National Parks & Reserves in Ghana

National Parks & Reserves in Ghana National Parks & Reserves in Ghana. Ghana’s national parks and reserves attract thousands of visitors every year. Who could resist with its diverse habitat and wide array of species? National park and reserves are vital to maintaining and protecting Ghana’s environment due to the increased level of deforestation. Whether it be from subsistence farming or illegal mining, their forests are in danger everyday and need to be protected. Listed below are five of the best national parks and reserves Ghana has to offer as well as some ways they contribute to reforestation and protection.… Continue reading National Parks & Reserves in Ghana

Child Labor and the Chocolate We Love

Child Labor and Chocolate We Love Child Labor and the Chocolate We Love. Background on Chocolate. Chocolate is a sweet treat enjoyed by many people around the world. On top of chocolate’s sweet flavor, it’s known to offer mood enhancing benefits. These benefits led the Aztecs, Olemcs, and Mayans to believe chocolate possessed mystical and spiritual powers upon their discovery of it about 4,000 years ago(1). Early chocolate was originally consumed as a bitter drink reserved only for royals and elites and would be unrecognizable to chocolate lovers today. Chocolate is now common, easily accessible, affordable, and available in many… Continue reading Child Labor and the Chocolate We Love

Oil Drilling & Plastic Pollution: Environmental Awareness

Oil Drilling & Plastic Pollution: Environmental Awareness Oil Drilling & Plastic Pollution: Environmental Awareness. Introduction Environmental awareness is the first fundamental step towards environmentalism, which is the ideology that illustrates the importance of human respect, responsibility, and protection towards the Earth (1). There are thousands of environmental issues that weigh down on our Earth today. Learning about the cause-and-effect of some problems that harm our environment is a great way to start our journey towards Environmental Awareness and action. Oil drilling, deforestation, agricultural pollution, and the production of plastic goods are only a few of the major environmental problems our… Continue reading Oil Drilling & Plastic Pollution: Environmental Awareness

Sustainable Alternatives to Charcoal in the DRC

Sustainable Alternatives to Charcoal in the DRC Sustainable Alternatives to Charcoal in the DRC. For millions in Africa and the Congo Basin, charcoal provides a readily accessible and inexpensive energy source for cooking and household heating. Population growth drives demand for the valuable “black gold” at an alarming rate, yet also fuels deforestation and biodiversity loss. Almost 80% of households in Africa depend on charcoal; in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the number exceeds 90% (1;2). As electrification rates across sub-Saharan Africa remain low, charcoal continues to be the dominant source of energy.  Charcoal Usage Charcoal forms by… Continue reading Sustainable Alternatives to Charcoal in the DRC

Biochar 101: How to Enrich Your Compost with Biochar

Do you have compost in your backyard and want to make it even more rich and fertile? The IDEAS Hive interviewed Lorenzo Monduy Jr, the designer and face behind My Community Compost to talk about biochar, composting, and his Gasifier invention. What is biochar?  Monduy describes biochar, or black carbon, as an “Electrocarbon sponge to manage carbon across the planet and increase soil fertility.” Put simply, it is the burnt material (similar looking to charcoal) of organic matter in a controlled process. When mixed in with soil or compost, biochar holds on to nutrients, water, and microorganisms, making it easier… Continue reading Biochar 101: How to Enrich Your Compost with Biochar

Plant-Based: From Cattle to Cauliflower

Plant-Based: From Cattle to Cauliflower Plant-Based: From Cattle to Cauliflower. At some point in our lives, we have all craved the classic American meal of a juicy cheeseburger like the one above, accompanied by crispy, golden french fries and a cold, sweet milkshake. However, the ‘burger’ pictured above does not come from a cow, but from a pea! In an age where industrial cattle farming produces over 37% of global methane emissions, a gas 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide, many are seeking to reduce their impact on our planet. (1) But, as a plant-based diet becomes increasingly popular,… Continue reading Plant-Based: From Cattle to Cauliflower