Tag: earth week

The Sustainability Blog has been rather quiet through the first few weeks of Spring Term.  This is not because environmental news has been slow.  Rather, we have been busy planning a number of events and working on some important projects.  One of the completed events this term was Earth Week, which was rather a collection of a lot of different events from April 21th to 24th.  Check out some of the highlights here.

Last week, over 400 members of the Carleton, St. Olaf, and Northfield communities celebrated Earth Week at over 20 events and activities at Carleton. On Monday, Gary Yohe got the festivities started, providing an economist’s insights into the workings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. On Earth Day, over 40 people turned out for the first annual Turbine Trot, a run from the Rec Center to Carleton’s wind turbine and back. There was also a bicycle-made smoothie stand outside of Sayles. Throughout the week, students and faculty participated in dinner discussions at interest houses across campus. Themes discussed ranged from case studies of grassroots environmental actions in Asia to a reflection upon the value of ecological intimacy. The weekend brought snow and cold temperatures, but a number of brave volunteers braved the weather to aid in honeysuckle removal and trash cleanup in the Arboretum and along the Cannon River. Earth Week at Carleton finished up with the second annual community contra dance, where students and members of the Northfield community came to the Sayles-Hill Great Space and danced to the music of Contratopia. This year’s Earth Week was a great success and a big thank-you goes out to all of those who participated in these events. (More photos to follow)

Sunday, April 20

Minneapolis Recycle Run – if interested, visit minneapolisrecyclerun.com or contact campbelh@carleton.edu or webbe@carleton.edu
9:00am, Harriet Lake in Minneapolis

Monday, April 21

Discussion with Gary Yohe – come share in an informal discussion with visiting speaker Gary Yohe, a lead author with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Dr. Yohe is an economist at Wesleyan University.
4:00-5:00, Olin 103

CANOE House Dinner – Biology Professor Phil Camill will talk about important environmental issues from Arctic research to the challenges of managing coastal ecosystems.
6:00pm, Seccombe House, 111 Nevada St.

“Stories from the Climate Wars: Insights and Lessons from the IPCC” — Gary Yohe is a Professor of Economics at Wesleyan University and a lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was awarded this year’s Nobel Peace Prize along with Al Gore. Dr. Yohe will deliver a talk based on his experiences with the IPCC. His presentation is part of the Climate Change Lecture Series, sponsored by the Environmental and Technology Studies Program.
7:30pm, Boliou 104

Tuesday, April 22

Local and Organic Dining Selections in the Dining Halls
Enjoy a special lunch menu of organic salad items, organic pasta and sauce, an organic vegetable stew, a potato bar featuring local potatoes, and (as always) freshly baked breads with local and organic white and wheat flour.
11:30am-1:45, East Dining Hall and Burton Dining Hall

Wind Turbine Tour – Come hear about the history, construction and productivity of the Carleton Wind Turbine from by Facilities Director Steve Spehn. Meet in front of Sayles and ride in a new Carleton Prius hybrid to the turbine.
12:00pm, Meet outside of Sayles-Hill

“The Turbine Trot” – a 4.7 mile run through the Cowling Arboretum to Carleton’s wind turbine (and back). Be the closest runner to predicting your time and win a gift certificate to Just Food co-op!
5:00pm , Meet behind the Recreation Center

Farm House Dinner – come share a meal at Farm House! Arb Director Nancy Braker will talk about the importance of youth getting contact with the natural world.
6:00pm, Farm House

Come see the “Earth Tub” Composter
(DEMONSTRATION POSTPONED tentatively to Thursday)
7:00pm, Near the water tower (by Farm House)

No Power Hour! – Lights out and appliances off across Northfield for this energy reduction hour that follows recent ‘Earth Hour’ events held in cities around the globe.
7:00pm – 8:00pm, All campus

The Eleventh Hour Film Screening and discussion. Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, this captivating documentary explores the perilous state of our planet, and the means by which we can change our course. Contributing to this crucial film are noted politicians, scientists and other ambassadors for the importance of a universal ecological consciousness.
8:00pm, Boliou 104

Events in Sayles throughout the day
Offset Your Earth Day, bicycle-made smoothies, $5 bike repair station

Wednesday, April 23

Greenhouse Dinner – History and ENTS Professor George Vrtis will give a talk entitled, “Ecological Intimacy: What We Can Learn from Tree-Huggers.” Discussion to follow.
6:00pm, Geffert House, 112 North Division St.

Privilege and Environmentalism Discussion – Share in an informal group discussion about issues concerning the makeup and character of the environmental movement with regards to matters of privilege, class, race, and social justice.

8:00pm, Stimson House

Thursday, April 24

Carleton “Earth Tub” Composter Demonstration – come learn about Carleton’s new on-campus composter, the Earth Tub
4:00pm, Near the water tower (by Farm House)

Queer and Allies House Dinner – Political Science Professor Tun Myint will discuss some of China’s unique environmental challenges.
6:00pm, Prentice House, 107 North Division Street

Saturday, April 26

Tree Planting at the Cannon River Wilderness Area! – Join the Friends of the Cannon River Wilderness Area to plant tree seedlings on land the FCRWA recently acquired (about 6 miles south of Northfield). Also, come to see the beautiful wildflowers in the CRWA. Clothing: Closed shoes, weather-appropriate work clothes. If you can come, please sign up by emailing jklassen@carleton.edu. Please note if you can drive. Directions supplied upon request.
9:45am-1:00pm (approximate), Meet in front of Sayles-Hill

“The Long Road Back: Challenges and Opportunities in Conservation” — talk by Christopher Vaughan, co-founder and director of Latin America’s first Wildlife Management/Conservation graduate program in Costa Rica. Part of Carleton’s Foro Latinoamericano.
10:30am, Gould Library Athenaeum

Enjoy Earth Week in the Arb! Meet Arboretum Director Nancy Braker for a short tour to learn about restoration activities in the arb and then participate in removal of invasive buckthorn and honeysuckle shrubs. Wear long pants, shoes or boots (no sandals) and expect to get grubby. Bring drinking water. Gloves and tools will be provided. Work will be concluded at 3:30.
1:00pm, Meet at the Arb Kiosk in front of the Rec Center

Northfield Community Earth Day Contra Dance
With music by Contratopia, and led by expert “caller” Robin Nelson of Tapestry Dance Center in Minneapolis. No prior contra dance experience needed, no partner required. Comfortable shoes/boots recommended; festive swing ready attire encouraged. Free to Carleton and Stolaf Students, and open to the general public. Sponsored by SOPE in collaboration with the Northfield Community Contra Dance Association
7:00pm Dance Lesson; Dancing starts at 7:30pm, Sayles-Hill Great Space

Sunday, April 27

Adopt-A-River – come help clean up the Cannon! We’ll be removing trash along the river by foot and by canoe. Participants should wear shoes and be prepared to get wet and/or dirty.
11:00am, Meet in front of Sayles-Hill

contact Adam Smith at smithad@carleton.edu for more information

Dr. Rowe is a co-leader of both the US Partnership for the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and University Leaders for a Sustainable Future. She works with educational institutions across the country to integrate the sustainability worldview into all levels of formal education. She spoke about how higher education institutions, and Carleton specifically, can work to promote the education and practice of sustainability as we strive to meet this global challenge.

Her presentation is attached in case you missed it or if you would like to refer to it for resources.