Times Square Ball Goes Green

The Times Square New Year's Eve ball is celebrating its centennial by going green. The new 6ft ball, weighing about 1,100lbs, is covered with 9,576 light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that use the same amount of electricity as 10 toasters. Check out the full BBC article about it.

Fuel Efficiency

Lately there's been a lot in the news about fuel efficiency. About a week ago (on Wednesday, Dec. 19th) Bush signed an energy bill that, among other things, increases fuel efficiency for cars, SUVs, and small trucks to 35 mpg by 2020 (today's standard is 27.5 mpg for cars and 22.2 for trucks and SUVs). The bill also "requires refineries to increase the use of ethanol from about 6 billion gallons a year this year to 36 billion gallons by 2022 and mandates that by then at least 21 billion gallons are to come from feedstocks other than corn" (that's from the NYT article). That sounds pretty awesome to me--I'm pretty much of the mindset that diversification of fuels is the way to go.

So basically it was a good Wednesday...except that on that same Wednesday the EPA denied California and a bunch of other states (including Connecticut) the right to set their own emissions standards (see another NYT article). EPA Administrator Johnson justified the denial by saying "'The Bush administration is moving forward with a clear national solution, not a confusing patchwork of state rules,' he said. 'I believe this is a better approach than if individual states were to act alone.'" In short, a bunch of people were kinda pissed about that (if you are, too, click here to send an email to Johnson).

I guess it's sortof interesting that on the one hand, it's great that legislation that increases fuel standards passed...but on the other hand the passage of that bill is being used to justify denial of individual states' efforts (which would end up increasing fuel standards more than the national bill does). Hmm...

In any case, on the topic of fuel efficiency, over Christmas my brother showed me a really cool article about this crazy amazing mechanic from Kansas named Jonathan Goodwin. Apparently, he's some kind of car genius who modifies cars and trucks such that they become ridiculously fuel efficient. He added a jet engine to a Hummer so that it gets 60 miles to the gallon and 600 horsepower (I think Hummers usually get 9 miles to the gallon). It's "like a Prius on steroids." Anyway, if there's one link you click in this post make it this one...it's sortof a long story but definitely worth it.

Vampire Energy Chart

If you're still left on campus, don't forget to unplug all of your stuff that you won't be using for the next month! If you are wondering why, check on this chart on vampire energy (energy used while your laptop/speakers/appliances are turned off but plugged in).

Click here for the chart.

via GOODMAGAZINE

"Stuff-free" gifts

About a month ago, Grist posted "10 great ideas for 'stuff-free' holiday gifts." Maybe I should look into some of these, since I definitely haven't actually started my holiday shopping. Oops.

Recycling NEWSFLASH!

You can recycle the tops of the Summerfields/Usdan to-go containers. They're labeled with plastic code #1 (the bottoms are labeled with #5, which means we can't recycle them). For more about plastic codes, see this ancient post.

PLANET EARTH!

Yes, it's happening. We'll be showing Planet-effing-Earth tomorrow (Wednesday) evening in Shanklin 107. Two episodes will be screened at 8 and at 9. Come to one or both! Seriously, this is going to be amazing. Planet Earth on a relatively big screen?! Yes, that qualifies as amazing in my proverbial book. If you've ever wanted to be in EON, if you're signed up for the listserv but don't go to meetings, if you want to be in EON for one night and one night only, THIS is the EON meeting to go to. Check this out for more about Planet Earth.

What: PLANET EARTH SCREENING!
Where: Shanklin 107
When: Wednesday, 12/12 at 8 and 9 pm

If It’s Fresh and Local, Is It Always Greener?

Here's a provocative New York Times article about the idea of local food and carbon footprints. Is it always better for the environment to buy food that was produced nearby, or are there other factors that you should consider first? This is just another example of how all these issues are much more complex than they may seem, and it takes a dedicated and educated person to make the right decisions regarding the environment.

The Story of Stuff

Check out this video, The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard. It's all about the reality of consumerism in the United States and its clash with sustainability.

Channukah and Global Warming

"In a campaign that has spread like wildfire across the Internet, a group of Israeli environmentalists is encouraging Jews around the world to light at least one less candle this Hanukka to help the environment.

The founders of the Green Hanukkia campaign found that every candle that burns completely produces 15 grams of carbon dioxide. If an estimated one million Israeli households light for eight days, they said, it would do significant damage to the atmosphere."

Read the rest of the article.

This brings up a really interesting issue I've been thinking about recently: how much do we change for the sake of curbing global warming? I tend to get really "all or nothing" about it in my own life (which has been a cause for some anxiety). I'm of the mindset that in order to deal with global warming, we have to make real lifestyle changes and not just try to fit sustainability into the existing framework of our lives, since there are fundamental things about the way we live that are just not sustainable. For example, I'm thinking about the need to have food or whatever "to go"--one solution would be to make to go containers out of more recyclable materials, and the other (better, in my opinon) solution would be to encourage people to sit down and eat and take food to go only if they absolutely, last resort have to. Instead of treating the issue superficially, we should get down to the underlying habits and practices--the real source of the problem.

Anyway, that turned into a rant. Basically, as much as I believe in what I just wrote, I feel like there might be areas it'd be weird to mess with (like religious practices). I think I would totally light one less candle this year (if I were actually good about practicing Judaism), but I can understand why there's heated (ha...ha..) opposition to it. What do you think?

Also, in case you're interested in more about "green Judaism" (I just made that up), check out the Green Menorah Covenant.

Particularly relevant green gifts

The particularly relevant part is kindof a joke...but maybe not. Anyway, I subscribe to this daily tip thing from Ideal Bite (tagline: "a sassier shade of green"). It's green gifts week, and I couldn't resist sharing this one:


Gifts for Hipsters: What do you get for the person who is cooler than you could possibly hope to be?

The Bite
That they'll actually like, we mean. Finding gifts for hipsters can be harder than scoring tix to an M.I.A. concert (translation: "near impossible"), but we tracked down a few gifts that should garner more than that trademark blank stare from hipper-than-thou friends.

