#environmentaljustice

[smarterarticles]

AI Runs on Water: The Global South Pays the Bill

[seattleru]

🌊 The Duwamish River tells a story of poisoned water, hidden risk, and long overdue justice. Immigrant families are fighting for safer warnings and a cleaner future in Seattle. Read more: https://hyperlocalnews.website/wiki_en/a-river-that-remembers-everything-the-story-of.html

[discoverheadlines]

US DOJ Backs xAI

The US Department of Justice has intervened in a lawsuit regarding xAI's gas turbines, siding with the company 🚀. The DOJ states that stopping xAI from running the turbines poses a threat to American national, economic, and energy security, as they support military operations 🌎. What are your thoughts on the balance between national security and environmental concerns?

Read More

[seattleru]

Seattle engineers “fixed” a polluted creek—but the salmon still stayed away. 🐟 The missing piece? Duwamish elders who knew how to help the water remember its song. 🌊 Discover how forgotten knowledge changed everything: https://hyperlocalnews.website/wiki_en/salmon-teachers-how-forgotten-knowledge-helped.html

[seattleru]

Bedridden from a glass of water 💧➡️ a city powered by one of America’s cleanest watersheds 🌲 Discover how mothers who couldn’t vote helped save 91,000 acres of forest—and Seattle’s future: https://hyperlocalnews.website/wiki_en/mothers-who-couldnt-vote-but-saved-a-whole-forest.html

[tuftsuep]

Tigers, Chimps, and Orcas, Oh My! Examining Animal Welfare within the Private Ownership Industry in the United States

Author: Dahlia Edwards. 2025.

Advisor: Kate Davies

Reader: Jon Witten

This thesis examines the private ownership industry of charismatic megafauna in the United States and analyzes relevant United States legislation to determine the industry’s impact on animal welfare. Through the analysis of three case studies – tigers, chimpanzees, and orcas – chosen based on the species’ relevancy and environmental differences, the thesis provides real-world insights into how interactions between privately owned entities and legal frameworks can influence the quality of life these animals experience. Using a systematic literature review, three detailed case studies, and content analysis of various forms of selected media, the thesis unflinchingly exposes the damaging captivity practices, inexcusable living conditions, and associated welfare conditions experienced by many privately owned animals. The author adroitly traces these injustices back to a litany of legislative gaps, inconsistent regulatory oversights, and the double-edged sword of media and public perception. The discussion concludes with five recommendations for how policymakers and planners might more effectively address cases of animal cruelty and prioritize animal welfare. I won’t lie – this thesis is a tough read for anyone with a heart, and the findings will stay with you long after you have put the document down. I believe this is a very special thesis that deserves to be recognized for the valuable contribution that it makes towards advancing animal rights and welfare in the US.

ABSTRACT

This thesis examines the private ownership industry of charismatic megafauna in the United States and analyzes relevant United States legislation to determine the industry’s impact on animal welfare. Through the analysis of three case studies – tigers, chimpanzees, and orcas – chosen based on the specie’s relevancy and environmental differences, it provides real-world insights on how interactions between privately owned entities and legal frameworks can influence the quality of life these animals experience. Research methods included utilizing a systematic literature review, three detailed case studies, and content analysis of various forms of selected media. Key findings highlighted consistent concerns regarding inadequate captivity practices or conditions and the associated welfare implications, legislative gaps and inconsistent regulatory oversight, and the role of media on the public perception of charismatic megafauna. The discussion concludes with five recommendations for how policymakers and planners might more effectively address cases of animal cruelty and prioritize animal welfare.

[tuftsuep]

Advancing the Circular Economy: The Role of Policy, Innovation, and Sustainable Finance in Mitigating Textile Microplastic Pollution.

Author: Sindhuri Polavaram. 2025

Advisor: Jeff Rosen

This thesis spans policy, technology adaptation, finance and broad circular economy principles using a variety of methods.  I appreciate the singular focus on microplastics generated by the fashion industry.  I thought Sindhu did a good job drilling down into the specific area from both a science and a policy lens, given her dual degree.  I appreciated the way she cascaded from big picture to small solution, examined policies on an international basis and then examined the way these polices might be spurring private investment.  In the end, I appreciated the practical application and the way this thesis could connect policy and private market activity to spur needed innovation.

ABSTRACT

The textile industry is a major contributor to global microplastic pollution, primarily through the release of synthetic microfibers into aquatic environments during production, use, and disposal. Microplastic fiber pollution poses ecological and human health risks while remaining largely unaddressed in existing waste management systems. Policy, innovation, and sustainable finance are explored as important drivers in mitigating microplastic fiber pollution. Extended Producer Responsibility schemes that consider circular economy frameworks, targeted technological innovation, and impact investments are critical to systemic change. The research highlights the need for integrated strategies across governance, industry, and capital flows to achieve a sustainable and equitable textile sector while minimizing impacts on water quality.

Read the full thesis here.

[seattleru]

From toxic smokestacks to kites and picnics 🌫️➡️🌳 Immigrant families who once labored at Seattle’s Gas Works turned a poisoned factory into a living memorial and beloved park. Discover how they “healed” the land: https://hyperlocalnews.website/wiki_en/families-who-turned-poison-into-medicine-the.html