Georgia State Earth Day celebration raises environmental awareness

Georgia State celebrated Earth Week from April 5 to 10 with events focused on raising environmental awareness.

The Georgia State Earth Day Celebration was the main event of the week.  It was held on Thursday, April 8 in Veteran's Memorial Hall in the Alumni Hall.  Representatives from environmental business and non-profit organizations were there to share new ways to "go green" and provide information for people interested in volunteering.

"This is the first year Georgia State has done this, and we're hoping that it will grow even more next year," said Nichole Hollis, member of GreenCorps AmeriCorps at Georgia State.  GreenCorps helped in organizing the main event by providing some of their contacts in the "green" community.

Companies ranged from HP Building Solutions, which uses geothermal heat pumps to provide heating and cooling for houses, to Whole Foods Market, a grocery store with natural and organic products. Local businesses like Café Campesino and Green City Market also provided free food samples and information about other organic and natural restaurants near Georgia State.  Students and faculty could speak to representatives from organizations like Greenpeace and the Sierra Club.

"You can't change it if you don't know it," said Maggie Sweeney, project manager of M-Pass Inc. "Awareness is the first step."  M-Pass Inc. uses enviroplast products like garbage bags and plates and utensils as a more environmentally friendly alternative to Styrofoam.  The products are 100 percent biodegradable and compostable.

Clubs and organizations from around the campus also came out, like Georgia State's Sustainable Energy Tribe and the Georgia State Bike Shop, which promoted the use of bicycles around campus to reduce fuel emissions and promote healthier lifestyles. The Bike Shop also shared their plans of opening a bike-sharing program similar to the one at Emory, where students can rent bicycles to use on campus.

During the Earth Day Celebration, student Spencer Murrill's winning entry for the Georgia State Bicycle Rack Competition was unveiled outside the Student Center, and following the event, Nancy Pope spoke at the Urban Life Center about bicycle use on campus.  Her thesis was based on surveys done by the Georgia State Bike Shop.

Throughout the week, Georgia State hosted several green bag luncheons in the Student Center with lectures based on environmental issues.  Discussions included "NASA Global Climate Change Education at GSU," by Cherilynn Morrow, a professor of physics and astronomy and Jeremy Diem, associate professor of Geosciences.

Peggy Whitlow Ratcliff, owner of livinggreenpages.com, spoke about having a sustainable business, Chris Jackman, Georgia State Director of Building Services, shared the sustainable practices used at the university. The Office of Employee Development and Wellness Service also sponsored "Yoga with Janet Wice," where participants learned about natural ways to relax ad soothe their nerves.

Earth Week came to a close on Saturday, April 10.  Students and faculty were invited to work with Wonderroot, an Atlanta non-profit organization that unites art with the community.