MARCH 13 – SCREENING OF “TOO HOT NOT TO HANDLE”
Heat waves. Melting glaciers. Rising sea levels. Catastrophic storms. Migrating viruses. Population displacement. Over the past 100 years, the mass consumption of fossil fuels, especially in America, has contributed to a dangerous warming of the earth that has adversely impacted how we live. The cautionary documentary “Too Hot To Handle” offers a guide to the effects of global warming in the United States.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER – FARMERS MARKET
University Dining Services customarily prepares meals using produce from nearby farms, but this semester it set up a farmers market so students can buy local fruits and vegetables for themselves. “We’re glad to highlight all the beautiful produce that is available to us,” said Helen Wechsler, director of Dining Services. There are farmers markets at other universities, “but we may be the only college where students can use meal plan dollars for their purchases.” Wechsler says she plans to sponsor markets in the spring of 2008 and hopes they will become an ongoing feature of campus life.
Read the Heights article, Changes Come to BC Dining
OCTOBER – THINK OUTSIDE THE BOTTLE
The Think Outside the Bottle Pledge encourages consumers to choose tap over bottled water and support the efforts of local elected officials to do the same at the city, state, and national level. Boston College student support the Think Outside the Bottle Campaign and had a sign-up table at the 2007 Harvest Fest.
OCTOBER 23 & 24 – SCREENING OF CNN’S “PLANET IN PERIL”
EcoPledge sponsored a two-night screening of CNN's Planet in Peril with Anderson Cooper, Jeff Corwin, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who explored the present state of the environments, ecosystems, and organism populations around the world. Free popcorn and t-shirts were also provided for participants of the event.
NOVEMBER – RECYCLING TOTES
Currently, recycling totes are in a trial run. EcoPledge Officer Katie Cava proposed that these reusable bags get handed out on Upper Campus and in Ignacio Hall to increase the proper disposal of bottles and cans. If the event is as successful as hoped, the totes will be distributed to all dorms.
Read the Heights article: Boston College Groups Team with Administration in Recycling Efforts (Oct. 18, 2007)
NOVEMBER 26 – SCREENING OF “AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH”
Last year, EcoPledge showed former Vice President Al Gore's popular documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. If Gore's Nobel Prize is not proof enough of the environmental dangers, the turnout at BC should be. "The signs had just gone up that day, and we still had over 300 people," Young said. "Devlin was overflowing. The fact that people care is a great thing, but that they want to know more is a really great thing."
DECEMBER 3-7 – BULB BRIGADE
The Bulb Brigade (consisting of EcoPledge members) visited offices throughout campus, asking faculty and staff to exchange one of their incandescent bulbs for a compact fluorescent one, provided free of charge. Faculty and staff who participated in the exchange were also be provided with information about the energy savings and environmental benefits, as well as directions on proper disposal of the bulbs.