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The Advertiser
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- The Advertiser
There's history in that old pair of cargo pants
This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to The small hole on the seam gave pause. I realised this faithful pair of cargo pants had lasted longer than World War II. Their roomy pockets carried the daily essentials. Phone, wallet, glasses, notebook and pen were all accommodated. Even the tiny drone for sneaky aerial snapshots. I've lived in them for years, through overseas adventures and chores in the garden, through fire and flood. And, once that hole is patched, I'll live in them for a few more. They're the polar opposite of fast fashion. Indeed, they're not fashionable at all. But for practicality and durability, they can't be beaten. They weren't cheap but their longevity confirms the old adage that you get what you pay for. They also point to the false economy that is fast fashion. Clothing waste is a global issue. In Australia alone, we produce about 300,000 tonnes of it each year. Some is recycled, some is exported but a lot of it ends up in landfill. The fashion industry is responsible for about 10 per cent of the microplastics which end up in our oceans. It accounts for about 20 per cent of the world's wastewater. estimates the water required to make one T-shirt in enough to slake one person's thirst for 900 days. In Chile's Atacama Desert, the mountain of discarded clothing is so huge, it's visible from space. A lot of it comes from the US, where it's estimated a garment is worn only seven to 10 times on average before it's discarded. That's a reduction in, say, a shirt's lifespan of 35 per cent in 15 years. Stumbling on this information reminded me of a face-palm moment in the newsroom some years ago. A young reporter was agonising over what to wear to an upcoming social event. "Didn't you buy a new dress a couple of weeks ago?" I asked her. "Oh, I couldn't possibly wear that," she replied. "I've already socialled it." A handful of Instagram likes and the frock was made redundant. A riffle through my wardrobe revealed a snapshot of recent history. Gone were the pre-COVID business shirts and ties, the suits and the shiny shoes - thanks to working from home, the corporate armour is now superfluous. In their place, a colourful collection of Hawaiian shirts, shorts and one linen suit bought on a whim from a tailor in Thailand for summer. Sweaters and coats for winter. And cargo pants. Apart from the Hawaiian shirts, which get a couple of workouts a year in Asia, and a toasty warm, safety yellow parka bought for me as a present, every item is getting on and yet I feel no compulsion to replace them. Not even the same type of cargo pants as the old trusties, recently offered at a discount, could sway me. Vowing instead to patch the hole, I realised I've embraced slow fashion. And that's liberating. HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you have a favourite item of clothing you've worn for years? Is quality more important than price? As you've grown older, have you changed your clothes burying habits? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - A man has been taken into custody as part of an investigation into the whereabouts of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop, almost three weeks after her "suspicious" disappearance. - Independent Nicolette Boele has claimed the last remaining seat of the federal election after winning a closely fought recount for the Sydney electorate of Bradfield. - A shaky public spending handover has stalled Australia's post-COVID-19 recovery, with economic growth slowing to 0.2 per cent in the first three months of the year. THEY SAID IT: "Buy less. Choose well. Make it last. Quality, not quantity. Everybody's buying far too many clothes." - Vivienne Westwood YOU SAID IT: The best winter escape, wrote John, is a pile of good books. Grant has some kind words: "I don't know if you're writing the Great Australian Novel but your beautiful and evocative account of the joys of winter indicates you should! Your respectful use of our language is appreciated, and should be shared on a broader canvas." Jan is reading Flinders by Grantlee Kieza, about the exploits of Matthew Flinders. She, too, has noticed winter changing: "Winter is rapidly becoming all too brief as the years go by. I love the reprieve from the stifling, relentless and parching heat of summer and the (albeit diminishing) promise of snow in the mountains not too far away. In 2024, we had four weeks of barely usable snow cover instead of the traditional four months of a decade or more ago." Ancient Rome has Ros captivated. Like John, she is engrossed in a Tom Holland history, Rubicon, about the decline of the Roman republic: "It is chilling indeed to see the clear parallels between the dying days of the Roman Republic and what is happening in a contemporary Republic with