Film Work For The Environment

The Connecticut Forest and Park Association is looking for freshman, sophomore, and junior Wesleyan students interested in 1) producing a series of fun and informational "hesitant hiker" shorts in conjunction with Eastern Mountain Sports and REI Outdoors and Sporting Goods, and/or 2) organizing a film & guest lecturer series for its members and the public.

Film experience and a passion for the outdoors are a plus, but definitely not necessary. Please email Andrew Dermont '09 at adermont@wes if you'd like to get involved.

CHANGE CAN HAPPEN: EON megameeting

inspired by the course the country has taken? feeling empowered to make change on an issue you are passionate about? then don't miss out on EON's MEGAMEETING!

we too are ready for change: fresh, energized ideas to make wesleyan more sustainable and the environment the hot topic on everyone's mind.

if you've never made it to a meeting, this is the one to witness. bring your vision and ideas!

event: giant EON meeting
date: monday, 11/10
time: 9pm
location: woodhead lounge (right by that passageway that goes from hall-atwater to exley)

Clean up trails around the Wadsworth Mansion

Cathy Lechowicz, Director of Community Service and Volunteerism, writes:

The Wadsworth Mansion is looking for volunteers to conduct a trail cleanup. The cleanup will be led by Jane Harris, an avid volunteer who is knowledgeable about trails, trees and shrubs. Any able volunteers can join in the cleanup. Refreshments will be offered. Interested students should contact Barbara MacEachern at bmaceachern@wes.

I'd recommend helping out for three reasons:

1. You'll get to clean up a beautiful part of Middletown, helping the environment.
2. You'll get to interact with Middletown residents and act as an ambassador for Wesleyan.
3. The Wadsworth Mansion and the surrounding area (the backyard, the trails, the hills, and the abutting Wadsworth Falls State Park) are gorgeous areas. The birch forests and the shade trees along the old carriage entrance are things no Wesleyan student should miss.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 1
Time: 10:00 AM – noon

Club Capitalizes on the Power Generated by "Stupid Drunk People"

The video here is really worth watching, and if I could figure out how to embed it, I would. Some club in England is using the energy created by drunk people dancing to power itself. Pretty clever - I feel like this technology could make Wesleyan a whole lot greener.

The video is worth watching for its own sake, simply for its utter Britishness (I especially like the references to hippies).

Oh, and the club is owned by someone who goes by "Dr. Earth."

'Cause saving our planet is the thing to do

Are you a senior or recent graduate in job-search mode? Do you want to help save the planet? Eleanor Fort of Green Corps wants to share this job opportunity with you:

Green Corps is looking for college graduates who are ready to take on the biggest environmental challenges of our day.

In Green Corps’ year-long paid program, you’ll get intensive training in the skills you’ll need to make a difference in the world. You’ll get hands-on experience fighting to solve urgent environmental problems — global warming, deforestation, water pollution and many others — with groups such as Sierra Club and Greenpeace. And, when you graduate from Green Corps, we’ll help you find a career with one of the nation’s leading environmental and social change groups.

If you're interested, a Green Corps field organizer is hosting an on-campus info session this Thursday, Oct. 16 from 7:00-8:00 PM in PAC 002 and will be conducting interviews on Friday (Oct. 17) in the CRC from 10:00 AM-3:00 PM.

For more information, visit Green Corps' website or contact Eleanor at eleanor[at]greencorps[dot]org. Applications are due Friday, Oct. 24.

Sarah Palin Encourages Aerial Wolf Hunting, Ignores Animal Rights

Governor Sarah Palin supports the use of aerial wolf hunting as a means to curb the wolf population in Alaska. This tactic known as "predator control" is designed to boost the wolves prey population of caribou and moose. However, many question the rationale behind the wolves’ systematic extermination. Accusations have been made that the measure clears the path for hunters to not only kill the wolves but also increases the population of game for sport hunting. With the reduction of the wolf population and influx of game population overgrazing occurs, which weakens plant supply and increases possible disease outbreaks.

