Welcome to the Environmental Center (EC) Digest!
Every two weeks, this little gem of digital media arrives in your inbox full of all things environmental, sustainable, socially responsible, and just plain "green".
Scroll down to check out:
- Environmental Center happenings
- Community and campus events, initiatives, and opportunities
- Jobs, internships, workshops, and trainings
And of course, our thought-provoking opening thoughts from EC staff. Enjoy!
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Am I the only one that feels like everyone is talking about cold weather? How could we not, with Durango finally getting some snow and especially with the Polar Vortex that recently went through the Midwest? But with all this cold weather, global warming and climate change seem to be even more in controversy. President Trump recently tweeted, "In the beautiful Midwest, windchill temperatures are reaching minus 60 degrees, the coldest ever recorded. In coming days, expected to get even colder. People can’t last outside even for minutes. What the hell is going on with Global Waming [sic]? Please come back fast, we need you!"
This comment was not surprising to me. As the Environmental Center's Climate Change Solutions event highlighted last fall, politicians on all sides often take a divisive stance when it comes to climate change to rally up their base. However, I was really challenged when a good friend of mine made a post doubting global warming was real, and this cold front was all the evidence they needed. I felt challenged because global warming and climate change is something that I am deeply passionate about. I study it, and I know there are facts that support
climate change is happening
. But if I would have confronted my friend with all the reasons I think I'm right and they're wrong, would that have fixed anything? I don't know if it would have . . .
Even if I did discuss this topic with my friend, I have to admit that I still don't understand everything about climate science or this Polar Vortex. So I turned to a credible source: Dr. Jared Beeton Professor of Environmental Studies at FLC to learn more. He explained that it has to do with the
Albedo Feedback Effect.
This explains why the Arctic was warming so rapidly, and how the warming of the Arctic is connected to the
Polar Vortex
in the Midwest. Global warming does affect the
Jet Stream
(its slows it down), and the
meanders
in the jet stream are becoming more persistent and longer lasting. The jet stream now looks dramatically wavier and breaks off into these polar outbreaks, like we had in the Midwest. It is all connected. Warmer air (due to global warming) in the arctic affects the jet stream, the effects on the jet stream sends Polar Vortexes to places they shouldn't be.
So now the question is: what do I to do with all this information? Give it to my friend? Well, research shows that spouting facts doesn't change someone's mind. Katharine Hayhoe, a speaker who was featured at FLC during a Climate Change Solutions event talked about how important social science is alongside natural climate science such as what I learned from Professor Beeton. The title of the video is "
If I just explain the facts, they'll get it, right
?
" Her ideas gave me some inspiration for how to move forward, check out her video and hopefully you will to!
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Siarrah R. Gomez-Boyiddle
EC Media & Communications Manager
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Environmental Center Happenings
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Save the Date for the FLC Sustainability Summit!
Tuesday, March 19
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The Sustainability Summit is your chance to learn about how Fort Lewis College is making progress on our sustainability goals and how you can get involved to make our campus and greater community a better place! More details to come, but be sure to save the date!
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It's Time to WAKE UP FLC!
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The Real Food Challenge team is gearing up for another Vote Real - this time hitting a major item: cereal! You wouldn't know it by the colorful packaging and fun names, but many of the companies behind breakfast cereals are responsible for huge environmental and social impacts. It's time to make sure we get our cereal from ethical sources.
Keep an eye out for our Vote Real campaign on our
Facebook and
Instagram and all around campus!
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Hey FLC, the EC can take your printer cartridges!
The college is moving toward a central print system to help save paper and reduce costs. But if you're still in charge of managing your office printer, be sure to bring your used ink/toner cartridges to the EC office in Student Union room 145. We can make sure they don't end up in the dump!
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Come get gently used clothing, jackets, home and kitchen items, decoration, and even a life size Darth Vader cut-out - all for FREE!
When: Every Thursday from 1-2:30pm
Where: Student Union lobby
Have a donation for us? Bring it to the store or drop it off at our office anytime during business hours. Remember: clean and usable items only, please!
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Another Semester, Another Volunteer Force! Join Us!
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Are you a student interested in putting in some time for a good cause? Be sure to come by the EC - Student Union room 145 at the start of Spring Semester and ask how to join our work!
Upcoming projects include solar panel installation, tamale making, fruit gleaning, garden work, and helping with room-side recycling.
