News
The News section covers things from local news happening on campus and the community to current events, including major political developments, national and international news stories, and social issues.
The Tobago Oil Spill and Its Consequences
On the morning of Feb. 7, 2024, the neighboring Trinidad and Tobago — countries found off the Northeast border of South America’s residents— awoke to a mysterious sight: their coast was “blackened” by an oil spill from a mysteriously capsized ship. This ever-present ecological issue has left scientists and officials stumped. Currently, there is no exact quantity of oil excreted, no party being held responsible, and no known intention behind the act. The impact of this event on the area’s marine life is clear.
How to properly recycle
Recycling can seem like a very easy and “common sense” task, yet it may not be as simple as it seems. Intricate waste management systems make it so there are a few gray areas, causing one to throw items out that may pose the slightest chance of being recycled based on preconceived notions, resulting in misuse of recyclable items.
Ecological Unrest in Panama
On Nov. 3, 2023, the parliament of Panama convened and vetoed a private business decision—a deal made with the Canadian drilling company First Quantum Minerals—after being subjected to a month of civil protests, with activists taking the streets, a decision which shows the true power of the civilian voice. This veto terminated a 20-year, possibly extending to 40-year, contract that would give First Quantum Minerals complete control over the extraction and selling of copper found in the country’s largest copper mine.
Ohio’s East Palestine train derailment update
Eight months after the horrific train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, many of the ecological problems created due to the “controlled burning” of various hazardous chemicals still linger over the small town and have spread to boarding communities. Though the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has gone on record saying that this issue is being resolved due to a prolonged cleanup of the area, many people are left wondering how long they will have to wait to return to a sense of normalcy within their once peaceful town.
Libya flooding illuminates systematic flaws
Over one month ago, on Sept. 11, 2023, the city of Derna, Libya, alongside adjacent towns, experienced the full frontal effects of “Tropical Storm Daniel” in a way that no one saw coming: an area-wide mass flood. This flood resulted from two central dams’ infrastructure failing, not built to withstand the force it was experiencing and broke under the weight, sending over 24 million tonnes of water hurtling toward several unevacuated, densely populated areas, leaving over 4,000 dead and 10,000 missing to this day.