In The Community
You reduce, reuse, and recycle
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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
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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
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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
Photo by Vlad Tchompalov on UnsplashYou'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
Photo by Jake Melara on UnsplashOne 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
Photo by Oana Cristina on UnsplashIt 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
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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
Photo by quokkabottles on UnsplashWhether 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
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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
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.
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Earth is facing unprecedented attacks on its ecosystems, from deadly ozone-attacking gasses to deforestation that’s literally ripping out the lungs of the world to a mountain of discarded polysynthetic clothes in the country of Chile that can be seen from the sky. For 14 years, no rain has fallen in Alto Hospicio or the surrounding Atacama Desert region, where literal tons of clothes are discarded from all over the world.
The dry conditions of the desert, coupled with the nonbiodegradable, predominantly synthetic, petroleum-derived fibers used in modern clothes, meant that the pile never shrank. Instead, for more than two decades, it grew, and with every discarded item, it grew so large it could be seen from space. Startups like Ecocitex are helping solve the issue by recycling discarded clothes and turning them into raw materials. However, the problem requires government action.
On that front, efforts have been underway since 2016 to add textiles to the Extended Liability of the Producer law, or REP law for short, which makes producers and importers accountable for wasting specified materials. Tomás Saieg, head of the Chilean environment ministry’s Circular Economy Office, said to National Geographic, “Converting Chile from a junkyard into a recycling hub would be the dream, but first we have to add textiles to the REP law.
Collective Devastation: Human Rights, Environmental, Late Stage Capitalism
Considering the speed at which fashion trends come and go, and the recent enormous transfer of wealth to billionaires from the middle and working class, it’s only natural that today’s shoppers would be happy to find affordable fashionable options that keep up with fashion trends.
Now add on deeply acculturated consumerism that has people fist-fighting over travel cups and coveting the latest fashion trend that a social media star just talked about, and we have all the ingredients for fast fashion brands to rise like flames for the fashion-hungry moths to gravitate towards.
Fast fashion, pushed by giant brands like Zara, H&M, Forever 21, SHEIN, Fashion Nova, ASOS, and more, has made these companies some of the biggest faces of modern consumerism. These brands are also some of the biggest representatives of unsafe working conditions and wage theft of workers who are often forced to work more than 75 hours per week.
The human devastation these brands, individually and collectively, are causing is, sadly, not being taken seriously by the consumers who continue to provide billions of dollars a year to each of these companies.
As that $8 shirt is shipped from across the world in plastic bags that will end up in landfills, the fast fashion industry also consumes around 93 billion cubic meters of water a year. That’s enough to meet the water needs of as many as 5 million people. Moreover, according to the UN, this industry is responsible for 2 to 8 percent of global carbon emissions.
Fast fashion’s water impact and carbon emissions are not the only issues, though. The environmental impact of this industry runs deeper, not to mention the social impact side of the coin. The more is known about it, the more informed decisions can be made.
The dark side of fashion needs as much light shone on it as possible.
The rise of fast fashion
While fast fashion has skyrocketed in recent years, it has been around since the early 1990s, starting with the fashion store chain Zara’s lighting-fast supply chain. The design, production, distribution, and marketing of fast fashion are lightning-fast, which is how fast fashion brands can offer so much variety at such low prices.
However, if there’s a piece of life wisdom that most people know, it’s that nothing in life is free, everything comes at a price. The price of getting dirt-cheap clothes quickly delivered to our doorstep is paid not only by the environment but also by millions of workers who barely get paid for back-breaking, often unsafe work.
The dark side of fast fashion
As a business model, fast fashion is undeniably profitable, but if we dive deeper, is the damage really worth it? From water depletion to carbon emissions, the industry is notorious for its trail of destruction. It’s also notorious for its waste. As of 2023, 97 million tons of textile waste pile up in landfills every year. This number is predicted to continue rising, with the average American discarding as much as 81.5 pounds of clothes every year.
Moreover, clothing usage has plummeted by almost 40% as people only use garments 7 to 10 times before they dispose of them. The lower the quality of the clothing is, the faster it’s discarded. By 2030, the fashion industry's global emissions are poised to skyrocket by 50% if nothing is done about fast fashion’s impact. When it comes to water waste, fast fashion accounts for 20% of global wastewater.
Not only that, fast fashion also pollutes water resources due to practices like fabric dying and treatment, which involve chemicals. Those chemicals are infused into the water, including things like heavy metals, pesticides, dyes, oil, phenol, and more. In turn, that polluted water can contaminate streams and groundwater. If that water is used for irrigating crops, the food growing out of them will also be contaminated.
Synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon, which are staples in fast fashion, pose yet another threat. These materials take centuries to biodegrade, shedding microplastics with each wash. Those microplastics find their way into the oceans, contaminating marine life and ecosystems. It’s estimated that 35% of ocean microplastics come from textile laundering.
Of course, the impact of fast fashion extends beyond the environment. In developing economies, where much of fast fashion production takes place, exploitation is a huge issue. Forced labor, child labor, and awful working conditions are staples in the industry. As is often the case, marginalized communities bear the brunt of it.
A better alternative to fast fashion
As more and more people become aware of the high cost of fast fashion, the slow fashion movement gains more traction. This movement advocates for sustainable practices, mindful consumption, and ethical production. Leaning on slow fashion practices can be an antidote to the rampant consumerism fast fashion inspires.
A lot of people rely on fast fashion because they feel it’s their only alternative to creating a wardrobe. After all, high-quality pieces that are made to last are investments and they can be quite expensive. However, it’s important to remember those aren’t the only options. While saving up to build a more sustainable wardrobe is possible, alternatives like recycling, thrifting, and even renting clothes are great ways to exercise your power as a consumer to effect change. Of course, it’s also possible to abstain from buying clothes altogether when you already have a wardrobe you can work with.
