Do you know that 400,000 square miles of arctic sea ice have melted in the last 30 years and that the U.S. Geological Survey predicted that by the year 2030, the Glacier National Park in Montana will have no glaciers left? Are you aware that the United States is the number one global polluter among other greater nations, according to the Environmental Defense?
Since 1990, there has been a 20 percent increase in America’s emissions of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; the Environmental Defense also ranked 2006 as the hottest year on record. The most startling prediction by the Environmental Defense is that by the year 2080, 200 million people around the world could be displaced by droughts, rises in sea levels and flooding.
There are ongoing debates between scientists and environmentalists about the legitimacy of these statistics and predictions. However, they seem to have caused some alarm among society because global warming has become the center of attention. From movie stars such as Matthew Modine to former Vice President Al Gore, many Americans have jumped on to the “save the planet” bandwagon.
Fresno City College is no stranger to the environmental revolution that is spreading throughout the world. Students and faculty believe that it is time that we all pay more attention to this planet which we call home.
“We have done quite a lot to damage our ecologies,” said Bernard Navarro, FCC professor of sociology and Native American studies. “Environment exploitation over the past 150 years has taken us past some crucial thresholds and if we do not act now, we could create a planet which is unlivable for humans.”
FCC has decided that it is time to make some changes. Thus, the Associated Student Government and the Rampage will team up for the “Go Green” campaign. The campaign, officially sponsored by the ASG and supported by various clubs and organizations at FCC, will be launched on March 24 and the motto is, “Go Green-Keep FCC Clean. ” This campaign is meant to encourage FCC students to take sustainable action in saving the environment. Angela Kutnerian, the ASG chair of the campaign said that the excess trash on the FCC campus was what first inspired them to do this. She also said that on a broader perspective, if at least half of the 22,000 enrolled FCC students become more aware of the consequences of littering, they can go home and educate their friends and family. She said that FCC is a starting point for a broader campaign to save the environment and stop global warming.
The ASG will host a series of events that will help FCC students get more involved in keeping our campus clean and gain perspective on the critical state of our planet and ways in which they can help.
Fresno City clubs will contribute to the event by hosting booths in the main fountain area from Match 24-26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The clubs will promote recycling by answering questions about the environment, giving away goody bags and selling t-shirts. The clubs will also have recycle bins near them where students can drop off their soda cans and will also collect other recyclables such as used batteries. Apple computers will be promoting their environmental friendly computers and Trader Joe’s will inform students on their reusable grocery bags.
On March 24, from 1-2 p.m., ASG will show, “An Inconvenient Truth,” Al Gore’s documentary about global warming, produced by Davis Guggenheim. The movie will be shown in the student lounge and will be followed by a discussion panel.
Jonny Dubowsky, lead singer of rock band Jonny Live, will join Fresno City College in the green campaign. Dubowsky will give a musical performance on March 25 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the main fountain area. Dubowsky is also the founder of Rock’n’Renew, a non-profit organization that educates young adults on global warming and encourages them to be active in saving our planet. That same day from 12 to 2 p.m., Dubowsky, with the help of student volunteers will do a campus clean up. FCC students will be given the opportunity to make art with trash with Jonny Dubowsky from 2-5 p.m. in the main fountain area.
Moreover, a reception will be held on March 25 at 5 p.m. with Dubowsky along with the ASG, FCC faculty and staff, and will be open to those students who volunteered their services for the various events. Jonny Dubowsky will also give a speech and presentation on March 26 from 11 a.m to 12 p.m.,on how to keep the earth clean.
ASG encourages FCC students to get involved and participate in the various activities. With the current state of our environment and the threat of global warming, raising awareness on this issue is vital to our very existence.Navarro said, “All of us share the responsibility of ensuring that the next several generations inherit a livable planet.”
The Rampage is proud to be on the “Go Green” bandwagon and will contribute to the campaign with a green issue. This special issue will come out Monday, March 24 instead of the usual Wednesday, to contribute to the “Go Green” campaign. In support of our beautiful environment, this issue will be printed on recycled paper. The whole issue will be dedicated to raising awareness on the environment and global warming. Stay tuned and remember, “Go Green, Keep FCC (and our planet) Clean!”