Sustainable nightlife!

http://www.enviu.org/cm/cm_index_site.html

Check it out. If I ever had the resources (like money and friends) to create something like this in America, I would, hands down. it has been a dream of a friend and I to open or found a nightclub in America that is just as sustainable as the people who come. Enjoying the night and ready to go as long as we are. And...without negatively impacting the environment. We hadn't thought of the dance floor and didn't know about this particular club in Rotterdam until recently. However, I find it marvelous that somewhere in the world, people are taking charge when it comes to "friendly partying".
The dance floor supposedly creates energy and light in the club and the toilets in the restrooms run off of rainwater. Simply spectacular! Although I don't currently have all the necessary resources or credibility to create something like this, my dreams still run wild and free in hopes that something like this will one day be a project that I can be a part of!

Other schools do it...peer pressure!?

http://r4.ucdavis.edu/
UC Davis- This year their stadium goes green. This is an amazing step when it comes to school buildings. They also provides many links, such as one on receiving “mini-bins” from the school in which paper and other items can be recycled into.
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~recycle/
UC Berkeley- Obviously known as one of the most liberal schools, so it isn’t surprising that they have a recycling program. They offer a wide array of services to offices, classrooms, and lab buildings. They also provide a guide to recycling and other links related to sustainability.
http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/recycle/
This was one the best and most up to date out of the three websites I researched. It shares how last year UCLA had a “recycling rally, had a booth at the Eco Fair for Earth Day, and held a campus-wide Keep Recyclables Out of Trash campaign.” This year one of their main goals is to install recycling in all of the 27 Greek houses.

If they can do it, why can’t we!?

8 STEPS TO STARTING A SCHOOL RECYCLING PROGRAM
(http://www.bottlesandcans.com/)
1. Designate a school "Recycling Coordinator” to oversee the program and motivate others.
2. Arrange for collection: Contact your local recycler or designate a student(s).
3. Get recycling bins by calling 1-800-RECYCLE or by logging on to bottlesandcans.com.
4. Place recycling bins in high traffic areas and inform students of their location.
6. Label the bins effectively to maximize ease of use.
5. Educate your students so they can identify CRV recyclable beverage containers. For a list of beverage containers included in the CRV program, visit bottlesandcans.com.
7. Introduce the program to your students with an email or posters to create awareness.
8. Generate enthusiasm by motivating your students with rewards paid for with the
funds redeemed.

Sounds good to me…so basically…we just need a person, determination, distribution of information, and…oh yeah…money from Jim Doti.

Glad to see someone cares

So...after a few e-mail's back and forth I finally received some answers from Brett who I had e-mailed about the Green Committee:

1) The Green Committee is a fully formed committee this year. Last year it was just a task force because we were trying to set up the logistics of it all, but now it has been recognized by the administration and the faculty senate.

2) Environmental issues at the city level are out of the control of Chapman, we could attempt to influence the decisions of the city council, but the ultimate deciding powers rest with the city council. As far as Chapman is concerned, I would really like to see the Green Committee involved in the building process and logistics of the proposed science center. Having a "Green Building" on campus would increase publicity of the school (from a business standpoint) and would also, obviously, decrease Chapman's affects on the environment.

3) Realistically, I would like to see Chapman have a Green Building on campus. I would also like to see more recycling bins on campus so that recycling isn't classified as a chore, but rather a convenience. Any other policies that Chapman is able to accomplish would be above expectations, and highly unlikely.

4) If you would like to get involved, I would encourage you to run for one of the seven Senate positions available this spring. If you aren't interested in the policy making aspect of this issue, I would encourage you to speak with Kirsten Svenson. I know that she was trying to get something going on this issue a while back and would assume that she still is. I would suggest going out for Senate, but I may be slightly partial.

Hope all this information helps. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to email me.

Best,

Brett Swenson

Senator

Associated Students

It was encouraging to finally hear back from someone.
I will most likely Kirsten Svenson for information as well.
However, it still doesn't seem like there is much that just anyone can get involved in.
Just as I had expected. 

City Links

Today in class we looked at different politician’s websites and even the City of Orange’s website. I was actually both excited and surprised that the environment and global warming had been a main issue for some of these senators and congress folk. Check out Diane Feinstein’s site for example: (http://feinstein.senate.gov/public)

This part of the site was my favorite and I still haven’t gone through every single article. I learned quite a few things and was glad to see a politician concerned with the cause and actually reading what she had felt about it. (example: “We’ve got a President who claims to take global warming seriously. But he refuses to act. He won’t attend international global warming conferences. He refuses mandatory action. It’s all rhetoric and no action. In fact, he seems to be doing everything he can to postpone action until he’s out of office.”)

