Environmental Justice at Western

Pushing Painful Problems onto the Powerless: The Concept of Not in My Backyard

By Clara Copley, Jordan De Lanoy, and Joe Magnani Most quarters, a group of students at WWU gathers to discuss a recent book or set of podcasts about environmental justice. This post reflects our discussion of Cathrine Flowers’: Waste: One Woman’s Fight Against America’s Dirty Secret, in Spring 2022. The concept of “not in my…

How “Waste: One Woman’s Fight Against America’s Dirty Secret”, by Catherine Flowers, Sets an Example of Experiential Learning

By Eukia L, Katie B, Mia L, and Sarah S. Most quarters, a group of students at WWU gathers to discuss a recent book or set of podcasts about environmental justice. This post reflects our discussion of Cathrine Flowers’: Waste: One Woman’s Fight Against America’s Dirty Secret, in Spring 2022. “Experiential Learning is the process…

If You Can’t Bring People to the Groceries, Bring Groceries to the People

By Lily Baumgart, Jacob O’Donnell, Jessi Peterson In our discussion as a class on the East Whatcom Food Landscape Assessment, we generated many new ideas for projects combating food insecurity in the rural communities of East Whatcom County. These ideas ranged from policy incentives, such as subsidies, to bring grocery stores into these communities, to…

Resurgence: Opportunities for Growth in Nature and Humanity

By Emily Amos, Audrey LeFinson, Vivienne Moore, and Cami Hoffman. Most quarters, a group of students at WWU gathers to discuss a recent book or set of podcasts about environmental justice. This post reflects our discussion of Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing’s: The Mushroom at the End of the World: On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist…

Freedom and Survival: Foraging for Matsutake and Housing

by Jade Weston, Kyto Katori, LucyGreeley, KayMcDowell. Most quarters, a group of students at WWU gathers to discuss a recent book or set of podcasts about environmental justice. This post reflects our discussion of Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing’s: The Mushroom at the End of the World: On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist Ruins in Winter…

Main Takeaways from A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety (By Sarah Jaquette Ray)

By Rebecca Mercado and Allie Vandewege Each quarter, a group of students, faculty, and staff at WWU convene an environmental justice reading group to read and discuss recent texts. In Fall 2020 the group read Sarah Jaquette Ray’s A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety. This post reflects and extends our discussion. As we come to…

Mushroom Mutualism & Community Care During Crises

By Sophia Reynolds, Yeshaia Van Leeuwen, Matt Jones, & Natalie Sacker Most quarters, a group of students at WWU gathers to discuss a recent book or set of podcasts about environmental justice. This post reflects our discussion of Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing’s The Mushroom at the End of the World: On the Possibility of Life in…

Disturbances Rooted Within Our Landscapes 

By Mara Scally, Marina Pope, Heidi Sellers, and Nova Curtis. Most quarters, a group of students at WWU gathers to discuss a recent book or set of podcasts about environmental justice. This post reflects our discussion of Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing’s The Mushroom at the End of the World: On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist…

Environmental Justice Close to Home

By Allison Greener, Matt Jones and Sydne Tursky Each quarter, a group of students, faculty, and staff at WWU join together to read and discuss recent environmental justice texts. In Spring 2021, the group is reading Harriet A. Washington’s A Terrible Thing to Waste. This post reflects and extends our discussion. This quarter, while reading…

Possible Actions to Fight Against Environmental Toxins and Racism

By Camryn, Julia, and Shelby Each quarter, a group of students, faculty, and staff at WWU join together to read and discuss recent environmental justice texts. In Spring 2021, the group is reading Harriet A. Washington’s A Terrible Thing to Waste. This post reflects and extends our discussion. To finish off the book, our group…