The Green Ethic

  • Light and Sound: The Dangers of Invisible Pollution 

    One of the greatest challenges in addressing environmental issues is that many of their consequences are invisible to the instigators. When pollution is invisible, it becomes easier to ignore. Light pollution is artificial light that washes out the glow of the stars. Sound pollution is harmful or unwanted sounds that interfere with daily activities. They are often overlooked as pollution, but the reality is that they hold real consequences on the ecosystem, animal/human health, and social equality.

    These forms of pollution don’t just annoy animals – they are entirely reshaping ecosystems. Light pollution cripples the circadian rhythms in animals. Migratory birds are constantly colliding with buildings. Insects are drawn to artificial light which is contributing to the worldwide insect apocalypse where we do not even know the full extent of the consequences. Noise pollution has altered animal communication and led to a high increase in chronic stress which has reduced reproduction rates. Entire predator-prey have changed because animals have lost their way of hunting without sound.

    Among humans, light pollution has disrupted pollution, caused an increased cancer risk, and has been linked to anxiety and depression. Noise pollution has caused chronic stress response among individuals and even more struggle from hearing loss. Chronic stress has caused an increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. Noise has even started to affect our children by having cognitive impacts, damaging their learning and attention. 

    In low-income communities there is a noticeable inequality that haunts our society. In those areas, street lighting is poorly designed and homes are in closer proximity to highways, airports, and industrial zones – the biggest sources of light and sound pollution. In wealthier areas, there are typically quieter neighborhoods and more protections against these types of damages. Schools in noisy areas show worse academic outcomes and when noise complaints are submitted, they are often dismissed when they come from marginalized communities. These are all staples of environmental discrimination where the people face constant injustice. Even though the pollution is invisible, there is still visible inequality.

    These pollutions are consistently ignored because it is hard to bring attention to something you cannot see. There is no dramatic “spill” that will immediately draw everyone’s attention. It has become normalized so much throughout our world to have constant noise and light that we have become desensitized to it all. Economic convenience has become prioritized over our wellbeing.

  • The Insect Apocalypse: The Loss of Biodiversity

    Without a doubt, the biggest nuisance in the history of the world is insects. They have stood since the dawn of time and have remained a staple on earth. The dislike for them is undeniable and nothing quite affects our everyday life like them. But a danger has begun to arise and threaten their very existence. The insect apocalypse is quickly becoming one of the most alarming issues. This is not just an issue for their population but their disappearance could potentially result in entire ecosystems collapse.

    In the past 50 years, the insect population has declined 75% worldwide. These declines have been observed worldwide with pollinators, aquatic insects, and soil insects being the most affected. The sharp decrease in insect biomass and species diversity has turned scary despite the bother that they are. An apocalypse does not mean their total extinction overnight but is instead the widespread population collapse of the species. There will be a loss of functional roles and the eventual unraveling of life-support systems.

    There is no single cause behind their decline. Years of various human driven causes have led to their increasing disappearance. Habitat destruction through urbanization has wiped out homes for them. Pesticides have poisoned species to near extinction. Climate change has altered their needed temperatures and affected their breeding cycles. Light pollution has stressed populations and damaged their navigation of the world. The invasive species have decimated the native species and further stressed populations. None of these causes are natural, they are all a result of human destruction. 

    The annoyance of insects is undeniable but so is the need for them. Without them, the ecosystem is bound to collapse. They are the very base of the food web and support countless animals. The full effects of their eradication is incalculable. Food systems are predicted to yield major crop losses and the skyrocketing of food prices. Human health will suffer a huge impact from nutrient deficiencies and have increased disease risk. Economically, the world will lose billions in agriculture.

    Insects are so vital to the world and without them we risk too much. They are essential to our world and we must begin to stand up for them. It may be hard to believe that the tiniest creatures hold the greatest responsibility for sustaining life on Earth but it shows we must reinforce our dedication to them.

  • Bees: The Engineers of the Ecosystem

    Bees. The so-called-villains of summer. They are what sting us, what hurt us, and what make us ache. They ruin our picnics, our gardens, and our days at the park. We are quick to blame them for ruined afternoons outside. But our disdain has led us to ignorance of their importance. Because they are actually secret heroes– silently holding ecosystems together. We have misjudged these vital creatures for years. Hating them for their noises and intrusion. We kill them out of fear, believing it’s either that or be attacked first. Pop culture has endlessly stereotyped them, making individuals fear the worst. The truth is that fear is deeply rooted in our misunderstanding of them. 

