Tear Gas: A Socio-Environmental Take

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A firestorm of protests has swept the United States. In their wake, government leaders have implemented curfews and law enforcement has carried out riot control efforts. The widespread use of tear gas as a crowd-control tactic has raised significant health and safety concerns–not only for those protesting but for the environment as well.

Effects on Individuals

Tear gas quells riots by temporarily making people unable to function by irritating their eyes. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warns that those exposed to tear gas may experience excessive tearing, burning sensations, blurred vision, a runny nose, difficulty swallowing, coughing, rashes, vomiting and redness in the eyes. These symptoms will usually disappear within a short time if the exposure to tear gas ceases. Long-lasting exposure or exposure to a large dose, especially in a closed setting, may result in more severe health effects, such as blindness, glaucoma, chemical burns to the throat and lungs or respiratory failure.

Using tear gas during the COVID-19 pandemic is especially worrisome because it increases a person’s susceptibility to the virus. A study conducted in 2014 found that US military recruits who were exposed to tear gas as part of a training exercise were more likely to develop respiratory illnesses such as the common cold and the flu. One of the immediate health effects of exposure to tear gas is coughing, which facilitates the spread of COVID by increasing the number of infectious droplets in the air. Moreover, tear gas can compromise the body’s ability to fight off the infection by causing injury and inflammation to the lining of the airways.

Effects on the Environment

Tear gas is actually not a gas. It is a chemical powder that is mixed with liquid in order to be dispersed as a spray. Because of its powdered nature, chemical residue is left behind after every spray. In addition tear gas may contain silicon, which allows it to last longer in the environment and not disintegrate as quickly.

Studies about tear gas tend to focus on its health effects on humans, so the environmental impact on wildlife, plants and water, is not well known. However, because its residue settles on surfaces and stays there for days before breaking down, tear gas can contaminate agriculture, local wildlife and groundwater. This puts Black and Latinx communities who live in urban or poor areas especially at risk since they face disproportionately high rates of asthma and respiratory illnesses because of their proximity to factories and industrial sites. The air quality in these communities is often low; therefore, there is a legitimate concern about the potential of tear gas as a harmful contaminant. 

The question, then, is how do we ensure a more discriminate use of tear gas and other chemical weapons, especially during a respiratory illness pandemic? Other cities such as Seattle have temporarily halted its use, but many have yet to reconsider. 
To accelerate reform, individual actions can be taken, such as calling local police departments and demanding a review of their rules and norms regarding tear gas usage or attending city council meetings and raising community awareness of the issue. House Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mark Takano and Chuy Garcia have announced that they will be introducing a bill that forces local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to dispose of all chemical weapons. We must call our local elected officials to amass support for bans on tear gas at the city level. Banning chemical weapons is one of the many steps we must take in this moment to prevent a new wave of COVID-19 and any unforeseen environmental impacts that may disproportionately affect communities of color.

Written by Maria Reyes, Programs Intern

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How to Align Your Banking Services with Your Values

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By Anne Behlouli | Program Manager, The Alliance Center

As we learn how to navigate the far reaching impacts of COVID-19 and work to get to the “other side” of this crisis, we have the chance to ensure things don’t necessarily go back to business as usual. While there are many activities we aren’t able to participate in currently, there are still actions we can do from home to build a more sustainable future. 

Last month, the Rainforest Action Network, Sierra Club and several other nonprofits released the latest version of Banking on Climate Change 2020: a report focused on global banks’ fossil fuel financing. One of the major takeaways is the financing of fossil fuels by banks is on the rise. Since the Paris Agreement in 2016, 35 international banks have not only been sustaining their investments in fossil fuel companies, they have actively expanded it with $2.7 trillion invested. 

To be part of the solution, what actions can we take to relocate our money and support banks that focus on the wellbeing of people and the planet?

Step 1: Check How Your Bank Stacks Up

The annual Banking on Climate Change Report Card ranks banks in order of how much they lend to fossil fuel companies. You can get key insights on what financial institutions to avoid without having to read the entire report!

Step 2: Take Action

There are other banking options worth considering for your checking and saving accounts. Local credit unions are member-owned nonprofits focused on serving the needs of their community. You can actively look for a socially responsible bank utilizing Global Alliance for Banking on Values as a resource. This is an independent network of banks using finance to deliver sustainable economic, social and environmental development.

