Earth Day
April 21st, 2009 is Earth Day, the one day a year we exclusively give back to our planet. There are many ways to get involved in your community as well in your home. Take the time to clean up your home, neighborhood and community and recycle whatever you clean up. For more way to get involved in your community visit www.EarthDay.net.
History of Earth Day
The idea for Earth Day evolved over a period of seven years starting in 1962. For many years, the state of our environment was simply a non-issue in the politics of the country. In November 1962, an idea occurred to Senator Gaylord Nelson that would put the environment into the political “limelight” once and for all. The idea was to persuade President Kennedy to give visibility to this issue by going on a national conservation tour. The President began his five-day, eleven-state conservation tour in September 1963. For many reasons the tour did not succeed in putting the issue onto the national political agenda. However, it was the germ of the idea that ultimately flowered into Earth Day.
Senator Nelson continued to speak on environmental issues to a variety of audiences in some twenty-five states. All across the country, evidence of environmental degradation was appearing everywhere, and everyone noticed except the political establishment. The environmental issue simply was not to be found on the nation’s political agenda. The people were concerned, but the politicians were not.
After President Kennedy’s tour, many earth lovers hoped for some idea that would thrust the environment into the political mainstream. Six years would pass before the idea that became Earth Day occurred while Senator Nelson was on a conservation speaking tour out West in the summer of 1969. At the time, anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, called “teach-ins,” had spread to college campuses all across the nation. Why not organize a huge grassroots protest over what was happening to our environment?
At a conference in Seattle in September 1969, Senator Nelson announced that in the spring of 1970 there would be a nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment and invited everyone to participate. The wire services carried the story from coast to coast. The response was electric. It took off like gangbusters. Telegrams, letters, and telephone inquiries poured in from all across the country. The American people finally had a forum to express its concern about what was happening to the land, rivers, lakes, and air - and they did so with spectacular exuberance.
On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was held. People all over the country made promises to help the environment. Everyone got involved and since then, Earth Day has spread all over the planet. People all over the world know that there are problems we need to work on and this is our special day to look at the planet and see what needs changing.
Green Jobs and the Economy
On Tuesday March 31st 2009, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections of the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing that examined green jobs and their role in our nation’s economic recovery. The purpose of the hearing was to define the term green jobs, classify factors that grow green jobs, articulate the skills workers will need for green jobs, and identify how we can educate our future workforce for these jobs. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act sets aside $500 million in competitive Workforce Investment Act grants to help train American workers for green jobs in the renewable energy and energy-efficiency industries.
GREEN JOBS
You have white collar jobs, and you have blue collar jobs…. and now you have green collar jobs. Green jobs are jobs within the environmental sectors of the economy. Generally, they implement environmentally conscious design, policy, and technology to improve conservation and sustainability. There’s a growing movement in the business world to increase social responsibility. A sustainable green economy simultaneously values the importance of natural resources and inclusive, equitable, and healthy opportunities for all communities.
Here is list of popular green jobs:
- Green Business Owners
- Organic Farmers
- Environmental Lawyers
- Ecology Educators
- Ecotechnology Workers
- Solar Energy Engineers
- Wind Energy Engineers
- Green Building Architects
- Environmental Consultants
- Conservation Movement Workers
- Green Vehicle Engineers
GREEN JOB GROWTH
Vital to fighting global warming, experts say, is the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases, predominantly carbon dioxide.
The main cause of global warming is human activity, particularly carbon emissions from residential and commercial buildings, power plants and transportation, according to scientists.
Eileen Claussen, president of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, said green jobs will burgeon in various new technologies needed to fight global warming.
“If we really are serious about addressing global warming, we will need new technology in transportation, energy technology-renewable [energy], technology related to carbon capture and sequestration, new building-related technology [to cut emissions from buildings], air conditioning, insulation, windows, light [fixtures],” Claussen said. “But I think you have to balance that with jobs in old technology that will go away. The world is going to change, and every time you have a change there are winners and losers.”
Still, she said she believes there will be an overall growth in green jobs.
