Anika Chakrabarty For a nation that boasts countless advancements and innovations, the United States has a concerning problem with its health. Heart disease continues to rank as the number one cause of death, while obesity affects nearly half of the adult population and shows no sign of slowing down. A glimpse into a typical American supermarket provides ample evidence of why this health crisis is occurring. Processed and ultra-processed foods dominate our diet, their prevalence driven by profit-oriented corporations that prioritize financial gain over people's well-being. The industrialization and commercialization of food production have further disconnected us from nature, exacerbating the inherent environmental injustice within the system. As we become increasingly detached from the sources of our food, our understanding of the natural processes and resources necessary for sustenance diminishes. This disconnection not only hampers our appreciation for the environment but also undermines our ability to make informed decisions regarding sustainable food production and consumption. This issue is complex, as various pressures in our lives, be they financial or otherwise, often lead us to view food as a mere solution to hunger, rather than as medicine that fuels and heals our bodies.
My interest in nutrition began at a young age when I became fascinated by the unique benefits that different foods provide for the body. I preferred my mom's Indian cooking, with its artful spice mixtures and delicious simplicity, over the fast food that many of my peers enjoyed. Trips to the farmers' market became and continue to be one of my favorite activities, where my mom and I marvel at the intense sweetness of organic, local tomatoes and strawberries compared to those bought at the supermarket. As I learned about food insecurity and its disproportionate impact on certain communities, I realized that having access to whole foods is a privilege for which I feel fortunate. Despite the disheartening reality of this issue, many of my experiences in CJARS have helped restore my hope. Our visits to Ocean View Growing Grounds, Project New Village, and Earthlab have demonstrated that people are taking meaningful action to combat food insecurity. These initiatives prove that grassroots efforts are effective in addressing systemic crises. Additionally, my research on the San Diego Food Alliance showed me yet another example of crucial contributions towards food system reform. The diverse group of individuals involved in the organization reveals the growing movement aimed at improving the food system to support climate and social efforts. While it is easy to lose hope when confronted with the larger issue of the climate crisis, I remember all the reasons to continue fighting for a better world that embraces justice for all.
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Emily Martinez Before coming into the CJARS program, I think I knew pretty well what the climate crisis meant and what is at stake if we don’t turn things around. I learned again and again that humans were the main source of climate change, and there was an overwhelming sense of doom as a treat. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I became one of Dr. Lewis’ students in the CJARS program, but two quarters later, I never felt more grounded and connected to Nature.
One of the most impactful experiences as a Climate Justice Scholar has been learning about the role of reciprocity within the natural world and within the relationships between people and the land. I had an opportunity to visit a local farm, Solidarity Farm in Pauma Valley, and learn about their sustainable agricultural model, including what crops or plants they intentionally grow next to each other because they actually help each other grow. In one of the course readings, Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer also touched on symbiotic relationships and explored the theme of reciprocity through an inspiring view of indigenous stewardship. She gave us examples of indigenous wisedom from her life in which she appreciated the maple trees in her town, learned how to weave from indigenous black ash basket weavers, and observed the sweetgrass harvestors’ impact on the local sweetgrass in her research. Essentially, I got to learn from Kimmerer that a relationship with the land involved giving thanks, showing respect, and taking only what it is needed. Something that is almost foreign to western society due to oppressive and exploitative systems such as capitalism. When you hear almost everyday how humans hurt the environment, it was extremely refreshing and healing to see how others connect with Nature. Western science tends to push the idea that all livings things are compelled to compete against each other, e.g. humans, for resources or survival, but that is simply not true and Nature itself has proven this. When you learn about how both the land relies on humans and humans on the land, it pushes you to build a beautiful relationship with the Nature you interact with in your everyday life or wherever you go. I want to strengthen this relationship because it simply makes me happy and it empowers me to tackle the issues within the climate justice movement. At the end of the day, having a connection with the Earth sometimes requires for you to see how all living things are connected too. This breakthrough was one of the best things that has happened to me in the CJARS program. Nate Pak No, this is not the first time I have watched Monsters, Inc. Out of all the movies that have ever been produced and put out on the big screen, Monsters, Inc. is one of my all-time favorites. The story of two monsters chasing down a little human girl who has accidentally entered their monster-centric universe in Monstropolis will always be entertaining to me, and the choice of character designs and music has been iconic for decades. After coming back from the Block Party on May 20, however, I wanted to destress, so I turned on Disney+ and searched for this beloved classic.
