In the not-too-distant past, the American Southwest was a place that fed the imagination of non-residents. The sun, the desert, expansive canyons and gorgeous vistas have drawn visitors and retirees for decades. The Southwest is generally defined as Arizona, New Mexico and parts of Nevada, California and Texas, and the attraction is predictable – warm weather, adobe architecture, cacti and grand canyons.
But for author and essayist Kyle Paoletta, the history and ecology of the Southwest runs much deeper than these stereotypical selling points.
“It was seeing how limited the view of the Southwest was for people in the Northeast, and how limited the touchpoints were,” he says about the impetus behind writing his first book, American Oasis.
Paoletta knows the Southwest well. Having grown up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he eventually moved to the Northeast, where he now lives. But over the last few years, Paoletta took a deep dive back into his roots in the Southwest, visiting the five major cities of the region – Las Vegas, El Paso, Tucson, Phoenix and Albuquerque. The result of his observations and interviews is American Oasis, a book that is many things – a memoir, a deep historical narrative, and a look at the ecology and climate crises of the region.
“They’re the five cities whose ecology is purely shaped by being in the Chihuahuan Desert, the Mojave Desert and the Sonoran Desert. They share the need to contend with this really extreme environment,” Paoletta says.
Kyle Paoletta’s author photo. Credit: Amy Reichenbach / Penguin Random House
The book touches on settlement history, stretching far back in time to some of the earliest Indigenous populations that settled in the area. By looking into the past while also digging into what’s happening today, American Oasis provides insight into how these cities might survive in the years ahead, as the world gets hotter and as water resources become scarcer.
“We’ve kind of overshot the ecological limits,” Paoletta says, “and we’re being forced into the same position that Indigenous people in the Southwest have been in for millennia, which is: How do we live within our limits? I think the difference now is that we have the technology for many more people to live within limits than even a century ago.”
The Five Cities
Paoletta observes that the five cities face similar threats. In Phoenix and Las Vegas, it’s the heat, and in those two cities, the extremes of heat can vary drastically depending on the part of the city. El Paso’s main threat is the scarcity of water, which Paoletta notes is true across much of Texas. And Tucson and Albuquerque, also desert cities, suffer more from what he calls the built environment.
He notes that Phoenix would not have experienced its explosive growth — five million people spread over 1,200 square miles of sprawl — without the advent of air conditioning.
“Air conditioning allowed for the kind of importation of a lifestyle from the Midwest, from the Northeast, right into this extremely hot place,” he says. “What we’re living with now is the consequences of that, of using that technology to overcome the heat. Most of the electricity in Arizona comes from burning natural gas. There are people who spend $500 a month on their electricity bill in the summer.”
It could seem that there’s no limit to the growth of air conditioning units, as a 2018 report from the International Energy Agency predicts that greenhouse gas emissions from A/C units will nearly double over the next 25 years. Does Paoletta see any alternatives to the refreshing – and sometimes life-saving – use of air conditioning?
“If you think about the classic building in the Southwest, it’s an adobe structure made of mud, which is an incredible climate adaptation tool because it stays quite cool during the day and quite warm at night,” he says. “As much as we can just be changing the built environment using these more sustainable methods, we can be lowering how much electricity we use for air conditioning.”
“We need a wholesale reorientation of how we think about living in the desert,” he adds.
On the topic of water, Paoletta describes Las Vegas, one of the hottest and most populous of the desert cities. He writes:
The transformation of this arid anyplace into a global destination has always felt like a nifty trick. As if the whole city were a pop-up ad the country didn’t mean to click on.
However, Las Vegas also has one of the nation’s best-managed water systems.
“They have some most efficient water recycling system in the country,” Paoletta says. “They’ve managed to double the population without using any more water than they did in the 1990s.”
Paoletta tells the story of Patricia Mulroy, who was the head of the Las Vegas water utility responsible for overseeing the water system’s realignment. With shrewd political maneuvering, she began the process of recycling the water that the county took out of Lake Mead as the population exploded. This led to the creation of the River Mountains Water Treatment Facility, which can treat upwards of 300 million gallons of water per day and is partially run on solar power. She also led the construction of a “third straw” pipe near the bottom of Lake Mead to pump out water that, in times of scarcity, could otherwise not be reached.
But some people still believe that nature’s bounty is endless. A few years ago, Paoletta spoke to a real estate broker in Phoenix after the governor had instituted a moratorium on new residential construction that relies on groundwater.
“I remember calling her, and I think three times she told me, ‘I know the governor did that, but we’re not going to run out of water,’” Paoletta says. “And I had to say, there’s hydrologists who have looked at this and there is a limited amount and she said, ‘We’re not going to run out.’ And it was just like she was affirming that to herself. It was instructive to me of how deeply ingrained the belief is that we can just keep doing whatever and it’ll work out.”