And for the City of Orange’s site. (http://www.cityoforange.org) was one that I was familiar with as it has been one that I have visited concerning how the city cares for the environment or if they have any concerns. On that subject, it mainly is just links and talks about California overall when it comes to things like The Clean Air Act and so forth. Here is a list I did find that was helpful, even to myself, as I didn’t know all of these were recyclable from the home.

Aluminum/tin cans
Empty aerosol cans
Pie tins
Cardboard egg cartons
Computer/white paper
Milk jugs/plastics
Juice bottles
Newspapers/inserts/magazines
Coupons
Cardboard/12-pack soda boxes
Cereal boxes (lining removed)
Tissue boxes
Glass bottles/jars
Laundry detergent boxes/bottles
Junk mail/magazines/phone books

Of course it was on a link to waste management of Orange County (http://www.wmorangecounty.com/env.asp) rather than the site but I found it to be one of the most informational links.

I am mainly about this because it doesn’t at all help you to get involved. But I suppose that’s why so many people just do what they can on their own anyways…good for them.

Getting involved...or trying!

I have found out that the meetings at school for Associated Students are held on Tuesdays from 11:30 to 1:00. Anyone is welcome to these meetings; however, class seems to be in my way. If the time is to be the same next semester though I am going to try and make it so that I don’t have class during that time. Maybe I will run for senate.
I also decided to email Kirsten today. I just thought I would ask her if she was still trying to establish a recycling program or what it is she was doing that Brett may have been talking about.
I think the only clubs on campus right now that I could join and that I am going to is S.P.E.A.K., Oxfam, and ROOTS. Why I say think I can join I mean...should because it will be a way to possibly meet others who feel the same way about helping our school out in becoming environmentally friendly.

Into The Wild

I haven’t been inspired by anything or anyone in so long than I have been by this movie. So choked up at the end that I couldn’t speak and I surely couldn’t breathe. For anyone who hasn’t seen it or read the story, skip over this part a bit. I must talk about the story to fully establish what it did for me and why I care so much about the environment. Also…watch this trailer. If it doesn’t make you want to see it…wow.

So this young man, Chris, just graduates from Emory with his last semester among many others with all A’s. I can see how everyone must look at him saying…”What a bright kid. He is going to go to law school. He is going to make so much money in his career. He is going to change this world.” And he did. But not in the way that everyone had expected him to. His parents come to his graduation and they are so proud. They leave him to go back home expecting to see him soon when he gets all of his stuff packed up. Instead, Chris packs a backpack, burns his identification cards, pictures, and other “useless” items as he donates his entire savings to Oxfam. He changes his name to Alexander Supertramp. Bold from the beginning. And it is a story that continues on as he meets the most interesting people, changes their lives and walks right out of them because he is on a journey. His great Alaskan adventure. He hitchhikes, hops on trains, and walks to get anywhere he is going. He survives many things that could have made the end of him, or anyone. He pushes forward through states like Arizona, Nevada, California, Colorado, North Dakota, and even Mexico. When he finally makes it to Alaska he finds a small abandoned bus and this is where he lives for the remainder of his life. He finds the beauty in his surroundings and lives off of nature. He breaks my heart and makes it stronger at the same time. He kills to live and cries at death. The smallest things he faces are what bring him to his death in the end. But beyond that, brings him to the realization that the happiness he was looking for wasn’t real. But that “happiness is only real when shared.” WOW.
What was most inspiring to me in this film was how intelligent this man was. He had the courage to finish school and face years of materialism while gaining knowledge before he went out on this extravagant quest. What he did is what i dream of doing everyday and the fact that he finished school helped me to realize that i must to the same before I can ever do anything like that. It also reminded me how beautiful nature is. How lucky he was to get to see it for everything it was and spent countless hours taking it all in. It is because of feelings like that in which I feel so strongly in helping to save the environment that we do live in. Maybe I am selfish, but I want to romp the country side, rivers, deserts, and mountains just like he did. And I want everyone else to freely be able to do the same.

Green Building

After all of the discussion last night about Chapman getting a "Green Building", I thought I would elaborate on exactly what a green building is. I had researched it quite a bit last year for a project and out of my own curiosity. This is one photo I had used to really catch a grip on what one might look like from the outside. First off you notice solar panels and even wind turbines which create energy for the building without using harmful resources like coal or fuel. Secondly, you can see that there is an area where water can run off the building and be used as a recycled irrigation system. There is grass on top of the building which also helps to keep the building cool. With that, trees are also sometimes plated on top of a building which helps to reduce carbon dioxide in the environment. Also a beautifully and lovely view on a rooftop if you think about it! The building is also made out of recycled materials or ones that do not hurt our environment such as bamboo, recycled glass, and non-toxic paints.
If Chapman had a building like this or even multiple...just think of how much we might be helping our environment. And hello...if Jim Doti wants attention (he does)then this is one useful way he can do so. And then I might not be so mad at him anymore!