No matter how attractive fast fashion may be, its cost to our planet and our fellow humans is a high price to pay. On this Earth Day, you can be more mindful of how your consumer choices accelerate climate destruction. You can also learn ways to decelerate it by creating more sustainable habits, such as adjusting your attitude about clothes, being more mindful of the clothes you buy, and choosing carefully what kind of brands you support with your hard-earned dollars.
Cities in areas outside of the solar eclipse’s path of totality will still be able to see a percentage of it, from 17 to 63 percent. For example, Southern Californians will see a partial solar eclipse of up to 57% the farther south they are. You can check how much of the solar eclipse you’ll be able to witness on the National Eclipse website.
Whether you catch a total or partial solar eclipse, always ensure safety first - never look directly at the sun! Make sure to follow established guidance for the safest and best eclipse watching. Alternatively, you can tune into live coverage of the solar eclipse on platforms like Hulu and Disney+, or cable channels like ABC, NBC, and CNN.
Solar eclipses are among the most fascinating celestial events surrounded by enormous mystique. For thousands of years, civilizations across the world have interpreted solar eclipses in their own unique ways and integrated them into their religions, culture, and agricultural practices, so it’s no wonder they’re surrounded by myths and mystique. Not to mention solar eclipses also inspire scientific wonder and spirituality.
So what makes solar eclipses so fascinating? We explore.
Total solar eclipses have inspired fear
Photo by Jongsun Lee on UnsplashIn ancient times, a total solar eclipse was quite a scary thing to witness and there were many superstitions around it. Many cultures interpreted total solar eclipses as a sign of doom. Some even believed that they represented battles between celestial beings. From the Chippewa tribes shooting flaming arrows to the heavens to ward off disaster to Norse myths about Loki's antics causing eclipses, fear was the most common reaction to total solar eclipses.
Solar eclipses also had romantic interpretations
Photo by Alejandra Quiroz on UnsplashAt the other end of the spectrum, some cultures weren’t afraid of solar eclipses but actually had romantic interpretations of them. For example, in Australian Aboriginal mythology, the Sun and Moon represented lovers, so a solar eclipse meant that they were coming together. German and Tahitian myths also interpreted solar eclipses as moments of intimacy between celestial partners. That’s much better than the doom and gloom take, in our humble opinion.
Solar eclipses follow predictable cycles
Photo by Andrew Preble on UnsplashAs it turns out, eclipses can be quite predictable. Every 18 months or so, the Moon will get in the way of the Sun somewhere on Earth. Partial eclipses are the most common, where the Moon only covers a part of the Sun, and we get at least 2 of them per year. Total solar eclipses are the most rare, but they still happen every 2 or 3 years somewhere on Earth. Whether we can observe them or not depends on the location, and most of them happen in remote areas, often over the ocean.
There are different types of solar eclipses
Photo by Fahd Hasis on Wikimedia Commons
Yes, that’s right! There are four types of solar eclipses: total, partial, annular, and hybrid. What makes each of them different is the way the Sun, Moon, and Earth align, though it also depends on the location from where you’re watching. Whatever type of solar eclipse you happen to witness, it will be a unique experience that doesn’t happen very often.
The duration of solar eclipses varies a lot
Solar eclipses may be predictable, but it’s very difficult to tell how long they will last. A total solar eclipse usually lasts a few minutes, but in some rare cases, they’ve lasted 7 minutes or more. What’s certain is that even if a solar eclipse only lasts a few seconds, watching its effect and the kind of eerie spectacle that it offers is unforgettable and awe-inspiring.
Solar eclipses have been important throughout history
Photo by Patrick Hendry on UnsplashA surprising thing about solar eclipses is that they’ve left quite a mark on history. Why? Because they’ve altered certain events in unexpected ways. For example, the ancient Battle of Halys, which is known as the Battle of the Eclipse, was actually interrupted by a sudden solar eclipse in 585 BCE. Eclipses have been shaping history in very interesting ways, so it’s fun to look back and see how they’ve led to certain outcomes.
Solar eclipses offer valuable scientific insights
Photo by Jaredd Craig on UnsplashSolar eclipses not only have cultural significance, they’re also invaluable in the scientific community. For example, solar eclipses have helped researchers observe the outer atmosphere of the Sun, which has helped to expand our understanding of solar physics. Solar eclipses offer amazing opportunities to uncover more knowledge, so they’re exciting events for scientists studying the nature of space.
Solar eclipses offer moments for introspection
Photo by freestocks on UnsplashIf you’re into astrology and spiritual wellness, solar eclipses are important moments to look out for. They’re considered to be times of intense energy, making them great moments for introspection and release. They’re also interpreted as times of profound change and transformation, so if you’ve been carrying something for a while, solar eclipses are an invitation to relax, let go, and embrace the new.
They’re ripe for personal reflection
Photo by Sage Friedman on UnsplashWhether you go all out and watch solar eclipses through a telescope or just watch from your balcony, the moment is perfect for personal reflection and meditation. Solar eclipses can have quite a contemplative effect, so they can be deeply spiritual experiences. They invite us to pause and reflect on our place in the universe, and we can find a lot of meaning in that. Especially in times when we feel disconnected from everything.
Solar eclipses can affect animals
Photo by Lindz Marsh on UnsplashIf you have pets, you should keep an eye on them during a solar eclipse because it can cause some animals to be confused. This effect can be easily observed in birds. They will stop singing or tuck themselves away to sleep because they think it’s nighttime, and this can also happen with certain mammals! It’s nothing to worry about, just don’t be surprised if your pets start acting like it’s bedtime during a solar eclipse.
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