Earth Week has officially sprung at the University.
A week of events to celebrate and raise awareness for various environmental issues kicks off today.
“This is a chance for our generation to step up and sustain the planet for future generations, and celebrate the resources that we have,” Daniel Rottenberg, ASUO environmental advocate, said. This is his second year as the main organizer of Earth Week.
Monday
Monday is Waste Reduction Day. Students can take their electronic waste to the ASUO office to be recycled, free of charge. The campus group Take Back the Tap will table during Earth Week “to educate students about the wasteful effects of bottled water and encourage them to pledge to not purchase bottled water anymore,” according to an e-mail from the campaign.
Tuesday
Tuesday is Water Action Day. The documentary “The Water Front” will be showing in Lillis 182 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Members from Take Back the Tap will also be selling stainless steel water bottles throughout the week at DUX Bistro to promote the reduction of the use of plastic water bottles.
Wednesday
Wednesday is Local Foods Day, which features an on-campus farmers market in the EMU Amphitheater from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ASUO president-elect and events coordinator Amelie Rousseau worked with the Lane County Farmers Market to organize this year’s event. There will be food tasting available for students to sample vegetables that may be unfamiliar to them, Rousseau said.
“Eugene has tons of local produce available,” she said. “ASUO wants to help promote local farms and sustainability.”
Thursday
Thursday is Earth Day, during which a solar-powered concert in the EMU Amphitheater will feature music groups The Secret Whistle and Rare Monk, with more than 20 environmental groups and organizations tabling and helping with the event. Students can bring their T-shirts for a screen printing workshop.
Friday
Andy of the Yes Men will perform on Friday in Columbia 150 from 7 to 9 p.m. The School of Architecture and Allied Arts collaborated with other organizers to make this event possible. The Yes Men are a duo of activists who have been invited to speak on television shows while impersonating spokespeople representing the World Trade Organization, which they documented in their own movie, appropriately titled “The Yes Men.” They identify as pranksters who use satire to expose issues.
“These men exemplify opening eyes,” Rottenberg said. “They’re fun and entertaining.”
Saturday
Saturday is Riverfront Appreciation Day. The ASUO and Connecting Eugene, a group opposed to riverfront development, are co-producing this event, which will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and feature live music and speakers from the community, including ASUO President Emma Kallaway and President-elect Amelie Rousseau.
The goal is to bring awareness to the University’s plans to develop the Willamette riverfront with office buildings and a private office park, said Paul Cziko, a grad student in the Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
“This is a chance to come together and show that we care about our river and are opposed to the University’s plan,” he said.
The full week of events is sponsored by the ASUO Executive and Campus Recycling, with assistance from multiple campus groups.
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