‘Long live the test ban’
In the twilight of the Soviet Union, ordinary people across Kazakhstan united against nuclear testing. Now a new generation of activists is picking up the mantle.
I am a journalist reporting on religion, the environment and urbanism from the U.S. and around the world.
Winner of the 2022 Covering Climate Now Journalism Award for Writing — Short Feature
Recent Work
Balancing Culture and Conservation in a Kyrgyz Walnut Forest
In Kyrgyzstan, a community-based agroforestry effort is seeking to save the world’s largest natural walnut forest.
A Protected Place
Faced with overgrazing and desertification, communities in the Middle East are reviving the concept of the hima, an ancient land-management practice that bridges tradition, culture, conservation—and faith.
What the Aral Sea might teach us about life after disaster
Sixty years ago, the Aral Sea began drying up, leaving salty, barren soil in its wake. Lessons learned here will help other parts of the world experiencing climate change.
An organic movement grows in Kyrgyzstan
Organic products are gaining traction in Central Asia as awareness grows about the negative effects of agricultural chemicals on human health and the environment.
Once protected by its remoteness, a sacred lake in Kyrgyzstan is threatened by change
On the shores of Issyk Kul are more than 130 sacred sites, including trees, mountain peaks, hot springs and tombs of important figures.
‘No place for a child to be’: Foreigners remain stuck in Syria’s war-on-terror camps
‘Time is of the essence.’
An Indian spiritual leader is urging the world to 'save soil.' Experts say he's not helping.
Sadhguru's campaign points to a real problem, but agricultural advocates say his solutions miss the mark.
Wildfire smoke is choking Indigenous communities
With government monitoring lagging behind, tribal members are installing their own monitors.
Is accepting the end of humanity the key to climate action? This scholar thinks so.
“This is not another ‘before it’s too late’ book. This is a ‘what if it’s already too late?’ book.”
Wood-burning Stoves Raise New Health Concerns
Officials increasingly treat woodsmoke pollution as a public health and environmental justice issue, despite opposition.
Mercury mining makes a comeback in Kyrgyzstan
Mercury, used in gold mining and electronics, poses serious health risks. Despite international pressure to ban its trade, Kyrgyzstan is ramping up production.
A Tiny Town Was the Soviet Union’s Uranium Hub. Now, It’s Racing to Avoid Disaster
Mailuu-Suu powered the Soviet Union's nuclear program. But climate change and its nuclear legacy are putting the town in Kyrgyzstan at risk.
U.S. Southwest, Already Parched, Sees 'Virtual Water' Drain Abroad
Foreign corporations are increasingly purchasing land in the U.S.; in the Southwest, thanks to longstanding laws on water rights, these purchases often come with unlimited access to the valuable water underneath the soil.
‘It’ll Get Better’: Chaplains Play Essential Role for Transit Workers
The M.T.A.’s nearly all-volunteer force of about 70 chaplains has mobilized to check in with workers who are sick or quarantining, offer support to families of employees who died of the virus and counsel those feeling isolated or burned out.
