Earth Days 2013 at Salem State

Sustainability: Local and Global Actions to Save the Planet

The theme of this year’s Earth Days Week celebration at Salem State University is “Sustainability: Local and Global Actions to Save the Planet,” which focuses on concrete steps that we can take on-campus, in our communities, nationwide, and globally to protect and preserve the earth, oceans, and the atmosphere.  We believe that over-development, over-consumption, and over-population are central challenges to global sustainability and to the survival of the planet and its human and non-human inhabitants. Sustainable development is essential to address inter-related issues such as poverty, inequality, hunger, environmental degradation, and conflict. The Earth Day Planning Committee invites you to participate in this year’s Earth Days events to learn, contemplate, discuss and share strategies to foster environmental sustainability, combat global warming, and protect biodiversity. This week will provide a catalyst to envision a sustainable future for Salem State University.

 Download a printable schedule (pdf)

Monday April 8, 2013

Opening Events, Vets Hall, Ellison Campus Center

Earth Day Student Poster Competition 11:00am-12:15pm, Vets Hall, Ellison Campus Center

 

Check in for Student Posters, 10:30-11:00am, Lobby, Ellison Campus Center

Organized by Professor Kitanov

Environmental Career & Volunteerism Forum, 10:30am-12:15pm

State agencies, environmental NGOs, and environmentally-oriented businesses display opportunities for student internships, volunteerism, and careers.

Organized by Professors Ruget and Randa.

Sustainability Challenge, 11:00am-12:15pm

Organized by Professors Fisher and Fletcher.

 

Panel: "Creating a Campus and Municipal Sustainability Vision," 12:30-2:00pm, MLK Room, Ellison Campus Center

Speakers: President Patricia Meservey; Jeff Elie, Sustainability Manager, City of Salem; Professor Alan Young, Salem Sound Coastwatch; and Jennifer Lawrence, Sustainability Planner, City of Cambridge

Organized by Professor S. Young and Sustainability Task Force.


Week-Long Library Earth Day Display, Central Campus

Organized by Librarians Zoppel and Dennis

 

Tuesday April 9, 2013

Event: "Green and Sustainable Chemistry," Professor Mustafa Yatin, 11:15am-12:05pm, Meier Hall 426

Organized by Professor Randa. Sponsored by Chemistry & Physics Department, and Chemistry Club.
Pizza provided.

Film: "If a Tree Falls: A Story of Earth Liberation Front," 10:50am-12:30pm, MLK Room, Ellison Campus Center

Through the story of an Earth Liberation Front cell and one of its members, the film explores questions about environmentalism, activism, and the way we define terrorism.

Organized by Professor Kitanov.Sponsored by Philosophy Club. Refreshments provided.

 

Event: "Rideshare into Your Future," Jeffrey Brown, Executive Director, Ridebuzz.org, 3:00-4:30pm, back of Chartwells, Marsh Hall, Central Campus

Organized by Professor Beckwith & Economics Club.Sponsored by Economics Department Speaker Series.

Refreshments provided.

Wednesday April 10, 2013

Event: "Don't Get Wasted," 11:00am-2:00pm, Quad in front of Ellison Campus Center

Join us for a root beer and demonstration of sustainable beverages.

Organized and sponsored by MassPirg.

Event: "Find your Dream Green Job," 11:00am-12:00pm, MLK Room, Ellison Campus Center

Professionals in the environmental field share their career paths and job search strategies.

Organized by SSU Career Services and Professor Ruget.


Film: "Homeland: Four Portraits of Native Action," 12:30-2:30pm, MLK Room, Ellison Campus Center

 

Having brutally occupied the homeland of Native Americans, the invading Europeans forced the indigenous population onto reservations - land that was specifically selected because of its apparent worthlessness. To add salt to wounds that are still open, multinational energy companies and others are coming back to extract the hidden mineral wealth of the reservations, and are leaving a trail of toxins that, if unchecked, will make the land unlivable for centuries to come. But Native American activists are fighting back, and their inspirational stories are chronicled in the documentary against some of the country's most spectacular landscapes.

