Earth Hour 2012

Earth Hour is an international event where millions of people around the world show their support for climate change action by turning off their lights for one hour.  Started in 2007 by WWF Australia, people from over 135 countries pledge to participate in Earth Hour in a community or individual setting.  Las Vegas has participated in Earth Hour since 2009 and the lights on the Las Vegas Strip are shut off.  From 8:30 to 9:30 pm, it is a message made and a sight to be seen that each of our actions add up to one big change.  For more information about Earth Hour, visit: www.earthour.org

This year, UNLV is hosting an Earth Hour event.  On March 31^st, the documentary, “Forks Over Knives” will be screened in the Student Union Theater at 6:00 pm.  Below is the "Forks Over Knives" trailer.  

Afterwards, everyone will assemble on the roof of the Tropicana Parking Garage to watch the lights on The Strip turn off.  At this time, a Aramark catered plant based buffet and discussion about the documentary and how Earth Hour promotes individuals to conserve energy and reduce their carbon footprint. To find out more information, visit: www.facebook.com/UNLVEarthHour

Students and faculty must RSVP to attend this event.  You can RSVP by filling out the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/UNLVearthhour or by finding UNLV SSC and Rebel Recycling tabling and signing up with them in the Student Union this week. 

UNLV SSC is spreading awareness of Earth Hour to UNLV students and faculty at tabling events and getting people to pledge to participate in Earth Hour and to RSVP for UNLV’s Earth Hour event.  If you want to take the pledge to participate in Earth Hour, visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/B22HH7H

Below are posters made by UNLV SSC member, Abhinav, promoting the Earth Hour Event:

Below are photos of UNLV SSC members promoting Earth Hour UNLV:

UNLV SSC members Hilary, Sam, and Cailtin creating Earth Hour poster

Earth Hour Poster in the Student Union

Earth Hour Poster in the Student Union

Abhinav's Earth Hour Posters in the Student Union

Earth Hour/Take Back the Tap Tabling

Meat Free Monday Week 8

UNLV SSC member, Sam and I entered week 8 of participating in Meat Free Monday.  Last week Sam stopped by Jason’s Deli for lunch, and had an amazing sandwich so we decided to go there again this week.  We both ordered the Veggaletta Muffaleta, a vegetarian sandwich with, grilled portobello mushrooms, organic spinach, tomatoes, red and yellow bell peppers, red onions, provolone, and olive mix.  I must say, it was extremely delicious and believe it or not, I would order it over a meat sandwich any day.  Meat Free Monday has made me try things I would have NEVER tried before and I find myself really enjoying a lot more foods.  Check out Jason’s Deli vegetarian options, you’d be surprised at how tasty vegetables really are!  

Click on this link to look at Jason Deli's Menu:

Jason's Deli Veggaletta Muffaleta

Veggaletta Muffaleta - HUGE sandwich!

Gum at UNLV

Have you ever walked around campus and noticed a lot of black spots on the ground?  Those aren't part of the concrete, those are smooshed and dried up gum spots.  So why does gum stay around for a long time?  

Gum is made of a base of non-biodegradable materials including natural or synthetic wax, latex, or rubber.  I know that 99.9% of gum-chewers do not swallow their gum and simply dispose of it on the street or under a table or chair.  This creates a problem because gum is non-biodegradable and stays in that spot for a long time.  When you swallow gum, it passes through your system without breaking down.  Knowing this, a red-alert going is probably going off in your mind that gum is bad for the environment.  Gum thrown on the ground can also be eaten by animals and they can die.  Around the world, cities spend millions of dollars cleaning up gum and it is not easy to remove.  Therefore, you should use a Gum Rap to put your gum in and prevent it from being thrown on the ground or under a desk.  (From Be EGOlogical Blog Post: Say NO To Gum)

Here are a few photos of gum seen around the UNLV campus:

Stairs by CBC

Plants outside BEH

Under a table in the Lied Library

UNLV students, come on you can do better than this!  This is your campus and you are trashing it with gum that is difficult and costly to remove. Next time you want to throw out your gum, think twice about how you dispose of it.  

SSC members, Sam and I previously did a project about the environmental and health risks of chewing gum and Gum Raps provided Gum Rap packets for the class.  The other day, classmate Bryson asked if we had a Gum Rap on us so he could spit out his gum, and sure enough Sam did!  To find out more information on what Gum Raps are how to get a hold of their products, visit: http://www.gumraps.com/

Below are the steps to using a Gum Rap:

Step 1: Take a Gum Rap Sheet.  

Gum Rap packets are small so they can fit in your backpack or purse

Step 2: Side Note - There is a fun fact on the back of each Gum Rap Sheet,

 so if you would like to learn something new...don't forget to read it!

Step 3: Place your gum on Gum Rap sheet

Step 4: Place Gum Rap in garbage.  

Or you can hold onto them and send them in for gum recycling.  