American Oasis is a deeply researched look at the American Southwest from numerous enlightening angles. It seems appropriate to leave the final words to Paoletta, from his afterword:
As the climate crisis has drained away the Southwest’s stockpile of Colorado River water, the so-called bathtub ring around Lake Mead has become a Paleozoic metaphor for scarcity… what remains to be seen is what we do now that recycling and conservation technologies are making it possible to return to a system of living that respects the limitations of the landscape.
The post ‘American Oasis’ Author Kyle Paoletta on the History and Future of the American Southwest appeared first on EcoWatch.
https://www.ecowatch.com/kyle-paoletta-american-oasis-ecowatch.html
Thoreau wrote in Walden that “Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in,” which reminds us that life is short and nature fills it beautifully. What are you looking for that can’t be found during an afternoon in nature?
Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click the poster to get a larger image.
The post Earth911 Inspiration: Time Is but the Stream appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/inspire/earth911-inspiration-time-is-but-the-stream/
Green Living
Classic Sustainability In Your Ear: The Ocean River Institute’s Natural Lawn Challenge for Climate Action
Turn back the clock with this classic interview that will get you ready for Spring yard care planning. A lawn may be beautiful but it can take a heavy toll on the environment, accounting for between 30% and 60% of residential water use in the United States. Rob Moir, Ph.D., is president and executive director of the Ocean River Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ORI works with residential lawn owners to heal damaged ecosystems by restoring coastal areas to lessen the destructive impacts of climate change. The benefits of a natural lawn reach far beyond reduced local water pollution, eliminating chemicals that can contribute to cancers, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and other cellular diseases. Natural lawns are also better for local pollinators and store much more carbon than heavily fertilized lawns. If you considered removing your lawn to play a part in the battle against climate change, this interview may change your mind — a healthy lawn is a powerful carbon sink.
The Ocean River Institute is recruiting Massachusetts communities, town by town, to take a pledge to follow natural lawn practices in the Healthy Soils for Climate Restoration Challenge. You don’t need to live in Massachusetts to participate and learn about the alternatives to the traditional, chemical-intensive lawn practices that use Roundup, a source of glyphosates that kills soil-dwelling fungi and local pollinators, and fast-acting nitrogen fertilizers. You can learn more about the Ocean River Institute at www.oceanriver.org.
Rob has contributed many articles about climate change and the history of environmental change since this interview, including:
- Finding a Northwest Passage to the Sea
- Turning the Tide—How Land and Water Shape Our Climate Future
- Learning from Captain Scoresby’s Ten-gallon Fir-Cask
- Earth Savvy?
- Let the Ground Keep Falling Rainwater
- The Sultans of Swag Versus Looking at Clouds from Both Sides Now
- Subscribe to Sustainability in Your Ear on iTunes and Apple Podcasts.
- Follow Sustainability in Your Ear on Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or YouTube
Editor’s Note: This episode originally aired on May 30, 2022.
The post Classic Sustainability In Your Ear: The Ocean River Institute’s Natural Lawn Challenge for Climate Action appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/podcast/earth911-podcast-the-ocean-river-institutes-natural-lawn-challenge-for-climate-action/
Choosing your perfect gown can be one of the most exciting decisions for your special day, but for the eco fashionista, it can be a challenge to find a dress that fits your values and style — but these brands have exceptional sustainable wedding dresses you’ll swoon over!
Using earth-minded materials like hemp, cruelty-free peace silk, deadstock recycled fabrics and vintage lace, and producing consciously, either in small batches or handcrafting each individual piece made-to-order, the brands below meet high standards for transparency, ecological sustainability, and fair labor.
[For more sustainable wedding dresses, check out this guide to secondhand wedding dress sites!]
Note that the guide contains affiliate links. As always, we only feature brands that meet strict criteria for sustainability we love, that we think you’ll love too!
1. Christy Dawn
Dreamy dress brand Christy Dawn does not disappoint with their romantic bridal collection! Each piece is more swoon-worthy than the next.
Their three sustainable bridal gowns are made from regenerative silk charmeuse —sourced through BOMBYX, an innovative silk producer using best practices — and colored in a beautiful pearl silk with non-toxic dyes. Each dress is ethically cut and sewn by makers in Los Angeles earning living wages, as with the rest of Christy Dawn’s collections.
The Britta Dress and Fitzgerald Dress are 1920s inspired while the Athena Dress is a more modern (but equally romantic) option. All of these dresses are made-to-order with an estimated timeline of 4 weeks.
