Oh, hello summer! I am loving the sunshine and cannot be happier to bid farewell to the miserable winter. But I am not looking forward to hearing the wildfire news from all around the world. Or reading another ‘hottest year on record’ news article. While the fossil fuel companies continue…
He Didn’t Win the Lottery. He Just Saw a Caspian Plover
I have been following the @birddetective account on Instagram for a while. The account belongs to Emin Yoğurtçuoğlu, who is a bird watcher, nature photographer, traveller, and ecologist. The people I most envy and admire in life are those who succeed in turning their passions into businesses. When I say…
Sustainable Travel
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Flying, Guilt, and Other Mile-High Musings
What do you do about flights these days? Are you trying to cut down on them, do you take into account shorter roots or more direct routes? Are you offsetting the carbon emissions of your flight in some way? I have to be in London at the end of March….
Living Abroad
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Berlin, My Love
There is more to the world than where you are now I moved to Berlin on 13 July 2014. I remember the date so well because it was the day Germany played Argentina in the final of the World Cup. Mario Götze’s goal in the second half of the extra…
Lifestyle
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How TikTokers Transform Their Morning Routine into an Oscar-Worthy Performance
Not really. I’m being sarcastic. There’s undeniably a performance aspect, though its value is questionable. But people love it. They watch it. They want to see more of similar content. Otherwise, how do we explain the existence of over two million videos and 28 billion views under the hashtag #MorningRoutine?…
Climate Stories
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Eternal Connection Between People and Nature
When I was a little girl, my best friend was a plum tree. Reflecting on it now, I think it’s fair to say that my bond with trees goes way back. I grew up in the heart of Istanbul, not in a rural retreat surrounded by nature, but even so,…
Environment
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Natural Capital 101
I am out of my depth, but let’s wing it! I’m not an expert in environmental economics, but I strongly feel the need to highlight the importance of safeguarding clean air, fresh water, fertile soil, and healthy forests. I want to talk about why it’s really important to keep these…
Climate Stories
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My Grandmother Was A Climate Hero
When we write climate stories, we often imagine our main characters as scientists or activists. But the truth is, anyone can be a climate character. We don’t need to create another Greta Thunberg. It’s not about who they are; it’s about how they respond to the climate crisis. We’re all…
Travel
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Remedy for the Soul: Liepnitzsee
I read a lot about the wonderful lakes in and around Berlin before I moved here. I’ve been to most of them, but there’s one lake that surpasses all your expectations from a lake. (I don’t know what those expectations would be for you, though! Maybe it’s secretly competing with…
Storytelling
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Let’s Stop Treating Readers As Babies
I don’t like it when people say short form is the only way to secure your online presence. You need to write in a way that every line sounds like a punch line. People are scrolling; they don’t have time — hurry up, hurry up! Don’t use more than five words…