'Betas are Green' allows students to create, go green
By: Ashton Simmons
Issue date: 9/23/08 Section: News
Omega Phi Beta sorority kicked off their Week of Illumination with "Betas are Green!" inviting students to decorate their own organic cotton tote bag.
"The biggest motivation to create an event like this was the global movement and most importantly the DePauw movement toward going green," said Gloris Estrella, a senior member of Omega Phi Beta who was in charge of the event. "I went on the Winter Term In Service to Costa Rica this past January, and I saw the effect (plastic bags) had on the animals there."
Students were able to choose from various colored canvas bags and decorate them with paint. All 20 bags were used at the beginning of the event. While students decorated their bags, Environmental Sustainability Intern Missy Orr, a senior, explained the problems with plastic bags.
"Raising awareness that there are environmental consequences to using plastic bags is really important," she said. "It's not a question of paper and plastic anymore. Bringing your own canvas bags is the right choice."
She began her presentation with the statistic from the Environmental Protection Agency that somewhere between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags every year worldwide cited in National Geographic News on Sept. 2, 2003.
She said that less that 1 percent of plastic bags are recycled because it costs more to recycle them than to make new ones. The problem is that animals mistake them for food and then choke on them. She showed pictures of dolphins and sea turtles eating plastic bags, as well as large areas of water being covered with them.
"Plastic bags contribute to a lot of the pollution because they are so lightweight that they will be picked up by the air," she said.
Orr also discussed legal changes that are being made in various countries to combat the use of plastic bags, such as taxing or charging for the bags.
"It's important to start changing simple habits," she said.
Some students were excited about the opportunity to be artistic and do something for the environment.
"I think this is a very, very creative idea," said Tiffany Curtis, a junior. "I hope I can be green now that I have my handy-dandy bag."
All freshmen students were given a canvas bag courtesy of Sodexho at the beginning of the school year.
"They were purchased to bring more awareness to these simple habits that make a difference when you change them," Orr said.
Canvas bags are also available in the Hub for 99 cents, said Orr.
Omega Phi Beta will continue their Week of Illumination with a video tomorrow on human trafficking, their philanthropic focus.
"The biggest motivation to create an event like this was the global movement and most importantly the DePauw movement toward going green," said Gloris Estrella, a senior member of Omega Phi Beta who was in charge of the event. "I went on the Winter Term In Service to Costa Rica this past January, and I saw the effect (plastic bags) had on the animals there."
Students were able to choose from various colored canvas bags and decorate them with paint. All 20 bags were used at the beginning of the event. While students decorated their bags, Environmental Sustainability Intern Missy Orr, a senior, explained the problems with plastic bags.
"Raising awareness that there are environmental consequences to using plastic bags is really important," she said. "It's not a question of paper and plastic anymore. Bringing your own canvas bags is the right choice."
She began her presentation with the statistic from the Environmental Protection Agency that somewhere between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags every year worldwide cited in National Geographic News on Sept. 2, 2003.
She said that less that 1 percent of plastic bags are recycled because it costs more to recycle them than to make new ones. The problem is that animals mistake them for food and then choke on them. She showed pictures of dolphins and sea turtles eating plastic bags, as well as large areas of water being covered with them.
"Plastic bags contribute to a lot of the pollution because they are so lightweight that they will be picked up by the air," she said.
Orr also discussed legal changes that are being made in various countries to combat the use of plastic bags, such as taxing or charging for the bags.
"It's important to start changing simple habits," she said.
Some students were excited about the opportunity to be artistic and do something for the environment.
"I think this is a very, very creative idea," said Tiffany Curtis, a junior. "I hope I can be green now that I have my handy-dandy bag."
All freshmen students were given a canvas bag courtesy of Sodexho at the beginning of the school year.
"They were purchased to bring more awareness to these simple habits that make a difference when you change them," Orr said.
Canvas bags are also available in the Hub for 99 cents, said Orr.
Omega Phi Beta will continue their Week of Illumination with a video tomorrow on human trafficking, their philanthropic focus.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Ken Holmes
posted 9/23/08 @ 4:40 PM EST
I'm so glad that the companies making reusable bags are finally getting their marketing message to the students of America. Unfortunately, the hype surrounding the evils of the plastic bag is just PR to sell reusable bags - most of which are also made of plastic, and made in China (where environmental concerns aren't even considered). (Continued…)
Post a Comment