How long can you go without looking at your phone? 15 minutes? One hour? Half a class period?
Members of University of Oregon’s student body have pledged to avoid all contact with technology for a full 24 hours for Earth Week this year. This is just one aspect of the celebration at the UO from April 20 to 25, with much of the week focusing on reconnecting with the environment.
One of the groups hosting an event during Earth Week is Analog U, an organization that promotes healthy living in a society overwhelmed by technology. They are encouraging students to abstain from using digital devices for 24 hours.
Analog U member Emily Fiocco hopes that students will become more mindful and reconnect with themselves, others, and the environment during this process.
Students can take the pledge to disconnect online at analogu.uoregon.edu and join others participating for free yoga, tai chi, board games and arts and crafts, at the Collier House during the day.
“We are an extension of the world around us and oftentimes vice versa,” Fiocco said. “That is what we’re exploring with our activities.”
The Analog U event will be taking place during an Earth Day Celebration hosted by the Sustainability Coalition, which will feature 40 different local businesses, community organizations and student groups. They will each be tabling with interactive activities that emphasize mindfulness and respect for the environment.
About 30 other events throughout Earth Week will also be emphasizing these same ideas. These range from workshops, to a service day, to documentary screenings, to an Earth Day Celebration.
One of the largest events features the speeches from various experts on environmental issues, including Tom Goldtooth, the director of the Indigenous Environmental Network. He’s been an advocator for environmental justice globally and within the Native American community for over 37 years.
“Humanity and nature are now standing at a critical place,” Goldtooth said. “Mother Earth is being pushed to her limits.”
He added that the severity of climate change directly impacts the circle of life and transformations need to be made for future generations. During this year’s Earth Week, students should focus on contributing to a society that respects life and building a sustainable world.
Students can listen to Goldtooth touch upon these ideas for free on April 23 in the EMU ballroom at 6 p.m.
“We sit there and we think and read about all these issues, but rarely do we have the opportunity to engage and listen to the people who are doing real on the ground work,” said Niria Garcia, co-director of UO’s Coalition Against Environmental Racism.
By participating in events such as Analog U’s Disconnect to Reconnect, students can already implement some of Goldtooth’s ideas and reconnect with the environment on a small scale.
Erkan said that she hopes every event held during Earth Week will connect students with nature and help them better understand its value.
“Every student here is a global citizen and a member of this world and each of us plays a role in creating a sustainable world for us to live in,” Erkan said. “So the information we’re sharing is of importance to everyone.”
Students can learn more by visiting the Sustainability Coalition’s table in the EMU amphitheater during Earth Week or visiting coalition.uoregon.edu/earthweek.