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When the country's first indigenous Interior Secretary Deb Haaland took office, she vowed to confront a legacy of mistreatment of the U.S. government toward Native Americans and to include their voices in public land decisions. 

The Protect Thacker Pass campaign and the tribal group People of the Red Mountain are calling on Secretary Haaland to intervene in plans for a lithium mine at Thacker Pass in Humboldt County, Nevada, 35 miles south of the Oregon border. Natural resources depended on by Native Americans have long been threatened by fossil fuel development. Now, their communities are expected to bear the brunt once again in the mining spree for renewable energies — especially lithium mining, which has already brought great human rights abuses in places such as Chile and Argentina. Many tribes in Nevada are uniting against the new wave of energy extraction calling for the Joe Biden administration to make good on its promises to protect their cultural rights. 

“I know one of your main missions is ‘Preserving our historic sites and lands for future generations,’’’ Daranda Hinkey, a young member of the People of the Red Mountain, wrote in a letter on Sept. 7 of last year, “and I know you have said you, ‘remain committed to centering voices and history, and stories of those who have been unrepresented and underrepresented.’ Our people have been overlooked and taken advantage of for too long. We need your help to turn this around.”

Downplayed history of the massacre at Thacker Pass

Thacker Pass, or Peehee Mu’huh in Paiute (Rotten Moon), is sacred to the Paiute-Shoshone people. Tribal elders recall how their ancestors hid in the mountains from U.S. soldiers. "Rotten" is for the blood spilled in those conflicts, and "moon" is for the shape of the pass. In 1865, at least 31 Natives were massacred by the U.S. Cavalry in a battle that led to forcible removal and placement onto reservations across Nevada, Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah and Arizona.

On Sept. 12, tribes from across Nevada gathered at Thacker Pass for a commemoration of the massacre and to rally support to protect the land where their ancestors are said to be buried. Less than two weeks earlier, federal Judge Miranda Du had denied a preliminary injunction brought by the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Burns Paiute Tribe and People of the Red Mountain to stop planned archaeological excavation at the site.

Then, on Oct. 1, the tribes' lead attorney, Will Falk, and his co-counsel filed a Motion for Reconsideration in a federal district court which presented Judge Du with arguments that the 1865 massacre means there are human remains present in Thacker Pass. This would mean the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is obligated to honor the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, triggering emergency consultation with tribes. 

“We have presented BLM Winnemucca with an abundance of significant new evidence showing that the September 12, 1865, Thacker Pass Massacre happened within the proposed mine area,” Falk said. “BLM Winnemucca has ignored this new evidence and will likely destroy the remains of massacred Paiute people with the archaeological digs. So, not only did the federal government perpetrate this atrocity — now, it plans to destroy the physical evidence that it even happened.”

In the BLM’s own public records are archival field notes prepared by a U.S. deputy land surveyor writing in 1868 details of the massacre, the Motion for Reconsideration alleges. 

Further evidence provided to BLM by the tribes’ legal counsel includes: An 1865 newspaper clip “Indian Fight in Indian Valley” in the Owyhee Avalanche describes “the extent of the battlefield so great” where “each officer and man went for scalps” and that “several tons of berries, grass seeds, and other foods were completely destroyed.” Other literary references detail eyewitness accounts found in autobiographies and state historical records, according to the motion. 

“This counts as American History and the Paiute people are important, not just the artifacts on and in the ground," said Michon R. Eben, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony tribe member and cultural resource manager. "BLM and the archeological firm have failed to acknowledge the massacre and failed to properly engage with tribes.”

Eben said she believes that Thacker Pass should be protected under the National Register of Historic Places. Eligibility for this protection means any excavation must be done with the utmost care, following more stringent protocols than what’s required of standard “data recovery” archeological work, as the potential dig at Thacker Pass is currently categorized. 

“It is very likely that the mechanical trenching operations, hand-dug holes, and the surface scraping actions specified in [the projects Historic Properties Treatment Plan] will disturb the Thacker Pass Massacre site and result in the excavation of the remains of the Paiutes shot to death in the Thacker Pass project area,” reads a recent letter from the tribal members to the BLM Winnemucca office. They sent at least three letters to Winnemucca BLM citing massacre evidence and have received no acknowledgment, according to their council. 

"The Final EIS [environmental impact statement] prepared by the BLM does not even mention that Peehee mu'huh is named for the massacre that took place there and explicitly denies the existence of any significant traditional or sacred sites within the project area,” said Lucy Gill of the Archaeological Research Facility at UC Berkeley, who has experience in partnerships with Indigenous communities. “I am skeptical that a Historic Properties Treatment Plan created on the basis of such an inaccurate EIS — which proposes no mitigation measures whatsoever in terms of Native American religious concerns — will adhere to best practices for archaeological work on a massacre site, which requires minimally invasive methods and, most importantly, meaningful and ongoing consultation and collaboration."

A BLM spokesperson declined to answer questions, referring to the Final Environmental Impact Statement for information regarding cultural sites.

“Even if the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act is honored, that only gives us the right to oversee the reburial of our dead, not leave them be,” Eben explained. “The idea of reburying our ancestors goes against our culture, and that’s a spiritually distressing task for Paiute and Shoshone People. Imagine if U.S. citizens were asked to remove a European historical cemetery? They’d be in an uproar.” 

In case you missed it, you can read part one of this story here. 

Interested in having your voice heard on 3p? Contact us at editorial@3BLMedia.com and pitch your idea for a guest article to us.

Image credit: Famartin/Wikimedia Commons

Approximately 800 million people around the world go hungry each day. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about 1 in 3 people worldwide are at risk of food insecurity, a figure that jumped significantly due in large part to the global pandemic.

Mexico, a model of how innovation can address food insecurity



Mexico is one such country in which many of its people confront food insecurity. Despite a lucrative agriculture sector — $33 billion worth of food exports flow northward to the U.S. alone — Latin America’s second largest economy still struggles to feed its own people, and the pandemic has made matters worse. At least 29 million Mexicans, more than 20 percent of the country’s population, are at risk of food insecurity day to day, said María Teresa García Plata, director of Red de Bancos de Alimentos de México (BAMX, or the Mexican Foodbanking Network), during a recent interview with TriplePundit.

