The collaboration between USD’s Sustainability Program and members of the Vermillion includes a seven-day slate of events to celebrate Earth Day, highlighted by a discussion and lecture presentation from world-renown environmental author Frances Moore Lappé at 7 p.m. on April 22. Lappé’s lecture, “The World We Want,” will address how to develop an “Eco Mind” as well as new material from an upcoming book World Hunger: Twelve Myths. There will be a reception and book signing following the lecture.

“We are excited that Frances Moore Lappé is able to come to USD for Earth Day,” said Meghann Jarchow, Ph.D., an assistant professor of sustainability at USD. “Ever since she came out with ‘Diet for a Small Planet’in 1971, she has been an international leader on sustainability-related issues. In her most recent book ‘EcoMind: Changing the Way We Think to Create the World We Want,’ she describes how our current sustainability challenges are largely due to a maladaptive worldview instead of unsolvable problems. Her message is positive and encouraging, which is a perfect message for Earth Day.”

In the spirit of the week’s theme, Earth (Every) Day, the Sustainability Program and its community partners will feature a Sustainability Fair for USD students in the Muenster University Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on April 22. Students will have an opportunity to learn about local environmental topics and discover ways of living more sustainably. Other events include a discussion of Lappé’s books at the Vermillion Public Library at 7 p.m. on April 21; a sustainability festival in downtown Vermillion from 5 to 7 p.m. on April 24; a tour of local food options at the Heikes Family Farm from 1 to 6 p.m. on April 25; a hike at North Alabama Bend from 10 a.m. to noon on April 26; an herb walk from 2 to 4 p.m. on April 26; and a series of presentations known as Pecha Kuchas in the MUC from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on April 23.

“Earth (Every) Day will be an opportunity to celebrate all of the progress that we are making at USD and in the Vermillion community toward environmental conservation,” Jarchow said. “We will be having more than 15 events that include more than 30 organizations on campus and in the community. We hope that Earth (Every) Day 2014 will act as a catalyst to encourage people from around the area to work towards increasing the sustainability of their lives.”

The weeklong celebration gives the campus and Vermillion community time to enjoy, educate and connect with the environment. It is also a great chance to meet people who are working on environmental issues at the university, in the community and around the region. For more information, please contact Jarchow at Meghann.Jarchow@usd.edu or visit the website www.SustainableVermillion.org; follow them on Twitter @USDGreenTeam, #EarthEveryDay and #USDEarthDay2014; or “friend” the club on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SustainabilityAtUSD.

Press Contact
Hanna DeLange
Contact Email usdnews@usd.edu
Contact Website website

You May Also Like