Something we as humans have failed to recognize time and time again is that we are not alone and we cannot survive on our own. We depend on others for survival, but more importantly, we depend on the environment around us. Water, food, and shelter all come from nature, at a basic level. In fact, we could not have advanced as a society to the point of you receiving this newsletter in your inbox without having taken advantage of the resources around us. To write this sentence and to know that you could be reading this 12,450 miles away in the matter of seconds after publication is a testament both to how far we’ve come as a species, yet also a subtle reminder to take note of how we’ve gotten here as a species. 

The creation of such a newsletter relies on an incredible group of people dedicated to the mission of the newsletter. This newsletter is not the product of one person. This newsletter was not the idea of one person either, but of an entire group of high-school students operating under the name Students for Sustainability, an organization committed to environmental activism in Nebraska.

It is true that I am writing the opening article of this newsletter, but I can assure you that I am only one voice. Students for Sustainability has many voices. Students for Sustainability voices in all parts of the country through past members who are proud to say that they were a part of this organization. Being able to write the opening article of the very first newsletter that Students for Sustainability has produced is one of the greatest honors I have received. 

Our goal with this newsletter is to educate you about what you can do, and about what is happening in our community and around the world. I can assure you that you will not regret this email in your inbox every other week. Enjoy our very first newsletter. 

~ Seamus Haney, Executive Director

Leaf Fast Fashion Behind

Thrifting is when you shop for or buy used goods from a store, flea market, garage sale, or an organization that specializes in secondhand merchandise. Thrifting is very sustainable and good for the environment.

 When purchasing clothing or home décor, buying new is not always the best option. The clothing industry is a huge polluter. For example, it takes 2,700 liters of water to make one cotton t-shirt. That’s enough water for one person to take 70 showers or for one person to drink water for 900 days which equals up to two and a half years... isn’t that crazy! The clothing industry contributes to water pollution that releases large amounts of hazardous chemicals back into ecosystems harming wildlife. Manufacturing goods uses energy that emits pollution. When purchasing new goods, specifically fast fashion clothing the potential for environmental impact and landfill pollution is much higher.

 Buying used clothing, furniture and home decor can reduce the number of natural resources being used. There are so many benefits with thrifting. When buying second hand this conserves resources like wasted water and harmful chemicals. Thrifting reduces waste by extending the life of clothing which would otherwise end up in a landfill. Shopping second hand supports local or small businesses as well as the environment. Also, thrifting is fun, cheap, and green as you are essentially recycling goods! So get out and give gently used second hand goods a try instead of buying everything new!

~ Priscilla Price, Omaha Central Class of 2026

Synthetic Leaves

The popularity of solar technology & photovoltaics (electricity derived from light) has waned and waxed since its creation. Advances in the motorsport industry and renewable energy in homes have shed a kind light on the potential for solar power. Even with the potential of solar, there is a considerable backlash for the technology. Perhaps the biggest argument against solar is that it takes up space. City-dwellers don’t have room for it in their bustling urban landscapes; country-dwellers don’t want their land to be taken away from them. 

Space, especially in our rapidly growing world, is at a premium. But, new methods of implementing solar alongside existing industries have sprung up and, suddenly, if you own a plot of land, you may not have to pick between solar or not solar. It may not be so black or white. 

Speaking of black and white, an example dealing with cows is a prime demonstration of this type of implementation. Matt Wilson is a professor of animal sciences at West Virginia University and has been experimenting with agrivoltaics and cows. Agrivoltaics is simply using solar for a dual purpose—as in this article, this is with cows and their grazing grounds. The goal of his study is to determine how the cows behave around the solar panels. Wilson hopes that there will be a balance in grazing grounds between the cows and the panels. He hopes that this will be a significant source of income for farmers without any deficit to their current income.  

Although results from this study have not been published, the idea sheds kind light again on the use of solar power in our world—working towards a compromise that benefits the environment without any inconvenience to the landowner. With this compromise, the future for solar holds even more potential than before. 

To read the full article, click here.

~ Seamus Haney, Executive Director

The Leaflet’s Simple Steps to Sustainability

One simple but effective change you can make this week is to switch to a reusable water bottle. Plastic water bottles are made from fossil fuels with an extremely high carbon footprint. 

