With the 30th anniversary of Earth Day coming up on Saturday, four influential student leaders signed their names to a pledge that would boycott specific companies that do not comply with environmental standards.
Ecopledge.com is a new organization started in October of 1999. With the help of 150 college campuses nationwide it has targeted and successfully played a role in Ford Motor Company’s and General Motor’s moves to changing their means of production for the betterment of the environment.
ASUO Student Body President-elect Jay Breslow, Vice-President of Leadership and Panhellenic Council Felisa Hagins, OSPIRG campaign coordinator Erin Pursell and Ecopledge.com campaign coordinator Leona Kassel all signed the pledge. The Ecopledge.com campaign targets companies that currently do not place environmentally safe products on store shelves.
As Earth Day approaches, students will be able to sign their name to the pledge as well.
“Signing this pledge is a great place for people to start to make a difference,” Kassel said. The groups want to have at least one-quarter of University students signed to the pledge.
By signing the pledge, students are saying that they will not work for the companies targeted by Ecopledge.com until the companies take proper action to comply with environmental standards.
“Without us, the students, corporations will not succeed. We are their future,” Breslow said. Other corporations targeted by Ecopledge.com include Disney, Coca-Cola, Nestle and General Electric.
The Ecopledge.com Web site is the headquarters for the campaign. The Web site provides opportunities for students, consumers and investors to sign the pledge. It also provides information on targeted companies and the demands made by Ecopledge.com.
“Students are beginning to realize the impact they create and they are taking action,” Pursell said.