Making Environmental Education Accessible

Download Free Eco-Education E-Book

Designed by Sara P. Mendes (@sara.p.mendes) and written words by Isaias Hernandez (@queerbrownvegan). Eco-Learners is a collaborative project that brings together creativity and environmental education. This is a free downloadable e-book that has 18 beautifully designed illustrations of environmental terms.

During my time in college, I had a hard time interconnecting terminology and concepts together. Upon graduating, I realized how important it was to simplify and breakdown each term. As someone who didn’t have support when navigating the environmental field, I asked myself who I wanted to be for others, and that’s an educator.

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A huge thank you to @greenisthenewblackcom for nom

A huge thank you to @greenisthenewblackcom for nominating me for their Green Warriors Award 2021 💚🌈 You can head over to their site to read the post with other amazing environmentalists! My story as an environmental educator didn’t start when I created this account, it started since the day I was born. From fragmented dreams to seeds of hope. With time, comes leaves of growth that have allowed me to flourish to the person I am today. To unpack injustice, is to often remind yourself of why you continue doing environmental work. I spend a lot of time talking to myself inside and constantly staying curious. How do we keep our minds open to feedback, critique, and lessons when we are in stages of learning? It’s not about knowing everything or mastering the language behind theories, but to simply recognize that you are trying to engage in deeper systems. Thank you again for everyone who constantly thinks and supports me, couldn’t do it without this community 🥰🌈 Photographer: @olivieryoan
#greenwarriors #littlegreensteps #sustainability #queerbrownvegan #intersectionalenvironmentalist #intersectionalenvironmentalism #ecofriendly #queerecology #queereducation #pocenvironmentalist #environmentaljustice #environmentalscience #pridemonth #pride2021

Has anyone been feeling exhausted from the Mercury

Has anyone been feeling exhausted from the Mercury retrograde? 💙🌈😭 As I’ve gotten older, I’m not sure if I’ve become better equipped to manage with situations that are out of our control. When I was younger it was pretty difficult to decide what to do but I think with time, you adapt and learn. One way I practice to manage my mental health during times that are not controllable is having accountability in my schedule. Thought I’d share some of my list of how I hold myself accountable when dealing with incidents. 1.) Plan to eat food and liquids, no matter what time. Make time to eat and focus on that time to center your existence and wellness 2.) Normalize that it will be okay and to take time to understand the situation. 3.) Can you turn off your email for at least one hour and focus at where you are at? Emails shouldn’t consume us. Share your thoughts on Mercury retrograde! Or, share how you hold yourself accountable! Photo: @mamobee_ #queer #queerpride #queerbrownvegan #pridemonth #pridemonth2021 #mercuryretrograde #sustainableliving #sustainability #lifestyleblogger #environmentaleducation #ecoeducation #ecoeducator #intersectionalenvironmentalism #environmentaljustice #accountability

Did you have parents that instilled the "American

Did you have parents that instilled the "American Dream" narrative and not critically challenge Western colonial systems? How can we ensure that people critically engage with deeper environmental work while recognizing that we all come from different backgrounds, privileges, and ethics? At what age did you start learning? For many of us, we begin from the day we are born into this world and grapple with information through pictures, sounds, movement, feeling, gesture, and space. At a young age, my parents recognized injustices, yet, when we were growing up in the United States, they never pushed us to think more critically of the current capitalistic system. To learn about a topic or field is to open ourselves to possibilities and perspectives. Still, the danger with learning is that we are never asked to think more critically but rather accept it as it is written. Near the end of high school and the beginning of my college journey, I began to unlearn — a beautiful and ugly process. To unlearn was to undo the effect of Western systems that uphold colonialism, imperialism, and capitalism. Living in the now almost seemed impossible, but I challenge myself daily to break old patterns, to start questioning, and to let go of my ego. I used to be afraid of not knowing enough. With unlearning, you recognize you don't know everything and that is okay, but this is an opportunity to reimagine yourself in a better world for your community and self. Relearning is essential to the building block of our work. It allows us to learn something that was lost or confusing to replace with more equitable forms of perspectives and justice-oriented solutions. Relearning isn't to measure how well you know a theory or if you can speak on it eloquently, but it is a form of doing your physical work. Unfortunately, we don't always have the right words to show how we are re-learning, and sometimes it's in our actions, whether through accountability or collectivized vulnerability. Learning, unlearning, and relearning are steps for us to be better environmentalists.
#relearning #unlearning #learning