worldwide influence and impact." Ian reads all year round, for at least an hour a day. "At the moment, I'm halfway through Mawson by Peter FitzSimons. A beautifully written and rollicking yarn, it is best appreciated being read in the middle of a Canberra winter with the heating turned off and all the windows open." This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to The small hole on the seam gave pause. I realised this faithful pair of cargo pants had lasted longer than World War II. Their roomy pockets carried the daily essentials. Phone, wallet, glasses, notebook and pen were all accommodated. Even the tiny drone for sneaky aerial snapshots. I've lived in them for years, through overseas adventures and chores in the garden, through fire and flood. And, once that hole is patched, I'll live in them for a few more. They're the polar opposite of fast fashion. Indeed, they're not fashionable at all. But for practicality and durability, they can't be beaten. They weren't cheap but their longevity confirms the old adage that you get what you pay for. They also point to the false economy that is fast fashion. Clothing waste is a global issue. In Australia alone, we produce about 300,000 tonnes of it each year. Some is recycled, some is exported but a lot of it ends up in landfill. The fashion industry is responsible for about 10 per cent of the microplastics which end up in our oceans. It accounts for about 20 per cent of the world's wastewater. estimates the water required to make one T-shirt in enough to slake one person's thirst for 900 days. In Chile's Atacama Desert, the mountain of discarded clothing is so huge, it's visible from space. A lot of it comes from the US, where it's estimated a garment is worn only seven to 10 times on average before it's discarded. That's a reduction in, say, a shirt's lifespan of 35 per cent in 15 years. Stumbling on this information reminded me of a face-palm moment in the newsroom some years ago. A young reporter was agonising over what to wear to an upcoming social event. "Didn't you buy a new dress a couple of weeks ago?" I asked her. "Oh, I couldn't possibly wear that," she replied. "I've already socialled it." A handful of Instagram likes and the frock was made redundant. A riffle through my wardrobe revealed a snapshot of recent history. Gone were the pre-COVID business shirts and ties, the suits and the shiny shoes - thanks to working from home, the corporate armour is now superfluous. In their place, a colourful collection of Hawaiian shirts, shorts and one linen suit bought on a whim from a tailor in Thailand for summer. Sweaters and coats for winter. And cargo pants. Apart from the Hawaiian shirts, which get a couple of workouts a year in Asia, and a toasty warm, safety yellow parka bought for me as a present, every item is getting on and yet I feel no compulsion to replace them. Not even the same type of cargo pants as the old trusties, recently offered at a discount, could sway me. Vowing instead to patch the hole, I realised I've embraced slow fashion. And that's liberating. HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you have a favourite item of clothing you've worn for years? Is quality more important than price? As you've grown older, have you changed your clothes burying habits? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - A man has been taken into custody as part of an investigation into the whereabouts of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop, almost three weeks after her "suspicious" disappearance. - Independent Nicolette Boele has claimed the last remaining seat of the federal election after winning a closely fought recount for the Sydney electorate of Bradfield. - A shaky public spending handover has stalled Australia's post-COVID-19 recovery, with economic growth slowing to 0.2 per cent in the first three months of the year. THEY SAID IT: "Buy less. Choose well. Make it last. Quality, not quantity. Everybody's buying far too many clothes." - Vivienne Westwood YOU SAID IT: The best winter escape, wrote John, is a pile of good books. Grant has some kind words: "I don't know if you're writing the Great Australian Novel but your beautiful and evocative account of the joys of winter indicates you should! Your respectful use of our language is appreciated, and should be shared on a broader canvas." Jan is reading Flinders by Grantlee Kieza, about the exploits of Matthew Flinders. She, too, has noticed winter changing: "Winter is rapidly becoming all too brief as the years go by. I love the reprieve from the stifling, relentless and parching heat of summer and the (albeit diminishing) promise of snow in the mountains not too far away. In 2024, we had four weeks of barely usable snow cover instead of the traditional four months of a decade or more ago." Ancient Rome has Ros captivated. Like John, she is engrossed in a Tom Holland history, Rubicon, about the decline of the Roman republic: "It is chilling indeed