Finally, if you have a portfolio to invest in, specialized impact investing companies are a valuable resource.You make smarter choices to support innovative companies that are addressing systemic problems and leading long-term economic growth. Oil and gas companies were already facing structural problems even before COVID-19. The recent crash of the oil price demonstrates how volatile the market is and how divesting from fossil fuels is both an ethical and financially-wise decision for the future of your savings.

It’s Up to Each of Us

We each have the opportunity and available resources to evaluate where our money is and which industries it’s currently supporting. If you are looking for a way to take action to support a more resilient future during the time of quarantining, please consider researching your bank and discovering more sustainability-minded options. This small step can make a big difference in reducing the funding of fossil fuels and instead investing in a more equitable future for all.

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FOUR BEST FOR COLORADO COMPANIES LEADING THE WAY

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The Best for Colorado community has demonstrated immense resilience and care during this difficult time and we couldn’t be more appreciative. Here are five Best for Colorado companies that we’d like to highlight:

1.  Montanya Distillers

To help support frontline institutions like, hospital, senior care centers and doctors’ offices, Montanya Distillers, an American rum company, has pivoted their production to make an antiviral surface sanitizer! The distillery is collaborating with the Gunnison County Incident Command Center to distribute the sanitizer to those most in need in their community. In a recent blog post on their webpage they explained, “we believe it’s our duty and responsibility to do what we can to help our community navigate this challenging and uncertain time.”

2.    Ship Sunshine

Every month Ship Sunshine picks a cause to support, and next month’s will be nurses and teachers! Sending these critical workers care packages and giveaways is their way of showing their appreciation and spreading a little sunshine to those who need it most during this difficult time. Ship Sunshine offers a carefully curated collection of gift boxes designed to brighten anyone’s day and you can also build your own gift box on their website. With so many of us needing a little extra care and thought during this turbulent time, Ship Sunshine is definitely helping spread some joy.

3.  Simple Switch

During this time the world has scrambled to online shopping platforms.What makes Simple Switch different from other platforms is their commitment to ethics, labor laws and environmental impact. Their collection of ethical products ensures that your purchase directly makes a positive impact, spanning from environmental innovations to supporting development projects. Lately, they’ve been offering discounts to encourage people to shop online rather than leave their homes. If you’re looking for an alternative to Amazon, for an ecologically and socially conscious e-commerce website, consider Switch Switch. 

4.  Phunkshun Wear

Phunkshun Wear normally manufactures ski masks out of plastic water bottles. Right now, they’re committed to doing their part to slow the spread of coronavirus by donating a mask to the Colorado Mask Project for every mask purchased. Using a mask like theirs can help Colorado communities protect themselves against the spread of the virus, while simultaneously helping ensure that medical workers face no shortage of N95 masks. Governor Jared Polis even appeared on television, wearing a Phunkshun Wear Colorado branded personal hygiene mask, encouraging all Coloradans to wear non-medical protective masks outdoors. 

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Adapting Denver Earth Week 2020

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The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many things about our daily lives, but it hasn’t altered the love we have for this planet. We’re still committed to celebrating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! The Alliance Center is working with a team of partners across the Denver metro region to create a week of celebrations. Once it became clear that it was no longer safe to hold in-person events, we quickly made the shift to virtual engagements. Our idea is to replace gatherings we initially planned with online resources and calls to action so people can remain involved and connected. We are calling this virtual week of engagement Denver Earth Week 2020: Inside Edition. 

Part of this digital transition includes launching a brand–new Climate Bridges podcast! The podcast will premiere on Earth Day, April 22. Our goal is to create an intergenerational bridge – to encourage conversations between leaders of all ages and to learn how civic and climate action can translate to real results during this time of social distancing and beyond. We’ll pair youth climate leaders with veteran climate activists to discuss what drives them, the challenges they face and how they think we can best solve our most pressing problems. The conversations will range from food security to the circular economy, from what we each can do in our own backyards to our global impact as citizens of this earth. Each podcast will end with a call to action – steps you can take after listening to celebrate Earth Day every day. Our first interview will feature Denis Hayes, the organizer of the first Earth Day, and Liliana Flanigan, a high school senior and youth climate activist from Grand Junction, Colorado.

