substance, making it difficult to obtain in the quantities required for fusion reactors. Tritium is rarely collected in natural sources, and it is known to be mostly yielded as a byproduct of nuclear fission reactors. When nuclear reactors are operational, they produce only around 100g per year, while a nominal commercial fusion reactor would require 300g per day. This presents a significant challenge for the widespread adoption of fusion power as a sustainable energy source.

To address this issue, scientists have turned to producing tritium through fusion technology itself, which offers a promising solution to the tritium shortage. By using the neutrons generated in the fusion process, scientists can collide lithium with the neutrons to produce tritium and helium. This reaction takes place in the blanket of the reactor, in which Beryllium is the most promising candidate for the composition of the blanket.

Beryllium, noted as Be, is an ideal material for the blanket because it produces more neutrons for the generation of tritium and does not produce a substance that will lower the efficiency of the reactor when it collides with the neutrons from the fusion reaction. However, Beryllium is very costly, and the supply is limited. The annual production of Be is estimated at 250 tonnes, while several designs of nuclear fusion reactor blankets use a few hundred tonnes of beryllium. It also should be noted that these beryllium blankets contain uranium impurities, which make the blanket highly radioactive after being used for a long time. This would lead to the same problem of radioactive waste that nuclear fission reactors have for fusion technology. Despite the benefits of fusion technology's green outlook, the current approach to this future technology is not so environmentally positive and thus economically <A fusion reactor diagram. Credit: Rootstocks via istock> undesirable.

The high cost of mining beryllium, combined with its radioactive impurities, makes it challenging to use in a commercial setting. While deuterium is abundant and readily available, the scarcity of tritium presents a significant challenge to the adoption of nuclear power as a sustainable energy source. The use of fusion technology to generate tritium holds promise, but further research is needed to make it a viable option for commercial nuclear reactors. In the meantime, alternative solutions must be explored to meet our energy needs while minimizing environmental impact.

20

Masks’ dark side of impact: A Threat to the Environment

SHIHWAN KIM

THE GROWING CONCERN OF THE WIDESPREAD USE OF MASKS FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

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T

<Disposable masks being collected|Greenpeace International>

he coronavirus(COVID-19) pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we live our lives from every perspective. However, if we would have to choose one of the most significant changes, it would be the widespread use of masks. People all around the world have been wearing masks in order to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV2(COVID-19). While masks have undoubtedly been a vital tool in the fight against the pandemic, they have also become a serious threat to the environment.

The environmental impact of masks has become a huge concern.

Single-use masks that are the most commonly used type of mask are manufactured from non-biodegradable materials, such as polypropylene. The majority of disposable masks have a significant environmental impact, and they take a very long time to degrade. As a result, discarded masks are piling up in landfills, on streets, and in waterways. Additionally, there is also the issue of the energy and resources required to produce them. According to a study by the University of Southern Denmark, the production of disposable masks in China alone generated approximately 240,000 metric tons of waste in 2021. Moreover, disposable N95 masks that have been highly demanded to be used in the United States are estimated to generate up to 7,200 tons of medical waste every day.

To address these environmental concerns, researchers and entrepreneurs around the world have had working to develop reusable masks as alternatives to traditional single-use masks.

Reusable masks are masks that can be washed and worn multiple times. Although they require more energy to produce than disposable masks, their longer lifespan can ultimately bring a smaller environmental impact. In addition, sterilizing masks could also allow masks to be worn for a couple of days.

Hospitals such as MGH and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston already began using decontamination systems that use hydrogen peroxide vapor to sterilize masks. Other hospitals in the United States have also been using different mask strategies based on availability of reusable masks and access to decontamination systems.

Governments have also initiated taking steps to address the environmental impact of masks. The European Union implemented a new law of paying a tax on single-use plastics including disposable masks, and countries such as France and Italy already banned the use of disposable plastic masks.

Ultimately, the environmental impact of masks is a reminder of the need to balance our immediate health needs with the long-term health of the planet. During a pandemic, there’s a priority to protect people from the virus, but for the longer term, there should be a consideration of minimizing the potential negative impact on the environment. Innovations that develop sustainable solutions for the future environment are inevitable.

2023.2.27 Shihwan Kim shihwan0402@gmail.com

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WOOYEONG KIM

On our shortcut to Net-zero 23

D

espite the expanded proportion of renewable energy all over the world’s energy industry, technical and financial drawbacks of them still hinder full independence from fossil fuels. Moreover, as a consequence of the aftermath of the Russo-Ukrainian War, most European countries have been struggling with heating resources—Russia is dominant in the gas supply— and reviving interest in another way of energy generation. However, the complete transition to renewable energy is yet to come. Hence, it is urgent to search for alternatives as soon as possible. And one of the alternatives is—nuclear power.

When a neutron collides with the atomic nucleus of heavy elements like Uranium, fission—the process of dividing the nucleus of an atom— occurs inside the element, and new protons with energy are released.

Then, the new protons start to react again. After the chain reactions, the massive amount of generated energy boils water to drive the turbines to produce electricity. This is how nuclear power plants work.

Nuclear power has numerous benefits concerning the environment and climate change. Unlike the critical factors of climate change like thermal power generation, nuclear power can be the vehicle for an eco-friendly society.

Generally, these power reactors are based on a low-carbon design; they do not produce direct carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions while operating. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, is one of the most influential tycoons who firmly pushes for nuclear power even for national security. He has always asserted that countries should increase nuclear power plants, not shutting them down for the sake of environmental advantages. <Nuclear Fission process Credit: John A. Dutton e-Education Institute - Penn State>

<Average life-cycle carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions for different electricity generators Credit: IPCC>

Nevertheless, many people are still suspicious and anxious about nuclear power reactors for reasons of those precedented accidents—the Chernobyl, and the Fukushima nuclear disaster—in addition to the radioactive wastes, which are fatal to either the biosystem or humans. Although many countries have reinforced the seismic design of the plants since those disasters, the apprehension in society has not subsided. To resolve this uncertainty, plenty of global companies are vigorously developing and investing in ‘SMR’—Small Modular Reactor— a new type of nuclear power plant that downsized from the conventional one. Then, what would be the merits of reducing the size? Above all, the fuel requirements have decreased; SMRs require less frequency of refueling, which requires replacement every 3-7 years whereas the existing plants do it every 1-2 years. The interval of refueling would be gradually longer as the development of SMRs elaborated. Furthermore, due to their small size, they are produced prefabricated so that they can be located anywhere even in the center of the city with low costs. To participate in this innovative flow, Bill Gates has founded a nuclear energy corporate, TerraPower, and is proceeding with developing SMR as well.

