EVENT on Apr. 18th ~ New Atlantis? Climate Disruption and New Orleans

Tulane Green Club and the New Orleans Group of the Sierra Club are teaming up to co-host an event about the affects of climate change on Louisiana on April 18th. The event will be catered by Whole Foods and open to the public. 

The New Atlantis? Climate Disruption and New Orleans

Thursday, April 18

7:00pm to 8:30pm

Tulane Law Clinic Building, Rm. 110

     New data about climate change and subsidence in Southeast Louisiana don't bode well for the future of our city. Can New Orleans survive rising seas, sinking soils, and more intense storms over the course of this century? Join NOAA scientist Tim Osborn, Tulane ecologist Bruce Fleury, and Jordan Macha and Devin Martin from the Sierra Club as we discuss the state of the science and what can be done to prevent New Orleans from becoming the New Atlantis.

Presented by the Tulane Green Club and the New Orleans Group of the Sierra Club

Earth Fest!

The earth is worth celebrating, and this Saturday we did just that. Earth Fest is a fun way for Audubon Zoo goers, both old and young, to learn about current environmental issues and solutions. We worked at the Sierra Club's booth and children approached us to receive a stamp for their green-themed scavenger hunt. They had to answer this question: What makes oysters, crawfish, and seafood inedible? We received some silly and adorable answers like vinegar and salt, but even most young New Orleans children were quick to think of oil (the answer we were looking for is more of an umbrella term, hint: it starts with a p and rhymes with shmollution). With older kids we talked about the changes Louisiana can expect to see with rising sea level which sparked some powerful discussion about our region's future. Overall it was a really rewarding day, and getting to walk around the zoo for free in the beautiful spring weather wasn't too shabby either.

Come to our meeting this Tuesday 7:30 in Boggs 104 to learn about more volunteer opportunities. Thanks for reading!

Emma
Executive Vice President 

No Impact Week--Event Update

Hey Everyone!

Saddly, we have to cancel the Nature Walk scheduled today.  But don't worry, you can come by for the picnic tomorrow!  We are meeting at the bell at 3, BYO-lunch, puppy, frisbie, friends, etc.

For Saturday, we are adding another volunteer/hang out option.  The zoo is hosting Earth Fest and we have the chance to volunteer with Sierra Club there.  If you're interested check out the facebook page.  Also the fest will be super fun and everyone is welcome to just come and hang out at the zoo!

Home everyone is doing good with your lists!

~Dan
  VP of Education and Campus Affairs

No Impact Week!

Hey Everyone!
            This Sunday is the kick-off of Green Club's Annual No Impact Week!  Based off of the movie No Impact Man, No Impact Week is a week-long environmental challenge with the a goal of having as small of a carbon footprint as possible. Its the time to go extreme and in the end hopefully you'll learn that a few changes in your daily routine have no impact on your quality of life, but a huge one on the quality of the environment.  To make this already sweet week even better, we're hosting an event nearly everyday!
They are:

Sunday- Start Your List!

             Monday 8_PM, Jones 102-Screening of “No Impact Man”
             Tuesday 7:30_PM, Leadership Lounge- Shirt Silk-Screening and BOSS Upcycling
             Wednesday 7:30_PM, Hebert 210- Green Panel, come talk to Eco-Professionals
             Thursday 4_PM- Guided Nature Walk
             Friday 3_PM- Picnic in the Park
             Saturday- Volunteer with Green Light New Orleans

Here is a copy of the pledge:

No Impact Week

1.     Name

2.     Tulane Email

3.     Challenge Yourself! What will you try to do this week?

            (The more you do the better, its only one week!)
¨  No meat
¨  No new products
¨  No “to-go” food
¨  No new printer paper
¨  Only use library computers (they are already on all day)
¨  No cars
¨  No paper towels
¨  No disposable water bottles
¨  Only short shower (try turning off the water why you shampoo!)
¨  No wasted food; clean plate club
¨  Compost your scraps
¨  No lights during the day
¨  No machine drying- hang your clothes up to dry
¨  No running water while brushing your teeth
¨  No chemical cleaners
¨  No plastic bags
¨  No cosmetics
¨  Unplug chargers when not in use
¨  Limit electronic use
¨  No TV
¨ Other:

You can come by the table we'll have quad side of the LBC at Thursday 12:30-2, during FAQ, Monday of No Impact Week 11-1 and 3-4 to sign-up.  Or it'd also be awesome for you to fill this out and send it to me (dcolema3@tulane.edu) or Susannah (shalbroo@tulane.edu) so we can keep up with all you no-impacters!

