Conference Opportunity- Please Apply!

There is an important conference coming up: The Southeastern Student Renewable Energy Conference- the SSREC. This is a popular and enlightening conference in which to learn more about alternative forms of sustainable energy. Sustainable Carolina is sending a group of students. The conference will be held at Florida A and M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida October 5th-7th. If you are interested in applying to be part of our student group please fill out the following form
SSREC Student Application

The SSREC is a weekend-long conference for students and young people working in the Southeast to combat climate change and create a more just and equitable society.

During three days of action-packed, inspiring and fun activities, students will have the opportunity to:

• Learn from the experiences of students who have already organized successful clean energy campaigns and energy improvement projects at other universities.
• Return home with the experiences, knowledge and networking necessary to organize clean energy campaigns in their own campuses and communities!

The conference will offer an exciting experience featuring workshops, cutting-edge presentations, panel discussions, and a high-energy networking atmosphere focused on growing the youth clean energy movement in the South."

Green Events in the Midlands

Thought provoking film screening "The Weight of the Nation- Challenges"- explores: the major forces in the obesity epidemic, including agriculture, economics, racial and socioeconomic disparities, physical inactivity and the American food industry and marketing. The film also proposes solutions to this epidemic.
Film will be presented at 6pm on Thursday, September 6th at the Public Health Research Center Auditorium, 921 Assembly

TAIL GATE RECYCLING

Home football game tailgating recycling events will occur on 9/8/2012 (East Carolina); 9/15/2012 (UAB); 9/22/2012 (Missouri); 10/6/2012 (Georgia); 10/27/2012 (Tennessee); 11/10/2012 (Arkansas); and 11/17/2012 (Woffard & America Recycles Day event).

We will need to recruit around 30 volunteers at each game to hand out plastic recycling bags to tailgaters as they enter the main tailgating lots. Volunteers are needed beginning 5 to 6 hours before kickoff, unless its a noon game in which case they are needed around 8 AM. Each volunteer will be asked to commit to a 2 to 3 hour shift, depending on how busy the game is, and should be done well in advance of kickoff. Volunteers are also given a tshirt. Anyone interested in volunteer should contact Malte Weiland at weiland@fmc.sc.edu.

KEEP THE MIDLANDS BEAUTIFUL EVENTS
 River Sweep on Saturday, September 15th
"Good Clean Fun" on Saturday October 13th in West Columbia

CONGAREE SWAMP EVENTS:
Frequent guided canoe tours, guided hikes and more

VOLUNTEER FOR THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Find a local, or not so local, park to donate some of your time.

Take a walking tour of the Three Rivers Greenway and learn how to support the River Alliance

Blog #1- Due 8/29

Why are you in this course? What do you think of "green values"? Which "green value" did you most agree with and least agree with? What surprised you the most about the readings?

OPEN BLOG 1

There is no specific topic for your open blogs. They may include any response you have to the field trips, discussion, readings, outside events, or conversations outside of class. These entries could also include commentary on social and environmental issues, analysis of relevant cultural events, reports on activities, and personal reflections on what is making sense in the course and what is not. Remember you also have the option of creating your own "open" blog, since you have a GMAIL and Blogger profile.  In doing so, you will have more creative options of attaching photos and videos. If you chose this option, please link your blog address to one of the open blog posts.
Otherwise submit your entries for OPEN BLOG #1 below!

Welcome to Green Explorations POLI 121/ENVR 121

Welcome students! We are excited about the new semester, with the chance to build a learning community that will allow us to explore our environment and engage with others here at USC and outside community as we create projects to increase sustainability. Please respond to the following community building question:

What place in nature do you have a special connection to?