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<Bill Gates at TerraPower with a mock-up of metal fuel pin bundles Credit: Gates Notes>

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2023.03.01 30123 Wooyeong Kim jsyun16027@gmail.com

GROUP ARTICLES

GROUP ARTICLE

VARIOUS ANIMALS THAT SAVE THE PLANET THE PREDATOR OF THE SEA: A SHARK EARTHWORMS: THE MOST VALUABLE FERTILIZER OUR OCEANIC HERO, WHALE CREATURES THAT HELP OUR ENVIRONMENT: BEES

GROUP ARTICLE

THE PREDATOR OF THE SEA: A SHARK

BY HAERAM YANG

2023.03.05 Haeram Yang

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WHY MARINE ECOSYSTEMS ARE IMPORTANT TO EARTH

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he sea accounts for 70.8% of the Earth's surface, has about 1.4 billion cubic meters of salt water, and countless creatures coexist in the seawater and live connected by a food chain. Since the beginning of human history, these oceans have played many roles in terms of energy, food, and environ

ment. Marine ecosystems play a biochemical role in storing or circulating nutritional salts from land, filtering pollutants, and preventing land erosion from strong waves. In addition, through the photosynthesis process of the primary producer, carbon dioxide, the main culprit of global warming, is absorbed from the atmosphere and supplied with 30-50% of the oxygen required from the Earth, which has various effects on the entire ecosystem.

SHARKS HELP MAINTAIN MARINE ECOSYSTEM Sharks are the top marine ecosystem predators that play an essential role in the global environment. Sharks are important in balancing the marine ecosystem and the food chain. When sharks feed, nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are excreted back into the water, promoting the growth of phytoplankton and other small marine life, which helps support the entire food chain of the ocean. Sharks also play a role in carbon storage by regulating the population of seaweed and other marine animals that feed on other important carbon-absorbing plants. This helps mitigate the effects of climate change by allowing these plants to grow and store more carbon. When sharks disappear from the food chain, the marine ecosystem collapses rapidly, which eventually weakens the function of the ocean which absorbs carbon and heat from the atmosphere. An example of how sharks affect the environment is the snake shark. Snake sharks thrive on seaweed by controlling the number of sea cows or dugongs in Shark Bay. (BBC, 2022) These seaweed fields are known to have twice as much carbon dioxide per square mile as forests on land. (BBC, 2022)

SHARKS THAT ARE SHRINKING, THEY NEED TO BE PROTECTED According to a study published in the scientific journal Nature, reckless shark fishing has reduced the global shark population by 71% over the past 50 years, and this change in shark population is closely related to the winning fishing in shark habitats. Despite sharks playing such an important role in the marine ecosystem, global demand for shark products continues to increase. The scale now amounts to 1.3 trillion won (about $1 billion) a year worldwide. In addition, the IUCN shocked last year by announcing that more than one-third of cartilage fish such as sharks and stingrays are endangered due to overfishing. However, a survey of shark fin's international trading site revealed that more than two-thirds of the species traded were endangered, and the actual threat was twice as large.

Meanwhile, sharks and stingrays were designated as international trade protection targets at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) last year. The U.S. Senate also introduced a "shark fin sales ban" to prevent reckless shark overfishing. While these social trends have taken the first step toward protecting the sea's predator sharks, which play a key role in the marine ecosystem, and further protecting the entire Earth's environment, these regulations themselves cannot prevent shark overfishing at all. To prevent their overfishing, continuous attention, and international cooperation will be required.

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GROUP ARTICLE

EARTHWORMS, THE MOST VALUABLE FERTILIZER HOW THEY HELP THE 21ST CENTURY ENVIRONMENT

E

earth, the only planet that humans are able to live on, is now being destroyed due to humans. Actions that are held for

humans’ convenience like burning fossil fuels or deforestation are the main problem deteriorating the environment.

In this situation that humans are making the earth sick, there are some animals that help the environment unexpectedly.

Currently humans are persistently destroying nature through deforestation.

This brutality of humans makes the plants disappear in the forest and increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Increase in carbon dioxide warms the planet, and eventually leads to climate change. According to NASA climate change, human activities have raised the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide content by 50% since the beginning of industrial times. The global warming made by humans can be partly solved by earthworms. How can earthworms be beneficial to the environment?

Earthworms can create productive soil structure. Soil can play a special function, trapping the carbon dioxide into the plant root. Because of this function, when humans dig the soil and

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take the plants out, the carbon dioxide that used to be restored in the soil is released. From this, we can notice that remaining healthy soil might be a method to keep our planet in good condition. Earthworms can increase the soil fertility and recover the damaged soil. They play an important role in decomposition, making nutrients by breaking down dead organic matter.

Decomposition releases the nutrients that are restored inside the dead organics and make it available for living plants to use those nutrients. Furthermore, earthworms create nutrients through castings. They usually feed on plant debris and other organic matters. This means that the digestive system of earthworms includes all the nutrients from the soil, eventually making the cast of earthworms nutritious. If there are 500,000 worms living in an acre of soil, they could make 50 tons of castings. As earthworms crawl through the soil, they provide nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus with their casts as a very valuable fertilizer.

Starting from the industrial period about 200 years ago, our planet is getting toward the max rate of environmental pollution currently. However, humans don’t try to reform the current situation, even in the moment that earthworms are helping the environment by forming nutritious soil. We should be aware of environmental problems and animals such as earthworms that are beneficial to our environment to protect them.