11th Hour Screening

There is one main idea that I take away from this movie and it is one that changed my whole outlook on how everyone deals with saving the environment. The earth has gone through many phases and it will continue to do so. People always say, "Save the earth". The earth will always be here. It has gone through ice ages, being destructed by comets and meteors, and survived through the extinction of 99.9999% of life that has ever lived on this planet. So what they should be saying is "Save the people"...because that is what is at stake. Our human lives.
I suggest that everyone see it and grab on to the ideas of what it is we have to lose if we don't take action NOW.
At the end of the screening, there was also a panel of 4 people who are affiliated with certain environmental groups or are professors here at the school. They had a quite a bit of information to share with the people who stayed afterwards and also allowed a question and answer segment. One of the panelists, Dr. Christine Hughey, is a Chemistry professor here at Chapman University. She was talking about the Green Committee and about the proposal of having the new science building be a "green building".
After many questions and discussion on that topic, I felt angry for the first time. Angry and frustrated and discontent with Jim Doti. So angry I couldn't and still can't understand why is is only a proposal?! Why just a proposal?! It shouldn't be an idea but a given and a hope and a dream that Chapman students, faculty, board, and donors should want to have a green building on campus. One that can help our environment and provide future learning and experience to those who are also concerning in aiding the cause. I just can't believe. What is even going through his mind?! And I also felt sad...because this green building has been around for quite some time now. The thought that our lovely film school could have also had the opportunity to be built "green" and simply was because one man did not have that vision. Even moreso, if he does not want to have a building be a fully certified LEED building, then why not add certain things to our current buildings to help create sustainability? Solar panels? Wind turbines? or even more trees? I am upset. I really am. And it is sad when such a seemingly kind man can find one simply to become quickly...unfavorable.

MISSION TWO: Recycling at Starbucks

Ever since I have started this blog, researched more, and have gone to more events, I have realized just how much we waste at work. I am embarrassed to actually say all that I am about to say, but by pointing this out, I hope more people will ask their local Starbucks if they recycle and realize that the company cannot be calling themselves “Socially Responsible” when waste like this is going on in their stores.
#1 Milk cartons- We go through maybe 50 a day…all of which go into the trash.
#2 Water bottles, cans and glass bottles-We sell them all. Ethos water, Double Shots, Iced Coffee, Pelegrino, Izze, and more. All are recyclable. Why sell them if we don’t have a bin to put them in, even when concerned customers ask?
#3 Newspapers- I usually work closing shifts. At the end of the night, at minimum, there are 3-5 newspapers that didn’t sell…so we just throw them away. 5 huge bundles of paper right into the trash.
#4 Plastic bags- We have one size of plastic bags for all sizes of trash cans. And we always double bag. I used to have a problem with double bagging because I didn’t see the point since they are such thick and heavy bags. However, after having to clean multiple messes from when I personally single bagged a can…I now understand. Old coffee=a million and one pounds. I still don’t like that we use these XXL bags for the smaller trash cans. Waste o’space. Waste o’ plastic. Waste in the environment. Not all stores are this way, however. The Starbucks I worked at in Las Vegas did have different sized, lighter bags for different sized trash cans.
#5 Cardboard boxes and containers- Every shipment we get comes in cardboard boxes. Cardboard is recyclable. However, these too go into the trash without a second thought. The pastries in the morning come in small cardboard containers which also are trashed immediately. If Starbucks really cares about the environment like they occasionally claim, then why don’t they train their employees to do so as well? Or maybe put RECYCLE in huge letters on these items that can be. We might all get it then.
However…Starbucks has made some moves to be environmentally friendly. They have made their cups partially responsible, the cardboard cup holder’s are partially recyclable, Starbucks gives a $0.10 discount if you bring in your own cup, they have a few organic coffees and organic teas, and they also provide grounds for your garden which help to fertilize plants.
And my point here is this. I spend just as much time at work as at school. So I am starting a mission here as well. Starbucks must begin to recycle and soon. I am going to see if my manager will have a few minutes to talk with me this week and I would like to ask if there is any option when it comes to us and recycling or if I, myself, could bring in a bin!

Ways we can help!

Until recently, I was still doing things that were hurting the environment because I was too into sticking with what I was already doing to think about its affect. I thought I would share some of these things in hopes that even if someone uses some of these littlest changes, then we can make a difference.

