Go Green Week of Celebration
Warwick University's Go Green Week 2007 organised by the People & Planet group was a celebration of environmentalism. Featuring talks, workshops, a food night and the highlight of the week, the Party on the Piazza, there was something for everyone.
Warwick P&P display a massive banner of their Vice-Chancellor
Paddy Kent from the group reports:
In-depth talks and discussions
The first event of the week saw an official presentation of ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ led brilliantly by Mark Ter Kuille, who has been trained by Al Gore. Working with lecturers and environmental consultants we followed this with:
- a talk on renewable energy
- lectures on environmentalism, politics, economic systems
- a look at how business can contribute to the environmental movement
Over four hundred people turned up!
Party on the Piazza
The Party on the Piazza took place on Tuesday 20 February, and most importantly, there was good weather!
Creating an atmosphere
The Go Green team had acquired several comfy sofas and chairs from the Freecycle website, decked the area in green decorations and the University had invested in some very corporate banners to line the streetlights of the main road through the campus. This all certainly helped entice people to come down and take a look around the stalls.
The alternatives
There were hybrid cars for students to drive, or a bicycle powered smoothie maker for those who preferred to do some real exercise! Controversially, there was a bouncy castle and the Go Green team had considered how ethical it was. In the end, it was decided it was necessary to make the party as highly visible and exciting as possible in order to spread most awareness. Regardless, during the day, all electrical appliances were being powered by the renewable energy van.
“As the lights went down, the bands took to the stage, the sofas were rearranged, and a very intimate atmosphere was created.”
Energy Reduction Competition
In a first for Warwick’s Go Green Week, the University agreed to organise an energy reduction competition amongst the halls of residence on campus.
Financial Incentives work
The biggest reduction in electricity of 7%, showed the idea can be successful, although next year the prize needs to be improved and the competition could be extended to gas too.
“The competition sets a useful precedent for the idea that Universities can offer financial incentives to their students to save energy.”
Campaigning
During the week, the Go Green team were out every day collecting signatures for their petition. Over 3000 people agreed that the University should adopt measures to reduce paper usage, that students need recycling bins in their kitchens, and that the University should increase its target for a carbon emissions cut to 20%.
Impact
Much was learnt by all the Go Green team about Environmental Camapigning, the University were suitably impressed, and most importantly of all, thousands of students reflected on climate change, their impact on the environment and what they can do to reduce it.
“Go Green Week 2008 will have more events, more money to spend, and will reach out to more students I’m sure.”