The University is once again celebrating Earth Week by inviting campus and Eugene community members to take part in the second-annual ECOchallenge, starting Monday, April 16.
The challenge asks participants to pledge to any one of hundreds of different individual actions. These actions include everything from carpooling to using reusable bottles instead of buying bottled drinks.
“We, as global citizens, are realizing that we must move away from the ‘take-make-waste’ model that has dominated much of the industrialized world,” said Nathan Howard, ECOchallenger and University student. “We must change policy. However, we must also change our behavior and habits — that is what ECOchallenge is about.” @@http://uoregon.edu/findpeople/person/Nathan*Howard@@
Partnering with KLCC public radio and local nonprofit organizations, the University’s Office of Sustainability wanted to extend the challenge’s reach farther than the campus borders. Sustainability Director Steve Mital said he wants to keep expanding the number of participants each year in order to spread awareness about the ease of making small habitual changes. @@http://uoregon.edu/findpeople/person/Steve*Mital@@
“This year we established partnerships with KLCC, the Alumni Association and several leading nonprofits joined in,” Mital said. “My goal is for the ECOchallenge to become a widely recognized annual community event with thousands of participants. It’ll take a couple more years, but I’m confident we’ll get there.”
Cheryl Crumbley of KLCC said that she and others at the station are excited to partner with the University to spread the word about the challenge and how people can reduce their environmental footprint and create lasting habits. She hopes to continue participation in coming years. @@http://www.klcc.org/Members.asp?MemberID=93@@
“As a community member as KLCC is, we look strategically for projects like this that we really think will have the greatest impact and the greatest success,” Crumbley said. “The University’s commitment to sustainability makes it a perfect partner for us and our listeners are interested in purchasing green products and living a lifestyle that is greener and more sustainable overall.”
Anyone who wishes to participate is encouraged to register as soon as possible at uoecochallenge.org. On the website is a list with hundreds of ECOchallenges to take part in all week long. More than 200 community members participated in last year’s challenge and Mital is hopeful that even more will do their part this year to create meaningful change in their personal habits for the greater good of the Earth. @@http://uoecochallenge.org/@@
“My dentist says if I can make myself floss for 14 days, I’ll probably keep the habit for life,” Mital said. “The ECOchallenge operates on the same principle: It gets easier every day.”