In a time of social and environmental crisis, Aldo Leopold's call for a 'land ethic' is still relevant
Jan. 11 marks the birthday of conservationist Aldo Leopold (1887-1948), who called for thinking about land as a living community to protect, not a resource to exploit.
Jan. 5, 2021 • ~9 min
conservation ethics ecology environmental-justice racism us-history land restoration-ecology environmental-movement wilderness
The iconic American inventor is still a white male – and that's an obstacle to race and gender inclusion
The story of the invention in America typically features larger-than-life caricatures of white men like Thomas Edison while largely ignoring the contributions of women and people of color.
Dec. 8, 2020 • ~9 min
innovation stem racism us-history invention sexism intellectual-property identity innovation-and-invention patenting patents process-of-innovation patent-law copyright trademarks inventors
How a flu virus shut down the US economy in 1872 – by infecting horses
A fast-moving equine flu cratered the US economy in the fall of 1872, showing all too clearly that horses were essential and deserved better treatment.
Dec. 3, 2020 • ~9 min
infectious-diseases philanthropy animal-welfare new-york-city horses us-history activism pandemic-flu nonprofits equine-influenza
Returning the 'three sisters' – corn, beans and squash – to Native American farms nourishes people, land and cultures
For centuries Native Americans intercropped corn, beans and squash because the plants thrived together. A new initiative is measuring health and social benefits from reuniting the "three sisters."
Nov. 20, 2020 • ~9 min
agriculture nutrition native-americans indigenous-peoples food-deserts us-history us-midwest vegetables corn thanksgiving food-sovereignty indian-removal-act reservations
Climate change and forest management have both fueled today's epic Western wildfires
Debating whether climate change or forest management has caused the devastating wildfires in California, Washington and Oregon is a false choice.
Sept. 16, 2020 • ~10 min
climate-change donald-trump wildfire forests california us-history wildfire-fighting oregon logging forest-management washington-state us-west endangered-species-act timber-industry us-forest-service
American environmentalism's racist roots have shaped global thinking about conservation
US ideas about conservation center on walling off land from use. That approach often means expelling Indigenous and other poor people who may be its most effective caretakers.
Sept. 2, 2020 • ~11 min
conservation racism us-history indigenous-people national-parks us-environmental-policy wilderness theodore-roosevelt
Trump greenlights drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but will oil companies show up?
The Trump administration is opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas leasing – a step that's as much about politics as it is about energy.
Aug. 21, 2020 • ~9 min
wildlife-conservation alaska oil trump-administration endangered-species us-history us-energy-policy oil-and-gas-industry national-wildlife-refuge anwr oil-and-gas-exploration environmental-movement
National parks – even Mount Rushmore – show that there's more than one kind of patriotism
President Trump is scheduled to appear at an Independence Day celebration at Mount Rushmore on July 3. For some, this event will symbolize love of country. Others will see it very differently.
June 29, 2020 • ~9 min
covid-19 donald-trump japanese-internment-camps california us-history national-parks patriotism reconciliation independence-day july-4 south-dakota
5 ways the world is better off dealing with a pandemic now than in 1918
A century ago, the influenza pandemic killed about 50 million people. Today we are battling the coronavirus pandemic. Are we any better off? Two social scientists share five reasons we have to be optimistic.
June 19, 2020 • ~9 min
influenza covid-19 coronavirus history pandemic vaccines flu quarantine sars-cov-2 1918-flu-pandemic h1n1-influenza us-history swine-flu-pandemic
Can Asia end its uncontrolled consumption of wildlife? Here's how North America did it a century ago
In the 1800s, Americans hunted many wild species near or into extinction. Then in the early 1900s, the US shifted from uncontrolled consumption of wildlife to conservation. Could Asia follow suit?
June 17, 2020 • ~9 min
covid-19 china wildlife fishing wildlife-conservation bison endangered-species us-history wildlife-trade asia hunting ivory-ban wildlife-management
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