Contributors: Ben Tracy and Kait Talley
Editor: Kait Talley
- enAct’s Campaign Kick-Off September 10th at 5PM (SGA Room)
- Climate Change: Summer News and Winter Forecasts
- On Campus Green Updates: Green Dorm (statement from BSC Vice President Lane Estes), Fair Trade in the Caf and Attic
- September and October Green Events, Prizes, Films, and Competitions
Campaign Kick-Off Thursday, September 10th
Over this summer, enAct has been busy. President Ben Tracy has drafted a One-Year Plan with ambitious Campus Impact Campaigns. This year enAct will attempt to bring everything from Fair Trade coffee to a recycling program with the Greek organizations, to local outdoor events (hikes and river-cleanups), an environmental radio talk show, environmental awareness rallies featuring conservation groups and political leaders, electricity competitions, prizes, parties, and much more!
To accomplish these ambitious tasks within a short amount of time, enAct has delegated itself into eleven Green Teams, led by Ben Tracy (Green Dorm and Fair Trade Teams), Chris Johnson (e-Talk Radio and CASE Political Action Teams), Patrick Welch (Greeks Going Green and Outdoor Adventure Team), Julia Guyton (Not for the Landfill Team), Emily Faust (Green Coalition Team), Ginny Coats (350 Climate Team), Anna Rose MacArthur (Green Tips and Green Board Team), and Sam Wilson (Turn Out the Lights Team). If you want to join enAct then join a Green Team at the meeting and become an “official member” of enAct (or e-mail enact@bsc.edu with your preferred team). Depending on which team you join you could be a writer, recycler, rivercleaner, activist, event planner, talk show host, and much more.
Well if you are interested in becoming engaged in the “trends” and “philosophies” behind this new movement, and whether you are a “blue”, “red”, “liberal”, or “conservative”, whether you read all the science and energy articles or none of them, enAct has a place for you! We are your central source for EDUCATION-CONNECTION-ACTION in all things “Green”
Climate Change: A Summery Summary and Winter Forecast
For all of you unfamiliar with the Climate Change issue and its evolving nature, this summer has been one of progress, excitement, prediction, and action.
Progress in that the United States Government has begun a legislative addressal of America’s biggest threat to energy, health, and national security–climate change. The American Clean Energy and Security Act, also known as the ACES bill or H.R. 2454. Some thought it was a good start, some were a bit disappointed, but public polls here and there show overwhelming support from American for clean energy, clean security, and clean jobs.
EIA (Energy Information Administration) analysis of climate bill finds 23 cents a day cost to families, massive retirement of dirty coal plants and 119 GW of new renewables by 2030 — plus a million barrels a day oil savings
We await its vote in Congress this fall, hopefully in time to display a domestic consensus (agreement on the homefront) to the world stage in Copenhagen this December (where we hope to reach a world-wide consensus).
Excitement when the United Nations’ top climate scientist, Rajendra Pachauri, voiced full support “as a human being” for the world-wide effort to reach 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, therein neutralizing the effects of climate change. Read the full story here
Prediction that climate change will affect national security, written by Grist, regional conflicts as written by Foreign Policy Magazine, global security as written by the New York Times, and global health by Science Daily. The outlook, if the U.S., China, and the rest of the world don’t get to work (in December), may appear grim… so let’s fight for the most important bi-lateral relationship of our time!
Action has been taken by certain groups, with climate scientists at www.realclimate.org writing factual detailed analysis of the debate of technology, politics, and truth andwww.climateprogress.org providing opinionated views on all areas — Even attacking young activist groups such as Greenpeace and the Energy Action coalition , while James Fleming’s guest blogpost on the News Security Beat addressed a criticism of all the “new green innovations”. Definitely worth checking out.
For more on the “Winter Forecast” for Copenhagen check out www.350.org or enAct’s 350 Climate Team plan for the Fall (October 24th, set the date!).
