Environmental Health

The Feminist Anti-War Roots of Mother's Day

Listen as a podcast You wouldn't know it from a visit to the Hallmark card store, but the origin of Mother's Day in the U.S. has feminist anti-war roots. The earliest celebrations honoring mothers trace back to ancient times and were primarily spiritual in nature. They centered around goddesses and...

Got Allergies? It's the Air That You're Breathing

Ever since my seven-year-old son was a baby he was a snorer. Every time my father visited, he would joke, “¡Tienes una sinfonía!” You have a symphony! At first my husband and I laughed off the snoring as a quirk of our sweet, smart, and otherwise healthy boy. But it became an issue when teachers...

Protect Our Children from Toxic Coal Pollution

In honor of Mother's Day this Sunday, I invited an amazing mom and activist to share her story about a very important issue the Sierra Club is working on: toxic mercury pollution from coal plants . This piece is by Anna Getty, a member of the Sierra Club, and the co-founder of Pregnancy Awareness...

Why Are We Afraid of the "E" Word?

As a writer and activist, I subscribe to numerous newsletters and have given to countless causes. Here is a sample of what was in my inbox on Tuesday, May 3: "Each year, the first week of May is Teacher Appreciation Week — a chance to say thank you to the teachers who work long hours helping our...