'Bridge Day - Connecting Community and Environment

We each have answers! A big thank-you to everyone who participated in ‘Bridge Day by answering the questions we posed and congrats to the prize winners.

The following is a summary of the answers received for question 1, and are ranked in descending order by the number of responses for each: What is the most important environmental issue of our day?

Over-consumption of resources
Accumulation of waste
Global climate change
Water quality/Consumption
Lack of public awareness of environmental issues
Pollution
Loss of habitat
Unsustainable agricultural practices

All of these issues are pressing, concern our local Lethbridge environment and most importantly they are all interrelated!

Here are some of your suggestions for question 2: What can be done on campus and in the community to address these issues?

Over-consumption of resources
-Recycle paper/cardboard/glass/metal/batteries
(right here on campus!)
-Reuse plastic containers and glass jars
-Conserve electricity around your home

Accumulation of waste
-Bring your lunch to school in reusable containers
-Use a travel mug/ durable water bottle at school
-Shop with re-usable bags

Global Climate Change
-Ride a bicycle or walk for short travel distances
-Car pool to school
-Take a walk in the coulees!

Water Quality/ Consumption
-Conserve water usage
-Landscape with native prairie plants
-Do not put chemicals/ paint/ oil down storm sewer

Lack of public awareness of environmental issues
-Be an engaged, educated and active global citizen
-Share your knowledge with others
-Support groups and businesses that promote environmental causes

Pollution
-Drop off unwanted chemicals/paints/electronics at monthly Toxic round-up:
Apr 16, May 28, Jun 18, Jul 16, Aug 20, Sep 17, Oct 15
This event is held at DBS Environmental:
1430 33 St N, from 10am - 2pm

We hope that everyone has some lasting ideas of how to act locally to have a positive impact on global environmental issues. If you have any questions or would like to get involved in the club please contact us at: be.aware@uleth.ca

'Bridge Day Questions

To better focus action toward improving the sustainability of our City, individuals and organizations in the community must express their thoughts. In answering the following two questions, you will be contributing toward finding common solutions. A diversity of answers is expected, and no answer is right!

1. What is the most important environmental issue of our day?
2. What can be done on campus and in the community to address this issue?

To answer questions:
a) Click on "Comments" below this blog
b) Write your answers in the "Leave your comment section"
c) In "Choose an identity" click "Anonymous"
d) Click on "Login and Publish"


If you are on campus on 'Bridge Day (March 15th), you can also hand in the answers to these questions at the Be-Aware table, and you will have a chance to win a grand prize draw.

How Can We Address Environmental Issues on Campus?

As community centres for producing and exchanging knowledge, universities have a responsibility to be exemplary leaders in adopting environmentally sound practices (otherwise called "walking the talk"). Campuses across North America are currently mobilizing to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Students from all faculties at the University of Lethbridge can make a difference on campus by taking on Sustainability projects such as the Campus Climate Challenge and working with professors and university administration to find innovative solutions for real-world problems. Perhaps you could even get credit for your work!

The Be-Aware club invites students to join them in working toward the following goals, among others, at the UofL:

- Encourage the University to formally commit to Campus Climate Challenge initiatives, like the ones below, and create the necessary human resource positions to do so.
- Support the Alternative Transportation Initiative to make busses more accessible to the student population.
- Help determine the feasibility of alternative energy solutions, such as passive heat, solar, wind, and geothermal power in university buildings.
- Support energy and waste reduction initiatives such as energy efficiency retrofitting, recycling, and composting.
- Help broaden the scope of environmental and climate change education curricula across faculties on campus, such as the Faculties of Management and New Media.

Please contact Be-Aware (be.aware@uleth.ca) if interested!