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Welcome to The Crunch, our weekly roundup of stories from around the web; like reading the news while chomping on granola. Here’s what we’ve been chewing on lately.

The border debate, from a Native perspective

Indigenous people have a different perspective on illegal immigration than those we hear in Congress.  What does the debate mean for people who are native to the land? (via

Actually, do we even need borders?

The refugee crisis sheds light on how borders can create prisons out of conflict zones, but what’s the point? Migrants bring an influx of money, labor, culture, and more. So why are we clinging to these divisions? (via )

A(head) of the class

It started with a bean sprout. Now, a growing fad in China has young (and a few old) people sporting plastic vegetation, including sunflowers, mushrooms, cherries, gourds, and pine trees—from their heads. Childish? Maybe. But it’s a fun way to stand out in a country of people who don’t like to call attention to themselves, and a fashionable way to profess your love for nature. (via ) 

How pollution affects your brain

New studies are pointing to the link between air quality and dementia. People living in cities are particularly in danger, due to proximity to freeways and roads. (via ) 

Stop recycling? Not just yet

Former New York Times columnist John Tierney would love to see recycling go away.  In 1996 he wrote an article for the Times saying recycling wasn’t worth the effort.  Now he’s done it again. Grist offers a fine rebuttal of his arguments, reminding us all of the multiple benefits of recycling.  (via )

Youth activism keeps culture going

Despite the fact that young people are often chided for not respecting culture and tradition, the indigenous youth of Canada are leading the fight to keep their languages living—and influencing the nation’s elections while they do it. (via

All photos from .