Earth Day 2009

Testimonies were given by various faculty, administrators, and students at this weeks Earth Day Assembly (click on “value of place” page above). First time WA Environmental Hall of Fame Inductees George Delaney, Don Irving, and Elizabeth Bowles (click on WA Hall of Fame page) were recognized and will be honored by the Environmental Club by planting three different native tree species on campus. Immediate actions steps were also covered by Environmental Club members:

1. Sign the Green Cup Pledge To commit to simple daily action steps that can make a difference (click on page above)

2. Ride the (soon to be named by vote) Bike for community services hours in Mr Segesdy’s room during extra help, and other periods by schedule.
-enter your suggested name for the bike by clicking into renewable energy posts.

3. Join the campus dialog on food and welfare (click on agriculture posts)

4. Stay tuned for announcements about the 2009 WA E-Waste Collection Program. For now you may want to start figuring out what you need to recycle and how you can get it to school.

WA’s First Earth Week April 22-25

The Environmental Club and WA were busy this week with a host of events and actions steps including
1) Upper School Assembly Presentation by the Environmental Club
2) Off-campus CFL Bulb Drive
3) Film Series: Crude Awakening
4) Kettle Brook #2 Clean Up
5) Solar and Bike Powering/Demo Stations

In the assembly the Club covered a review of climate change and greenhouse gas dynamics and how each of us are connected to and the impacts of our of food, power, fuel, and waste use/production. The Environment Club distributed approximately 500 energy saving bulbs to the WA off campus community. Thursday night the Club hosted a showing of the documentary “Crude Awakening”, the first in a series of films covering sustainability issues, which addressed the realities and complexities of peak oil. Finally, students rode bikes and solar panel stations were built that powered batteries which in turn charge computers,etc.

A. Specific steps to be taken (as outlined on Academy News)
1. CFL bulbs
2. Green Start ( http://www.massenergy.com/options.html )-Non-National Grid Members can sign up for the New England Wind Fund
3. GCC Habits
4. Sign up for the Soup, Salad, Bread Meal
4. Unplug all unused electronics
5. Fill up your tires
6. Drive Speed Limit
7. Buy Local/organic Food- Compost