2008 Woodie Awards
The Greyhound Editorial: Simple steps can make the difference
Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: Opinion
Last week, Loyola hosted a lecture by Dr. Lise Van Susteren on the imminent dangers of global warming, dangers that grow more severe every day that they are ignored. Global warming -- the great looming threat that seems to be on the tip of every tongue -- cannot begin to be addressed if we are not aware of our own behaviors that contribute to the astronomical waste. Green energy is just one color in the spectrum of issues, but waste is a largely ignored facet of the problem, and one Americans seem to recognize the least. The Greyhound encourages students to take account of their own waste, and if possible, conserve responsibly. Much of what makes Loyola the community it is, is based on lifestyle, but waste does not need to be a part of that life style.
Are the lights in your common room on when you go to sleep? How many plastic bags and containers are you using from Primo's just to throw them away a few minutes later? Are you driving where you could be walking? These are all questions we have heard since childhood, tidbits of advice banged into our heads so many times they now seem trite and over used. But these points have lasted because they are true. Still, the U.S. remains one of the most wasteful, if not the most wasteful, nation on earth.
"We never intended this to happen. We are not bad people," Van Susteren said in his lecture. This is true, but do we intend to address these problems on a personal basis, because we recognize that our environments are in crisis? Or, does the U.S. citizen, indeed the Loyola student, merely entertain lip service in order to convince themselves they are doing the correct thing? Going green has become a fashionable idea of late. However, following the changing states of fashion is about looking good, while the responsible conservation The Greyhound wants to encourages means living well -- living well in the sense that one does not take their actions for granted. To act collectively towards the good of the environment is not a new idea, in fact, it may seem as old as the "Save the Whales" bumper stickers that adorn aging minivans on the highway. But collectively ignoring environmental crisis is just as old, if not older. On a larger scale, figuring out what the right course of action is complex, but individually it is not. Be responsible, conserve, and be aware of how you waste. Act now. Take simple steps individually and keep going with it. You will be doing more than you know.
Are the lights in your common room on when you go to sleep? How many plastic bags and containers are you using from Primo's just to throw them away a few minutes later? Are you driving where you could be walking? These are all questions we have heard since childhood, tidbits of advice banged into our heads so many times they now seem trite and over used. But these points have lasted because they are true. Still, the U.S. remains one of the most wasteful, if not the most wasteful, nation on earth.
"We never intended this to happen. We are not bad people," Van Susteren said in his lecture. This is true, but do we intend to address these problems on a personal basis, because we recognize that our environments are in crisis? Or, does the U.S. citizen, indeed the Loyola student, merely entertain lip service in order to convince themselves they are doing the correct thing? Going green has become a fashionable idea of late. However, following the changing states of fashion is about looking good, while the responsible conservation The Greyhound wants to encourages means living well -- living well in the sense that one does not take their actions for granted. To act collectively towards the good of the environment is not a new idea, in fact, it may seem as old as the "Save the Whales" bumper stickers that adorn aging minivans on the highway. But collectively ignoring environmental crisis is just as old, if not older. On a larger scale, figuring out what the right course of action is complex, but individually it is not. Be responsible, conserve, and be aware of how you waste. Act now. Take simple steps individually and keep going with it. You will be doing more than you know.
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