Pride collections are made in countries where bein

Pride collections are made in countries where being LGBTQ2SAI + is illegal. Pride has been heavily commercialized in the last few years and is an opportunity for brands to showcase their "love" for the LGBTQ2SAI + community. I have teamed up with @muccycloud (the founder #WhoMadeMyPrideMerch) to raise awareness of the #WhoMadeMyPrideMerch digital campaign. Izzy McLeod created the campaign to address brands to be transparent on their supply chain, protecting their garment workers, especially those who are LGBTQ2SAI+. The garment industry is highly exploitative and has created a global environmental injustice. Many "LGBTQ+ workers are making pride merchandise whilst living in countries where being themselves could result in the loss of their jobs, a risk of being arrested, and possibly even death."
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Multi-billion dollar brands are profiting from the work of Black / Brown Trans Women, who fought for their community's rights. Brands like @levis were found that their collections of Themed pride clothing were "made partly in India, where it illegal to be gay" (BBC). It's not only them, but @hm was found to source their collections from Bangladesh, where Queer activists are being targeted for their sexuality. Regardless of their stance of donating to organizations that do LGBTQ2SAI+ work, what about the workers who may not have access/resources to those organizations? Follow @whomademypridemerch I don't own any pride merch other than an old flag from a parade from SF in 2015 and my poster board. Do you own pride merch or know of any small owned brands that creatin sustainable pride merch? Tag them below! #pridemonth2021 #pride2021 #pride #queerecology #queersustainability #queerliberation #prideday #sustainablefashion #ethicalfashion #remakefashion #slowfashionblogger #slowfashion #sustainability #queerbrownvegan #queervegan #rainbowwashing #pinkwashing #greenwashing #environmentaljustice

Book GIVEAWAY ALERT! 📖 😍🌈Im partnering wi

Book GIVEAWAY ALERT! 📖 😍🌈Im partnering with @StonePierPress an environmental book publishing company, to give away two copies each of “Tiny Victory Gardens: Growing food without a yard.” Author and regenerative farmer @acadia.tucker wants to make growing your own food more accessible to everyone. In these guides, Tucker will give you tips on how to most efficiently grow fruits, vegetables and herbs in whatever space you have, whether it’s containers on your windowsill or in your backyard. Learn how sustainable gardening can fight climate change, through boosting biodiversity and supporting local food systems. To win a copy of “Tiny Victory Gardens” • Follow @stonepierpress and @queerbrownvegan • Tag 1-3 friends and share why you’d love to win this book! All entries must be submitted by next Monday 11:59 . Winners will be chosen at random date next week. Only one comment per account will be counted. The giveaway is open to US shipping addresses only. #sustainability #sustainableliving #foodsystems #foodsystem #sustainablegardening #gardening #gardeninglife #ecofriendly #queerbrownvegan #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #victorygarden #victorygardens #intersectionalenvironmentalist

Happy #PrideMonth, let's talk about Queer Sustaina

Happy #PrideMonth, let's talk about Queer Sustainability. We (LGBTQ2SAI+) are not burdens to society. We are not pollutants. We are healers, lovers, and fighters for justice. [Tweet 1]: For me, Queer Sustainability seeks to exist in multi-dimensions to liberate those facing violence, seek refuge, and reimagining themselves in community safety spaces. [Tweet 2]: To build safe spaces is to create circular relationships that remove toxic environmental pollutants from internal and external places. Toxic masculinity, binary thinking, hetero-normativity have contributed to unbalanced ecosystems. [Tweet 3]: In essence, Queer Sustainability stems from Indigenous cultural knowledge and wisdom. It seeks to create resiliency, safety, and abundance in living species. Queer values and environmental values are closely intertwined to fight against oppressive systems. Throughout my time being alive, I've seen many homophobic, transphobic, and biophobic individuals who for some reason thought of us as burdens, when in reality, the idea of how people are raised and indoctrinated to believe that Queer / Trans communities are "wrong" is a product of colonial systems. We have always existed, our ancestors have always lived, and Queer / Trans communities have contributed to creating a balanced ecosystem. What does it mean to be a Queer environmentalist for you? #pride #pride🌈 #pride2021 #prideday #queerbrownvegan #queer #queerartist #sustainableliving #queersustainability #sustainability #queerecology #queerecologies #queereducator #prideweek #environmentaljustice #environmentalracism #environmentalist

