Author: Frederik Mendoza Ulken

Frederik Mendoza Ulken is a senior at the University of Louisville studying Applied Physics. His favorite topics include Latin American history and culture, environmental issues, and the physical sciences.

Climate Colonization and the Targeted Nature of Pollution

Global pollution disproportionately affects low-income countries and marginalized populations, especially in places like Ghana’s Agbogbloshie neighborhood, a major e-waste landfill. These areas experience vast health and environmental issues due to the contamination from discarded electronics and industrial waste. This pollution follows historical imperial and racial lines, resulting in environmental “sacrifice zones”. High-income, industrialized countries are the main contributors to pollution, yet evade the consequences. The fossil fuel industry causes significant harm, with large-scale industries being the major culprits. Combating pollution requires addressing socio-economic inequality, regulating polluting industries, and investing in sustainable energy systems.

The Young Lords: A Story of Radical Latinos

Garbage burning in the street, FBI espionage, and the creation of one of the most influential Latino civil rights groups in American history—this is the story of the Young Lords. Starting in Chicago and spreading to New York, the Young Lords Organization was a radical activist group that fought against oppression in their communities and beyond. Exemplifying a revolutionary activism that is often left out of contemporary history classes, the Young Lords brought about profound change in a short time span, cementing their legacy in Latino History.