Category: In-Depth
In-Depth: The Intersection of Systemic Racism and The Climate Emergency
How climate change connects to racial injustice and contributes to economic inequality, physical and mental illness, and systemic racism.
By Uma Ribeiro and Sarah Meklir
Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor
Image Source: yale.edu
Who does climate change affect the most?
People of color, specifically Black, Latinx, and Native populations, are most affected by the dangers of climate change. The origins of this can be traced back to the horrors of slavery and colonialism. The lasting effects of slavery and the removal and destruction of land from indigenous peoples led to a disruption of ecological and economic systems, and inaugurated a pattern of exploitation whose effects can still be felt today.
Systemic racism continues to result in economic inequality which adds to the terrible and dangerous effects of climate change. Take, for instance, neighborhoods in East Baltimore City which are concrete-heavy and highly made up of Black populations, little shade exists and these neighborhoods and their residents feel the terror of climate change the most.
As climate change worsens every day, so do the conditions in these neighborhoods, where there is insufficient access to healthcare, an absence of trees, and an abundance of row houses in which temperatures can get up to eight degrees hotter inside than outside temperatures. As reported by the Howard Center For Investigative Journalism in Code Red, “People who live in the hottest parts of the city are more likely to be poor, to live shorter lives, and to experience higher rates of violent crime and unemployment.”
Continue readingHoward County Implements Disposable Bag Fee in all Retail Stores: It’s About Time
By Halimah Kargbo
Features Editor
Image Source: https://livegreenhoward.com/
Chances are, if you have shopped in Howard County at any point in the last two months, you know about the new disposable bag fee. But for those of you who don’t know, starting on October 1st, all retail stores began charging 5 cents for any disposable bag sold at the point of checkout.
The county is trying to make efforts to become more environmentally-conscious, especially when it comes to plastic bags. For every 5 cents collected, 4 cents goes into something called “The Disposable Plastics Reduction Fund”, which then goes towards providing reusable bags to people in Howard County and creating different environmental efforts/programs.
Even if you don’t do your shopping in this county, this fee has the potential to affect everyone who lives here in such a positive way. In the eyes of many, the benefits definitely outweigh the costs.
Continue readingThree Local Ways to Get Involved with the Black Lives Matter Movement
By Halimah Kargbo
Features Editor
Image Source: The Baltimore Sun
Amidst the racial inequality and police brutality that occurs far too often, it is not unusual to begin to question your role in these issues. If something hasn’t happened directly to you, are you still able to help? If you want to speak up and say something, does your voice truly have power? It is easy to say no to these questions, especially if you’re only in high school.
But, that should not keep you from making use of the power that you have. After all, the future advancements in racial equality will eventually land on your shoulders. This task may seem daunting, but don’t worry; there are so many young people of this generation standing with you.
This begs the question: why is it so important that students in Howard County fight against racial injustice? The divide in this county is evident and affects all who live in it. The only thing left to ask is what you can do to fight this division. Here are three easy ways that students like you can get involved with the Black Lives Matter movement:
Continue reading“No Justice, No Peace”: Protests Sparked by the Death of George Floyd Lead to Positive Changes, Police Continue to Incite Violence
Protests following the death of George Floyd continue in Baltimore City.
Image Source: The Baltimore Sun
By Uma Ribeiro
In-Depth Editor
On May 25th, George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was murdered by a White police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As he pleaded for his life and expressed he could not breathe, the police officer continued to press his knee into Floyd’s neck while three other officers watched him die and did nothing. The resulting uproar and nationwide protests sparked by Floyd’s death have been necessary for a long time. Protesters are demanding an end to police brutality, calling for the rightful defunding of police departments, and are fighting against systemic racism. The protests are not solely about the death of Floyd, but what his death represents: the thousands of Black lives lost to police violence, White supremacy, and systemic racism in America.
The fact is, police presence within the United States has not been positive. Law enforcement incite violence and take lives, and continue to do so every day. In a time when we are not even supposed to be in contact with one another due to Coronavirus, racism is still running rampant, and the death and maltreatment of Black people across the world did not cease when COVID-19 surfaced.
Changes in the Environment Seen Due to Coronavirus in Just Mere Weeks
By: Uma Ribeiro
In-Depth Editor
Image Credits: deseret.com
In the chaos and uncertainty of these times, one silver lining has seemed to present itself within the past few weeks. Across the world, pollution and emissions have slightly lessened due to the Coronavirus lockdown, prompting scientists and news sites to question whether or not there could be any lasting positive environmental effects. People staying inside, tourists canceling their flights, and fewer cars on the road have led to reports of air pollution dropping around the planet, falls in road traffic and roadkill, water canals becoming crystal clear once again, and the Himalayas becoming visible for the first time in decades, as well as reports of visible local changes.
From Washington DC to Boston, NASA noted a 30% drop in air pollution within that region, publishing visuals comparing the atmospheric carbon dioxide levels from March of 2015-2019 versus March of this year. Hammond students have also reported changes around the local Howard County community.
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2019 Pajama Day Winner
Jidechi Eluchie
The Truth Will Prevail
By: Carlos O’Ryan
Online Editor
It is ludicrous to think that there are people within our wonderful, intellectual community that give into baseless conspiracies, and make attempts to spread falsehoods about our planet Earth. It is unbelievable that there are Round-Earthers in Howard County.
Round-Earthers are literally the scourge of this beautiful, FLAT Earth. They feed our children lies and various airplane chemicals in order to appease their Evil Overlord, Barack Obama. And that is just the tip of the iceberg, speaking of which, don’t actually exist, since global warming is a fabrication by the Lizard-people from the Moon, (which, by the way, is a hologram created by NASA that is used to conceal their massive space station/death ray, the “Not-Alive-Inator”), in order to make good capitalist businesses cut down on profits.
Photo Credit: The Truth
