Community Garden Prove-it Proposal:

If you’d like to see, eat from, or work on a community garden on campus, sign-up as a supporter, whether you are an undergraduate/graduate student, employee or professor, etc please help spread the word & generate support: http://umbcgarden.blogspot.com

Other ways to help with the Community Garden: Fri, Nov 20th, 11am-2pm, Garden Support Tabling, umbcgarden

GES & SEA Aquarium Trip:

http://umbcsea.wordpress.com (or if you are interested in Students for Environmental Awareness): Fri, Nov 20th @5pm Join the GES COM group on facebook & also find the event on there!GES COM and Students for Environmental Awareness (SEA) have planned a trip
to the National Aquarium in Baltimore for this Friday and would like for
you to join us.  Students are planning on carpooling from campus, but you
are also welcome to arrange your own transportation and meet us there.
When: Friday, November 20th
         If carpooling from campus: Meet in front of The Commons at 4:00pm
         If meeting us at the aquarium:  Be in front of the ticket stand
at 4:45pm
Cost: Admission to the aquarium is $8.00 after 5pm on Fridays
        If carpooling please bring $2 – 3 to help pay for parking
To buy your ticket online, go to http://www.aqua.org/discounts.html
Also, this trip is open to anyone, so feel free to bring along friends.
If you would like to attend, RSVP to Lyndar1@umbc.edu by 5pm on Wednesday, Nov. 18th.  Please include whether you are willing to drive others and how many or if you need a ride.

The Chiapas Media Project:

The event is Thursday, November 19, 7 p.m., in the Biological Sciences building, Lecture Hall 1. For more information, contact John Stolle-McAllister at stollem.

The Chiapas Media Project is an award winning, bi-national partnership that provides video equipment, computers and training to enable marginalized Indigenous communities in Southern Mexico to create their own media. Collaborating with autonomous Zapatista communities since 1998, the project has trained indigenous youth to produce videos on agricultural collectives, fair trade coffee, women’s collectives, autonomous education, traditional healing and the history of their struggle for land. Despite the challenges of little formal education and unreliable electrical supply, regional coordinators from the communities in Chiapas are not only producing their own videos but are also running the introductory camera, editing and internet workshops for their regions, providing more opportunities for even more communities to tell their own stories.

Alexandra Halkin, founding director and international coordinator of the program, will screen some of their most recent productions and discuss the role of indigenous media and self-representation, the effects of globalization in the context of the current socio-political situation in Mexico and the effects of the war on drugs on indigenous communities.

This event is sponsored by the Department of Modern Languages, Linguistics and Intercultural Communication; Office of the Provost; College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Language, Literacy and Culture program; Humanities Forum; Social Science Forum; Media and Communication Studies program; Shriver Peaceworkers; New Media Studio; and UMBC Solidarity Coalition.
http://umbcinsightsweekly.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/chiapas-media-project-1119/

Community Garden Prove-it Proposal: If you’d like to see, eat from, or work on a community garden on campus, sign-up as a supporter, whether you are an undergraduate/graduate student, employee or professor, etc please help spread the word & generate support: http://umbcgarden.blogspot.com Other ways to help with the Community Garden: Fri, Nov 20th, 11am-2pm, Garden Support Tabling, umbcgarden@gmail.com GES & SEA Aquarium Trip: http://umbcsea.wordpress.com (or if you are interested in Students for Environmental Awareness): Fri, Nov 20th @5pm Join the GES COM group on facebook & also find the event on there! The Chiapas Media Project: The event is Thursday, November 19, 7 p.m., in the Biological Sciences building, Lecture Hall 1. For more information, contact John Stolle-McAllister at stollem@umbc.edu. The Chiapas Media Project is an award winning, bi-national partnership that provides video equipment, computers and training to enable marginalized Indigenous communities in Southern Mexico to create their own media. Collaborating with autonomous Zapatista communities since 1998, the project has trained indigenous youth to produce videos on agricultural collectives, fair trade coffee, women’s collectives, autonomous education, traditional healing and the history of their struggle for land. Despite the challenges of little formal education and unreliable electrical supply, regional coordinators from the communities in Chiapas are not only producing their own videos but are also running the introductory camera, editing and internet workshops for their regions, providing more opportunities for even more communities to tell their own stories. Alexandra Halkin, founding director and international coordinator of the program, will screen some of their most recent productions and discuss the role of indigenous media and self-representation, the effects of globalization in the context of the current socio-political situation in Mexico and the effects of the war on drugs on indigenous communities. This event is sponsored by the Department of Modern Languages, Linguistics and Intercultural Communication; Office of the Provost; College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Language, Literacy and Culture program; Humanities Forum; Social Science Forum; Media and Communication Studies program; Shriver Peaceworkers; New Media Studio; and UMBC Solidarity Coalition. http://umbcinsightsweekly.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/chiapas-media-project-1119/ — Tanvi Gadhia

