Earth Week 2021 by Genevieve Santilli News Writer
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Vol. 54 iSSUE 27 www.umassmedia.com the massUMass Boston’s independentmedia student newspaper April 26, 2021 Earth Week 2021 By Genevieve Santilli News Writer Earth Week has come back again, and even though it was virtual, that did not stop Earth Week events from taking place. Here is what happened at UMass Boston and elsewhere this Earth Week. UMass Boston is no stranger to Earth Week, and multiple events were held virtually to celebrate. The following events took place: April 17-25: The Outdoor Enthusiasts Club held a remote Earth Week Clean-Up. Participants were asked to take photos of the bags of trash they picked up. For each bag of trash that they picked up, a raffle ticket would be entered. The prize was a $50 gift card to local Boston shop Uvida. (Uvida is Boston’s first zero-waste shop, founded by UMass Boston Graduate Maria Vasco). April 19: A screening of the film “Entangled”, “An award-winning, feature-length film about how climate change has accelerated a collision between one of the world’s most endangered species, North America’s most valuable fishery, and a federal agency mandated to protect both.” The film screening was moderated by Living on Earth reporter, Bobby Bascomb. April 21: A UMass Boston Environmental Business Council Environmental Career Panel was held, where different representatives from environmental professions talked about their work and career. April 22: The UMass Boston School for the Environment’s Earth Day 2021 Symposium: Ninth Annual Research Colloquium was held. Various students and faculty presented research, education or community activities related to environmental science, climate change, Earth Day or sustainability. April 23: The Student Arts and Events Council put on an Earth Day Gameshow. “The Earth Week Game Show is a word guessing game similar to ‘Wheel of Fortune’ with an Earth Day theme,” according to UMBeInvolved. The Student Arts and Events Council also held a signup for a make- your-own air plant terrarium kit on Friday, April 23. Drawing of Earth being held in hands. Illustration by Delaney Hooper / Mass Media Staff. Continued on page 3 Boston demonstrations in the wake of the Chauvin verdict By Abigail Basile News Editor On Wednesday, April 21, more to be done. Demonstrators activists gathered across Boston took the announcement of the in order to call for further policing verdict to push for more police reforms. The demonstrations came reforms, and to prompt leaders to just a day after the verdict for take action for racial justice. the trial of Derek Chauvin was Demonstrations took place released. at South Station, Nubian Square, Chauvin is a former white and the State House. The evening Minneapolis police officer who was filled with rain, lightning, and kneeled on the neck of George thunder. Floyd, a Black man, for about According to WBUR, not nine minutes, despite Floyd being many demonstrators showed up handcuffed, on the ground and to the South Station and State telling Chauvin he couldn’t breathe House demonstrations, while the multiple times. Floyd died later demonstration in Nubian Square that day, May 25, 2020, while in garnered the participation of about police custody. On Tuesday, April 100 individuals. 20, 2021, Chauvin was convicted At the demonstrations, of all three charges laid against protestors chanted “No Justice, him—second degree unintentional No Peace, you’ve got to prosecute murder, third degree murder, and the police,” and “all three counts.” Screenshot from news channel depicting demonstrations after the guilty verdict was set upon former police officer second-degree manslaughter. “All three counts” refers to the Derek Chauvin. All copyright NBC. Though the verdict was good conviction of Chauvin on all three Police Brutality. In Nubian Violence in Boston Inc. Cannon- “It wasn’t the work of elected news for the Boston demonstrators, charges he faced. Square, the demonstration was Grant emphasized the importance officials that got this,” said the aim of the rallies was to remind The State House event was organized by Monica Cannon- of action among the people in Cannon-Grant. “It was activists people in power that there is still organized by Mass Action Against Grant, chief executive officer of sparking change. and organizers and community Continued on page 4 www.umassmedia.com News 3 Earth Week 2021 Genevieve Santilli with different youth climate efforts,” “regenerative agriculture,” the environment and the need to to take part. The event was held News Writer activists, like Greta Thunberg. “equity and environmental save the planet from the effects of in order to highlight the need for The second of the events was justice,” “citizen science,” and climate change. stronger climate action. On a larger scale than held on April 21 which was an “cleanups, and more,” according to Kathleen Rogers, the president If you