Fairfield University's Earth Day 2011 celebration to encourage individuals to make small daily changes | Press Releases

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Image: Celine Cousteau The goal of Fairfield University's Earth Week 2011 is to raise awareness of what a huge impact small changes can make on the environment. The campus effort mirrors the worldwide theme of Earth Week - Billion Acts of Green®, inspiring and rewarding both simple individual acts and larger organizational initiatives that further the goal of measurably reducing carbon emissions.

Leaders for Environmental Action at Fairfield (LEAF), a university club, has planned a myriad of events that are interactive, user-friendly, and highlight how even little effort can help turn around the bleak future of the natural environment.

"We are starting to see more and more what a huge negative impact the population is having on the environment, so Earth Week at Fairfield is trying to bring awareness to the problem and solutions," said student Gina Caldwell '11, director of marketing for LEAF. "I believe that the key to a sustainable future is targeting individuals to make small habit changes, like considering the impact of their water use and creating less waste through recycling and by consuming less."

Following is a list of campus events planned in advance of Earth Day (April 22), including the first Stag Swap, an incandescent light bulb trade-in, and Water Bottle Mountain. A clean water forum sponsored by the Jesuit Universities Humanitarian Action Network (JUHAN) is also on tap as is an Open Visions Forum lecture by environmentalist Celine Cousteau. The 4th annual campus clean-up is also planned. Details below.

Sunday, April 3:

Fairfield Beach Cleanup, 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Meet at the Info Desk at 12:45 where participants will be given supplies and transported to the Fairfield Beach area to pick up trash.

Recycling Re-education Campaign, ongoing.

Look for signs across campus about how recycling works at Fairfield

Monday, April 4:

Water Bottle Mountain, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Barone Campus Center, Lower Level (BCC, LL)

Come to the BCC, LL all this week to see 'the mountain of an impact' that drinking bottled water has on the environment. Bring LEAF a bag of recyclable plastic water bottles to add to the mountain and members will give you a reusable water bottle in return. First come, first served.

Open Visions Forum Event: Celine Cousteau, 8 p.m., Quick Center for the Arts

Celine Cousteau, environmentalist and granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau, will talk about her work. Moderator Philip Eliasoph, Ph.D. will be joined onstage by Brian Walker, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, and Dina Franceschi, Ph.D., associate professor of economics, for post-talk conversation with Cousteau. Dana August '11, co-director of projects for LEAF will introduce Cousteau. Tickets are $45. Tickets are available at fairfield.edu/quick or by calling the Box Office at (203) 254-4010. The toll free number is 1-877-ARTS-396. This OVF event is an Arts & Minds presentation.

Tuesday, April 5:

Light for Light, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. BCC, LL

Come to LEAF's table with your incandescent light bulbs and trade them in for compact florescent bulbs that last longer and are more energy efficient. All old light bulbs will be recycled.

Wednesday, April 6:

Campus Cleanup for Earth Day, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Meet at the Barone Campus Center 2nd floor Information Desk. Volunteers will then disperse to several areas around campus that need attention. Trash bags and gloves will be provided. Vouchers for the green lunch scheduled for May 3rd in the Oak Room will be distributed to volunteers. Christina McGowan, assistant university Librarian for Reference and Circulation Services, is the organizer.

Water, Water Everywhere But Not A Drop to Drink , 5 p.m. to 6: 30 p.m. BCC, 1LGE

Students, staff, and faculty will come together to share their research projects, service learning experiences, and varying perspectives on the issue of people's limited access to safe, clean drinking water globally. The event will include a series of panels, presentations, film and posters each addressing, from various viewpoints, the compelling issues of unsafe drinking water. The keynote speaker will be Dr. William F. Vasquez Mazariegos, assistant professor of Economics. Sponsored by JUHAN.

Documentary Screening, 6:30 p.m., BCC, LL

" Flow: For the Love of Water ," a documentary about the politics, pollution, and privatization issues threatening the world's fresh water supply.

Thursday, April 7:

Cookies for Comments, 11 a.m to 2 p.m., BCC, LL

Stop by the BCC, LL and trade an idea about recycling on campus for a free cookie. LEAF is asking students to share how they recycle and what challenges they have with the current recycling system at Fairfield.

Stag Swap, 8 p.m., BCC, LL.

Bring your gently used clothes, household items, and non-perishable foods to the BCC, LL and trade up for someone else's items at the first Stag Swap! Students are moving out in just a few weeks so they can save themselves a trip to the trash by trading with a fellow Stag. (Please no large furniture or perishable food).

Friday, April 8:

Cookies for Comments, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., BCC, LL

Stop by and trade your idea about recycling on campus for a free cookie! Students are encouraged to share how they recycle and what issues they have with the current recycling system at Fairfield.

Sunday, April 10:

Concert and Local Food BBQ, 4 to 7 p.m., Oak Room Patio (Rain Location: Barone Cafeteria)

Come to the last event of Earth Week and celebrate with local musicians and local food. A BBQ dinner will be served picnic style outside with locally grown food on the menu. While you eat, stay and watch local bands and Fairfield musicians perform at the outdoor concert.

For more info, visit http://www.fairfield.edu/green/green_leaf.html .

Image: Celine Cousteau, environmentalist and granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau, will talk about her work at Fairfield University on April 4.