The Benefits

• Cool gifts (and not just in a metaironic sense). Help your friends keep their place at the very top of the [enter Lower East Side or other hipster 'hood here] scene.
• Fewer pesticides. Choose gifts with sustainable materials, like organic cotton (1/3 of the world's pesticides are used for the production of regular cotton).
• Smaller landfills. Some companies incorporate reused materials, such as recycled leather. People with fixed-gear bikes love that stuff.

Personally Speaking
Toshio has dreams about moving to Echo Park, getting an asymmetrical haircut, and listening to Grizzly Bear B-sides on vinyl for hours on end. Then he wakes up and realizes that he can't afford the right jeans.

Wanna Try?
Okay, usually they have a list of products/services in this section, but the funny part about the tip was the fact that it's a tip entitled "Hipster Gifts."

Here are my favorite parts:
BANG FOR THE BITE
If 10,000 Biters (people who use the website...yeah, I know) gift an organic T-shirt instead of a nonorganic one, we'll avert the weight of 22 hipsters in pesticides.

COCKTAIL FACT
In 2003, the NY Times reported that Pabst Blue Ribbon was the fastest-growing domestic beer brand due to its adoption by the hipster community. (I'm not gonna lie, I've never really thought of PBR as a "hipster drink...")


Here is the tip in its full glory (including the gift recommendations)

Green things to do at Wes this week:

Dirt Lecture--CANCELLED
Paolo Speirn '10 writes to let you know that Professor Lori Gruen is giving a talk and leading a discussion about the history and ethics of Environmental Justice. This should be a great look at integrating environmentalism with social justice.
Unfortunately, Lori Gruen's voice has gone out, so she will not be speaking on Wednesday night at Earth House as planned. We'll have to wait until next semester.

What: "Building Alliances for Environmental Justice," a talk with Lori
Gruen. (Courtsey of The Dirt lecture series)
When: Wednesday, December 5th at 8:00 pm
Where: Earth House (pink house on the corner of lawn and high st.)

Another Dirt Lecture

English Professor William Stowe is going to talk the natural world as it relates to the relatively new concept of vacation. "This has both good and bad effects for the natural world," he writes, "turning it into a commodity and at the same time something to be treasured and protected."

As our last Dirt lecture (for this semester) there will be food from Typhoon.

What: Professor William Stowe, "Nature: Treasure and Commodity"
When: Thursday, December 6th at 6:00 pm
Where: Earth House (pink house, corner of lawn and high street)
Food: Dinner from Typhoon will be provided.

First Friday
How does climate change affect us?
What is Middletown doing to address it?
A conversation with Bob Wall (Wes alum), Director of the CT Clean Energy Fund

What: Climate Change: Personal and Community Solutions
When: Friday, December 7th @ 4:30pm
Where: CCP (Center for Community Partnerships), 167 High Street

First Friday is a series sponsored by the Center for Community
Partnerships and is dedicated to building community amongst those
interested in service, activism and social change.

Green Computing

About a month ago, we posted about how ITS posted about green computing in their Technology of the Month blog (sorry, I really enjoy referencing earlier posts). Anyway, now there's a whole blog about!

Middletown Transportation Alternatives General Meeting

Interested in the politics of transportation, walking/cycling/public transportation, and encouraging Wesleyan and Middletown to have better and more sustainable transportation policies? If so, this is the meeting for you. The list of topics to be discussed includes Wesleyan's parking policy and Feet to the Fire events. All welcome! You can bring a snack if you want. For more info about Transportation Alternatives Middletown, clicky!

What: Middletown Transportation Alternatives Meeting
When: Monday, Dec. 3rd, 6:30-8 pm
Where: Russell Library, in the Hubbard Room

Carbon Credit (Card)

Ted sent us this awesome thing about a credit card that generates carbon offsets:

A couple of recent Middlebury grads have started a company, Brighter Planet, and signed a deal with Bank of America to create just such a card. Essentially, each dollar spent with the card earns a "point" towards various renewable energy projects, and they calculate that 1000 points will offset approximately one ton of carbon dioxide.

I've been hearing about this from my uncle--a professor at Middlebury--for a couple of years. Apparently some of his students came up with the idea during their final project in one of his Environmental Economics classes. I won't try and condense all of the great information they have on their site (how to reduce individual carbon output, what projects they're investing in, current climate change news) into this paragraph, but I urge you to check it out! These guys definitely know what they're doing.

Click here for the Press Release!

Smart Power Strip!

From Gaiam, a more energy-efficient power strip:

Even when they’re off, today’s electronics continue to draw electricity we pay for but don’t use. This revolutionary power strip prevents that waste. Plug your main device (computer, TV, etc.) into the primary outlet and its peripherals printer/scanner or VCR/cable box, etc.) into the others. High-tech sensors know when you shut down the main device, and they cut off everything else. Saves up to 72% of the energy your systems use and offers state-of-the art surge protection too. With 6' cord, six no-idle outlets, and three always-on outlets.

At $39, its not quite a steal, but a great start.

via GOOD Magazine.

Events this week!

Many things are happening this week:

Second Installment of "The Dirt"
"Conservation of Food and Biodiversity in South American Rivers"--A lecture/discussion with (always lovable) Professor Chernoff about his research on river ecosystems, with an emphasis on their necessity to human societies.

What: Earth House Lecture
Where: Earth House (159 high street)
When: Tuesday (TOMORROW) at 8 pm

Third Installment of "The Dirt"
This Thursday at 7:00pm Earth House will be hosting the 3rd talk in its lecture series, The Dirt. This week will feature Professor Sonia Sultan leading a discussion entitled, "Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Issues." Earth House is the big pink house located at 159 High Street. Come and enjoy an intimate talk with Sonia Sultan before your Thursday night festivities! Treats will be provided.

What: Earth House Lecture
Where: ...Earth House
When: Thursday at 7 pm

An Inconvenient Truth
The Roosevelt Institution is hosting a free screening of An Inconvenient Truth in conjunction with a discussion (led by Gary Yohe) happening the next day.

What: An Inconvenient Truth screening
Where: Shanklin 107
When: Thursday at 7 pm

Discussion with Gary Yohe
There will be FREE Pizza with a discussion led by Professor Yohe about the strengths and limitations of the previous night's screening of An Inconvenient Truth. Come hear what our Nobel-prize winning professor has to say about the film and pick his brain! If you have any questions contact Ilona (irkramer@wes).

