Eddie Ahn has been an environmental justice attorney for more than 15 years. In his work as the executive director of Brightline Defense, he and his group have ensured that the offshore wind, building decarbonization and increase in electric vehicles happening in California will benefit underserved and low-income communities in the region. In recognition of his efforts, he was inducted into the California Energy Commission’s Clean Energy Hall of Fame in 2021, and had a tree planted in his honor in Sacramento.
Eddie Ahn’s author photo
More recently, Ahn became a published author. His graphic novel Advocate: A Graphic Memoir of Family, Community, and the Fight for Environmental Justice tells many stories, including that of his family’s liquor store business in Texas, his journey away from that future and into the world of nonprofits, and even a detour into his time as a poker player. But much of the text focuses on his environmental justice work. “I’m trying to explain nonprofit work and even what it means to work against something as catastrophic as climate change,” Ahn told EcoWatch.
An excerpt from Eddie Ahn’s new graphic novel
Are you trying to demystify what nonprofit work is? And what might you say are some of the more unrecognized aspects of environmental justice and climate work?
I did want to use the medium itself as a storytelling vehicle to explain this career. You know, the nonprofit world is very hard work. It can be a lot of repetition. It can be a lot of menial tasks. But I’d like to think in trying to do all those aspects of work, that one becomes intimately connected to the notion of labor, what it means to serve communities.
A lot of what I do at Brightline is extremely lean. I think one theme in the book is essentially my cheerfulness around work, being willing to do it all and then of course, recognizing there are limits to that, too, that one person can only do so much as well. And there’s a larger reflection in the book about not needing to be superhuman as well.
How rewarding is your nonprofit work for you?
I hope the reader gets a sense that even the joy of discovering different communities, of getting to learn different stories, different perspectives, it’s not common in a lot of other jobs. I’ve been able to, for instance, talk with Doctor Espanola Jackson, the community leader who’s represented in the book, who worked in Bayview – Hunter’s Point for a very long time, and that she was generous, you know, to spend time with me.
She took me under her wing and then essentially shared a lot of stories in her own experiences. She was extremely generous with her time, in other words. And, yeah, I don’t think that happens in a lot of other occupations. That is the joy – to be able to meet different community members and then, be a part of their lives in ways that one would normally would not be able to be.
Would you tell us how important locality and community is to you, and how that’s reflected in the book?
One thing I really wanted to heavily represent in the book is a sense of place, and that’s why I think comics was a unique medium to try to explore environmental justice. A lot of maps are featured in the book that give the reader a sense of, where are we? The expanse of the Bay area, public transit systems, those are all aspects I wanted to literally draw out and so that the reader can be a part of it. There’s a certain kind of Tolkienesque joy you get from it, too. That’s where we’ve been and this is where we’re going, that sense of a journey as well.
There’s a phrase in the book – “I believe in empowered communities, sustainable environments.” Can you elaborate on what you mean by that?
I’ve always tried to avoid getting into a rut of feeling like I have to fix everything or solve everything. I think of the broader arc of what needs to be done to even address climate change.
It does require a lot of communities working in collaboration with each other and essentially getting on the same page to address something as widespread and catastrophic as the climate change that events that are happening now. To empower communities really comes from a sense of giving communities the tools they need to try to address environmental issues and equity issues for themselves.
The sustainable environments portion was really trying to look at aspects of those solutions and then figuring out, okay, is this really a sustainable solution? I’ll give you an example. One subject matter we work on a lot is offshore wind. This is about wind turbines that are being proposed, off the coasts of the United States, but potentially on the Gulf and Great Lakes. The hope is that it’s not just building technology for technology’s sake. Are we connecting these turbines to the right kind of grids? Are we making sure that the hundreds of millions of dollars that are going to flow through these projects, can local communities even share in those benefits, whether it’s jobs or community benefits? Part of it is trying to look at it with that equity lens at the end of the day, and then pushing the envelope around, how can we do better?