I won’t say that I’m not an emotional person. On a good day, I’m considered earnest and loyal, but on a bad day, I’m considered to be fervid and disarmingly frank. However, I have trouble identifying sadness and reacting to it. In situations where somebody would find themself being sad, I usually am too quick to anger first. This is why I was surprised when I caught tears dripping down my face during the end credits, different concept art sketches of monsters flashing across the screen. I quickly grabbed some Kleenex and tapped at my cheeks, feeling something sink in my chest while feeling my head spin with confusion. I turned off my television and sat in silence, wondering what had happened. After processing what had happened, I can say that there are two parts to this: 1. The Climate Messaging. As somebody who is deadly scared of an apocalypse coming soon, seeing the ways humans have extracted materials on the earth, I found that Monsters, Inc. is a metaphor for the fossil fuel industry. The monsters’ economy is predicated on the fear of children, just like how our fossil fuel industry has historically led to large amounts of air pollution and human death. Sulley, one of the two protagonists of the movie, is the best “scarer” and has years of experience traumatizing children, but when he meets the little human girl Boo, he is forced to rethink his occupation. When he accidentally scares her, he realizes his entire life has been focused on causing torment to those who don’t deserve it and strives to change Monsters, Inc. to become more humane. What this teaches us is that there is hope for change; anybody can change, including those who are part of the problem. 2. The Emotional Messaging. Death and loss in movies are nothing new, but I think there is something about scenes that show reactions to death and loss that really hurt me. Toward the end of the movie, Sulley and Mike return Boo to the human world and say goodbye. As Boo entered the monsters’ universe through her closet door, a copy of her door back in Monstropolis is shredded apart, so she wouldn’t be able to travel there anymore. There is a scene where Boo opens her closet door to see Sulley and Mike again, only disappointed to find her own clothes behind the door. As I’m going through multiple events of permanent separation myself recently, I felt her hopelessness and yearning in ways that I haven’t experienced in a while. Through her sad expression, I saw my bitten nails, burnt pieces of paper, and all-nighters from the last couple of weeks. In the end, however, Mike rebuilds Boo’s door, and Sulley is able to meet Boo again. I want to continue my life to see my loved ones’ doors rebuilt, and until then, I’ll keep them in my thoughts. Monsters, Inc. was able to give me hopeful feelings that were refreshing after I wallowed in dread regarding the climate crisis and the deaths of the people I loved very much. When you’re feeling down, perhaps a Disney movie can make all the difference. Cassi Grijalva Throughout the Spring 2023 quarter, the climate justice and resilience scholars at UCSD have been learning a lot about actions that we as individuals can take to fight climate change and climate injustice. As a graduating senior from UCSD the question of action has been weighing on my mind a lot. Do I take any job I get offered, or do I stick to my convictions to only apply for jobs with companies that are already making the sustainable efforts I want a company to make, or could I be a change-maker and lead a company in a new direction? I don’t want to sell my soul but maybe going into an interesting career path in a less-than-desirable industry would be a way path changer in a company’s leadership, or maybe it would slowly kill me. These are the questions I have been asking myself for about 4 months now while applying for jobs, how desperate will I get before any job will suffice? But then I spoke with more people who are fighting climate injustice and I read more about the actions we take and I found that when trying to find your place in this world we have to remember that change doesn’t come easy and that it takes many people to make change come about.