There is power in sharing your story. I'm so excit

Versatile Vegan shoes? I'm wearing @munjoifootwear

Humanize us; do not commodify us ✊🏽🏳️‍

Humanize us; do not commodify us ✊🏽🏳️‍🌈 How can corporations show solidarity for the LGBTQ2SA+ community while still having links to the private prisons, fossil fuel sectors, exploiting garment workers, and donating to anti-LGBTQ2S+? Rainbow Washing is often known as “Pink Capitalism," is when brands market their intent to be allies to the Queer communities in the hope of gaining monetary sales for June. In reality, this is a time for many Queer content creators of color to be hired for campaigns, photoshoots, or video series. While our focus should not center on criticizing those, we must ask ourselves how we can better ask for more transparency from brands. Pride parades have generated millions of dollars for cities, yet it is not reinvested in Queer / Trans organizations focused on helping those who are the most affected by injustices. In 2019, Los Angeles Pride generated around 74.7 million dollars for Los Angeles (LA Pride). However, one must ask ourselves, where does that money go to, and which systems/ who is the most funded group in Los Angeles? The LAPD receives over 1.186 billion annual budget in their operations; imagine if that amount was invested in local LGBTQ2+ communities. Pride month itself is labeled to promote fluidity and liberation; however, it has become highly capitalized and commodified from brands in most recent years. What is worse is that police are usually hired for Queer events, which contradicts the fight that happened in Stonewall Inn (Abolition for the Police System). If we look back at Queer History, the Stonewall Inn event was occupied by Black / Brown Trans Women of Color who fought back from police violence, and decades later, this isn't what should be envisioned as collectivized freedom. Happy Pride and remember we are not free until total liberation is fought for collectively. If you want to be an ally, definitely donate to the following organizations:
@translawcenter
@twoc_collective
@blacktransmedia
@queernature
@blacktransbiketour
@blacktranstravelfund
@sylviariveralawproject Graphics: @ecoinprogress
#pride2021 #pridemonth #pridemonth2021 #rainbowwashing

Who Made Your Pride Merch? Stop exploiting Pride M

Greenwashing is such an ambiguous term to me. Most

We talk a lot about food waste but what about PR p

We talk a lot about food waste but what about PR packages + gifted items 📦? I had a random idea today 💫. There should be a program that reaches out to content creators to donate their unwanted PR packages to shelters, mutual aid organizations, or other donation centers. Nearly 40% of the packages I have received have only been use once or untouched due to the fact that I already have a surplus of items. Most of these products in reality are not economically feasible for people to afford, especially as someone who grew up low-income. My mindset often operates in scarcity meaning that I’m always afraid that I won’t have enough or in case I become sick that I may need to save money. Environmental / Sustainability influencers, creators, etc can help redistribute their products on a weekly basis or even when injustices + natural disasters hit. Not everyone has access to clean 🧼 hygiene products, food, or clothes during disasters. While I know that creators can take action to say NO to products, we also can take those gifts and send them to our community. Are you a content creator or influencer that has many gifted items in storage? Take the time to donate them to your local organizations! What are your thoughts? Photographer: @mamobee_
#queerbrownvegan #queer #queerartist #sustainability #sustainableliving #sustainable #rainbowwashing #ecofriendly #ecofriendlyliving #zerowasteliving #zerowaste

The end of infographics is near for me? 😱 Been

The end of infographics is near for me? 😱 Been taking a long, well-deserved mini vacation / work business trip to help align myself and think about how our work is constantly evolving. As many of you know, I’ve been looking into potentially ditching infographics completely on my page and redesigning them into small videos. I am planning to expand on Patreon and YouTube very soon, however, I’ve been noticing that the amount of hours of research, writing, designing, and producing content on here isn’t sustainable for my long-term health. While I’ve been able to create so much fun 🤩 graphics on here, I did want to make it clear that I am not an organization but just one individual running this page!
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I never loved writing and always felt that writing was difficult for me until I realized that I write every day. I love blog writing personally and feel that I’m always able to go deeper into concepts, history, and current events to help people solidify the concepts.
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Anywho, I am always thankful for this community and their continued support. I know there are some new folks in this space and let me know what you would love to see. I’m always trying to learn and will never be perfect. I make lots of mistakes and that’s okay because I’ve learned that it’s the best way to grow in life.
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Photography: @tiffgifphotog

