In celebration of Earth Week, Whitworth’s Environmental Action Coalition (EAC) plans to highlight environmental issues and garner participation from the rest of the Whitworth community.
According to ASWU Sustainability Coordinator and EAC member ex officio John Haberlin, the events throughout the week of April 18-23 align with the mission of the club.
“We strive to further educate students and to have an impact upon our community here and in Spokane,” Haberlin said.
Earth Week provides a plethora of opportunities to learn about and get involved in environmental action.
The week will kick off with art on the Hello Walk on Sunday, April 18, leading to an interdisciplinary climate panel on Monday, April 19, with four professors, and group sustenance gardening on Tuesday, April 20 with EAC President Maya Markillie. Wednesday, April 21 brings an opportunity to win prizes by collecting waste, and on Thursday, April 22, EAC’s biweekly meeting at 7 p.m. will be open to the student body. On Friday, April 23, students can compete in an environment and sustainability trivia Kahoot for prizes, and Saturday, April 24 rounds out the week with more sustainable bush planting.
In addition to raising awareness for environmental action in general, Earth Week will also highlight some of the EAC’s policy project. EAC Secretary Isaac Appleby-Hall spoke of the ongoing For the Pines movement which is focused on preserving the ponderosa pines here on campus.
“[Ponderosa pines] are decades-old, take a long time to establish and have a lot of effects on the ecosystem in the surrounding region. We’re arguing for a clearer and more concise plan to preserve the resources that we have already and for the university to stick to that promise and idea,” Hall said.
Hall believes environmental action is important for everyone – and not just during Earth Week.
“I think it’s a crucial aspect of being a functional adult in society. It’s critical to have a holistic understanding of the impact you’re having on the resources around you, even from afar, and on your neighbors, in terms of how environmental justice is faced by people around the world,” Hall said.
Haberlin thinks environmental action is important for our generation at large.
“[Earth Day] is just one day, but I would argue that climate change is the defining issue of our current generation. . . . It’s wonderful to be part of a group on campus that cares about these issues, and we want to use our knowledge and passion to bring attention to this issue and engage the rest of Whitworth,” Haberlin said.
To learn more about Earth Week, ongoing policy of the EAC and how to get involved, visit the club’s Instagram page @whitworth_eac_ or contact John Haberlin at [email protected].
