If I had to design a policy initiative, I would try to include it as much as I can in the foundational texts and laws of that country. I agree with Suzuki when he says that “we need to enshrine environmental protection in our Constitution”: we need to make the…

Catherine Flowers has an infectious positive energy and a beautiful smile. When we first came into the room, I immediately felt that I was in the presence of someone who had had vast experience in the environmental field and had lots of advice to share about environmental action. Surprisingly, I…

Phil Chase, who becomes president of the United States in the second portion of the book, embodies a powerful character in the narrative and represents a leading force that would be much needed now in our world for environmental action. Always described as joking and smiling, he becomes the public…

I believe permaculture plays an essential role in spurring change for designing nature’s future. Permaculture embraces the farming philosophy that our agriculture system should be sustainable and locally sourced, mimicking the natural patterns found in ecosystems. While watching the movie in class, what most impacted me was the message permaculture…

San Francisco, June 5. My stay at Ecotopia has been really eye-opening so far. All my previous misconceptions about the economy, human relationships and generally about cultural customs have been challenged. One aspect of Ecotopian life that I can’t still wrap my head around is their education system.  I can’t…

Hope is what you feel the first time you share your biggest regret with a friend, your vulnerability pounding in the heart like a galloping mad horse. You are hopeful that you will be understood. Hopeful that your mistake will not be held against you. Hopeful, in some sense, that…

In Pacific Edge, Kim Stanley Robinson draws the portrait of a utopian world that feels both close and far away from us. The characters are constantly interacting with each other, whether at the frequent baseball games or at the town councils or even in their daily routines during work. When…

I think fiction has the power to shape our narratives around the design of nature’s future, whether in a positive or negative way. When we read a piece of fiction, we enter a new and fresh world constructed by the author. We are asked to leave behind our biases, our…

It’s hard not to hold your breath in front of a majestic landscape of mountain chains surrounding a pristine blue lake. Something about the serene atmosphere, clean air and bright colors makes you naturally dilute your pupils and try take in as much as you can in. Romanticism and transcendentalism…

Name: Francesca Martella Hometown: Rome, Italy Major: Environmental Science & Literature Interests: Environmental Humanities, Existentialism and Story-telling Most interesting news: Why eating more vegetables is good for the planet (or something along those lines)  – The Economist