In cities, over half of urban lands are paved for

In cities, over half of urban lands are paved for roadways, parking lots, or sidewalks, yet they are not always accessible. What is Depaving? Depaving looks into impervious surfaces made out of either brick, concrete, asphalt, or stone known to prevent rainwater from entering the soil. Rainwater diverts to local waterways and it carries a mix of environmental pollutants such as oil, antifreeze, plastics, pesticides, and heavy metals from the roads directly into rivers or streams. Reducing the environmental impact in local communities is essential in the way infrastructure is being developed, so people suggest depaving the structures. While sidewalks and roadways are crucial and should be reexamined as they are not accessible to people with disabilities, we can look into different sectors to depave our areas.
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For many low-income communities of color, there is already a lack of green spaces available, contributing to the increase of temperatures. With pavement, during the summertime, the heat island effect increases temperature by around 5-10 degrees Fareinheight in surrounding areas, which fuels the demand for energy usage. By presenting opportunities for pavement removal, it can provide some forms of greenspaces with trees and plants.
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What are the benefits of depaving?
Decrease demand for energy usage, cooling of homes by providing shading, visual privacy and reduction of noise pollution—the restoration of local habitats for birds, insects, and wildlife. Things we should consider:
Lack of accessibility of designs for people with disabilities, especially those with wheelchairs which we must champion for those with disabilities to have the right to design infrastructure. We live in an ableist society.
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Graphics: @ecoinprogress
#depaving #depave #renaturation #localhabitat #ecosystem #ecology #queerecology #earth #environmentaljustice #environmentalracism #paving #sidewalks #roadways #parkinglots #parkinglot #urbantransportation #urbanplanning #urbancityplanning #queerbrownvegan

Circularity is referred to a system that is aimed

Circularity is referred to a system that is aimed at eliminating waste and the continual reuse of resources. While living circular lifestyles can often be challenging, I've found that loving ourselves sustainably is just as important as finding the best-fit products that nourish our bodies. That is why I love to choose @lovebeautyandplanet products as they are on a mission to spreading small acts of love to you and the planet, with their plant-based Shea Butter & Sandalwood Body Lotion and X Aluminum free Deodorant. Love Beauty and Planet lotion is a refreshing product with signature ingredients like shea butter and coconut water. They make your skin soft, smooth and most of all gorgeously moisturized for 24 hours. After applying their lotion, I like to use their deodorant that is 100% Vegan, made with plant-based deodorizers and ethically sourced Moroccan mimosa flower to keep you smelling fresh all day long. With recyclable canisters made from 43% recycled plastic, this aluminum-free deodorant gives a little love back to our beautiful planet. #smallactsoflove #lbppartner

Land rights, climate action, and human rights are

Land rights, climate action, and human rights are intertwined. If we advocate for environmental justice policies, how do we ensure that it is just for all? I've explained my stances on sustainable development projects in previous posts and how they are detrimental to Indigenous communities globally, mainly with hydro dams. However, the more I take time to listen to city-state officials regarding their support for developing the green economy, we must ask ourselves for who these services will serve? Sacrifice zones are described as geographic regions that have been heavily impacted by environmental alterations or economic disinvestment. Primarily, many communities outside of the Global North have been heavily exploited for their natural resources, think environmental colonialism.
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When we talk about energy development, we mustn't label people all NIMBY's when they are resisting energy projects. When marginalized communities, most especially Indigenous People's landscapes, are being asked to relinquish their resources or sacrifice their land for institutional infrastructure, it reinforces colonialism. A study found that communities were concerned that they would bear the ecological impacts of energy projects while the benefits — the financial gains and new energy produced would be accrued elsewhere. According to the IWGIA, they have noted that, "Indigenous Peoples demand that their fundamental collective human rights must be respected when such large-scale projects are undertaken, as currently their lands are often seen by the state and private corporations as virgin land up for grabs to develop and exploit.
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While fossil fuel extraction is an endless cycle of injustice, the idea of renewable energy is constantly in question. Are we thinking from a monetary point of view or a just ecological position? Important takeaways to have is who gets to be in these conversations regarding energy development, distribution of power, and economic + investment in their community? Graphic: @ecoinprogress
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#energyjustice #greenenergy #environmentaljustice #greeneconomy #sacrificezone #energysacrificezone

