Ban on plastic bottles

Interesting article on why we need to ban plastic on campus.  When fish injest bits of plastic they float and cannot swim down to eat, and then they die.

If off campus the password is:  elvis

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Transportation for the 21st Century

Federal Transportation Authorization Take Action! Prioritizing biking and walking in our transportation system     Congress is preparing to draft legislation that will define our national transportation system for the next 6 years. We need your help to ensure that bicycling is a part of that system, a transportation system for the 21st century.     Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), co-chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus is circulating a  “Dear Colleague” letter to his fellow Bike Caucus Members respectfully asking them to support  increased federal support for establishing a truly multi-modal national transportation policy that better integrates bicycling and walking into our nation’s transportation system.   We are thankful for Congressman Blumenauer’s efforts on behalf of cyclists nationwide and urge  you to contact your Representative, who is on the Congressional Bike Caucus, to ask them to  join Mr. Blumenauer and lend their voice to this important bike-partisan debate.   Please contact your Congressional Representative today to urge them to sign on to Representative Blumenauer’s “Dear Colleague” Letter.

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Community Colleges Stepping Up, Freshwater Wind Turbines and More!

From the National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Ecology Program:

The latest issue of ClimateEdu: News for the Green Campus is live! Here are this week’s headlines: Community Colleges Step Up to Train Clean Energy Workers http://www.nwf.org/campusEcology/climateedu/articleView.cfm?iArticleID=72

With all the buzz on green jobs, and new legislation in the pipeline, how are schools training a green-collar workforce? Canvassing the Climate: Art Takes Its Own Approach to Science http://www.nwf.org/campusEcology/climateedu/articleView.cfm?iArticleID=73

Traveling art exhibits from University of Wisconsin and University of Chicago make climate change personal and local. CWRU to Experiment with Freshwater Turbine http://www.nwf.org/campusEcology/climateedu/articleView.cfm?iArticleID=75

Case Western Reserve University hopes to make waves by building the world’s first freshwater wind turbine in Lake Erie. St. Thomas University Prepares Lawyers to Take on Environmental Issues http://www.nwf.org/campusEcology/climateedu/articleView.cfm?iArticleID=74

A small but steadily growing legal discipline is training lawyers to defend one of the world’s most under-represented clients: the environment. You can also visit our site and archives at: http://www.nwf.org/campusecology/climateedu/

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One action can make a difference.

“When people ask me ‘What can I do?’ — I say, ‘There’s two things.  One, you must realize that, unlikely though it seems, your little life does make a difference, what you do each day.  And secondly, leading from that, people must learn a little bit more and think a littlebit more about the consequences of the choices we make each day — what we eat, where it comes from, how it was made, has it got chemical poisons in it, whether it involves the torture of animals.”  —  Jane Goodall.

To help us make better choices in our purchases we can shop at a new “green” store the Green Wagon at 4429 Murphy Rd. (across from McCabe’s Golf Course).  Everything is made America, and many of the products are made in Middle Tennessee.   They are all environmentally friendly. 

For some Green Driving Solutions contact Chris@greendrivingsolutions.com   The store has the DVD for sale.

The campus bookstore now has recycled paper products. 30% post-consumer content.   Check it out!

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Cumberland River Compact Activities

NASHVILLE CLEAN WATER PROJECT: WAY TO GO NASHVILLE, WE’RE KICKIN’ BUTT ON TRASH! You can make another huge difference on Saturday, May 2, from 8 am until 5 pm (and snag a fun, free boat ride) by participating in the third Nashville Clean Water Project at Percy Priest Lake. We have trash bags, gloves and sunscreen for you… we have snacks, hand sanitizer, T-shirts and hats… …we also have gobs of giveaways. It’s the largest water cleanup in Nashville’s history so of course it’s going to be huge!  And, yes, it’s absolutely free.  Boats will depart from Nashville Shores Water Park to specific lake locations every 45 minutes; just choose your departure time with the yellow “Register” button on any page. Participants must be 16 years or older.  To register, click here.      MAY 14th BUILDING OUTSIDE THE BOX MONTHLY MEETING Join us for the BOB Meeting on Thursday, May 14th at 11:30 for a special tour of the new Beaman Park Nature Center… contact Gwen for meeting details.   NASHVILLE NAMED A NATIONAL HOST VENUE FOR 2009 GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP™ Tennessee’s capitol will have the chance to showcase its Volunteer spirit and green initiatives this spring for Keep America Beautiful Inc.’s Great American Cleanup™. Nashville is one of three U.S. cities selected by KAB to host national spotlight events this year. Nashville will host the final national event on May 14 with a day of community projects, volunteer cleanups and educational exhibits in and around the Tennessee Bicentennial Mall State Park.  Planned activities include a kickoff rally, “green” exhibits and education programs, and community cleanups in surrounding neighborhoods.  Organizers are looking to recruit 1,000 volunteers from all 95 counties in Tennessee to demonstrate the “Volunteer State” moniker in action. Sign up to volunteer here.       GET INVOLVED!  May 18- Red River Watershed and TDEC Public Meeting        5:30 PM in Clarksville, TN. The topic will be “Karst Aquifer Studies in the Red River Watershed.” Clarksville Civic Hall 350 Pageant Lane Clarksville, TN 5:30 PM–light refreshments, 6:00–meeting, 7:30–adjourn The meeting is designed to tell the members of the Red River Watershed Association, other local residents and interested parties what the karst project is and what TDEC and Kentucky will be accomplishing. Contact Jim for more details.   June 6–  Catfish Rodeo and Water Festival               Shelby Park, 8 am- Contact Laura for registration details or to VOLUNTEER.   Rain Barrel Workshop In conjunction with the Catfish Rodeo and Water Festival, Shelby Bottoms Nature Center – 10am Call 862-8539 to register.   August 22– Dragon Boat and River Festival Riverfront Park, Contact Brooke to register your competitive team!   The mission of the Cumberland River Compact is to enhance the water quality of the Cumberland River and its tributaries through education and by promoting cooperation among citizens, businesses, and agencies in Kentucky and Tennessee. If you want to be a part of the Compact’s current initiatives, but don’t have the time, give a little in the form of a charitable, tax-free donation here.

P.O. Box 41721 | Nashville, TN 37204 info@cumberlandrivercompact.org | 615.837.1151 www.cumberlandrivercompact.org

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