Wednesday, October 31, 2007
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.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
VEG OUT
More Green Corps
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.
Monday, October 29, 2007
greenguide
Green Corps in the News!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Sustainability Website (!!!!!)
"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.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
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
- EON members met with President Roth to introduce him to the President's Climate Commitment and urge him to sign it.
- President Roth made that post about global warming, and a bunch of people commented on it.
- EON drafted a Student Climate Commitment.
- 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.
- The Student Climate Commitment morphed into the Community Climate Commitment, which a bunch of people signed.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- President Roth is excited to sign the document and all set to promote sustainability at Wes...aka MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
- The Argus writes about it.
WSA Resolution
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/
Monday, October 22, 2007
Absentee Voting
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
What: Bottled Water Awareness
When: 11-3
Where: At the Farmer's Market (which is outside Usdan)
Wesleyan Farmer's Market!!!
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
What: US PIRG info session
When: 7:30 pm
Where: CRC
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Vote Green!
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.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
The Future of Food
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
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
RIDE BOAAAARD
Monday, October 8, 2007
Friday, October 5, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Are you ready to commit? (for real this time)
- 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.
When/Where to sign: THIS WEEK and some of NEXT WEEK at USDAN at LUNCH AND DINNER...
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Environmental Tip of the Week
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!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Open Spaces Preservation
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)
Monday, October 1, 2007
Are you ready to commit?
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