Author: NYUGreen

Go Wild this Spring Break – Pockets of Wilderness in NYC

Spring Break is here at last. Finally, you get a break from all of those readings and assignments and can truly let loose. Perhaps you’re making a trip out of New York City, but if you’re planning to stick around this break, we have some suggestions on how to truly GO WILD. This break, explore some of the wilderness NYC has to offer.

Manhattan

TheRamble

Get lost in Central Park’s lush 38 acres of woodland.
Be on the look out for: 230 species of birds; the Gill stream; native and exotic plants; such as the Black Cherry and Black Locust; American sycamore, oaks and Kentucky Coffee trees. Read more

Women’s History Month: Vandana Shiva

by Emma Spett

VandanaShiva“In nature’s economy the currency is not money, it is life” – Vandana Shiva, Earth Democracy: Justice, Sustainability, and Peace

Over the course of every budding environmentalist’s life, they are bound to come across a few big names; Thoreau, Leopold, Muir. The voices of environmentalism that have historically categorized the movement, wax poetic about the beauty of nature and the value of wildness. But we moving more towards a world where an understanding of ubiquitous human impact on the environment is essential to being an effective advocate and having a respect for the earth.

One of the most prominent voices of modern environmental activism students will often encounter her work on ecofeminism, climate resilience, indigenous knowledge, and sustainable agriculture. Dr. Shiva occupies an interesting role as an advocate from India, where she stresses the significance of addressing the impacts of climate change and other forms of environmental degradation on communities that do not significantly contribute to global emissions. Dr. Shiva often uses examples from her own country to amplify the urgency of our present environmental dilemma. Read more

Women’s History Month: Jane Goodall

by Cate Wright

JaneGoodallThis #WomensHistoryMonth our office is celebrating the work of Dr. Jane Goodall, a woman who redefined man 55 years ago. Best known for her work on behavioral studies of primates in Gombe Stream, Tanzania, Jane Goodall has become an icon of conservation and peace. As a primatologist, Dr. Goodall challenged convention, proving that chimpanzees were not vegetarian and that humans were not the only animals to construct tools for use. In doing so, she defied what it meant to be human and made it harder to justify the poaching and consumption of animals.

As a young girl, Jane Goodall was the most famous mainstream female scientist in my world. Her passion for the animal kingdom was felt globally and was personally inspirational to me as a child fascinated by Zoo Books and the life behind animals’ eyes. Jane Goodall saw the humanity in animals better than anyone. She was among the first to deeply study primate social life. Goodall claims, “I miss the early days; I basically had it to myself, learning about these chimpanzees. Nobody knew anything about them.” This opportunity opened the door for Jane but also allowed students to like me to see that a love for animals could lead to something real: a career with heart. Read more

You’re VEGAN?! What do you eat on Thanksgiving?

by Rindala Alajaji

a_vegetarian_thanksgiving_menu

“If only we can overcome cruelty, to human and animal, with love and compassion we shall stand at the threshold of a new era in human moral and spiritual evolution – and realize, at last, our most unique quality: humanity.” 
~ Jane Goodall 

On November 24th of 2012, I concluded that I probably would never spend another “traditional” Thanksgiving with my family. Like many other animal rights activists and vegans, this time of the year can be difficult. While others are celebrating the holidays with ostentatious displays of animal meat centerpieces, vegans and activists (such as myself) are trying to find ways to use this time of the year to strengthen and unite behind the message of Animal Liberation. Three years ago, I learned in short order that Thanksgiving is often a pretty unpleasant occasion for those of us who don’t eat animals. It has become so unpleasant, in fact, that from mid-October on, I begin to dread it. I learned that even if I don’t say “The v word,” the associations people have with being vegan makes us the obvious elephant in the room and everything about Thanksgiving –from the insensitive jokes and the disrespect to the lack of food options and the horrific centerpiece –can make it a day that we learn to tensely go through. Read more