Hi all, notes from yesterday’s SEA meeting below:

Wednes, Oct 28- 11am-2pm UC Plaza Halloween Health Fair:
We have a bunch of people who signed up for tabling, but need more people from 1-2pm
kim, jon, hua- Catherine- making display- email her content you want to submit cpasq1,
Hua is picking up produce from the Commons that Chartwells is donating for decorating our table- (sustainable agriculture/food choices)
Brandon is making copies of the Community Garden Flyers

Fri, Nov 6 at 3:30 trashmonster funeral & tire swing creation
Help us clean up and move out our scultpure then use the tire to contruct a swing

Sat, Nov 7 at 10:30 am: meet at Commons Circle for the Patapsco State Park Hike/FUN
Bring a picnic! We’ll walk on over to the park and explore. We’ll be back by 1:30ish.
advertising- mary, hua, & kim (eddie will submit to reslife)

Sat, Nov 14th- Leave from Commons loop at 9:30am- arrive at 10am
Great Kids Organic Farm Trip- in Catonsville. respond to this message if you’d like the details
email mhall13 to get/give rides to and carpool

Nov 18th- Bake Sale
Bake fall themed stuff, need to reserve a place b/c Commons Breezeway is NOT available… UC plaza or Commons Mainstreet? Need to decide.
Megan- making Flyer!

http://umbcsea.wordpress.com bookmark it baby!

On a final note, while there has been an amazing amount of support and enthusiasm for the community garden proposal on so many levels, departments, and administrators, I’m afraid I may not be able follow through with it. I can’t do it alone and there has been limited interest in joining the team (except for Paul. & students who are disqualified to be on the team due to their involvement in SGA or SEB etc). Therefore, unless new people decide they are willing to be invovled, this may fall through. I haven’t lost all hope just yet though!
contact: umbcgarden
http://umbcgarden.blogspot.com
Please spread the word to anyone you think might be interested.
The proposal so far: http://docs.google.com/View?id=df848b8w_83nm7vxfq

Thanks, Happy Halloween Everyone!
(& Happy Birthday & 1yr Brandon! =P)

http://umbcgarden.blogspot.com

contact: umbcgarden@gmail.com

We are establishing a subcommittee within Students for Environmental Awareness(SEA) to work on sustainable food issues.

Our immediate priorty is to have the proposal found at the link below completed by Dec 22nd. Any input on how to go about establishing a community garden on campus is appreciated! We will have our initial meeting this Monday at 1pm in Commons 318. Students, Organization, Faculty, Professors, and any Administrative advisors are welcome to attend to help give us input and direction to assist us obtaining the grant and earn the support of the entire campus community!

http://docs.google.com/View?id=df848b8w_83nm7vxfq

the “Tragedy of the Commons”

The tragedy of the commons refers to a dilemma described in an influential article by that name written by Garrett Hardin and first published in the journal Science in 1968.^[1] The article describes a dilemma in which multiple individuals acting independently and solely and rationally consulting their own self-interest will ultimately destroy a shared limited resource even when it is clear that it is not in anyone’s long term interest for this to happen.^[2] 

That’s from wikipedia.

But at UMBC ‘the Commons’ referrs to the central hub of campus life.  How can we address glaring and hidden problems of the commons.

such as…

• Overuse of packing at various food places- make more options! Bring your own plate discount- a reusable tupperware plate with a lid as colleges such as Bucknell and Loyola offer.
• We have reusable travel mugs with discounted coffee- but what about for the other drinks
• Biodegradable utensils & silverware
• Posted: what can be recycled? What is ‘contaminated’ more information!
• The food being served itself- is it sustainable? Local, organic? Are vegan & vegetarian options clearly displayed?
• What about how the food was grown? Farm worker treatment?
• Items sold at the bookstore- all UMBC gear should organicor recycled fabric and made sweatshop free- preferrably in the US
• Workers rights & fair wages
• What happened to the Social Justice Lounge?