to see the clear parallels between the dying days of the Roman Republic and what is happening in a contemporary Republic with worldwide influence and impact." Ian reads all year round, for at least an hour a day. "At the moment, I'm halfway through Mawson by Peter FitzSimons. A beautifully written and rollicking yarn, it is best appreciated being read in the middle of a Canberra winter with the heating turned off and all the windows open." This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to The small hole on the seam gave pause. I realised this faithful pair of cargo pants had lasted longer than World War II. Their roomy pockets carried the daily essentials. Phone, wallet, glasses, notebook and pen were all accommodated. Even the tiny drone for sneaky aerial snapshots. I've lived in them for years, through overseas adventures and chores in the garden, through fire and flood. And, once that hole is patched, I'll live in them for a few more. They're the polar opposite of fast fashion. Indeed, they're not fashionable at all. But for practicality and durability, they can't be beaten. They weren't cheap but their longevity confirms the old adage that you get what you pay for. They also point to the false economy that is fast fashion. Clothing waste is a global issue. In Australia alone, we produce about 300,000 tonnes of it each year. Some is recycled, some is exported but a lot of it ends up in landfill. The fashion industry is responsible for about 10 per cent of the microplastics which end up in our oceans. It accounts for about 20 per cent of the world's wastewater. estimates the water required to make one T-shirt in enough to slake one person's thirst for 900 days. In Chile's Atacama Desert, the mountain of discarded clothing is so huge, it's visible from space. A lot of it comes from the US, where it's estimated a garment is worn only seven to 10 times on average before it's discarded. That's a reduction in, say, a shirt's lifespan of 35 per cent in 15 years. Stumbling on this information reminded me of a face-palm moment in the newsroom some years ago. A young reporter was agonising over what to wear to an upcoming social event. "Didn't you buy a new dress a couple of weeks ago?" I asked her. "Oh, I couldn't possibly wear that," she replied. "I've already socialled it." A handful of Instagram likes and the frock was made redundant. A riffle through my wardrobe revealed a snapshot of recent history. Gone were the pre-COVID business shirts and ties, the suits and the shiny shoes - thanks to working from home, the corporate armour is now superfluous. In their place, a colourful collection of Hawaiian shirts, shorts and one linen suit bought on a whim from a tailor in Thailand for summer. Sweaters and coats for winter. And cargo pants. Apart from the Hawaiian shirts, which get a couple of workouts a year in Asia, and a toasty warm, safety yellow parka bought for me as a present, every item is getting on and yet I feel no compulsion to replace them. Not even the same type of cargo pants as the old trusties, recently offered at a discount, could sway me. Vowing instead to patch the hole, I realised I've embraced slow fashion. And that's liberating. HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you have a favourite item of clothing you've worn for years? Is quality more important than price? As you've grown older, have you changed your clothes burying habits? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - A man has been taken into custody as part of an investigation into the whereabouts of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop, almost three weeks after her "suspicious" disappearance. - Independent Nicolette Boele has claimed the last remaining seat of the federal election after winning a closely fought recount for the Sydney electorate of Bradfield. - A shaky public spending handover has stalled Australia's post-COVID-19 recovery, with economic growth slowing to 0.2 per cent in the first three months of the year. THEY SAID IT: "Buy less. Choose well. Make it last. Quality, not quantity. Everybody's buying far too many clothes." - Vivienne Westwood YOU SAID IT: The best winter escape, wrote John, is a pile of good books. Grant has some kind words: "I don't know if you're writing the Great Australian Novel but your beautiful and evocative account of the joys of winter indicates you should! Your respectful use of our language is appreciated, and should be shared on a broader canvas." Jan is reading Flinders by Grantlee Kieza, about the exploits of Matthew Flinders. She, too, has noticed winter changing: "Winter is rapidly becoming all too brief as the years go by. I love the reprieve from the stifling, relentless and parching heat of summer and the (albeit diminishing) promise of snow in the mountains not too far away. In 2024, we had four weeks of barely usable snow cover instead of the traditional four months of a decade or more ago." Ancient Rome has Ros