Smoke and Fumes

The products and by-products of petroleum can be found throughout our societies, in objects we encounter every day, the byways and highways we navigate between home and work or school, even in our own bodies. Environmental humanities scholar Stephanie LeMenager elaborates the concept of petroculture.

Environmental activist and winner of the inaugural Children’s Climate Prize (2016) Xiuhtezcatl Martinez discusses the landmark climate-change litigation case, Juliana vs. The United States of America, in which he is a lead plaintiff. He is one of 21 youth from across the U.S.A. who have come together in this suit with climate scientist Dr. James Hansen to sue the United States federal government for its failure to protect the health of future generations. By neglecting to safeguard the atmosphere on which U.S. citizens depend from threats such as rising carbon-dioxide emissions, which are closely linked to global warming and climate change in scientific studies and assessment reports, the plaintiffs in this landmark case contend that the U.S. government has violated its fundamental responsibilities to protect the public trust.