BY SEOYOON WON

2023.03.05 Seoyoon Won swon1359@gmail.com

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GROUP ARTICLE

CREATURES THAT HELP OUR ENVIRONMENT: BEES

BY WOOJIN JEONG

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eople execute numerous activities for our environment such as recycling, planting trees, or utilizing sustainable resources. Yet, since the environment is not only configured by people, but other creatures also aid the environment. Bees, especially, are noteworthy animals that are in a

symbiotic relationship with nature. Bees are vital creatures that stabilize our environment and provide us with colorful and nutritious diets.

BEES: HOW THEY DECORATE NATURE Bees are pollinators, which convey pollen to other regions. Since they are ideally adapted to pollinate, bees help plants grow and reproduce. This particular process executed by bees eventually maintains the cycle of life turning. The majority of plants that provide us with food heavily rely on pollination, especially bees. Bees pollinate around 80% of wildflowers in Europe as well, thus the countryside would lack its beautiful and fascinating scenes were it not for bees. (Friends of the Earth, 2017) As science technology has evolved a lot, progressive groups of people promote establishments of social facilities, clearing a wide area of trees. This process is called deforestation, and gradual increase of deforestation is a critical factor that deteriorates the environment. Forest bees provide great functions which protect nature from rapid deforestation. Furthermore, a study in Ghana and Benin by the NGO ‘Bees for Development’ indicates that the territory of cashew nuts was 2 to 3 times higher when bees were raised near the trees. (WeForest, 2023) The existence of bees itself fertilizes and animates nature to be more copious and abundant.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO: BEES ARE AT RISK OF EXTINCTION The button line is that there has been a decline in the quantity and quality of agricultural produce in the United States. Environmentalists concluded that the decreasing tendency in crop production is the biggest factor that rebounded such consequences. As everyone is aware, decline of crop production often results from climate change and usage of pesticides. (Trvst, 2022) The more people use pesticides, the harsher it will be to cure climate change: the vicious circle continues to go on. If this vicious circle constantly emerges, there will be no room for bees to pollinate, and our environment will head towards deterioration. The world of nature is a delicate, complicated connection between various factors, so if one factor starts downgrading, the balance of the entire connection will downgrade as well. To rescue bees from extinction and save our nature, we should acknowledge the world from a macro perspective. People should always keep the connection between environmental factors in mind and strive to settle all problems. Bees are massive keys to secure our nature, and they should be extricated as soon as possible.

Bees may be interpreted as trivial animals that merely sting when sensitive. If we take a closer look at them, bees provide crucial help not only to the environment but also to human beings. Attempting an elaborate lens on what surrounds us will help us to find other creatures that are supporters of nature. Go give it a try!

2023.03.05 Woojin Jeong 18292@hafs.hs.kr

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GROUP ARTICLE

OUR OCEANIC HERO, WHALE WHAT IMPACTS DO CARBONS HAVE ON EARTH?

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arbon dioxide is a primary greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere, thus keeping the Earth warm. However, an excess amount of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, accelerating and degenerating global warming. Carbon dioxide is a type of gas emitted by various human activities such as burning fossil fuels for electricity, industrial processes, transportation, and so forth. As climate change is one of the most serious issues humanity is facing, “climate action” is even categorized as the thirteenth SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) that the United Nations have proposed. In order to act in accordance with climate action, many proposed solutions to the climate crisis, and one of the core ideas was to eliminate the excess carbon in the atmosphere to reduce greenhouse gas effects by capturing the carbon and storing it somewhere else other than the atmosphere. However, the developed carbon capturing technology came out to be a huge financial burden to be used as a prevalent 'climate-acting' method. But what if there is an effective way to capture the carbon while it is also economical and does not require advanced technology?

HOW DO WHALES HELP SAVE THE EARTH? Marine biologists found out that there is a marine animal that performs excellence in capturing carbons even only with its existence: whales. Whales are a living carbon storage that contributes to climate action.

In fact, whales have a startling potential for carbon capturing. Throughout their 60 years (on average) lifetime, whales absorb carbon in their bodies, accumulating around 33 tons of carbon per whale body. When the whales die, their bodies –so-called ‘whale falls’– sink to the bottom of the ocean. These dead whale carcasses store the carbon deep down in the ocean floor for at least ten thousand years.

Approximately 29 thousand tons of carbon is held annually, even only by the whale falls.

Further, whale excretions are such great nutrients for phytoplanktons, known as the powerhouse of the ocean that takes in carbon and provides oxygen through photosynthesis. As can be inferred, whales are such sacrificial and obliging animals that serve as the silver lining of climate change.

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT CAN HELP WHALES SURVIVE? However, whales are losing their lives because of human activities that threaten their lives. These human activities result in oil spill, plastic wastes in the ocean, or abandoned fishing gear, which are fatal to whale population. In order to reduce the whale death rate, reducing plastic waste and preventing waste from flowing into the ocean water is crucial. Using biodegradable fishing nets can also prevent whales from getting trapped and suffocated to death. Vessels including cruises, fishing boats, and ships should also try to reduce oil spills as much as possible and establish a navigating system that prevents the ship from colliding with whales. On a larger scale, the government and several NGOs can cooperate to establish a program that collects fishing equipment such as fishing nets or fishing traps for free like how National Ocean Service and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) are doing, as mentioned above. The government and marine-life-related organizations should set a guideline for people, guiding the proper ways to discharge fishing equipment and actively promote it via social media or campaign videos.

Whales are environment-friendly and economical animals that effectively capture the excess carbon in the atmosphere, hindering the accelerating global warming and climate crisis. Whales are a silver lining for human life and environment maintenance. It is now our job to protect the whales, acknowledging that whale protection is ultimately a great strategy to respond to the climate crisis.

