Which Shade of Green Are You?

 

Modern environmental issues are so diverse and complex that it may seem impossible for the average citizen to make a difference and “save the Earth”. While it can be overwhelming, many inspiring individuals and organizations at Berkeley are making important strides towards alleviating the immense pressure currently imposed on our Mother  Earth. Berkeley’s environmental organizations are proving that it is possible (with a lot of passion, motivation, and effort) to make a difference. As a Berkeley student, you too can join this movement for change.

 

Step 1: Decide which shade of green you are (what environmental issue interests you the most).

Step 2: Join the Berkeley organization that matches your determined shade.

Step 3: Make your Mama Earth proud!

 

 

 

Are you interested in Recycling, Reusing and Managing Waste?
Join ReUSE

Waste reduction is a very important element of current environmental projects, policies and campaigns. Modern consumer culture is a real obstacle to achieving a sustainable society. With mass consumption, tons and tons of products are bought and discarded daily. This waste is thrown into landfills where it sits for centuries, polluting our land and water.

Co-Manager of ReUSE, Claire Porter, says that “the mission of ReUSE is to divert usable items from the landfill by promoting the ethic and facilitating the practice of reuse on campus.”

Additionally, Porter adds, “if you join ReUSE, you will never have to buy clothing again, you will most likely find free readers for all of your classes, and a few times a month you won’t need to make dinner.”

With this intriguing proposition, Porter makes it very difficult to pass up the opportunity to join ReUSE.

Beyond free clothing, readers and food, members can participate in furniture giveaways, maintain donation stations (including the main station, located on the lower level of Barrows Hall, that will soon undergo an impressive renovation to make dropping off and picking up free reused goodies even easier for Cal students), organize course reader drop-off and sale events (which make expensive readers amazingly affordable for students in addition to eliminating waste), help out with clothing collections and sales (free vintage clothing is offered as compensation to members who work hard sorting donations over the summer- awesome!), and spearhead projects aimed at eliminating E-waste and unnecessary disposal of office supplies and paper.

Students interested in alleviating the environmental stress of waste on campus should consider joining ReUSE.

For more information email [email protected] and check out ReUSE.berkeley.edu.

 

 

Are you interested in Living Sustainably?
Join the Residential Sustainability Program (RSP)

The things we eat, buy and consume can potentially harm the environment. Therefore, personal lifestyle choices can make all the difference.

RSP is very aware of the importance of individual lifestyle choices. Danielle Nahal, Co-Supervisor of RSP, says how “the residence halls in particular are vastly important because they are often the homes of students who are living on their own for the first time, and are making their own decisions about their food and lifestyle choices. Encouraging students to choose to do things like sort their recycling, buy local, use compost bins, and turn off lights may seem like little things, but once they become normal habits, students can live sustainably wherever they are.”

RSP’s presence in the residence halls encourages students to think critically about the way they live. Some of the organization’s current projects include: Paper Towel Composting (check out this awesome video about the project: Paper Towel Composting at UC Berkeley!), Clean Plate Clean Planet (in order to reduce food wastes, members of RSP offer prizes to students who eat all of the food they take in dining halls), Meatless Mondays (RSP members encourage students to reduce their consumption of meat by eating strictly vegetarian meals every Monday).

Nahal says, “RSP has the power to make real, lasting change in the Units, and members can see their ideas turn into programs that help students live sustainably, whether you want to compost food scraps or implement recycling bins.”

Want to learn how you and your friends can live more sustainably? RSP is the place for you! Check out their Facebook page and join today (or next semester!): https://www.facebook.com/rspberk.

 

 

Are you interested in Animal Rights?
Join the Berkeley Organization for Animal Advocacy (BOAA)

Industrialized farming is more than just animal cruelty; it is also an environmental hazard. Methane and carbon dioxide produced from livestock has significantly contributed to climate change. Additionally, the production of meat is draining our water supplies as the majority of corn and grain grown in the United States is used to feed livestock. Unsustainable agriculture and meat production are inherently connected and inseparable.

