2008 Woodie Awards
URI joins national 'Focus the Nation' global warming awareness campaign
Jessica Medeiros
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: News
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Students and faculty in all disciplines are participating in the event that hopes to raise awareness about the effects of global warming and inspire people to adopt more sustainable lifestyles.
"This is most diverse organizing team I've worked with at URI, students, faculty and staff all working together to pull this off," event co-organizer Rachel Sholly said. "It really reflects the nature of the problem of climate change and how the solutions need to be approached with input from everyone, not just politicians and legislators."
Professor Fred Meyerson, who signed up URI for the event, said it is important for students to be informed and have a voice about global warming.
"The decisions that are happening now are already affecting you," Meyerson said. "Everybody should be involved in this, but especially students because they are the next generation up to run our country and have an impact on the world."
The event began yesterday evening with the broadcasting of "The Two Percent Solution," a live webcast featuring Stanford University climate scientist Stephen Schneider, Natural Capitalism President Hunter Lovins, and Van Jones, co-founder of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.
These experts discussed possible solutions to global warming and viewers had the opportunity to vote on solutions by text message. The top five results will be announced in mid-February.
There were several viewing sites around the university campus for the webcast, but it is downloadable to any computer with Internet access.
Auriane Koster, co-founder of the Renewable Energy Club, said the webcast is critical for people to get information and ideas from the experts, allowing them to make informed decisions about global warming.
"The best way for people to learn is by listening to others and getting their takes on the issue so they can decide how they want to help and what exactly they can do," Koster, a senior, said.