2023.03.01 Sooan Lee leesonia0609@gmail.com

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BY SOOAN LEE 36

GROUP ARTICLE

FAKE NEWS : WHY ARE WE DECEIVED? WHY DO PEOPLE FALL FOR FAKE NEWS FAKE NEWS VS CONFIRMATION BIAS THE FALSE THREATMENT OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM THE THREAT OF FAKE SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES GREENWASHING : THE TRAGEDY BROUGHT ABOUT BY EXCESS

GROUP ARTICLE

FAKE FAKE NEWS NEWS VS VS CONFIRMATION CONFIRMATION BIAS BIAS PEOPLE CREATING THEIR REASON FOR GOODNESS

BY CHANSOL YANG

S

ave water. It is a widespread saying among Korean households. People take water saving for granted; water deficit is considered a major factor of it. While it is commonly considered something right, its rightness makes people have confirmation bias about water deficit. As a name of a moral act, people are turning away from the truth. The fact that Korea hasn’t faced water scarcity is spontaneously veiled by people’s need for a reason to their moral accountability.

WHAT’S TRUE THEN? In 2003, Population Action International(PAI) announced the results of their research about water resource conditions of each nation.

According to the investigation, the Republic of Korea was classified as water-stressed. Few years later, the name of the condition was misinformed from water-stressed to water shortage by a United Nations’ report. Originally, PAI classified water resource conditions as three levels: relative sufficiency, water-stressed, and water-scarcity.

Based on water resource availability per capita, PAI considered nations with over 1700m³ as water-sufficiency, ones with 1000m³ to 1700m³ as water-stressed, and ones with less than 1000m³ as water-scarcity. While PAI stated that nations of waterstressed should be aware that the water resource condition would possibly deteriorate within a few years, it is a definite distortion of information. In addition, such investigation results about Korea are heavily impacted by periodic concentration of natural water resources by its monsoon climate along with high population density.

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THEN, DON’T WE HAVE TO SAVE WATER? Although Korea isn’t currently facing water-scarcity, we are running a risk of being a nation of waterscarcity. Moreover, water usage per capita of Korea is twice more than ordinary European countries.

Therefore, water saving is not just a stale conventional wisdom but a significant solution to combat water-scarcity. The Korean government, conceding the wrong expression of concern , anxiously warned that the issue must not lead to indifference toward water saving.

People need a reason to be good. As aforementioned, they need a logical reason to save water therefore spreading the wrong expression of the government.

Thanks to the fake information, parents can alert children to save water and a myriad of NGOs could encourage people to engage in their water saving campaigns.

In order to force individuals to the situations with necessity of goodness, some used confirmation bias for creating it. However, it is hard to criticize the consequences of fake news about water-scarcity. In fact, some fake news would emerge with negative intent, while some would emerge with people’s need for reason. As the world is not at our service, we sometimes become desirable for logic in the world of irrationality. But the end can never justify the means.

Recognizing an issue without any bias is a qualification in order to be a critical individual.

Facing the truth and judging by one’s own standard is harder yet better to solve the problem as an intellectual being. Beloved British poet Dylan Thomas noted in his poem 'Do not gentle into that good night',

"Though wise man at their end know dark is right Because their words have forked that no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night” - Dylan Thomas 2023.03.05 Chansol Yang cldvce5216@gmail.com

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GROUP ARTICLE

BY SHIHWAN KIM

A PSEUDOSCIENTIFIC TREATMENT MADE IN JAPAN FAKED ITS SELF-PURIFICATION ABILITY TO THE WORLD

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I

n South Korea and Japan, or in some Southeast Asian countries, it is not rare to witness people throwing muddy balls into a pond or a local river in order to purify the aquatic ecosystem. These mud balls are called “EM Mudballs”, that are advertised as the best way to “restore a healthy balance of microorganisms in ecosystems, thereby increasing their capacity for self-purification”.

EM Mudballs are one of the secondary products of EM(which stands for effective microorganisms). EM is a trademark and a brand name owned by EMRO*, which is a company that manufactures and sells its EM products, often manufactured by fermenting organic matter that contains different groups of microorganisms in Japan.

By inoculating dried soil and EM Bokashi(fermented rice bran with microorganisms including lactic acid bacteria, yeast, and phototrophic bacteria), EM Mudballs are manufactured.

The EMRO company claims that the richness of the diversity of microorganisms determines nature’s selfpurifying ability, and advertises that the products can accelerate the fermentation of fodder wastes, therefore reviving aquatic ecosystems and enhancing their self-cleansing ability.

<EM Mudball event to purify a local river in Okinawa, Credit: EM News|EMRO>

However, there are serious concerns about the validation of the concept. The concept of EM has been challenged and no scientific studies support its main claims. Various experiments have examined the use of EM in making organic fertilizers and investigated the effects of the fermented organic fertilizer on soil fertility, not distinguishing the effects of the microorganisms in the EM treatments from the effect of the EM nutrient solution in the carrier substrate. The resulting effects on soil fertility depended nonspecifically upon multiple factors, including indirect effects of microbially-synthesized metabolites (e.g., phytohormones and growth regulators). Higa Teruo, the founder of EMRO and the developer of EM mudballs, acknowledges these problems, concluding “the main limitation…is the problem of reproducibility and lack of consistent results.” in his 1994 paper about EM. EMRO advertises that EM is made by carefully selecting and cultivating 80 kinds of microorganisms, but the classification of microorganisms is groundless, abstract, and unscientific. Both developers and sellers do not properly inform which microorganisms they use, and the disclosed microorganisms are nothing special (due to the fact that their existence is already known, such as lactobacillus and yeast). Higa Teruo, the founder of EMRO and the developer of EM Mudballs, acknowledges these problems, concluding “the main limitation…is the problem of reproducibility and lack of consistent results.”.

The Okayama Prefectural Environmental Health Center reported in 1997 that “EM bacteria do not have a good effect on water purification.”

In the experiment held, EM bacteria were placed in the experimental septic tank and observed for 600 days, but the processing efficiency was similar to that of the septic tank without EM bacteria.

2023.03.05 Shihwan Kim shihwan0402@gmail.com

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GROUP ARTICLE

THE THREAT OF FAKE SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES MISLEADING THE PUBLIC, UNDERMINING RESEARCH, AND SPREADING MISINFORMATION

BY CHANWOO LIM

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T

he increase in fake scientific articles is a concerning trend that has been growing in recent years. With the rise of digital publishing and online platforms, it has become easier for individuals or organizations with vested interests to disseminate false or misleading information disguised as legitimate scientific research.

