Ecological Empathy

This article explores how cultivating ecological empathy through narrative empathy transforms our understanding of interdependence, guiding us toward a more sustainable future.

Environmental Humanities, Narrative EmpathyArithmetic of Compassion TeamFebruary 20, 2025

What can a horse teach us about compassion?

Meet Peyo, the extraordinary horse bringing comfort to terminally ill patients. His story reveals the deep emotional bond between humans and animals, proving that healing isn’t just medical—it’s also about compassion.

Narrative Empathy, Environmental HumanitiesArithmetic of Compassion TeamFebruary 13, 2025

The Stories Beyond the Wildfires

Amid wildfire devastation, small objects tell big stories—a child’s toy, a lost painting, a rescued dog. Behind every statistic is a life forever changed.

How Zoos and Aquariums Help Develop Empathy for Wildlife

Exploring how zoos and aquariums can foster empathy for captive wildlife, this article examines best management practices, compassionate conservation, and the role of narrative empathy in shaping ethical interactions with animals.

Environmental Humanities, Narrative EmpathyArithmetic of Compassion TeamJanuary 30, 2025

Recognizing and Protecting Uncontacted Communities

Explore the challenges uncontacted indigenous tribes face in balancing autonomy and survival. Discover how evolving threats demand updated policies to ensure their protection while respecting their isolation.

Wildfires in Los Angeles: From Slow Violence to Fast Destruction and the Path Forward

Wildfires raging across California, including Los Angeles, reveal the destructive legacy of fire suppression and the urgency to balance immediate relief with long-term solutions.

Slow Violence, Environmental HumanitiesArithmetic of Compassion TeamJanuary 12, 2025

Ethics, Compassion, and Captivity of Cetaceans

This article explores the ethics of cetacean captivity (such as orcas), the empathy and compassion necessary to acknowledge their suffering, and the importance of ethical alternatives.

How Young Voices Are Redefining Society

Young leaders are redefining society with clarity, courage, and a sense of urgency. From Kaliko in Hawai’i demanding climate accountability to Malala Yousafzai championing girls’ education, these activists are breaking through apathy and inspiring systemic change. Learn how their voices are shaping a more just and sustainable future.

Slow Risks Are Moving Faster

Slow risks like climate change and rising sea levels are accelerating rapidly. Learn why urgent action is needed and how you can help reframe these threats as immediate priorities.

Overcoming Cognitive Bias and Bridging the Climate Change Communication Gap

Cognitive biases obstruct public understanding of climate change, blocking meaningful action. By using strategies like framing, visualization, and narrative empathy, we can bridge the communication gap and motivate change.

Spiral Jetty as a Barometer of Slow Violence in the Great Salt Lake

Robert Smithson’s Spiral Jetty symbolizes slow violence, serving as a barometer of environmental changes in the Great Salt Lake. Its transformation reflects the creeping degradation threatening this fragile ecosystem.

Slow Violence, Environmental HumanitiesArithmetic of Compassion TeamNovember 21, 2024

Northern Spotted Owl vs. Barred Owl: The Ethical Conundrum of Compassionate Conservation

The conflict between northern spotted owls and invasive barred owls highlights a conservation dilemma, where ethics and environmental priorities collide. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s barred owl culling strategy underscores complex questions about species management and human responsibility in disrupted ecosystems.

Environmental Humanities, Slow Violence, Psychic NumbingArithmetic of Compassion TeamNovember 7, 2024

Peanut the Squirrel and the Power of Compassion

Peanut the squirrel’s story, a social media sensation, sheds light on human compassion and why we connect more deeply with individual victims. This article explores public reactions to Peanut’s tragic death, examining psychic numbing and pseudoinefficacy.

Pollution as Environmental Violence

The term environmental violence has gained prominence, particularly in relation to pollution. Richard Marcantonio and Agustín Fuentes's article, “Environmental violence: a tool for planetary health research” (2023), emphasizes pollution as a central element of environmental violence, linking it directly to human health.

Slow Violence, Environmental HumanitiesArithmetic of Compassion TeamOctober 17, 2024

Indigenous Knowledge and Colonial Violence in Kaipara Moana, New Zealand

Leane Makey et al. (2022) highlight the slow violence of settler colonialism and its ecological impact on Kaipara Moana, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous knowledge in addressing environmental degradation.

Environmental Humanities, Narrative Empathy, Slow ViolenceArithmetic of Compassion TeamSeptember 19, 2024