To that end, organizations such as BAMX have had to pivot over the past two years, and partnerships with companies can offer much-needed support as food banks struggle to meet the needs of communities across Mexico. In turn, BAMX now has more tools at hand to find creative ways to not only provide food, but essential nutrition programs as well.

“We started 2020 by offering services to 1.4 million people, but by August 2020, we were serving 2.1 million people,” García said. “Despite the situation, we grew, and we also had to establish a safety protocol so we could service the communities and process all the food and care for all the food that we’ve received.”

The massive efforts food banks make behind the scenes

BAMX has long taken a multi-pronged approach to assist families who are in dire need of food. Part of this effort is what García described as “rescuing” food — often surplus product that may be misshapen or in slightly damaged packaging but is perfectly edible, healthful food.

Another source for food banks is food that is close to expiration. “We rescue from supermarkets and from distribution centers,” García continued, “and we work with …many companies and retailers. They all have different policies, so we make different agreements so we can receive this food.”

An even larger piece of this puzzle, however, is procuring enough fresh food to not only feed families, but also ensure nutrition for both parents and children. On one hand, Mexico intuitively has plenty of fresh produce when considering the scale of its farming sector. Gathering those fruits and vegetables before they spoil, however, has proven to be the hard part — and therein lies one way in which BAMX relies on resourceful and dedicated teams of volunteers.

“Forty-seven percent of all the food that we deliver is perishable food from the fields,” García explained. “Perhaps to one farm, it doesn’t make sense to pick his crop of tomatoes because he knows this harvest won’t appeal to U.S. consumers for whatever reason. Or perhaps a crop of cucumbers proves to be too large. Usually, his response is to not pick it, but it’s still nutritious food, so food banks like us need to be there so we can get this nutritious source of food.”

Finally, food banks often must find enough budget to buy other food products so the boxes they deliver to combat food insecurity across communities have a complete nutritional profile. In Mexico that missing element is usually everyday staples like beans and rice. On that point, building strong relationships is critical to allow food banks like BAMX to purchase food that is often unavailable through food rescue programs or contributions from brands or retailers. 

This is why BAMX has joined the Nutrition for Zero Hunger (NFZH) campaign, a global initiative started by Herbalife Nutrition. Through NFZH, Herbalife Nutrition and the Herbalife Nutrition Foundation provide critical resources and expertise to communities around the world with the aim of bringing hunger down to zero — an issue which currently affects 1 in 9 people worldwide.

One result of a partnership like this is the impressive amount of food that BAMX can provide for each currency unit (dollar or peso) it receives in cash donations. In the U.S., a food bank is doing well for its local community if it can churn one donated dollar into three or four meals. According to García, BAMX’s overall return is about one to five — and within some of its member food banks, that ratio is as high as one to nine.

Why partnerships absolutely matter during times of crisis

The pandemic has further strengthened the bonds between the global nutrition company and BAMX. “We are very proud of our partnership under the Nutrition for Zero Hunger initiative. Through this partnership in 2021 alone, we are able to provide aid to 11,000 families,” García told 3p. “With this resource, the best result was to be able to procure high-nutrition, valuable food product, which we usually cannot get through donations.”

The result is improved services at 28 of BAMX’s member food banks, with the amount of available food more than doubling while significantly adding to the health benefits of the food packages that the organization was distributing, García said.

The partnerships that BAMX has been able to forge with company initiatives, like Nutrition for Zero Hunger, also generate a ripple effect in addressing food insecurity and improving wellbeing, she added. “Something definitely worth mentioning is that this partnership has enabled and empowered us to boost our efforts, because we have been able to develop relationships with other entities that would agree to partner with us so we could further improve the nutritional value of these food packages,” she said.

Going beyond food donations: Strengthening communities with nutrition programs

BAMX’s work with communities isn’t limited to providing food at times of need. Education, specifically nutrition programs and classes, comprise a key component to ensure that families can score maximum nutritional value from the food that BAMX and community organizations provide them. It turned out that the pandemic and restrictions such as social distancing and shifting to a more virtual model offered its own challenges but created new opportunities, too.

“In early 2020, we had 24,000 volunteers nationwide,” García said. “So, when the pandemic started in March 2020, we had to change our model. We couldn’t have that many people on the ground because of the new COVID-19 safety protocols.”

García, BAMX and the networks of volunteers on which they had long relied had to scramble — and do so quickly. “We had to change our operational models, and those were some of the most challenging months our food banks faced,” she continued. “We had to stop our nutrition programs and had to go from live, in-person programs to social media, using platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.”

The result was a complete transformation of BAMX’s popular program, Comer en Familia (Eat As a Family). “The positive impact that we offered with these workshops, using the food that we provided, with a special focus on fruits and vegetables — it helps beneficiaries make better decisions on what to eat, how to manage and how to cook this food. We now have these programs on social media, and we now have more participants, because we had to make these adjustments,” García explained.

Serving communities and families post-pandemic

Despite her accomplishments, and those of BAMX, its corporate partners and its broad networks of volunteers, García emphasized that her work fighting food insecurity is far from finished. In fact, she was bullish, brimming with optimism about the work BAMX could achieve during the next several years.

“The biggest challenge is the growth that we are aiming to achieve. We want to duplicate the number of people being assisted in the next three years,” García said. “It’s a huge challenge, because we need to get enough food to deliver that.”

The means to this end involve more networking with the goal to attain more corporate partnerships for BAMX. “We have been working with different trade associations, signing more agreements, and now this is the year to take real action. Because of the current situation, we must keep growing and we have to rescue more and more food. As the needs of the Mexican people have been growing during the pandemic, we need this quantum leap,” she continued. “We plan to do this by prioritizing different regions of Mexico where too many people are living in poverty, so we want to open more food banks where they are needed.”

