enAct: Students Engaged Actively in Environmental Issues » E-Newsletter

22 Hours Left to Vote for BSC’s ‘Green’ President – SPEAK YOUR VOICE and Vote NOW!

bendtracy — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:48:01 +0000

Hey All,

As my final act as President, I will announce the two candidates for BSC’s enAct Presidential Position:

Guakhar Amandossova, a rising junior Biology major – Chris Johnson, a rising junior UES major – Lindsey Motlow, a rising sophomore Music Composition Major

You can send a vote NOW to voteenact@gmail.com indicating Chris, Gaukhar, or Lindsey, and that vote will be counted – MUST BE E-MAILED BEFORE 4 PM TOMORROW!

Come Thursday at 5 PM on the second floor of Norton to hear who enAct’s next President will be, and who our other leaders are too!

Here’s what Gaukhar has to say about what being President means to her:

“To receive the chance in becoming the President of enAct would be one of the greatest opportunities for me to make a difference on our campus of Birmingham-Southern College towards making our campus sustainable. In addition, it would be a great opportunity to place BSC in line with other schools, such as Duke, Yale, and Brown, U.A.B, and Auburn, who are making outstanding moves toward becoming environmentally friendly. I feel that BSC can become a green campus and equal to and better than the schools mentioned above. Also, I feel that it is essential that enAct become a leader in making BSC a sustainable community. As president, I would immediately take action towards these particular goals:

• I would like to promote an establishment of an SGA sustainability chair, who should be one of the members from enAct.
• To spread campus awareness about energy efficiency and sustainability, I think it would be a great idea if we could set up a competition between the dorms, fraternity and sorority houses, on who will use the least electricity, this activity will help more effective involvement of the student body in sustainability activities.
• I would really like to promote the establishment of an Office of Sustainability at BSC consisting of faculty members and students who will be in charge of sustainability issues on campus.
• For the Cafeteria I would like to introduce hormone and antibiotic free meats, poultry and dairy, cage free eggs and grass fed beef, purchase supplies from sustainable sources, and introduction of biodegradable containers. It is important to introduce local food in to the cafeteria, such as organic fruits and vegetables, and local produce: honey, etc.
• I would like to introduce an electronics recycling program that accepts computers, light bulbs, and printer cartridges on our campus.
• I would like to establish a strong partnership with U.A.B and Samford in various environmental projects such as recycling, and green roof projects.
• Build a green roof on the library that will soon be renovated, and hopefully on other buildings.
• I would like to introduce a point system for those who ride the shuttle bus, something similar to the Greek point system.
• In terms of climate change, I would like for the school to purchase micro-wind turbines, and geothermal wells.
• In order to keep our organization in order and make sure that officer duties are being fulfilled, I think it would be important that we delegate responsibilities and tasks to each of the members.”

Here’s what Chris has to say about what being President means to him:

“The position of president is arguably the most important in enAct, and is ultimately the glue that bonds members, the engine that drives progress and the forward thinking planner. The president makes decisions on behalf of the entire organization, but more importantly works with members, faculty, and staff and outside organizations to bring goals into realized action. Without a president, enAct may not be the organization it is today, and furthermore campus sustainability would suffer: leadership is vital to the success of any organization.

I have a talent in seeing possibilities, what needs to be done, and I am willing to say what needs to be said. I believe that people, groups and things can and should be working together in a purposeful manner to achieve goals, and work is a means to that end. I am not threatened by unfamiliar information or unexpected occurrences, however preparation is key because there is little point in knowing where events will lead if you are not ready. Part of my personality is a feeling of responsibility to be considerate, caring, and accepting toward others, and to build bridges that allow people from all backgrounds to come together and develop a faith that goes beyond them. I am a catalyst for change and look for the repercussions in every action for the costs and benefits it creates.”

Here’s what Lindsey Motlow has to say about what being President will mean to her:

I am extremely passionate about making enact an extremely active, respected group on campus. I am really zealous about what enact stands for, and am excited to try and spread our passions and concerns around as much as possible. I am not perfect, though, I definitely fail at being a great sustainability-preacher-an

d-actor but also understand the difficulties in trying to work our way into an environmentally conscious whole as a school and as people in general and am wiling to fight against all the apathy or unawareness as much as possible.

I am extremely obsessed with being reliable and honest. If I say that I am going to do something, there is very little that would keep me from actually doing it. I won’t make promises without knowing that I mean them…(pet peeve) I’d like to increase the activity of the group toward raising a firm financial base for future access aside from SGA money. I’d also really like to play into the really diverse nature of the Enact group and implement our talented members in all academic and fine art areas to spread our goals across campus and plan really effective awareness and fundraising events.

