Inside the Indo-Pacific Command: A Summer Internship Experience in Environmental Security and Policy Development
This past summer, I participated in a ten-week internship with the Department of Defense's (DOD) Environmental Security Division (J445) at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), the oldest and largest of the unified combatant commands. USINDOPACOM is responsible for overseeing all U.S. military operations in the Indo-Pacific region, an area that spans over half of the Earth's surface. This experience provided me with invaluable insights into the intersection of environmental sustainability and national security.
Read More
Time to celebrate rainbow and green pride
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month is celebrated in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. Pride Month is celebrated in several cities across the globe with unity and inclusion by organizing pride parades. The parades show a vibrant display of community spirit and often feature vibrant costumes, music, dance, food and art. However, these parades often rely on single-use plastics. Even during the parades, the desire for self-expression through costumes and attire can lead to increased consumption of new clothing—that means buying clothes every year for just one time use.
Read More
Being Queer at COP: LGBTQ+ People Risk Their Safety for a More Sustainable Future
When you look at the data, three cities in particular – Sharm el-Sheikh, Dubai, and Baku – were among the places that didn’t have rainbow flags waving this June. And what do all of these cities have in common? They have been or will be the sites of the annual Conference of the Parties (COP), the international meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Read More
Protecting Vulnerable Communities against Climate Risks in Pakistan
Despite contributing less than 1% to global emissions, Pakistan is the eighth most vulnerable nation to long-term climate risk. While climate change is essentially affecting every part of the country, the impacts are felt disproportionately by certain groups, including children, women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Read More
Celebrating AAPI Heritage: Building a more developed and just world for people in need
I would like to discuss a topic that should be important to Asians and members of the diaspora: how we can pursue sustainable development in developing countries, and in so doing, help our friends and loved ones live in a more prosperous and just world.
Read More