Conscious Qualities: Regenerative silk and organic non-toxic dyes, ethically made-to-order in Los Angeles
Price Range: $2,500 – $3,000
Size Range: XS – XL
2. Pure Magnolia
Blending the traditional with the modern, Pure Magnolia designs classic-inspired sustainable wedding dresses with contemporary touches. And each dress is made in their Canadian studio by seamstresses earning fair wages from eco-fabrics, such as organic cotton and hemp silk.
The brand sources recycled fabrics whenever possible as well, and recycles their scrap fabric through FABCYCLE.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, locally and fairly made, recycles scrap fabrics
Price Range: $845 – $3,300 CAD
Size Range: 0 – 28
3. Lost in Paris
Lost in Paris crafts each of their creatively designed bohemian-inspired gowns ethically in their Sydney, Australia studio. Unconventional yet undeniably striking, Lost in Paris’ dresses are made from vintage lace and cotton.
Investing in a dress from Lost in Paris is seamless — the brand offers at-home sample try-ons, offers train and sleeve adjustments on several styles, ships their dresses worldwide for free, and even accepts returns. Oh, and, if one of their ready-made sizes doesn’t work for you, you can get a dress designed to your measurements.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, uses vintage lace, locally made
Price Range: $950 – $3900 AUD
Size Range: XXS – XXL + custom sizing options
For More Slow Fashion Content:
4. Wear Your Love
Wear Your Love creates feminine, effortless dresses in their Northern California studio that are — in contrast to the majority of wedding dresses on the market — actually comfortable! The brand’s free-spirited designs are made with soft, earth-minded fabrics like organic cotton and each dress is made to order for each bride to their exact measurements.
There are also customizations available for each eco-friendly wedding dress such as train or no train, skirt or sleeve linings, back coverage, skirt style, and more.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, made-to-order model, locally and transparently made
Price Range: $680 – $1,700
Size Range: N/A; dresses are made to your measurements
5. Larimeloom
Based in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Larimeloom crafts exceptional custom-made dresses by hand in their atelier. The brand creates comfortable minimalist dresses from durable natural fabrics and colors them with natural or non-toxic dyes.
Larimeloom has also implemented zero waste design techniques, cutting their patterns strategically in order to minimize fabric waste.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, zero-waste designs, natural fabrics and dyes
Price Range: 650€ – 2,650€
Size Range: XS – XL
6. Sister Organics
Sourcing quality earth-friendly natural fabrics like organic hemp and cotton, Sister Organics creates classic, eco-friendly wedding dresses for UK-based brides.
Each dress is made to order in England, so you can select a pre-defined size, customize the length of a size, or get an entirely different dress made for your measurements.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, made-to-order model
Price Range: £125 – £390
Size Range: XXS – XXL + custom sizing
7. Indiebride London
Indiebride’s vintage-inspired sustainable wedding dresses are delicate and romantic yet free-spirited, offering a unique collection for the bride that wants to skip the conventional wedding gown and choose a piece that fits their individual style.
The brand’s conscious wedding dresses are handmade in London using majority natural fibers and can be altered or customized to your specifications.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, uses many natural fabrics, locally made
Price Range: £1,200 – £1,700
Size Range: 8 – 16 (UK sizes)
More Resources For Your Eco Wedding:
10 Secondhand Wedding Dress Sites for the Eco Bride
7 Ethical Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement and Wedding Rings
17 Brands with Conscious Dresses (great options for bridesmaid dresses in here!)
The post 7 Best Sustainable Wedding Dresses for Your Special Day appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
A Tiny Caribbean Island Sued the Netherlands Over Climate Change, and Won
Greenpeace organisations to appeal USD $345 million court judgment in Energy Transfer’s intimidation lawsuit
Renewable Energy Concepts Can’t Violate the Laws of Physics
-
Greenhouse Gases7 months ago
Guest post: Why China is still building new coal – and when it might stop
-
Climate Change7 months ago
Guest post: Why China is still building new coal – and when it might stop
-
Greenhouse Gases2 years ago嘉宾来稿：满足中国增长的用电需求 光伏加储能“比新建煤电更实惠”
-
Climate Change2 years ago
Bill Discounting Climate Change in Florida’s Energy Policy Awaits DeSantis’ Approval
-
Climate Change2 years ago
Spanish-language misinformation on renewable energy spreads online, report shows
-
Climate Change2 years ago嘉宾来稿：满足中国增长的用电需求 光伏加储能“比新建煤电更实惠”
-
Climate Change Videos2 years ago
The toxic gas flares fuelling Nigeria’s climate change – BBC News
-
Carbon Footprint2 years agoUS SEC’s Climate Disclosure Rules Spur Renewed Interest in Carbon Credits