 

Get pumped! This week is going to be hard and a blast!

 

~Dan Coleman

  VP of Education and Campus Affairs

La. Coast Facing Grim Reality

The Advocate of Baton Rouge recently published "La. Coast Facing Grim Reality," an article highlighting new data that shows Louisiana's coast is far worse from sea level rise than we had originally thought. The low estimates are now 4.3 ft by the year 2100. That means the projection in this image are no longer even within the optimistic end.

In response to this article, I wrote a letter to the editor addressing the proposed Ram LLC coal export terminal to be built in Plaquemines Parish on the exact same site as a river diversion project to rebuild the coast. Here is the letter and a link to the Advocate's page

Letter: Ram coal project a reckless risk

MARCH 04, 2013

15 COMMENTS

The article “La. coast facing grim reality” republished in The Advocate highlights new data that shows that Louisiana is likely to see “the highest rate of relative sea-level rise on the planet.”

Tim Osborn, the expert quoted in the article, mentioned at Tulane’s Environmental Law Summit recently that the estimates range from 4.3 to 9.5 feet by the end of the century. Given Southeast Louisiana’s average elevation of only 3 feet, we have a lot at stake.

As of yet, we have consistently met, if not exceeded, climate scientists’ worst-case projections for sea-level rise. Louisiana must take serious action to not only adapt to rising seas from climate change, but also to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions wherever possible.

One obvious way to reduce our state’s contribution to our own destruction is for the state to reject the proposed Ram LLC coal export terminal to be built near Myrtle Grove in Plaquemines Parish. This new terminal would allow more carbon-intensive coal to be burned and its greenhouse gases to add to sea-level rise affecting Louisianans.

Even worse, it is sited on the exact spot that the state has determined is best for a river diversion project that could help rebuild coastal wetlands southeast of New Orleans. The state government is implementing its master plan for a sustainable coast to help protect us from rising seas and hurricanes.

The state government has the authority to reject the Ram coal terminal. Louisiana residents will be displaced with these rising seas, but we have the power to minimize the amount of people affected.

To put its own restoration plan at risk and flirt with dirty coal terminals at the expense of Louisianians is not only unwise, it is reckless.

Nick Stracco

Tulane University student

New Orleans

Thanks for reading.

NS ~ President, Tulane Green Club

A green and delicious weekend

Much of this weekend was spent at Tulane's own Environmental Law Summit, seeing awesome presentations about eclectic topics including GMOs, sea level rise in the gulf, green economics, the BP oil spill, copper mining in Alaska, and a talk from green business owner and keystone speaker Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia. Becoming well informed can build up an appetite, so in classic Green Club style we hosted a potluck dinner.

 Chernoff, Wil, and Sam brought overwhelming amounts of delicious fresh arugula!

 

 Screen printing stencils made by our own executive board members, Susannah and Dan

Complete with good friends and good food, the night was an overwhelming success.


Emma
Executive Vice Prez
 

Hullabaloo Article // Environmental Law Summit

Tulane's newspaper, The Hullabaloo, has just published a piece on our trip to the Forward On Climate rally in DC. It includes some fantastic photographs from our very own Sam Moore.
Check out the article here 

Tulane Law's annual Environmental Law Summit is this weekend. It is completely free to the public and has some great speakers, including the founder of Patagonia. Check out www.summit.law.tulane.edu to find when each event is happening throughout the weekend. Hope to see you there!



Nick
President ~ Tulane Green Club