García concluded, “Herbalife Nutrition and the Herbalife Nutrition Foundation’s commitment to us through the Nutrition for Zero Hunger Initiative has been global, and this to us is the beginning of an ongoing and hopefully long-standing relationship.”

This article series is sponsored by Herbalife Nutrition and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

Images courtesy of BAMX

Though the pandemic helped the world reduce fossil fuel emissions in 2020, carbon dioxide emissions are expected to rise and reach record high levels in 2023. With the pandemic restrictions ending in many parts of the world, it’s critical to address this forthcoming challenge. How can we prevent emissions worldwide from increasing? And while bouncing back from the pandemic, how can we rebuild our institutions and systems to meet climate change goals and induce others to get on board? These climate intervention questions are just the beginning of an action-oriented discussion for meeting net zero goals. And as we're not on track to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, it’s time to become more deliberate.

"The science community is not prepared to say to the public 1.5°C is toast, stop talking about that. We're not going to achieve that at all,'" said Wake Smith, author of the book, Pandora's Toolbox: The Hopes and Hazards of Climate Intervention. “There's continuing optimism going back to Paris and the preparations for Paris."

In his book, Smith writes that net zero goals cannot be reached quickly through solely reducing emissions. Instead, we also need massive carbon removal and storage and may need to reduce incoming solar radiation to lower elevated temperatures. Smith writes about the pitfalls of emission reduction solutions which he argues have not been researched or experimented with thoroughly. In an interview with TriplePundit, Smith further discussed the technological economic and policy challenges associated with these solutions.

Net zero emissions via emissions reductions: challenging and expensive

"If doing the right thing remains expensive, it will be a tough sell,” said Smith. According to him, the challenges of greenhouse gas removal are economical and include inducing global partners to invest in this cause. And this method is a big investment as it can substantialize differently. For example, greenhouse gas removal can take in the form of direct air capture (DAC). In this method, chemicals are released in the atmosphere and after interacting with carbon dioxide, the reaction eliminates the toxicant. DAC, however, is costlier than other popular mitigation methods.

Smith proposed a few ways to tackle the excessive costs during his talk with 3p. The first being, a focus on expanding the recapture process. Smith explained that before eliminating carbon out of the general atmosphere, where it is diluted, we should focus on eliminating carbon from smokestacks. With this, carbon capture would be cheaper to remove. In addition, legislation that requires fuel gas capture would accelerate such impacts, too.

The next tool Smith advocates for is solar radiation management. In his book, Smith defines this tool as reducing the amount of energy absorbed by the earth. And for solar radiation management, Smith writes that its challenge is unintended physical consequences. To combat this, Smith explained to 3p that we need to begin researching and experimenting with stratospheric aerosol injections. This theoretical geoengineering tactic sprays quantities of small reflective particles in the stratosphere to cool the planet by reflecting sunlight back into space.

"There remains a great deal of reluctance to begin outdoor experiments, I think it's just wrong-headed and back to the sort of naive optimism," said Smith. "People just can't imagine that we would ever need such a tool so why bother researching it. Well, I can imagine that we may need such a tool."

Innovation is a crucial step to reach global climate goals. And with that, forethought, too. For example, researching stratospheric aerosol injections is especially important as it has a wide range of consequences. Computer simulations suggest that this tool will likely cause droughts in Africa and Asia and have an impact on global ecosystems, rain patterns and ozone chemistry.

Before setting targets and publicizing climate change intervention tools, we clearly need to grasp a better understanding of their effects. And at the most basic level, we must assess if these tools are safe enough to pursue in the first place.

Why we must consider climate intervention strategies and step away from naïve optimism

Smith explained to 3p that there are numerous factors that prevent countries from reaching net zero goals. Besides the lack of research on climate intervention tools and its high costs, there is a lack of a general understanding of the current climate situation and a reluctance to make sacrificial changes.

What we need to do is "wake up and make a more sober assessment of where we are, which would be in service of trying to get the world to begin to be willing to make economic sacrifices," Smith said. He added, "People are by large willing to sacrifice a little on the altar of climate."

Such sacrifices, such as eliminating air travel, are difficult, as Smith made clear to 3p. Nevertheless, he explained that there are other areas on which we can focus. For example, the technology sector can do its part with innovations that could help drive down the cost of climate intervention tools.

Public conversations need to include far more assessments and information about the impact and risks of the climate intervention tools on which we are leaning to reach net zero goals. These are steps we cannot afford to skip or forget amidst optimism. And the best time to get underway with this is right now.

Image credit: Scott Webb via Pexels

Common sense and scientific fact: Human beings benefit from regular contact with nature, including forests. Nonprofits such as the Fresh Air Fund, founded in 1877, have promoted the concept for decades. Studies document the individual mental and physical health improvements to be gained from simple walks in a natural environment.

On a global scale, more consumers understand what deforestation of the Amazon for cattle and other commodity production means for climate change, which translates to negative impacts for human health. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic surfaces increased risk of zoonotic diseases, the transfer of illness-inducing pathogens from animals to humans. These are lessons that should have been more deeply embraced from past waves of avian influenza, swine flu, HIV and Ebola, among others.

These seemingly distinct issues — the benefits of a walk in the woods and the prevention of worldwide death — have a common denominator: forests.

A new report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) called The Vitality of Forests gives the public, private and nonprofit sectors a ground-to-aerial view of the scientific links between forests and human health. WWF advances what it calls a “holistic framework” that pulls together all the interconnected systems that link humans and forests.

The publication is a digestible 55 pages that illustrate how forests have an impact on water and air quality for the better and provide a variety of benefits, from food to much-needed protection from natural disasters. Forests and vegetation also defend against excessive heat and drought; improve biodiversity that inhibits the spread of zoonotic diseases, and much more, including making that walk in the woods possible.

In addition to its sobering statistics — the planet has lost 40 percent of its forests, including the conversion of 17 percent of the Amazon in just 50 years — the report advocates a four-part systems approach to promoting forest and human health: protect and prevent forest conversion; improve forest and land use management; restore forests through diversified approaches; and create urban forests.

