Lafayette is in an exciting time of growth on the sustainability front at the moment. Sustainability is now one of the school’s main values, we are hiring a sustainability director, and the school even now has a sustainability page on the website! In addition to all of this, one of the five modules of the Connected Communities Program (CCP) relates to sustainability and environmentalism. This module was designed by the EVST capstone class.

Students will have the opportunity to participate in large events surrounding Earth Day starting this April with the kickoff of the module, work towards the ECO certificate (similar to the Intercultural Competency Certificate) and participate in various other programing, including a pre-orientation camping trip prior to arriving on campus.

The module, named Greening Lafayette, is being launched this April. More can be learned about Greening Lafayette on this website. Additionally, members of the Lafayette community can join our page on LAFSync, or ‘like’ us on Facebook to stay in the loop!

Wow. This film had breathtaking images of the environment, mankind and what we’ve built. While I found the film powerful, it was really hard to watch. The lack of narration made it easy for my mind to wonder, especially as the film became more uncomfortable when I realized what the filmmakers point was – to prove to us that we are in fact in Koyaanisqatsi. Its safe to say I felt a few emotions while watching the film: frustration, disgust, moved, and it tired to foster inspiration. Would I recommend this? Well, yes. Towards the end of the film I kept thinking “I really need to show this to dad”. I may not have enjoyed the film, but I loved it for what its worth, for the powerfulness of its point and its success in portraying it.

The argument the filmmakers are trying to accomplish, its that the world is currently in the Koyaanisqatsi predicted by the Hopi tribe. They do so successfully, and without narration. Simply their use of imagery and placing specific pieces next to each other helps to make the viewer understand that humans are having a drastic effect on the earth, and these effects are bad for us. They contrast beautiful scenery with the distraction of buildings, rockets, bombs and upset/monotone looking city people in a way that allows the viewer to understand that the loss of earlier shown landscapes is our fault, and we are causing our own destruction. These thoughts evoked in the viewer are then confirmed at the end, when the definition of the movie’s title is reveled.

Here is a quiz that is featured in today’s NY times. I was shocked by how few answers I answered correctly…and I’m an EVST major. Maybe you’ll have better luck!

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/12/10/science/paris-climate-change-talks-quiz.html?_r=0

Hi Guys, as part of my EVST capstone a few classmates and I are redesigning the ECOreps program at Lafayette. Being environmentally minded students I thought some of you may be interested in becoming ECOreps next semester! Please see the job description below and let me know (bettere@laf) if you want to apply.

Thanks!

ECOreps Program: Peer Mentor Job Description

ECOreps will be directly involved in promoting environmental stewardship to peers in LAF’s residence halls and as part of Greening Lafayette. Through programming, tips and advice, the ECOrep program seeks to instill sustainable habits at Lafayette in such a way that students are accepting and happy about the changes they make. The goal is not to make students feel guilty for leaving their lights on or throwing away a recyclable cup; the goal is to make students more aware of how their decisions are part of a broader ecological system. ECOreps are the link between student life and the environmental initiatives already occurring at Lafayette.

The ECOrep Package:

• Be recognized as a campus leader with varying, relative opportunities 

• Move in to dorms early to assist with new student orientation 

• Develop teamwork, mentoring, advising, and presentation skills 

• Create lasting friendships/bonds with fellow PARDners and students 

• Network with campus and community partners (including faculty and staff) 

• Cultivate and participate in shared traditions with classmates

ECOrep Role/Responsibilities:

• 2-3 hours/week, 1-year commitment

• Participate in all ECOrep trainings/workshops, including orientation
• One ECOrep per residence hall
• Support residence life staff on in-hall programs/events, for example, helping to 
get to know your group by attending some of their floor programs
• Prepare your own monthly sustainability events
• Provide weekly information updates and sustainability tips through posters within residence halls
• Create and implement Greening Lafayette events in April
• Attend monthly ECOrep meetings
• Set example through own sustainable actions on a daily basis

ECOrep Qualifications/Expectations

• Must be a rising sophomore to apply; 1 year commitment 

• Interest in sustainability (no prior experience necessary)
• Ability to work effectively both individually and in a team-setting 

• Interest in building relationships with peers and underclass students 

• Ability to attend all mandated trainings, events, and workshops 

• Demonstrating appropriate balance between academic and social life 

• Willingness to candidly share experiences and resources to assist students 

• Availability to regularly meet with students 1:1 and in group settings 


I saw this funny video of Ted Cruz his family released online for people to use in creating campaign adds for him. It reminded me a lot of our video and having to sift through hours of footage to find the perfect clip. Also its hilarious, check it out

http://nymag.com/following/2015/12/ted-cruz-raw-and-uncut.html#

Climate Agreement 

Roughly 6 years since the end of the Copenhagen climate negotiations, the first globally unified climate change mitigation agreement has been signed. 196 nations have signed on including all major countries such as the US, China, etc.. Among other things the agreement is mostly voluntary in terms of what changes are to be made from developed and developing, but the experts around are extremely hopeful. The wording they continually use in the piece above and in others that have read seem to use the word “aggressive” a lot, so in that respect the agreement must be something unlike any other global pact previously designed. I know one of the major accomplishments coming from the pact is this developing nation fund that should be worth around $100 billion, so they can use it towards subsidizing sustainable development projects and green energy. Additionally, another important accomplishment is this idea of a technology sharing network between developed and developing nations. This could be substantial going forward because a major conflict between say India and US is the broad technology gap especially in terms of energy generation. This pact could not only be a great thing for climate change, but also human welfare. Overall, I am extremely hopeful that this will work and I think at this point that is the only way to feel.

A small town in Japan, after realizing that incineration was harmful for the environment and their health, the installed an intense recycling program. By 2020 they want to be completely trash free.

At the very beginning of the semester, we began with a ramble  to a few places around campus, one of which was my own project. It was very cool to be able to share my own contribution toward the initiative of sustainability on our campus. A recent update on the state of the garden is that it was recently weed whacked, or at least that is the best assumption I have for now without definitive confirmation. I have been thinking a lot all week about the disconnection that remains in regards to sustainability and environmental projects. If healthy perennial plants were mowed down without any adequate knowledge to identify that, then there is a greater problem at hand. Many people simply lack awareness of environmental issues or initiatives, and the best way to remedy that and make a greater positive impact is to start on a small scale. By drafting a document of maintenance guidelines for the grounds crew, I will hopefully be taking steps toward educating other people about this particular initiative, its significance, and the nature of these perennials. Like any movement, the environmental one must begin with patience and with awareness in small groups so that it may spread to larger groups too. Lafayette still has quite a way to go in terms of sustainability, but with passionate, driven individuals like many people in this class, the future is hopeful.

Here is a link to the National Geographic Project that I mentioned. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/photo-ark/

I’ve always loved photographing wildlife. Zoos make for east subject matter, but what does it mean that these animals are trapped in these small exhibits? Maybe I shouldn’t feel so good about photographing these beautiful wild animals.

A couple of my shots (captive vs. wild)

Captive –

Wild –