#1 Using your own cup

Exhibit A: I work at Starbucks and ever since the beginning of that time I would just sit at work all day drinking concoctions out of all the different cups. And then…just throwing them away. Ah it hurts my heart to think I was doing that. Starbucks has made some improvement with their hot cups, however, and is made out of 10% recycled product. Sadly, it still isn’t much. Now, instead, while I am working I use the ceramic cups for here. When I am not working but I plan on going in for a drink and leaving immediately, I bring my own cup. This helps to reduce the waste and even the cups that could be recycled, but typically are not. Also, if you bring in your own cup you do get a $0.10 discount!

#2 Holding back on plastic bags

Another one that saddens me. It was so easy for me to just run to CVS when I needed something as simple as a toothbrush and maybe a couple other small items and just accept the fact that they would be put into a plastic bag for me without second thought. Plastic is not a biodegradable product. It seeps into the soil which cows eat and floats into the water that fish live in. This harmful product can cause death for these animals and if not death, then they remain in the very same animals humans eat, which in turn goes inside the human. Far too much energy is put into making plastic products than is coming out making it a waste of our earth’s resources. Instead, if you have only a couple items, just let the employee kindly know that you will not need a bag. Also, if you must take a plastic bag, be sure to reuse it at home as a trash bag for your bathroom or room. I have also invested in a big tote that I can take to the grocery store when I obviously get millions of food items. Then when checking out, instead of going into the plastic bag, my items go right into my big lovely tote. Whole Foods is an example of a store that contributes to this way of reducing plastic usage.

#3 Bringing a container from home to restaurants

Again, another one where you have to take something along with you but I do believe it is worth the space. If you are one of those people who never finish a meal at a restaurant because it is a large portion or you aren’t sure if you will have a meal the next day if you don’t bring home leftovers (guilty) then you most likely ask for a box at the end of your meal. However, the majority of restaurants use Styrofoam boxes. Styrofoam is not biodegradable and takes up plenty of space in landfills. It has harmful chemicals in it that are transferred into your warm or fatty food when placed in a Styrofoam box and also has negative affects on unborn children, such as problems within the nervous system. One restaurant that I have seen make a change in using Styrofoam is the local Gypsy Den. They now use biodegradable boxes which I think is absolutely beautiful! There was also an article in the March 26, 2007 edition of The Panther last year about how Sodexho, our food service at Chapman uses Styrofoam cups with polystyrene and how that material was actually banned in more than 20 cities at the time the article was written. After looking it up now, it seems as if there are many more who have banned it, including areas in Orange County, but Orange did not appear to be one of them. I have not been to any of the restaurants at school this year so I am unaware if the cups are still being used. However, just beware if so! Here’s the link to that article if you would like to read it.(http://www.chapman.edu/PantherNewspaper/issues//PantherMarch262007.pdf)

I will leave you with those three for now that have been elaborated on, but please…buy fluorescent light bulbs and don’t forget to unplug things when you are using them! Toasters, laptops, fans…you name it and you know you aren’t using it once you walk out of your door into the lovely world. And…for even more benefit, as if helping out each other and the planet isn’t enough…unplugging all of these and switching bulbs means CHEAPER ELECTRIC BILL!

Green Gear for School!

http://www.closetheloop.com/products/gifts.html

A website with the coolest selection of recycled gifts to give! Some of you may recall having seen these pens at Chapman University at the beginning of the year. We were lucky enough to have these pens made from recycled cardboard and imprinted with the orientation theme which was "BRANCHES-Go out on a limb". These went out to all of the new students and the orientation staff and I was absolutely amazed. This didn’t come from the idea of a faculty member, but a student dedicated to helping our earth. It fit perfectly with the theme and hopefully made many aware that there are actually products like this out there.

http://www.newleafpaper.com/index.html

Wow. Quite the attention grabber. This paper is actually 100% recycled paper and can be used when it comes to replacing your printer paper or any other writing tablet.

http://www.goodcommonsense.net/renowrpa.html

A good looking recyclable notebook selling for $4.75. It is true that it is pricey, however, it is alway a smart option if you are given the choice.

These are only a couple of products, but I hope it inspires any of you to know that there are items out there that we must use for school, but we can find products that won't hurt the environment anymore than we already are doing. Also, beyond school products, just by searching for green gifts, you are able to find some of the coolest and most unique items on the market! I know I plan on getting many of these items for my friends and family this holiday season, so feel free to also check it out and feel great about your gift giving. I mean, I don't know what to get my dad anyways.

http://www.onnotextiles.com/hemp-t-shirts ....Maybe an organic hemp t-shirt!?