My 5: Green Summit, University of Iowa, Iowa City

On Saturday, Blue Planet Green Living (BPGL) joined local environmental organizations to participate in a Green Summit on the University of Iowa campus. The event was part of a campus kickoff for Earth Week, featuring speakers and activities for students and the Iowa City community.

The Green Summit, University of Iowa, Iowa City. Photo: Julia Wasson

Sponsored by the University of Iowa’s Office of Sustainability, the Green Summit was intended as “an academic conference created to empower student environmental leaders and equip them with practical social, scientific, political and business skills to put their passion into practice.”

The morning began with a keynote address by Iowa Senator Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City. Additional speakers included: Mike Berkshire, an environmental planner; Alec B. Scranton, University of Iowa professor of chemical and biochemical engineering; Mark Kresowik from the Sierra Club; and Univerity of Iowa College of Engineering professor Craig Just. Just is the coordinator of sustainability programs and sponsors both Engineers for a Sustainable World and Engineers without Borders.

Mike Carberry, Green State Solutions, Iowa City, IA. My 5: • Energy efficiency and conservation • Renewable energy • Alternative energy • No new coal plants • Advocate for the environment

Local green activist, Mike Carberry of Green State Solutions, organized the Expo, which took place on the University’s Pentacrest, following the morning’s speeches. Carberry is known locally as the driving force behind much of the environmental work that gets done in the area. He pulled together both student groups and “progressive local projects.” BPGL participated in the event, taking this opportunity to spread awareness of our own mission, to show that being an environmental activist is “Earth Wise. Money Smart.”

As Expo visitors and exhibitors stopped at our booth, we invited them to respond to the question we ask every person we interview. As Earth Day approaches, we invite you to read their responses and consider how you would answer this question:

“What are the five most important things we can do to save the planet?”

Paul Christine and Katie Lynch

Katie Lynch, Iowa City, IA
My 5:
• Change the way we farm (eliminate confinement operations)
• Change the way we eat (purchase locally grown foods)
• Support new green technology (wind, power, solar)
• Prioritize conservation (above economic functions) • Increase education and awareness

Paul Christine, Denver, CO
My 5:
• Educate the populace about the environment
• Support alternative, renewable energy and transportation
• Change the way we produce our food
• Empower to make individual changes such as recycling, etc.
• Encourage greater regulatory power over polluting industries (Paul is the winner of our Blue Planet Green Living shopping bag drawing.)

Elizabeth Cummings and Tom Glorfield

Elizabeth Cummings and Tom Glorfield, Iowa Farm Life, Ames and Sioux City, IA.
Our 5:
1. Provide ongoing, free public forum re: nuts and bolts of industrialized farming
2. From #1, teach public connections between meat, dairy, and eggs
3. From #2, provide public workshops and tastings of vegan food
4. From #3, provide public info about local food systems and resources
5. From #4, provide public info about urban gardening, seed exchange, and local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).

Rachel Nathanson

Rachel Nathanson, University of Iowa student, West Des Moines, IA
My 5:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions through international collaboration
• Practice sustainable rainforest product development and ecotourism
• Support local, fresh agriculture
• Reduce, reuse, Recycle
• Encourage both grassroots and policy action

Amber Johnson

Amber Johnson, Engineers for a Sustainable World, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
My 5:
• Walk/bike instead of driving
• Go powerless
• Use alternative energy —no coal or petroleum products
• Recycle
• Avoid creating waste — use recyclable containers instead of throwaway

Angela Gadzik and Reid Stamer

Angela Gadzik, University of Iowa student, Iowa City, IA.
My 5:
• Buy local
• Reduce consumption
• Garden!
• Eat Fresh
• Call your legislator

Reid Stamer, University of Iowa student, Davenport, IA
My 5:
• Drive less, walk more
• Reduce, reuse, recycle
• Make a conscious effort toward species conservation
• Heavy investment in renewable energy
• Reduce/stop water pollution

Linda Yanney

Linda Yanney, Vista Corridor Recovery, Iowa City, IA
My 5:
• Live small
• Eat locally
• Teach others
• Grow more plants (flowers and food) and less grass
• Respect and assist developing countries in green industry

Andrea Url

Andrea Url, University of Iowa student, Sioux City, IA
My 5:
• Consume less
• Save energy
• Vote with your dollars
• Recycle everything
• Get involved

Paul August Utesch

Paul August Utesch, LeMars, IA
My 5:
• Reduce waste
• Spend with more conscious companies
• Travel more economically (by driving less places)
• Use less chemicals
• Recycle everything you can

Abbie Gruwell

Abbie Gruwell, University of Iowa student, UI Office of Sustainability intern
My 5:
• Biking!
• Grow vegetables
• Go camping, enjoy nature
• Call your legislators!
• Socially responsible investing!

