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So we went to the trouble of writing a series on voluntourism, but what does implementing these lessons look like in practical volunteer work? Today on the podcast, Grace speaks with special guest Rose Capin about her roles at Vanderbilt Alternative Spring Break and Repair the World to learn how concerns about voluntourism factor into these service-based organizations.  If you would like to continue the conversation with Rose, you can reach out to her at rose.capin@gmail.com  This month’s Impactfull series on voluntourism: https://novelhand.com/impactfull-site/voluntourism/  Resources: @connectingthecause and https://www.connectingthecause.com/  Novel Hand: https://www.novelhand.com

We've all seen a photo on Instagram of a white woman holding an orphan-- and most of us have pretty strong opinions about it. But there's a more difficult question here: how should we interact with humanitarian issues around the world? This March, Novel Hand is exploring our intentions to do good, white saviorism, and how we interact with human suffering through voluntourism.This month's Impactfull series on voluntourism: https://novelhand.com/impactfull-site/voluntourism/ Novel Hand: https://www.novelhand.com

Last week, I started reading about the health benefits of matcha, and decided that I needed to try it.  So like every other zombie consumer out there, my fingers typed ‘amazon.com’ into the search bar without my brain even realizing it, I instantly had dozens of matcha options that could be at my door in a matter of hours.  However, I was quickly sidetracked from my matcha research by a little green symbol in the search results next to the words, “Climate Pledge Friendly.”Amazon launched its Climate Pledge Friendly program to inform consumers of sustainable products in 2020, and added even more products to the program in 2021. But are products that Amazon deems friendly to the environment actually sustainable, or is it just greenwashing?Read the full article: https://novelhand.com/climate-pledge-friendly-products-on-amazon/Create Impact: https://novelhand.com/amazon-impactful-dec2021/

Your morning coffee might be hurting the environment. When we talk about coffee and sustainability, we often focus on the farming practices of coffee growers. But just as important is the waste that's produced at the point of consumption. Single-use plastic and other trash created from your morning caffeine kick adds up. That's where EcoRate comes in. This app allows you to rate coffee shops based on their sustainability. Today on the podcast, I'm speaking with Alex Morgan, the founder of EcoRate. We discuss why waste is an issue at the consumption point of coffee, how EcoRate creates its coffee shop ratings, and why we should be concerned about our Starbucks cups in the first place. Check out EcoRate: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ecorate/id1567140528

At the end of last month, a Chicago-based nonprofit filed suit against Hershey's and the Rainforest Alliance. Corporate Accountability Lab alleges that Hershey's and it's sustainability certification are violating consumer protection laws by misleading consumers about labor practices in cocoa supply chains. External reports and investigations by CAL show that child labor occurs on farms that supply cocoa to Hershey's.In today's episode, Alexa gives a brief overview of the social and environmental problems in the chocolate industry. Next, she explains this novel litigation and why you should care about it. Learn more about social and environmental issues in chocolate: https://novelhand.com/?s=chocolate CAL's blog post: https://corpaccountabilitylab.org/calblog/2021/11/2/cal-files-suit-against-hershey-and-rainforest-alliancenbsp Read the complaint: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5810dda3e3df28ce37b58357/t/618167d28dd7f307c90da0e4/1635870679248/CAL+v.+Hersheys+and+RA_Stamped+Complaint.pdf

We're learning about AVOCADOS this month: where they come from, how they affect the environment, and why it matters. On today's episode, Natasha talks with Mattie Gottbrath of the Global Citizenship Program at Washington University about food, cultural appropriation, and white saviorism. They discuss the difference between cultural appreciation and appropriation, how to engage with different cultures, and solidarity and charity. Learn more about avocados on Impactfull: www.impactfull.novelhand.comRead more at novelhand.com

What is the role of true crime in our society? Will the Bachelor franchise ever get it right? Is AOC actually a capitalist?On Activism, Meet, we're breaking down all of these issues and more. We're exploring the intersection of activism and pop culture to ask hard questions about our society and the role of social justice in media and culture. In today's inaugural episode, Alexa explores the ethics of the true crime genre and what Gabby Petito's disappearance says about our consumption of tragedy. Next, she tells a story about her interaction with a progressive member of Bachelor nation and laments the franchise's disturbing new pattern. Lastly, Alexa is joined by a special guest to chat about AOC's on-brand Met Gala dress and why Kevin O'Leary is such a jerk.  Music by Wataboi from Pixabay

We're learning about avocados: where they come from, who grows them, how they impact the environment, and so much more. This October, Natasha is exploring the human and environmental side of avocados. In today's episode, Alexa and Natasha discuss why we're focusing on avocados, what we learned from Rotten, and what solutions to the issues in the avocado industry might look like. Learn more about avocados in this week's article: https://novelhand.com/worlds-green-gold-part-i/ Create impact: www.impactfull.novelhand.comFollow Novel Hand at @novel.hand to get daily updates about avocados and more!

