Climate Change
April 21, 2011
Ecopax hosts Earth Day celebration
At 12:30 p.m. today, Thursday, April 21, Ecopax will be kicking off its Earth day festivities. Earth Day is actually this Friday, which falls on the same day as Good Friday this year. Since students are off of school, Ecopax is celebrating early. Hannah Eberly, a sophomore nursing major and the leader of Ecopax, defines the mission of the group as “promot[ing] environmental sustainability on campus and among students at Goshen College.” However, with this year’s Earth Day festivities, Ecopax is taking on the city of Goshen in a broader sense. This year’s event boasts between 20 and 30 volunteers,...
November 10, 2010
GC continues climate commitment pledge
Some say that becoming a “climate neutral” campus is impossible. “So is world peace,” responds Glenn Gilbert, Goshen College utilities manager. Despite skepticism, GC has continued decreasing its carbon footprint. Three years ago, President Brenneman signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment and pledged to become a “climate neutral” college. The term “climate neutral” means that the amount of the campus’ net carbon emission would not add any carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Gilbert agrees that this seems like an unattainable goal—but nonetheless worth working towards. With the construction of buildings like the Rec-Fitness and Music Centers in...
November 10, 2010
Jackson challenges traditional agriculture in public address
If current global economic and agricultural trends don’t change, the results could be disastrous for the earth. This might not be a groundbreaking statement, but it’s one that has come into the spotlight at Goshen College since Wes Jackson addressed students and community members Tuesday night in Sauder Concert Hall. Wes Jackson, author and founder of The Land Institute, spoke on Tuesday evening in Sauder Hall about his vision of a better global agricultural system. He said the popular mindset, “Nature should be subdued or ignored,” is one of the main reasons for the historically poor land stewardship by people....
October 6, 2010
Students prepare for global work party on Oct. 10
This Sunday, Oct. 10, Goshen College will be a site for one of nearly 7,000 work events across the world registered with 350.org. The event, known as, "10/10/10 day," is an echo to last year's events on Oct. 24, 2009, in which groups worldwide held events to highlight the importance of the number 350--the number of parts per million that scientists say is tolerable for the atmosphere. As a global initiative, 350.org seeks to organize a worldwide work day on the specific task of committing to take action on climate change through a tangible project and raising awareness among political...
September 15, 2010
Earth as Ally conference to focus on climate change
A faith-based conference raising climate change awareness will take place on September 17-19 at Merry Lea Environmental Center at Goshen College. The Earth as Ally Conference will try to intertwine Christian faith with the issue of climate change by emphasizing hope for a better future rather than feelings of despair, hopelessness or ignorance that are often associated with climate change discussions. “[Faith] gives us the resurrection and the assurance that renewal can and does happen," said Luke Gascho, executive director of Merry Lea. " It links us to people from thousands of years ago who also faces devastation they brought...
April 1, 2010
Shiva brings ‘seeds of hope’
Environmental activist and author Vandana Shiva brought soil to the spotlight Saturday night, explaining to over 450 people in the Church-Chapel that caring for soil could help solve hunger issues and heal the earth. Shiva said the world isn’t facing only hunger, however. “Basic things about living have become warfare,” she said. “It’s war against plants, war against people, war against our bodies. [Food] has become the most serious threat to human life.” Shiva argued that through ecological farming—small farms growing a variety of crops with organic fertilizer—and seed distribution, the world can maintain a sustainable food supply. “Forty percent...
March 25, 2010
Don’t Drive Day a response to creating a climate neutral campus
On Monday, March 22, participating students, faculty and staff showed their concern and love for the earth by walking, biking, carpooling or traveling by trolley in observation of Don’t Drive Day. In an attempt to decrease Goshen’s Carbon footprint because of a national commitment signed by President Brenneman, the idea for Don’t Drive Day was created. President Brenneman signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment in the spring of 2007 and joined 175 other higher education institutions in a quest to achieve neutralization of our campus’ greenhouse gas emissions. According to the goGreen section of Goshen’s Web page,...
November 4, 2009
International speakers address climate at Goshen Theater
Saturday evening Reverend Tafue Lusama spoke at the Goshen Theatre, bringing a plea from his home country of Tuvalu for Americans to take action against climate change. Both he and Sara Kaweesa of Uganda are embarking on a speaking tour with Restoring Eden, a Christian organization that advocates for the environment. Each speaker has firsthand accounts of how climate change is affecting their communities, ecosystems, families and churches. Tuvalu is an island nation in the south Pacific with 12,000 inhabitants--it is the fourth smallest country in the world. Tuvalu has been one of the first countries to experience the destruction...
October 28, 2009
GC community rallies behind 350
Goshen College students and community members sorted trash, ate together, drummed, and marched to the Goshen courthouse despite wind and rain to show their support of international climate action last Saturday. Goshen was one of 5,245 places in 181 countries across the world that helped spread the message on Oct. 24th: 350 is the limit of carbon dioxide in parts per million that is safe in our atmosphere. GC began the day with a trash audit behind the physical plant. In three days, the college produced approximately 32 cubic yards of trash, which was sorted by hand. After opening up...
October 14, 2009
GC prepares for Oct. 24, International Day of Climate Action
Last spring, Bill McKibben, author and economist, personally challenged Goshen College students to take creative action on October 24th. In nine days, GC will answer this call and join communities all over the world in rallies and movements that take a stand against global climate change. On October 24th, communities across the world will highlight the number 350 in a unique way. Scientists say 350 is the upper limit of parts per million of carbon dioxide our atmosphere can retain for a sustainable future. Group photos depicting 350 will be compiled at the Web site 350.org. Among other locations, the...
October 14, 2009
Shifting power in Carmel
Eleven students traveled to Carmel, Ind. last Saturday to attend Powershift, a summit propelled by young people who are demanding action on climate and energy policies in 2009. The group spent all day Saturday at the event attending workshops and listening to speakers. Hannah Eberly, Corinne Jager, Luke Zehr, all first-years, and Alana Kenagy, a third-year, stayed for the evening symposium entitled “Awakening the Dream.” Roughly 100 people attended Powershift, and they started the day with a speaker who explained the science of climate change. A small rally was held afterwards. "We all had signs with things like 'Green jobs...
March 25, 2009
Don’t drive day spurs spontaneity
Getting to work at the Good Library without a car took some extra planning for Lisa Guedea Carreno on Don’t Drive Day – planning that didn’t quite work out. Don’t Drive Day was a campus challenge to avoid driving by biking, carpooling or walking on Friday. Guedea Carreno drives 21 miles every day – 11 miles to get her to and from work and another 10 miles to pick up her daughter, Genevieve, from after-school care. Guedea Carreno planned to take the Interurban Trolley to campus after seeing her daughter get on the school bus. Then, at the end of...