This opens a wide door for any business to assess where it can modify its operations beneficially and cost-effectively, whether to examine its supply chain for forest-adverse vendors and practices, to site its next facility on land already in commercial use, or to focus on carbon emission reduction, to name a few.

Further, WWF illustrates the four layers of the earth’s population geographically relative to forests: directly dependent on forests, rural, suburban and urban. For companies already deep into target market modeling, it’s not a stretch to consider folding forest and human health support into its delivery systems, workforce retention and marketing.

The report also does a good job of breaking down the different sectors affecting human beings such as nutrition, noncommunicable diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular, cancer, etc.), infectious diseases (including zoonotic illness), and physical accessibility. To its credit, the WWF also identified knowledge gaps, areas requiring more study so reliable actions can be taken. It also candidly points out negative aspects of human contact with nature to be considered, such as Lyme disease and dangerous animal confrontations.

So what does a corporate commitment to the forest-human health connection look like? Based on the WWF’s report, the possibilities are extensive. Freeing a supply chain of harmful sources isn’t easy, but Groupe Danone gains recognition by various ranking organizations for its efforts. The company reports on its sourcing progress for palm oil, soy and pulp products, thus adding transparency to the toolbox.

Supply chains are just one target. Some companies aim for investment in reforestation technology. Others seek out LEED certification for building design. Rooftop forests and gardens are feasible and growing in number.

Sponsorships support access to the wild for the disabled. For corporations seeking to reduce poverty and household air pollution as well as combat degradation of forests and vegetation, funding and technical support for clean cooking initiatives in developing nations creates a multiple win.

And, come on, who wouldn’t like a fruit orchard on their company’s campus?

The WWF report is thought-stimulating. It’s an ethically-sourced coffee for business and industry brains.

In one place, it’s good to see both the forest and the trees.

Image credit: Geran de Klerk via Unsplash

Balancing a career with the demands of family life is a consistent challenge for women. Pew Research has found that women disproportionately bear the costs in terms of career advancement and work-life balance. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these trends.

When the pandemic hit, it created more of chasm between working women and their careers, as many found themselves also filling the roles of remote teacher and office manager in their own homes. The most recent annual Women in the Workplace study by McKinsey and LeanIn.org found that 1 in 3 women considered downshifting their careers last year or leaving the workforce altogether because of the increased burden on themselves and their families. 

T-Mobile’s TechX Returnship, a six-month, full-time, paid return-to-work program, launched in the fall of 2019 to help people update their skills and work experience after an absence from the workforce. “In 2019, the TechX Returnship started off as a field test to do better with an understanding of the value diversity and women in technology bring to the business,” Joanne de Guzman, senior technology program manager for the TechX Returnship, told TriplePundit. “Over the course of two years, it’s been a privilege to be part of making that concept into a reality and observing the direct impact that has spanned across technology.” 

T-Mobile has transitioned 81 percent of Returnship participants into full-time roles at the company since the pilot program launched, de Guzman said. When COVID-19 hit and people were forced out of their jobs due to layoffs and shifting priorities at home, this work suddenly became all the more relevant. de Guzman and her team looked to tailor the program to meet these challenges head on — including “opening up remote and hybrid opportunities so people who may not be able to afford living in high cost living cities, like Seattle, could contribute to T-Mobile,” she told us. 

The latest cohort in particular emphasizes helping working mothers and others displaced by the pandemic. The cohort is 78 percent women and 74 percent people of color, with an average of 12 years of work experience and six years of a career break. “This speaks to the level of commitment from our leaders and advocates, who value this hidden talent pool of workers who are skillful and ready to contribute to the workforce,” de Guzman said. “Every time I talk about this, it gives me goosebumps.” 

“Your confidence is shaken.” Women share their experiences of taking a break from work.

There are myriad reasons why a person leaves the workforce. Valerie Chyong-Tzyy Huang, one of the most recent “Returners” in T-Mobile’s program, took a leave of absence to raise her family — leaving a successful telecommunications career behind. With her children now in middle school, she says she’s ready to return to work, put her education and skills to use, and be a role model for her 13-year old daughter and other young women.

She soon learned returning to the workforce after an absence is not just about skills, but also about the mindset that creeps in during time away. “I never thought anyone would employ me,” Huang told TriplePundit. And something else had shifted for her: what she wanted to do. “The first time around, you’re a new undergrad with student loans, and money is a big driver,” she said. “Now I want a job to be more meaningful.” 

Gillian Stubblefield, another Returner in the latest cohort, shared similar emotional challenges. As an entrepreneur, she launched an education-focused company and worked with private schools and U.S. embassies overseas doing community outreach. In 2016, she transitioned out of the workforce, but did not plan for it to be such a long absence. The psychological toll it took on her was similar to what Huang experienced. “After being out of the workforce for a while, your confidence is shaken,” she told us. 

Stubblefield looked for opportunities to use her transferrable entrepreneurial skills, but she could not seem to get the satisfaction she was looking for. “There are clear barriers when there’s a gap in your resume,” she said, “especially when they ask for references.” 

Both women gave continuing education a try — including taking courses and obtaining certificates — but they struggled to find the right fit, and their frustrations compounded by continued pressure related to the pandemic. The challenges as they tried to reenter the workforce took their toll, but the feasibility of what a new career would look like was equally daunting. “During the pandemic, my whole family’s home,” Huang told us. “I knew I couldn’t honestly spend 40 hours somewhere else.” 

When the announcement of the Returnship landed in their inboxes, both wanted to see what it was all about.

The TechX Returnship offers support and a foot in the door

“Thinking about returning during the pandemic was challenging,” Stubblefield said. "The chances of getting a job when I saw so many people losing jobs wasn’t getting my hopes up.” Huang agreed, saying: “I didn’t have a lot of hope I’d get an interview.”

The TechX Returnship’s cohort model created an instant network, supported by staff from T-Mobile and ReacHIRE, the partner company that manages the program, through trainings and team assessments. “I’ve never been onboarded like this before,” Stubblefield told us. “It’s one thing to offer an opportunity for women to come back into the workforce after a break, but to build our confidence as well. The cohort model with shared experiences to go through this together is such a great way to support each other.” She also appreciated that returning to the workforce as an older person was embraced in the program that prioritizes skills and experience. “I rocked my gray hair, and it didn’t phase anyone,” she said. “I was accepted for what I could bring to the table."