Amid, and in spite of, present challenges please join us in celebrating Earth Week and the 50th Earth Day celebration! Share how you’re celebrating Earth Week with #DenverEarthWeek on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! To learn more, check out Denver Earth Week 2020: Inside Edition to explore various ways you can celebrate our incredible planet.

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Five Climate and Environmental Leaders

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Happy Women’s History Month! My name is Esperanza, and I recently joined the Alliance Center as the Programs and Communications Intern. I was born and raised in Las Cruces, in southern New Mexico. I graduated from Amherst College last year, where I studied Environmental studies and Latin American studies and became especially interested in environmental justice issues. After graduating, I worked abroad for a summer as a research assistant studying Peru’s forest conservation program. After that, I moved to Colorado to be close to family. I found The Alliance Center because of my interest in exploring an environmental career, and because the organization’s holistic view of sustainability especially resonated with me.

Because March is dedicated to celebrating women’s achievements, I’d like to spend some time this month reflecting on the environmental accomplishments made by women around the world.

Climate change will affect all of us, but the poorest and most vulnerable people in our societies will experience especially acute consequences. On a global level, the majority of the world’s poor (70 percent) are women, and poor women continue to face unequal representation in climate-related decision-making processes (IUCN). Despite this, women everywhere are some of the most persevering and effective climate leaders in the world and in their communities.

Today, I would like to honor the work of five incredible women environmentalists and climate leaders who inspire me to believe in and fight for an equitable and sustainable future:   

1.  Wangari Maathai (1940- 2011)

“We cannot tire or give up. We owe it to the present and future generations of all species to rise up and walk!”

Wangari Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her efforts in establishing The  Green Belt Movement in Kenya. The Green Belt Movement began in 1977 as a way to improve rural Kenyan women’s livelihoods, while simultaneously combating environmental degradation, deforestation and food in security. The idea for the movement started off simply – engage women in tree planting – but evolved into a powerful, multi-pronged approach to address issues of equity, democracy and government accountability.

Wangari Maathai’s legacy lives on today as The Green Belt Movement continues to plant trees and work on issues related to climate change, advocacy and gender livelihood issues.

2. Terri Swearingen (born 1956)

“We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to.”

Terri Swearingen, a nurse, led her community and the United States to take action against toxic waste incinerators. When Waste Technology Industries began attempting to construct a waste incinerator in her hometown of Chester, West Virginia, Swearingen became extremely concerned about the health effects this construction would have on her family and community. By 1991 she organized over a thousand residents to protest the construction of the incinerator in West Virginia and went on a nationwide-tour protesting similar constructions around the country. She was arrested in front of the White House for a demonstration in 1992. The day after her arrest, the Clinton administration announced the decision to improve the EPA’s regulations overseeing hazardous waste incinerators, which is what Swearingen had proposed a year earlier. She was awarded the 1997 Goldman Environmental Prize for her achievements as a grassroots environmental hero.

3. Liz Chicaje Churay (born 1982)

“We, the indigenous peoples, are the guardians of Yaguas.” 

Liz Chicaje Churay, an indigenous woman belonging to the Bora community of Pucaurquillo in Peru’s Loreto region, was awarded the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights in 2018 for her contributions to the creation of the Yaguas National Park. Covering over 2 million acres of tropical rainforest, this national park is an amazing global conservation achievement that also uniquely includes a Communal Reserve and acknowledges native peoples. The year before that, in 2017, Liz Chicaje Churay was invited to represent her region’s Federation of Native Communities in the COP 23 in Bonn Germany. In the summer of 2019, I had the immense privilege of visiting her home in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest and listening to her first-hand discuss the critical importance of meaningfully including indigenous peoples’ in conservation and global climate change efforts. Her humility, passion and dedication to the future of her community and our planet inspires me every day.

4.  Ridhima Pandey (born 2008)

“I want a better future. I want to save my future. I want to save our future. I want to save the future of all the children and all people of future generations.”

Ridhima Pandey is a 12-year-old climate activist from Haridwar, India who, alongside Greta Thunberg and 14 other youth activists, filed a petition to protest the lack of international government action on climate change. In addition to being passionate about pushing governments around the world to take meaningful action on the climate crisis, she is also passionate about speaking out against the pervasive use of plastics. Young, outspoken leaders like Ridhima Pnadey, give me immense hope in our future.

5. Kimberly Wasserman- (born 1977)

“My community is my family. They are my boss, my co-worker, my inspiration, my drive, my fight, and I will do my damnedest for them.”

