Yesterday, SDSU hosted the largest Earth Day celebration in campus history, drawing students and community members from all over San Diego.
Vendors from San Diego environmental organizations came to show students how to keep green at home, and displayed their wares for the campus community all day.
The festivities were topped off by performances on the campus green by local bands. Students camped out early to get a good spot, and stayed late, making this the greatest Earth Day SDSU has ever seen!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
SD's Earth Day Celebration a dissapointment for some
Yesterday was Earth Day in San Diego, and the event was marked by an annual festival at Balboa Park that drew thousands to the area.
While the free festival was enjoyed by some, not everyone was 'feelin' the love.
San Diego State student R.E. Israel said the festival was not earth friendly.
"It was all about consumerism," she said.
"People trying to sell their wares to tourists is not what Earth day is supposed to be about. We should celebrate the earth by honoring it, not by trying to make a profit."
The event was marketed as the largest environmental celebration, and featured exhibits from vendors on sustainable energy and solar power, among other topics.
Israel said she will think twice before going to next year's celebration, but is excited about the celebration on San Diego State's camps tomorrow.
"There will be some bands that I really enjoy, and more information than shopping, so I really think it will accomplish what Earth Day is meant to (accomplish)," she said.
To see more about Earth Day at SDSU, go here.
While the free festival was enjoyed by some, not everyone was 'feelin' the love.
San Diego State student R.E. Israel said the festival was not earth friendly.
"It was all about consumerism," she said.
"People trying to sell their wares to tourists is not what Earth day is supposed to be about. We should celebrate the earth by honoring it, not by trying to make a profit."
The event was marketed as the largest environmental celebration, and featured exhibits from vendors on sustainable energy and solar power, among other topics.
Israel said she will think twice before going to next year's celebration, but is excited about the celebration on San Diego State's camps tomorrow.
"There will be some bands that I really enjoy, and more information than shopping, so I really think it will accomplish what Earth Day is meant to (accomplish)," she said.
To see more about Earth Day at SDSU, go here.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Green is Going Gold
The SDSU Green Campus Club will host a concert this Thursday featuring five local bands to promote energy efficiency awareness on campus. The group already works with campus programs and departments to enhance sustainable programming and efficiency throughout campus, but says the concert will be helpful in getting new students involved.
For information about the Green Campus group, go here.
For more information about the Green is Gold Concert, try here.
For information about the Green Campus group, go here.
For more information about the Green is Gold Concert, try here.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Paper or Plastic? Neither!
Green living isn't just about one part of a person's life. It often encompasses everything an individual does, right down to the little things such as grocery shopping.
Consumers are starting to use their own reusable grocery bags, often made of cotton or other durable materials to eliminate the waste created by plastic and paper bags.
"It's a change of habit for the better, and it's the simplest thing you can do," Amanda Costa, co-president of the Enviro-Business society said.
Costa purchased her shopping bags for about a dollar each and she sometimes uses the free gift bags she has received from conferences. On April 22, Earth Day, e3 will be selling reusable grocery bags to get students involved in the trend.
"It's hard to remember at first, and I've left my bags in the car before and had to go back, but if you are around people who do it too, they can remind you," Costa said.
Erica Johnson, co-president of e3, reminds Costa to bring her bags because they are roommates who have both been using alternative bags when shopping for the past two years.
"Using a reusable grocery bag is the simplest lifestyle change that you can make that makes the biggest impact, before recycling even," Johnson said.
Last year, San Francisco lawmakers voted to require supermarkets and drugstores to replace traditional bags with biodegradable options, and while San Diego supermarkets aren't going to change their materials any time soon, some stores are changing policies to become more eco-friendly.
"It makes good business sense for the store because they probably incur a huge cost with all the paper and plastic materials," Costa said.
Windmill Farms, a locally owned independent grocery store, even pays customers who bring their own bagging materials. Shoppers recieve five cents back for each bag used in a transaction every day.
Grocery chain Trader Joe's tries a different approach -- a drawing for shoppers who bring their own bags, where prizes can be as much as a $25 in-store gift card or the grocery chain's own line of plastic bag alternatives.
Miles Hyman, manager of the Trader Joe's in Hillcrest, said he has seen a lot more people bring in their own bags since the incentives started.
