November 19th is the beginning of the "Use Less Stuff" Holiday Campaign. This campaign links the concerns of environmentalists about over consumption, and the concerns of many Christians about the materialism surrounding Christmas. In the Nov-Dec 1998 Utne Reader, Bill McKibben describes how the northern New York and Vermont conference of the United Methodist Church started a campaign for "Hundred Dollar Holidays". When the church first began to spread the idea of a $100 Christmas, they were concerned about reducing the waste, but as the campaign continued, they realized a dividend in a Christmas that was more joyful - less rushed and less full of commercial fantasy. The Use Less Stuff Holiday Campaign was started by Partners for Environmental Progress, and tips for using less stuff can be found at http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/gra/opa/campaign/holiday/. For additional religious perspectives on our relation to the planet, check out http://www.nrpe.org/, the web page of the National Religious Partnership for the Environment - a consortium of the U.S. Catholic Conference, the Evangelical Environmental Network, the National Council of Churches of Christ and the Coalition on Environment and Jewish Life.
Finally, November 27 is "Buy Nothing Day". The Friday after Thanksgiving is typically the biggest shopping day of the year, and the traditional kickoff to the holiday buying season. This event began seven years ago, started by the Media Foundation, a group based in Vancouver, British Columbia, that fights consumer culture. The participation of up to a million people this year suggests the urge not to buy on the biggest shopping day of the year has struck a nerve. A survey sponsored by the Center for a New American Dream last year found that most Americans would like less spending and less emphasis on gifts during the holiday. It also found that 15% of the respondents were still paying off bills from the previous yearšs holiday. The Seattle Buy Nothing Day campaign has distributed this checklist to shoppers as part of its Buy Nothing Day campaign - Do I need it? -How many do I already have? -How much will I use it? -How long will it last? -Could I borrow it from a friend or family member? -Can I do without it? -Am I able to clean, lubricate and/or maintain it myself? -Am I willing to? -Will I be able to repair it? -Have I researched it to get the best quality for the best price? -How will I dispose of it when I'm done using it? -Are the resources that went into it renewable or non-renewable? -Is it made or recycled materials, and is it recyclable? -Is there anything that I already own that I could substitute for it? More information on Buy Nothing Day is available at http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd-splash.html.
BioRegional Quiz:Peak populations of what waterfowl can be found during mid-November?
Special Events/Information: Environmental Education Conference - Nov 6-8 Conference at Tan-Tar-A. Topic areas include: State of the Environment; The Basics (env. ed, interpretation, state & national initiatives); The Future (strategic planning, grants); Techniques (classroom and interpretive techniques, hands-on sessions); Horizons (cutting-edge programs, new technology, innovations, research) and Field Studies (guided walks, how to conduct field studies, natural history). To receive conference information fax a request to 573 751-8757 or email oee@mail.conservation.state.mo.us.
Job of the Month: Outreach Director-Vermont Public Interest Research Group, Montpelier, VT. Work for Vermont's largest consumer and environmental advocacy organization to coordinate program-related communication with members, general public, and news media. Coordinate development and distribution of fact sheets, action alerts, press releases, and other program literature via electronic and traditional means. Oversee website and database maintenance, organize public and press events with program staff, and coordinate mobilization and educational efforts conducted as part of telephone and door-to-door canvass operations. To apply, send cover letter and resume to: Vermont Public Interest Research Group, Outreach Director Search, 64 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602.
Bonne Femme Partnership: If you live in the vicinity of the Bass, Bonne Femme, Clear, Gans, Femme, Little Bonne, Smith Branch, Turkey Creeks or the North and South branches of Turkey Creek, or between Columbia and Ashland, there is a good chance you are in the Bonne Femme Watersheds, and may be interested in participating in the Bonne Femme Partnership. The partnership is a voluntary organization composed of watershed landowners and sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. EPA. The goal of the partnership is to provide technical assistance and financial resources for land owners interested in adopting water quality conservation practices. For more information, contact Jim Davis at 657-6108 or Kim Kinyon 882-0310.