Claussen said addressing global warming will drive a need for non-technology-related jobs, as well: state and national government officials to write rules about how new technologies are used; economists to evaluate costs and benefits of investments; and international negotiators to hammer out global frameworks as technology expands.
“No sector of the economy will be untouched,” Claussen said.
Project571, Organic College Apparel
Project571 is the world’s first all organic college apparel company. Educating people on the effects of climate change and what can be done in our daily lives to reduce our carbon footprint begins in our grade schools, our high schools, and in our universities. Project571 is proud to be the first all organic collegiate apparel company in the world. We give students, fans, faculty, and alumni the option to show their support for the environment while supporting their favorite university. All of the apparel is made from organic cotton or a mixture of recycled polyester and organic cotton. We use water based non-toxic environmentally friendly inks on all our apparel and only non toxic cleaners and chemicals during production.
Project571 also designs and markets organic alternative apparel also also made from organic cotton and water based environmentally friendly ink.
Organic Cotton
What exactly is organic cotton and what are the benefits? Organic cotton is grown without the use of petroleum based chemical pesticides and insecticides. These pesticides high are highly toxic and can cause cancer, headaches and other health problems especially in infants and young children. They also wash into the soil and eventually make their water into our water supply. Cotton is the second most pesticide and insecticide laden crop in the world next to corn.
Infants and Young Children
The younger you are the more susceptible you are to toxic chemicals. This it true not only from the toxic chemicals in conventional cotton, but also a variety of other things including VOC paint that often covers the walls of nursery and children’s bedrooms. Project571 offers a whole line of collegiate infant apparel including onesies, bibs, and youth t-shirts.
Universities We Currently Offer
Project571 is continuously working to add new universities to our line of organic t-shirts, sweatshirts, sweat pants, sweat shorts, infant and youth apparel. If you don’t see your favorite university, check back later as we are as we add green minded universities every month.
Here is a list of the universities we currently offer:
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Michigan State University is one of the top athletic schools in the nation and enjoys a large following in the Midwest. With an enrollment of over 46,000 and only a 3 hour drive from Chicago many alumni reside in the city. Michigan State’s continued success in athletics as well as its tireless support of the environment has made them a prefect fit for our unique organic product. For organic Michigan State Spartans T-Shirts and Apparel visit www.Project571.com.
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Indiana University is a 5 time NCAA basketball champion and enjoys a nationwide following of their basketball program. Indiana has an enrollment around 38,000 and has long been a top seller of collegiate apparel. Indiana’s campus wide effort on environmental education and large national following make them an ideal university for our unique brand of collegiate apparel. For organic Indiana Hoosiers T-Shirts and Apparel visit www.Project571.com.
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
The University of Iowa has an enrollment of over 28,800 and enjoys statewide support from their loyal fan base. Due to their lack of professional teams within the state, Iowa has long been at the state’s epicenter when it comes to fan support. Project571 is proud to have Iowa as a partner. For organic Iowa Hawkeye T-Shirts and Apparel visit www.Project571.com.
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY
DePaul is the largest Catholic institution in the United States with a student population of more than 23,000. DePaul is Chicago’s hometown university located in the heart of Lincoln Park. This affluent neighborhood is home to thousands of alumni from schools all over the country making them a perfect partner for Project571. For organic DePaul Blue Demons T-Shirts and Apparel visit www.Project571.com.
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO
Loyola is made up of four campuses: three in the Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy. Loyola has an enrollment of more than 14,500 and is one of the largest Jesuit universities in the United States. In 2008, the first annual Loyola Eco Fair was held in Chicago put forth by their own Student Environmental Alliance (SEA) to raise awareness on local environmental issues. Their downtown location, large following in Chicago and dedication to helping the environment make them a perfect fit for our organic product. For organic Loyola of Chicago Ramblers T-Shirts and Apparel visit www.Project571.com.
WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY
Although not a Midwestern or Big Ten University, Wake Forest University enjoys an incredible fan base stemming from their successful athletic programs and also gave Project571 its first ACC partner. Wake Forest jumped at the opportunity to show their support for the environment to their faulty, students, fans and alumni. We look forward to the partnership with them and hope to add many more East Coast universities in the future. For organic Wake Forest Demon Deacons T-Shirts and Apparel visit www.Project571.com.
