The Good 5 Cent Cigar

Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: News

Media Credit: The Sheldon Whitehouse Office Students from across the state, including URI students for sustainability, met with U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse to discuss environmental issues.

11/16/07 - Fifteen members of the University of Rhode Island's Students for Sustainability group were given the opportunity to meet with U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse at a conference that brought together more than 5,000 students from across the country.

Power Shift 2007, held in College Park, Md., was a three-day weekend of workshops held from Nov. 2-5 that hosted conferences and discussions on environmental issues that affect the nation, like carbon emission, global warming and renewable energy sources.

Whitehouse told personal stories and expressed his concerns about global warming within the confines of his Washington, D.C. office. He also discussed creating more jobs that work with renewable energy sources in Rhode Island and using alternative fuels that are less damaging to the environment.

Sophomore Zach Heir, a member of Students for Sustainability, said Whitehouse was receptive to the group's focus. Heir also said that Whitehouse is now one of the supporters of their 80 by 50 initiative, the group's goal to cut carbon emissions by 80 percent by the year 2050.

"Obviously he shared our concerns," he said. Heir said Whitehouse agreed that global warming exists and is an issue, which is contrary to some senators from other states.

Heir recalled one of his peers meeting with a senator from West Virginia who he said refused to acknowledge global warming existed, and denied that the large coal industry contributed to the state's carbon emissions. "It's interesting how the country's so divided," Heir said.

Aside from meeting with senators, participants had the chance to attend workshops, one of which taught students how to make their own bio-diesel fuel. Students also met with lawyers and advocates to learn about possible ways to alleviate the strain on the environment.

And at the close of the weekend, students rallied on Capitol Hill for more awareness and support of environmental problems.

Heir said that attending Power Shift increased his awareness of the impact one person can have on the environment.

"A lot of people don't think that their own behavior translates into the problem," Heir said. Since attending the conference, Heir said he has become more conscious of the issues the environment is facing. He added that he is now more focused on looking for ways to avoid using his car, like riding his bike or taking public transportation. In addition, he said he tries to waste less and recycle more.

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