Going back to the empowered community’s piece, we should always be trying to understand what local communities want and then honoring that to some degree. Trying to understand, here are the gaps that exist in local communities, and here are the needs that can be addressed, the introduction of this new technology. I do think there’s a broader issue in the environmental movement of feeling disconnected from the solutions that are being proposed.
You’ve worked on three different regional commissions in the San Francisco area. In the book, you mention how hard it is to make decisions, even in the context of climate change, on these commissions. How so?
One of the things I’ve had to learn as a commissioner is to consume lots of information. Particularly around something like transportation, where the policy pieces are very complex. The gist is you can get lost in the sea of information. I think if there’s one good thing out of my legal training that I can talk about more and more nowadays is that it did prepare me to consume lots of lots of information and parse it quickly.
Could you tell us about the electrical box art that you created that you mention in the book? (Ahn’s vinyl wrap art is on 10 electrical boxes throughout San Francisco.)
I’ve been surprised they’ve lasted this long. They survived a lot of climate change events like bomb cyclone storms, heat waves and wildfire ash.
What would you say is the best way to tackle climate change? What’s the strategy from your point of view?
Well, it is a huge question. I think it’s a question of scale, it’s a question of timing and urgency. You can, in theory, organize all the people and all the different government agencies and communities to work together. But if you get there in 50 years’ time, it’s probably too late. Given the way climate change events are happening now, it seems to be that’s where we’re headed. It’s tough to be an optimist. But getting people more connected on the ground to what’s happening at the federal government is key to address these issues.
Part of it is just a humbling realization that there’s no single solution to it all, whether it’s a piece of legislation or a key technology, there’s no magical solution that will ever solve something like this.
For example – my father, as you know from the last chapter, has been going through a series of health issues that aren’t clearly defined. It just seems like a regression into a worse and worse state. But you do what you can, you manage the situation to and if that’s as good as it gets, you make your peace with it.
I hope that’s not the case for climate change. I’d like to think we can get to enough solutions and ideas that can get us to a much better state than where we’re heading toward. And that’s why I continue to do the work that I’m doing right now.
The post ‘My Cheerfulness Around Work’: Speaking With Environmental Justice Attorney and Graphic Novelist Eddie Ahn appeared first on EcoWatch.
https://www.ecowatch.com/eddie-ahn-interview-ecowatch.html
Today’s quote is from author Ken Webster and philanthropist Ellen MacArthur: “Ordered, complex, intertwined mutually interdependent systems are the new normal.”
Humanity is learning to mimic nature. As we embrace complexity, humanity can evolve new solutions to providing itself food, shelter, and waste elimination.
Ken Webster wrote The Circular Economy: A Wealth of Flows, which was edited by Ellen MacArthur, founder of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a charity committed to creating a circular economy.
Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day.
This poster was originally published on June 21, 2019.
The post Earth911 Inspiration: Complex Is the New Normal appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/living-well-being/earth911-inspiration-complex-is-the-new-normal/
Last Updated on May 14, 2026
Meal planning is a great way to reduce both packaging waste and food waste, because you’re thinking ahead. It can also help keep grocery costs down because you’re actively planning the menu for the week, not making impulse buys.
But a lot of people (myself included) fail at it for one simple reason: We’re thinking about meals and not ingredients.
For example, if my meal plan says Tuesday is lasagna night, how will I know if I’m still craving that by Tuesday? Keeping a flexible meal plan will help you succeed.
Once you have a meal plan you love, you can get to actually prepping your ingredients for the week. Here’s how I create a weekly meal planning system that I can actually stick to. Bonus? My tips for actual meal prep!
meal planning vs. prepping
Lets first take a moment to separate these two terms, as I’ll be talking about both.
Meal planning is simply the act of planning out what you’ll eat for the week. This can be in regards to your breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even snacks.
Meal prepping is when you cook your food for the week in advance. If you’d like to meal prep, it’s a good idea to have a meal plan. However, you don’t have to meal prep to meal plan.
Both help you save money and reduce waste in the long run. For example, lets say you want carrot soup on the menu this week. Knowing the ingredients you need to make it helps you stick to a grocery budget. Plus, you can save even more by using up whatever’s already in your fridge!