“It was surreal to think I was in the office working,” Huang added. “The fact that I’m working. Is this real? They build a huge safety net, and you feel that everyone wants you to be successful on this. A lot of us are going through the same emotions, but with the cohort, it’s comforting that we’re not doing this alone.”

Volunteer, network and learn: Advice for those re-entering the workforce 

The Returnship has offered these high-achieving women a place to update their already strong set of skills. For others looking to re-enter the workforce after a time away, both Huang and Stubblefield offered similar advice: volunteer, build up your network and look for opportunities to learn. 

Huang, for example, taught Chinese classes at the start of her return-to-work journey, while Stubblefield volunteered helping disadvantaged students prepare for higher education. “It’s a way to rebuild your confidence and contribute to a cause you’re passionate about,” Stubblefield told us. “Keep learning, building personal and professional skills. Clean up your LinkedIn. Seek out new opportunities. The worst thing they can do is say no.”

Huang added that continuing to learn and serve also helped refine her goals. “You have to understand your purpose,” she explained. “Focus on your mission, and it’s easier to keep going. My mission wasn’t just to get a job, but also to help other women. You have to believe in what you’re doing. Everyone’s path is different. Through this experience, you know yourself better.”

Through the Returnship, both women have been given opportunities they did not foresee. For example, the day before speaking with TriplePundit, Stubblefield participated in a small meeting with the CEO of T-Mobile. And she’s found a new way to serve her passion by working on a team (the T-Mobile Accelerator) that helps startup companies in the tech space. 

Returning to the workforce after an absence has its challenges, but programs like the TechX Returnship can help build skills and networks while creating a supportive work environment. While many Returners stay with T-Mobile at the end of the program, it can be a launching pad for going anywhere. “We’re in this program, keeping our feet on the ground and doing the work,” Huang said. “What happens after, only the future can tell.” Walking through that open door is the first step.

This article series is sponsored by T-Mobile and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

Image credit: NDABCREATIVITY/Adobe Stock, Brandy Kennedy/Unsplash

An ancient landscape and known massacre site sacred to Indigenous communities throughout the West face possible desecration at the proposed Thacker Pass lithium mine, 35 miles south of the Oregon-Nevada border in Humboldt County. 

Environmental and tribal activists have been camped out at Thacker Pass — or Peehee mu’huh in Paiute — for nearly 10 months to halt construction by Lithium Nevada, a subsidiary of the international mining corporation Lithium Americas. The Thacker Pass Lithium Mine project, which would develop the nation’s largest known reserve of lithium in the name of the “clean energy transition,” has encountered mounting obstacles for its potential harms to the environment and local communities. 

On Sept. 30 of last year, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued an archeological permit which would allow a contractor hired by Lithium Nevada to excavate Thacker Pass following an approved plan known as the Historic Properties Treatment Plan (HPTP). But tribal leaders said they were not properly consulted and condemned any potential disturbance brought to their ancestors’ graves.  

“Our trust has not been held responsibly,” said Arlan D. Melendez, who has served as chairman of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony for 26 years. “We’ve given up enough. This treatment of the land goes against our culture and way of life. It never seems to end. We are always in this protective fight.”

Dig at Thacker Pass threaten sacred site: 'This isn’t how ethical archaeology is done'

When mining companies form agreements with the BLM in areas known to have artifacts and historical significance, they are obligated to follow guidelines created in the HPTP under the National Historic Preservation Act. But the cultural significance of Thacker Pass to surrounding tribes has been undermined and not properly addressed by the BLM and Lithium Nevada, according to many tribal members. 

“We have all these federal laws to guide the project, not to give us tribes a way to fully protect our culture,” said Michon R. Eben, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony tribe member and cultural resource manager.

To date, the representatives for the tribes maintain they have not been properly treated throughout the permitting processes. BLM has not acknowledged Thacker Pass as a massacre site in any communications with Eben, he said. 

Given the violence of the settler-colonial era when the U.S. Cavalry forcibly and brutally removed Indigenous peoples from their land, treating the sites of that bloody history with reverence is of great importance to tribal leaders, and at the heart of what is at stake. The conflict at Thacker Pass could be the first of many land disputes as the new wave of mining for “critical” minerals like lithium stands to potentially jeopardize the land and cultures of more Indigenous communities — following more of the same ecological and cultural damages brought by fossil fuel extraction.

The archeological dig is the first step to clearing the way for an open-pit lithium mine spanning almost 18,000 acres across old-growth sagebrush habitat. It’s viewed by opponents as the beginning of the assault on the land. 

"Without meaningful, ongoing consultation with all tribes that attach religious and cultural significance to Peehee mu’huh, which the BLM has not engaged in, such invasive archaeological work can amount to the further desecration of Indigenous sacred sites,” said Lucy Gill of the Archaeological Research Facility at UC Berkeley, who has experience in partnerships with Indigenous communities. “This isn’t how ethical archaeology is done.” 

Indigenous communities say they aren't being consulted 

The tribes have consistently protested the lack of comprehensive consultation with the Indigenous communities throughout the development of the Thacker Pass Lithium Mine project. The Bureau of Land Management has been accused of “fast-tracking” the permits and issuing an inaccurate and incomplete Record of Decision, allegations that are the subject of two lawsuits brought by rancher Ed Bartell and four environmental nonprofits. 

On Sept. 3, federal Judge Miranda Du denied a preliminary injunction brought by the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Burns Paiute Tribe, and Atsa Koodakuh wyh Nuwu/People of Red Mountain (members of the Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone reservation) which are located nearest to the mine and could suffer health impacts from potential air and water pollution. The lawsuit sought an emergency halt to any archeological digging.

