USA Archives - Women Speak

18 10, 2023

https://atmos.earth/eunice-foote-climate-scientist-womens-history/

Eunice Foote: The First Climate Scientist’s Legacy

Karina2024-09-16T10:10:50-04:00Tags: USA|

Eunice Foote, often overlooked in the archives of climate science, stands as a testament to the resilience of women in the face of historical erasure. While John Tyndall is celebrated for his work on the greenhouse effect, it was Foote who, in 1856, conducted groundbreaking experiments from her home in upstate New York, revealing the warming properties of carbon dioxide. Despite her lack of institutional support, Foote's findings, presented by a male colleague at a prestigious scientific gathering and later published in a respected journal, foreshadowed our current understanding of climate change by over 166 years. Her story resonates today as we grapple with gender disparities in scientific fields, with women and particularly women of color, still vastly underrepresented. Parenthood and discrimination are additional barriers faced by women, highlighting the urgent need for diversity and inclusion initiatives like Reclaiming STEM. Foote's legacy reminds us that progress requires recognizing and amplifying the contributions of all individuals, regardless of gender or background.

27 08, 2023

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/27/climate-activist-mylene-vialard-line-3-pipeline-protest-climate-activism-crackdown?utm_term=64f073df04791014327a3078482f0ee2&utm_campaign=DownToEarth&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=greenlight_email

‘I’m Not The Guilty One’: The Water Protector Facing Jail Time for Trying to Stop a Pipeline

Karina2024-09-16T11:17:16-04:00Tags: USA|

Mylene Vialard, a 54-year-old climate activist, faces up to five years in prison as she goes on trial for protesting against the expansion of Line 3, a tar sands oil pipeline cutting through Indigenous lands in northern Minnesota. Despite the pipeline's alarming environmental risks and its track record of spills, Vialard's peaceful demonstration led to felony charges of trespassing on critical infrastructure and obstruction of justice. Her refusal to accept a plea deal reflects her determination to challenge the injustice she sees. However, her arrest is not isolated, with over 1,000 arrests made in similar protests, supported by payments of at least $8.6 million from the pipeline company, Enbridge to Minnesota Law Enforcement and other security agencies. This mass criminalization, part of a wider trend of suppressing legitimate environmental protests, signifies a concerning erosion of civil liberties and underscores the urgent need for climate activism. Against this backdrop, Vialard's trial emerges as a pivotal moment in the broader struggle for environmental justice, shedding light on the complex interplay between state power, corporate influence, and grassroots resistance.

13 02, 2023

https://www.electric.coop/young-women-explore-energy-careers-at-co-op-girl-power-camp-in-virginia

Young Women Explore Energy Careers at Co-op Girl Power Camp in Virginia

Karina2024-09-13T15:05:43-04:00Tags: USA|

Girl Power Camp, hosted by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives is gaining momentum, attracting over 80 high school girls from across Virginia to explore careers in the energy industry. Through hands-on sessions led by industry professionals, participants engage in hands-on activities such as pole climbing, bucket truck operation, and drone piloting. They also delve into essential skills like fiber splicing, job interviewing, and financial management, highlighting the role of the girls in tackling diversity and inclusivity in the traditionally male-dominated energy sector. Girl Power has seen significant growth since its inception, receiving support from more sponsors and now offers scholarships. Looking ahead, there are discussions about expanding the camp to a two-day format and potentially including programs in other regions to accommodate more participants and further promote gender equality and professional development opportunities for young women in the industry.

27 01, 2023

https://www.npr.org/2023/01/27/1151761258/native-seed-supply-climate-change-land-restoration

We need native seeds in order to respond to climate change

Karina2024-09-13T16:02:04-04:00Tags: USA, United States of America|

After the catastrophic wildfires, floods, and droughts in recent years across the United States, landscape restoration efforts are becoming more important than ever. In this article data journalist Kaitlyn Radde, reports how native seeds and habitats must play a central role in this endeavor, but in a new report experts warn that the US is experiencing seed shortages. Native seed banks and ecologists are fighting the clock to save native seeds given the dual threats of biodiversity loss and habitat destruction. Seed diversity and supply issues are high barriers for land restoration efforts, according to both the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Native seeds are a powerful resource because they are locally adapted and more suited to specific biomes, making them more resilient and beneficial to local fauna. There is also a pressing necessity to keep expanding the storage capacity, expertise, and genetic diversity of the seed bank to meet the growing challenges of climate change.

10 01, 2018

https://civileats.com/2018/01/10/why-you-should-listen-to-racist-sandwich/

Why you should listen to ‘racist sandwich’ podcast series

Karina2024-09-13T16:12:23-04:00Tags: United States of America, USA|

Soleil Ho and Zahir Janmohamed launched the podcast "Racist Sandwich" to tackle race, class, and gender issues in the food industry. Through interviews with chefs, restaurateurs, and cultural critics, they dissect topics such as the impact of food photography on racial stereotypes, workplace harassment in kitchens, and the issues surrounding "wellness culture." Their platform aims to amplify diverse voices and challenge the predominantly white narrative in food media. Ho's experiences working in restaurants have shaped her perspective on discrimination and abuse, leading her to advocate for marginalized individuals in the industry. She emphasizes the need for diversity and structural changes in restaurant ownership and food media to address systemic issues of inequality and exploitation.