Spring Break
Environmental groups discuss sustainability
YASMIN YONIS
Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: News
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Funny YouTube videos and examples of simple changes in energy use dominated the Go Green Alliance's forum.
"On this campus, we have a lot of initiatives to be environmentally careful," said panelist Christina Faust, a junior in the Ecology Club. "The last three years I have been here, UGA has really been behind the sustainability movement."
Sustainability commonly was discussed on campus this semester, as the University hosted Focus the Nation, a national teach-in about global warming solutions, she said.
Faust is part of a group of University students submitting a proposal to President Michael Adams to get the University to take more environmentally-friendly actions.
The alliance joined with the Environmental Sustainability Physical Plan Division of the University to host the forum.
A YouTube video showed turning off laptops, instead of using screensavers, could reduce carbon dioxide levels emitted by the computers by 80 percent in one year.
The alliance discussed the need for more recycling bins on campus.
"I cannot tell you how many times I have taken water bottles out of trash cans and recycled them," Faust said.
Dick Field, chair of the Oconee County Greenway Commission, told the audience recycling is the last step in sustainability.
"Recycling is really the last resort," Fields said. "Do you know you could buy 350 gallons from Athens-Clarke County for the price of this one water bottle and drink every day for eight years and not have any waste?"
Go Green Alliance member Megan Harrison expressed the need for students to change their habits.
"26 billion Jittery Joe's and Starbucks coffee cups are thrown away every year that can be recycled," Harrison said. "We just need people to know about conservation and what they can do to help the environment."
"Green" tips include turning off lights, recycling, carrying personal cloth shopping bags and using water management.
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gaia
JC
posted 3/20/08 @ 9:28 PM EST
The number one cause of global warming, water use and water pollution is animal agriculture. Switching to a healthier, more sustainable and compassionate way of life is easy and very gratifying. (Continued…)
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