RELATED: How I Cut My Grocery Bill to $300 a Month
meal planning
how do you create a meal plan?
The first step is to make a master list of all of your favorite recipes. The ones that you love, the ones your family loves, and most importantly – the ones you know how to cook.
Here are a few of my favorites for inspiration:
- Shepherds Pie
- Burgers
- Mac & Cheese
- Quesadillas
- Fajitas
- Chicken/Eggplant Parm
- Lasagna
- Fried Rice
- Beef/Mushroom and Broccoli
- Cheese Steak/Balsamic Mushroom Subs
- Sloppy Lentil Joes
- Caeser Salad
You can write these on a notepad, on your phone, or on the computer. Refer to this master list whenever you’re planning meals for the week – and don’t be afraid to add meals to it over time.
It’s also a good idea to jot down some of your favorite breakfasts, lunches, and snacks – not just dinner. This will help you better plan your grocery haul for the week ahead.
Try to stick to one particular day to grocery shop every week – be it on Tuesday nights or Saturday mornings. Whatever works for you.
You’ll want to check the calendar and make sure there’s no upcoming events in the week ahead. This will keep you aware which nights you won’t be cooking.
You may also want to factor in weather and seasons – for example, I love eating soup on cold days! But hot days, I’d prefer something lighter, like a tofu stir fry.
Now comes the fun part – actually writing your meals for the week! Make sure you have that master list of recipes you made on hand, then start jotting down what dinners you’d like to eat.
You don’t have to set specific days for when you serve these meals, unless you want to. Feel free to shuffle the meals around, depending on what you’re in the mood for.
Next, make a grocery list based on the meals you’ve written down. You can organize the list into sections of produce, pantry, protein, etc.
For me, proteins will include beans, lentils, seitan and hummus. And for produce, I always try to stick to what’s currently in season – like sweet potatoes in the fall, lettuce in the summer.
Once you’ve done your shopping, you can come home and prep a few items to make your life easier during the week. For example, if one of your recipes calls for kale, having it washed, chopped, and properly stored will make it super easy to add into your cooking.
what about breakfast, lunches and snacks?
For me, breakfast, lunch and snacks are often more consistent than dinner. I could eat a sandwich every single day and be happy.
Peanut butter and jelly with chips was my go-to lunch from elementary to high school. So I’ve decided to lean into that, focusing on simple breakfasts and lunches that keep me full.
Knowing what you like to eat is a good place to start! I love high protein yogurt jars for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, sliced apples, hummus, and chopped veggies for snacks.
If I don’t prep these items ahead of time, I have a bad habit of waiting until 2PM to eat. Which leads to really poor food choices.
If you’re also like this, chances are meal planning and prepping doesn’t have to just begin and end with dinner.
Figure out what it is you struggle with most before deciding which foods, ingredients, and meals to prep for the week. Ask yourself what would be more convenient to have ready to grab-and-go: breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks? Perhaps a combo of the four?
Your job and schedule can also influence this decision. For example, if you’re working from home, you may have more time to whip up breakfast than someone who needs to be at work at 8AM.
meal prepping
I personally like to meal prep ingredients instead of meals to give myself freedom and reduce waste. This helps get food on the table fast.
And always check your fridge and pantry before grocery shopping. Try planning your menu around what’s already available, then grocery shop for the rest of the ingredients you’ll need to complete each dish.
I recommend dedicating 2-3 hours a week to meal prep. You can make it fun by turning on the TV, listening to music or a podcast. For me, meal prepping means peeling and chopping carrots, washing and cooking my vegetables, etc.
However, feel free to make full-on meals if you know you won’t have time otherwise. I’ll do this with my breakfast yogurt jars, veggie sandwiches, and snacks on a Sunday afternoon.
Setup glass snapware to contain whatever it is you’re making, and always ask yourself if you have a carb, a protein, a fat, and fiber. This will keep your meals balanced and help you stay full longer.
And if you’re short on time, just focus on getting your vegetables all washed, chopped, and stored in glass containers. No need to cook anything. This will make your life so much easier when you go to cook after a long day at work.
mistakes to avoid
Here are a few mistakes to avoid when it comes to meal planning and prep:
- Not checking your weekly schedule first.