What: Discussion with Gary Yohe (and pizza)
Where: PAC 421
When: Friday at 12:30

Circus for a Fragile Planet
Imagine a circus in which actors juggle bottled water, polar bears dance on melting ice floes, the props and set are recycled, and the core of clowns are called the Fossil Fools.
That’s part of what you get in ARTFARM’s Circus for a Fragile Planet, a brand new educational circus performance. This forty-five minute show, appropriate for all ages, will be performed at the First United Methodist Church in Middletown on Friday, November 30 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, December 1 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm.
See art-farm.org for more info!

What: an environmental circus
Where: First United Methodist Church, 24 Old Church St, Middletown
When: Friday at 7:30 pm and Saturday at 2 pm and 7:30 pm

Transportation stuff

I now realize that this website would have been much more helpful if I'd posted about it BEFORE Thanksgiving break, but oh well. HopStop.com is a really cool "city transit guide." You can get bus and/or subway directions for systems in New York City, Boston, Chicago, Long Island, San Francisco, New Jersey, Washington DC, and the Metro North Area.

Also, SAFT posted some stuff about how Wesleyan's transportation system compares to our peers' setups, as well as a link to the American Public Transportation Association's report about what public transportation has to do with greenhouse gases.

More from the IPCC...

Just recently (last weekend), the fourth IPCC assessment was finished. Basically, the synthesis report (the final part of the assessment) said that global warming is a much more urgent problem than previously thought. Like, ''If there's no action before 2012, that's too late,'' said Rajendra Pachauri, a scientist and economist who heads the IPCC. ''What we do in the next two to three years will determine our future. This is the defining moment.''

Check out this news story and this one.

President Roth Signs the PCC!

(photo from the Wesleyan Connection)

On Friday, November 16, President Michael S. Roth signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.

The Commitment has been signed by 434 colleges and universities' presidents to date, and Roth acknowledged EON as being one of the primary forces that prompted him to sign the pledge after a few of us met with him in September.

Our own Jacob Mirsky '08 was invited to make an opening speech at the ceremony, which was presided over by the Chair of the Board of Trustees, Jim Dresser, and was attended by a host of trustees, students, and staff members. You can read more about Friday's ceremony here.

Now that the Commitment has been signed, Wesleyan has one year to create a comprehensive inventory of its greenhouse gas emissions, and two years to come out with a plan of action for achieving carbon neutrality. There is so much to be done to make Wesleyan more sustainable, and EON is leading the way in making sure it happens.

Nov. 15th=America Recycles Day

Thursday is America Recycles Day! This is the day's 10th year of existence--according to the website, it's meant to raise awareness about the "importance of daily recycling and buying recycled products." The day is sponsored/created by the National Recycling Coalition.

Other recycling resources in CT include the Connecticut Recyclers Coalition and the Connecticut EPA.

If you're interested, take the pledge on the America Reycles Day website. Also, check out the conversionator (it's an interactive flash animation in which you drop recyclables into this machine thing that then tells you about more about them. It's hard to describe, but funny and worth checking out).

If you're wanting a more hands-on America Recycles Day, head over to Usdan at lunch tomorrow. There will be a recyclables toss (in which you sort different items into bins). Even if you don't like recycling, it might be fun to throw things.

What: America Recycles Day (more specifically, a recyclables toss)
Where: Usdan (bottom of the stairs)
When: Thursday, Nov. 15th at lunch

Operation Wallacea Thing

The conservation group Operation Wallacea is currently looking for university students to assist in biodiversity assessment and conservation management projects in Indonesia, Honduras, Peru, South Africa, Mozambique and Egypt.

Dr. Kathy Slater of Operation Wallacea will be giving a presentation at 7.00pm on Tuesday 13th November in the Public Affairs Center (PAC) 001 on the Wesleyan University Campus. We will also be holding further meetings at your University which will be confirmed in due course.

If you can't make it to the meeting, but are interested in finding out more about our expeditions then please take a look at the website or contact Neil Peake in the Operation Wallacea US office on 973-940-2040 and he can talk through the various projects with you.

What: Operation Wallacea info sesh
When: Tuesday, Nov. 13th at 7pm
Where: PAC 001

Green Art

I put this in the links section a while ago, but I thought I'd make a post, too, since I'm going post-crazy right now. Anywayyy, there's this thing called the Green Museum, and I think it's really cool. According to the website, "greenmuseum.org, [is] a nonprofit, online museum of environmental art, [which] advances creative efforts to improve our relationship with the natural world." Pretty sweet.

Environmental Philosophy in a YURT!

Last fall I took a philosophy FYI called Ecology of Perception. I still can't really describe what it was about, but I periodically get emails from my professor about environmental events in CT. This one is happening on Sunday in East Haddam.

How can a deeper understanding and experience of energy offer us a new ethics for an ecologically-destabilized world?

THE ETHICS OF ENERGY WORKSHOP AT THE EARTH CHARTER YURT

(I just need to emphasize that this workshop is in a yurt. Yurts are beyond badass, if you ask me (which you didn't)).

A fun interactive philosophical dialogue hosted by Hans Lohse (green architect), Jen Taylor (neolithic philosopher), Matthew Griffiths (fluid dynamics physicist), Justin Good (community organizer, and also my professor from last year), You (if you come!)

WHEN: 2 PM this Sunday, November 11th
WHERE: at the Yurt in the Earth Charter Sanctuary, 59 Bogel Road, East Haddam
DIRECTIONS:

1. Come across the bridge, stay on CT-82 East (Norwich Road) through the village and up the hill.
2. At the STOP sign turn left onto Town Street (Bistro by Benigno is on the left).
3. Go ¼ mile north, turn Right on to Daniels Road. Go to end.
4. Turn left onto Bogel Road. #59 on the left about 3 houses up.
5. Take the second driveway marked YURT and LABRYNTH

Environmentally conscious...BRAS?

A while ago, I thought it was weird that "green gossip" exists. That seems normal now that I've seen bras and underwear that promote sustainability. Apparently, Triumph International (a giant underwear conglomerate) has lot of...how shall I put this...statement underwear in their Japanese collection. You can see more examples of socially/environmentally conscious underwear by Triumph International here.
(I found this through Grist, by the way).

Prof. Royer is on the History Channel!