Palin has already spent $400,000 on a campaign to preserve the practice. Additionally, much of Alaska's appeal to tourists is based on its natural wildlife including wolves, bears and caribou, not hunting. An article from the Washington Independent provides these chilling facts:

In a program begun by ex-Gov. Frank Murkowski, and intensified by Palin, Alaska has sponsored the aerial hunting of more than 800 wolves since 2002 — out of a state population of perhaps 9,000. Pilots chase the wolves through the deep snow, sometimes for miles, until the exhausted animals have slowed enough to be blown away with shotguns. Then the plane lands and finishes the job, unless the wounded wolf has managed to crawl into the deep woods to bleed to death in solitude.

Palin, who won office with the support of powerful hunting groups, has intensified the “cull.” She pushed to offer a bounty to hunters who brought in a left wolf paw (lopped off with a chain saw) and extended the kill order to grizzly and black bears — including sows and their cubs. Before a state court ruled the practice illegal, she offered a bounty of $150 for every slain wolf.

Watch this video from the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, which raises the question: "do we really want a Vice President who champions such savagery?"

Go to Wesleyan's homepage to register to vote.

Armchair arborists, unite!

One of the most beautiful—and most overlooked—features of Wesleyan's campus is its rich variety of trees. Foss Hill in the autumn is a sight to behold. Unfortunately, though, trees do die, or get in the way, or fall on things, and so someone occasionally needs to remove them.

I had never thought about who removes them, until I came across Physical Plant's Grounds web page, which lists every tree that has been removed from campus, from April 18, 2007 through August 4, 2008. Some of the commentary is great, albeit sad. For instance, the author laments the removal of hemlocks at 333 High Street:

The last of these hemlocks are giving up the ghost. While others on campus are holding their own, I will have to remove these.

Apparently trees have crotches:

A very large elm tree in front of '92 Theater split apart on Saturday, September 22, during the football game with Middlebury. Altho that did not alter the outcome of the game, it did make me very sad. The problem was a weak crotch, and the health of the tree worked against its continued survival.

An amusing feature of the site is its constant misspelling of "hazard":

This maple is dropping deadwood in an area where little children play. It has been deemed a hazzard, and will be removed.

It's not all about sick and dying trees, though. A June 25 entry claims that "the fall season is here, and the leaves are falling." Never mind the seasonal abnormalities, chalk one up for sustainability:

This is just a memo to the Wesleyan community that we do not waste the leaves. They are trucked to a composting farm in Middlefield, to be turned into new soil and reused.

Additionaly, the trees that we prune or remove are turned into wood chips, and picked up by a firm from northeastern Vermont. They are used in energy production and mulch. Great to know that the material is being recycled in a positive manner!

U can haz job?

For those of you still floundering about for something to do this summer, Clean Air - Cool Planet has some pretty great opportunities.

Daily Carbon

An anonymous commenter in the shoutbox pointed out this interesting--and sobering--article in Vanity Fair about how much our day-to-day activities affect our planet, and what we can do to try and reduce that impact.

It's worth a read if you get a free moment.

Captain the Opposite of Planet

Jon Golbe '06 sends us this very effective send-up of Captain Planet he made with his pal Ryan Iverson, called "The Power is Yours!!" That scene with Ma-Ti and the beaver, really tugged at my heartstrings.

Also, he votes yes on the unicorn.

Tu B'shvat event this Friday

Jen Liebschutz '11 writes:

This Friday night at 9:00 at the Bayit, the Wesleyan Jewish Havurah will be having a Tu B'shvat seder! Tu B'shvat, a festival marking the "birthday" of trees, combines a ritual meal with tons of yummy fruits, nuts, and beverages with a discussion of ecological awareness. Everyone is welcome and the event is free.

Date: Friday, Jan. 25
Time: 9:00 PM
Location: The Bayit

Ecocriticism: it's so hot right now!

