the bird on fire

How to know if you’re a narcissist (and how to change)

March 10, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Not a Narcissist Levi Kassinove

We all like to believe that we are great people. Very few are self-aware enough to make an effort to improve themselves, except for me of course. Are you confident and comfortable in your own skin or are you just a narcissist? Are you so disconnected from reality that you don’t see the hypocrisy in your article for the school blog? For the people questioning if they are a narcissist or not, the good news is that you’re most likely fine. Real narcissists are “fully aware that they are narcissistic and that they have a narcissistic reputation” (Psychology Today). The truth is that they just don’t see the problem with it, and therefore make no effort to change. But, for the people who think they have some narcissistic tendencies and truly want to improve, I have some genius tips and tricks to share with you. Read carefully because I’m not going to grace you with my wisdom again.

In order to identify narcissistic tendencies, we should start by looking at a non-narcissist such as myself. Modest people, when questioning if they are narcissistic, usually look online for a reputable-looking quiz to test for narcissism. This shows that the person is concerned about their behavior and wants to improve. A narcissist wouldn’t bother to take the quiz because they think that it doesn’t matter, and that they have nothing to improve. I took a quiz from Psych Central, which sounds reputable enough, and I got an extremely low score on the narcissism scale. When taking the quiz, keep in mind that you should answer the questions honestly, no matter how embarrassing it is to pick the option “I think I am a special person” in front of your friends. It is important to be honest with yourself so that you can do the quiz correctly, as I did.

Narcissists don’t critically analyze themselves in order to find their flaws. Instead, they focus on critiquing other people while believing that they don’t have any flaws. So ask yourself: Do I often spend my time at the center of attention, looking down on others? Do I care at all about self-improvement? And, perhaps most importantly, do I really care about the well-being of others or do I only offer help so that I can later manipulate them? If you think you have some narcissistic tendencies, it’s best to subscribe to this blog and keep reading my articles. Maybe even comment on something. It’s your only hope of changing your narcissistic ways.

For people with true Narcissistic Personality Disorder, change is impossible. “You cannot change a person with narcissistic personality disorder or make them happy by loving them enough or by changing yourself to meet their whims and desires. They will never be in tune with you, never empathic to your experiences, and you will always feel empty after an interaction with them,” says Dr. Angela Grace, PhD, MEd, BFA, BEd (Healthline). For the rest of us, and by that I mean the rest of you, the first step to becoming a better person is admitting that you can sometimes be a narcissistic jerk. From there, identify the times when you slip into that attitude and try to catch yourself. The most important thing is knowing the problem and wanting to change. Next time you explain something to someone or a group of people, try not to do it in a condescending way. You’ll find that people will be more friendly around you if you try to listen to their thoughts and feelings. The bottom line, though, is that this all comes down to being self-aware. As long as you’re self-aware, you can stay humble. Like me.

Have You Celebrated a Woman Lately?

March 10, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Alyna Rei

Throughout the month of March, we celebrate women: Malala, Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt, Anne Frank, Amelia Earhart, and more. This month is Women’s History Month! Women’s History Month is a designated month that recognizes the important contributions women have made throughout history.

Before we celebrated a full month of women, the actual celebration only spread out a week. The “Women’s History Week” became a local celebration in 1978. The Education Task Force of Sonoma County selected the week of March 8th to go with International Women’s Day. This movement eventually spread through other communities. In 1980, a group of women and historians wanted national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter declared the week of March 8th as National Women’s Week. Since then, every community has celebrated Women’s History Week. In 1987, Congress passed public law and designated March as Women’s History Month. Between 1988 and 1994, Congress kept on requesting and authorizing March as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, each President has issued proclamations trying and succeeding to designate the month of March to represent Women’s History Month (womenshistory.org).

The Women History Month Alliance selects the yearly theme. This year, the theme for 2022 is “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.” This is a tribute to the work of caregivers and frontline workers during this pandemic. This would also be a recognition to all the women of various cultures who have provided healing and hope throughout the years (nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org).

The women that inspire me~

Many famous women inspire me, but I feel the most inspired by my family. My grandmother and my mother teach me new things everyday: how to water my plants, what to read, how to be grateful. Who are the women you celebrate?

Campaign for the Use of “Dodgy”

March 9, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

As someone who has lived with a British mother for my entire life, a lot of English phrases are more than familiar to me and I forget they are not commonly used in the States. Personally, I think some of these words from “across the pond” are fun to say, and I hope after reading this some of you integrate them into your daily life. – Jesse Denyer

By Sienna Price

Since I have moved to America, I have noticed I have said many words and phrases people just don’t understand. I have a mix of words and phrases from living in Thailand, England, and New Zealand. At least a couple of times a week, I have to explain what something I said means, and I have found it very annoying.

One thing that most people use everyday is a hair bobble. Until I moved to America, I just assumed that a hair bobble was called a hair bobble. One of my American friends told me it was a “hair tie.” I have asked at least ten people what they call this (holding up a hair bobble), and they have all responded with “hair tie.” I personally think hair bobble is fun to say, so I continue to say it.

Another word that I love saying (it’s probably my favorite word) is “dodgy.” Every time I say this word, everyone turns around and stares at me. Every time I have to explain what It means. Dodgy is a really popular word in England. All my family members use it, and all my friends in England use it. Dodgy means dishonest or unreliable, potentially dangerous or of low quality. For example, that person looks dodgy. I personally think dodgy should be used more often in America.

When I first moved to New Zealand, I got invited to my friend’s house to swim. The message sent to my Mom was to bring your “togs.” My family had no idea what togs were. Later we found out that it means bathing suit. Another unusual word they use in New Zealand is jandals, which means flip flops.

Of course there are the commonly known words that get lost in American translation: like we call fries “chips” in England, and what you call chips we call “crisps.” People in America say “cookie,” and in England we say “biscuit.” Americans say check under the “hood”; British say “bonnet.” Americans say the luggage is in the “trunk”; British say “boot.” In England we say “rubbish” or “garbage,” but in America you say “trash.” There are many different words with the same meaning.

My accent is mixed British, American, and Kiwi. Sometimes I say trash; sometimes I say rubbish. It’s hard to pin down my accent. Sometimes I sound very British, and then sometimes . . . I sound American.

The Only Music You Should Listen To This Spring

March 9, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Each season, Luke makes a playlist for the ride home. His winter list had 150 songs. Now, he begins compiling his spring list. You might want to borrow a few.

By Luke Sonderman

As we are approaching the last few weeks of winter, it is time for me to collect the music I will be listening to until summer comes around. The gloom of December is gone, and the energy and sunshine of spring is coming.

I’m going to start off the playlist with something energetic. Jane’s Addiction is a Los Angeles alternative rock band that has been around since the late 80’s (allmusic.com). With lead man Perry Farrell along with guitarist Dave Navarro, Jane’s Addiction changed the game of music forever. Through adding funk and style to their music, Jane’s Addiction owned their own genre that no one had ever heard before. With major hits like “Jane Says” and “Been Caught Stealing,” Jane’s Addiction well deserves being on this list. If I had to add one song by Jane’s Addiction, it would have to be either “Just Because” or “Stop!”

Next up on the playlist would probably be something by the Foo Fighters. The Foo Fighters, led by legendary drummer, songwriter, and guitarist, Dave Grohl might be one of my favorite artists of all time. The Foo Fighters were born out of Dave Grohl’s rise to songwriting after the death of Kurt Cobain, singer for Nirvana for whom Dave Grohl was the drummer. The first song on my winter playlist was the Foo Fighters’ “Something From Nothing” from their hit album, Sonic Highways. Now, I want to add something a bit more powerful. I would say that the most powerful and energetic album by the Foo Fighters would be In Your Honor. If I had to pick one song from In Your Honor to be on this list, it would probably be “No Way Back,” which is up-beat, and LOUD!

Since I’m grabbing a lot of post-90’s songs, maybe it’s time to add something a bit older. My favorite classic rock band, Led Zeppelin, has some crazy songs to add to this list. With energetic singer Robert Plant, legendary drummer John Bonham, tasteful guitarist Jimmy Page, and the great bassist John Paul Jones, Led Zeppelin rocked the 70’s. My favorite album is Houses Of The Holy, and, for this playlist, I will probably add “D’yer Mak’er” which is a groovy, layback song that anyone can dance along to.

