Lions Should Lead – Eco Action 2010-2013

Protect Spring Creek Canyon

Eco Action members protest against Penn State receiving part of Spring Creek Canyon area, previously owned by the Department of Corrections in 2010. They were concerned Penn State would no protect the land and either sell it to be developed or turn it into agricultural lands.

Clean Energy March 

Eco Action marched in 2010 to urge Penn State to switch to renewable energy as part of 350.orgs day of action on 10/10/10. They marched from the Steam Plant to Old Main where they delivered a letter to Penn State President Graham Spanier asking for transparency and inclusion of students on sustainability processes on campus.

   

   

Bashing Gas

As Penn State announced it switch from coal to natural gas in 2011, Eco Action and Greenpeace worked together to bring Greenpeace’s Rolling Sunlight truck to campus so students could learn about renewable energy alternatives to gas.

Pants Down FlashMob

Eco Action protested Penn State’s use of fossil fuels in 2010: “More Embarrassed about dirty fossil fuel use on campus.”

Eco Action Plank Flashmob

Eco Action planked outside of the HUB to encourage students to stand up and vote on November 8th, 2011 to pass the Environmental Bill of Rights for the State College Community that would protect this area from being fracked. Their campaign was ultimately successful.

 

HARD-Core Volunteering

Eco Action volunteered to help clean up Black Moshannon State Park, Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, and many other places through the 2010’s.

   

Protest Against Single Use Plastic

Eco Action continued the fight against single-use plastic on campus by building a large bottle made out of plastic bottles in front of Pattee library.

                   

 

 

Kyoto NOW! – Eco Action 2000-2009

Environmental Indicators Report

“A team of 30 students (both graduate and undergraduate) and several faculty mentors and young professionals conducted the research presented here. The members of the research team displayed great tenacity and creativity in collecting the data for the various indicators. They visited the Somerset County landfill that receives Penn State’s trash, journeyed to the open pit mines near Dubois that provide PSU’s coal, and walked through the local well fields that supply the University with water. And this was just a start. They went on to look into campus dumpsters to see what was being thrown away, to examine the food offerings in the dining halls, to study land transactions at the County deeds office, to calculate the loss of campus green space using maps in Pattee Library, to determine the numbers of exotic vs. native plants on campus through botanical surveys, to characterize the ecological literacy of graduating PSU seniors by administering questionnaires, and much more. These researchers conducted not an abstract educational exercise, but rather engaged in face-to-face interactions with Penn State’s complex and often invisible support systems and the people responsible for running them.

 

The intent of this report is not simply to supply answers but to raise questions. The questions center on ecological responsibility, research ethics, the wisdom of continual growth, the openness of decision making, the uncritical acceptance of technology, and the moral responsibilities of the University—in short, questions that are worthy of the attention of all vital institutions ” ~ PSU Environmental Indicators Report, 2000 

Rally Against Beef

“About 75 Penn State students and State College residents marched through campus Friday afternoon to rally against injustices committed buy the beef industry and celebrate the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle.” ~ Daily Collegian Article

Push for Disclosure of PSU Investment

Eco Action in partnership with campus chapters of ACLU and Amnesty International pushed Penn State to open its investment portfolio to the public in 2000.

“Penn State’s money speaks for us. Forty-thousand students put their name on that money and say “this is OK.” ~ Julian Catchen, PSU ACLU

Kyoto Now!

KyotoNOW! was a student movement across the US to get university to commit to lowering their greenhouse gas emissions. The first KyotoNOW! group was formed at Cornell but Penn State’s Eco Action followed suit with KyotoNOW! campaign that became the largest campaign of its kind in the nation.

Penguin Bus Ride

An Eco Action member dressed as a penguin and rode the Blue Loop to inform riders of greenhouse gasses and get support for the KyotoNOW! campaign. Signatures were collected of students in support of the campaign and were delivered to Old Main as part of the letter chain protest (below).

 

 

10% Wind Power Protest

Eco Action protested out front of Pattee Library to urge Penn State to make 10% of its energy wind-powered. They planted 4,000 flags and a mock windmill to draw attention to the cause.

 

2006 Sit-In and Letter Chain

Eco Action members staged a sit-in in Old Main to wait for a meeting with President Graham Spanier to negotiate ways to reduce the university’s greenhouse gas emissions. Eco Action also compiled a chain of 4,500 letters (half a mile long!) signed by PSU students to encourage the university to reduce their emissions.