captivated. Like John, she is engrossed in a Tom Holland history, Rubicon, about the decline of the Roman republic: "It is chilling indeed to see the clear parallels between the dying days of the Roman Republic and what is happening in a contemporary Republic with worldwide influence and impact." Ian reads all year round, for at least an hour a day. "At the moment, I'm halfway through Mawson by Peter FitzSimons. A beautifully written and rollicking yarn, it is best appreciated being read in the middle of a Canberra winter with the heating turned off and all the windows open." This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to The small hole on the seam gave pause. I realised this faithful pair of cargo pants had lasted longer than World War II. Their roomy pockets carried the daily essentials. Phone, wallet, glasses, notebook and pen were all accommodated. Even the tiny drone for sneaky aerial snapshots. I've lived in them for years, through overseas adventures and chores in the garden, through fire and flood. And, once that hole is patched, I'll live in them for a few more. They're the polar opposite of fast fashion. Indeed, they're not fashionable at all. But for practicality and durability, they can't be beaten. They weren't cheap but their longevity confirms the old adage that you get what you pay for. They also point to the false economy that is fast fashion. Clothing waste is a global issue. In Australia alone, we produce about 300,000 tonnes of it each year. Some is recycled, some is exported but a lot of it ends up in landfill. The fashion industry is responsible for about 10 per cent of the microplastics which end up in our oceans. It accounts for about 20 per cent of the world's wastewater. estimates the water required to make one T-shirt in enough to slake one person's thirst for 900 days. In Chile's Atacama Desert, the mountain of discarded clothing is so huge, it's visible from space. A lot of it comes from the US, where it's estimated a garment is worn only seven to 10 times on average before it's discarded. That's a reduction in, say, a shirt's lifespan of 35 per cent in 15 years. Stumbling on this information reminded me of a face-palm moment in the newsroom some years ago. A young reporter was agonising over what to wear to an upcoming social event. "Didn't you buy a new dress a couple of weeks ago?" I asked her. "Oh, I couldn't possibly wear that," she replied. "I've already socialled it." A handful of Instagram likes and the frock was made redundant. A riffle through my wardrobe revealed a snapshot of recent history. Gone were the pre-COVID business shirts and ties, the suits and the shiny shoes - thanks to working from home, the corporate armour is now superfluous. In their place, a colourful collection of Hawaiian shirts, shorts and one linen suit bought on a whim from a tailor in Thailand for summer. Sweaters and coats for winter. And cargo pants. Apart from the Hawaiian shirts, which get a couple of workouts a year in Asia, and a toasty warm, safety yellow parka bought for me as a present, every item is getting on and yet I feel no compulsion to replace them. Not even the same type of cargo pants as the old trusties, recently offered at a discount, could sway me. Vowing instead to patch the hole, I realised I've embraced slow fashion. And that's liberating. HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you have a favourite item of clothing you've worn for years? Is quality more important than price? As you've grown older, have you changed your clothes burying habits? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - A man has been taken into custody as part of an investigation into the whereabouts of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop, almost three weeks after her "suspicious" disappearance. - Independent Nicolette Boele has claimed the last remaining seat of the federal election after winning a closely fought recount for the Sydney electorate of Bradfield. - A shaky public spending handover has stalled Australia's post-COVID-19 recovery, with economic growth slowing to 0.2 per cent in the first three months of the year. THEY SAID IT: "Buy less. Choose well. Make it last. Quality, not quantity. Everybody's buying far too many clothes." - Vivienne Westwood YOU SAID IT: The best winter escape, wrote John, is a pile of good books. Grant has some kind words: "I don't know if you're writing the Great Australian Novel but your beautiful and evocative account of the joys of winter indicates you should! Your respectful use of our language is appreciated, and should be shared on a broader canvas." Jan is reading Flinders by Grantlee Kieza, about the exploits of Matthew Flinders. She, too, has noticed winter changing: "Winter is rapidly becoming all too brief as the years go by. I love the reprieve from the stifling, relentless and parching heat of summer and the (albeit diminishing) promise of snow in the mountains not too far away. In 2024, we had four weeks of barely usable snow cover instead of the traditional four months of a decade or more ago." Ancient Rome has Ros captivated. Like John, she is engrossed in a Tom Holland history, Rubicon, about the decline of the Roman republic: "It is chilling indeed to see the clear parallels between the dying days of the Roman Republic and what is happening in a contemporary Republic with worldwide influence and impact." Ian reads all year round, for at least an hour a day. "At the moment, I'm halfway through Mawson by Peter FitzSimons. A beautifully written and rollicking yarn, it is best appreciated being read in the middle of a Canberra winter with the heating turned off and all the windows open."