Enviro Week at Meredith College a hit

One example of the dozen or so great enviro events/weeks that have happened/will happen in around the environment and clean energy this month here in North Carolina.

Environmental Week 2009, March 16-21, Meredith College

Angels for the Environment, a Meredith College-based environmental group, threw its annual Environmental Week. With the college’s yearly theme focusing on sustainability, it helped reaffirm the message that Meredith College is working towards a better future.

Environmental Week was six days long, each day with a different event and theme. Monday’s theme was A Night of Research. That night, students presented their research on such topics as deforestation, recycling, and sustainable housing. Tuesday’s theme was Animal Rights Day, a day co-hosted with Meredith’s Wild at Heart club. That night’s event involved the Piedmont Wildlife Center. Two representatives from Piedmont Wildlife Center came and spoke to the students about their responsibility to local wildlife. They also brought a few rescued animals.

Wednesday’s theme was The Business of Energy, focusing on energy businesses, such as coal, nuclear, wind, etc. The focus was to educate the students about the pros and cons of current available sources of energy. A teach-in was hosted by two students that night to present this information. Thursday’s theme was Local Foods. A speaker representing organic farming spoke during the lunch hour on the importance of thinking before eating. Spectrum also hosted a bake sale of fresh treats, including gluten-free cookies and made-from-scratch blueberry muffins.

Friday’s theme was Social Responsibility Day, co-hosted by Meredith’s Habitat for Humanity. This day was to connect the students to their responsibilities to their neighbors. Meredith’s Habitat for Humanity hosted a trip off-campus to the Habitat House for the final work day. Saturday’s theme was again Local Foods, and IMPACT hosted a trip to the near-by Farmer’s Market to acquaint the students with local produce. They were encouraged to bring reusable bags!

Throughout the week, also, a petition was held to ask Duke Energy Corporation to stop using coal from mountaintop removal. Although some were reluctant to sign, most students and faculty were supportive. Many did not know at first what mountaintop removal was, so it was definitely a learning time for them!

-Great job Meredith and Angels 4 the Environment( and all the schools working towards stronger awareness and education)!!