This month on Impactfull, we're supporting BlackFem and their work to ends wealth injustice. Katherine talks with Jasmine of BlackFem about what wealth justice is, how financial trauma affects marginalized communities and what impact looks like in this area.Learn more about BlackFem: https://www.blackfem.org/Learn more about income inequality on Impactfull: https://www.impactfull.novelhand.com/

Would you compete over social and humanitarian issues? Last week, CBS announced a new reality show, 'The Activist,' which pits advocates against one another for the opportunity to go to the G20 Summit in Italy this October.After facing online backlash, the network released a statement saying that the show will be a documentary instead of a competition. Alexa discusses why the show is problematic, whether there is any good that could come from it, and the nexus of activism and popular culture. Read Anusha's article about The Activist: https://novelhand.com/activism-or-slacktivism-where-the-activist-on-cbs-went-wrong/

In September, we're learning about income inequality, wealth justice and wage gaps. Read the first article in the series: https://novelhand.com/an-introduction-to-income-inequality-in-the-us/Create impact at www.impactfull.novelhand.comPoverty + Inequality: https://gsdrc.org/topic-guides/poverty-and-inequality/measuring-and-analysing-poverty-and-inequality/defining-poverty-extreme-poverty-and-inequality/Income Inequality in Austin, Texas: NPR article: https://www.kut.org/health/2018-05-15/study-says-austin-has-the-lowest-levels-of-income-inequality-among-large-us-cities Racial Wealth Divide: https://www.austincf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/RacialWealthDivide-Profile-Austin.pdf

The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act (or BFFPPA, as it's affectionately known) could radically transform how we produce and manage plastic waste in the United States-- if it gets passed. But what all does this bill actually include? For the final episode of our Plastic Waste series, Emma F. breaks down the BFFPPA and how it could help solve our plastic waste problem. Read the BFFPPA summary here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k4Zxx5tBTbBELtg18Bkv2SpA75ss5PPh/view Support the BFFPPA and learn more about the Break Free From Plastic Pollution movement: https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/pollution-act/ Check out our current plastic labeling system, and why the "recycling" symbol doesn't always mean recyclable: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/g804/recycling-symbols-plastics-460321/ Catch up on the rest of the Plastic Waste series: https://novelhand.com/category/impactfull/ Continue learning and creating impact with Impactfull: https://www.impactfull.novelhand.com/

I just moved to Austin, and I'm taking you with me!Alexa here. Over the next few months, I’ll share how I’m getting to know Austin and becoming a more engaged citizen. My experience is Austin-specific, but what I’m doing is critical for anyone moving to a new place. I’ll be exploring everything from electricity and composting to history and local government. Read the first two articles of the series here: https://novelhand.com/alexa-in-atx/Look for new articles each Friday, and follow Novel Hand on Instagram for more frequent updates: https://www.instagram.com/novel.hand/

Several Novel Handers share our experiences attempting to go plastic free. It's not as easy as you might think-- but it just might be worth it!Grace shares about switching to more sustainable shampoo and cleaning products. Emma has experienced a plastic bag ban in her home state and has some tips for remembering your reusables at home and on campus. Alexa is making eco-friendly swaps in her new city by switching up her shaving routine. What's the zero-waste movement, and are you doomed to fail in your zero-waste journey? Read Emma's article to learn more and find out your chances: https://novelhand.com/waste-not-want-not-exploring-zero-waste/Learn EVEN MORE about how you can go plastic free from this month's impact buttons on Impactfull: www.impactfull.novelhand.com

Nonprofit Director Katherine sits down with Emma F., our Environment and Sustainability Editor, to talk about plastic pollution in the ocean and some of our favorite nonprofits working to keep our seas clean.   Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas initiative: https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/   The Ocean Cleanup: https://theoceancleanup.com/   Surfrider Foundation: https://www.surfrider.org/initiatives/plastic-pollution  Impactfull: https://www.impactfull.novelhand.com/ 