"People are really conscious of it, and we have a lot of really good bags for sale here from 99 cents to $2.99 for insulated ones," Hyman said.
Even big-box stores are getting in on the trend: Wal-Mart unveiled its own reusable shopping bag made from 85 percent recycled materials for sale in its stores last year. Wal-Mart also offers to recycle the bags when their use has run out as a service to consumers.
IKEA has started charging customers 5 cents for plastic bags to discourage the unnecessary waste associated with their use.
"First and foremost, it makes sense for the environment, but the main point is that it's an easy habit to change and it makes sense," Costa said.
This article is also available on The Daily Aztec's Web site.
Consumers are starting to use their own reusable grocery bags, often made of cotton or other durable materials to eliminate the waste created by plastic and paper bags.
"It's a change of habit for the better, and it's the simplest thing you can do," Amanda Costa, co-president of the Enviro-Business society said.
Costa purchased her shopping bags for about a dollar each and she sometimes uses the free gift bags she has received from conferences. On April 22, Earth Day, e3 will be selling reusable grocery bags to get students involved in the trend.
"It's hard to remember at first, and I've left my bags in the car before and had to go back, but if you are around people who do it too, they can remind you," Costa said.
Erica Johnson, co-president of e3, reminds Costa to bring her bags because they are roommates who have both been using alternative bags when shopping for the past two years.
"Using a reusable grocery bag is the simplest lifestyle change that you can make that makes the biggest impact, before recycling even," Johnson said.
Last year, San Francisco lawmakers voted to require supermarkets and drugstores to replace traditional bags with biodegradable options, and while San Diego supermarkets aren't going to change their materials any time soon, some stores are changing policies to become more eco-friendly.
"It makes good business sense for the store because they probably incur a huge cost with all the paper and plastic materials," Costa said.
Windmill Farms, a locally owned independent grocery store, even pays customers who bring their own bagging materials. Shoppers recieve five cents back for each bag used in a transaction every day.
Grocery chain Trader Joe's tries a different approach -- a drawing for shoppers who bring their own bags, where prizes can be as much as a $25 in-store gift card or the grocery chain's own line of plastic bag alternatives.
Miles Hyman, manager of the Trader Joe's in Hillcrest, said he has seen a lot more people bring in their own bags since the incentives started.
"People are really conscious of it, and we have a lot of really good bags for sale here from 99 cents to $2.99 for insulated ones," Hyman said.
Even big-box stores are getting in on the trend: Wal-Mart unveiled its own reusable shopping bag made from 85 percent recycled materials for sale in its stores last year. Wal-Mart also offers to recycle the bags when their use has run out as a service to consumers.
IKEA has started charging customers 5 cents for plastic bags to discourage the unnecessary waste associated with their use.
"First and foremost, it makes sense for the environment, but the main point is that it's an easy habit to change and it makes sense," Costa said.
This article is also available on The Daily Aztec's Web site.
Bike Lane Resolution Passes AS Council
The AS council approved E3's bike lane resolution, to bring a bike lane to SDSU, right before Spring Break.
The resolution will go to President Weber and the University Senate for review, where much of the logistics will still need to be worked out.
Read my article in the Daily Aztec about the issue here.
Photo Credit: Glenn Connelly, Photo Editor, The Daily Aztec.
Construction of "Globe of Waste' exhibit underway
E3 is constructing a globe out of paper products collected throughout campus over the course of the year, and has collected so many pieces of paper that they are making a second globe, after the first one has been constructed.
E3 president Amanda Costa said the first globe is almost completely finished, and that members blew up a large balloon as the template for the second balloon on Tuesday.
"It's kind of sad that there's enough waste around campus to make two globes, but it will call attention to the amount of trash students leave on the ground," Costa said.
The globe will be on display during Earth Day SDSU in on April 22 in Campanile Walkway.
E3 president Amanda Costa said the first globe is almost completely finished, and that members blew up a large balloon as the template for the second balloon on Tuesday.
"It's kind of sad that there's enough waste around campus to make two globes, but it will call attention to the amount of trash students leave on the ground," Costa said.
The globe will be on display during Earth Day SDSU in on April 22 in Campanile Walkway.
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