The legal arguments alleged that the BLM violated the National Historic Preservation Act in permitting the mine. The lead attorney for that case, Will Falk, said the BLM did not attempt in “good faith” to consult those who attach cultural significance to Thacker Pass and “handpicked” a few tribes suffering as a result of the pandemic knowing they’d struggle to respond. The main arguments by Falk espouse the irreparable distress that tribal members would suffer if Thacker Pass was desecrated. 

“This breaks my heart,” community leader Myron Smart, a member of the Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone reservation, said. “My belief is that you don’t go digging through cemeteries. How would they like it if someone went to Arlington National Cemetery and started removing all the grass, putting bones in plastic bags to be kept in lockers? They are violating our ancestors lying there. Why aren’t they afforded the same respect?”

Eben said this is the least the BLM has done to consult with Indigenous authorities in the more than 16 years she's held per position as a tribal leader. Typically, she said, tribal members are included in-person at the cultural sites to counsel on the whereabouts of artifacts and burial grounds and to help ease the overall disturbance. “We did not hear about this mine until it was too late," she said, "and no tribal members have been asked to advise at the time of the survey, authoring of cultural inventory reports, HPTP, and MOA (Memorandum of Agreement). All of which are related to Paiute and Shoshone culture. This is not appropriate.”   

Legal representation for the BLM asserted during the hearing on Sept. 3 that they mailed letters to tribal offices according to protocol. Representation for Lithium Nevada agreed and stated that “substantial consultation” with local tribes occurred. 

“What they are calling adequate consultation is the fact that the BLM sent three letters to three different tribes.” Sitting at her desk in the Cultural Resources office in Reno, Eben motions to a heaping stack of papers. “These letters can easily be overlooked, especially during COVID,” she said. “And not all tribes have the resources to field this kind of communication; it’s not sufficient. And they chose to inform us at the end of the permitting process. That’s not appropriate. That’s a way designed to simply check a box.”

“Lithium Nevada is working hard to ensure impacts to historic artifacts are mitigated,” Tim Crowley, vice president of government affairs and community relations for Lithium Nevada, said in June.

Judge Du acknowledged the sacredness of Thacker Pass to the tribes but said the National Historic Properties Act "does not give the tribes the right to prevent all digging in the entire project area. It merely provides for consultation." 

“It’s all about 'mitigation,'” Eben said. “For Native Americans, this is a government-sanctioned way to loot our artifacts. The treatment plan is based on discriminatory language and is in direct disrespect to our history.”

In part two of this story, we take a closer look at the downplayed history of the massacre at Thacker Pass and what’s next in the fight to protect the sacred site.

Interested in having your voice heard on 3p? Contact us at editorial@3BLMedia.com and pitch your idea for a guest article to us.

Images courtesy of the author

BMW Group has joined a very select club of automakers that are trying to market hydrogen fuel cell electric passenger cars. The company is forging ahead with cold weather trials for its iX5 Hydrogen SUV, despite an emerging consensus that battery pack technology will continue to dominate the field into the foreseeable future. The cold weather trial, though, could explain why BMW and a few other automakers could pick off a small but significant slice of the passenger car market for themselves.

Public policy and the fuel cell car market

Fuel cell electric vehicles are electric vehicles (EVs), just like their battery powered cousins. The main difference is that fuel cells generate electricity on-the-go, through a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. They can be refueled in just a few minutes, like a gas-powered car, and they can have longer range than either battery or cars fueled by gasoline.

Nevertheless, the market for battery-powered passenger cars, SUVs and pickup trucks is growing exponentially, while very few buyers are interested in fuel cell cars for personal use.

As a matter of rapid decarbonization and public policy, that makes the case against promoting fuel cells seem pretty straightforward. A recent article in the journal Nature, for example, describes how battery electric vehicles have far outstripped fuel cell vehicle sales. For the sake of rapid decarbonization, the argument goes, the focus should be on accelerating battery-powered vehicles.

Performance, performance, performance

Public policy aside, though, some automakers continue to promote fuel cell technology, and BMW seems to have spotted an opportunity to make money. With the iX5 Hydrogen, the company seems to be aiming to attract potential electric vehicle buyers who won’t give up on gas-powered cars because they are still wary of battery performance.

As with other automakers, BMW does make an effort to reassure its customers that battery electric vehicles perform as well as – if not better than – conventional cars.

The company also demonstrated its firm commitment to battery power last year, when it partnered with Ford to invest in new solid state battery technology. BMW has also issued a new sustainability plan that includes an emphasis on EV battery recycling.

Still, BMW seems to have its sights set on a small but potentially strong cohort of willing EV buyers who are not convinced by the battery performance message. Even if their concerns over battery performance are totally unfounded, they are still waiting until a superior zero-emission driving experience comes along.

BMW Group appears to be banking that it can reel in this group of potential EV buyers more quickly, by offering them a fuel cell alternative.

Cold-testing the BMW fuel cell car

To be clear, battery technology is improving practically by the minute, and electric vehicle drivers can easily factor in the effect of cold weather on driving range. For that matter, cold weather is not even a consideration for millions of EV drivers in warm or temperate climates.

Still, perceptions can make a difference when one is trying to sell high end cars. To the extent that cold weather performance sticks in the minds of potential EV buyers, the message behind the iX5 Hydrogen is that fuel cell technology puts that issue to bed.

BMW Group has been testing the iX5 Hydrogen close to the Arctic Circle, in northern reaches of Sweden. The workout includes public roads as well as the company's testing facility in Arjeplog.

In website article posted on March 10, BMW focused on the Arctic Circle regimen:

"Despite harsh below-zero temperatures and the most challenging conditions such as ice and snow, all drive components of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen – from the fuel cell system to the hydrogen tanks and the power buffer battery to the central vehicle control unit – impressively underlined their reliability and suitability for everyday use."

"Testing under extreme weather conditions is a prerequisite in the vehicle development process," BMW Group emphasized.

For fuel cell vehicles, BMW stays on message

Frank Weber, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development, drew additional attention to potential EV buyers who have qualms, imagined or not, about battery performance in cold weather.

“The winter testing under extreme conditions clearly shows that the BMW iX5 Hydrogen can also deliver full performance in temperatures of -20°C and therefore represents a viable alternative to a vehicle powered by a battery-electric drive system,” he said.

