Posted: 04/04/07

Gearing up with Green-Up
Students begin organizing Earth Week activities

Roni Reino | contributing writer
vreino@smcvt.edu

Turn off your lights, pick up your trash and look at the surrounding world. The third annual St. Michael's College Earth Week is about to begin.

In the past few weeks, St. Michael's environmental club, Green-Up SMC, has started to plan events for Earth Week, which is held annually April 14-22 with strong emphasis focused on April 22, Earth Day.

It's all global

Earth Week will take place from April 14-22, culminating with Earth Day on April 22. (Photo courtesy of Chris Pepin)

Earth Day made its debut on April 22, 1970 when 20 million Americans demonstrated in streets, parks and auditoriums for a healthy sustainable environment, according to Earth Day Network. Gaylord Nelson, who was then a U.S. senator from Wisconsin, founded it.

In 1990, Earth Day expanded with 200 million protestors in 141 countries which led to a rise in global recycling efforts.

By the year 2000, about 5,000 environmental groups around the world joined together, reaching out to hundreds of millions of people in 184 countries, according to Earth Day Network.

St. Michael's added its name to the list of environmental supporters in 2005 by celebrating Earth Day campus wide, first with the Political Science Club and now with Green-Up.

"It started as a way to get our name out there," says Tara Hostnik, senior and Green-Up Club member. “We wanted to incorporate the campus and help with environmental issues.”

Each year, Earth Week at St. Michael’s has expanded and Hostnik predicts this year will be a huge success again. In order to ensure this triumph, the club began composing a list of speakers and events a month ago.

With the aid of a $1,300 donation from the Student Association (S.A.) the group will purchase energy credits from Native Energy. With the help of other clubs, Green-Up hopes to help the environment and take a step toward slowing global warming.

Green-Up is encouraging a campus wide response. It has already gained the aid of Resident Life, the Peace and Justice Club and President Marc vanderHeyden, Hostnik says.

Hostnik says Earth Day began as a way to promote Green-Up. Now the group strives to involve the campus in more environmentally friendly lifestyles. (Photo courtesy of Chris Pepin)

Reuse, recycle, recreate!

The list of Earth Week events varies, including speeches, concerts, a clothing swap, and a barbeque.

Sophomore Julia Berberan is heading one of the events called “Recreations.” The contest aims to create art without producing more waste. To do this, Green-Up is asking that sculptures are constructed with recycled, reused or natural materials instead of “real” art supplies. The winner will receive $100.

“It’s a challenge to not use regular materials,” Berberan says.

Berberan suggests applicants should start sifting through garbage bins since submissions are due April 10. To officially enter the contest, students are being asked to contact Berberan before the submission date.

Berberan says she hopes students will learn to be more environmentally aware by participating in Earth Week activities.

“I think we can educate students on what they can do to be more environmentally conscious,” Berberan says.

Both Berberan and senior Jenn Kerns, coordinator of Earth Week, came up with the idea for the contest. Berberan says she came up with the idea after seeing a recycled art display called “The Thinker,” which was constructed from plastic milk jugs.

For the people

On April 14, there will be nationwide rally to support a bill to cut carbon emissions by 2050. In an effort to gain the government’s attention area residents are meeting in front of Burlington City Hall. Green-Up is organizing a walk from St. Michael’s to the city hall to participate in the event.

“We’ll be gathering students at 3:30 and then head downtown with cowbells and posters,” Hostnik says.

At 5 p.m., Sen. Bernie Sanders will speak about his bill to reduce carbon emission by up to 80 percent by 2050.

The goal is to take little actions to make a big difference, Hostnik says.

Of Earth Week Hostnik says, "It's a week of loving the world we're in and seeing how we can change the world." (Roni Reino, photo)

Although much of Earth Week is dedicated to environmental issues, other topics will also be touched upon. Many of the activities planned are aimed toward empowering people to take a stand against social problems.

“[Earth Week] is not just about global warming and the environment,” Hostnik says. “We want it to be about social issues.”

Hostnik is running Tent City, an overnight campout to simulate a displaced persons camp, similar to that of the children in Uganda portrayed in the film “Invisible Children.”

On April 22, Green-Up will host its version of a larger movement to raise money for the Invisible Children campaign. During the evening, participants will watch the film “Baraka” which shows footage from around the world. In the morning, a reflection about displaced persons will be held. Participants are asked only to donate $3 and their time. Proceeds will go toward the Invisible Children.

Hostnik says the club is encouraging teachers to hold “teach-ins” where classes will have the opportunity to discuss global issues.

“The professors can relate it to their classes,” Hostnik says. “Earth Week can be related to economics, politics and even religion.”

She says she hopes people understand they can make a difference.

“It’s a week of loving the world we’re in and seeing how we can change the world,” Hostnik says.

In order to bring students out, Green-Up has invited bands like Turkey Bouillon Mafia. It has also received donations from local dealers, Hostnik says.

“It’s going to be an in-your-face environment day,” sophomore Ashley Kaminski says. “Our main goal is to spread awareness.”

Green-Up encourages students to participate in the week of events.

“There’s a lot of passion on this campus,” Hostnik says. “It just needs to be released.”