UNLV SSC and President's Advisory Council

UNLV SSC Vice President Monica Garcia is also the intern for the Food and Water Watch campaign, Take Back the Tap. She attended a meeting with the President's Advisory Council to go over a few sustainability goals for UNLV. Monica wrote a write up their successful meeting and is featured below:

"The meeting was held on March 21st, 2012 at 1pm in FDH 780. Dr. Rainier Spencer, the chair of the PAC, and other distinguished individuals from the UNLV PAC were present, here's a link with the PAC individuals: http://unlv.edu/president/advisory-council

The individuals that accompanied me to the meeting were: Tara Pike, UNLV Sustainability director, Sheila Bray, UNLV Conference & Event Coordinator, Jeri Taylor, ARAMARK Sustainability Intern, and Eddie Montejo, SSC President.

The Take Back the Tap (TBTT) campaign was the first item on the agenda, but before I spoke, President Smatresk acknowledged TBTT and stated that in an effort to collaborate with TBTT, he has come up with an idea of sending a Brita filter to every Dean's office across campus along with a set of biodegradable cups. This would be done in an effort to change office culture, from having water pitchers and cups present at meetings (these items were actually at the meeting table yesterday haha). Smatresk stated that he would send these items in a form of a gift box and that he would like me to generate a paragraph explaining the reasoning behind President Smatresk's gesture, to endorse his efforts in helping with TBTT's cause. My paragraph would be included in every gift box to spread TBTT awareness across UNLV. This was definitely pleasant news because it demonstrates a conscious effort by Smatresk as an effort in straying various departments across UNLV away from the continued dependency on plastic bottle consumption. The obvious point is that a reduction in plastic bottle dependency will not disappear over night, it is a gradual transition and that is another point President Smatresk noted which I completely agree with. People are so accustomed and so comfortable with the idea of buying bottled water that to them, it is an engraved part of life. Which is why gradual awareness throughout the campus is crucial to create. Through the staff/faculty offices of UNLV, it is detrimental for them to realize the importance of becoming independent from plastic bottle use.

After President Smatresk shared his ideas, Dr. Spencer, the chair of the PAC, acknowledged me and asked me what other items or thoughts we had to share with the council. That's when I spoke about the proposal we generated with Tara Pike's efforts in uncovering funding for special event hydration stations at UNLV. I expressed to Smatresk that Pike has received funding for four special event hydration stations, Water Monters, thus far from the kind generosity from the Vice President of Business and Finance, Dr. Bomotti. Here is thewebsite on the Water Monter water stations: http://www.thewatermonster.com/
In the proposal we asked for 6 Water Monter water stations and 2 flexi fountain water stations: http://www.flexidrinkingfountain.com/
However, although President Smatresk embraced the ideas, he stated that he would like to see how popular these water stations become before investing in more, which is completely understandable. Therefore, our mission now is to see the demand of the Water Monster stations at Walk-a-thons in April at UNLV and specifically at the UNLV Festival of Communities on April 21st.

Along with these points, President Smatresk expressed a great amount of interest in getting composting bins specifically for the biodegradable cups, he voiced that directly to Pike to uncover the best way possible to have the in offices. Then, Smatresk noted that he'd really like myself to be present at Premier this fall semester, to get stage time and tell everyone at the event the TBTT initiative that I'm headlining, he stated "I want to brag about you". haha. That was great! Because it shows that Smatresk is indeed interested in supporting this campaign on a long term basis. Then I spoke about Festival of Communities to Sheila Bray, UNLV Conference & Event Coordinator, if I could be present at Festival of Communities with a TBTT booth and possibly get stage time. Bray stated that she thinks that will definitely be okay and stated that she will give me the individuals I need to contact to make that a possibility."

If you have any further questions about Monica's meeting with the PAC, please email her at monica.garcia.89@hotmail.com

Take Back the Tap

March 22, 2012 - Happy World Water Day! 

The UNLV Sierra Student Coalition is working with the Food and Water Watch’s national campaign: Take Back the Tap.  Monica Garcia is the intern for UNLV’s campaign initiative to spread awareness and encourage students to stop buying/using bottled water and drink tap water.  Tap water is much better than bottled water for a number of reasons, including: it’s A LOT cheaper, chemicals from the plastic do not seep into the water, and is locally sourced.  Did you know that bottled “water” is actually just bottled tap water?  Watch the video: The Story of Bottled Water to find out why bottled water is not good for the environment and your health.

The Rebel Recycling Program is also encouraging UNLV faculty and students to stop using plastic bottles and switch to using a reusable water bottle.  Brita Hydration Stations have been installed around campus, which provides free filtered and COLD water.  There are 13 installed/will be installed soon Hydration Stations around the UNLV campus.  Visit http://facilities.unlv.edu/recycling/HydrationStations.html to view the list as well as a map of where the Hydration Stations are.

If you don't know what a Hydration Station is, you should check out this video.  You'll be searching for one tomorrow!