BMW also took the opportunity to leverage the familiar experience of pumping gas to lure hesitant EV buyers into the fuel cell fold. Recharging the iX5 Hydrogen takes only takes three to four minutes "even in frosty conditions," the article noted.

Not ready for prime time - yet

Despite the digs at EV battery performance, BMW does not seem ready to bet the ranch on the iX5 Hydrogen SUV, at least not yet. The company committed to a limited production series when it began teasing the idea of a hydrogen fuel cell car in its lineup a couple of years ago, and the March 10 article confirmed that modest goal.

BMW Group also indicated that it still views fuel cell propulsion as a supplement to its battery EV business, rather than a competing branch of the company.

"The data obtained so far from the demanding test program represents a significant milestone for the BMW Group in developing CO2-free driving pleasure," the company wrote, adding that it expects to produce a "small series" before the year is out.

Zero emission mobility and the big picture

Not too many other leading automakers are active in the area of personal fuel cell cars. One notable exception is Toyota, which continues to promote its Mirai fuel cell passenger car.

Last week Toyota introduced its new Teammate driver assist technology to the Mirai package along with a hydrogen fuel credit of up to $15,000, indicating that the company may be planning to lure some of its Lexus customers over to the fuel cell experience.

Meanwhile, Hyundai is still dedicated to its Nexo FCEV, and Tata Motors subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover recently entered the fuel cell field with an SUV edition.

Just a few years ago, all this activity would have meant little or nothing for global economic decarbonization. In fact, it would have been great news for fossil energy stakeholders. The main source of hydrogen is natural gas, and coal to a lesser extent. In that scenario, battery power is a more sustainable choice.

Fortunately, the emerging green hydrogen trend has flipped the script. Under a green hydrogen scenario, fuel cell cars could provide drivers with a lower-carbon alternative in regions where battery vehicles still depend on a grid mix that includes gas and coal power plants.

With green hydrogen in hand, fuel cell passenger cars could play a small but significant role in making the global decarbonization timeline as short as possible. That’s still an open question, but the buyer response to BMW’s limited bet on fuel cell SUVs could provide at least part of the answer by the end of this year.

Image credit via BMW Media Relations

Before the pandemic, revenue from global tourism peaked at $1.47 trillion in 2019. Women often find more opportunities within tourism compared to other industries; the travel sector had a majority-female workforce in 2019, with 54 percent of global tourism professionals identifying as women compared to 39 percent of women in the broader economy.

If you want to contribute to the recovery – as in leaving home and seeing the sites - check out these eight experiences that sum up the spirit of Women’s History Month. All are women-led, and work with travelers to connect with locals in a way that’s safe and comfortable for everyone.

First up, find accommodation that suits your needs

The ability to connect with others through travel is one of the most wonderful experiences our world has to offer. Unfortunately, not everyone feels equally safe or at home while traveling. If you identify as a woman or LGBTQ+, try out alternative booking sites Femmebnb for woman-to-woman vacation rentals or MisterB&B for gay- and queer-friendly accommodation.

A community-based homestay in the Caucasus

Nazy’s Guest House is an “enchanting” family-run guest house offering homestays in the Pankisi Valley of northeastern Georgia, two hours from the capital, Tbilisi. The valley is the main home of the Kist community, descendants of Highland Chechens. Founded by Nazy Dakishvili, the guest house offers award-winning hospitality and connects visitors to the local community while educating them about Kist traditions, culture, and Georgian nature.

“In 2021 our business bounced back strongly after being virtually inactive throughout 2020 during the height of the COVID pandemic and subsequent major disruption caused due to international and domestic travel restrictions, [and] we anticipate a further increase in bookings this year,” Dakishvili told TriplePundit. “I believe sustainable rural tourism is finding greater appeal with many tourists visiting Georgia, and places like Pankisi Valley are becoming more and more popular for trekking, horse riding, mountain-biking and cultural experiences.”

Handicrafts and bush nature in the Basecamp Maasai Mara

Basecamp Maasai Mara is a place to rest your head at the doorstep of the Mara National Reserve in Kenya, home to the highest density of wildlife in the world. The tourism company Basecamp Explorer supports Maasai women through its Basecamp Maasai Brand, “a community-based handicraft business with the goal of using traditional beading practices to help local Maasai women improve their financial independence.”

Women beaders receive 75 percent of the revenue that they earn while the remainder covers business costs. Basecamp stays are ideal for those who value nature, observable right outside your tent, and cultural understanding, thanks to the Maasai-run Enjoolata Awareness Center.

Supporting an Africa where the future is female

Founded by Eyitemi Popo, Girls Trip Tours offers tours for women to Kenya, Ghana and other countries on the continent.

“Since I launched Girls Trip Tours in 2018, I have been pushing for slower tourism that's sustainable and empowering to communities,” Popo explained to 3p. “If we have more time to spend in a country, how can we explore various parts of that place, instead of jet setting from destination to destination? How can we create a community there and financially empower the local women and girls in that community with our tourism spend?”

The group’s focus is on mentorship, through Girls MAP, a Mentorship and Advancement Program for teenagers. Every trip booked educates a girl for one school year, and all travelers are encouraged to give back through a knowledge or skill exchange. Participants have the chance to meet high-profile businesswomen, industry leaders and other African women.

Trekking the Atlas Mountains and giving back in Morocco

Intrepid Travel’s trip to Morocco, from its range of Women’s Expeditions, offers a view of the country beyond its “exotic” stereotype. One option is to hike the Atlas Mountains with Morocco’s first female mountaineering guide, Hafida Hdoubane, who believes “women should talk to women, because we speak the same language.” The travel agency is the world’s largest travel B Corp.

“We’ve noticed a change in travel values in our guests over time,” said Matt Berna, Intrepid’s general manager in North America. “They want an authentic look into local life. They are curious about different cultures and traditions. They want a sustainable and unique travel experience that invests in local communities, and an experience of making genuine connections with people, making a positive influence, along the way.”