Kimberly Wasserman was the recipient for the 2013 Goldman Prize for her successful leadership in closing two of the oldest and dirtiest coal plants in the United States. Born and raised in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago, this Chicana joined Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) after her 3-month-year-old baby suffered an asthma attack. The doctors told her it was related to environmental pollution, which made her determined to stand up for her community’s health. After 12 years of ongoing negotiations with the local government, the coal power plants finally closed in 2012. After this closure, LVEJO and other partner organizations created the Community Benefits Agreements, which prohibits the fossil fuel industry from operating on the newly closed property and ensures residents have a say in how the property develops in the future. Today, Wasserman continues her leadership by training young people in her community to transform old industrial areas in Little Village into public, recreational spaces.

These five incredible women, geographically spanning the globe and coming from very different cultures and backgrounds, all share a common vision: a more equitable and sustainable future. They inspire me this month, and every month, to continue fighting for a world I know is possible. Once again, Happy Women’s History Month!

 

This blog post was written by our Communications Intern, Esperanza Chairez Uriarte.

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Mobilize for Action! Launching our three-year strategic plan

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In 2019 we celebrated The Alliance Center’s 15th anniversary, and now we’re excited to launch our 2020-2022 strategic plan. We have 10 years to drastically change the trajectory of the climate crisis, and this ambitious plan puts the Alliance on track to lead this shift in Colorado. 

In early 2019, The Alliance Center embarked on the strategic planning process. As we began to lay out our vision for the next three years, we started with a marketplace analysis to review and learn from the work of our peers. From there, we looked introspectively at our work through a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis. We gathered input from staff, Board, tenants, community members and partners on our existing work and our impact over the last 15 years. 

Building on our strengths as leaders in high-performance building innovation and connectors and empowerers of change agents, we developed a three-year strategic plan to guide us through 2022. The plan continues our trajectory of demonstrating sustainability in the built environment, grows our capacity to mobilize change agents and drives our ability to accelerate solutions. 

We are excited to continue harnessing the power of business as a force for good through our Best for Colorado program, and we are excited to engage leaders from across sectors in our democratic systems through our Climate+ Democracy program. We continue to operate our building at the highest levels of performance, and we’re ready to move the needle in building technology through partnerships and our Living Lab program. Supporting all these programs is our new academic partnership initiative that will build an employment pipeline into sustainability careers that will provide valuable skills and experience to young professionals, diversify the sustainability movement and increase The Alliance Center’s capacity to implement effective programs.

Check out the two-page version of the strategic plan below. The comprehensive plan can be downloaded here. We have big plans for the next three years, and we are ready to launch into our next era of impact. Thank you for being a member of our community and joining us on this journey!

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Resolutions with Impact

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This year, I’m focusing my resolutions on how I can continue to act in the face of climate change. Greta Thunberg once said, “No one is too small to make a difference,” yet, it can be difficult to know how to make an impact amongst such a daunting issue. Thankfully, The Alliance Center has many resources and a supportive mission-driven community that empower individuals, including myself, to take climate action. 

Resolution #1: Switch My Bank

I’ve banked with the same big-name bank since I was 14 and never batted an eye at the thought. The fossil fuel divestment movement has increased over the last few years, but only recently did I realize my personal bank account was a contributor to the climate crisis.

Fossil fuel divestment encourages people to remove investments from large institutions and organizations that support the fossil fuel industry. The mentality is that if large amounts of people move money from establishments such as banks, universities and retirement funds who support this industry, collectively we can decrease carbon emissions and reduce fossil fuel usage. The alternative is investing assets in values-aligned institutions who support more sustainable practices.

Switching banks has been on my mind. After hearing Greta Thunberg and Thomas Lopez at the Denver Climate March encourage divesting and seeing The Alliance Center better align its finances with its values, I know it’s now my turn to move my account to Amalgamated, one of the Alliance’s amazing tenants.

Resolution #2: Ongoing Battle with Plastic

China stopped recycling the majority of the world’s plastics in 2018, which has resulted in much of it going to landfills, storage and incinerators. Even though plastic is deeply engrained into our daily lives, it’s more important than ever to reduce our reliance on this material. 

