Environment
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Why I Act: Alex Monroy and Her Fight for Environmental Justice
Around the country, grassroots organizations push for radical environmental policies like the Green New Deal — an ambitious plan to eliminate and replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources and green jobs. Alex Monroy, a fourth-year environmental health studies major at the University of Georgia and founder of the…
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The Faces and Future of Community Gardening in Athens
As she steps through the gates of the Mae Willie Morton Community Garden, Barbara “Lady B” Sims can’t help but start picking the turnip greens growing in a garden bed close to the entrance. She moves toward a garden bed with collard greens and sighs. “I was hoping that people…
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How Conservation Collectives Are Tackling Growing Development in Athens
It’s easy to miss the entrance to the Orange Twin Conservation Community. About 15 minutes north of downtown Athens, Georgia, it takes a couple of country roads off the highway and a keen eye to spot the welcome sign, hidden behind a layer of overgrowth. Once a space thrumming with…
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Already Most Active On Record, 2020 Hurricane Season Isn’t Done Yet
After forming in the Atlantic Monday night, Tropical Storm Theta became the 29th named tropical storm of the season, making 2020 the most active hurricane season on record. Theta is not expected to make landfall, but the United States’ coastlines aren’t out of the woods yet. Another storm, Tropical Storm…
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Volunteers Take Out The Trash At 35th Annual Great Lake Allatoona Clean Up
More than 100 volunteers from all over the state come to Acworth, Georgia, for the annual Great Lake Allatoona Clean Up at Red Top Mountain State Park each year to remove solid waste by foot and by boat. Red Top Mountain State Park hosted their 35th annual Great Lake…
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Daniel Geller Uses Academic Expertise to Research Eco-Friendly Vinyl Replacement
The streets of downtown Athens fill with music lovers as the weekend begins. It is no secret that Athens is a hub for live music; however, many people don’t realize that the only vinyl record pressing plant in Georgia is just a few minutes up the road. In this factory,…
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Terrapin Powers Brewery With the Sun, Thanks to Georgia Bill
Terrapin Beer Co., a craft brewery in Athens, Georgia powers their local brewery—approximately 30 percent of the operation’s total energy—with solar power, and according to a brewery engineer, they aren’t opposed to incorporating more in the future. “All the electrical energy that we produce is tied directly to one…
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Going Outside: How It Can Boost Your Mental Health
Researchers say one way to improve your mental health: go outside. That’s why Athens-Clarke County has decided to reopen the Firefly and Greenway trails for public use. According to Athens-Clarke County’s website, the Firefly and Greenway trails “will be open for public use to provide recreational opportunities for the community…
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Can You Recycle That? An AI Bot Can Let You Know
Greasy pizza boxes, single-use coffee cups and plastic bags are commonly used items, and people often wonder whether these types of items can be recycled. Now, an artificial intelligence bot on social media may be able to answer the question—“Can I recycle this?” Misplaced materials are common, and these incorrectly…
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How Local Trash Disposal Affects Climate Change
Approximately 300 tons of material is disposed of in the Athens-Clarke County Landfill daily. The average dump truck holds 12 to 14 tons of waste, so approximately 23 dump truck loads of garbage are dumped into the 289-acre landfill per day. Yet, not all of it should be garbage. “About…