Moving up from the 70’s to the 80’s, we have my favorite hard rock band, Motley Crue. Motley Crue rocked Los Angeles in the 80’s playing sold-out shows for massive crowds with their hit albums Shout At The Devil, Dr. Feelgood, Girls Girls Girls, Too Fast for Love, and Theater of Pain. There weren’t any Motley Crue songs on my last playlist, but for spring, I am adding “Red Hot,” “Dr. Feelgood,” and “Smokin’ In The Boys Room.”

Finally, my favorite band is Manchester Orchestra. The band has songs for every season of the year. Don’t be alarmed, Manchester Orchestra isn’t actually an orchestra but a vast multi-genre rock band that released its first album I’m Like A Virgin Losing A Child in 2006 when frontman Andy Hull was just around 20 years old (allmusic.com). The band really took off in 2009 with their album Mean Everything To Nothing, which ranked on the Billboard Top 40. Manchester wrote many songs that made it on my winter album such as “The Alien,” “The Gold,” “Girl Harbor,” “The Sunshine,” and many others that I would recommend anyone listen to on a cloudy day. For the upcoming spring season, I add happier songs like “My Friend Marcus,” “In My Teeth,” “Shake It Out,” “Pensacola,” and “I’ve Got Friends.”

Now, this list doesn’t even cover half of my spring list, but this is what I have come up with so far. I encourage you to listen to any of these songs as they are all songs I listen to on repeat. Although I am sad that my winter music time is almost over, I am super excited to dig into my spring playlist.

Why Coachella Valley is the Perfect Vacation Spot

March 9, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Locals Ani Madanyan and Oliver Martinez

Ani moved to Palm Springs two years ago. She considers herself a local now. But, she started out as a tourist. She’s been coming to the Coachella Valley since she was little. Hence, she knows good touristy spots. Beyond the hotel rooms and swimming in the shallow, heated pools, she knows we all love an adventure. Blogger Oliver embraces more the comforts of home, but he’s got recommendations of places to take desert visitors.

Ani Recommends The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is a fast journey into the mountains that will take you out of the desert heat. Mount San Jacinto, which towers above Palm Springs, is 10,000 feet above sea level (planetware.com). The Tramway has the world’s largest rotating aerial tram cars. It’s definitely exciting to go from the scorching hot pool to snow on a mountain within one half-hour tram ride. The views are spectacular, even a little scary. The Tram, built in Chino Canyon, has been around a while. Its inaugural ride was way back in September 1963.

Photo Source: visitgreaterpalmsprings.com

Oliver Recommends staying at home. He says it’s a great place to go.

But, if you must get out, go visit the windmills. The windmills are a great part of Palm Springs, and you can’t miss them. According to planetware.com, the Banning Pass is one of the windiest places on earth. It is harsh, but picturesque. The windmills make for dramatic photos as sunset.

Ani also recommends local hiking.

Hike to a waterfall! How fun is that? I personally love to go on hikes because I know that there is a pot of gold at the end of it (the pot of gold is the waterfall). The Indian Canyons, which are at the south end of Palm Springs, are the perfect place to go hiking.

Palm Canyon is a fifteen-mile-long canyon full of waterfalls and the famous palm trees–the indigenous Washingtonia. There’s also the Andreas Canyon. You can drive directly into the canyon and grab a table by the water. “It’s a great place for picnicking,” says Ms. Zachik. The canyons are also known for having lovely birds all around. People often go bird watching. It’s also a beautiful place to see animals such as deer, snakes, and all other sorts of animals. “The hawks up there are really cool,” Ms. Zachik adds.

Lastly, we have Tahquitz Canyon. This Indian Canyons is located all the way up Ramon Road when you drive toward the mountain. At the end of the designated hike, there is a 60-foot-tall waterfall. There are guides, theaters showing documentaries about the canyon, and artifact displays. Adult admission costs $12.50 per person, while an entrance fee of $6 applies for each child. Kids 5 and younger and active military members can visit for free (planetware.com).

Oliver’s final recommendation is The Living Desert.

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens has plenty of animals from all over the world! There are giraffes, mountain lions, zebras, cheetahs, wild dogs, and a lot more! There are also lights at certain times of the year, and it makes the whole place look even more beautiful. “Glow in the Park” occurs from March 27 to April 29, 6:30-10:00 p.m. The Living Desert is a great place for families with a lot of attractions for everyone. You can even get married there.

