Being Green @ the MCC Library

You can give possesions – furniture, household items, clothing, appliances, almost anything – a second life by donating or reusing.  Hand-me downs and used items are always in demand with Freecycle™ groups. You can donate locally or visit your local Freecycle™ group to offer your free/donated wares.

“Cooler than a garage sale, greener than the landfill, Heart of Texas Freecycle ™ connects people with unwanted items to folks who do want them – most members here both give and receive on a regular basis. ”

-The Heart of Texas Freecycle™ group is hosted through Yahoo!Groups at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HOTFreecycle/ (you must have or create a free Yahoo account to join).

If you don’t live in the Heart of Texas, go to the main Freecycle™ web site to find a group near you – http://www.freecycle.org.

Styrofoam, or polystyrene, is discussed in a recent posting from Green Living.  The negative features of this plastic is highlighted – made from petroleum (nonrenewable), toxic, highly flammable, unavoidable at times in carry out and packaging.  Michael Bloch then gives some suggestions for reuse and recycling.  Above all, try to avoid getting too much of it!

Bloch, Michael.  “Recycling Styrofoam.”  Weblog entry.  27 Apr. 2008.   Green Living Tips.  28 Apr. 2008 <http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/218/1/Recycling-styrofoam.html>.

From Earth 911:

“Over seven billion Pepsi cans will be branded with recycling messages provided by the National Recycling Coalition as part of Pepsi’s new “Have we met before?” campaign.”

“The purpose of the campaign is to show that new aluminum cans are produced with at least 40 percent recycled aluminum. Recycling factoids will be featured on 750 million Pepsi/Diet Pepsi aluminum cans per month.”

“Pepsi Cans to Promote Recycling.”  Weblog entry.  28 Apr. 2008.  Earth 911.  28 Apr. 2008 <http://earth911.org/blog/2008/04/28/pepsi-cans-to-promote-recycling/>.

Michael Bloch from Green Living Tips offers a suggestion to think green when giving a gift for Mother’s Day this year:

1.  Local or potted flowers
2.  Jewelry – “pre-loved,” socially responsible jewelers, made from glass, shells, recycled materials
3.  Organic perfume
4.  Organic cosmetics
5.  Candles made from soy, beeswax and uses essential oils for frangance
6.  Sponsorships or memberships
7.  Fair trade clothes and accessories
8.  Kitchenware and appliances – energy efficient and made from recyclable components.  Avoid non-stick such as Teflon.
9.  Green gift vouchers

Bloch, Michael.  “Green Mothers Day Gifts.”  Weblog entry.  24 Apr. 2008.  Green Living Tips.  28 Apr. 2008 <http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/104/1/Green-mothers-day-gifts.html>.

1. Don’t forget to go to HEB today between 3 pm and 7 pm to trade at least 5 plastic bags for one HEB reusable shopping bag (while supplies last).

2. The official Earth Day web site is located at: http://ww2.earthday.net/

3. Visit Earth 911 for information and tips regarding Earth Day and earth friendly lifestyles. http://earth911.org

4. Come by the library and take a look at our display or check out informative books on environmental topics. The display will be up until the end of the month.

5. The US Government has a web site devoted to Earth Day and environmental issues at http://www.earthday.gov/.

6. View the tips from the EPA at http://www.epa.gov/earthday/tips2.htm or listen to the following podcasts: Apr 21 – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Apr 17 – Energy Star, Apr 14 – Water Enforcement, Apr 10 – Pesticide Safety, Apr 7 – WaterSense, Apr 4 – Clean Beaches, Apr 1 – Reduce Carbon Footprint.

7. If you are headed to college, take note that the forthcoming Princeton Review college guide will include “green” ratings for institutions. Read the Chronicle of Higher Education article at http://chronicle.com/daily/2008/04/2582n.htm
(to login as an MCC user, follow this link)

8. Read the Chronicle’s article about a new breed of environmental films at http://chronicle.com/weekly/v54/i33/33b01901.htm
(to login as an MCC user, follow this link)

9. The EPA held a photo contest in honor of Earth Day. The winners have been announced at: http://www.epa.gov/earthday/photocontest/winners.html

10. Search YouTube for “Earth Day” and see what you find…. (http://pop.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22Earth+Day)

Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22

Green Week at MCC

April 18, 12:45 pm, Student Center
“The Economics of Green”

April 21, 2:00 pm, Lecture Hall
“Conserving our Natural Resources”

April 22, 3:00 pm, HPE 101
“MCC Green Initiatives”

