Tag: #WomensHistoryMonth

Women’s History Month: Rachel Carson

RachelCarsonWhen I was nine years old, the cafeteria at my elementary school replaced the reusable plastic food trays with paper plates. Incensed by this wasteful act, I frantically circled the cafeteria tables, insisting that my peers hand over their used paper plates for me to bring home and recycle. That day, I saved hundreds of plates from their fate in a landfill. This was perhaps my first major act of environmental activism. Many years later, as an employee of the NYU Office of Sustainability and Masters student in Steinhardt’s Environmental Conservation Education program, I find myself (less frantically) continuing to encourage our community to intentionally disengage from wasteful or unsustainable practices. For fifteen years, I have been fighting the same fight.

For those of us who have been steeped in environmental activism throughout our lives, we know that our tireless efforts are only a small part of a much longer history of the fight for environmental protection. This month, as we recognize the incredible women who have led the environmental movement, we want to of course pay homage to the renowned Rachel Carson. 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