Eco-Sense Events: April 7-12, 2008

ECO-SENSE EVENTS THIS WEEK
On April 7-12, 2008, American University’s Eco-Sense will be hosting a week long event focused on a wide variety of environmentally relevant topics.

On Tuesday, along with the yearly event Campus Beautification Day, which they will be participating in, Eco-Sense will also be Sponsoring a panel called “Corporate Responsibility: How to Go Green without Seeing Red.” Beginning at 7pm in Ward 1, this panel, cosponsored with the College Democrats, will discuss how corporations and businesses of all sizes are implementing sustainable practices in a cost effective manner.

Wednesday evening, starting at 5:30 in the Weschler Theater, there will be an environmental film series featuring Kilowatt Hours, The Story of Stuff, and Oil on Ice. Directly following this will be a brief presentation on the successes of Eco-Sense’s current campaign, Green to Green: Sustainable Purchasing and Practices. The presentation will cover the successful campus green office certification program and how to get involved in ongoing efforts. We will also hear from head librarian Bill Mayer on the progress made in greening the library and campus computer labs.

On Thursday, Eco-Sense will be out on the Quad, with tie-dying, popcorn, and potentially a rock climbing wall. Anyone can bring clothes or other material to tie-dye, or the new Eco-Sense shirts will available for purchase for $10. These activities will take place from 11am to 1pm. Following our day on the Quad will be an environmental justice panel on Mountaintop Removal. Panelists from a variety of disciplines, including documentary film, campaign organizing and conservation, will all discuss the negative environmental impacts of mountaintop removal mining. To conclude this packed day, we will hold an Open Mic, Open Minds from 9-11pm in the Battelle Atrium, where there will be an open discussion about the week’s events. Everyone is welcome to come drink coffee and hear what others have to say.

The concluding event is a pontoon boat ride along the Anacostia River. “The river is one of the most polluted rivers in the nation, and we hope that seeing such degradation in our own city will wake students up to all the changes that need to happen, even here in the capital,” said Eco-Sense Environmental Justice Chair Genna Vullo. “We’re really excited about this whole week,” said Media Director Anjali Bean, “Hopefully with the diversity of events we have planned, we can reach out to a wide variety of people not normally in tune with these sorts of issues.”