Change is needed in every industry and in every company, and the only way to make that change happen is to get people who want to see that change into positions where they can make the world into the one, they want to see. That means that even if the job is at a financial institution that would be less than ideal would also be okay because not all companies in the financial industry are JP Morgan. For example, credit unions are member-owned banking institutions that have much better banking practices in comparison to traditional banking institutions. Additionally, in order to change the status quo someone who sees the need for change will have to willingly go there and make it happen. In a capitalistic world where businesses try to offset the problem of climate change onto consumers it’s not enough that we the people take the responsibility these companies are giving us. But we also need to force these companies to change and that is through both political activism and through forcing company culture changes for the better. These revelations have made me realize that the best thing I can do to commit myself to the climate fight in my professional life is to figure out what problems in the world I want to solve. I asked myself: how do you intend to impact the institutions you work for? What goal would you like to commit yourself to, to make the world into the place you want it to be? My response I would like to tackle one of two issues, biodiversity and conservation maybe the use of more grasslands and “nature” in public spaces or I would like to tackle the issue of excessive consumption. The former I could do in a job by getting a job dealing with company projects/development. The latter I could do by changing access to space or through changing the behaviors of the company I work for. How many people spend money because there is nowhere free for people to hang out and how many companies over buy things they don’t need or have enough of? This commitment to the climate fight means I will take a job where I can actually make the company, I work for a better place for the world by putting my passion for climate activism into my work. So, for anyone about to graduate or change career paths and are unsure of what to do to make the world a better place even in a place you fear you can’t ask yourself: How do you intend to impact the institutions you work for? What goal would you like to commit yourself to, to make the world into the place you want it to be? And if you are looking for a little extra guidance read Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation by Paul Hawken. Especially, the last chapter where he discusses how to navigate change from within a capitalistic system. Even with the goal to be rid of capitalism, there will still be a transition period where we have some of the system existing, and maybe you could be the person to push a company over the edge of transitioning out of a capitalistic mindset. Lenia Luisa Barth As an international exchange student from Germany who is only at UCSD for a quarter, I am completely new to the project, that everybody else has already started in January. It was overwhelming being the new one – so many new faces, so many new names to learn, and everybody knew mine. However, choosing the project was the best experience I could make. I am meeting an amazing group of people on the other side of the planet who is dealing with similar issues, who is passionate about the same things and above all: is taking action. The CJARS-project for me is such a warm and welcoming environment, a diverse group of people, but with the same values and goals to build a more equitable world.
“The most-asked questions about the climate crisis are what to do, where to start, and how to make a difference. When you see or read what climate change is doing to the earth, it is natural to feel overwhelmed, anxious, confused, or very small – I am just one person, or one small family.” (Paul Hawken in “Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation”) It is something I used to struggle with a lot, feeling like my efforts do not matter and being discouraged by watching the news and realizing that people in power cannot or do not want to make a difference. However, now that I am talking about mental health in the climate crisis more that I have never done before and additionally learning about local initiatives in San Diego and on campus through the project, is giving me a lot of hope and motivation. Making a difference locally, and if it only affects a few people, can be so empowering. I find it impressive how everybody in the course has the energy to be active in the climate justice movement while taking classes, working to earn money for college and somehow find a way to have some free time for sports and activities. There is so much pressure on (university) students in the United States: Student loans, housing fees that must be paid, the health care system, social media that shows you unrealistic expectations – the list goes on! Additionally, professors are constantly talking about job opportunities to earn more money, which increases the pressure in my opinion. That of course is not only the case in the U.S., but here, the capitalistic system is so strongly established and therefore has a much more extreme outcome – leading among other things to an immense gap between rich and poor. In the past weeks, in our reading discussions and the lectures we talked about that a lot. Hearing other students talking about system change and seeing how established the climate justice movement is in the capitalistic United States, is refreshing and for me awesome to witness. This week, our project is focusing particularly on two things: Firstly, our community fest will be on Saturday, which is exciting! In cooperation with the YEJAAs, the final preparations are being made, so that the “Block Party” will hopefully bring many people in the community garden together! Secondly, the different Capstone-groups are working on their project’s drafts to present them to each other next week. I can’t wait to see what everybody has come up with! So – it is a working progress in which we are in now and my head is spinning from all the new experiences and the excitement. Even though it can become really overwhelming, I’m looking forward to all the small milestones we are taking together, not only within the project but in the movement on the way to a more equitable world. Allison Gable Unlike other climate classes that propose technology, transportation, land use, legislation, and political activism as the most important climate solutions, I think CJARS puts relationships at the core of how we solve the climate crisis and create the world we want to live in. The program started out with a three-day long retreat to the Anza-Borrego desert where we were all thrown in a room together, mostly strangers to each other, and we had to figure out how to start conversations with each other so we weren’t awkwardly standing around the whole time (at least that’s how I felt as an introvert). Now, two quarters later, we had an assignment in class to notice some things we admired about each other and share them with the people whose names you were assigned. Heartfelt compliments passed around the room, bouncing from person to person, and I think (I hope) we all left feeling closer as a cohort.