On-Campus Green Updates:
No, we aren’t just taking your parking away… BSC is building a new dorm! A “Green” dorm, in fact. Lane Estes, the Vice President for Administration, has summed up the dorm below:
“The new residence hall will house 167 students in individual bedrooms within suites.
There will be two bathrooms per suite and each suite has a living room and kitchenette. The 65,000 square feet of space will consist of two buildings separated by a courtyard overlooking the Lake Park.”
Lane Estes, September 8th 2009 Vice President for Administration
205-226-4640
AND hopes to be in operation by next Fall! So what is so “Green” about this thing? Well it’s got:
*Building Orientation (to take advantage of optimal sun lighting) *Storm Water management *Daylighting to 75% of occupied space *increased insulation *Energy Star appliances the buildings *Locally manufactured brick veneer *Insulated Low-E glazing *Recycled content carpet squares *VRV HVAC System (Variable Refrigerant Volume) *Double-paned windows *Dual-Flow Toilets *Occupancy sensor lighting controls *Low VOC paints
And there may be more to come!
Now what does any of this mean and why should we have it? Well stay tuned for more analysis from enAct at www.enactbsc.org (click to our Green Dorm page under Campus Impact Campaigns).
FAIR TRADE is now available in the Caf
– Wayne Dumas, Aramark and BSC Dining Service Manager, has cooperated with enAct to implement Fair Trade Certified Tea and Chocolate. Ben Tracy, enAct President, who this summer interned for Green America’s Fair Trade Program, traveled to Nicaragua to study Fair Trade with the United Students for Fair Trade, and has recently signed on as their Southeast Coordinator has this to say about the accomplishment:
“I am so grateful for the summer I had. Fair Trade is not just about a product, a price, a brand, or being ‘ethical’, but rather it is a consciousness, a movement, and a global community. Defeating the consumer-producer binary and buying our products justly (from some of the hardest working people in the world) is one of healthiest things this world can work towards, and I am glad to see that BSC is taking the first step.”
Ben Tracy, September 8th 2009
enAct President – bdtracy@bsc.edu
Look for more FAIR TRADE products soon! Film screenings, FREE Fair Trade Coffee, Prizes, and more!
September Green Events, Prizes, Films, and Competitions
Outdoor Events:
THIS SATURDAY, September 12th at Red Mountain Park—Meet at 8 30 AM in the Norton Turn-Around to carpool e-mail Patrick at pdwelch@bsc.edu with any questions!
September 26th – Coalbridge Road on Five Mile Creek
October 10th –Brookside at Five Mile Creek
Recycling Events:
Stay tuned for Trash Audits, and recycling at Fraternity Row in the coming weeks – Questions? E-mail Julia at jaguyton@bsc.edu
General Awareness:
BSC will host a Dialogue on Food from September 22nd to the 24th, featuring tons of awesome speakers, awareness on What we eat, Why we eat it, and How it impacts our lives – contact Jeanne Jackson with any questions at jjackson@bsc.edu
OCTOBER WILL BE EXCITING! Fair Trade Month, a Climate Rally, Electricity Competition with awesome prizes, Film Screenings, and more!
The Green Screen
Still want to know more about food, and feel like sitting on your butt and watching a movie? Well make sure to check out this great article on Foodie Films by Tressa Eaton at SeriousEats.com – These films really go beyond the horrors of Food, Inc. to reveal a brighter future for what’s on our plate and in our gardens.
Bored with food, and thirsty for more Green Screens? Well the trailer for the Age of Stupid Movie makes me want to see this “future-age” almost non-animated “Wall-e-esque” film.
Want to know how to live with no impact on the environment? Well then the documentary No Impact Man might be for you
In the end, if you simply don’t have the time then check out this neat short piece by CurrenTV on an island that is entirely energy independent: Canary’s Eco-Island
Stay Sustainable,
The Warriors of enAct
We are warriors; We are leaders; We are stewards of our planet and innovators in a sustainable world; The time is now to engage in environmental issues and actively pursue change