What are you waiting for? Invite friends and family to the Coachella Valley! Tell them to bring bathing suits because even though it’s March, it’s always pool time!

Isabella Goetschel Prepares for Poetry Out Loud State Competition

March 4, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Lilah Nick

On February 7th, Senior Isabella Goetschel found out that she won the Riverside county-level competition for the Poetry Out Loud, the national poetry recitation competition. You might remember; Isabella was our school winner. She advanced to county competition, won, and this means she will move on to the state-level competition. If Izzy wins at State, she will be awarded $200 and will move onto nationals. (The competition is virtual again this year; otherwise, Isabella would also win a trip to D.C. for two.) I asked Izzy what she was doing to prepare for the competition.

Preparing for state-level Poetry Out Loud has been really interesting. I got to pick a new poem, which is really exciting for me because there are so many options and possibilities. I finally picked “The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy as my third poem. For preparation, I’ve had some meetings with Mr. Sarkis [former Palm Valley Drama teacher]. He’s really helped me perfect each poem and, of course, none of it would have been possible without the help of Ms. Zachik who helped me register and get set up. It’s a lot less stressful this year because the competition is online, so I can record my poems. That definitely has its own set of challenges though. The rules for the videos are quite strict, and let’s just say I had a very unstable stack of boxes to get my phone to the required height. Overall though, it’s really fun to be able to perform, even if it’s on a recording in my room rather than in front of people.”
Isabella Goetschel

Isabella must recite, from memory and with displayed and conveyed understanding, one poem that is pre-20th Century. She again is reciting “Epitaph” by Katherine Philips–the poem with which she won the Palm-Valley competition. She also must recite one poem that is 25 lines or fewer. She’ll bring John Berryman’s “Dream Song 14” to the competition to satisfy that requirement. Then, should she advance to the finals during state competition, she will need a third poem. That’s when Thomas Hardy’s “The Man He Killed” comes into play. We’ve reprinted the poem for you here.

The state competition poems and video entries are due to POL this Monday, March 7th. The judging takes place the following Tuesday and Wednesday. We should hear on the 11th who advances to the National Poetry Out Loud Competition. We will all be cheering for Izzy!

The Man He Killed

By Thomas Hardy

“Had he and I but met

By some old ancient inn,

We should have sat us down to wet

Right many a nipperkin!

“But ranged as infantry,

And staring face to face,

I shot at him as he at me

And killed him in his place.

“I shot him dead becuase —

Because he was my foe,

Just so: my foe of corse he was;

That’s clear enough; although

“He thought he’d ‘list, perhaps,

Off-hand like — just as I —

Was out of work — had sold his traps —

No other reason why.

“Yes; quaint and curious war is!

You shoot a fellow down

You’d treat if me where any bar is

Or help to half-a-crown.”

Milk: Is it really a healthy drink?

March 3, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

This week cereal critics Abby Horwitt and Sienna Price branch out and share their opinion on . . . milk. Is milk good for you? Is milk disgusting? And, how many people actually drink milk at PVS?

By Abigail Horwitt, Plain Milk Supporter, and Sienna Price, Plain Milk Attacker

You’d think we could all agree on something as simple as milk. Surprisingly, many people have adamant opinions about what is milk, what we can call milk (Almond Milk, we’re looking at you), and how good milk tastes.

Abigail says this about Milk:

In my opinion, I love plain milk. I believe that a glass of milk has a great taste, and on top of that is really good for you. According to Healthline, milk has many benefits. It is packed with nutrients; it is a good source of protein, helps strengthen your bones, helps prevent weight gain (healthline). Milk is also an ingredient in many dishes. However, it should be noted: I do not believe in fat free milk. If you really want a good glass of milk, you need to have at least some sort of fat in it.

Sienna Responds:

Personally, I think that plain milk is disgusting. The only reason I would drink milk is with cereal. Milk has a horrible taste and texture. Why would you want to drink a full glass?! I understand that some people believe that milk is actually good for you, but milk and other dairy products are the top source of saturated fat in the American diet; they contribute to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine). Studies have also linked dairy to an increased risk of breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers (https://www.pcrm.org/).

