McKibben lecture opens discourse, stresses urgency
Lecturer encourages student activism, speaks on 'Stepitup07' campaign to reduce global warming
By: Elizabeth Conner
Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: News
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DePauw Discourse officially kicked off Thursday afternoon with a speech about global warming by author and environmental activist Bill McKibben.
Students, faculty and alumni gathered in East College's Meharry Hall to listen to his presentation of pressing environmental issues and his vision for the future.
McKibben, a graduate of Harvard University, spoke about the role that college students can play in the reversal of this global problem.
"That's what we try to do with these campaigns: give people something actually to do. Otherwise your feelings of powerlessness are so large that it's very hard to do anything. It's easier almost to say: 'Oh God, I hope it isn't true,'" McKibben said.
It was with this in mind, he said, that he developed his "Stepitup07" campaign to demand that Congress enact restraints on carbon emission that would reduce global warming 80 percent by 2050. He said hundreds of college campuses across the nation have been taking a stand against global warming by getting involved in the campaign. Students can make a difference by holding rallies and inviting their senators and congressmen and women to talk to them about the climate change and possible solutions.
McKibben said countless college presidents have signed a pledge to eventually make their campuses carbon-neutral and free of global warming gases.
"I think it's going to be, it's turning out to be, the most important wave of campus activism since the end of the war in Vietnam," McKibben said. "It's not enough yet, but it's growing fast."
McKibben said environmentalism today revolves around the hotly debated issue, whereas years ago global warming was nothing but a hypothesis.
DePauw students, teachers and alumni reacted positively to McKibben's words about environmental sustainability and were inspired to bring about change.
"I feel like his words and research have been backed up by actions. He's taken time to improve the world and let everyone know that the time for action is now," said freshman Anthony Baratta.
McKibben's mission to improve the environment and bring about global sustainability is underway. He said slowly but surely, humans of all ages are coming to terms with the urgency of global warming and the frightening effects that await our planet.
"He was wonderfully articulate and conveyed the urgency of our situation," said professor Hillary Kelleher. "We have 10 or 20 years to decide whether we'll live like we've been living and doom the planet or make changes towards sustainability."
Students, faculty and alumni gathered in East College's Meharry Hall to listen to his presentation of pressing environmental issues and his vision for the future.
McKibben, a graduate of Harvard University, spoke about the role that college students can play in the reversal of this global problem.
"That's what we try to do with these campaigns: give people something actually to do. Otherwise your feelings of powerlessness are so large that it's very hard to do anything. It's easier almost to say: 'Oh God, I hope it isn't true,'" McKibben said.
It was with this in mind, he said, that he developed his "Stepitup07" campaign to demand that Congress enact restraints on carbon emission that would reduce global warming 80 percent by 2050. He said hundreds of college campuses across the nation have been taking a stand against global warming by getting involved in the campaign. Students can make a difference by holding rallies and inviting their senators and congressmen and women to talk to them about the climate change and possible solutions.
McKibben said countless college presidents have signed a pledge to eventually make their campuses carbon-neutral and free of global warming gases.
"I think it's going to be, it's turning out to be, the most important wave of campus activism since the end of the war in Vietnam," McKibben said. "It's not enough yet, but it's growing fast."
McKibben said environmentalism today revolves around the hotly debated issue, whereas years ago global warming was nothing but a hypothesis.
DePauw students, teachers and alumni reacted positively to McKibben's words about environmental sustainability and were inspired to bring about change.
"I feel like his words and research have been backed up by actions. He's taken time to improve the world and let everyone know that the time for action is now," said freshman Anthony Baratta.
McKibben's mission to improve the environment and bring about global sustainability is underway. He said slowly but surely, humans of all ages are coming to terms with the urgency of global warming and the frightening effects that await our planet.
"He was wonderfully articulate and conveyed the urgency of our situation," said professor Hillary Kelleher. "We have 10 or 20 years to decide whether we'll live like we've been living and doom the planet or make changes towards sustainability."
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