President of BOAA, Monica Chen, believes “there is nothing more important in the environmental movement than reducing our meat/dairy consumption. I have been a part of nearly every sustainability group in Berkeley, and I think that this has the biggest impact. The facts are irrefutable, and we work extremely hard to raise awareness.”

BOAA is leading the way with Berkeley’s vegan movement. Last month, on March 19th, BOAA hosted MEATOUT!- an event that gave away free vegan gourmet food.

Additionally, members are actively educating the student body about the virtues of a meat-free diet.

According to the group’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/calveg), BOAA is “dedicated to raising awareness and promoting compassionate, socially just, and sustainable diets, and advocating for the liberation of animals from systems of human oppression.”

If you are interested in animal welfare and putting an end to the negative externalities created through industrialized farming, join Berkeley Organization for Animal Advocacy. Check out their Facebook page for more information!

 

 

Are you interested in Energy Conservation?

Join Green Campus

Our society’s addiction to fossil fuels has created some serious environmental problems. Poor air quality and the Earth’s rising temperature can be amended if people are willing to adjust their habits and cut back on energy consumption. Real progress will only begin once people decide they are ready to change.

Green Campus is, according to intern Manon von Kaenel, “a student-run internship program that works to increase campus sustainability by bridging the gap that exists between students and institutional energy costs.”

The organization has spearheaded many projects and outreach programs that have successfully involved students and faculty members with their campaign to save energy.

A few of Green Campus’s current projects include: Blackout Battles Energy Competition (which uses the competitive nature of Berkeley students to their advantage by incentivizing residence hall energy savings through prizes to top savers in this annual spring competition), Green Cup (which is similar to Blackout Battles except strictly within the Greek Community), Green Departments (in collaboration with UC Berkeley’s Office of Sustainability, the project asks UC Berkeley departments to follow established “green” guidelines made by Green Campus in exchange for certification similar to the Bay Area Green Business Certification), and an Energy DeCal (which teaches Berkeley students more about energy issues and ways to save and reduce consumption).

Von Kaenel says, “Energy is a hugely important issue in today’s world, and by raising awareness for and promoting energy-efficient behaviors at home and in school, we are hopefully helping reduce energy consumption overall. We are a small team of 8 people, yet we build and carry out incredible projects with a tangible and meaningful result.”

If you are interested in reducing the University’s energy consumption, educating your peers, and learning from other motivated and passionate students, consider applying for an internship position at Green Campus. Email [email protected] for more information or visit http://greencampus.moonfruit.com/.

 

 

 

Are you interested in Green Business and Consulting?

Join Bay-Area Environmentally Aware Consulting Network (BEACN)

The recent surge of pressure placed on businesses to become more ecologically responsible, has opened up the opportunity for many environmental and economic savvy individuals to make a real difference in the business world. As usual, Berkeley students jumped on the opportunity to participate in progressive change. In 2005, BEACN was founded “as a way for students to encourage environmentally and socially responsible practices among businesses, non-profits, and other organizations operating in the community.”

Co-President Candace Won adds, “the main goal of BEACN is to consult for environmentally aware and socially conscious organizations. Every semester, we divide ourselves up into multiple project teams consisting of five to six members in order to help clients with goals such as conducting environmental audits of buildings, establishing Eco-friendly brands, and assessing competitive analysis of environmental industries. The other part of BEACN is to hold environmental events related to professional, community service, and sustainability for our members as well as the rest of the campus community.”

BEACN is a very impressive organization that has earned high appraisal from local businesses. Won says, “Many of our clients are actually extremely enthusiastic about working with students and are highly receptive to our recommendations.”

Members of BEACN have “the unique opportunity to gain experience as an environmental consultant during [one’s] undergraduate years.”

If you are interested in environmental consulting and business, BEACN provides an amazing opportunity to gain valuable experience and forge professional connections. Visit http://beacn.berkeley.edu/ for more information on how to become a part of BEACN.

 

As a Berkeley student, you have many opportunities to make a meaningful difference in the environmental movement. All you have to do is decide which student organization interests you the most. In other words, you must determine which shade of green you are. Whichever shade you are, Berkeley has the club for you!