missed out on Earth Day UMass Boston, EARTHDAY. education summit that emphasized EARTHDAY.org. of EARTHDAY.org, told Vogue, events or want to make every day org held three days of virtual the work of educators in the fight The events put on by “This Earth Day, we have an Earth Day, these are some helpful events. EARTHDAY.org works for combating climate change. EARTHDAY.org were held all over important opportunity to challenge tips (according to Vogue) on how to “diversify, educate and activate EARTHDAY.org’s last event the globe, and ranged in different our leaders to commit to climate to live more sustainably: the environmental movement was held on Earth Day, April 22, types of events from general action on a global scale. We are at “Being more conscious worldwide.” which was a virtual event with Earth Day events to activism to the edge of a cliff—if we don’t act about what you buy, switching to On April 20, the first of the different panels and discussions. presentations and film screenings. now to reduce carbon emissions, renewable energy, flying less and three events was a global youth The event covered topics like Earth Day began back in 1970 there will be no way back.” eating less meat, fish and dairy. climate summit led by Earth “climate and environmental in the U.S., and has since turned On April 22 and 23, President You can also join a local campaign Uprising. It consisted of various literacy,” “climate restoration into an international day that Joe Biden held a virtual summit group, write to your politicians and panels, speeches, and discussions technologies,” “reforestation brings people together to highlight where he invited 40 world leaders donate to environmental charities.” Updates on Boston mayoral candidates Abigaile Basile polling at 19 percent, leading the https://mayorjaney.com/ elected to the Boston City Council opponents via a Zoom local forum. News Editor race thus far. Annissa Essaibi George in 2015 and served as City Council Polling: Santiago is currently Though the city of Boston is Website: Background: Essaibi George President from 2018-2020. She polling at 3 percent. still months out from its mayoral https://www.michelleforboston.com/ is a lifelong Boston resident who is the first Black woman to have Website: election, a recent poll from WBUR Kim Janey worked as a teacher at Boston served in this role. https://www.jonsantiago.org/ is showing that a few candidates Background: Janey is a fourth Public Schools before being elected Policies: Campbell is focused John Barros have distinguished themselves as generation resident of Roxbury, and to the Boston City Council in on COVID-19 recovery, improving Background: Barros has front runners, and many Bostonians before running for public office she 2015. Essaibi George is the Chair health and wellness in the city, lived in Roxbury and Dorchester are still undecided about who worked in advocacy for the children of the Committee on Education on reimagining public safety and his whole life, is a small business they’re going to vote for this of Boston, including working the Boston City Council. She also policing, improving the BPS, and owner, and is a former member November. Let’s refresh our at Massachusetts Advocates for owns the retail shop Stitch House in more. of the Boston School Committee. memories about these candidates, Children. Janey was elected to the Dorchester. In the news: Lately, Campbell In 2014, Barros created the new and see what they’ve been up to City Council in 2017, making her Policies: Essaibi George has been in the news for her Economic Development cabinet for lately. the first woman to represent District is concerned with improving endorsement from the Mayor of the City of Boston, and served on Michelle Wu Seven. In 2020, Janey became the education and childcare for the BPS, Cambridge, and her recent debate Mayor Walsh’s administration for Background: Wu worked first Black, female President of the improving equity and dismantling with the majority of her opponents seven years. in City Hall for former mayor Boston City Council. Janey then racism in the city, improving health via a Zoom local forum. Policies: Barros is focused of Boston, Thomas Menino, and became Acting Mayor of Boston care in various ways, and more. Polling: Campbell is currently on Boston’s recovery from worked on Senator Elizabeth late last March after former Mayor In the news: Lately, Essaibi polling at 4 percent, behind Essaibi COVID-19, addressing racial Warren’s first campaign. Wu was Walsh was confirmed as a cabinet George has been in the news George. injustice, improving community elected to the Boston City Council member. Janey is the first woman for releasing her education and Website: health, affordable housing, in 2013 and is the first Asian- and the first person of color to serve childcare plan, and for standing https://andreacampbell.org/ improving public education, and American woman to serve on the in this position.