+=Wesleyan on your TV

According to the Wesleyan website, Professor Royer will be featured on the upcoming History Channel show called "A Global Warning?" Just so you know, it's "packed with breathtaking locations, dynamic special effects and exciting accounts...watch as a vision of the earth's violent past and uncertain future is revealed" (from the website).

You can watch on:

• Sunday, November 11 at 9:00 pm
• Monday, November 12 at 1:00 am
• Saturday, November 17 at 5:00 pm
• Tuesday, November 27 at 8:00 am
• Tuesday, November 27 at 2:00 pm

There are also some other related shows on the History Channel like "Mega Disasters: Glacier Meltdown," "Modern Marvels: Environmental Tech" (both I and II), and "Modern Marvels: Renewable Energy." Showtimes for those can be found here.

Middletown Open Space Referendum Passes

Today voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum to give $2 million for open space preservation in Middletown, which is one-third of the total since the state of Connecticut will match an additional $4 million.

This is great news for conservation in Connecticut, as the state has the highest rate of development. Eighteen acres of land are lost to development every day!

Odd things you CAN recycle...

Today Grist posted an article thing about recycling odd things. Most of the items are things you can recycle at Wes (such as CDs, DVDs, cellphones, computers (you have to call for pickup of those), and athletic shoes) but they also mention things like dry-cleaning hangers (you can sometimes return them to your dry-cleaner) and mattresses and TVs (items falling under the hard-to-get-rid-of category). Most usefully (I think), they reveal that you can recycle beer bottles with lime wedges. This is revolutionary information!
(image shamelessly yoinked from Grist)

Step it Up pictures!

Brendan, Allie, Allison, Bekka, and Julien with the Wesleyan Cardinal (Who are you?? My mom made me take a picture with you that day and I'm dying to know your identity..)

Those recyclables spell "STEP IT UP." Cool, huh?

We're in the news!

Check out Step it Up, Wesleyan, and our very own Jacob Mirsky in the Hartford Advocate!

Ozone Pollution Lecture

Tomorrow at lunch Dr. Michelle Bell (of Yale) will be giving a talk entitled "Tropospheric Ozone Pollution: History, Formation and Human Health." (not in Macedonian--I just thought the graphic was sweet). According to her research statement, "Dr. Bell’s research addresses air pollution and human health by integrating several disciplines, such as environmental engineering and epidemiology...The overall aim of her work is to answer scientific questions regarding how air pollution affects health and to perform policy-relevant research that contributes to well-informed decision-making and to greater public understanding of environmental health hazards."

What: Ozone Pollution talk
Where: Exley 405
When: TUESDAY, Nov. 6, 12-1pm

EARTH HOUSE EVENTS THIS WEEK!

Earth House is putting on two coal-related events this week:

WHAT: "Coal, Collaboration, and Community: Trans-disciplinary Environmental Action," a lecture by Dr. T. Allan Comp, founder of the AMD & Art project.
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 6th, 7:30 pm
WHERE: Daniel Family Commons, Usdan (Reception following lecture)

Dr. T. Allan Comp is an historian, an artist, a community organizer and a government bureaucrat, too. He is the founder the AMD & Art project, director of the Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team and does other coal related environmental remediation work through out the country. As a historian by trade, Dr. Comp approaches environmental issues by working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.


WHAT: Documentary about Coal issues in Appalachia: "Sludge" by Robert Sayler
WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 8th 8:00 pm
WHERE: PAC 004

A 40 minute film. "Sludge is a documentary that investigates a recent Kentucky coal waste disaster and examines the role of federal regulatory agencies in the coalfields. Filmed over four years, the documentary chronicles the aftermath of the spill, the “whistleblower” case of Jack Spadaro, and the looming threat of coal sludge ponds throughout the region."

Green TV

I posted about Grist (a humorous environmental news website that brings together stories/info from multiple sources) a while ago, and since then have been getting their Grist List emails every weekish. Today's email notified me that this coming week, NBC will be having a "Green Week," in which environmental themes are worked into shows like The Office, Scrubs, 30 Rock, The Singing Bee, and The Biggest Loser. So yeah, I guess if you watch TV at school (which I don't), you should be on the look out for green themes in your favorite shows. While you're at it, check out the website that Grist directed me to so I could read about this: Ecorazzi. This website touts itself as "the latest in green gossip." I'm not gonna lie, I didn't know there was such a thing as green gossip...but I guess more and more greenness has been showing up in pop culture these days, so maybe I shouldn't be surprised.

It's not going away by itself

Cayenne Italy (advertising company) reminds everyone to stop global warming before things get carried away.

See you at Step It Up!

The Argus covers Roth's Commitment

I guess I'll have to keep editing that mega-post about President Roth and the saga of the Climate Committment(s...). Anyway, here's a recent article in the Argus.

ITS cares, too

Check out ITS' Technology of the Month blog--today they posted about green computing! There are tips about how you can compute (?) in a more eco-friendly fashion as well as an announcement that a "Green Computing Committee" has been formed. Sounds good to me..

Step it Up 2007

On this Saturday, November 3rd, the Step it Up 2007 day of action to combat climate change will take place at thousands of locations across the country.

At 11:00 there will be a march across the Middletown-Portland bridge and at 12:00, there will be a rally on Foss Hill with live music, free energy-saving flourescent light bulbs, an information booth and hands-on recycling sorting to create an artistic, visual reminder of Wesleyan's commitment to environmentalism.

The three objectives of Step it Up are:

1. no new coal plants
2. 80%reduction in carbon emissions by 2050
3. 5 million new green jobs.

Please come out to Foss, bring your parents and make a statement to our leaders that we believe in a sustainable future!

What: Step it Up Rally/March
When: November 3rd at noon on Foss Hill (or 11 on the Middletown-Portland Bridge)

Environmental Tip of The Week

Equals






ie. Eating meat consumes a lot of oil. Thus this weeks tip is to reduced the meat in your diet.


With a friend, record how many meals with meat (beef, chicken, pork, etc.) you eat per week. Then both of you pledge to eat one less meat meal a week.

From fossil fuels, to forest and rainforest deforestation, to water pollution, usage, and the destruction of the ocean, the amount of meat we consume negatively affects the environment. Here is some detailed information.