One of the main dangers of fake scientific articles is their potential to mislead the public and policymakers. In areas such as health, where decisions can have life-or-death consequences, the spread of false information can be particularly damaging. A fake article promoting an unproven medical treatment could lead people to waste time and money on a treatment that has no real benefit or, even worse, could cause harm. Similarly, a false article denying the existence of climate change could lead to policy decisions that damage the environment and have long-term consequences for public health.

Fake scientific articles can also harm the reputation of legitimate scientific research. The scientific community is built on a foundation of trust and credibility, and the spread of false information can erode that trust. If the public becomes skeptical of scientific research as a whole, it could lead to a lack of funding for research and a loss of trust in scientific findings. This could have severe implications for public health and safety and for advancing scientific knowledge.

Another danger of fake scientific articles is the speed at which misinformation can spread in today's digital age. False information can be disseminated quickly and widely, potentially reaching millions of people in a matter of hours.

This can be particularly dangerous in areas such as public health, where false information can lead to harm or even death.

In addition to these measures, there is a need for greater transparency and accountability in scientific publishing.

Publishers should be transparent about their peerreview processes and ensure that all articles published in their journals meet rigorous standards. Scientists can also take steps to ensure that their research is transparent and replicable, such as sharing data and code with others in their field.

To mitigate the risks of fake scientific articles, several measures can be taken. Scientists can be vigilant in detecting and reporting fake articles, and journals can implement strict peer-review processes to ensure that articles are rigorously tested before publication. Educating the public about recognizing fake scientific papers and promoting the importance of evidence-based research can also help to mitigate the risks.

The rise of fake scientific articles is a concerning trend that threatens the integrity of scientific research and the safety of the public. To mitigate these risks, scientists, journal editors, and other stakeholders must work together to detect and report fake articles, promote evidence-based research, and educate the public about the dangers of fake scientific papers. Only by doing so can we ensure that scientific research remains a trusted and reliable source of knowledge for years to come.

2023.03.05 Chanwoo Lim adastracwlim@gmail.com

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WHY DO PEOPLE FALL FOR FAKE NEWS? AS SOCIALLY HARMFUL FAKE NEWS IS BECOMING MORE SUBTLE, PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHAT PSYCHOLOGICAL BIASES MAKE THEM BELIEVE IN IT TO AVOID IT.

BY JENNY IN

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W

e hear more fake news than we think. It is very subtle, and it is even more difficult to determine whether it is true, especially if we are unfamiliar with the topics or if plausible evidence like figure is presented.

One of the topics with much popular false information in Korea is solar energy. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Energy Agency's ‘Knowing Solar & Wind Energy Properly,’ solar energy has various advantages such as infinite, pollution-free, fuel-free, and quiet, but it is difficult to expand its supply due to false information (the Ministry of Trade & Industry and Energy and the Korea Energy Agency).

For example, it is a popular rumor that electromagnetic waves generated by facilities of solar energy adversely affect the human body.

However, the electromagnetic wave strength of solar power plants is within the safety standards proposed by the Korean government and is lower than that of commonly used household appliances. Furthermore, many people are reluctant to live near solar power plants because they think the plants damage the surrounding environment, but there is no notable difference between the area around the plants and the general area (the Ministry of Trade & Industry and Energy and the Korea Energy Agency).

As such, false public opinion formed by fake news can be an obstacle when people try to do something substantially helpful. Moreover, modern society is an age of information explosion. It is becoming increasingly important to distinguish the right information and prevent the spread of wrong information. To do this, we need to know how people come to believe fake news.

The mere-exposure effect can work if people encounter the information frequently: the finding that individuals show an increased preference for a stimulus as a consequence of repeated exposure to that stimulus (American Psychology Association).

And because people are 'cognitive misers,’ a rule people tend to use mental shortcuts in making judgments and drawing inferences (American Psychology Association), they often don't think deeply and critically about whether the information they receive is true.

Then, they experience the framing effect. In particular, if they have no background knowledge of the information, it is highly likely that the law of small numbers, the tendency to have blind faith in the sample they saw or experienced, will affect them more strongly. This tendency leads to the hasty generalization fallacy and belief in the first information. Such an image remains firmly in their minds, and they judge whatever story they hear later based on it. In addition, the power of the frame is very strong. When you hear 'Don't think of an elephant,’ you have to think of an elephant first in order not to think about it (Lakoff): this is to be stuck in the frame.

Then, they experience the framing effect. In particular, if they have no background knowledge of the information, it is highly likely that the law of small numbers, the tendency to have blind faith in the sample they saw or experienced, will affect them more strongly. This tendency leads to the hasty generalization fallacy and belief in the first information. Such an image remains firmly in their minds, and they judge whatever story they hear later based on it. In addition, the power of the frame is very strong. When you hear 'Don't think of an elephant,’ you have to think of an elephant first in order not to think about it (Lakoff): this is to be stuck in the frame.

Although people cannot judge the authenticity of all information by knowing what psychological process leads them to believe in fake news, there is a big difference between those who know it and those who do not: if they can consider the case that they might be making some errors or trapped in psychological frames or not.

2023.03.05 Jenny In injennyin@gmail.com

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GROUP ARTICLE

S

ociety is now entering the ‘Green’ boundaries—Green economy, Green New Deal, etc— and crowds of people including environmentalists and celebrities keep raising their voices with concerns regarding climate change to the world. To follow these movements, several companies have adopted eco-friendly systems in diverse ways. Eco-friendly goods such as eco-bags are just an elementary step, and even all of the small-scale details are being changed to be ‘green’. Thus, ESG—Environmental, Social, and Governance— has become a business trend and a commanding business strategy these days; ESG is based on the principle that the environment is only one factor in determining an organization's commitment to sustainability. However, as this business strategy grows, some companies began to delude customers with a superficial promotion of the environment. Greenwashing—also called Green Sheen— is a type of advertising for a company itself as being eco-friendly than actually diminishing its environmental impacts—in other words, discrepancy, and deceptions. The environment is used as the companies’ marketing means and to improve their image to the public.