My goal for the next year is really the implementation of all the talent and different people we have in or interested in our group to plan a good year’s worth of effective awareness and fundraising events on campus (small) as well as two or three big events and collect a strong monetary base to pull from in future years to give credibility and solidity to the group. I think that this monetary base is crucial to the respect that we will get not only from the SGA but also from the student body as a whole, and focusing our actions on a large number of small-scale, campus directed, awareness/fundraising events that implement talent from all over the school will in turn give us more involvement in weekend river cleanup events etc. If there is one officer (with experience) dedicated to setting up these cleanup events and the like with local organizations, the rest of the group can get more done toward the goal of campus awareness and activity and the year will NOT be “wasted” on fundraising. These things go hand in hand.

Kick it into Third Gear. 4 days. Really Really Green.

bendtracy — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 01:02:27 +0000

1. We have amassed over 170 guests in just 7 DAYS, let’s get to 200 by Thursday so INVITE YOUR FRIENDS! TELL YOUR CLASSES! Facebook event is at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116796538336369&ref=nf

Download Flyer Here = Send to your classes + Greek Chapters + Friends!

2. Buy your tickets in the atrium – Raffle tickets for Hair are only $1

3. If you are a musicians or an artist and want to play (unplugged) or display your art, e-mail Annie Condit (artists) and Lindsey Motlow (music) to find out where to set-up — SET-UP WILL TAKE PLACE FROM 2:30 – 3:30

4. Fraternities and Sororities: Like frisbee? E-mail jaguyton@bsc.edu and compete (Pro and Intramural Category) in 5-person mini Ultimate Games for some awesome prizes (games are from 3:30 – 5 PM).

ALL ENACT VOLUNTEERS WILL MEET AT THE LAKE AT 2:15

ELECTIONS. ELECTIONS. ELECTIONS.

That’s right. enAct wants to continue doing AWESOME events like this one next year, but now we need YOU to lead them.

enAct will be electing MANY new officers = YOU GET TO CHOOSE. YOU GET TO LEAD.

OFFICER SELF-NOMINATION = TELL US WHY YOU SHOULD LEAD = GET ELECTED = LEAD + PLAN + ORGANIZE = PARTNERSHIPS WITH BUSINESS + NON-PROFTI = INTERNSHIPS = BETTER CAREERS = BETTER LIFE….So improve your life this week and nominate yourself for an officer position.

Look for an election flyer with more info. before Thursday! Students wanting to vote (not already a part of enAct) must register at the table or at the Earth Day Festival in order to have their vote count!

See you all there,

Ben Tracy
enAct President
404-713-1956

Some Pretty Cool Stuff is Going Down.

bendtracy — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 04:56:26 +0000

Hey Y’all,

Just your friendly late-night Eco-Reminder:

- If you CAN, come when able to help sell tickets in the Atrium ALL THIS WEEK FROM 11-1:30 PM
- GO TO PATRICIA HANSEN’S OFFICE IN THE LEADERSHIP STUDIES OFFICE 2ND FLOOR NORTON FOR THE SALE SHEETS
- Please know that I personally sold 30 tickets, on my own, in 1 hour on Friday. People are pretty psyched for this event
- I suggest having one person STANDING IN FRONT at the table, one person in the middle of the atrium asking people if they are interested, and one person roaming to tables outside and inside (this was most effective).

Also, we have a facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116796538336369
- In JUST 48 hours, we have already amassed 83 RSVP YES, and 90 MAYBE’s.
- INVITE YOUR FRIENDS INVITE YOUR FRIENDS INVITE YOUR FRIENDS
- Musicians, Artists, need to coordinate with Annie Condit, Lucia Caleron, and I about WHEN you will set up your art/play your music and WHERE (deadline for this is April 19th)

NO MEETING THIS THURSDAY JUST HELP SELL TICKETS, PUT UP FLYERS, TELL YOUR CLASSMATES, TELL YOUR ANIMAL FRIENDS TELL EVERYONE ABOUT EARTH DAY!
Don’t forget that if you want to join the Sierra Student Coalition and other Alabama Environmental Students in a “Summer Leadership Program” from July 25th-August 1st (at Camp Trico in Gunthersville: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108734349157897) — YOU NEED TO E-MAIL ME ASAP IF YOU WANT TO APPLY FOR THE $150 COST FOR THE PROGRAM TO SGA – APPLICATIONS ARE DUE APRIL 15TH

Last thing: The local Toyota Dealership will be bringing Hybrids from 3-5 PM, to test out at the Lake — Pretty cool.

‘Nighty night, all you Green Warriors.

Ben Tracy
enAct President

Meeting Thursday 4/8 – Message from UES Program

bendtracy — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:48:43 +0000

Hello enAct members!!

Hope that you are all having a wonderful week!!

Earth Day is coming close and we are in need of everyone’s help !!!

This is just a reminder that we have enAct meeting Thursday at 5:30 pm upstairs on the second floor Norton in the Conference Room. We will be discussing Earth Day plans.

Remember we need volunteers to pass out flyers. Please let me know if you can do this.

We will also begin selling tickets Friday morning – 10-1 PM.

Also below is a message for everyone who is interested in taking UES courses next semester.