We’ll be having the “tragedy of the Commons” event in Late November or December.  Contact if your group/organization wants to get involved!

At the leading edge of this movement, Baltimore City Public Schools Director of Food and Nutrition Anthony Geraci hopes to make Baltimore a showcase for healthy, tasty, sustainably produced food. His plan includes

– a 33-acre organic farm and agro-ecological education center in Catonsville — planting community gardens at every Baltimore school — reviving on-site cooking of locally-sourced school meals — “Meatless Mondays” (first school system in the US!) — teaching students how to grow, cook, and market good food — a student-run, organic “Great Kids Café” at BCPS headquarters — creating food-related materials for teaching science, history, art, culture — using broadcast and online media for nutrition and environmental education

It’s a very ambitious vision. He welcomes help from UMBC for research, internships, and collaboration. Please join other interested students and staff in UMBC’s Blackboard Community: The Baltimore School Food Project We are working with the BCPS to create opportunities for internships, volunteering, research, technical training, workshops, symposia, and food-related coursework. The project needs students from all disciplines and backgrounds. We’re also organizing to develop a community garden, a farmers market, and other healthy food options at UMBC. For more info, enroll in The Baltimore School Food Project (a Blackboard Community). Or contact: Professor Warren Belasco c/o American Studies Dept., Belasco@umbc.edu or SEA secretary, Tanvi.

SEA core meeting

Remember- every other Friday- the core leadership of SEA meets to do planning for the following weeks meeting and event/activity.  So if you’d like to get more involved in the behind the scenes work that makes SEA magic happen head to the Student Org Space at noon.

Left to right, maddy, brandon, tanvi, dr campbell, danni, jon

Photo Credit:  David Hoffman

Retriever article about the Trashmonster!

SEA and students turn trash into new recyclable sculpture

By Nayana Davis, Staff Writer

Despite chilly temperatures and periodic rain, members of the Students for Environmental Awareness (SEA) gathered together with friends on a late Saturday morning for the now-annual tradition of building the “Trashmonster.”

09 trashmonster

The previous day, SEA, with the help of several of their fellow student organizations, including the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Fraternity, the Bioethics Students Association, and the Pre-Med Society, completed an expedition around campus collecting trash in preparation for the next day’s construction. The students were also assisted by UMBC staff members including Darryl Wolod, Director of “True Grit’s” dining hall, Tom DeLuca, Chartwells’ district manager, and other Chartwells’ employees who were scrounging around dressed in business suits.

When the students returned on Saturday, they were confronted with the fruits of the previous day’s labor – a massive mound of trash. Among the pile were the usual suspects, including pizza boxes, water bottles, tennis balls, and many, many of the disposable soda cups from The Commons. However, the students uncovered some rather out of the ordinary items as well, including a Winnie-the-Pooh kite, a hookah discovered near the Hillside apartments, and large metal pipes found behind the library.

The group began their endeavor by weighing the trash. Six scales were brought out and the volunteers began by calculating their own individual weights. Then, carrying the bags of trash, the participants again stood upon the scales and subtracted their weights from the total in order to determine the weight of the trash. At the end of weighing, SEA was surprised to discover that they had collected 899 pounds of trash, including a 125-pound tire!

Although a few rudimentary sketches were drawn, the students mainly worked on building up the structure as they went along. There were certainly a few failed efforts but students nonetheless persevered, with great laughs and enjoyment, in building up their monster. They began with three different-sized tires as the base. Across the grounds, a few students worked tirelessly on connecting three large metal pipes together to erect upon the tires. A large metal canister with a hanging rope was then placed over top the pipes, and slowly but surely the monster began to take form.

Large black bags of trash were strategically places at the center of the structure and covered with mesh poultry-wire to form the body. A few students then cut up some of the pizza boxes and attached them to thin wooden boards to serve as the monster’s wings. At the other end of the site, some other students worked on creating a tail using a shopping cart, toy wagon, crushed safety cones, and the hookah pipe. As a finishing touch, the students used part of a crate to create a face using tennis balls for eyes and a small safety cone for a beak.

