Stanislaus State is offering the campus community 10 virtual events focused on social and environmental sustainability to mark April as Earth Month.
The events include a California State University systemwide competition to help people incorporate sustainable practices into their daily lives, screenings of enlightening films, a live discussion with “The Dreamt Land” author Mark Arax, and presentations on indigenous resurgent parenting practices, solar energy and water management by guest speakers and members of Stan State’s faculty and staff.
In the past, it might have been considered less than ideal to hold the events virtually. But allowing participants to engage from their homes through the internet without ever starting their cars is making this year’s Earth Month a model in sustainability.
It illustrates what Stan State EcoWarriors President Samantha Thomas and Vice President Ashley Cabral say they have learned from remote learning and virtual activities during the pandemic.
“When we return to campus, we will return with these adaptations, these new habits that are much more sustainable and also allow greater access,” Thomas said. “We’ve learned that we can utilize technology a lot more to improve environmental sustainability. And technology also improves social sustainability because we can record our meetings and make them available to anyone who couldn’t attend.”
To celebrate this truly sustainable Earth Month, register to participate in one or more of the events listed below. They are free of charge and require no transportation; just fire up your computer.
- Earth Month Eco Challenge Drawdown, April 1-30. Learn to incorporate sustainable practices into daily life.
- Kiss the Ground Film Screening and Panel, 6 p.m. Monday, April 12
- Gather: The Fight to Revitalize Our Native Foodways, 5 to 6:30 p.m., April 19 online watch party.
- A Discussion with Author Mark Arax, April 20, 6 p.m.
- Stan State Solar Production, April 20, 4 p.m., presented by Geng Liu, energy manager, Stan State Capital Planning and Facilities Management.
- Good to the Last Drop, April 21, 4 p.m., presented by Louie Oliveira, chief engineer, Stan State Capital Planning and Facilities Management.
- Taking Action for People and the Planet, CSU Earth Day, April 22, noon to 1:30 p.m.
- Dr. Christian Parenti, author of Tropic of Chaos: Climate Change and the New Geography of Violence. April 22, 5 p.m.
- Merchants of Doubt, April 24, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Online watch party.
- Nurturing Relationships to Native Land, April 26, 5-7 p.m.: Guest speakers Michelle Chapman, Tecpaxochitl Gonzalez, and Jocyl Sacramento.