    Bees essentially act as the engineers of the ecosystem. They are pollinators, responsible for the reproduction of ¾ of flowering plants, they hold a mighty job that supports biodiversity by holding up the entire food web and ensures healthy soil and forests. ⅓ of our food source is reliant on them and they contribute to environmental stability. Bees are the very foundation of countless ecosystems by providing resources for every living being. 

    They are an indicator species, meaning that if there is a decline in their population it is a signal for greater environmental harm on the rise. The severity of their disappearance is severe. Food sources would fall drastic heights and result in prices skyrocketing for basic necessities. Entire ecosystems would crumble under their loss. The very presence of bees equals the appearance of food. Without a reliance on natural resources like them, we would have to turn to artificial conditions.

    As important as bees are, a looming force threatens them. Humans have slowly begun to decimate their population through destruction. Their habitats have become lost in skyscrapers, they are poisoned from pesticides, and they are losing to the change of climate. 

    It is time to give back to these creatures. We can aid by planting more native flowers and avoiding the spread of pesticides. The best way to rid these creatures is through contact with local beekeepers. It is time to spread awareness of their importance. It is time to spread the awareness of wasps versus bees. Protect their livelihoods not the industries.

    They are one of the most essential species on Earth and should be treated like the heroes they are. Bees are an example of the real effort it takes to aid our world and that working as one symbiote is the best way to bring us to salvation.

  • Animal Agriculture: The Epitome of Overconsumption

    Animal agriculture is one of the biggest industries in the world with an worth estimated between 1.61 trillion to 3.3 trillion. It is the breeding, raising, and management of domesticated animals for human consumption. The farms can range from small to large and the majority are intensive. But to offer some perspective on the sheer size of this industry, they encompass 80% of agricultural land across the world yet only yield 18% of the world’s calorie consumption. This represents the inefficiency of animal consumption and the harm to food security. Animal agriculture is not simply a food system, but a reflection of humanity’s priorities – where efficiency and profit greatly outweigh ethics and sustainability.

    The majority of the conditions in industrial farming are unbearable. Animals are subjected to confinement systems which essentially render them hostages. Many are physically mutilated for the purpose of efficiency. They are forced into overcrowded areas, activating chronic stress and leading to an increase in disease spread among them. The antibiotic overuse, while helpful, contributes to a worldwide issue of antibiotic resistance. These animals are treated as commodities and are practically disregarded as living beings. The cost of efficiency at a worldwide scale depends on suffering.

    The industry is dominated by a handful of vast multinational corporations. They drive out smaller farmers or force them into debt contracts. Their true costs are masked in government support. While meat appears cheap, the real costs are externalized. While profit rises to the top, the consequences spread to the bottom.

    The vast land use of animal agriculture has led to deforestation for grazing and feed crops. The loss of trees has led to an increase in carbon dioxide and has poisoned the very air we breathe. The concentration of cattle leads to a direct increase in greenhouse gasses that warm our earth and harm our climate. The industry is a huge consumer of the fresh water on earth and acts as a leading source of water pollution. The animal waste runoff leads to nutrient rich waters that cause harmful algae that kill aquatic life by creating dead zones in bodies of water. By mass converting natural habitats into farmlands for industry, we decimate the biodiversity of our ecosystems.

    The “One Health” concept describes the interconnectedness cycles of human, animal and the planet’s health. The horrid conditions of how animals are treated and the effects of the industry directly impact human wellbeing. Diseases can jump from animal to humans and the overuse of antibiotics in livestock contributes to the antibiotic resistance that threatens public health. Environmental degradation caused by farming – polluted water, deforestation, and greenhouse gasses – bring further harm to communities. This creates a cycle in which the health of ecosystems, humans, and animals are inseparable. 

    This article isn’t attributing environmental destruction to your love of barbecue, but is instead meant to point out the injustice in the food industry and the need for systemic change. Simple solutions to help reduce the effects of the industry encompass, reducing meat consumption, curating plant forward diets, and advocating for better animal welfare standards. It is time to start fighting for environmental accountability. The key is intention, not abstinence.

    Animal agriculture is a system that nourishes humanity while simultaneously straining the planet. The solutions aren’t about perfection, but instead about intentional action. Every choice we make – what we eat and what we support – affects the health of animals, ecosystems, and communities. By recognizing the interconnectedness of these systems, we can bring an end to the exploitation and bring rise to a food system that sustains life rather than harms it.