REFINE Issue 3: Letter from the Editor
REFINE Readers —
The cool breeze of the Sonoran Desert slithered around my body trying to find any exposed skin. It nipped at my ankles, my wrists, and my nose. The chilly feeling didn’t scare me. I continued to stare out into the endless miles of desert.
To some, this desert was empty and insignificant. A few cacti here and there. Maybe some coyotes and arachnids if you looked for them. But to me, this land represented stillness. Nothing was compromised by the plight of man. The ecosystem before me was thriving. At least in the moment.
Sprinkled across the night sky were thousands of stars. Probably millions, but I can’t do math. Some shined brighter, others were larger, and many joined families of other clusters, like the Seven Sisters. I pointed them out to my friend Kait (who ironically drafted astrology content for REFINE in the months following). We’d never seen so many constellations at once. In this daze of awe-inspired shock, I didn’t see the menacing presence lingering over the horizon. It was Phoenix.
This once pitch-black land would soon greet a brighter sky. One much like the sky we see in Philadelphia — an orange hue that doesn’t look right. It doesn’t look natural. Temple students are used to this sight, but the animals and organisms who inhabited this land aren’t.
I visited Arcosanti, Arizona, in March 2018. And this futuristic, eco-conscious city ushered in a new Francesca. Though I considered myself pretty sustainable prior to the trip, the ideas and concepts I discovered there unleashed a beast. I cut out a majority of single-use plastic, I researched the companies and stores I wanted to give my money to, I encouraged others to follow my lead, and much more. I even interned at Philly’s Zero Waste and Litter Cabinet. Next semester you can find me as an editorial intern at Grid Magazine, a sustainable mag in Philly.
I also came to realize that sustainability is directly connected to one’s well-being. In order to take care of the earth, you need to be of sound mind. Imagine feeling hopeless about the future of the planet and yourself all while trying to adapt to an eco-conscious lifestyle? Not going to happen. Truth is: not everyone can afford being sustainable — mentally or financially.
After overcoming a few of my own fears, I saw a need to introduce this mindset to Temple. People are dying. Lifeforms are dying. The planet is dying. It’ll keep happening unless we shed light on anything and everything. And REFINE did just that. It’s my first semester as editor-in-chief and wow, is this issue totally impressive. From the passion and advice of my editors and e-board, to the detailed, impactful content produced by our freelancers, I couldn’t imagine a better approach to something I care so much about. Whether it be a colorful Q&A with an eco-friendly businesswoman, the power of thrifting, or affordable, accessible changes to become more sustainable, you’ll find it here. Sure, we scratched the surface of sustainability — but if a team of 50+ women can do this, imagine what Temple can do as a whole.
I’ll leave you with this: no matter how small a human is in perspective, we are a part of something much, much bigger. You might feel like one speck under a sky of a million stars, but you have the chance to instill change. You matter and your fight matters. But most importantly: Mother Earth Matters.