Plastic is everywhere... and it's a problem. Emma Fagan sits down with Jennifer Congdon of Beyond Plastics to chat about why plastic is a problem (hint: it never really breaks down) and how we can be part of the solution. They discuss extended producer responsibility, personal actions to reduce plastic waste, how plastics contribute to climate change, and the politics of plastic. If you use plastic, you're going to want to listen to this episode. Emma and Jennifer discuss the impact of plastic waste on the environment and human health, along with potential solutions to the plastic crisis. Learn more about plastic waste and take action at www.impactfull.novelhand.com  Check out Beyond Plastics: www.beyondplastics.org

I’m Alexa, your occasional host and constant supporter in this journey to turn our activism into sustainable and equitable impact. If you care about people and the planet, you’re in the right place. Each month we cover a new topic, from chocolate to climate refugees to plastic. We’re talking to experts and activists about the world’s most pressing humanitarian issues to learn how we can be part of their solutions. With new episodes each Wednesday and the occasional mini episode, which we call Handfuls, you’re on your way to creating real impact in your daily life. Let’s get started!  P.S.—you’re going to want to check out www.impactfull.novelhand.com for the full experience, including ways to make impact TODAY based on what you learn in this week’s episode.

Today on the podcast, Nonprofit Director Katherine and Refugees and Migration Editor Grace sit down to discuss our July Impactfull partner, Climate Refugees, and to wrap up an excellent month of learning and impact. Using a people-driven approach, founder and Executive Director Amali Tower and the team at Climate Refugees work to uplift the voices of vulnerable climate refugees to increase awareness and bring about policy change at local, regional, and international levels. Climate Refugees is our July Impactfull partner. Your Impactfull subscription supports Climate Refugees and their work to create policy change to help address climate-driven displacement. Learn more here: https://www.climate-refugees.org/ Learn more and create impact at: https://www.impactfull.novelhand.com/

Natasha sits down with Kayly Ober, senior advocate and program manager of the Climate Displacement Program for Refugees International for the third episode of our Impactfull series on climate refugees.  Kayly has over a decade of experience researching and analyzing issues related to climate and migration, including her work with the TransRe project, World Resources Institute, and the Asian Development Bank. Kayly’s PhD dissertation at the University of Bonn focuses on analyzing the climate-migration-adaptation nexus in rural Thailand.   How important is it to have a cultural connection to the country you are researching? What kinds of vulnerabilities has COVID-19 exposed on internal migration? What can governments do to help alleviate this global problem? All of this and more are answered in today’s episode.  Check out Kayly’s work discussed in this episode here:  -https://www.refugeesinternational.org/reports/2021/2/10/at-a-climate-change-crossroads-how-a-biden-harris-administration-can-support-and-protect-communities-displaced-by-climate-change  -https://www.refugeesinternational.org/reports/2020/10/5/complex-road-to-recoverynbspcovid-19-cyclone-amphan-monsoon-flooding-collide-in-bangladesh-and-india  -http://www.transre.org/index.php/about/our-team/kayly-ober  Check out the introductory article from our Impactfull series on climate refugees here: https://novelhand.com/climate-refugees-impactfull-intro/  Our article from last week focuses on some of the pressing challenges faced by climate refugees: https://novelhand.com/climate-refugees-impactfull-challenges/  Learn more and create impact at: https://www.impactfull.novelhand.com/

What does it mean to take an interdisciplinary approach to research and policy for an issue as complex as climate refugees and climate-driven migration? For Prof. Jonathan Gilligan, it looks like drawing on expertise across fields - ranging from environmental science and law to psychology and political science - and developing a multifaceted view of the relationship between humans, the environment, and the decision to migrate.  Today on the podcast, Grace sits down with Prof. Gilligan to talk about his interdisciplinary work and the types of solutions we should consider to mitigate climate change and respond to climate refugees and migrants. Check out the introductory article from our Impactfull series on climate refugees here: https://novelhand.com/climate-refugees-impactfull-intro/ Our article from this week focuses on some of the pressing challenges faced by climate refugees: https://novelhand.com/climate-refugees-impactfull-challenges/ Learn more and create impact at: https://www.impactfull.novelhand.com/