Stop Playing Politics With Reproductive Rights

Stop Playing Politics With Reproductive Rights

Young women voters have a lot to worry about this election cycle, from a flurry of anti-abortion messaging to diminishing access to reproductive services. Just this month, in fact, Congress put the brakes on vital legislation that would fund efforts to prevent the...
Federal Marijuana Laws Reek of Hy-Pot-Crisy

Federal Marijuana Laws Reek of Hy-Pot-Crisy

For a few brief months, it looked like America might take a step closer to sanity. And then came the news: the Obama administration will not loosen federal restrictions on marijuana after all. Before delving into the issue of marijuana, consider its two fellow...
Waste Not, Save More

Waste Not, Save More

On average, each person in the U.S. throws away five pounds of solid waste each day. While many eco–conscious citizens do their due diligence to recycle, compost, and reduce waste, others remain apathetic about preserving the environment. Wherever you might land on...
The Challenges of ‘Leaving No Trace’

The Challenges of ‘Leaving No Trace’

I just got back from hiking 95 miles in the Sierras. (Yes, just like that Reese Witherspoon movie Wild, only far fewer miles.) I returned from my trip with something eating at me. Backpackers are supposed to “Leave No Trace.” It’s not just a nice...
Is Solar Energy Really Too Expensive?

Is Solar Energy Really Too Expensive?

In order for solar power to compete with other forms of energy, the conventional thinking goes, it needs to become way cheaper. Installing rooftop solar panels can be prohibitively expensive, after all, and it takes years before the resulting energy savings pay off....
To Stop ‘Bomb Trains,’ I Honeymooned in Jail

To Stop ‘Bomb Trains,’ I Honeymooned in Jail

It was a few days after my wedding. I was supposed to be honeymooning at a nearby winery with my newly minted husband, celebrating our unlikely marriage at age 55. Instead, I was sitting on the railroad tracks in the pouring rain. Along with 20 other brave souls, some...