And of course, the facts:

It now takes the equivalent of a gallon of gasoline to produce a pound of grainfed beef in the United States. The annual beef consumption of an average American family of four requires more than 260 gallons of fuel and releases 2.5 tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere, as much as the average car over a six month period.

Supplying the world with a typical American meat-based diet would deplete all world oil reserves in just a few years.

Nearly half of the total amount of water used annually in the U. S. goes to grow feed and provide drinking water for cattle and other livestock. Producing a pound of grain-fed steak requires the use of hundreds of gallons of water. Producing a pound of beef protein often requires up to fifteen times more water than producing an equivalent amount of plant protein.

VEG OUT

Get over to Earth House this Thursday for tastiness.
When: November 1. 6:30 pm.
Where: Earth House, corner of High and Lawn
What: delicious local vegan meal
Cost: $4
Bring: your utensil of choice.

More Green Corps

Sam Landenwitsch, an Assistant Organizing Director for Green Corps will be on campus to talk with prospective participants in the program. Come to an informal meeting to hear more about Green Corps and the work they do and how you can get involved.

Green Corps is a one year fellowship in environmental organizing that provides training and field experience running environmental campaigns.

TOMORROW:
What: Coffee shop hour with Green Corps
When: 10:30am to 11:30am Wednesday, October 31. Tomorrow!
Where: Pi Cafe
Who: Anyone who is interested, although particularly seniors.

greenguide

check out this website/ suggest it to faculty and staff who were asking about eco-friendly lifestyle tips. i found this while looking for stat's concerning dryer emissions, which by the way are absurd (buy a clothes rack now!).

Green Corps in the News!

Green Corps, the awesome field school for environmental organizing, was just in the Boston Globe yesterday! Check it out

If you're interested in applying to the program, here's their website

Sustainability Website (!!!!!)

Even though we all got the email today, I wanted to point you in the direction of Wesleyan's Sustainability Website. If you didn't get a chance to sign the Community Climate Commitment before, or even if you did, there is now a link on your e-portfolio (just go to the Student Life at Wesleyan section on the bottom, below Financial Information and above Library Services). For more information about how to implement your personal commitment, check out this part of the website. There are great links included under each topic.

"I can compost anything"

Wow...just, wow. Thanks to Emilie for finding this piece of completely ridiculous video. I just want to note that you can't actually compost a cell phone...that would be bad. If you want to know more about real composting, check out this compost guide.

"Do it in the Dark" featured in the Argus

Check it out.

Gary Yohe is a winner!

Just in case you haven't heard (which you probably have), Professor Gary Yohe received the Nobel Peace Prize as part of the IPCC. That's pretty badass, if you ask me. Here's an article from The Wesleyan Connection (there's links to some other articles there, too).

Recap of Roth-Related Environmental Happenings

Okay, so a lot has been going on lately. I've been getting confused about what exactly has happened, let alone what happened when. Soooo I made a list-y thing:

1. EON members met with President Roth to introduce him to the President's Climate Commitment and urge him to sign it.
   
2. President Roth made that post about global warming, and a bunch of people commented on it.
3. EON drafted a Student Climate Commitment.
4. The Sustainability Committee unanimously voted to endorse President Roth's signing of the President's Climate Commitment, and requested that EON make our student commitment more inclusive.
5. The Student Climate Commitment morphed into the Community Climate Commitment, which a bunch of people signed.
   
6. President Roth made a post saying that he was looking forward to signing the President's Climate Commitment, but couldn't really write more specifically until he got some official recommendations. I got really excited.
   
7. The WSA passed a resolution that 1) urges President Roth to sign the President's Climate Commitment, 2)urges students to sign the Community Climate Commitment, and 3)urges itself to think and act with sustainability in mind.
8. A bunch of really important staff members as well as Jacob (representing EON), met with President Roth to officially recommend that he sign the document.
9. President Roth is excited to sign the document and all set to promote sustainability at Wes...aka MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
10. The Argus writes about it.
    

This is super exciting. Roth seems really interested in and committed to environmental issues. He's clearly thinking about sustainability when he writes in his blog (like his most recent post, in which he muses about environmental responsibility and congratulates Professor Gary Yohe on his Nobel Peace Prize), which is great, and he's also quoted about global warming in a recent Hartford Courant article (a link to which can also be found on the Wesleyan home page).

WSA Resolution

YAY! On Sunday night, the WSA passed an EON-backed resolution on sustainability at Wes. I'm making the font kindof tiny because it's long. Don't let that deter you from reading it!

Resolution on Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship At Wesleyan
Co-sponsored by Julien Burns ’10, Allison Quantz ’10, and Izaak Orlansky ‘08
I.
WHEREAS climate change is one of the foremost crises facing our generation;
WHEREAS in Wesleyan’s most recent strategic plan, “environmental stewardship” is one of the stated goals in being a socially responsible institution;
WHEREAS Wesleyan’s Sustainability Advisory Committee, made up of faculty, staff and students, unanimously recommended that President Roth sign the American College & University President Climate Commitment; and
WHEREAS the Commitment (available at www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org) presents a concrete but flexible approach towards achieving climate neutrality, and has been signed by 415 other presidents of American colleges and universities;
THEREFORE be it resolved that the Wesleyan Student Assembly urges President Roth to sign the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment as an indication of Wesleyan’s dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices.
II.
AND WHEREAS the Community Climate Commitment represents an individual pledge to complement the institutional character of the President’s Climate Committee; and
WHEREAS the Community Climate Commitment represents an effort to engage students, faculty, and staff in taking personal responsibility for their role in averting harmful climate change;
THEREFORE be it further resolved that the Wesleyan Student Assembly urges students to sign the Wesleyan Community Climate Commitment to take personal responsibility for environmental stewardship on campus.
III.
AND WHEREAS WSA members have seats on several committees in which sustainable practices should be considered either directly or indirectly in decision-making; among others, the Sustainability Advisory Committee, the Molecular & Life Sciences Building Committee, and the Dining Committee;
WHEREAS the Student Budget Committee allocates funds to student groups for activities and resources in which the environment is impacted either directly or indirectly (e.g. recycling/preserving event materials, funding environmental initiatives on campus); and
WHEREAS the WSA Office purchases and maintains resources in which the environment is impacted either directly or indirectly (e.g. office materials for student workers and student groups, energy usage in the WSA office and 190 High);
THEREFORE be it further resolved that the Wesleyan Student Assembly calls upon all members to find creative ways to make sustainability a part of their decision-making and policies as an affirmation of the WSA’s commitment to environmental stewardship as an organization, and expect a report from the Organization and External Affairs Committee by year’s end summarizing these ways.