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Arizona State University is one of the largest public universities in the United States with an enrollment of more than 57,000 students. They also provide Project571 the luxury of having its first Pac-10 university from the Green-Minded West Coast. ASU is so green minded they even created a school called The Arizona State Global Institute for Sustainability, so we are very proud to have them as a partner. For organic Arizona State Sun Devils T-Shirts and Apparel visit www.Project571.com.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
Northern Illinois University has a student enrollment of more than 23,000 and a main campus in DeKalb, Illinois that covers more than 750 acres. The University has four satellite campuses, including two in Chicago-area suburbs. NIU enjoys a large following in the Chicagoland area due to their recent success in football. For organic Northern Illinois Huskies T-Shirts and Apparel visit www.Project571.com.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO
UIC has an enrollment of more than 25,000 students, and remains true to its roots as a medical training institution and the nation’s largest medical school. Located just south of downtown Chicago, UIC now competes is 18 Division 1 men’s and women’s athletic programs. For organic UIC Flames T-Shirts and Apparel visit www.Project571.com.
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Western Michigan University has an enrollment of more than 26,000 and is located in nearby Kalamazoo, Michigan. WMU is dedicated to educating their students on the environment making them an ideal partner. For organic Western Michigan Broncos T-Shirts and Apparel visit www.Project571.com.
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (OHIO)
Miami is known as one of the nation’s eight “Public Ivies,” with an enrollment of more than 16,000. Chicago is home to thousands of Miami of Ohio alumni making them a perfect partner for Project571. For organic Miami of Ohio Redhawks T-Shirts and Apparel visit www.Project571.com.
THE FACTS
According to the Organic Trade Association, organic cotton sales in the US grew from $160 million in 2005 to $2.8 billion in 2008.
Petroleum Based Pesticides
Chemical pesticides and insecticides are made from fossil fuels, a nonrenewable energy source and a leading cause of global warming. They also wash into our soil eventually making their way into our rivers and oceans. An environmentally friendly option is to use a “natural” or “organic” pesticide around your home or garden. Organic pesticides are usually considered pesticides that come from natural sources. These natural sources are usually plants or minerals.
PROJECT571
Conventionally grown cotton accounts for more than 25% of worldwide insecticide use and 10% of pesticide use. Organic Cotton is cotton grown without the used of petroleum based pesticides. Organic cotton sales have swelled from $160 million in 2005 to $2.8 billion in 2008. Project571 is a all organic college apparel company and the only company in the world to use all organic cotton. To learn more visit www.Project571.com.
Even if a product is considered to be organic, it is still a pesticide. It is important to be careful when using any pesticide, organic or not. Just because a product is thought to be organic, or natural, does not mean that it is not toxic. The big difference is organic pesticides break down after use and don’t harm the environment.
To learn more about Organic Pesticides visit www.arbico-organics.com.
THE FACTS
Organic pesticides break down after use and don’t harm the environment.
Pay For Your Garbage
The United States is responsible for a third of the world’s garbage, 75 to 95 percent of which could be recycled. Even things that are too big to be collected on the street, like electronics or furniture, are still recyclable at local drop off areas. Our garbage is taken to landfills and buried, but out of sight out of mind is not always the best solution. Landfills emit methane gas, one of the many causes of global warming. They also leak toxic materials into the surrounding soil and water, which eventually make their way back to us. Solution? Recycle everything you can - and one way your city can help ensure that people do that is to make people pay for their garbage. A controversial topic of course, but it’s one you should support.
PAY AS YOU THROW
PAYT, or pay-as-you-throw, is a growing trend in our country. PAYT programs make people pay a certain amount, usually $1, for every bag of garbage or garbage can collected on the street. This encourages people to recycle everything they can so they create the least amount of garbage. Having your recyclables picked up, of course… is free.
THE FACTS
The average American produces 4.5 pounds of garbage every day.