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Experts raise red flag over 'double-wall challenges' fueling fashion industry: 'The employer will not pay them the dues'
An official with the largest federation of trade unions in Fiji is speaking out about a difficult dilemma workers are facing in the underpaid garment industry. Jotika Gounder-Sharma, an official with the Fiji Trades Union Congress, spoke with RNZ Pacific about the "double-wall challenges" that the FTUC experiences when trying to connect with workers in the garment industry. Most of those workers are women who are paid less than Fiji's minimum wage, which initially rose to around $2 USD per hour for most industries after lobbying by the federation. The FTUC also fights to eliminate forced, compulsory, and child labor while working to prevent discrimination and seeking freedom of association and collective bargaining. Gounder-Sharma pointed to one factory in which union membership dropped drastically amid high fees and management policies that made workers feel unsafe joining the organization. "This can be said for other companies as well, where the workers feel that it is about their job security, which matters more than them being part of the unions," Gounder-Sharma told RNZ Pacific. Gounder-Sharma added that supervisors sometimes mislead employees about their rights to join a union, with migrant workers who feared deportation being especially vulnerable. "The employer will not pay them the dues that they are supposed to receive as per their contract," Gounder-Sharma said. "So they stay within their own community groups, and they are reluctant to engage with the union. They are reluctant even to talk to the local people." While the fast-fashion industry is a money-maker — expected to be worth $179.50 billion by the end of the decade after having a market size of $60.5 billion in 2022, per Zion Market Research — those dollars often come at the expense of the workers who make the garments. Not even 2% of the 75 million fast-fashion workers earn a living wage, according to George Washington University, even as they are exposed to thousands of toxic chemicals, including ones associated with cancer. What should the government do about the fast fashion industry? Set strict regulations Incentivize sustainable options Use both regulations and incentives Nothing Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Others face unethical working hours or life-threatening code violations, among other things, and remain impoverished as brands push to deliver mass volumes of low-cost, trendy clothing. The consequences of fast-fashion business practices negatively impact our wider communities as well, even if the workers are the ones taking the brunt of the problem. The world tosses the equivalent of a garbage truck full of clothes each second, per These textiles end up in landfills or incinerators, leaching toxins into our waterways and soil and releasing harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. Gounder-Sharma told RNZ Pacific that the FTUC is continuing to push for a higher minimum wage in Fiji for all workers and fighting to ensure garment workers are included. The Minister of Finance announced a $5 per hour minimum wage in the last budget address after the FTUC asked for $6, and the federation is now advocating for an $8 per hour living wage. As part of its efforts, the FTUC has teamed up with UnionAID to educate workers about their rights, secure better pay and conditions, and raise awareness about their plight. "We really have had to push hard to ensure that the workers come up with the issues that they are facing inside," Gounder-Sharma said. "Otherwise we are not able to help them, and this has only been made possible by the UnionAID's project." Ultimately, while several fast-fashion companies have marketed themselves as more eco-friendly and ethical than they may actually be, many people are beginning to wave goodbye to fast fashion and invest in high-quality apparel or hunt for secondhand gems. For example, DoneGood's ethical marketplace is one tool empowering consumers to use their purchasing power for good. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Investigators make upsetting discovery about unexpected impacts of hurricanes months after the fact: 'Anything that that water touches ... has to be discarded'