We also have nurtured relationships with the outside community, whether our fellow UCSD students through the Climate Justice/Resilience Fest, the different organizations like Groundwork Chollas Creek Earthlab that we have gone to visit on our day trips, or the YEJAA high schooler group we’re partnering with to put on a community event at OceanView Growing Grounds next week. It’s so much more grounding than reading about clean energy or public transit from a textbook, and building this sense of connection to the people around us really brings joy and hope into the struggle for our planet. And we talk a lot in class about relationships with the non-human living world as well. We’ve gotten our hands dirty pulling weeds out from rows of strawberries at Solidarity Farm and have collectively gotten distracted by a lizard perched on the trunk of a tree in Ellie’s Garden. For me personally, I was never much of a get-out-in-nature type of person, but when a 7 am hike was offered during our time in Anza-Borrego I decided to take the opportunity anyway. After getting up at 6:30 am and struggling along the trail as fast as possible to keep up with Professor Lewis’s impressive hiking pace, we stopped for a while at an area with a stream—I remember climbing up onto a big rock and sitting there, listening to the trickle of the running water. I really felt connected to the earth. Why does putting relationships at the core of climate solutions matter? I interviewed Professor Lewis on Friday for an article that will be published in the Climate Change Review later this quarter. At one point while telling a specific story, she said that once you start caring about someone/something, you can’t stop caring about them. CJARS has made me care about my classmates, my community, and my planet on a deeper level than before. It makes me hopeful that, through these relationships, a new world can be grown to replace the old systems that have gotten us into this crisis in the first place. Because we care and are cared for, we have the strength to push forward and put in the work to co-create a just and sustainable future. Sally Guan “To see beyond what despair sees—to move from the feeling toward the possibility—calls for things we have in abundance: love, imagination, and a willingness to simply tend the world as best we can, without guarantee of success.” ― Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis
I chose to start with this quote (taken from our course materials) because I think it fully encompasses the vision of the Climate Justice Action Resilience Scholars Program. Throughout the course of this program, we are fostering a relationship filled with love–where we spend time to find the love we have for ourselves, with each other, and to the world around us. And in doing so, we foster ways in which we can be kinder to ourselves. We spend time thinking about that through reflections, fostering relationships with our peers, and spending time outdoors–away from our stressors. In this space, we can cultivate good practices where we are all encouraged to imagine a better world. Whether it is through the mini assignments throughout the first half of the program or the uplifting assignment in the second half, we are given the opportunity to see the good in the world and imagine a place where we are all passionate and resilient. It is through that, where I am able to see the willingness we all have to continue our work on climate/environmental justice. The one where we all get to talk about the readings from the week, the one where we get to share about our capstone project–they allow me to see the solutions that we have to heal our world. So far, we’re getting there! The world that we imagine might feel far fetched, especially in the current state of the world. We constantly talk about the balance between taking a step back to take care of ourselves from the overwhelming thoughts, while also acknowledging the not-so-pretty side of the world. This brings me to discuss how we are getting closer to the world we imagine. Through our collaboration with the YEJAAs, we really get to integrate our learning with the younger generations. There’s so much we can continue to learn, and there’s so much we can imagine together. It excites me to share that our Resilience Fest “Block Party” is coming along, and this festival is planned by students who care. We are imagining a world that is filled with both love and willingness to serve and heal. Let us all do our part to Let us all do our part to better ourselves and the world! |
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