Dear UES folks:

Please let me (ebrands@bsc.edu) know if you would like to take UES 150 or UES 160 in fall 2010. UES majors and minors have priority to get into these classes. If you are entering your second or third year and have not taken one or both of these, then it is important to do so as soon as you are able to enroll. Consent is required to register for both UES 150 and 160.

If you are here in the summer and are interested, UES 210 Environmental Problems and Policy will be offered during the 2nd half-term. This will be a special edition of this course and due to the format there will be opportunities for field trips that we otherwise would be unable to undertake during the regular semester.

Ed Brands
Coordinator, Urban Environmental Studies
Assistant Professor of Geography
Birmingham Southern College
Harbert 311
(205) 226-7755
http://www.bsc.edu/academics/env-studies/index.htm
http://www.bsc.edu/academics/faculty/brands-ed.htm

Thanks everyone for your help!!

Hope to see you all at the meeting!

Gaukhar Amandossova
enAct Secretary

No Meeting — Protest Instead!

bendtracy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:39:42 +0000

No Meeting Tomorrow (although Lindsey Motlow has done great work behind the scenes planning our Green Winter Bash)

—INSTEAD—

Attend the Drummond Coal Protest Downtown, beginning at 3:30!

Drummond Company Inc., a coal company based in Birmingham, Alabama, has been accused of serious human rights abuses against Colombian workers. Come hear the testimonies of Colombian activists and join Witness for Peace in demanding compensation and accountability from Drummond. Witness for Peace (WFP) is a politically independent, nationwide grassroots organization of people committed to nonviolence and led by faith and conscience. WFP’s mission is to support peace, justice and sustainable economies in the Americas by changing U.S. policies and corporate practices which contribute to poverty and oppression in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Linn Park, Birmingham, Alabama — BE THERE! Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/event.php?eid=176751487946&index=1

And this Saturday… bring your old electronics (walkmans, DVD players, NO TVs though) to Whole Foods on 280 — They will be recycled, making space for more holiday stuff!

-P.S.- If any of you are following the Climate Change Debate:
NY Times writes about Obama, Denmark and other Asian Powers claiming that Copenhagen will not include a binding treaty: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/world/asia/15prexy.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
Some saw it as a loss, but some see this is as a necessary and inevitable step: http://climateprogress.org/2009/11/15/copenhagen-international-climate-conference-deal/#more-14091

The Senate Climate Change Bill (The American Power and Clean Jobs Act) gets reviewed in the Senate Finance Committee by conservative think-tanks, and Senator Kerry tears their financial predictions apart (fast-forward to the 50 minute mark): http://cspan.org/Watch/Media/2009/11/10/HP/A/25735/Senate+Finance+Cmte+Hearing+on+Climate+Change+Legislation+and+Jobs.aspx

The sequel to Freakonomics, SuperFreakonomics, contains half-truths and downright conclusions about climate change: The New Yorker’s Elizabeth Kolbert tears it apart (http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2009/11/16/091116crbo_books_kolbert?currentPage=all) along with Raymond T. Pierrehumbert, a climatologist who, like the author Levitt, teaches at the University of Chicago (http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2009/10/an-open-letter-to-steve-levitt/#more-1488) and even the Washington Post joined in the critique (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/13/AR2009111304254.html)

Hope you enjoyed that media summary! — By the way, Sarah Palin’s book “Going Rogue” and Glenn Beck’s “Arguing with Idiots” just edged out “Superfreakonomics” on Amazon’s Bestseller list…a bit disconcerting.

Don’t get too cold this weekend!

- Ben and the Warriors of enAct

Quick Green: Films, Hikes, Protests

bendtracy — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:14:28 +0000

Howdy,

1. Reminder to get out and invite all your friends to the film on Thursday at 6 30 PM in the Norton Theatre (the facebook event link is http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=190097429001&ref=mf)

2. Hike this Sunday 2 PM at Red Mountain Park (meet here http://bit.ly/shqbf) enact hike flyer

Meet in the Norton Turnaround at 1 30 PM

3. Protest Next Thursday at 3 30 PM with the Witness for Peace — What the Drummond Coal Company has done in Columbia has been horrendous. Human rights violations, environmental abuses, you name it.

We are gathering as a global community to demand JUSTICE. See attached flyer DrummondActionNov.19

That is all.

See, not all Green Updates are two pages long!

Best,

Ben

PS – For all you interested Climate Citizens: Check out CSPAN’s coverage of this morning’s Senate Finance Committee Hearing on the Climate Change Bill (fast forward to about 53 minutes to hear Kerry rip apart conservative thinktanks!): Finance Committee Hearing: Climate Change Bill

enAct E-Newsletter #1: September 9th, 2009

admin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:17:01 +0000

Download Newsletter #1 Here!

Contributors: Ben Tracy and Kait Talley

Editor: Kait Talley

Campaign Kick-Off Thursday, September 10^th

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 8^th 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 8^th 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 12^th 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 26^th – Coalbridge Road on Five Mile Creek

October 10^th –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 22^nd to the 24^th, 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