Recovering from a natural disaster is a difficult and expensive process. The impact of a hurricane is felt weeks, often months, afterwards. One of the consequences is dealing with the vast amount of debris created by the disaster. A Washington Post investigation tracked the ultimate destination of debris from Treasure Island, Florida, caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The two Category 4 hurricanes devastated Florida's Gulf Coast in September and October 2024. Helene caused $55 billion in damage and 232 fatalities. Milton had a higher economic cost of $60 billion, but fortunately, a substantially lower toll of 25 deaths, per It wasn't just financial and human losses; the environment also suffered immensely. As the Washington Post reported, the 1.5-square-mile community in Treasure Island generated enough disaster debris to fill two million trash bags. The article tracked the progress of three waste items using electronic tags. The first, an office chair from a local spa, was hopelessly contaminated by Category 3 water. Otherwise known as "black water," Category 3 water is the most dangerous type of water damage, signified by exposure to toxins and pathogens. As the spa's owner told the Washington Post, "Anything that that water touches … has to be discarded." Worryingly, the contaminated chair was mistakenly sent to a municipal waste facility in Pinellas County. The other items were a motorized scooter that was damaged beyond repair and ultimately sold for scrap, and a satellite receiver that was initially stored in a nearby park until it could be picked up. The story highlights one of the overlooked aspects of disaster management. Treasure Island's Community Park became a temporary landfill for the debris. Even months after the disaster, the clean-up is still ongoing. Managing municipal waste in normal circumstances is challenging enough, but natural disasters exacerbate the problem. Additionally, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration points out, hurricanes cause marine debris that contaminates the water supply and devastates wildlife by displacing them and disrupting their food sources. While nothing can be done to stop a hurricane from making landfall, some steps can be taken to minimize the impact. The NOAA recommends moving any loose outdoor items indoors and securing the lids of trash and recycling bins to prevent them from blowing open. What would you do if natural disasters were threatening your home? Move somewhere else Reinforce my home Nothing This is happening already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. In the longer term, taking the issue seriously and working to reduce plastic waste is vital. Ultimately, as warming temperatures lead to more frequent and severe extreme events, transitioning to clean, renewable energy sources is the optimal long-term solution, as dirty fuels produce the majority of the heat-trapping pollution linked to an overheating planet. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
US government pulls funding for critical projects meant to protect communities: 'Now we have a bigger wedge to fill'
Boston is racing against the clock to prepare for higher tides, stronger storms, and rising floodwaters. But a major funding cut just made that mission harder — and put key coastal communities at risk — as reported by the Boston Globe. Two of Boston's key coastal resilience projects — Moakley Park in South Boston and Tenean Beach in Dorchester — just lost millions in federal support. The funding, part of a disaster preparedness grant program, was scrapped due to spending cuts initiated by the current administration. According to the Globe, the state of Massachusetts expected around $90 million from the program, including $23 million for Moakley Park and a proposed $12 million for Tenean Beach. Cities like Chelsea and Everett had also been counting on the funding mechanism for projects aimed at protecting against floods. Now all of them are left searching for alternatives. Despite the blow, city leaders are forging ahead. "This is not delaying anything that the city of Boston has underway," Brian Swett, Boston's chief climate officer, told the paper. And yet, "it does present a challenge that now we have a bigger wedge to fill in terms of construction [costs]." The area, like so many coastal communities, is already vulnerable to the surges and floods that are intensifying with rising global temperatures brought on by heat-trapping pollution. As NBC10 Boston noted, less-than-stable landfill underlies one-sixth of the city. And the waterfront is already showing signs of strain. A map at shows that sea levels in the region have risen about a foot since 1921, and a 2022 report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted they would rise another foot by 2050. Without resilient infrastructure and innovative