Kaelin Ferland '23


Opinion Staff


Is Throwing Cans of Soup the Solution to Climate Change?

The United Nations released a report just last week about how we are in dire need of climate action, explaining that “the world is still falling short of the Paris climate goals, with no credible pathway to 1.5 degrees C in place.” With these goals out of reach and no concrete plans to prevent our […]

Kaelin Ferland '23

Feeling Hopeless About Climate Change: Why We Need Climate Optimism

When you look at climate change in the news, it is easy to feel hopeless and discouraged. It is impossible, especially recently, to open your phone without seeing headlines on social media about how the climate crisis has already begun to devastate communities around the world. From natural disasters like Hurricane Ian, which has been […]

Kaelin Ferland '23

Why Halloween is Scary for Our Planet: How to Have a Sustainable Halloween

With Halloween right around the corner, many of us are starting to prepare for costumes and parties. Most of these preparations are often unsustainable and it’s important to consider alternatives that are less environmentally harmful.   According to a study from the United Kingdom, seven million costumes are thrown away each year in that country alone. […]

Kaelin Ferland '23

Ecofeminism: How Environmental Issues and Gender Inequalities Intersect

Climate change intersects with many different areas of social justice, including race, gender, and class. Gender equality and feminism, specifically, have connections to climate change and environmental issues, as women are disproportionately affected by climate disasters. This means that gender inequality is worsened by climate change. The Ecofeminist Movement is centered around the relationship between […]

Kaelin Ferland '23

Don’t Bee Scared: Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid of These Important Pollinators

Despite their tiny antennae, fuzzy bodies, and adorably disproportionate eyes and wings, it seems like everyone is scared of bees. Yes, they sting when they’re threatened, but without bees, we wouldn’t be able to survive. Unfortunately, through climate change, pesticide use, and habitat loss and fragmentation, we have caused significant declines in the populations of […]

Kaelin Ferland '23

Why Developed Countries Need to Start Taking Responsibility for Climate Change

Catastrophic floods have recently devastated Pakistan, leaving over one-third of the country underwater and displacing 33 million people. Over 1,000 people have already died, but these numbers continue to rise. Typically during this time of year, Pakistan’s monsoon season causes heavy rainfall; however, this year, the rain has been ten times heavier than usual, and […]

Kaelin Ferland '23

Why the To-Go Boxes Shouldn’t Be Seen as an Inconvenience

In spring 2022, PC Dining announced its plans for Eco To-Go, a program that allows students to use reusable to-go boxes in Ray instead of wasteful single-use containers. While the initiative is supported by many students, others complained that it is inconvenient. Considering the significant environmental impact of paper and plastic, which these containers are […]

Kaelin Ferland '23

Tangents and Tirades

Turn off the Lights By Kaelin Ferland ’23 It seems like I am constantly reminding my roommates to turn off the lights. I probably get on their nerves, but it’s one of the easiest things that we can do to help the environment, as 19 percent of energy consumed globally is used for lighting. Many […]

Jezel Tracey '24

The Environmental and Ethical Costs of Normalizing Fast Fashion

With fashion trends constantly changing and new styles introduced every season, many shoppers use fast fashion websites to get cheap pieces to wear for a few months while they’re trendy. We probably buy more clothes from stores like Zara and H&M than we’d like to admit, but it’s understandable that we order a cheap and […]

Kaelin Ferland '23

Extra Plates, Extra Waste: PC’s Food Waste Problem

Food waste is one of Providence College’s main environmental problems. Last semester, ECOPC filled two bins with food waste from Raymond Dining Hall in less than two hours. According to Feeding America, approximately 108 billion pounds of food are wasted every year in the United States alone, about 40 percent of the food in our […]

Kaelin Ferland '23