- Using containers that don’t seal or close properly.
- Making cuisines and recipes outside your comfort zone / your family’s preferences.
- Making servings too big or too small.
- Trying to do it all (maybe start out by prepping just one or two meals for the week instead of all 5 days)
how to keep it budget-friendly
Definitely work with what’s in season! I find that shopping for tomatoes in summer tends to be cheaper than in winter, because there’s an abundance of them.
Always try to prioritize local farmers markets and CSA boxes whenever possible. You can also try growing your own produce, joining a local community garden, or even just doing an herb container garden to save money.
Also, shopping at low-cost grocery stores or farmers markets can help cut costs. Looking for discounts, coupons, and sales is also ideal.
I love shopping the discount section of my grocery store – sometimes they’ll have imperfect produce at half price, and I always scoop that up first.
You’ll want to also prioritize what’s in your fridge already, and what’s about to go bad. Have some sad looking celery? Toss it into a soup for the week. Stale bread? French toast casserole it is for breakfast.
And factor in leftovers too! If you have some rice that needs to be used up, make sure to prioritize a dish in the beginning of the week that requires it.
That goes double for food scraps – don’t toss out all your vegetable ends and peels. You may be able to make them work overtime by making veggie stock for your meal prepping!
You may also be surprised at what’s edible – like beet tops, carrot tops and celery leaves. Here are some other recipes to help you reduce food waste.
benefits of meal prep
There are so many benefits to meal prepping, but the biggest one is peace of mind. You don’t have to think about what you’ll eat every single day, because half (or all!) the work is done for you.
And, if you’re checking your pantry and fridge before meal prep, you’re probably reducing a lot of food waste. Because you’re going to prioritize using up what you have.
Some more benefits to meal prepping include:
- Big time saver.
- Helps prevent drive thru or take out orders because you have food at your fingertips.
- You’ll know exactly what goes into your food.
- Zero waste food, so little to no waste.
Prefer video content? Check out my tips for crushing meal prep below!
What are your meal planning and prepping tips? Let me know in the comments!
The post My Weekly Meal Planning System That Prevents Food Waste appeared first on Going Zero Waste.
Green Living
Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Algenesis & Blueview Launch the Algae-Based Polyurethane Industry
Travel back in time to hear the origin story of Algenesis, which started as two companies in one, a biotechnology innovator and footwear maker. Today, the company is a leading maker of bio-based plastics. In 2023, Algenesis had just begun making a new, sustainable material and found a clever way to prove its utility to get big companies to embrace it. Join the conversation hear why a shoe company was the best a practical application to prove the value of a plant-based, compostable bioplastic foam. Stephen Mayfield, a professor of Biology at UC San Diego and director of the California Center for Algae Biotechnology, invented Soleic, an algae-based rubbery foam material that can be used in footwear, surfboards, and other products in the place of petroleum-based polyurethane foam. He launched Algenesis, a biotechnology-based materials science company to commercialize Soleic.
Note: This article contains affiliate links that help fund our Recycling Directory, the most comprehensive in North America.
But shoe companies did not come running to use Soleic, which biodegrades completely in sea water and compost piles. Along with Algenisis president Tom Cooke, a footwear and apparel industry veteran who had worked for Reef and Vans, Steve launched Blueview Footwear, maker of the world’s first compostable shoe. Steve and Tom join me today to talk about the evolution of Algenesis and Blueview, as well as the many materials Soleic could replace across a variety of product categories. The companies have also developed compostable, plant-based fabrics and a bioplastic waterproofing technology that biodegrades into organic material in a home compost pile. You can learn more about Blueview Footwear at blueviewfootwear.com and its parent company Algenesis Materials at algenesismaterials.com.
- 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 podcast originally aired on February 20, 2023.
The post Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Algenesis & Blueview Launch the Algae-Based Polyurethane Industry appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/podcast/earth911-podcast-algenesis-blueview-launch-the-algae-based-polyurethane-industry/
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