Joan Burns

Joan Burns, Cart by Cart, Iowa City, IA
My 5:
• Walk more often, everyday, park your car
• Value people more than possessions
• Support local food growers
• Recycle anything and everything you can
• Carry a reusable cotton bag for all your shopping needs

Jaia Rosenfels

Jaia Rosenfels, Disability Rights Activist, Iowa City, IA
My 5:
• Reduce our dependence on fossil fuel
• Save water resources
• Save polar ice caps
• Stop wasting trees- that affects everything
• Stop having so many kids

Greg Johnson, author of Put Your Life on a Diet

Greg Johnson, author of Put Your Life on a Diet, founder of Resources for Life, Iowa City, IA
My 5:
• Live small
• Ride a bike
• Eat mostly vegan
• Use less
• Empower others

Joe Hennager talks with dietician and farm-animal activist, Carol Throckmorton

Carol Throckmorton, Dietician and Farm-Animal Activist
My 5:
• Go vegan! And have a garden
• Reuse recycle, decrease consumption
• Decrease energy use at home
• Drive a hybrid car
• Repair instead of replace stuff

Austin Burke

Austin Burke, University of Iowa student, Davenport, IA
My 5:
• Recycle
• Reuse
• Eliminate fossil fuels
• Terminate all non-biodegradable products
• Don’t litter

Constantine Anton

Constantine Anton, University of Iowa student, River Forest, IL
My 5:
• Reduce global warming (stop use of fossil fuels)
• Stop cutting down rain forests
• More public transportation
• More conservation lands
• Hydrogen fuel cells or electric cars

Sam Boland

Sam Boland, University of Iowa, UI president of Engineers for a Sustainable World, Iowa City, IA
My 5:
• Be vegetarian
• Don’t drive
• Tell other people to be green
• Be a responsible consumer
• Hug trees

Lauren S.

Lauren S., Coralville, IA, age 6
My 5:
• Use renewable water bottles
• Recycle
• Don’t litter
• Turn off lights
• Don’t leave water on when not using it

MIchael Lewis

Michael Lewis, Iowa City, IA
My 2:
• No coal
• No nukes

Maureen McCue

Maureen McCue, Iowa City, IA
My 5:
• Stop coal
• Stop nukes
• Clean the water
• Ban CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations)
• Support alternative energy- clean renewables

David Lee

David Lee, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
My 5:
• Reduce fossil fuel dependence
• Increase renewable energy
• Plant trees
• Ban forest burning
• Spread awareness about climate change

Mike Loots

Mike Loots, University of Iowa student, Iowa City, IA
My 5:
• “Homegrow”
• Love everyone
• Ride a bike
• Get out into nature
• Educate others

Nathan Kieso

Nathan Kieso, University of Iowa student, Iowa City, IA
My 5:
• Reduce dependency on fossil fuels
• Expand recycling programs
• Hold industry and agriculture accountable for pollution
• Encourage adoption and family planning
• Use Green architecture; i.e. solar/geothermal heating and cooling, and non-toxic building materials

Katie Parry (Left)

Katie Parry, University of Iowa student, Iowa City, IA
My 5:
• Re-imagine the things you do everyday
• Don’t use take home containers
• Don’t use plastic bags
• Value our natural environment, support restoration efforts
• Carpool, bike, walk

Brigette Fanning

Brigette Fanning, University of Iowa student, Vernon Hills, IL
My 5:
• Stop cutting trees in rain forest
• Use passenger rail
• Buy locally grown food
• Use power management on computers
• Help conserve water

James Bechtel

James Bechtel, University of Iowa student, Coralville, IA
My 5:
• Think locally
• Reduce waste, be conscious of it
• Learn about our food, water
• Fight to conserve: always be open to change
• Be happy

Katie Fassbinder

Katie Fassbinder, Green State Solutions intern, University of Iowa student, Iowa City, IA
My 5:
• Regulate business emissions
• Protect water/ drinking resources
• Make farming more sustainable
• Educate people!
• Reduce fossil fuel dependence

Ryan Drysdale

Ryan Drysdale, University of Iowa student, Iowa City, IA
My 5:
• No plastics
• No oil
• Factor in economic externalities
• Recycle everything
• Regulate chemicals

Ellie Catton

Ellie Catton, Iowa City, IA
My 5:
• Stop driving! Ride a bicycle
• Reuse food storage containers
• Support local businesses and boycott corporations
• Reduce water and power use
• Consider ourselves personally responsible for pollution

Joe Hennager and Julia Wasson, Blue Planet Green Living

Joe and I want to extend our thanks to the University of Iowa, Mike Carberry of Green State Solutions, Abbie Gruwell from the UI Office of Sustainability, and all who stopped by our booth on this dreary Spring day. Congratulations to Paul Christine, winner of the Blue Planet Green Living shopping bag. We’ll be exhibiting again on Earth Day at Kirkwood College in Iowa City.

Julia Wasson

Blue Planet Green Living (Home Page)