02/01/08
A discussion panel talked trash and what to do about it Tuesday night in Owens Audio-Visual Room.
The Resource Conservation Summit Panel Discussion discussed ways to ease the potential global warming problem.
The panelists included Tom Holland, state representative for the 10th district; Paul Dorathy, superintendent and curriculum director for the Baldwin City school district; Professor of Psychology Tony Brown; Ivan Huntoon, president of the Baldwin City chamber of commerce; Senior Professor of Biology Roger Boyd and Assistant Professor of Biology William Miller.
“Global warming is the most critical thing we need to face as a nation and as part of a global community,” Boyd said.
Boyd gave a slideshow presentation that described the greenhouse effect and global warming. He also described potential impacts global warming may cause, including an increase in natural disasters, water shortages and extinction of ecosystems.
“I’m concerned about the world that is being inherited to my 12-year-old daughter,” Brown said after being presented with potential consequences of global warming. “We should be thinking critically and getting more aggressive about this issue.”
The presentation also highlighted what Baker University has done to help the environment. Boyd cited that reducing paper usage, encouraging recycling by setting up about 50 pick-up locations on campus and remodeling many campus buildings for energy efficiency.
Dorathy said the Baldwin City school district is also implementing ways to save money while becoming environmentally friendly by installing energy efficient lighting and windows in school buildings.
During the meeting, panelists and audience members compiled a list of potential actions community members could do to help curb global warming.
Boyd’s recycling facility proposal, which was brought to the Baldwin City Council in December, was mentioned. City Councilmember Ted Brecheisen said the recycling plant proposal is still being discussed by the city council and admitted the plan may need to be altered.
About 16 other ideas were suggested, which included increasing the gasoline tax, drafting building codes that encourage energy efficiency and creating a tax on bottled water and other individually packaged items.
Focus the Nation, a non-profit educational initiative designed to spread awareness on the global warming issue, will receive five global warming action ideas that were generated from Tuesday’s meeting.
Baker is one of more than 1,000 schools across America that participate in the Focus program.