News Highlights Overlooked in 2020:
In the world of environmental journalism, Atmos Magazine stands out as a publication with a heart for justice and love. The magazine has been publishing critical stories on race and the environment, highlighting the experiences of marginalized communities, before the launch of their Frontline newsletter.
Yessenia Funes, the climate editor at Atmos, has been at the forefront of this movement. She has recently launched The Frontline newsletter and has also highlighted some of the best environmental justice stories published by Atmos in 2020. These stories humanize people most impacted by climate disasters, bringing forward the lived realities and struggles of these communities.
One of the favourite stories in Atmos Volume 04: Cascade is Rachel Cargle's "Living Legacy," which focuses on the history of Black horsemanship and its erasure in media. The piece, beautifully illustrated by Ivan McClellan's photographs, offers a uplifting take on the blossoming relationship between Black communities and horses.
Another must-read is "After The Fire: A Journey Through Yuin Country" by Amanda Jane Reynolds. This story offers a rich telling of Aboriginal and Indigenous history in Australia, focusing on the impact of the ongoing wildfires on these communities. The piece ends with a powerful poem that resonates deeply.
Ceyenne Doroshow's story for Atmos Volume 04: Cascade explores the cost of living an authentic life, as she shares her experiences as a Black trans woman, discussing addiction, motherhood, and valuable lessons for the environmental movement.
Danni Washington wrote a story about toxic waters, although further details about the content of the story are not provided.
Elsewhere in the magazine, Ruth H. Hopkins' Sacred Ecology column discusses the Western society's obsession with colonizing the moon and the potential consequences of extracting its resources. Hopkins' piece, titled "Grandmother Moon," pushes readers to question the future of human civilization and the lengths we go to leave our mark as a species.
In a separate investigation, Maria do Socorro Silva, an Indigenous woman from the Amazon Rainforest, is profiled by Eliane Brum. The piece details the harsh realities of colonialism and the abuse of Indigenous women by the extractive industry. The story, titled "Fierce Life: Maria do Socorro Silva," is a necessary read for anyone invested in the well-being of the Amazon Rainforest and its caretakers.
Lastly, Zinara Rathnayake wrote a story about a surprising solution for managing elephant populations in Sri Lanka: giving them oranges to avoid them entering villages due to habitat loss.
Atmos Magazine continues to tell stories that matter, focusing on justice and love. As Yessenia Funes emphasizes, until Indigenous peoples can live in peace worldwide, we won't have climate justice.
- Yessenia Funes, the climate editor at Atmos Magazine, has been highlighting stories that humanize people most impacted by climate disasters and focus on environmental justice.
- One of the stories published in Atmos Magazine, Rachel Cargle's "Living Legacy," offers a uplifting take on the relationship between Black communities and horses.
- In "After The Fire: A Journey Through Yuin Country," Amanda Jane Reynolds tells a rich story about the impact of wildfires on Indigenous communities in Australia.
- Ceyenne Doroshow's story in Atmos Magazine explores the cost of living an authentic life as a Black trans woman, discussing addiction, motherhood, and valuable lessons for the environmental movement.
- Elsewhere in Atmos Magazine, Ruth H. Hopkins' Sacred Ecology column discusses the potential consequences of extracting resources from the moon, pushing readers to question the future of human civilization.
