Widely known for its commitment to being “green,” ASU geared up for Earth Day on Friday with a weeklong series of events.
With a focus on sustainable practices and environmental awareness, all four campuses hosted events to celebrate Earth Week, ranging from movie screenings to an expanded farmer’s market to educational presentations from the School of Sustainability.
Braden Allenby, a civil and environmental engineering professor, spoke at a Sustainability Showcase Wednesday.
“ASU is appropriately recognized as a leader in sustainability and environmental quality,” Allenby said. “This is not only because of its unique School of Sustainability, which is justly famous, but also because of the dedicated work of many individuals and groups working across campus, who maintain a wide variety of programs.”
Junior Amy Weaver became actively involved in ASU’s environmental efforts after becoming a sustainability student as a sophomore.
“I wanted to do more with my time in college besides just being a student, so I went on the School of Sustainability website and read about all of the different clubs and joined Greenpeace because it was the most appealing to me,” Weaver said.
Weaver’s concentration in her major is policy and governance.
“[Greenpeace’s] goal is to have the government implement new regulation and funding that supports clean energy and the exploration of clean energy. … The current state of the environment is not headed in the right direction at all.” Weaver said. “Other countries are moving forward with green initiatives while the U.S. continues to fall behind.”
Ruslan Abrosimov, a political science senior, was one of many who browsed the stands at the farmers’ market on the Tempe campus Tuesday. He said he is skeptical of the objectives of proponents of environmental pursuits.
“This is a noble and just cause, but at what expense will its outcome be reached?” Abrosimov asked. “Companies are making money by creating items that they are labeling energy efficient when in reality there is no difference but a sticker that costs more money and can be claimed on your taxes.”
Abrosimov is also the vice president coordinator of the Russian Student Association at ASU. He said attitudes toward environmental issues are different in Russia, as compared to the U.S.
Although Russia has environmental awareness groups like Greenpeace, America is much more active in propagating “green” messages, Abrosimov said.
Celebrations for Earth Week at ASU will continue through Friday. Events include restoring hiking and walking trails on “A” Mountain, an Earth Day Festival on the Tempe campus and a presentation on food production and consumption by “Fast Food Nation” author Eric Schlosser.
Reach the reporter at amatro@asu.edu