April 22, 4:00 pm, MCC Campus
Tree planting around campus

April 24, 2:30 pm
Adopt a street initiative for Highlander Drive

April 25, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Highland games recycling initiative and collection

Beast’s ‘n Bloom’s and Earth Day Too (Cameron Park Zoo)

4/19/2008 to 4/20/2008
Cameron Park Zoo,1701 North 4th Street
Sat.- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sun.- 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Details: http://www.cameronparkzoo.com

Cameron Park Zoo’s annual garden show featuring vendors with different plants and flowers for your spring planting. We also have vendors that have great environmental information. Children activities including face painting. Regular zoo admission prices for entry. or more information contact: Megan Davis at 254-750-8415 or email megand@cameronparkzoo.com

H-E-B is celebrating Earth Day on April 22 by giving away green reusable bags when you bring in five plastic shopping bags.

“Make your mark on Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22nd, from 3 to 7 p.m. Receive a coupon for a free reusable shopping bag when you drop at least five plastic shopping bags into the recycling bins located at the front of the store. Limit one coupon per customer, please, while supplies last.”

http://www.heb.com/yourHEBStore/specialPromotions-EarthDay.jsp

PBS – KWBU on April 22

Nova: Car of the Future

Tuesday, April 22, 7:00pm, CHANNEL 34 (KWBU)

“Car Talk” hosts Tom and Ray Magliozzi head off in search of a new car to replace Tom’s 1952 MG roadster. Along the way, they explore the future of automobiles at Detroit’s North American International Auto Show and Boston’s AltWheels Festival.”

Frontline: Hot Politics

Tuesday, April 22, 8:00pm, CHANNEL 34 (KWBU)

“An examination of the politics behind the federal government’s actions on global warming; and the stances of state and local governments on the issue. ”

Independent Lens: The Creek Runs Red

Tuesday, April 22, 9:00pm, CHANNEL 34 (KWBU)

“The Creek Runs Red” examines the challenges facing residents of Picher, Okla., who live near the Tar Creek Superfund Site, an area polluted by lead and zinc mining from the late 1800s through the 1970s.”

Global Focus: The New Environmentalist

Tuesday, April 22, 10:00pm, CHANNEL 34 (KWBU)

According to some statistics, an average adult in the USA receives a whopping 41 pounds of junk mail a year and approximately 44% of this mail winds up in a landfill without having been opened. That’s a lot of trees, water and other resources being wasted. Pick up some tips on stemming the junk mail flow.

View the rest of the article at Green Living Tips…

Bloch, Michael. “Stopping junk mail.” Weblog entry. 22 Jan. 2008. Green Living Tips. 13 Apr. 2008.

April 18, 12:45 pm, Student Center
“The Economics of Green” presented by David Davenport, MCC Economics Instructor

April 21, 2:00 pm, Lecture Hall
“Conserving our Natural Resources” presented by Jeffrey Brister with Natural Resource Conservation Services

April 22, 3:00 pm, HPE 101
“MCC Green Initiatives” – Dr. Michaelis, Sid Ross, Fred Hills, Elaine Alexander, Theresa Sparks.  Refreshments will be served.

April 22, 4:00 pm, MCC Campus
Tree planting around campus

April 24, 2:30 pm
Adopt a street initiative for Highlander Drive

April 25, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Highland games recycling initiative and collection

If slow food is more your style, then a solar cooker may be something you’d appreciate – and they can be very cheap to make!

View the rest of the article at Green Living Tips…

Bloch, Michael. “Solar cookers.” Weblog entry. 17 Feb. 2008. Green Living Tips. 13 Apr. 2008.

Michael Bloch’s green living tip for April 16, 2008 advises consumers to avoid “greenwashing,” when companies claim to be “green” but may be misleading customers.

“Going green is leaving the realm of the so-called feral hippies, those pioneers of environmentally friendly living, and very much becoming mainstream.  Many businesses are now starting to understand that there’s green (dollars) in green – and lots of it. Some companies see past just the revenue side of things and have realized “wow, the planet *is* in trouble – and we’re contributing to it – let’s fix that”; an incredibly admirable – and correct – mindset. Others however see the green market purely in dollars and cents terms and may be prepared to consciously mislead consumers in order to grab their business by posing as being more environmentally friendly than they actually are – this is called greenwashing.”

Read his consumer tips in the rest of this article at http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/216/1/Avoiding-greenwashing.html.

Bloch, Michael.  “Avoiding greenwashing.”  Weblog entry.  16 Apr. 2008.  Green Living Tips.  16 Apr. 2008 <http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/216/1/Avoiding-greenwashing.html>.