- Stop buying microbeads. Microbeads are those little dots that come in your face scrubs, hand sanitizers, and so much more. At first glance they seem cute and pretty practical. But they are also destroying the environment. Learn more about these toxic little beads and why there is a whole movement to stop the production of them.
- Paper or plastic? Neither. I’m sure you’re aware that more and more people have sworn off plastic garbage bags, and you can go one step further by bringing your own bags to the store. Keep a few in the back of your car so you don’t forget. Some cute but practical bags can be found here or here. And worst case scenario: if you end up with some plastic grocery bags on your hands, at least reuse them.
- Get a reusable water bottle. I am still shocked every time I see someone drinking from a plastic disposable water bottle. If you’re someone who’s still drinking from these awful things, it doesn’t matter what excuse you have for using them - please stop. U.S. landfills are currently overflowing with more than 2 million tons of discarded water bottles. It also costs a lot of money and valuable resources to keep up with the demand of bottled water; for instance, 3 liters of water are used to produce a 1-litre water bottle. Personally, I noticed I drink nearly 4x as much water when I carry a reusable water bottle than I did prior to having one. Some of my favorite reusable water bottles are Klean Kanteens and Hydro Flask. If you’re on a budget, Nalgenes are perfect too because they tend to be cheaper and the company has been known to replace water bottles for free in the event that they break or don’t function properly.
- Try Meatless Mondays. As a full-time vegetarian, I can promise you that this is not as difficult or painful as it sounds. Even if you love meat, going meatless one day per week won’t hurt you. In fact, it’ll do the exact opposite. But you may be wondering what this has to do with the environment. As it turns out, manufacturing meat is really bad for the planet. Consuming less meat would result in minimizing water usage, reduction of greenhouse gases, and decreased fuel dependence. If everyone were to go meatless for just one day per week, the U.S. would save 100 billions of gallons of water (yes, billions…with a B), 70 million gallons of gas, and 3 million acres of land. Learn more here. Plus, I think animals are too cute to eat. But that's a story for another time.
- Never run the dishwasher unless it’s completely full. Starting your dishwasher when it’s not completely full is a total waste of water. Get as much use as you can out of your dishwasher. Also, try scraping the residue off of your dishes instead of rinsing; you’ll save on water that way.
- ...Or the washing machine.
- And wash on cold. In short, washing with warm water is very wasteful and takes a lot more energy. To find out more, click here.
- Take 3 paper napkins instead of 4. If everyone in the U.S. took just one less paper napkin per day, we should save more than a billion pounds of napkins from ending up in landfills.
- Turn off the water while you shave in the shower. Or, at the very least, turn the faucet down to a mere trickle if you absolutely MUST leave the water running. If this doesn’t apply to you, my apologies for wasting the 10 seconds it took you to read these two sentences.
- Don’t take baths. Baths can require almost twice as much water as showers.
- Stop using K-Cups. I thought these small coffee pods were an amazing invention when I first started using them…but alas, they’re slowly killing the planet. In 2013, Keurig Green Mountain produced 8.3 billion K-Cups—which is enough to circle the Earth 10.5 times. That number increased to 9.8 billion in 2014. In total, more than 60 billion K-Cups have gone to landfills so far. That’s all thanks to the fact that these little pods are not recyclable. Even John Sylvan, the original inventor of K-Cups, said “I feel bad sometimes that I ever did it.” Yikes. But fear not! You can still keep your single-serve coffee machine. Just purchase a reusable K-Cup, like this one.
- Don’t ever waste food. I think we all get a little overly ambitious when we see food that looks really good, but the best way to avoid wasting food is to only take a little bit and then take more if you’re still hungry after you eat your first serving. If you’re at a restaurant, opt for the lunch-sized portions instead of dinner; often times the dinner portions are 3-4x larger than one serving size anyway. And never hesitate to ask for a take-home box.
- Shut the water off when you brush your teeth. This is probably the easiest step ever, because there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON why you need to leave the water running while you’re brushing your teeth. Turn it on to wet the toothbrush. Turn it off. Turn it on to clean the toothbrush and rinse out the sink. Turn it off. It’s pretty simple, people.
- Invest in a solar charger. I just ordered my first portable solar charger. I was hesitant at first because it sounds like some sort of futuristic machine that only works in the middle of the Sahara. But from ratings online and word of mouth, I’ve gathered that these little chargers are a great way to save on your electricity bill and power your phone using the power of the sun at the same time. You can find one that looks pretty cool here.
