CMU to celebrate earth day with week of events
For the week of April 18-24, every day is Earth Day.
Central Sustainability has partnered with multiple RSOs, campus resources and community organizations for a variety of events throughout the week. Each event is meant to educate participants on different types of sustainability including its social, cultural and economic aspects.
Student sustainability coordinator Eric Urbaniak said another important goal is to bring unique and relevant voices to the table. These can be victims of environmental injustices and global inequities, leaders of local sustainability efforts and more.
"Every day is Earth Day, and everyone has the capacity to make a positive difference," Urbaniak said. "Sustainability is an interdisciplinary issue that everyone can engage with because all social justice movements are striving to make the world more sustainable."
Find all relevant details and links to join/sign up for each event below:
Monday, April 19
Voices That Matter: Environmental Justice - 6 p.m.
Facebook Live on the Office of Diversity Education Facebook Page
Voices That Matter is an educational program hosted by the Office for Diversity Education. Monday's session pertains to environmental justice perspectives from CMU students and faculty members.
Tuesday, April 20
Conversation Continued: Environmental Justice - 5 - 6 p.m.
https://cmich.webex.com/meet/bidgo1sl
This event is hosted by the SGA Sustainability Committee. It will be an introduction to the concept of environmental justice and then small group discussions diving deeper into environmental justice.
Civics Workshop with the Union of Concerned Scientists - 6 p.m.
https://cmich.webex.com/cmich/j.php?MTID=m7dc43d77453e7a7bf8e82babded8874b
Join the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center as it host the Union of Concerned Scientists for an interactive online workshop about how to get civically involved in sustainability and environmental advocacy.
Eco-Socialism & The Green New Deal - 8 p.m.
https://fb.me/e/1jirkKDYH / https://forms.gle/XfPkUUckNiAZiorK6
New America Project and Student Environmental Alliance will host an informational session about the Green New Deal and Eco-Socialism.
Wednesday, April 21
Hibakusha Testimony - 7:30 p.m.
http://thinkwemust.com/Hibakusha/index.html
The Center for International Ethics is partnering with the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to host a live Hibakusha Testimony via Zoom. Hibakusha is a Japanese word used for an individual who survived the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945. The Hibakusha have been an instrumental force in bringing to consciousness the facts of the nuclear issue as well as the global movement spurred since the bombings to denuclearize the world. Hibakusha Kunihiko Iida was 3 years old and at his Hiroshima home, 900 meters from the hypocenter, on August 6, 1945.
(Registration for the session is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis)
Earth Week Plant Party (In Person) - 7 p.m.
Sign up in advance: https://forms.gle/fywoidTD4g2hSZhv5
Student Environmental Alliance, Take Back the Tap, and OWLs will host an in-person plant potting event in Fabiano Botanical Gardens. All supplies will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own empty containers to house plants in.
Thursday, April 22 (Earth Day)
Peace Flag Raising Live Stream - 2 p.m.
Each year, the Peace Flag ("Pro Concordia Labor" flag) is raised to connect the story of CMU's fourth President E.C. Warriner's work on International Peace to other important stories of international ethics. Warriner advocated for the celebration of Peace Day (May 18), which was celebrated prior to WWI. The Peace Flag is being raised on Earth Day this year to mark the interconnectedness of the movements for peace and sustainability.
"I am Greta" Earth Day Film Showing - 7 - 9:30 p.m.
https://ccliamgretascreening.eventbrite.com
The Mount Pleasant Citizens Climate Lobby is hosting a film screening of "I Am Greta." The documentary by Swedish director Nathan Grossman tells the story of teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg.
Friday, April 23
Student Sustainability Leadership Panel - 4 - 5:30 p.m.
https://cmich.webex.com/meet/urban1ed
In this 90 minute panel, participants will hear from President Bob Davies, Jay Kahn (CMU Facilities), Abby Shepard (Take Back the Tap), Sarah Bidgood (SGA Sustainability Committee), and Max Ranger (Sierra Club). The panelists will discuss how students can engage in their communities and advocate for a more sustainable world. Additionally, data and the winners from the CMU 2021 Campus Race to Zero Waste will be presented at the event.
Sustainability Alumni Panel 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
https://cmich.webex.com/meet/gibb1lc
CMU has recently developed several sustainability programs such as environmental science, environmental studies, biology, environmental engineering, and sustainability and environmental policy. As a result, numerous CMU alumni are actively pursuing exciting careers in the growing sustainability world. In this panel moderated by faculty member Pat Cweik, several CMU alumni will come together to discuss how students at CMU can prepare for a career in sustainability and how to become an advocate for a better world.
Saturday, April 24
Campus Sustainability Walking Tour - 1 - 2:30 p.m.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x9r0Bt_iHTQ-PsIh4QajveEyUNTGTJJ9qVgO0VoH1cQ/edit?usp=sharing
In the summer of 2020, Central Sustainability created the CMU Sustainability Walking Tours. The 90-minute walk around campus doubles as a discussion on waste reduction, environmental justice, equity and accessibility. Along with the community building, civic engagement and advocacy efforts necessary to build a more sustainable world.
