Spring Break
Caring for the environment, both here at CSU and abroad
Phoenix Mourning-Star
Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: Opinion
2009's election week is winding down. From the perspective of the Green University, last year's elections brought hope of new environmental direction.
But the fluctuating economy and a docket full of stimulus to banks and car companies seem to have left Colorado with more budget cuts leaving me to wonder -- what have we done for the Green cause, and should we do more?
I'm not usually one to point fingers, so I'll start by examining my own life. I recycle most of the paper I use and do my best to remember to bring my own bags to the grocery store. But, you know, I still haven't gone out and measured my personal carbon foot-print -- I'm pretty sure it's grown to a new high. Doom-and-gloom, right?
This comes on the heels of a conversation with my good friend Stacey, an ecology Ph.D. candidate at Utah State University who has been harassing me about the seemingly lack of adventure in my life as of late: "Dude, what happened to all your articles documenting your travels?"
I had another chat with a colleague who is heading to Antarctica next week. Lauren is an incredibly high-energy New York gal who found her "inner-tree hugger" after spending a summer hiking in Estes Park.
"How can we get unbiased information that people can understand about climate change and the environment, even just on the level of the importance of teaching kids to turn off the lights?" Lauren asked.
We talked about ideas from the numerous conferences and each have expended untold amounts of carbon dioxide in order to "save the planet." Lauren mentioned a friend who had done calculations and thinks we should incorporate easier visualizations of carbon expenditures, like the number of basketball courts a ton of carbon fills.
"I think that's a nice idea, very visual."
But what can we really bring to people -- the climate change skeptics and the choir we already preach to -- toward bridging the consensus on the urgency of the environment, the Copenhagen summit and the Madrid Protocol?
But the fluctuating economy and a docket full of stimulus to banks and car companies seem to have left Colorado with more budget cuts leaving me to wonder -- what have we done for the Green cause, and should we do more?
I'm not usually one to point fingers, so I'll start by examining my own life. I recycle most of the paper I use and do my best to remember to bring my own bags to the grocery store. But, you know, I still haven't gone out and measured my personal carbon foot-print -- I'm pretty sure it's grown to a new high. Doom-and-gloom, right?
This comes on the heels of a conversation with my good friend Stacey, an ecology Ph.D. candidate at Utah State University who has been harassing me about the seemingly lack of adventure in my life as of late: "Dude, what happened to all your articles documenting your travels?"
I had another chat with a colleague who is heading to Antarctica next week. Lauren is an incredibly high-energy New York gal who found her "inner-tree hugger" after spending a summer hiking in Estes Park.
"How can we get unbiased information that people can understand about climate change and the environment, even just on the level of the importance of teaching kids to turn off the lights?" Lauren asked.
We talked about ideas from the numerous conferences and each have expended untold amounts of carbon dioxide in order to "save the planet." Lauren mentioned a friend who had done calculations and thinks we should incorporate easier visualizations of carbon expenditures, like the number of basketball courts a ton of carbon fills.
"I think that's a nice idea, very visual."
But what can we really bring to people -- the climate change skeptics and the choir we already preach to -- toward bridging the consensus on the urgency of the environment, the Copenhagen summit and the Madrid Protocol?
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
jimmy
posted 11/05/09 @ 6:52 AM MST
Recently National Geographic published an article (I cannot remember if it was in their Adventure magazine or the normal NG) but it basically outlined the most environmentally harmful trips people can take around the world. (Continued…)
Ben Miller
posted 11/05/09 @ 8:56 AM MST
I remeber a bit of farm wisdom that seems to apply here. Calling a pig a princess doesn't make it so. If CSU is serious about going Green then its time to take a hard look at what that means. (Continued…)
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