Spring Break
Editorial: Happy Earth Day to you!
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Editorial/Opinion
04/23/09 - Yesterday many University of Rhode Island students celebrated Earth Day by practicing "green" habits or by spreading awareness at events like URI's Earth Day celebration in the Memorial Union Ballroom.
Earth Day was established in 1970, and has continued as a yearly event since. But instead of concerning ourselves with environmental friendly habits for just one day each year, URI students should constantly be on the lookout for ways to sustain the earth and prevent global warming.
Luckily one of the benefits of being on a college campus is that the opportunities to support sustainability are endless. With recycling bins in dorm rooms, outside of residence halls, in every university building and scattered around campus, students have no excuse to dump plastic bottles and old reading materials in garbage cans.
URI also has several clubs committed to keeping the university green, including the recycling group and Student Action for Sustainability. Other clubs and individual students help out by participating in events like campus cleanups, which not only make university grounds more aesthetically pleasing, but protect the different plant and animal species native to the campus.
In addition, carpooling initiatives have gotten URI students to save gas and energy by sharing a ride to class, and members of the Fashion Merchandising Society created clothes out of recycled materials to show how simple it is to cut down on waste. Some students have even converted their cars to run on vegetable oil instead of gasoline.
While these URI students should be applauded in their efforts to make the campus a "greener" place, imagine if the entire campus participated in activities like these.
Little actions like turning off lights and unplugging appliances when not in use can make big cuts in energy and electricity bills. Do your part by switching off the lights before leaving for class and turn off the laptop before heading to bed.
Hitching a ride on a RIPTA bus when commuting to campus is one way students living off campus become more environmentally friendly. This reduces air pollution and allows for the continuation of public transportation at an affordable price. Reusable shopping bags are not only a trendy item to take to the grocery store, but they cut down the amount of plastic bags that can be harmful to the environment. Donating clothes and shopping at vintage or thrift shops is another simple way to save money and resources.
Earth Day was established in 1970, and has continued as a yearly event since. But instead of concerning ourselves with environmental friendly habits for just one day each year, URI students should constantly be on the lookout for ways to sustain the earth and prevent global warming.
Luckily one of the benefits of being on a college campus is that the opportunities to support sustainability are endless. With recycling bins in dorm rooms, outside of residence halls, in every university building and scattered around campus, students have no excuse to dump plastic bottles and old reading materials in garbage cans.
URI also has several clubs committed to keeping the university green, including the recycling group and Student Action for Sustainability. Other clubs and individual students help out by participating in events like campus cleanups, which not only make university grounds more aesthetically pleasing, but protect the different plant and animal species native to the campus.
In addition, carpooling initiatives have gotten URI students to save gas and energy by sharing a ride to class, and members of the Fashion Merchandising Society created clothes out of recycled materials to show how simple it is to cut down on waste. Some students have even converted their cars to run on vegetable oil instead of gasoline.
While these URI students should be applauded in their efforts to make the campus a "greener" place, imagine if the entire campus participated in activities like these.
Little actions like turning off lights and unplugging appliances when not in use can make big cuts in energy and electricity bills. Do your part by switching off the lights before leaving for class and turn off the laptop before heading to bed.
Hitching a ride on a RIPTA bus when commuting to campus is one way students living off campus become more environmentally friendly. This reduces air pollution and allows for the continuation of public transportation at an affordable price. Reusable shopping bags are not only a trendy item to take to the grocery store, but they cut down the amount of plastic bags that can be harmful to the environment. Donating clothes and shopping at vintage or thrift shops is another simple way to save money and resources.
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