- Shop for a cause. There are tons of philanthropic companies out there that produce cute and sustainable products. Some of my personal favorites are Puravida Bracelets (more about that here) and the new Adidas running shoe.
- Buy stuff used. Whether it’s from a thrift shop or off of Craigslist, buying things used is not as sketchy or dirty as some people make it out to be. In fact, I buy most of my clothes used from online used clothing sites, like Poshmark. It’s a lot cheaper and by buying used you’re avoiding production processes that use a lot of water and energy.
- Air-dry your hair. Not only is blow-drying your hair really bad for it (think: split ends galore), but it’s an energy sucker. So just don’t do it.
- Never use Styrofoam. Disposing of Styrofoam is harmful to wildlife and it pollutes water. It’s the primary source of urban litter, and it’s also known to contain carcinogens. Avoid it at all costs for both environmental and health reasons.
- Unplug your chargers when you’re not using them.
- And always remember… “If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito.” –Anita Roddick
Welcome back
Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends
or
LOG IN WITH FACEBOOKNo account? Create one
Recommended for you
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
StableDiffusion
The Illusion of Creativity
AI-generated music is often marketed as “artistic” or “educational.” But what does it really teach?
- That style can be replicated without understanding.
- That emotion can be simulated without feeling.
- That effort can be bypassed with a prompt.
For young creators, this sets a dangerous precedent. Why learn to play guitar when an algorithm can do it faster? Why study harmony when AI can generate chord progressions in seconds? The risk isn’t just laziness — it’s the loss of depth, discipline, and the tactile joy of creation.
I have listened to several AI-generated music covers. My initial reaction was one of considerable impressiveness, particularly regarding the reimagining of classic pop hits in diverse genres with novel arrangements. Here is one good example a-ha — Take On Me
However, after engaging with several such Ai generated song covers, a sense of emotional detachment emerged, attributable to the perceived absence of human artistry and genuine sentiment, resulting in a technically flawless yet ultimately soulless auditory experience.
Copyright in Crisis
What does the copyright law say about AI generated music, especially in field of music covers. Who is liable for copyright in this case, AI developers, people who used AI to generate music or people who published it on music platforms?
Recent lawsuits show that the music industry is pushing back hard:
- Universal, Sony, and Warner sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio in 2024 for allegedly training their models on copyrighted songs without permission Ars Technica The Lyon Firm.
- They’re seeking up to $150,000 per infringed song, arguing that the AI outputs resemble famous tracks and voices (e.g., Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson).
- These lawsuits target the developers of the AI tools — but they raise broader questions:The legal gray area is training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use Sites at USC.
But who’s liable?
Role | Legal Risk | Why |
AI Developers | ✅ High | For training on copyrighted material without licenses. |
Users | ⚠️ Moderate | If they intentionally recreate protected works. |
Publishers/Platforms | ✅ High | For distributing infringing content. |
The grey area lies in training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use. Meanwhile, AI-generated works themselves aren’t eligible for copyright unless a human provides substantial creative input — leaving them in legal limbo.
The Educational Mirage
Some argue that AI music helps people learn genres, production styles, or vocal techniques. But this “education” often lacks context. It’s like learning to paint by watching a printer — technically impressive, but creatively hollow.
True musical education involves:
- Struggle and iteration: Learning through mistakes.
- Emotional connection: Expressing what words can’t.
- Cultural lineage: Understanding the roots of sound.
AI shortcuts bypass all of this. And in doing so, they risk flattening the rich terrain of human creativity into a sterile landscape of algorithmic mimicry.
Why This Fight Matters
This isn’t just about music. It’s about the future of art, storytelling, and human expression. If we allow machines to dominate creative spaces, we risk turning culture into content — optimized, monetized, and devoid of soul.
We must ask: Do we want a world where art is made by machines, or one where machines help humans make better art?
5 Key Takeaways
- AI-generated music blurs the line between innovation and erosion in the creative arts
- AI-generated music raises questions about copyright, culture, education, and artistic expression
- AI-generated music can replicate style without understanding, simulate emotion without feeling, and bypass effort with a prompt
- AI-generated music sets a dangerous precedent for young creators by potentially leading to a loss of depth, discipline, and joy of creation
Trending Topics
Trending Stories
Best of Politics and Activism![Jenna Pizzi and her mom smiling by a waterfront with a historic ship in the background.]()
![Cristina Yang and Meredith Grey in scrubs sit against a wall, smiling and enjoying a break.]()
![Woman in field with a red heart-shaped balloon under a colorful sky.]()