Are you a community organization looking for passionate students to help on a project? Email Marty at
mlpool@fortlewis.edu to learn how to connect with us!
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Community Events and Opportunities
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Local & Fort Lewis College
Events and Happenings in our Local Community and at FLC
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An Evening of Amazing Environmental Films to Support a Good Cause!
The Durango Chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) is hosting a
Wild & Scenic Film Festival! This event will inspire activism and inspire your senses with beautiful, non gloom and doom uplifting films. The event will also raise funds to send two Fort Lewis College students to the annual CCL conference and lobby day in June 2019.
When: February 17, doors 3:30 pm, films start at 4 pm
Where: Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave. Durango, CO
Cost: $15.00 general admission / $7.00 students with ID
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Get $2,000 to Make Your Sustainability Dream a Reality!
FLC's Campus Sustainability Council presents the annual
call for proposals of the Sustainability Initiative Grant (the SIG). Students, staff, and faculty can receive up to $2,000 to fund their sustainability ideas for FLC!
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Backcountry Film Festival
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Durango Nature Studies is excited to host the Backcountry Film Festival for the 7th year. This film festival focuses mostly on winter sports and backcountry experiences. Enjoy fun films and know that you're providing critical fundraising support for their winter educational programs!
When: Friday February 8 fromat 7:30-9:30 pm
Where: Durango Arts Center
Cost: $15.00 general admission
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The Payroll Department and Community Foundation of SW Colorado have a $12,000 Grant Opportunity
The Payroll Department strategically designates its nonprofit giving in La Plata County with its 12.4.2 grants: two grants of $12,000 for two La Plata County organizations that support efforts in the areas of Youth, Environment, or Human Services.
The application deadline is February 22.
The Payroll Department is especially interested in supporting programs or collaborations that further the nonprofit’s mission and may need a boost while the organization secures sustainable funding.
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Celebrate Winter Bike To Work (or School) Day!
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Get Around Durango will host a cycling event to celebrate the day’s clean commute. The celebration will feature a heated tent, free bike tune-ups and a raffle. The first 100 attendees will receive a long-sleeved, hooded T-shirt. Prizes include
Smith Optics goggles and helmets, Osprey backpacks, Hydroflasks, Klean Kanteen water bottles, and more. For those looking for breakfast, coffee and tea from Carver Brewing Co.; breakfast snacks and doughnuts from Rendezvous Doughnuts; and coffee cake and cookies from Bread will be served.
When: Friday, February 8th from 7-9 am
Where: 1027 Main Ave. Durango, CO
Cost: Free!
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Food Safty Plan Workshop with the FLC Old Fort
To support Colorado growers, they are offering an opportunity to get a head start writing a food safety plan through a day-long workshop that will include: a grower overview of different GAPs schemes, updates about the current audit and regulatory framework, insight from Colorado Department of Agriculture GAPs and Produce Safety Rule Program staff, and hands on writing assistance to help you craft a food safety plan for your farm.
When: February 13th, from 9 am until 4:30 pm
Where: LaPlata County Fairgrounds
Cost: $20 (
includes materials, coffee and lunch from Zia)
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February Full Moon Snowshoe Hike
Enjoy February's full moon, the Snow Moon, during a guided snowshoe hike with Durango Nature Studies naturalist, Kiley Smith. While exploring the snowy forest, you're invited to share poetry inspired by the wintery surroundings. You will also be supporting DNS's
educational snowshoe programs which introduces 1,000 4th and 6th graders to the joys of winter exploration and science each year!
When: Tuesday February 19 from 5:30-7:30 pm
Where: Haviland Lake/Chris Park
Cost: Free for members, $10 for non-members, $5 snow shoe rentals available
For more information or to RSVP call (970) 769-1800
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Learn to Make Tamales with Local Corn and the GFC!
During the January celbration, the folks at Good Food Collective received a slice of Rosca de Reyes cake containing the muneca/figurine and tradition says they have to serve tamales to all of their friends the following month! So they invite you to come on down to the Animas Valley Grange to make some tamales with Animas Valley blue corn masa grown by Deb Paulson! In addition to featuring amazing food, the celebrations will include the incredible tunes of DJ Euforia, Yoga en Espanol by Wendolyn and Zumba en Espanol by Sara.