Most individuals mistakenly believe that Starbucks is one of the well-known models for green companies. But actually, it is quite the opposite. Starbucks has various eco-friendly tactics, which made this company known as a pioneer in the green economy. In 2022, Starbucks announced the ‘Better Together’ project, which is its medium-and long-term goal for sustainability by 2025. However, oddly enough, Starbucks’s tumbler marketing strategy is causing a problem. Starbucks has argued that using tumblers can reduce the number of disposable products consumed, and has often released new collections of tumblers every holiday. In order to use tumblers for environmental preservation, they need to be reused hundreds of times. Naturally, this marketing merely increases the sales volume, never mitigating the waste problem. A few months ago, a customer visited Starbucks with her own tumbler. But she posted a picture of a tumbler with some texts on her social media account, “Brought my own tumbler to Starbucks. They made the drink in the normal plastic cup and transferred the coffee into my tumbler, and threw the plastic cup in the trash.” This company decreased its production of disposable products but simultaneously increased its production of reusable cups and tumblers by an equivalent amount. As a result, the overall manufacturing output remained the same. Except for Starbucks, countless companies are involved with greenwashing. According to a survey, even 58% of global CEOs acknowledged that their companies have been guilty of greenwashing.

The countries themselves are trying not to let the customers fool for greenwashing. However, there needs much more consumer development in discernment and awareness to overcome this dilemma. Referring to Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), there are some tips to avoid greenwashing companies. For example, the customers should check the label and certification mark on each product before purchase. Vague words such as ‘eco-friendly’ or ‘natural’ can sway them. Instead, it is good to identify the exact details on the label and understand the principles of how this product can be beneficial to the environment. For another one, it is useful to consider that they are not being told in general; Keep questioning is the best way to be a wise customer!

2023.03.05 Wooyeong Kim jsyun16027@gmail.com

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BY WOOYEONG KIM

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WORKS CITED AVOCADO'S UGLY TRUTH - SOOAN LEE *, N. (2022, October 12). How much water does avocado farming consume? SaveMoneyCutCarbon. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.savemoneycutcarbon.com/learn-save/how-much-water-does-avocado-farmingconsume/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20California%20Avocado,day%20during%20the%20irrigation%20season ERS charts of note. USDA ERS - Charts of Note. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/charts-ofnote/?topicId=b64476d3-203d-4eea-ad5c-59272f480979#:~:text=U.S.%20demand%20for%20avocados%20has,avocado%20output%20in%20that%20year Firman, T. (2022, November 29). The best healthy avocado substitutes to add to your diet. Well+Good. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.wellandgood.com/avocado-substitute/ How much water does it take to grow an avocado? Danwatch. (2022, March 15). Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://danwatch.dk/en/undersoegelse/howmuch-water-does-it-take-to-grow-an-avocado/ Jacobson, M. (2022, March 10). Avocado production: Water footprint and socio-economic implications. FreshFruitPortal.com. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.freshfruitportal.com/news/2022/01/06/avocado-production-water-footprint-and-socio-economic-implications/ Safdie, S., & Gendre, I. (n.d.). What is the avocado's environmental impact? Greenly. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://greenly.earth/enus/blog/ecology-news/what-is-the-avocados-environmental-impact . (2022, September 5). [2022 ] ' ' ? . Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.hkbs.co.kr/news/articleView.html? idxno=691316#:~:text=%EC%95%84%EB%B3%B4%EC%B9%B4%EB%8F%84%20%ED%83%84%EC%86%8C%EB%B0%9C%EC%9E%90%EA%B5%AD&t ext=%EC%9D%B4%EB%A0%8 7%EA%B2%8C%20%ED%8A%B9%EC%A0%95%20%EA%B8%B0%ED%9B%84%EC%97%90%EC%84%9C%EB%A7%8C%20%EC%9E%90%EB%9E%84, %EC%9D%98%20%EC%9D%B4%EC%82%B0%ED%99%94%ED%83%84%EC%86%8C%EA%B0%80%20%EB%B0%B0%EC%B6%9C%EB%90%9C%EB% 8B%A4.

편집국

생물다양성 녹색기자단 아보카도 환경파괴 사실일까 환경일보

PLASTIC BAGS: ARE THEY REALLY BAD? - WOOJIN JEONG Tara Energy. (2021, February 23). Which is better for bagging groceries: Paper or plastic? Tara Energy. Retrieved February 23, 2023, from https://taraenergy.com/blog/which-is-better-paper-or-plastic/ FlexiblePackagingA. (2022, February 18). Environmental impact of plastic vs. paper, Perfect Packaging. Perfect Packaging - Flexible Packaging. Retrieved February 23, 2023, from https://perfectpackaging.org/environmental-impact-of-plastic-vs-paper/ *, N. (2022, October 20). Plastic vs Cotton Bags: Which is more sustainable? SaveMoneyCutCarbon. Retrieved February 26, 2023, from https://www.savemoneycutcarbon.com/learn-save/plastic-vs-cotton-bags-which-is-more-sustainable/

CAN BIOPLASTICS BE THE PERFECT SOLUTION TO PLASTIC POLLUTION? - SEOYOON WON Anjoran, Renaud. “Advantages of Bioplastics vs. Disadvantages: Memo for Product Designers.” QualityInspection.org, 26 Mar. 2020, https://qualityinspection.org/advantages-of-bioplastics-vs-disadvantages/.

By, et al. “The Pros & Cons of Bioplastics: Greenhome.” GREEN HOME, 7 July 2008, https://greenhome.co.za/the-pros-and-cons-of-bioplastics/.

Cho, Renee, and Renee Cho. “The Truth about Bioplastics.” State of the Planet, 13 Dec. 2017, https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2017/12/13/the-truth-aboutbioplastics/.

Eco News. “ : SK .” SK | ESG : SK , 19 Sept. 2022, https://news.skecoplant.com/plant-tomorrow/5401/.

“Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Resources.” Curriculum Resources for Michigan Agriculture Teachers, https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/renewablenonrenewable. “ .” Biopack.or.kr, http://biopack.or.kr/neomcc/2_feature.html. .“ , ?” SK ., TISTORY, 25 Feb. 2013, https://skenergy.tistory.com/354. . “[ ] ?” , 23 Apr. 2021, http://www.lifein.news/news/articleView.html? idxno=12320. . “[ ] ' '.” YTN , 2 Sept. 2019, https://m.science.ytn.co.kr/program/view.php? mcd=0082&key=201909021633493618.

마법 같던 생분해 플라스틱의 감춰진 진실 에코플랜트 뉴스룸 에코플랜트 뉴스룸

미디어허브 지구를 위해 내일을 심는 에코플랜트

바이오플라스틱 종류 유 지우 바이오 플라스틱 장점과 단점을 알아볼까요 에너지 블로그 입니다 홍 수열 포스트플라스틱④ 바이오 플라스틱은 플라스틱의 대안이 될 수 있을까 라이프인 황 성연 과학돋보기 지구를 보호하는 바이오플라스틱 사이언스

APPLE, MARKETING GENIUS OR A FAITHFUL FOLLOWER? - CHANSOL YANG Apple expands the use of recycled materials across its products. Apple Newsroom (Cameroun). (2023, February 27). Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.apple.com/cm/newsroom/2022/04/apple-expands-the-use-of-recycled-materials-across-its-products/ Apple_Environmental_Progress_Report_2022. (n.d.).

Bichet, E., Eastwood, J., & Mencher, M. (2022, November 23). EU's new ESG reporting rules will apply to many US issuers. The Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2022/11/23/eus-new-esg-reporting-rules-will-apply-to-many-usissuers/ Calma, J. (2020, October 16). Apple ditching chargers saves costs but not the planet. The Verge. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/16/21519466/apple-iphone-12-chargers-airpods-greenhouse-gas-emissions-e-waste Mandatory ESG reporting: A worldwide review: Convene ESG. Azeus Convene. (2022, November 10). Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.azeusconvene.com/esg/articles/the-global-state-of-mandatory-esg-disclosures

PEOPLE CONSIDER STOCK PRICES MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE APOCALYPTIC CLIMATE CRISIS - JENNY IN Kolbert, E. (2014). The sixth extinction: An unnatural history. Henry Holt and Company.

Marshall, G. (2015). Don't even think about it: Why our brains are wired to ignore climate change. Bloomsbury USA. Schneier, B. (2008). The Psychology of Security. Progress in Cryptology – AFRICACRYPT 2008, 50–79. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68164-9_5 Stoknes, P. E. (2014). Rethinking Climate Communications and the “Psychological climate paradox.” Energy Research & Social Science, 1, 161–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2014.03.007 World Wildlife Fund. (2021). A warning sign: Where biodiversity loss is happening around the world. WWF. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.worldwildlife.org/magazine/issues/summer-2021/articles/a-warning-sign-where-biodiversity-loss-is-happening-around-the-world | ? [ ]. (2022). YouTube. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://youtu.be/z0rr_1uSazc.

김경일 교수 왜 우리는 기후 변화를 무서워하지 않을까 환경의 중요성을 간과하는 인간의 심리 환경읽어드립니다

NUCLEAR FUSION: A 21ST CENTURY VERSION OF NUCLEAR OPTIMISM? - CHANWOO LIM Author links open overlay panelB.N. Kolbasov, Highlights•Potential needs in Be for fusion power engineering may exceed Be resources.•Be recycling after its operation in a fusion power plant (FPP) seems inevitable.•U impurity in Be seriously impairs environmental properties of fusion power plants.•Upo, & AbstractWorldwide identified resources of beryllium somewhat exceed 80 000 t. Beryllium production in all the countries of the world in 2012 was about 230 t. At the same time. (2016, March 2). On use of beryllium in fusion reactors: Resources, impurities and necessity of detritiation after irradiation. Fusion Engineering and Design. Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092037961630165X Rubel, M. (2018, September 1). Fusion neutrons: Tritium breeding and impact on wall materials and components of diagnostic systems - journal of fusion energy. SpringerLink. Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10894-018-0182-1

MASKS’ DARK SIDE OF IMPACT: A THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT - SHIHWAN KIM Parker, L. (2021, May 4). How to stop discarded face masks from polluting the planet. Environment. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/how-to-stop-discarded-face-masks-from-polluting-the-planet Research team details process used to confirm safe decontamination and reuse of N95 masks after vaporized hydrogen peroxide treatment. Massachusetts General Hospital. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://www.massgeneral.org/news/coronavirus/team-details-n95-mask-decontaminationprocess “Danish Study Finds Face Masks Provide Limited Protection to Wearer.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 18 Nov. 2020, https://www.reuters.com/article/ushealth-coronavirus-facemasks-idUSKBN27Y1YW.

NUCLEAR POWER, IS IT ACTUALLY LETHAL TO THE EARTH? - WOOYEONG KIM Clifford, C. (2021, January 21). How Bill Gates’ company TerraPower is building next-generation nuclear power. CNBC. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/08/bill-gates-terrapower-is-building-next-generation-nuclear-power.html Liou, J. (2021, November 4). What are small modular reactors (smrs)? IAEA. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/whatare-small-modular-reactors-smrs Prater, E. (2022, August 29). Elon Musk says shutting down nuclear power plants is 'insane,' 'anti-human,' and a national security risk. Fortune. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://fortune.com/2022/08/27/elon-musk-says-shutting-down-nuclear-power-plants-insane-anti-human-national-security-riskenvironmental-threat/ U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - independent statistics and analysis. Nuclear power and the environment - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/nuclear-power-and-the-environment.php? trk=public_post_comment-text

THE PREDATOR OF THE SEA: A SHARK - HAERAM YANG EARTHWORMS, THE MOST VALUABLE FERTILIZER - SEOYOON WON CREATURES THAT HELP OUR ENVIRONMENT: BEES - WOOJIN JEONG OUR OCEANIC HERO, WHALE- SOOAN LEE Biniarz, Alley L. “An Ode to Earthworms: How Worms Could Help Save the Planet.” Environment 911, 9 Mar. 2021, https://www.environment911.org/AnOde-to-Earthworms-How-Worms-Could-Help-Save-the-Planet.

