10 Things You Already Do That Make You a Latina Environmentalist

Latina posing for the camera in a fiel, with an earth globe in her hands

With the undeniable shadow of climate change looming over us, people around the world are making a conscious effort to embrace more sustainable habits. In that process, many Latinos have realized that sustainable habits have always been a part of their lives. Whether it’s because they’ve had to make do with limited resources or that was just their families’ way of life, Latinos are more environmentalists than they’re often aware of. Here are 10 things you probably do that make you a Latina environmentalist:


You reduce, reuse, and recycle

Volunteer woman at recycling station

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels

In your daily life, you’re conscious of waste and naturally do things to minimize single-use plastics. You reuse items whenever possible and you’re very good at recycling. As a good Latina, you turn mayonnaise glass jars into glasses, plastic ice cream or butter containers into unofficial Tupperware, you use cloths instead of paper towels or wipes for cleaning, and you have a big plastic bag that collects all other plastic bags that come your way for later use.

You support sustainable fashion

Women buying second-hand  clothes

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels

Latina fashionistas love looking stylish and amazing, but if you have environmentalist inclinations, you avoid fast fashion like the plague. Shein and Fashion Nova clothes aren’t that good anyway, so you would much rather spend a little more on high-quality items that will last from ethical brands. You also love thrifting and buying second-hand because it’s a treasure trove of amazing clothes made with long-lasting, eco-friendly fabrics like cotton, hemp, and bamboo. Overall, you’re conscious of the brands you support and you reduce your textile waste without sacrificing your style.

You practice energy conservation

Woman changing light bulb in a lamp

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels

If your Latino parents come from a country where they experienced power shortages quite often, they’ve likely instilled a few energy-saving habits in you. From using energy-efficient appliances and LED lighting to reducing your water usage, and everything in between, you always prioritize sustainable energy practices. You also do little things like never leaving your charger plugged, turning off the lights when a room isn’t being used, switching off appliances when they’re not used, and more.

You advocate for environmental causes

people protesting for environmental justicePhoto by Vlad Tchompalov on Unsplash

You're actively involved in environmental advocacy and support initiatives that promote conservation, biodiversity, and environmental justice. Whether it's participating in climate strikes, supporting conservation organizations, or just raising awareness about environmental issues in your community, you use your voice and actions to drive positive change. It’s the Latina way to do something about the issues that matter to you, so advocating, raising awareness, or even encouraging your close friends to embrace certain sustainable habits is something you often do.

You often take time to connect with nature

woman in sleeveless top and backpack surrounded by trees during daytimePhoto by Jake Melara on Unsplash

One thing Latinos often share is a connection with nature. Whether that’s through activities like gardening or just taking walks in nature, Latinos often like to step away from daily life and spend time in or with the natural world. If you don’t have a green thumb and that’s why gardening isn’t for you, you probably still do things like take walks in natural parks, go on hikes, and more. Connecting with nature is one of your favorite ways to reset.

You support ethical brands

person holding and eco-friendly productPhoto by Oana Cristina on Unsplash

It doesn’t matter what you’re spending your money on, one of your priorities is supporting ethical brands. It’s important to you that brands prioritize sustainability throughout their supply chain. Whether that’s using eco-friendly materials, giving workers fair wages, and minimizing waste and pollution, you make sure your brands align with your views. Latinas put their money where their mouth is!

You don’t discard your old clothes, you find a new use for them

Woman sewing and cutting a piece of fabric

Photo by Karolina Kaboompics on Pexels

You’re aware that most discarded clothes end up in landfills and have a huge impact on pollution. That’s why you don’t buy fast fashion and you don’t discard old clothes until you’ve gotten the most out of them. This is where the Latina resourcefulness and creativity come in! You find ways to upcycle old clothes and make them stylish again, you start wearing them as PJs or you donate them if they’re still in good shape but you don’t want to wear them anymore. When old clothes are beyond repair, you turn them into cleaning cloths. You only throw them away when their useful life is well and truly over.

You bring your own cup everywhere

a woman holding a reusable water bottlePhoto by quokkabottles on Unsplash

Whether you want to buy water, coffee, smoothies, etc., while you’re out and about, you avoid disposable cups as much as possible. That’s why you’ve invested in a reusable water bottle, reusable mug, and reusable smoothie cup, and you always have them handy when you know you’ll be needing them. You’ve also invested in single-use straws because you want to be responsible for as little waste as possible.

You prioritize sustainable self-care

Women in front of a mirror practicing personal care routines with natural products

Photo by Tiger Lily on Pexels

It’s not stereotypical to say that most Latinas like to take care of themselves and enjoy having a good self-care routine. Well, Latina environmentalists make sure that every product in that self-care routine is 100% natural, eco-friendly, and ethically produced. You’ve switched to aluminum-free deodorants, chemical-free pads and tampons, or period panties, and prioritize formulas with all-natural ingredients. You also enjoy making your own face masks, soaps, exfoliants, and more, at home.

You support wildlife conservation

a young woman collecting plastic waste in a forest

Last but not least, Latinas with environmental inclinations love animals, and that often reflects in their support for wildlife conservation. You likely practice responsible tourism and encourage others to do the same, support wildlife conservation efforts in any way you can, and spread the word about sustainable practices meant to preserve biodiversity and the ecosystem.

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).