With the new year I’m continuing my plastic reduction efforts by taking it one item at a time. My plan is to replace a single plastic item in my life each month with a more sustainable option such as bamboo floss, biodegradable hairbands and shampoo bars. The Alliance Center has several amazing Best for Colorado businesses including EarthHero, Simple Switch and JOYFILL who make finding and purchasing sustainable alternatives simple and easy!

Resolution #3: Explore More Sustainable Food Options

My goal is not to commit to one particular diet. Instead I’ll incorporate various sustainable eating habits that fit within my lifestyle. I signed up for GroundworkDenver’s CSA because, conveniently, The Alliance Center serves as a drop-off location for tenants. Additionally, I’ll supplement this with regular trips to farmers markets this summer and fall so I can support local growers and food systems while reducing my food’s environmental impact. 

Additionally, since meat and dairy production accounts for 14.5 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, I’ll spend 2020 working on reducing this in my diet. There are many vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians, flexitarians and eco-vores at The Alliance Center. Being surrounded by such a community makes it significantly easier to reduce the amount of meat in my diet since cooking suggestions, ideas and encouragement are constantly circulating throughout the building.

In Closing

While New Year’s resolutions tend to be short lived, sustainability is an ongoing journey we all can take part in throughout 2020 and beyond. According to the UN International Panel on Climate Change, we have 10 years to cut global emissions in half to prevent 2° Celsius temperature increase. While no one person can accomplish this, collectively we can. Thankfully, The Alliance Center is here to support you on your endeavors. Whether it’s through their sustainability network, tenants, nonprofit or events, this organization has a variety of resources available to ensure you have all of the tools and support you need to take climate action. I’m maximizing my environmental impact in 2020 by taking advantage of what The Alliance Center offers. How can you the Alliance mobilize you in your sustainability resolutions this year?

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The Latest Hard to Recycle Station

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Four years ago, the Hard to Recycle station began as a single bin under a desk. Today, the Hard to Recycle station lives on the first floor of The Alliance and we are proud to say that we collected over 200,000 items! It is our honor to announce the launch of our latest Hard to Recycle station! Equipped with new signage and sponsors, we invite everyone to utilize this community resource!

“Back in 2016, our family would generate about two bags of trash for the landfill every week…We committed to cutting that landfill waste in half by utilizing The Alliance Center’s hard to recycle station. By 2018, our family reduced our landfill trash to one full trash bag a month, beating our goal by 175 percent.” – Diana Dascalu-Joffe, Senior Attorney, Public Lands, Center for Biological Diversity

Since it’s beginning, the Hard to Recycle station has been about diverting waste. When the station began, we collected minimal items, such as personal care and beauty products as well as foil lined wrappers. Two years later, The Alliance Center launched a pilot program in the basement. By the fall of that year, The Alliance Center fully backed the Hard to Recycle station, we increase our recycling streams and installed a permanent location! 

What’s the point of the station?

The Hard to Recycle station exists to divert waste from the landfill. In the United States alone, 1.4 billion pounds of trash are created daily. By offering this resource, our community can properly dispose of waste that is not accepted by traditional recycling methods.

What does the Hard to Recycle station collect?

Batteries, light bulbs, writing utensils, ink cartridges, e-waste, plastic bags and liners, pet food and treat bags, foil lined bags and wrappers, hygiene and beauty products, baby food pouches, cleaning products and water filters. Have suggestions as to what else we should collect? Email hardtorecycle@thealliancecenter.org.

How does it work?

After collection, our staff gets to work sorting items. Once the items are sorted and boxed, they are shipped via UPS to Terracycle. BlueStar Recyclers picks up the e-waste. We are constantly tracking our progress.

Who can use the Hard to Recycle station? 

The Hard to Recycle station is a community resource! Tenant, staff, neighbors and local community members bring in collectables. Our goal is to divert waste from the landfill, so the more involved the better! We welcome your trash and are proud to offer this resource.

How can I get involved?

Contribute and educate! Spread the word! Tell others about the Hard to Recycle station and stay up-to-date on items we do and do not accept. Visit thealliancecenter.org/impactdashboard/living-laboratory/hardtorecycle/ to learn more. Reach out to hardtorecycle@thealliancecenter.org.A special thanks to your sponsors, BlueStar Recycles and Recycle Across America.

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A Very Plastic Free July

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Lauren, Program Intern at The Alliance Center, enjoying a plastic free lunch.

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