JMU Green Team Tip o' the Week: Be Informed, Be Heard, Be Active!

From: Green Coalition

Earth week begins this Sunday!
Go to http://orgs.jmu.edu/jmuearth for a full list of events.

Realize all that you can do as a member of any community – your town, school, club, church, or family – to change corporate and public policies to promote sustainable use of the Earth’s natural resources. Demand that these institutions remain responsive to public opinion by exploring all the opportunities available to be informed, voice your concerns, and actively drive change.

Read. Listen. Open your Eyes. Don’t rely on the media alone for knowledge of important issues in sustainability and environmental policy. Take the words they throw out and research the issues to develop your opinions further and to have a firm basis for every action you take or even casual conversation. Attend events, seminars, and debates to understand different perspectives and meet other concerned and interesting people. Finally, go to the source. See the sites and people that are most immediately effected. Remember that in your own community, you can always be an ‘expert’ too.

Vote. Write. Demonstrate. Whether it is for your student representative to the Board of Visitors at your university or the President of the United States, show policy makers that issues of energy and climate crisis can be addressed at every level and that their support and election depends now on their stance on theses issues. Write to people who influence policy and go beyond your elected officials. Include appointed judges, department board members, lobbying groups and NGO’s, industry chairmen, and permitting agencies in your message. Don’t forget the enormous influence and variety of media, art, and other creative ways to be share your concerns locally and around the world.

Participate. Organize. Practice. Take a role in your local citizens boards or even run for office. Organize community members, even those who just want to learn more, to speak with many voices and build on each other’s ideas and energy. And if nothing else, practice making the changes in your daily life that over time will add up and will spread from your example to others to decrease our energy dependency as a society.

The "Green Team" is presenting a Tip o' the Week each week in build-up for Earth Week events, as well as promoting efficient energy use and a smaller environmental footprint for James Madison University. We ask for your support in encouraging and assisting JMU to be more "green" everyday.

Please feel free to contact the Clean Energy Coalition (“Green Team”) with any questions you might have or even more tips on how to get involved in "greening" JMU.

Clean Energy Coalition Website: http://www.jmugreenteam.com
Contact: Ryan Powanda @ powandrm@jmu.edu

Stay Green!