There is a story capitalism tells about itself, and it goes something like this: work hard, stay disciplined, and the system will reward you. The planet is a resource. Progress is inevitable. Growth is good. For a long time, that story held. People believed it - or at least accepted it. But right now, in the middle of an accelerating ecological crisis, the story is visibly, undeniably falling apart. What replaces it matters enormously. And if this semester in the Ecology-Phil

I’m sitting in a coffee shop surrounded by laptops, conversations, and the constant whir of espresso machines. There is a smell of bacon in the air, and cars continue to stream past the windows outside. It’s really easy to forget just how deeply everyday life in affluent nations depends on high emission systems, and how damaging those systems are to the biosphere. My coffee itself likely traveled across continents; the food was probably produced through industrial agriculture

Have you ever looked at someone's lawn and thought, "What's the point?” I am always struck by the stark difference between a forest preserve and the property that backs up to it. One is a complex living entity unto itself, the other is a green scar that dots the landscape. One holds the promise of a thriving ecosystem with plants, animals and fungi all interacting to keep the forest alive, the other mows, sprays pesticides, and pulls unwanted inhabitants in order to keep its

One meaningful experience I had from our learning community was participating in an outdoor lab where we tapped sugar maple trees for sap. Although the lab was to introduce us to our community’s sustainability efforts, I found an interest in the Indigenous traditions and their relationship with the land. Amanda Krause, Oakton’s Naturalist, shared with our class that the Indigenous people used the same seasonal techniques to gather sap. Their practice consisted of tapping mapl

Growing up in Pakistan and living in America for over a decade now, I have seen the place where capitalism benefits the few elites and the place where the labor force of many is used to extract and produce. I saw young kids in the global south busy with menial labor. Young girls sitting in one place for hours making hand-tied knots to produce the most exquisite carpets... When I asked, why are the laborers so young, the answer given to me, still echoes in my mind... And it w

Climate change is one of the biggest problems facing the world today. As years go by, the effects of climate change become more evident through stronger hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and rising sea levels. While climate change impacts the entire planet, its consequences are not distributed equally across the world. Poorer communities and developing countries often face much more severe environmental impacts, despite contributing the least to global carbon emissions. Understa

Spring into summer, and the winter is gone! As we celebrate winter’s departure, we are not just welcoming the return of greener grass,...

We finished this blog post on May 1st, 2025, at 3:33pm. We have reached 4 years, 81 days, and 19 hours left before ever-growing...

As I walk across the farmland tended by an Anishinaabe tribe, I gaze upon the golden kernels of corn growing atop the tall, green stalk....

Native to the Chihuahuan desert, Lophophora williamsii grows underneath the glare of the Southwestern sun. Baby pink flowers bloom from...

When we walk into a supermarket, we are surrounded by nature’s abundance -- fruits, vegetables, meats, and other healthy...

Windigo "Deer Monster" Illustration by Dane Cozens Colonizers of this world have used organized religion, geographical terraforming,...

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we want to share our respect, appreciation, and gratitude to the Native people who lived on...

Do you ever feel like you could use some fresh air but are limited by where you are working? This is how I feel often. While I am lucky...