Plastic bottles also create large amounts of waste— CNN found that, “The bottled water industry generated roughly 600 billion plastic bottles and containers in 2021. (CNN)“ According to Beyond Plastics, around 85% of plastic water bottles, which can take up to 1,000 years to degrade, end up as waste ( Beyond Plastics).

Switching to a reusable bottle eliminates the emissions from the production and disposal of plastic bottles. A reusable bottle that, ideally, can be used for a lifetime is a great alternative. By switching to a reusable bottle, a person can save $1,350 a year by stopping purchasing disposable bottles (DigDeep).

Make the switch today to help your wallet and the planet!

~ Scout Walker, Westside Class of 2025

This Week’s Recycling Tip: Plastic Water Bottles

Plastic water bottles are (extremely) recyclable. They are made from PET, which is the most recyclable and the most recycled plastic in the United States (American Beverage). Although it’s best to use a reusable water bottle, at least you can be assured your bottle is being recycled once you throw it in the bin.

The only caveat is that the bottles should be relatively clean before you throw them in the bin. You don’t even have to take off labels or lids, just throw it in. 

For more information about recycling plastic bottles, go here.

What is Students for Sustainability, and What Are They Working On?

The Omaha Students for Sustainability (SFS) is a youth-driven organization founded in 2017 by high school students with a commitment to environmental activism in Nebraska. Inspired by figures like Greta Thunberg and movements such as Fridays for Future, SFS aims to combat unsustainable practices locally while advocating for environmentally responsible choices in Omaha. The group’s flagship event is an annual climate strike, drawing youth from across the Omaha metro area to rally around a specific environmental cause each year.

SFS has also recently broadened its activities, organizing additional events like concerts to raise funds for their annual lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C., and initiatives to combat fast fashion’s environmental impact. Notably, the organization has made significant strides in achieving its goals. One ongoing priority is implementing composting programs in Omaha schools, which has been largely successful. In 2021-22, SFS contributed to the drafting of the Omaha Climate Action and Resilience Plan, which is expected to be finalized in 2024 and brought to a city council vote in 2025. The following year, SFS collaborated with local activists to urge the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) to shut down the North Omaha Coal Power Plant, known for its negative health impacts. OPPD responded, announcing the plant's decommissioning by 2026.

SFS’s advocacy has also led to the inclusion of climate-related goals in Omaha’s 2025 budget, a notable milestone as the original budget lacked climate language. Beyond these local successes, SFS members participate in the Citizens Climate Lobby conference in D.C. each June, lobbying for federal pro-environment legislation. SFS continues to play a vital role in shaping Omaha’s environmental landscape and is optimistic about the progress that lies ahead, with the community’s ongoing support.

~ Steven Dickerson, Omaha Central Class of 2026

You May Also Like

1. The Stakes on Climate - NYT (The Morning) - is a timely article by Lisa Friedman of the New York Times discussing what your vote in yesterday’s election could mean for the environment (written a month ago). In short, Trump seeks to destroy any forward progress, while Harris hopes to continue strides made by the Biden Administration.

2. Check out how you’re able to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle and unleash your creativity here!

3.  The World Economic Forum discusses 6 new technologies working to adapt the world to climate change, from AI, to drones, to augmented reality. It talks of how AI could predict weather patterns and drones could foresee natural disasters, and it’s definitely worth a read.

Want to Get Involved?

Learn more about Students for Sustainability here, and if you are interested in joining, check out this form.

Thank You To

Lila Burns for her incredible illustrations throughout this newsletter bringing the entire issue to life.

Priscilla Price, Scout Walker, and Steven Dickerson for their excellent work writing this week, and for their enthusiasm to do so in the first place.

Evalina Sain for her work as Executive Director of Students for Sustainability.

Mr. Geier of Creighton Prep for editing this issue of our newsletter, and for his continued work in Creighton Prep’s Sustainability Club.

YOU, for taking the time to read this issue.

See you in two weeks.

Issue produced by Students for Sustainability

Contact: [email protected]