What is your favorite color that resembles environ

BOOK GIVEAWAY 📖 ! I’m partnering with @stone

BOOK GIVEAWAY 📖 ! I’m partnering with @stonepierpress , an environmental book publishing company, to give TWO copies of “Growing Good Food: A citizen’s guide to backyard farming.” Author and regenerative farmer @acadia.tucker wants to make growing your own food more accessible to everyone. In these guides, Tucker will give you tips on how to most efficiently grow fruits, vegetables and herbs in whatever space you have, whether it’s containers on your windowsill or in your backyard. Learn how sustainable gardening can fight climate change, through boosting biodiversity and supporting local food systems. To win a copy of “Growing Good Food:” • Follow @stonepierpress and @queerbrownvegan
• Like and save this post
• Tag 3 friends you’d like to learn how to garden with! 3 tags = 1 entry with unlimited entries
All entries must be submitted by May 18th 11:59PM Winners will be chosen at random on May 19th. Only one comment per account will be counted. The giveaway is open to US shipping addresses only.
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#bookstagram #environmentaljustice #foodsystem #foodjustice #gardening #gardeninspiration #ecofriendly #ecofriendlyhome #foodgarden #carbonsequestration

Not every low-income student of color you see has

Not every low-income student of color you see has a full-ride scholarship, straight A's, or the tools to study efficiently. "If you can pass, everyone else can pass" is such a toxic mentality professors and teacher assistants perpetuated when I was an undergraduate. While each college and university has different challenges along the way, there are common trends that continue to be perpetuated in academia, which was one reason I have doubted myself going to higher education (graduate school) in the future. Here are some struggles I experienced as an undergrad.
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1.) Elitism: The amount of students + professors that talked down on me of "you should've learned this in high school" always made me cringe. Not all high schools are designed equally or have access to private tutors.
2.) Classism: I always had 2-3 jobs per semester to afford rent, groceries, and other amenities. I remember hearing from some peers + professors, "You need to prioritize your studies and stop working." How can I think about my studies if I were to be evicted from my housing if I don't pay? I never
3.) Racism: In a research lab, I had one of the professor advisors told me, "I know people born in Mexico aren't the best writers when they come to the United States" when I was never born in Mexico. I was baffled.
4.) Homophobia: While everyone has dealt with annoying frat men, one happened in a lab with other graduate students. I felt pretty disturbed by how these people freely said harmful rhetoric to the Queer community and me.
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While there are other issues that I did not experience, we must recognize how misogyny, sexism, and ableism are still apparent in colleges and universities for many low-income students of color. Finding my community in college helped me get through my undergraduate. At this point in my life, I always think it's too late to go back, but I also want to be in a better state if I decide to go to graduate school. It's not normal having to act like an adult from the age of 18, constantly worrying about grades, whether or not you have enough money to pay rent, and most importantly, enough money to eat and nourish your body.
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#academia #undergraduate

Veganism should never be focused on purity but rat

Veganism should never be focused on purity but rather the advocacy for justice of life itself. Getting vaccinated is essential to climate justice. As someone who has been Vegan for a few years, we need to recognize that Veganism seeks to exclude — as far as possible and practicable all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing, or other purposes. With that being said, if for medical and health reasons you need to partake in the consumption of medication or vaccinations, you should do it for your future livelihood. Unfortunately, the anti-vax Vegans are an issue in some parts of the community that have also upheld QANON stances which is devastating to see.
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Vaccines save lives and save money. These past few months, I have lost loved ones in my life who came from low-income BIPOC communities that did not have the same resources as higher-income communities to be treated. When I got vaccinated last month (first dose), I received hate messages on my stories of why I was getting vaccinated and how I was a fake Vegan. I got vaccinated to help my community and to ensure the protection of my loved ones. Studies show that Moderna and Pfizer were effective and led to a 92% decrease in hospitalizations. Our essential workers, especially healthcare workers, are already overworking themselves to protect our lives.
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Do you like to travel? Then get vaccinated. Workers who are already exploited working at resorts don't get to have the same resources as those who travel.
Do you like to go to an animal rights protest? Get vaccinated and protect your loved ones that are advocating for animal rights.
Do you like helping at animal sanctuaries? Great, get vaccinated because workers who run sanctuaries are already doing more work to protect animals.
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Veganism isn't a purity test, as we all are trying to divest away from harm as least as possible. If you get vaccinated, you still are Vegan. Saving lives is essential in our Vegan work. It's not controversial for saving your community.
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#veganism #vegancommunity #intersectionalveganism #queerbrownvegan

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