By Amy Denton, GLOBUS Correspondent It can sometimes seem that we are being are told by society, the government and scientists that we live more sustainable lives in order to save the planet from catastrophic climate change. However, many of the supposed solutions we are pointed towards, such as buying only sustainably packaged or natural... Continue Reading →
Climate anxiety
By Laura Chevrot, GLOBUS Correspondent I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And then I want you to act.Greta Thunberg Such were the words of 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg in her speech “Our House Is on Fire” at the 2019 Davos World Economic Forum. And indeed, activists are increasingly using their... Continue Reading →
Unmasking the environmental impact of disposable face coverings
By Katy Greco, GLOBUS Correspondent In a world dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks have become a conspicuous part of everyday life, and for good reason - they are a vital asset in preventing the spread of the virus. Indeed, one German study found that the implementation of mask-wearing requirements decreased the growth rate... Continue Reading →
Sustainable Student Living: Student Houses
By Naomi Harris, GLOBUS Correspondent By the end of term two, admittedly, the initial excitement university halls had worn off. In my case, sharing a tiny kitchen with 12 people became impractical, shared bathrooms were tiresome, and you realise how much you missed being able to collapse onto a sofa and watch some telly at... Continue Reading →
Flower-Buying: A Thorn in the side of Environmental Protection?
By Julie Boukobza, GLOBUS Correspondent When buying flowers, we may imagine them to come from nice locally grown flower farms, straight from the ground and bathed in sunshine. For most of the flowers you will see in your everyday shop, however, this is not the case. The UK accounts for 17% of worldwide cut flower... Continue Reading →
Covid-19: What must we learn?
By Naomi Harris, GLOBUS Correspondent The spread of Coronavirus has changed every aspect of our daily lives. The destruction it has caused to individuals, families and friends has been devastating. In no way do I want to disregard that fundamental fact. COVID-19 has been one of humanity’s greatest trials, and no number of positives can outweigh... Continue Reading →
Eco-Tourism: A Sustainable Way to Travel?
By Naomi Harris, GLOBUS Correspondent If you’re anything like me January could possibly have felt like the longest month of the year. Okay, I do have my birthday to look forward to in February, but I miss the sun, being able to go outside without three layers on and not feeling like its time to go to... Continue Reading →
Sustainable Student Living: Burnout
By Lucy Jordan, GLOBUS Deputy Editor Burnout: a student's fateful friend. Whether it's those increasingly heavy eyes in the library, frequent TLC Netflix binges, or sudden overwhelming bursts of dread, usually of everything and nothing at all, we all grow accustomed to its everyday fatigue. But, what happens when we neglect to nurture these early... Continue Reading →
Meatless Meat: Oxymoron or the Future?
By Anna Hardisty, GLOBUS Correspondent The start of the 2020 new year brought with it the launch of new fake meat products across multiple big name chains. Greggs’ steak bake, KFC’s vegan chicken burger, McDonald’s veggie happy meal, Subway’s meatless meatball marinara sub; despite predictable complaints from Piers Morgan that “A meatless steak is not a... Continue Reading →
Sustainable Student Living: Charity Shops
By Braedie Atkins, GLOBUS Correspondent Painting a wardrobe that you bought for £30 and changing the doorknobs is an excellent way to decorate your room - and it doesn’t cost hundreds of pounds. The same goes with clothing. A new jumper, or pair of jeans for £5, gives you room to make alterations so they... Continue Reading →
Double Tap to Save the World: Is Social Media Revolutionising or Killing Activism?
By Aada Orava, GLOBUS Correspondent It is hardly a controversial statement to say that social media is an increasingly important device for the spread of information and political mobilization. Citizens and politicians alike are using online platforms to engage with important issues and each other. For example, a reported 53% of Americans engaged with a political... Continue Reading →
Haircare Sustainability
By Angelo Balagtas, GLOBUS Correspondent It’s been said that your hair is your crown. It’s then unsurprising that we love to take good care of our hair. We may forget in these efforts, however, that we maybe forming unsustainable habits. In fact, did you know that a 10-minute shower can use the same amount of... Continue Reading →
New Year’s Resolutions: The Sustainability Edition
By Aada Orava, GLOBUS Correspondent As the year and the decade end tonight, many of us have our New Year’s Resolutions ready for trial and (oftentimes, and ultimately) error. Most of the time we attempt resolutions that improve our overall wellbeing and lifestyle, such as exercise, diet, meditation and so on - you know the... Continue Reading →
The Christmas Conundrum
By Silia Tsigka, GLOBUS Correspondent Christmas has always been considered a jolly break from our mundane routine and responsibilities, filled with friends, family, and plenty of food. However, given the current environmental crisis we have found ourselves in, questions about food waste, overconsumption, and even the lifecycle of Christmas trees can render Christmas with a... Continue Reading →
Smart Growth: Commuting and the Urban Sprawl
By Finn Beckett-Hester, GLOBUS Correspondent In many nations, commuting is an indispensable part of life for many. Having spent a year in the bustling city of Hong Kong, the benefits of an efficient and highly accessible public transportation system have only become more evident to me. However, transportation is the second biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions... Continue Reading →
Dumpster Diving – Daring, or just Dangerous?
By Gwendolyn Tan, GLOBUS Correspondent Like any other university student, I try to manage my finances responsibly. However, when I started to lead a greener lifestyle, I was taken aback by the costs involved in changing my diet - for example, the purchase of vegetarian, organic and local foods can be quite expensive...enter dumpster diving... Continue Reading →
Can Deep Ecotourism Facilitate Global Cultural Relations?
By Angelo Balagtas, GLOBUS Correspondent Ecotourism is now defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education”. (International Ecotourism Society, 2015) As is the case when defining sustainable development, much emphasis in our understanding ecotourism goes into environmental conservation. However, ecotourism... Continue Reading →
Being a Good Ancestor: Extending the ‘Now’
By Ellie Church, GLOBUS Correspondent What do you wish your ancestors had done for you? What will our descendants wish of us? What legacy will you leave? One of the key issues behind the inertia of action on the sustainable development agenda is a democratic focus on the short term. The policy struggle to see... Continue Reading →
Power to Permaculture
By Kira Bradley, GLOBUS Correspondent It is predicted that we are currently consuming 50% more resources than our earth can sustain (Watt, 2015). Yet, there are still many around the world deprived of their basic necessities, such as food and clean water. With such figures predicted to only worsen with the onset of the impacts... Continue Reading →
The Circular Economy: A Solution to the Climate Crisis?
By Silia Tsigka, GLOBUS Correspondent The sustainable use of natural resources has been imperative for the continuation of human life on Earth for years now. However, climate denialism along with uneven economic development in certain countries have been obstacles to adopting more sustainable lifestyles. And yet, the clock is still ticking - we cannot afford... Continue Reading →