Through Monica’s efforts, she has managed to get a petition going that educates students and faculty about tap versus bottled water and to support the reduction of bottled water sales on the UNLV campus.  Over 500 people have signed this year, and we hope to reach more students and faculty.  To find out more information and to sign the petition (electronically), please visit:

http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=8608

Each week, the SSC helps at tabling events on campus to promote the Take Back the Tap Initiative.  Below are photos from this week’s tabling event: 

Take Back the Tap Stickers (Visit us at our tabling in the SU if you want a sticker)

SSC Members - Also, Rebel Recycling is selling reusable water bottles for $5 each.  Visit us during tabling if you would like to buy one.

Introducing: Monica Garcia

Food and Water Watch Intern

Rebel Recycling's Water Bottle Display

Rebel Recycling's Water Bottle Display

Rebel Recycling's Water Bottle Display

SSC Members with Rebel Recycling's Water Bottle Display

SSC Member, Sam, educating UNLV student about Take Back the Tap

SSC Members with Rebel Recycling's Water Bottle Display

"Talking About Water" with Pat Mulroy

A couple members of SSC attended the Dean’s Conversation Series: Part III, featuring Pat Mulroy, General Manager of the Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) and the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA).  

The talk was in the form of a conversation with the audience asking questions for Ms. Mulroy to answer.  She covered topics including water conservation in Las Vegas, the new third-intake tower in Lake Mead that is set to be used in 2014, the point where water rationing would become necessary, the idea that engineering should not be blamed for water issues because it’s all about conflicting policy, and the bright hope for Las Vegas’ water resources.  

From the College of Engineering

Flyer for the event: "Talking About Water"

Speaker: Pat Mulroy and Moderator: Mary Clyborn

at the "Talking About Water" lecture series

Field Trip: Las Vegas City Hall

Las Vegas City Hall just opened its doors a few weeks ago and their newly constructed building is in the process of becoming a LEED Gold building.  They are about to submit their report and will hopefully be approved shortly after.  A few members of SSC are currently enrolled in the class, Sustainable Construction, and our professor was able to get us a guided tour of the new building as well as meet with the City of Las Vegas’s Chief Sustainable Officer.  He invited the UNLV SSC to join too.  

Below are photos from our field trip today:

(Almost Certified) LEED Gold - Las Vegas City Hall

Architecture outside it supposed to represent the future, with the sunlight hitting the "solar tree forest."

"Solar Tree Forest"

The inside is supposed to represent the present, 

with the "waterfall" paying tribute to the Hoover Dam.

And lastly, the outside is supposed to represent the past, with this style portraying the land of the Springs that once inhabited Las Vegas

View of the LEED ND, and other LEED certified buildings being built including the Smith Center for the Performing Arts and Symphony Park.

Members of CEM 480 and UNLV SSC

UNLV SSC Members outside Las Vegas City Hall

UNLV SSC Does Meat Free Monday

Meat Free Monday is a campaign started by Paul McCartney with his daughters Stella and Mary. The purpose of Meat Free Mondays is not asking you not to give up meat completely, but to do your part in reducing your environmental impact associated with the meat industry. Not only will this help the Earth, it will help your health by eating more vegetables instead of meat, and it will also save you some money too.

A few current members of the UNLV SSC are already vegetarians, but for the few of us that do eat meat still, every Monday is an adventure. Members Sam, Caryl, and myself find ourselves trying things we NEVER would have tried before and it has been surprisingly enjoyable. We've been partaking in Meat Free Monday for the past five weeks and have tried going to different eateries to explore the vegetarian options out there.

This past Monday we decided to go across the street from campus to Chipotle and try simple vegetarian "Mexican" food.  To our surprise, it was very delicious without the meat, and I personally found it more enjoyable because I didn't feel like the meat was stuck.  It was also cheaper to order without meat.  

Here are photos from our Meat Free Monday: Week 5

On our way to Chipotle for Meat Free Monday

Delicious Vegetarian Burrito

(Side note: When they ask you "Black or Pinto Beans," make sure you order black beans because pinto beans contain the animal byproduct - lard.

An extremely satisfying vegetarian burrito bowl.  As Caryl pointed out, 

"There is so much going on in the bowl already,

you don't even notice the meat is missing!"

UNLV Sierra Student Coalition: Who We Are

Greetings! 

We are the UNLV Sierra Student Coalition. Our mission is to spread environmental awareness and take action throughout the UNLV and greater Las Vegas community. 

We welcome anyone who has a passion for caring for the environment or may simply want to learn more. Throughout the year we provide members with volunteer opportunities, field trips, community outreach programs, and environmental education/experience in hopes to help make our world a better place.

The UNLV SSC is led by a group of dedicated individuals working together to make a difference.  2011-2012 Board members include:

President: Eddie Montejo

Vice President: Monica Garcia

Treasurer: Caryl Armour

Marketing Coordinator/Blogger: Hilary Ego

Outdoors/Outread Coordinator: Jocelyn Sporcic

The purpose of the UNLV SSC Blog is to spread environmental awareness and show how all the little things add up to one big change.  Members are involved with ongoing projects and events throughout the year and we hope to share those experiences with others.  

Please feel free to contact us at any time and for more information on how you can get involved, email Eddie Montejo at: enveddiemontejo@hotmail.com 

Can't wait to start this adventure with you!

- UNLV SSC