We took the discussion of milk to the courtyards and classrooms of Palm Valley. Here is what people had to say about the milky creaminess of Oreo’s favorite companion:

“2% is better.” – Jerry Wang

“I have to drink milk with something. I don’t prefer milk just by itself.”– Alyna Rei

“I drink almond milk.”– Ms. Zachik

“I hate milk. The smell of it is bad.”– Lilah Nick

“Milk is just milk, so get chocolate and put it in the milk and then you get chocolate milk.” – Kayliee Augustine-Sails

“Milk is a nutritious substance and is great for growing teens. It tastes pretty good, but if you have too much it might hurt your stomach.” – Emily Feffer

“Yesterday, I immediately went home and drank a glass of milk.” – Christina Lam

“I like milk with my special K.” – Levi Kassinove

“The richer the milk the better.” – Ms. Castellano

“You’re taking what is meant to be fed to a baby and drinking it yourself; the idea of it is kind of weird but it’s yummy.” – Tal Maruvada

“Fat free is a scam #wholemilkforlife.” – Jesse Denyer

Coachella Valley Ghost Stories for the Dark

March 1, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Have you ever seen a ghost? There may be more paranormal presences in the Coachella Valley than you once thought. Ani Madanyan goes into detail on some stories of ghosts all around the valley and what she reveals is . . . chilling. – Editor Luke Sonderman

By Ani Madanyan

Palm Springs…It’s a perfect vacation spot. The pools, the sun, the heat, but what if I told you the desert is maybe a little haunted with … BOO! . . . Ghosts. They are my biggest fear. I’ve heard some local spooky stories. Let’s get into them.

Photo taken by Palm Springs Paranormal Investigation Team as seen in *The Coachella Valley Independent*.

This is a picture of the La Quinta Resort, the La Casa hideaway. The Palm Springs Paranormal Investigation Team checked out the spirits at the resort. The Coachella Valley Independent writes that the paranormal group had sightings of a “figure of a mysterious woman, cloaked in a white gown, gliding along the pathways of this local resort.” Also, The Coachella Valley Independent has hotel staffers describing “A mysterious tall man with a hat . . . wandering those same halls” (Coachella Valley).

This resort has been open since 1926, so it has lots of history. Donnie Thompson–ghost hunter, documentarian, and lead investigator of the paranormal team–went in for a checkup. Here’s a spooky video of a ghostly figure walking down the pathway that comes from the resort’s camera. The paranormal team wanted to release this video to the media, so here it is.

Donnie and his partner Gloria left this building alone because after interacting with the ghosts, they realized that they intended no harm. Phew!

Blog member and PVS student, Lilah Nick also has a local spooky story.

“I live in the mountains of Palm Springs, and, every so often, like once every two months, I hear a really loud scream that’ll go on for a few minutes coming from the mountains. I know it’s not a coyote because I hear them too. These screams have voice cracks. This is how I know they’re not coyotes; they have a sense of fear. It’s really weird, and the pitch changes a lot, but most of the time it sounds like a man screaming for help.”

Lilah Nick hasn’t done anything about this, besides hide under her blanket and sleep with one eye open…

Senior Jesse Denyer shares her experience with a ghost.

“One day I was home alone hanging out in my backyard, when I got a notification that my Amazon package was delivered. I went through the back sliding glass door, through the living room, and out the front door down to my gate to pick up the package. There was no wind that day, and I am 100% sure I left the door open, as I was going to turn around and come right back. I turn around, and the front door is closed. I assume it just closed by itself, but when I try to open it, it won’t budge almost like it was locked. My door has a deadbolt lock on it, and it’s also a little broken, so in order to lock it you have to jiggle it and put your whole body weight on it. There’s no way it could be locked. I just assumed it got stuck on the rug right next to the door. I walked around my driveway into my backyard and noticed that the sliding glass door was also closed AND LOCKED. Again I am completely home alone, and I know for a fact that I left it open. I took the screen off my kitchen window and crawled in to discover that my front door was deadbolt locked shut and my sliding glass door was also locked. I was so scared I didn’t know what to do with myself. I waited anxiously in my kitchen for my mom to come home. To this day I can’t explain.”

Susan Smith, former Tram employee, has the last ghost story for us.

“One of the old GM’s (general managers) roams the mountain top lodge and can be found at the bar having his favorite drink.” (She can’t remember what kind.) Nighttime Tram employees say this ghost is seen “wearing his infamous golfing hat.” That’s how they know it was him!

Chills. That’s all I have to say.

