🌎 Are garbage disposals green?

Happy Wednesday! It’s August 9 — people are talking about Harvard’s new college admissions essays, the green-ness of garbage disposals, and more.

As always, we’ve summarized and organized the different shades of perspective, so you can see the big picture quickly.

📝 In the news: Harvard’s new essays

Harvard changed its admission essay prompts. Is considering “life experiences” still fair in a post-affirmative-action world?

📝 Bloomberg: The Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in June, so Harvard changed its admission essay prompts to emphasize “life experiences.”

📝 The first essay prompt includes the question: “How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard?”

📝 The National Review doesn’t approve: These prompts continue the legacy of affirmative action in admissions, going against the Supreme Court's wishes.

📝 Forbes objects for another reason: Making the essay section too important forces applicants to share racial and personal trauma with admissions officers.

📝 But the Boston Globe supports the changes. Essays are crucial in protecting the diversity of college campuses. Applicants' stories are important!

🌎 Cultural trend: Are garbage disposals green?

Are in-sink garbage disposal systems good for the environment, or just another case of greenwashing?

🌎 Garbage disposal manufacturer InSinkErator says using a garbage disposal can decrease global warming by turning food waste into renewable energy.

🌎 But Earth911 is skeptical. There isn't enough data to say whether putting food into wastewater is better than putting it in a landfill. Compost is still #1.

🌎 And AP News notes that putting food into the wastewater system can lead to harmful levels of nitrogen in nearby bodies of water.

🌎 Most of the food waste that goes down the drain ends up in landfills anyway, writes Treehugger. The greenwashing of garbage disposals is a total scam!

Quick hits from today & yesterday

🌄 President Biden formally designated an area around the Grand Canyon as a national monument. (CNN)

📉 In July, Chinese exports saw the sharpest drop since February 2020. (WSJ)

🏛️ Ohio voters rejected a proposal that would make it harder to amend the state constitution. (NYT)

🏝️ Maui County officials closed all roads to public use in the town of Lahaina as the fires on the island continue to spread. (CNN)

That’s it for today! Reply at [email protected] with your takes, topic suggestions, or anything at all. Here at Shades we’re trying something new – quick summaries from different points of view. We’d love to hear what you think.