Who Pays for a Crisis We Didn't Create?
On October 7, Port Phillip Council made a decision that deserves more attention than it might initially receive. In a unanimous vote, the Council backed the call for a national Climate Compensation Fund, asking the Federal Government to help communities manage the escalating costs of climate-related disasters. At first glance, this might seem like another motion passed at a council meeting. But I think it speaks to something much bigger: who bears the responsibility for a cri
6 days ago2 min read
What Is the Essence of Nature?
Have you ever wondered what nature looked like before we started losing it? Under the Bridge - Birrarung Spring Clean Supreme I thought about this while volunteering at Birrarung Riverfest. Riverfest was such a joyful day. People came together to learn about the river, volunteer, make things, explore, talk and, most importantly, spend time outdoors. I got to be part of that through volunteering, and what struck me was how simple some of the activities were. You don't always n
Sep 303 min read
The Bishnoi Community: India's First Environmentalists
Cinematic illustration of Amrita Devi Bishnoi embracing the Khejri tree. No story captures the Bishnoi philosophy more powerfully than the events of 1730 in the village of Khejarli. When the Maharaja of Jodhpur ordered the felling of Khejri trees for palace construction, Amrita Devi Bishnoi refused to step aside. Instead, she embraced a tree and declared that a life sacrificed to save a tree was a small price to pay. She was executed. Her three daughters followed. Then hundre
Jul 222 min read
The Trash Can Was Right There!
What do you see when you look at this photograph? Maybe a tree. Maybe a discarded bottle.Maybe just another ordinary moment people walk past every day. I see irony. A living tree forced to hold human waste while the trash can nearby stood empty. And the trash can was less than ten meters away! That is the part I cannot stop thinking about. The bottle did not accidentally fall there. Someone deliberately placed it inside the trunk and walked away. It was a conscious decision:
May 192 min read
What if the future of sustainability lies in ancient wisdom?
As environmental crises intensify, we continue to respond with stronger regulations, improved technologies, and more sophisticated economic incentives. Yet despite these efforts, ecological degradation persists. This raises an uncomfortable but necessary question: what if the sustainability crisis is not only technological or political, but fundamentally ethical? This question sits at the heart of my master’s thesis, Ancient Wisdom for Modern Crises: Exploring Vedic Philosoph
May 22 min read
I Watched Worms Eat Plastic for 30 Days—Here’s What It Taught Me About Solving the Climate Crisis
It's true. I once spent 30 days watching worms eat plastic. Not metaphorically. Literally. As part of my bachelor’s thesis, My team and I explored whether biological systems could help address one of today’s most pressing environmental challenges: plastic pollution. Among the most problematic materials is Polystyrene—a lightweight, widely used plastic (Type 6) that is notoriously difficult to recycle and persists in the environment for decades. To test a potential solution, I
May 22 min read
Rebuilding After Fire: A Day Volunteering at Westgate Park
This past weekend, I spent the final volunteer day of 2025 at Westgate Park, and it reminded me once again why I love environmental work, not just as a profession, but as a way of living. Gardening as Connection Gardening is one of the simplest and most tangible ways to feel aligned with nature. Think about it: you’re literally in contact with the earth. You dig, you clear, you shape, and you plant, almost like becoming a tiny engineer of new ecosystems. There’s intention in
Nov 29, 20252 min read