Why You Should Stop Going to Starbucks and Visit Some Local Coffee Shops

February 24, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

I know everyone loves Starbucks. There are so many locations. You can order ahead, and it’s just a good menu. But, I think it’s time we switch it up and start going to some local coffee shops. – Editor Abigail Horwitt

By Lilah Nick, Who Orders Tea in Coffee Shops

Koffi

Koffi is a locally owned coffee shop. The first Koffi store opened in 2002 in uptown North Palm Springs. They currently have four locations: three in Palm Springs and one in Rancho Mirage. It is a popular spot to stop in with a friend and get some coffee. Their menu consists of things like breakfast sandwiches, coffee, iced tea, their version of a frappuccino, bakery items, and small lunches. Koffi offers mobile orders. In person, I ordered an egg-and-cheese sandwich and a lavender crimson berry iced-tea fusion. It was so good, and I also liked how they cut their sandwiches in half. I frequent the South Palm Springs Koffi pictured below.

Gré Coffee House and Art Gallery

Gré is located in downtown Palm Springs right across from the Sandwich Spot. The floor is covered with vinyl records along with wall displays of rare records as well. They also have a huge selection of vinyl that ranges from their $1 section to $100 for their rare records. On special occasions, they also have live music.

They have coffee, tea, hot chocolate, fountain drinks, and frozen drinks, along with a few bakery items that change every so often. I tried their hot chocolate one time, and it was the best chocolate I’ve ever had. It wasn’t burning hot and it wasn’t watery; it was super chocolate-y.

Photo Credit: Gré Coffee House and Art Gallery

Café La Jefa

Café La Jefa is a Latin-influenced coffee shop in uptown Palm Springs. The atmosphere there is really fun. There are many photo opportunities, and they have lots of comfy seating. They have coffee, tea, kombucha, salads, wraps, sandwiches, and pastries. Ani Madanyan says, “They have really good coffee. I really like their sitting area. Half the time the bakery items are sold out–they’re just that good. They also have shops in the store so you can shop while you wait.” They have clothing, crystals, hair accessories, necklaces, and art.

These are some popular coffee shop alternatives in the desert. They are super good, and I hope you visit these. There is coffee beyond Starbucks.

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the Desert’s Killer

February 23, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

The Coachella Music and Arts Festival is one of the most popular events in the United States. What people don’t know is that the festival has its faults. Environmentalist Sienna Price shows us the dangers of Coachella. – Editor Alyna Rei

Upon request that The Bird On Fire blog move closer to home for the next few weeks, instead of going to any exotic country, I have decided to show you the negative side to Coachella–which is one of the most visited music festivals in America.

Coachella attracts around 100,000 attendees every day! (washingtonpost.com) Can you imagine the waste it produces?! On average, there aree 107 tons of waste produced in a 15-day festival, and only 20% of it gets recycled (washingtonpost.com).

As you all know, music festivals are loud. They can reach up to 110 decibels, which is equal to a jet plane taking off (washingtonpost.com).Noise pollution from the festival can massively alter animal behaviors and disrupt ecosystems. Some situations in the Coachella Valley could be birds having to call longer or plant growth being disturbed (curesblog.lmu.edu).

It’s not just what happens in the Coachella festival. If 100,000 people attend each day, most of the people would drive there. That’s polluting even more. Granted–some people drive electric cars and not every single person will drive an individual car to the festival. This is something to think about.

I’m not trying to tell you not to go to Coachella. I do know that it is a great music festival. I am simply just trying to make you aware of the effects and environmental impacts. Say, you have just booked your tickets, what can you do to help?:

Reuse. Do not throw away a plastic bottle. Refill it, or simply bring a reusable water bottle.
Rideshare. If you know someone who is going, ask to share the car instead of taking two.
Wear biodegradable glitter. You don’t think about what a little bit of non-biodegradable glitter does to the environment, and a little bit might not do that much. But, if 100,000 people wear glitter, think of that environmental impact.
Clean up. Clean up around your campsite if you are camping. If you see a piece of trash, pick it up. This is not even restricted to Coachella. Pick up around your community.

If you are considering going to Coachella, or if you already booked your ticket, I hope that you keep in mind the things that you could do to help the environment: pick up your trash; share your rides; take public transports! There are many ways you can help the environment.

Thanks for reading!