Organized by Professors Jackman and Ruget.

Sponsored by the Political Science Department, Political Science Academy and Pre-Law Society.

Film: "Tapped," 3:00-4:30pm, back of Chartwells, Marsh Hall, Central Campus

This film is an unflinching examination of the big business of bottled water.

Organized by Professor Beckwith.

Sponsored by Economics Club.
Refreshments provided.

Thursday April 11, 2013

Film:"The Economics of Happiness," 10:50am-12:05pm, MLK Room, Ellison Campus Center


The Economics of Happiness describes a world moving simultaneously in two opposing directions. On the one hand, government and big business continue to promote globalization and the consolidation of corporate power. At the same time, all around the world people are resisting those policies, demanding a re-regulation of trade and finance—and, far from the old institutions of power, they’re starting to forge a very different future. Communities are coming together to re-build more human scale, ecological economies based on a new paradigm – an economics of localization.

We hear from a chorus of voices from six continents including Samdhong Rinpoche, the Prime Minister of Tibet's government in exile, Vandana Shiva, Bill McKibben, David Korten and Zac Goldsmith. They tell us that climate change and peak oil give us little choice: we need to localize, to bring the economy home. The good news is that as we move in this direction we will begin not only to heal the earth but also to restore our own sense of well-being. The Economics of Happiness restores our faith in humanity and challenges us to believe that it is possible to build a better world.

Sponsored by Geographical Society.

Refreshments provided.

Cat Cove Aquaculture Lab Tour, Meet at Cat Cove, 11:00am-12:00pm

92 Port Avenue, Salem (just past the Salem Power Plant)

Organized by Professor Joe Buttner.

Event: "Bike to the Future--Improve Your Urban Biking Prowess," 12:15-1:15pm, Meier Hall 218

The session organizers will offer tips to avid bikers regarding bike rentals, trails, etc. Drinks, snacks and spot prizes will be on offer. Organized by BioSociety.

Cat Cove Aquaculture Lab Tour, Meet at Cat Cove, 2:00-3:00pm

92 Port Avenue, Salem (just past the Salem Power Plant)

Organized by Professor Joe Buttner.

Earth Day Evening Program - Earth Day Awards Ceremony

Keynote Speaker, Frances Moore Lappé, 5:00-6:00pm, Marsh Hall 210, Central Campus

Award-winning author of 18 books, including Diet for a Small Planet and Ecomind

Sponsored by the Geographical Society, Political Science Academy, Pre-Law Society and Student Government Association.

Book signing and refreshments with Frances Moore Lappé, 6:00pm, Marsh Hall 210, Central Campus

Earth Day Ceremony, 6:30pm, Marsh Hall 210, Central Campus

Announcement of Student Poster Competition Winners

Friend of the Earth Award Presentations to Marc Rodgers, Cape Wind Associates & Frances Moore Lappé, Small Planet Institute

Reception

Closing Remarks and thanks to all

See a list of past Friend of the Earth Award recipients (pdf)

Press coverage of the 2011 Friend of the Earth Awards. Also see past press coverage: Earth Days 2008, 2006


Financial Support for Earth Days 2013 Generously Provided By the following organizations and institutions:

 

SSU logo

2013 Earth Day Planning Committee Members

Hope Benne, History Severin Kitanov, Philosophy  Jayashree Ranga,
 Physics & Chemistry
Kevin Beckwith, Economics Krishna Mallick, Philosophy Vanessa Ruget, Political Science
Joe Buttner & Ryan Fisher, Biology Mary Melilli, Art Steven Silvern, Geography
Jody Howard, HealthLink Lynn Nadeau, HealthLink Alan Young, Biology
Jennifer Jackman, Political Science Peter Oehlkers, Communications Carol Zoppel & Nancy Dennis, Library
and student reps from BioSociety, Economics Club, Philosophy Club, Political Science Academy, Pre-Law Society, Lisa Andrews and interns from MassPIRG, and Sarah Lopez from Geography Society
 
 

For More Information, contact the Co-chairs of the Earth Day Planning Committee for 2013: