[Archived] Newsletter
April 1, 2009
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Project Updates
Cardboard Crew – Peter and Jinsu, met with Jennifer Hackett and Jim Kramka. Need to begin recruiting.
Eco-Fashion Show – Leslie and Colleen, Sept. 10th 2009. Reserved Ingram Lawn.
Rites of Spring Recycling – Brent and Becca. Need volunteers for it. Plan logistics in preparation for disposal.
Commons Composting – Luke and Liwei. Waiting to hear from Luke.
Biodiesel – Matt and Becca. Program picked up by Stacey Worman.
Kilowatt Ours – Peter. Went out to school on Friday. No follow-up. Contacting Jennifer to get next assignment.
Green Roofs – Ben, Luke, and Jinsu. Thinking about gardens on patios of Sarratt, maybe Featheringill. Luke has pollinator certification information, could buy all native species.
Earth Hour – Last Saturday night. Ben Kahn led. Forty people throughout the night. Shut off all the lights around Alumni lawn, Kirkland, Sarratt. Andrea George. Hampered by tornado alert. Needed more volunteers. Ben quoted in The Tennessean front page.
Presentations and Other Announcements
Clinton Global Initiative
2009 Outstanding commitment awards. Deadline April 3. Series of mini-essays. Contact Leslie.
Steve Spencer
"Planet" website to connect student communities via a forum to find students with similar interests/events. Feedback: Stephen .dot l .dot spencer @at vanderbilt .dot edu.
Jennifer Hackett, VU Recycling coordinator
Over 1000 new bins have been placed. Doubled campus collection volumes in one year, but only 8% of our waste stream. Univ. of Vermont at 45%. Recycling paper, aluminum, cardboard, glass. SPEAR - Rites of Spring, Cardboard Crew, periodically need subs for student workers who recycle. Contact Jennifer Hackett to sign up.
Coming up in SPEAR
Next general body meeting
Monday, April 13 at 7 PM in Buttrick 201
Officer Training at Maddox Lake House
For all officers, current and new.
Meet Friday, April 3, at 4:00pm in Sarratt 110 with your bags. Ending by 1:00 pm on Saturday. Bring 5-10 dollars to offset cost of food.
Officer meeting
Tuesday, April 7 at 5:15 PM in Sarratt 112
Mt. Trashmore for Earth Day
On Wednesday, April 22, all trash from buildings around Alumni Lawn will piled on the lawn. A must see!
News
The Tennessean: Earth lovers party on with the lights off tonight
March 28, 2009
Turn out the lights, Willie Nelson once wrote, the party's over.
But from 8:30 to 9:30 tonight, at 275 Nashville buildings, businesses and landmarks, going dark is the point of the worldwide party meant to raise awareness of climate change.
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200903280210/GREEN02/903280344
BBC: Strange but true actions for cutting your CO2 emissions
From farting less to not being a space tourist.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bloom/flash.shtml#/strangebuttrue.shtml
University of Winnipeg Bans Bottled Water
The University of Winnipeg announced that it will become the first university in Canada to end the provision and sale of bottled water campus-wide.
http://www.insidethebottle.org/university-winnipeg-bans-bottled-water
NYT: Environmentalists in a Clash of Goals
Environmental groups trying to protect wilderness areas are battling other environmental groups working to create renewable energy sources like solar or wind plants.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/24/science/earth/24ecowars.html
Lectures and Conferences
Green Expo at Lipscomb University
Lipscomb University invites you to the Tennessee region's premiere green event, the 2nd annual Green Business and Living Summit and Expo on the Lipscomb University campus, April 2-4, 2009. This event promotes a sustainability focus on building, energy, transportation, home, office, electronics, waste elimination, and the environment.
The Green Expo will showcase the newest and most diverse green products and services available in the marketplace to support sustainable initiatives, consumer stewardship and economic growth.
http://sustainability.lipscomb.edu/page.asp?SID=193&Page=6205
Summer Employment in Nashville
Below are various opportunities for summer employment around Nashville in environmental education.
- Shelby Bottoms Nature Center: Recreation Aid. Application due April 17, 2009.
- Warner Park Nature Center: Environmental Education Aide. Application due April 10, 2009.
- Warner Park Nature Center: Environmental Education Intern. Application due April 10, 2009.
Internships
National Council for Science and the Environment summer internship
Due April 10, 2009
The National Council for Science and the Environment invite students and recent graduates to apply for its Summer Internship Program. Interns will engage in a variety of programs, projects, and general office tasks. They may assist in outreach to the academic, governmental, business, and civil communities. Opportunities made available to interns include attending briefings, seminars, and conferences. Applicants should have excellent communication and writing skills, education or experience in environmental science and/or policy, and basic computer skills. Internships usually last for 3 months with an opportunity for extension and promotion. The application deadline has been extended to April 10, 2009.