Each year on April 22nd, millions of people around the globe celebrate Earth Day to remind ourselves that we live in a precious and fragile environment.
The international celebration originated with the modern environmental movement in 1970. At the time, environmental issues were not at the forefront of the public eye due to a lack of knowledge and concern over environmental issues and their impact on human health. The birth of Earth Day marks the beginnings of public awareness of the link between pollution and public health and concern for living organisms and the environment.
In conjunction with the distinguished St. Louis Earth Day festival in Forest Park, WashU continues its longstanding tradition of celebrating our planet for an entire week. Coordinated by the Student Green Council (SGC), student groups, departments and individuals will be hosting a series of events during the week of March 26th. All events are free and open to the public.
Download the Earth Week 2018 calendar!
Earth Week Events
REPAIR AND REUSE FAIR
Monday March 26 at 11a at the DUC Edison Courtyard
Come shop at a free market and engage in Zero Waste Crafting as a part of the repair and reuse fair of the Points of Intervention Tour!
SPEAKER SERIES: CHALLENGING THE CONSUMPTION ECONOMY
Monday March 26 from 7 to 8:30pm at the Goldberg Formal Lounge
Listen to a panel discussion about how can one intervene at the five points in the linear economy. Speakers from local community organizations are going to share their experience of combating a broken system.
BEYOND THE BOTTOM LINE SUMMIT
Tuesday March 27 from 4 to 8:30pm at the Emerson Auditorium – REGISTRATION REQUIRED
A series of panels that will bring together experts and executives from a variety of industries to showcase and compare approaches to achieve sustainability and social impact goals.
CSA PICK-UP AND POP UP MARKET
Wednesday March 28 from 4 to 6pm in the parking lot north of the Alumni House (S40)
Come and meet farmer Dave on his bi-weekly stop at the WashU Danforth campus. He will be distributing Crop Boxes to CSA members and selling additional local and fresh products to all. It will also be the opportunity to learn more about the Community Supported Agriculture program and to sign up as a member!
A NELSON MANDELA PERSPECTIVE ON GLOBAL WARMING
Wednesday March 28 from 7 to 8:30pm in Whitaker Hall, Room 100
After a presentation of the currently available data on global warming, Professor George Philander from Princeton University will invite the audience to create awareness that the present is a precarious moment in Earth’s history, a time for caution and circumspection.
CLIMATE JUSTICE SCREENING AND PAINTING ACTIVITY
Wednesday March 28 from 8:30 to 9:30pm in Wilson 214
This unique event will feature a painting activity and the screening of Thirty Million, a documentary about the impacts of climate change in Bangladesh. The painting activity will support an artistic creation that will then be installed on campus from April 8th until April 14th. Green Action will also screen the film that they realized from visiting a local coalmine in unrecognized Native American land.
ELECTRONICS RECYCLING & CONFIDENTIAL PAPER SHREDDING EVENT
Thursday March 29 from 7 to 11am at the Knight Center (Snow Way)
All are welcome to bring accepted items to the collection drive. All confidential papers and hard drives will be securely and safely recycled by certified vendors. Visit the event page for more information about eligible items.
SEMINAR: HOW OIL MAKES ECOSYSTEMS
Thursday March 29 at 4pm in Busch 18
Based in ongoing anthropological fieldwork tracing Gulf oil’s role in ruin and restoration, this talk explores how ecosystems are becoming governable forms of multidimensional transterritorial space. It follows how the political ecology of the contemporary Gulf is emerging through its political systematicity.
THE PRECARIOUS PRESENT – IS GLOBAL WARMING INHIBITING AN INCIPIENT ICE AGE?
Thursday March 29 at 4:15pn in Crow Hall, Room 201
Professor George Philander, Princeton University, will take a step back looking at climate and geological fluctuations over the past 5 million years. Is global warming inhibiting an incipient Ice Age, or is it amplifying warming that started at the Last Glacial Maximum?
SPB GREEN HAPPY HOUR
Thursday March 29
More details to come.
*WashU student ID required.
EARTH WEEK FAIR
Friday March 30 from 11am to 1pm in the DUC Edison Courtyard
A great opportunity to meet with WashU’s “green” clubs, interact with student sustainability leaders on campus and learn ways to get involved! The fair will also feature the famous smoothie bike and if the weather allows, a bonfire!
Any updates related to these events will be posted on this webpage, so keep an eye open on the calendar and get ready to participate! If you wish to volunteer your time to make Earth Week a success, please email sustainability@wustl.edu or eas@su.wustl.edu.