On Tuesday, student environmentalists celebrated Earth Day with festivities in the Usdan courtyard that helped build connections between progressive activists.
“We wanted to organize an Earth Day celebration like the ones we remember from when we were kids, because most of the year we’re doing serious policy work,” said Environmental Organizers Network (EON) member Allison Quantz ’10.
Several EON projects were showcased at tables in the Usdan courtyard. Students were invited to spin one of six composting bins that were recently acquired by EON with help from Physical Plant and administrators focusing on sustainability issues. The self-contained bins turn nearly all food waste into soil that will be used at Long Lane Farm and other community farms.
Another table gave away vegetable seedlings, which were donated by Stone Post Gardens, a local garden center. Other activities included t-shirt painting and face painting, which even President Michael Roth participated in.
At another table, Clean Water Action and EON members encouraged students to call the office of State Representative Joseph Serra, whose district includes the University, to encourage him to support legislation currently in the Connecticut House of Representatives that would create a binding cap on greenhouse gas emissions. After a staff person at Serra’s office said that Serra was in support of the bill, calls were redirected to U.S. senators, encouraging them to support legislation to combat global warming.
Campus anti-war groups also had a table at the event. They distributed fliers that explained the various connections between anti-war and environmental activism.
“There has always been a connection between the two,” said Erik Rosenberg ’08. “In war you’re thinking about destroying your enemy, not preserving the ecosystem.”
According to Laura Heath ’11, the War in Iraq has had (and continues to have) direct environmental consequences. According to a handout entitled “No War, No Warming” that was distributed, U.S. military combat operations use more oil per day than Bangladesh, and weapons used contain serious pollutants, like heavy metal and depleted uranium. The handout also stated that money spent on the war has been diverted from environmental causes.
“In planning this event, we made a conscious decision to encourage other activist organizations to get involved, to show the relationship between all of our issues,” said EON member Sarah Reed ’08. “It’s important to remember that humans are part of the environment. We must remind ourselves that war, economic injustice, environmental injustice, violation of human rights, violence, racism, sexism are also assaults against the Earth.”
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