Environmental Tip of the Week

Tell at least one person a fact about recycling aluminum or work up the nerve to say this at the beginning of a class (I recommend asking the teacher if you are not on good terms with them...)

Here is a list to choose from:

- Americans throw away our entire commercial air fleet’s worth of aluminum every 3 months

- It can take 500 years for just one aluminum can to decompose.

but...

+ Recycling that single aluminum can saves the amount of energy to light one 100 watt bulb for 20 hours or run a TV for 3 hours.
+ A recycled 12oz. can saves the energy equivalent of 6oz. of gasoline.

+ A recycled aluminum can reappears on the shelf as a brand new coke can in about 90 days.

Go EON Go!

Brendan

These facts are quotes taken directly from: www.utenvironment.org/founding/dorm%20recycling%20guide.doc

Absentee Voting

Hey all!

Remember to register for your Absentee Ballet in the upcoming November election! Through voting for the environmentally conscious candidate you can, in theory, directly influence the public policy.

Happy Voting!

Brendan

PS

Look at the below post from Oct. 21 titled Vote Green if you are unconvinced of the value of voting.

Bottled Water Awareness

In addition to the Farmer's Market on Wednesday, EON is hosting a bottled water awareness event. We're setting up a water taste-testing table at the market. Come by and realize that bottled water is not the answer!

What: Bottled Water Awareness
When: 11-3
Where: At the Farmer's Market (which is outside Usdan)

Wesleyan Farmer's Market!!!

This Wednesday is the Wesleyan Farmer's Market! It'll be held right outside of Usdan from 11am-3pm. There will be tons of venders selling incredibly tasty and/or useful and pretty items:

White Gate Farm (East Lyme, CT):
Potatoes, onions, garlic, winter squash, parsnips, lettuce, braising greens, radishes, cabbages, rutabagas, alpaca yarn (ALPACA YARN! ahhhh...cool).

Four Mile River Farm (Old Lyme, CT):
Selling beef, pork, and eggs
Grilling hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch

River Tavern Restaurant (Chester, CT) and Feast Gourmet Market (Deep River, CT):
Cooking lunches made with all local ingredients
Selling homemade fresh pasta

Studio Farm (Voluntown, CT):
Jams, beeswax hand cream, beeswax candles, honey

Meriano’s Bake Shoppe (Guilford, CT):
Pastries, cannolis, cookies, breads (CANNOLIS! OMGOMGOMG)

Three Sisters Farm (Essex, CT):
Soaps, organic honey, lavender honey, lip balms, skin creams, beeswax candles, and eye pillows

Summer Hill Sauces (Madison, CT):
Sauces, marinades, pesto, dressings

Cato Corner Farm (Colchester, CT):
Farmstead cheese

Linda’s Sweet Memories Bakery:
Cookies, scones, sweet breads, pies

Killam and Bassette Farmstead (South Glastonbury, CT):
winter squash, cauliflower, apples, beets, pumpkins, jam, eggs, and homemade fleece scarves and hats

High Hill Orchard (Meriden, CT):
Apples, pears, cider, pumpkins

Sweet Smelling Savour Chocolates (Middletown, CT):
Truffles, chocolates, caramel apples

Beltane Farm (Lebanon, CT):
Goat milk cheese

Stan's Salsa (Old Lyme, CT):
Homemade salsa

Bon Appetit:
Free samples of local products supplied in the Wesleyan dining halls

I'm pretty sure this is going to be amazing.

US PIRG Career Info

If you're interested in a job in environmental organizing and activism, Molly Chafetz ('06) will be on campus TOMORROW at 7:30 in the CRC. She works for MASSPIRG (Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group). PIRGs are state-based non-profits who work on issues from global warming to youth voter mobilization (and probably tons of other things, too). Sounds good to me...

What: US PIRG info session
When: 7:30 pm
Where: CRC

Vote Green!

In today's New York Times, Tom Friedman has an OpEd about the necessity for a top-down approach to energy issues, and our responsibility to elect leaders that will vote with an environmentally-conscious agenda. Take a look.

Also, please sign this petition calling on Congress to pass a version of the current energy bill with the most aggressive standards for renewable energy and fuel economy.

The Future of Food

So I'm basically posting most of the environmentally themed events on campus on Wesleying, but just in case you wanted to look at them on a different blog I'm putting them here, too.

Long Lane and the Environmental Studies program are sponsoring a showing of The Future of Food as part of the Robert Schumann Lecture Series.

"THE FUTURE OF FOOD offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past decade.

Shot on location in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, THE FUTURE OF FOOD examines the complex web of market and political forces that are changing what we eat as huge multinational corporations seek to control the world's food system. The film also explores alternatives to large-scale industrial agriculture, placing organic and sustainable agriculture as real solutions to the farm crisis today." (from the website)

What: The Future of Food
Where: PAC 001
When: Thursday (10/18) from 8-10 pm

Green Series: Plants Walk

Yay! Josh has organized a really cool activity. Today (sorry for the late notice), Bio Professor Mike Singer is leading a walk featuring native, invasive, and edible plants in Middletown. The walk will last about an hour and the group is meeting at 5pm in the Exley lobby.



What: Native/Invasive/Edible Plants Walk
When: TODAY at 5 pm
Where: Exley Lobby

RIDE BOAAAARD

So when Davenport died, so did the Ride Board. Sad times, right? Kindof...except now there's an ACB-inspired ride board online! So if you want to do the environmentally responsible thing and carpool, check it out.

CALENDAR

EON now has a calendar! It's still under construction, but eventually you'll be able to go there to access info about environmental events at Wes and the surrounding area.

Heck yes!

It looks like President Roth IS going to sign the commitment! YAYAYAYAYA. Read about it here.

Sustainability on facebooook

Join this group if you haven't already.

Are you ready to commit? (for real this time)

After some revision to make it more inclusive, here it is!