solutions, neighborhoods risk frequent flooding, public transit disruptions, and property damage. And it's not just Boston. Dozens of towns across Massachusetts and across the United States — many without deep budgets or staff capacity — are now scrambling to rethink their flood protection plans in the wake of federal cuts. Similar cuts have defunded climate-related work in other countries as well. Boston says it isn't backing down from needed preparations. Instead, it's pushing ahead with a $250 million redesign of Moakley Park, which, as local outlet Caught in Southie describes, is "being redesigned not just as a green space but as a kind of sponge—to absorb stormwater and buffer the surrounding neighborhoods." Officials say they're exploring other funding options and are optimistic support will come through. "We're going to continue to do everything we can to make sure something comes from Washington," Swett told the Globe. "I don't think this is the end of the federal story of investment in this project." Do you think your city has good air quality? Definitely Somewhat Depends on the time of year Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. But the region is also investing in itself. NBC10 said Boston has "set aside $75 million of its own for climate resilience." There's urgency because, as the state's energy and environmental affairs secretary Rebecca Tepper noted in a mid-April statement, each grant application, each grant award, each funding cut "represents a neighborhood that needs support." State lawmakers across the U.S. continue to propose and plan for climate resilience work. And it's not only to reduce threats to the environment and human life, but to get ahead of the massive costs of future damage and destruction. Some federal and state programs are continuing to fund this work too. Municipalities and individuals can consider tapping into tax rebates and credits tied to the Inflation Reduction Act to support community- and household-level climate adaptation. It's worth noting, meanwhile, that the Trump administration has signalled an intention to end these programs, so anyone hoping to benefit from them might consider acting sooner rather than later. Ending the IRA, though, would legally require an act of Congress. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Photographer in disbelief after eerie beach discovery raises questions: 'I recovered clothing ... from different eras'
A photographer used her craft to document how fast fashion is rapidly becoming a danger to the environment. Mandy Barker has spent the last decade and a half using her art as a way to increase awareness about plastic pollution on the coast of the United Kingdom. The effects of fast fashion waste are explored in her latest book, "Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Imperfections." Barker started the project after mistaking a piece of cloth for seaweed. She eventually recovered 200 seaweed-like fabric samples of waste clothing from 121 beaches along the coast. The photographer said the damaged textile samples are the type of synthetic clothing that often contributes to plastic pollution in the sea. "I didn't only find socks or items that could have been left by someone visiting the beach," Barker said. "I recovered clothing identified from different eras like the 1970s." The fashion industry is a major contributor to environmental harm. According to Business Insider, the fashion industry produces 10% of all carbon pollution. It's also the second-largest consumer of the world's water supply. Fast fashion refers to trendy, low-quality clothing that is quickly produced and sold to consumers at affordable prices. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, 35% of microplastics found in the ocean come from synthetic fabrics that are often used for fast fashion. The rapid production of fast fashion is responsible for massive amounts of waste. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said the main source of textiles in municipal solid waste is discarded clothing. Around 92 million tons of clothes-related waste are discarded every year, per In an effort to curb the effects of fast fashion, the United Nations launched an initiative called the Alliance for Sustainable Fashion. The U.N. said the alliance is committed to reducing the negative environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry. There's also the slow fashion movement. Slow fashion is dedicated to reducing overproduction and overconsumption and urges consumers to shift from quantity to quality. Consumers can save hundreds of dollars by breaking up with fast fashion. Consider shopping at thrift stores or browsing resale platforms such as ThredUp to find more durable secondhand clothing. What should the government do about the fast fashion industry? Set strict regulations Incentivize sustainable options Use both regulations and incentives Nothing Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