These Morocco trips help support Intrepid’s education initiatives, which provides access to education for girls in the remote villages of the High Atlas region. Intrepid also offsets carbon emissions from transport, accommodation and waste.

Experiencing a different side of cities in Colombia

“We like to go to places we feel are misunderstood by a global audience,” said Katalina Mayorga, the Colombian-born CEO and co-founder of El Camino Travel, a woman-owned travel company for women’s group trips. That’s why Mayorga has made a point to debunk myths about Colombia, which by most accounts is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet.

El Camino’s trip to Cartagena and Medellín is a firsthand experience of the country’s sensory beauty with a focus on economic equity. Participants have the chance to support entrepreneurs who seek to generate positive impact on society and help create stability that can lead to a lasting peace. According to Mayorga, the last six months have been El Camino’s most successful, thanks to a growing interest in small-group travel that connects women to each other and local experts after two years of isolation that resulted in many of us becoming even more disconnected from each other.

(Side note: While you’re there, consider a visit to Comuna 13, a community in Medellín that offers culturally inclusive tours that 3p editor Leon Kaye really enjoyed.)

Kayaking to your heart’s content in Canada

Though Wild Women Expeditions started out with all-female kayaking trips in Ontario in 1991, the agency now offers a variety of trips. If you don’t want to wander far from North America, this is the perfect trip that will help women travelers build community, get out in the great outdoors, and support a women-owned travel agency that’s been a long-term mainstay. Perhaps a kayaking tour in one of the many stunning waterways Canada has to offer?

Carving out an untraditional space for women in Pakistan

Mad Hatters co-owner Aneeqa Ali is one of the few female travel entrepreneurs in Pakistan. Ali, an avid biker, says she was inspired by her own domestic travels to launch the company: “[My travels] made me realize that Pakistan is a very difficult country to navigate as a woman,” she told 3p. Her agency now helps them do it.

Mad Hatters connects visitors with women tour guides and women-led homestays while creating new economic opportunities for rural communities. “In March 2020, we were all set for the coming years, with our event calendar locked in with tours booked in advance,” Ali told 3p. “Nobody in their wildest dreams had imagined that the world would come to a standstill like this. After a very long and painful wait, travel has finally started to open up again. We are hopeful that this trend [will] continue and travel will bounce back even better than before!”

The team is working to revamp the company’s site, and trips will become available soon.

The future of travel is female

Women make up the largest contingent of global travelers, and solo women travelers especially are booking tours at a higher rate than ever. But you don’t have to identify as a woman to support women-owned travel agencies and businesses!

Regardless of the trip or location you choose, try to consider your trip’s environmental impact and take community-driven tours with a focus on cultural inclusion whenever possible.

Image credit: Agnieszka Boeske via Unsplash

In response to growing consumer demand for products that help reduce waste, Target recently launched Target Zero, a collection of products intended to reduce single-use packaging.

In a recent press release, the Minneapolis-based retailer said the collection will feature items with packaging “designed to be refillable, reusable, compostable, made from recycled content or made from materials that reduce the use of plastic.”

How Target sees target single-use plastics in its bullseye

Customers will now see a Target Zero logo in stores and online on hundreds of products. Select products from Grove Collaborative and the company's private label, Everspring, are slated to join the collection in April. Burt’s Bees and Pacifica already offer several products that carry the Target Clean icon, which the company first introduced in 2019.

“We can’t wait to introduce our guests to Target Zero because we recognize their growing calls to find products that fit within their lifestyle, designed with sustainability in mind,” said Jill Sando, the company's executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. “Our aim with Target Zero is to keep delivering on their needs through our ever-evolving product assortment, as well as to give brands investing in reduced waste products and packaging an opportunity to have those products highlighted by Target.”

According to the company, Target Zero also marks one of the leading initiatives engaging its brand partners the corporation’s sustainability effort. Target says it has worked with various brands, and within its own private-label goods, to develop a portfolio of products included in this program’s first cohort. The company insists that it will work with various partners to expand the range of products that would qualify for the Target Zero label.

Products from the first group of such items include Burt’s Bees personal care products such as lip balms that are packaged in metal tins and thereby eschew the use of single-use plastics.

In addition, this portfolio has also added Plus body wash; the brand claims its manufacturing process eliminates excessive water consumption and waste. Come shower time, instead of pouring liquid out of yet another single-use plastic bottle, users pull dry strips out of a refillable case that looks like a tape dispenser (as shown in the photo above).

“Target Zero unlocks important progress toward our Target Forward ambitions, each of which require collaboration from our partners and action from our guests to be realized,” said Amanda Nusz, senior vice president of corporate responsibility who is also the president of the retailer’s philanthropic arm. “By making it easier for our guests to identify which products are designed to reduce waste, Target Zero helps them make informed decisions about what they purchase and advances a collective impact across our brand partners, our product shelves, and within our homes and communities.”

The retailer has set a goal of becoming a market leader for curating sustainable products by 2030. To start, Target says it will reduce the amount of virgin plastic used to package its private label products by 20 percent by 2025. By that same year, the company also pledges that it will make 100 percent of its private label products’ plastic packaging recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025.

A call from consumers to make packaging less wasteful

Consumers are increasingly receptive to initiatives aimed at reducing unnecessary waste. In a 2020 research report released by Trivium Packaging and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) that polled more than 15,000 people, nearly 75 percent of them said they were willing to pay more for sustainable packaging; in fact, about 25 percent said they would even pay 10 percent or more for products encased in more responsible packaging. Almost 60 percent said they were less inclined to purchase products in “harmful” packaging – and about the same percentage said they associated plastic with that same word, harmful. Further, the Trivium-BCP report also showed increased awareness of the ongoing harm occurring in the world’s oceans, as 65 percent who participated in the same survey linked plastic to ocean pollution.

The sentiment that is driving Target and other retailers to revamp its product lines reverberates beyond the U.S. Last month, an Ipsos poll that surveyed citizens in 28 countries reported that on average, more than 80 percent of citizens agreed an international treaty was needed to tackle pollution from single-use plastic.

Image credits via Target