The Wesleyan Community Climate Commitment

In recognition of the global climate crisis, I strongly support President Roth's signing of the Presidents Climate Commitment, which commits Wesleyan do drafting and carrying out a concrete plan to reduce our environmental impact with the ultimate goal of climate neutrality. Whereas said document recognizes institutional responsibility, I affirm my personal responsibility to reduce my impact. As a member of the Wesleyan community, I pledge to live more sustainably at Wesleyan and at home, by committing (but not limiting) myself to at least five of the following actions:

• I will shut off all lights, appliances, and computers when they are not in use.
• I will reduce my consumption of bottled water by drinking tap water and using refillable bottles.
• I will try to wash 90% of clothes in cold water (Bright Colors setting on campus laundry machines).
• I will close all windows when buildings are being heated or cooled.
• I will report to Physical Plant any inefficiencies in my Wesleyan residence, office, or workplace (such as dripping faucets, cracks in windows, overheating, etc.).
• I will conserve water by taking shorter showers and turn off water while brushing my teeth, washing my face, shaving, or washing dishes.
• I will replace incandescent light bulbs with CFL bulbs, provided for free by Project Save.
• I will recycle all recyclable products, including paper, 1 and 2 plastics, milk and juice containers, CFL light bulbs, CDs, batteries, cardboard, metal, and glass.
• I will reduce my gasoline use by walking, biking, or carpooling whenever possible, and driving more slowly to maximize gasoline efficiency.
• I will avoid using bags or dispoable cups whenever possible, but rather bring my own bags and mugs to grocery stores and cafes, especially on campus.
• I will buy food produced locally to reduce the impact of shipping foodstuffs around the world.
• I will buy CO2 offset credits when I travel by airplane.

So there you go! The goal is to encourage President Roth to make institutional change and sign the President's Climate Commitment by showing him our personal commitment. So it's a combination pledge and petition.

When/Where to sign: THIS WEEK and some of NEXT WEEK at USDAN at LUNCH AND DINNER...

Environmental Tip of the Week

Water in the bathroom!!

Always follow the golden rule: When its yellow let it mellow, when its brown flush it down. Perhaps work up to the platinum rule: Yellow or brown don't flush down.
Of course platinum only works for sooo long before it gets utterly disgusting!


For Showers:
Before it gets too too cold for sure follow the below guidelines.
Step one: enter shower
Step two: turn on water and get wet
Step three: turn off water and soap up
Step three: turn on water and rinse
Step four: turn off shower
Make it your goal to cut your current shower water usage in half, it can be done!

For the sink, follow the same rules as in the shower.

Also, unrelated to water, instead of using the paper towels in the bathroom, use your own towel to dry off your hands.

Till next week!

EON in the news

And by news I mean the Argus. Go read Nate's Wespeak...

Open Spaces Preservation

Guess what? A referendum on the November ballot proposes the purchase for preservation of 500 acres of Middletown farmland, at the coast of $2 million...

But what does this mean, you ask? Why is this important?
These questions will remain mysterious unless you come to the talk about it this Friday at the CCP (Center for Community Partnerships). Bill Warner (Middletown's Director for Planning, Conservation and Economic Development) and Katchen Coley (a Conservation Commission Commissioner) will be conversing with interested parties such as yourselves.

THIS FRIDAY, 10/5
4:30
167 High St. (at the corner of Church and High)

Are you ready to commit?

****EDIT: tabling has been postponed while the document is being refined****

So, we came up with another way to show your support for the President's Climate Commitment...a pledge! By signing, you'll be saying...

As a member of the Wesleyan student body, I am pledging to reduce my contributions to the climate crisis and live more sustainably at Wesleyan. In making my own pledge, I strongly urge President Roth to sign the President’s Climate Commitment, which binds the university to drafting a concrete plan to reduce our environmental impact. I will begin with the following simple steps:

• I will shut off all lights and appliances when I am not using them
• I will wash my clothes in cold water (Bright Colors setting)
• I will report to Physical Plant any inefficiencies in my residence (such as dripping faucets, cracks in windows, overheating, etc.)
• I will conserve water by taking shorter showers and turning water off while brushing teeth, washing face, shaving, washing dishes
• I will replace incandescent light bulbs with FREE! CFL bulbs offered by ProjectSAVE
• I will recycle all recyclable products

We will be tabling at Usdan at lunch (11:30-1) and dinner (5:30-7:30) the rest of this week as well as next Monday.
Questions? email sreed@wes

Jonah Center

I know I'm posting like crazy right now, but I just added a link to The Jonah Center for Earth and Art, which is an educational center located in the North End of Middletown. Professor Chernoff is the President and Professor Ku is also involved.

Upcoming events

Just because sometimes posts get lost, I wanted to remind you that the following things are happening within the next two days:

1. really cool thingy with Ann Carlson tomorrow (10/1)
2. climate change lecture on Tuesday (10/2)

Feet to the Fire (!!!)

This legitimately sounds like the most amazing thing ever (to me, at least):

Tomorrow there will be a meeting between students and visiting artist Ann Carlson to discuss and help shape her new projects on campus. This effort is part of the larger Feet to the Fire -- an interdisciplinary project to explore global climate change (organized through the CFA).


TOMORROW - MONDAY OCTOBER 1
Ann Carlson
Meeting with students from 6-7 PM
Zilka Conference Room 202 (above the Zilka Gallery (CFA) on the 2nd floor)

Message from Barry Chernoff

Here is an email from Biology/E&ES Professor Barry Chernoff—to the students of the "Energy Resources" forum—about sustainability and climate neutrality at Wesleyan:

Hi Forum Members:

Jacob has written an important exhortation that I hope you will take seriously. It is critical for us to make sure that the administration and the entire Wesleyan community is aware of the important environmental issues facing us and the globe. But I ask that you opine thoughtfully and not to fall prey to slogans and buzz words. While such words as "sustainability" and "climate neutral" may express feelings that we have, they may not communicate well because of their ambiguous nature or because, in the case of "climate neutrality" the word may actually mean nothing. Take a moment and think about it. "Neutrality" as a modifier of "climate" means that we put nothing into the environment (that which surrounds us) that has a potential negative affect on the climate, which means that whatever we emit (including heat) must be balanced by some sink. That fact the we are aggregated as a university onto a campus that is removed from its post-glacial conditions means that we impact the climate and nature of this piece of the CT River Valley. Escaping heat alone, sidewalks, roads etc. contribute to a warming of this area that has important consequences for the fauna and flora. Just compare the climate and phenology of Middletown to where I live -- the difference is drastic. But beyond the local, there can never be a truly neutral system. Even if we were powered by 100% solar, it would take a huge amount of fossil fuels to build the panels, repair the panels and maintain the panels and wires. The fuel and electricity it requires to continually maintain and upgrade our buildings. The only way I could conceive of neutrality would be for us to purchase emissions credits in excess of our emissions with additional costs for heat, sewage and trash.