Upon attaching the final elements, the students stood around and marveled at their successful work. A two-man drum circle provided rhythmic tunes in background using shopping carts, safety cones, a giant water bottle, and a wagon. Although the work was a bit strenuous, the students hardly seemed to mind. They reveled in thinking up new and exciting additions for their creation, spending time with one another, and enjoying the refreshments provided, which included bagels, muffins, and apple cider.

SEA President and environmental science major, Becca Reeves, commented that she was delighted to see all the different individuals and student organizations working together. Fellow SEA member and environmental science major Brandon Cottom added that over fifty people contributed to the efforts in creating the trash monster. Eddie Chen, yet another environmental science major, added that SEA plans to keep the Trashmonster up until Halloween, and afterwards the students hope to recycle what they can, by donating the metal pipes to the physical plant, and will then dispose of the remaining items.

On October 25th, SEA will be hosting a tree-planting event in collaboration with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Those interested in this or any other SEA events or meetings should contact Becca Reees at rreeves1@umbc.edu or check out SEA’s website, http://umbcsea.wordpress.com.

On October 25th, SEA will be hosting a tree-planting event in collaboration with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Those interested in this or any other SEA events or meetings should contact Becca Reees at rreeves1@umbc.edu or check out SEA’s website, http://umbcsea.wordpress.com.

 

Trashmonster

Trash Monster: An annual campus clean-up & sculpture hosted by Students for Environmental Awareness
Fri, Oct 9th 3pm, Meet @ Erickson Field by AOK Library Campus Clean-Up!
Sat, Oct 10th 11am, Meet @ Erickson Field by AOK Library Sculpture Creation!
Bring a mug or thermos along with you- we’ll have Hot Cocoa, among other food!  The best photo of our trash monster will be published in the Baltimore County Recycling newsletter going out to all residents- so submit your photots to Tanvi
Free food, gloves, trash bags etc will be available.  Please contact Becca
 
Student Volunteers to plant trees with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation!
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM South River Reforestation Project, Crownsville, MD  (near Annapolis)
Help us plant more than 1,200 trees to restore four acres along the headwaters of Bacon Ridge Branch, part of the South River Greenway. Details: http://www.cbf.org/Page.aspx?pid=195&cgid=1&ceid=58&cerid=0&cdt=10%2f25%2f2009 contact Eddie 

Maryland Student Climate Coalition (MSCC): Maryland Power Shift 2009
October 24th: Noon-5pm Malcolm X/Meridian Hill Park, 16th and Euclid Streets NW followed by a march to Lafayette Park in front of the White House.
October 25th: 10am-6pm University of Maryland in College Park (rooms TBA)
Register for the event at http://powershift09.org/maryland. Join MSCC for an international day of action with 350.org and a gathering to exchange ideas, learn new skills, and talk about our local campaigns. Contact Caroline (UMD)
 
UMBC Halloween Health Fair!
Oct. 28th- Outside of the UC- We’ll have a table on the environmental and health impacts of various harmful products such as cleaning products, cosmetics, and more. To get more involved in planning the displays and information to present: contact Bridie
 
Campus Recycling Meeting Thursday, October 8th, 1pm- in Commons Rm. 328, Derrick Johnson- Commons Recycling Coordinator: johnsons@umbc.edu
 
SGA Department of Environmental Affairs is looking for as Executive Staff. Contact Maddy or Catherine to apply.
 
Oct 19th, 7pm- “Food Inc.” documentary, SEB Cinema Series, Commons Skylight Room- Contact Brandon

Oct 24th- SEB Bus trip to go pumpkin picking @ a Frederick farm- Contact Brandon

Thursday, October 22, 4 p.m., at the Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery. Should a Third Nuclear Reactor Be Built at Calvert Cliffs?: Panelists include Johanna Neumann, state director for Maryland PIRG, and J. Scott Peterson, Nuclear Energy Institute’s vice president of communications, reception will follow this event.

Tuesday, October 20, 6 p.m., in the University Center, Room 312.  Join representatives from Whiting-Turner, Leach Wallace Associates, Inc.; and United States Green Building Council for a panel discussion on green buildings and LEED certifications and how to secure jobs and internships in the field.

 
November Plans:
-A fundraising event- any ideas welcome!
-A fun event: camping/hiking/potluck? again, ideas welcome
-Volunteering at a local organic farm located in Catonsville- Balitmore City Public Schools: Great Kids Farm – Opportunities for Collaboration, Internships, Research and Volunteering (see attached document for details. contact Tanvi to get involved.