When: Saturday, March 9 from 9 am - 1 pm
Where: Animas Valley Grange, 7271 Co Rd 203, Durango, CO 81301
Cost: Free!
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Architecture in a Warming World
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Join a conversation with Norbert Lechner, an expert in energy responsive architectural design, he will inspire us with the potential of changing our approach to architecture. He speaks around the world and authored a wildly popular book on the topic.
When: Wednesday, February 13 from 12-1pm
Where:
Henry Strater Theater, 699 Main Ave, Durango
Cost:
$17 for lunch if you RSVP or pay by Thursday, February 7th, $22 for for late RSVPs and walk-ins
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Inspire Change at Green Drinks
Green Drinks is a monthly get together that's all about creating a well-connected community around all things environmental and "green". It takes place the last Thursday of every month at Carver Brewing. This month's hosts are Trails 2000 and San Juan Mountains Association.
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Opportunities
Jobs, Scholarships, Internships, and more!
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The Garden Project is Hiring for AmeriCorps Positions
Interested in working at The Garden Project as an Americorps School Garden Educator? Teach in schools across La Plata County, work in local food systems, and grow produce with this opportunity. Partial Year Term is April 2019-July 2019. Full year terms start August 2019 - July 2020.
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Mountain Studies Institute is Hiring a VISTA Position
MSI is searching for a talented, motivated, and self-directed individual to grow our mountain education and outreach programs as an Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation (OSMRE) Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA). The VISTA position will be located in Silverton, Colorado in the heart of the San Juan Mountains and the position has a start date of March 18.
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MSI and SCC are Now Accepting FC-FLIP Applications
FC-FLIP Connects regional college students and recent graduates with resource managers to gain the knowledge and skills – hands-on – of what it means to work with or for a federal agency. This rigorous, paid, 11-week career-building internship program offers an outstanding opportunity to learn from professionals in the field, build skills, and gain networking contacts - all while living in a beautiful place.
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Farm Runners is Looking for New Employees
Farm Runners is currently looking to make a few additions to our team based out of Hotchkiss, CO and are looking for team members to be located within the North Fork Valley. Positions start May/June with commitment through at least October. Applicants should have Interest in local foods, intuition, and positive communication skills. Positions include Local Food Sales and Distribution Driver, Retail Store Staff/Manager, and Pack House Administrative Professional.
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National Young Farmers Coalition Is Hiring
The National Young Farmers Coalition are finding themselves at an unprecedented moment of growth and transition
.
To build on their successes and expand the work of the Coalition, they are now recruiting the next generation of agricultural leaders to join their dynamic team. You can see a number of new postings, including Western Program Director and Development Director, in addition to the Executive Director posting on their website.
Apply by February 8th!
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Solar Energy International is Hosting Online Classes
Learn the theory and practical applications from instructors with real-world experience, using curriculum developed by an industry-leading team of experts. This course is applicable to all sizes of grid-direct PV systems including residential, commercial, and large-scale. This course trains PV technicians to safely and effectively perform O&M tasks, including inspections, commissioning, performance verification, and troubleshooting.
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Regional & Beyond
Further Resources and Opportunities
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Mountain West Seed Summit
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Join other regional seed stewards for this unique and empowering gathering created with the intention of advancing seed sovereignty in the Mountain West and beyond! The theme “Reunion of the Radicles” focuses on the radical aspects of the seed movement that challenge the dominant agricultural paradigm to create more just, abundant, and ecologically healing seed and food systems. The summit will feature dozens of presentations and workshops from regional and national speakers on topics ranging from seed sovereignty and regenerative farming to indigenous rights and eco-spirituality.
When: February 22 & 23
Where: Institute OF american Indian Arts (Santa Fe, NM)
Tickets: $150 daily / $295 2-day admission /
Youth/Student/Farmer: $150 for 2-day
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Calling All Farm and Ranch Women!
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Annie’s Project is an 18 hour course that is a discussion-based workshop bringing women together to learn from experts in production, financial management, human resources, marketing and the legal field. There's plenty of time for questions, sharing, reacting and connecting with presenters and fellow participants. It's a relaxed, fun and dynamic way to learn, grow and meet other farm and ranch women. Join your fellow farm and ranching women to become empowered!
When: February 28 - March 2
Where: Pagosa Springs, CO
Cost: $75 per person (meals included!)
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