I suggest that it is approaching a minimal environmental footprint that we are after. Highly efficient systems, renewable energy, and environmentally responsible behaviors on the part of the entire community.

So please write but also think about our responsibility. As we learned fro Peter Staye 2 weeks ago, the largest single waste of energy (and hence emissions) on this campus is due to student behavior, especially those of our colleagues living in the wood frame houses. I think that we should bring to the table how we will work to decrease substantially the environmental footprint of our colleagues -- faculty, students and staff -- when we ask the administration to accelerate plans to rework the campus. Are we willing to consider an Environmental Honor Code for all members of the Wesleyan Community? Also, please ask yourself who is to pay for our march toward neutrality. We are members of this community for perpetuity and it is up to us to help make such renovations possible. Are you willing to invest real $ , effort and time to accelerate progress or are you just asking to transfer the responsibility of the payment to others for a righteous cause? This must be a joint effort of our entire community and I pledge to you not only personal $ but also efforts to modify the behaviors of faculty and staff if you will work on your peers.

I encourage all of us to write and to work cooperatively to make this a campus where our impact on the environment is minimized for the betterment of the region and the planet. I ask you also to acknowledge that Wesleyan has taken a leadership role by pushing an agreement reached among regional universities to lower energy use by at least 20% by 2010. The accord was not well advertised but it exists nonetheless (even Peter Staye mentioned this in his presentation).

Whether or not Wesleyan signs an agreement (President's Climate Commitment) is less important to me, and I hope to you, than is real progress towards an important goal. As a friend of mine on the campus of one of the Universities that has signed the challenge relayed: big words, little concrete action -- a "feel good proclamation". Let's not look for bragging rights or the status conferred by such agreements -- let's look to lead the pack by making real progress in changing facilities, behaviors and social norms.

I am really proud to be your colleague (though you might feel differently after reading the above). Learning with and listening to you about alternative energy in our forum convinces me that because of people like you there is hope for the future. You are the reason I came here and our enterprise this semester is nothing short of exhilarating. So let's work on this, but work on it in a constructive way that will be a model for others: with purpose, with goals and with changed attitudes among members of our community.

Blog away!

With all best regards,

Barry

President's Climate Commitment

In case you're not on the listserv (which is fine), Bekka and Sarah emailed out this really important information about environmental concerns at Wes:

Some of you might have seen President Michael Roth's recent blog post on global warming (if not, check it out now!!)

EON has been working hard to encourage the President to sign the President's Climate Commitment, a national movement among universities to move towards sustainability with the eventual goal of carbon neutrality.

President Roth has agreed to review the commitment and deliver his response by November 15. In the meantime, EON is trying to show Roth that the student body (you!) greatly supports his signing of this commitment and cares deeply about sustainability and Wesleyan's role as a responsible institution.

EON has been in touch with leadership from the Commitment, who believe that the best way to get Roth to sign is to show overwhelming positive student support. ***Please post responses on Roth's blog showing appreciation for his comments.*** We are excited that he is clearly taking this matter to heart and we would like to encourage him to take substantial action. We believe that positive comments, rather than challenging or antagonistic remarks, will be most helpful.

Jacob has provided this simple one-liner in case you don't want to write your own:

"I am concerned about the environment and I want to see Wesleyan become greener by signing the Presidents Climate Commitment. Thank you!"

the COMpost

Check out this video of Elisa composting. Also, the Univeristy was just gifted with two new Earth Tubs!!! You can see an Earth Tub in action in the video. Or you could look at this picture (which sortof shows an Earth Tub in action):

How to unsubscribe

If you want to unsubscribe to the EON listserv:

1. Go here
2. Search for "weseon"
3. Click on the link to weseon
4. Click "unsubscribe" on the left

If you do unsubscribe, be sure to continue visiting the blog (and soon to be launched website)!

Climate Change Lecture at Wes

Mark the date! On 10/2 Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig is giving a talk about climate change as part of the Engaged Scholarship lecture series. She is a research scientist at the Goddard Institute for Space Studies and a member of the IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change). You can read her papers if you want...

12-1 pm (intended for someone with some background)
"IPCC Chapter One: Observed Changes in Physical and Biological Systems"
Exley 405

8 pm (intended for a general audience)
"Climate Change in Our Backyard: Global and Local Aspects"
Tischler Lecture Hall (formerly Exley 150)

Canning Workshop at Earth House

SUPER-DUPER AMAZING FUN WITH VEGETABLES AND VINEGAR!
"When?" you ask. "And where will this spectacular event be taking place?"

Come to Earth House (159 High St), Saturday Sept. 29, 2:00.
We will be pickling and canning and applesauce making all the livelong day!
This is a great opportunity to learn (and teach) about food preservation.

We will preserve food from Long Lane Farm and White Gate Farm to be used
for the Live Wolves vegan coop and possibly Veg-Out (depending on how much
we can).

History of Environmentalism at Wesleyan

1) So I found this completely by accident, but I think it's really interesting (especially for EON). Basically, there was a (now defunct?) History tutorial sometime in the early 2000s (I just want to say that it's really awkward to write "2000s") set up with the intent of improving institutional memory.

You can read about the project here, and specifically about environmental activism at Wesleyan here.

2) I also found this by accident...and by this I mean E3's website. E3 (which stands for Earth, Equality, Education) was the environmental organization on campus at around the same time the Wesleyan History Project was happening. They accomplished a lot (particularly in regards to recycling, which I definitely take for granted). I'm not sure what happened to them (maybe they morphed into EON?)