MU Meetings and Events (call to confirm times and places):
Campus Peaceworks 875-0539 Meetings Nov. 5 and 19 at 7 pm Memorial Union
N-234
Environmental Affairs Council 882-0611 call for meeting time and
place
Environmental Studies Executive Committee 882-7116 Meeting Mon Nov 30
4:15 101 Gentry
Recycling Committee 882-5051 Meeting Thurs Nov. 5 1998 Old Alumni
Center
Student Sierra Club 441-9343 Meetings Nov. 9 and Nov. 30 at 7:30 pm in
Memorial Union. Looking to help with local environmental service projects.
Call for information.
Environmental Education Organization 442-1576 Meetings Nov. 9 and 30 at
7:30 pm in Memorial Union.
Organic Gardening at Lange Middle School Thursday afternoons, meet
at Physics parking lot, 3:00.
Campus Greens 442-1576 Meeting with Sierra Club and EEO. Topics of
discussion include transportation, globalization, and local politics.
Call for info.
Organization Meetings and Events (call to confirm times and
places):
Audubon Society 657-9003 Meeting Nov. 18 7:30 at Environmental
Technology
Center 4200 New Haven Road. Bird Alert Hot line 573-445-9115.
www.coin.missouri.edu/community/rec-center/audubon/
Center for Sustainable Living 875-0539 Meeting Nov. 11 at 6 p.m.
at the Peacenook.
Peaceworks Annual Potluck Dinner Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. at the Newman
Center--open to all and free of charge.
Columbia Food Circle 657-1177 Farmer's Market open Saturday 9-1,
Monday 4-6, and Wednesday 4-6 at Ash and Clinkscales (old Fairgrounds).
Columbia Public Works Volunteer Program 874-6271 Household
Hazardous Waste
drop offs 9-1, Grissum Bldg by Power Plant, 1st & 3rd Saturdays thru
November - Volunteers are needed to help coordinate drop offs - time
commitment is 2 hours per month.
Earth Day Coalition 875-0539 Meeting Nov. 2, 6 p.m. at the Daniel
Boone City Hall Building, on the Mezzanine level conference room. The
EDC is
currently calling for artists to submit designs for the Earth Day 1999
logo. The theme is "Earth Day: It's a Family Affair", meaning the
family of life, not just people. Deadline Dec. 10; winner receives a $50 award
and recognition.
Friends of Rock Bridge 449-1151 Volunteer Recognition Night -
call for time and place.
Greenbelt Coalition 442-4789 Meeting Tue. Nov. 3, 7pm at Real
Estate Mngmt. Office on 4th St.
KBXR Green Team 449-1520 www.bxr.com Central Missouri
Environmental Action
Report - wkdys 9:30 am & 3:20 pm.
Missouri Heartwood 443-6832 Meetings every Tuesday at 7pm at 1027
E.
Walnut. Nationwide Public Meeting in Chicago with the Forest
Service
Nov.
18. Call for info. www.igc.apc.org/voices/MO/ or
heartwood@mail.coin.missouri.edu
MidMO Greens 449-8465 Happy Hour Fri. Nov. 20 at Village Wine and
Cheese.
Native American Solidarity Group 443-5985
Call for
details
Native Plant Society 442-6929 Meeting Nov. 9, 7 pm
Environmental
Technology Center 4200 New Haven Rd. Program: Newly Revised Grasses of
Missouri by Dr. Claire Kucera.
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park 449-7402 Call to be put on
the Wild
Cave Tour mailing lists for the Feb. and March trips.
Sierra Club 875-2916 Meeting Nov. 17 at Hillel Foundation at
7:30
pm-
Speaker from Sustainable St. Louis on
Sustainable
Communities
Show-Me Clean Streams Coalition 882-3384 Meeting Nov. 18 at 7pm at MDC
Fish & Wildlife Res. Center, Coll Ave.
Answer to BioRegional Quiz: Canada geese are in peak numbers during November.
(also - don't miss the Leonid Meteor shower on Nov 17!)
Feedback - Got an opinion about something wešve written, or about a
current environmental issue? If we have space, we will consider
publishing it. Submit it by email (envstudy@showme.missouri.edu), mail
(Environmental Studies, 220 Gentry, MU, Columbia MO 65211), or call Jan
Weaver to talk a
bout it (882-7116). MU Environmental Network News is
published by MU's Environmental Studies Initiative. All opinions
expressed are the responsibility of the editor. Any part of this
newsletter may be copied for distribution but please give us credit.
NEWSLETTER ALSO AVAILABLE AT
http://www.missouri.edu/~esiwww/November98news.html