Adam Tinkle '08 and Will Blomquist '08 will be running a student forum this semester titled Contemporary Environmental
Philosophy. Here's what Adam has to say:

We are going to be holding a student forum this semester for a full credit to explore the wide range of contemporary theoretical perspectives in the burgeoning field of environmental philosophy. We'll read from subfields like deep ecology, ecofeminism, Green political theory, animal liberation and many others. A tentative syllabus is available here, but the class will generate much of the syllabus together. Email atinkle@wes with your name, class year, and any relevant coursework or experience in the fields of philosophy, environmental studies or critical theory, along with a few words about why you're interested.

We are tentatively scheduling the course for Wednesday nights. We will be holding an organizational meeting to discuss logistics and hand out the first reading at 4:00 PM this Friday on the first floor of Usdan.

EDIT: Corrected the title of the forum.

Environmental justice talk, discussion

Paolo Speirn '10 says Wesleying is "a baller blog," so of course I'm going to make a post about the event he submitted. His description, minimally edited:

The Dirt lecture series presents Professor of Philosophy Lori Gruen's "Building Alliances for Environmental Justice." Gruen will give a brief talk and conduct a question and answer discussion about the history of environmental justice and the ethics and politics of its movements. Social justice and environmentalism — united!

Date: Wednesday, December 5
Time: 8:00 PM
Location: Earth House

Eco-Activism Event Tomorrow

Sarah Herrick sends in this even happening tomorrow in Middletown at the Middlesex Community College:

Artfarm's 2007 EcoFestival will be showcasing local eco-conscious businesses and environmental organizations this Sunday and next, along with live entertainment, as part of the 2007 Shakespeare in the Grove production. The EcoFestival is taking place Sunday, July 15 and 22, from 4 to 6:30 pm, on the scenic grounds of Middlesex Community College overlooking the Connecticut River Valley.

The EcoFestival will feature not only musicians, circus performers and interactive Shakespeare, but also a rich variety of eco-activism. Some of our featured vendors include Long Lane Farm, offering organic produce and baked goods, Hale Hill BioFuels, Summer Brook Valley Farm, featuring alpaca yarn, Solar Academy, Mu Li Herbs and Acupuncture, and Three Sisters Farms of Essex, offering beeswax candles and handcrafted natural soaps, lip balms, and skin creams. Local and national environmental organizations will be represented as well, including Roots and Shoots, Families for Natural Living, the Jonah Center for Earth and Art, and Clean Energy. Following the EcoFestival, there will be music performances beginning at 6 pm. Beginning at 7 pm, there will be a free performance of Macbeth presented by Artfarm. For more info call ARTFARM at (860) 346-4390 or visit www.art-farm.org. Middlesex Community College is located at 100 Training Hill Road, Middletown, CT. 06457.

Step it Up March....in April...

Emma Goodstein '10 very enthusiastically writes in:

This April 14th, tens of thousands of Americans will gather all across the country at meaningful, iconic places to call for action on climate change. We will hike, bike, climb, walk, swim, kayak, canoe, or simply sit or stand with banners of our call to action: STEP IT UP, CONGRESS! CUT CARBON 80% BY 2050!

On Saturday, April 14 at 3 pm EON will host a march as part of the national STEP IT UP campaign, calling for climate action now. The march will start at Harbor Park, by the Harbor Park Restaurant (80 Harbor Dr.) and culminate at the field on Williams Street above the power plant where we'll make a huge banner to show our support. At 2 pm we will gather at the Science Center lobby to make signs for the march, and at 2:45 we will head down to the park. Or you can meet us at the park at 3!

So to sum up: THIS SATURDAY 2 pm sign-making 2:45 pm walking down to the park 3 pm MARCHING! COME AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR CLIMATE ACTION!

Date: Saturday, April 14
Time: 2:45pm
Place: Science Center Lobby