Loud music, eco-friendly crafts and informational booths lined Union Street in front of Baker Center on Saturday as students and Athens residents gathered to celebrate Earth Day 2006.
The theme of Earth Day 2006 was Stop Global Warming
and many of the events were meant to spread awareness about lifestyle alternatives, said Christen Steele, an Ohio University senior and member of the Athens Earth Day planning committee.
It's really about bringing the community and student body together at one time celebrating the earth Steele said. The committee, a group of OU students, began planning festivities earlier this year, with the total cost of events between $1,000 and $1,500. Most funds came from the Student Activities Commission and donations, Steele said.
A lot of people think environmentalism is about stopping progress and making sacrifices, but it's really about living your life in a different way
a more responsible way
Steele said.
Earth Day highlighted alternatives to every-day living through displays, such as a car that can be fueled by straight vegetable oil, bio diesel fuel or regular diesel fuel. Residents of OU's Eco-house, a house using environmentally friendly technology such as solar electricity meant to demonstrate sustainable living, passed out information on alternative energy supplies. Hallie Morris, a second-year junior at OU, plans to live in the Eco-house, 8133 Dairy Lane, next year because, she said, A lot of people talk the talk
but I would like to walk the walk.
Sarah Watling, a graduate student in OU's Environmental Studies Program, passed out information to undergraduate students about OU's Environmental Studies Certificate Program, which is an interdisciplinary study equivalent to a minor. You can find links to the environment in every major
Watling said.
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