“Earthworm Functions.” Earthworm Functions | Earthworm Society of Britain, https://www.earthwormsoc.org.uk/earthworm-function.

“Earthworms' Role in the Ecosystem.” Science Learning Hub, https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/9-earthworms-role-in-the-ecosystem.

Entanglement in Fishing Gear, https://iwc.int/management-and-conservation/entanglement.

“Forestry Bees: How Bees Help Trees - Weforest.” WeForest, 23 Feb. 2023, https://www.weforest.org/forestry-bees-how-bees-help-trees/.

“How Earthworms Can Help Your Soil.” NSW Department of Primary Industries, https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/soils/guides/soilbiology/earthworms.

“The Importance of Sharks.” Oceana Europe, https://europe.oceana.org/importance-sharks-0/.

Kate. “Benefits of Earthworms to Soil Health.” Eden Lawn Care and Snow Removal, 8AD, https://edenapp.com/lawn/care/benefits-of-earthworms/.

Kim, Namgi. “[ ] ... .” , 14 July 2022, https://www.emozak.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=5450.

Max. “Why Do We Need Sharks for Our Ecosystem?” Oceans Research, 20 Sept. 2021, https://www.oceans-research.com/why-do-we-need-sharks-for-ourecosystem/.

Okafor, Jennifer. “Are Bees Endangered? and Reasons to Protect Them.” TRVST, 16 July 2022, https://www.trvst.world/biodiversity/are-bees-endangeredand-reasons-to-protect-them/#:~:text=All%20species%20of%20bees%20are,species%20of%20bees%20become%20extinct.

Pannett, Rachel. “Want to Save the Planet? Saving Whales Could Help, Scientists Say.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 15 Dec. 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/12/15/whales-carbon-sink-climate-change-sequestration/.

Rebecca, Rebecca. “How Do Whales Die? 7 Common Causes of Death for Whales.” AZ Animals, 6 Oct. 2022, https://a-z-animals.com/blog/how-do-whalesdie-7-common-causes-of-death-for-whales/.

“Whales Could Be a Valuable Carbon Sink, Say Scientists.” ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, 15 Dec. 2022, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/12/221215120727.htm.

“Why Do We Need Bees?” Friends of the Earth, 15 July 2017, https://friendsoftheearth.uk/nature/why-do-we-needbees#:~:text=Bees%20are%20important%20to%20a%20healthy%20environment&text=By%20keeping%20the%20cycle%20of,fruit%2C%20set%20seed%2 0and%20breed. “[ ] ?” , 27 Nov. 2019, http://kfem.or.kr/?p=203557. “ : .” BBC News , BBC, 2 Jan. 2022, https://www.bbc.com/korean/features-59807091.amp. .“ , .” Greenpeace Korea | , 4 Nov. 2020, https://www.greenpeace.org/korea/update/15662/blogocean-whale-is-the-solution/.

사라져가는것들㉑ 상어의 눈물 비수되어 돌아온다 해양 생태계 무너져 수온 상승 이모작뉴스

해양보호 고래가 온실가스를 줄이고 지구온난화를 해결할 수 있다고요 환경운동연합 기후변화 상어가 해양 기후 변화 대응에 도움이 되는 이유 코리아 서울사무소 그린피스 기후위기의 해결사 고래 이야기 그린피스

FAKE NEWS VS CONFIRMATION BIAS - CHANSOL YANG Thomas, D., & Jones, D. (1971). Do not go gentle into that good night. In The poems of Dylan Thomas. essay, New Directions Pub. Corp. ' UN ' . . (2003, March 19). Retrieved March 6, 2023, from http://kfem.or.kr/?p=1928

한국은 이 정한 물부족국가 아니다 환경운동연합

FEM MUDBALLS: THE FALSE TREATMENT OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM - SHIHWAN KIM Higa, Dr. Teruo; Dr. James Parr (1994). Beneficial and Effective Microorganisms for a Sustainable Agriculture and Environment Xu, H. L. (2001). "Effects of a Microbial Inoculant and Organic Fertilizers on the Growth, Photosynthesis and Yield of Sweet Corn". Journal of Crop Production. 3: 183–214 Learn how to live sustainably using EM Microbial Technology on Agriculture and Environment. EM Research Organization. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.emrojapan.com/what/

WHY DO PEOPLE FALL FOR FAKE NEWS? - JENNY IN American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Apa Dictionary of Psychology. American Psychological Association. Retrieved March 2023, from https://dictionary.apa.org/ Lakoff, G. (2004). Don't think of an elephant! know your values and frame the debate ; the Essential Guide for Progressives. Chelsea Green Publ. the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, & Korea Energy Agency. (2018). & . Retrieved 2023.

태양광 풍력 발전 바로 알기

GREENWASHING: THE TRAGEDY BROUGHT ABOUT BY EXCESS - WOOYEONG KIM Ettinger, J. (2022, April 19). 68% of U.S. CEOS say their companies are guilty of Greenwashing, Google Survey finds. Green Queen. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/ceos-greenwashing-survey/ February 09, 2023 C. L. (2023, February 10). Learn to spot greenwashing. NRDC. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from https://www.nrdc.org/stories/learn-spotgreenwashing Harding, R. (2022, May 23). 'starbucks greenwashing': Customer puts Starbucks on blast after barista used a plastic cup to make a drink and poured it into her Reusable Cup. The Daily Dot. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from https://www.dailydot.com/irl/starbucks-greenwashing-reusable-cup/ What is ESG? an environmental, social and governance guide - diligent insights. What is ESG? An Environmental, Social and Governance Guide - Diligent Insights. (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2023, from https://www.diligent.com/insights/esg/

Publication: COSMOS (HAFS) Editor: Shihwan Kim, Wooyeong Kim, Hajin Ra

The only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved.

– Richard Rogers

COSMOS