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Welcome to the week.
Thanks to everyone who submitted their favorite science books. You can still take the survey here — we’ll publish the full list so you can see what other Shit Givers are reading very soon!
Now to the news.
This week:
🌏 A systemic plan for climate education
😷 A summer surge
🧑🌾Big Ag’s influence
📚AI textbooks
And more
Have a great week,
— Willow
This is science for people who give a shit.
Every week, we help {{active_subscriber_count}}+ humans understand and unfuck the rapidly changing world around us. It feels great, and we’d love for you to join us.
🙋♀️ Vote!
Last week, we asked: How are you most likely to take action on causes or issues you care about?
You said:
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Donating money (25%)
“I live in a small town and can only feel comfortable working with local causes. Those out of my reach definitely cause me to delve into information sources and cause me to speak out with information I've found. If I consider it very important, I also donate money. My IRAs have a large proportion invested in what I consider green companies or companies that are important to the growth of this country in a way that I think is important. ”
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Volunteering time (13%)
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Contacting representatives or decision makers (14%)
“While I'll contact them, I think it's about time to think about replacing them. I work in gov & the lack of interest and dedication towards negligence is CRAZY”
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Investing in related companies or initiatives (2%)
🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ Learning and sharing more about the issue (23%)
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ All of the above (18%)
“I really love to do all of the above even though the donating and investing are small. I try to set an example to encourage others to do the same.”
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Something else (please specify) (5%)
New Shit Giver Jennifer is here because “I am interested in ideas about climate change, creating unity in society, science, philosophy and spirituality, among other things. I like to explore topics that make the world a better place.”
Sounds like you’re in the right place! Welcome.
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Essays: The frameworks, models, history, and pop culture I use to understand what’s happening now and next
Half Baked: Weekly briefs to help you think and act on specific, timely issues as they happen
Not Important: My favorite books, art, movies, music, apps, and more that have nothing to do with the jet stream slowing down
Lifetime thanks for directly supporting our work
⚡️ Climate change:
🌎 Climate action matters (and has an impact) in every country, regardless of size
The grid is complicated, but as we increasingly add demands and stressors, it becomes increasingly necessary for us to have access to high-quality, real-time grid information
After Tesla, Ford is the number two electric vehicle brand in the US — put a lack of profits is pushing them to revise their EV plans
The Aspen Institute’s This Is Planet Ed program just released its Higher Ed Climate Action Plan, which calls on universities to implement climate education across disciplines — because solving the climate crisis is going to take everyone
As the solar power industry has boomed, so has solar fraud. Here’s how to protect yourself from the charlatans
🦠 Health & Bio:
🌍 The impacts of the plastic pollution crisis are felt worldwide, requiring global solidarity and a just transition in global plastics treaty negotiations
The affordable housing crisis needs policy that aligns with the YIMBY movement, and addresses both supply and demand aspects of the market
A new, easier and more comfortable pap test is here, with at home testing potentially gaining approval by next year
🌎 What did we learn from the mpox outbreak in 2022 that we can apply to the current outbreak (and futures ones)? (spoiler: the answer is better global health support for Africa)
There’s a summer Covid surge (in case you hadn’t heard) that has the FDA considering releasing new vaccines early
💦 Food & Water:
78 percent (!!) of cropland in the US is used to raise crops that feed the animals we eat later. If everyone cut their meat consumption in half, we would need 47.3 million fewer acres to grow the same amount of protein.
Most (60 percent) food products made for toddlers and babies don’t meet WHO nutrition standards
🌍 There are plenty of fish in the sea, kind of, or maybe not, since we’ve been overcounting fish by an average of 11.5 percent
🌎 Big Agriculture lobbyists have a huge influence worldwide that has shielded the industry from environmental regulations
👩💻 Beep Boop:
AI isn’t ready to improve health care, especially not compared to providing more support for human health care providers
🌍 Parents in South Korea are pushing back against AI textbooks due to misinformation concerns
Despite AI hype, political campaigns are hesitant to adopt AI products (probably for good reason)
Google’s Pixel 9’s Reimagine tool can create fake images that are alarmingly convincing
🌎 = Global news
How to measure an increasingly fluid line👇
Last week’s most popular Action Step was volunteering with the Measles & Rubella Partnership to help prevent childhood disease.
Donate to a diaper bank near you and help end diaper need for struggling families.
Volunteer with your state group working on ranked choice voting and fair representation at the state and local level.
Get educated about evidence-based insights, skills, and connections to implement climate solutions with the Climate Advocacy Lab.
Be heard about fair representation and ask your representative to support the Voter Choice Act.
Invest in clean mutual funds and EFTs using Fossil Free Funds.
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The best water heater you can buy…
Is an electric heat pump water heater! That’s right, we have the technology. Find out how you can get one using IRA money, and all of our recommendations 👇
What is green hydrogen?
Last I checked hydrogen is colorless, so why are we calling it green or blue or brown or grey? All things green hydrogen will be explained via the button below 👇
Taking the electrification movement to another level 👇
🤝 Thanks for reading. Here’s how we can help you directly:
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