2008 Woodie Awards
FTN inspires environmental commitments
Jim Dees
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: Sustainability
On Jan. 31, Guilford College was one of over 1900 institutions nationwide to participate in a Focus the Nation event. The topic of discussion was global warming. According to the Focus the Nation Web site, "in the next few years, we as a nation will make, or fail to make, critical decisions regarding global warming pollution and clean technology investments."
While the national debate seemed to look at the big picture and political aspects of global warming, our efforts here at Guilford College centered on the fundamental question at the heart of this issue; what can I do to help? The college as an institution has stepped up in many ways, understanding the leadership role it must play in aiding the restoration of the planet, but we challenged you, the individual, to commit to making a difference. Your replies are the foundations of hope and the beginnings of our success. The most common commitments were as follows:
• Walk, bike or use public transportation
• Recycle
• Turn off the lights when you can
• Eat locally grown foods
• Consume less
• Use cloth grocery bags
• Take shorter showers
• Vote!
• Engage in community outreach/education on the issue
All of these ideas are a step in the right direction and are to be applauded, however; the most critical effort made on Jan. 31 was not one of the actions listed above. The most critical effort made that day was the commitment to change.
While the national debate seemed to look at the big picture and political aspects of global warming, our efforts here at Guilford College centered on the fundamental question at the heart of this issue; what can I do to help? The college as an institution has stepped up in many ways, understanding the leadership role it must play in aiding the restoration of the planet, but we challenged you, the individual, to commit to making a difference. Your replies are the foundations of hope and the beginnings of our success. The most common commitments were as follows:
• Walk, bike or use public transportation
• Recycle
• Turn off the lights when you can
• Eat locally grown foods
• Consume less
• Use cloth grocery bags
• Take shorter showers
• Vote!
• Engage in community outreach/education on the issue
All of these ideas are a step in the right direction and are to be applauded, however; the most critical effort made on Jan. 31 was not one of the actions listed above. The most critical effort made that day was the commitment to change.
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