    

The protest was a success and they were able to schedule a negotiation with Spanier. Gary Schultz, Senior Vice President for Finance and Business, said “The fundamental difference between us and the Eco Action students is their wanting the administration to agree to a certain date and specific reduction by that date, which are both somewhat arbitrary.”

Letter Delivery

     

Coal Burned in 1 min Demonstration

Kleenex Kill Trees

Eco Action students approached staff of Kimberly-Clark at their booth at the Supply Chain Career Fair to discuss Kimberly-Clark’s policies on the amount of recycled fiber in Kimberly-Clark products.

  

Earth Day

Earth Day celebrations continued, though documentation declined. One highlight is Bill McKibben who spoke at Earth Day in 2000. Here are pictures from Earth Days in the 2000’s:

  

Protests

Pictures from unknown protests in the 2000’s that Eco Action participated in:

 

We <3 Drum Circles - Eco Action 1995-1999

Boycott the Daily Collegian – Protest against Insert Advertisers

Eco Action protest against the paper advertisement inserts in the Daily Collegian.

 

To the left, Eco Action members participated in a protest where they acted as chopped Truffula trees outside Schwab Auditorium to urge students to use recycled products.

EcoPalooza 1995

Eco Action continued to tradition of EcoPalooza in 1995. They had several bands and dance groups preform, as well as a speaker about Burma.

 

 

Free the Planet Conference, Philly 1995

Eco Action Protested outside SUNOCO headquarters in Center City Philly to protest their placement of pollution-emitting refineries in the poor black areas of Philly: Environmental Racism.

   

Eco Action also protested on Independence Mall in Philly at the Environmental Bill of Rights Rally.

Drum Circles

Eco Action was really into drum circles in the 90’s. It was our thing.

 

Rally for Women’s Lives, Washington DC 1995

  

Earth Day 

Earth Day Birthday 1995

  

 

Earth Day 1996: The Eco-Bus

 

Earth Day 1997 – Ralph Nader

Eco Action had a record turn-out for Earth Day, thanks to their guest speaker, Ralph Nader.

Earth Day 1998

Earth Day of 1998 was not as well attended as Earth Day of 1997, but events carried on despite the rain.

1998 Postcard to Eco action

Think Globally, Act Locally – Eco Action 1992-1994

EcoPalooza

EcoPaolooza was a fall music festival held by EcoAction in the early 90’s.

       

Earth Day in the 90’s

Eco Action Earth Day celebrations continued, drawing large crowds despite several years of unfortunate weather. Every year, Eco Action helped the Penn State and State College community celebrate the earth with bands, crafts, and games.

Earth Day 1992:

       

Earth Day 1993:

 

Earth Day 1994:

A 1994 Daily Collegian article reported the general theme for the HUB ballroom was “Think globally, Act Locally”

Wolf Ambassadors

Wolves were brought to Penn State as part of the Wolf Ambassador Program where students learned about the return of wild wolves across the US.

      

PSU Recycling Program

The Penn State recycling program continued with bins in more locations and more piles of beer bottles than ever!

     

Cabin Weekend 1992

Eco Action spent a weekend in a cabin somewhere to hang out and enjoy good company (and finger paint).

  

Protest @ Pitt, 1994

Eco Action members joined lots of cool people, including Rusted Root, in Pittsburgh to protest the University of Pittsburgh’s investment in the Mt. Graham Telescope Project that would ruin habitat for the endangered red squirrel (the protest’s mascot). The protest was a success and the University of Pittsburgh did not invest.

Rusted Root preforming at the protest.

 

Because Good Planets are Hard to Find – Eco Action 1989-1990

Teach-In

1989 Earth Day CFC Protest 

Eco Action marched in New York City to demand the stop of the production of CFCs on Earth Day in 1989.

“Citizens in the United States and around the world demand that corporations drastically reduce the production of greenhouse gasses, including a halt in the production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)–deadly chemicals that are destroying the earth’s protective ozone shield, and contributing to the greenhouse effect which threatens all life on earth.” ~ 1989 Eco Action Poster

Official PSU Recycling Program Begins

Pennsylvania state law mandated that all schools, colleges, and universities have recycling programs by 1990, so Penn State phased in their recycling program in the fall of 1989. This ended the volunteer Eco Action recycling program.

“This is an opportunity for Penn State to provide leadership and show that we are concerned about the future of our environment.” ~ James Wagner, associate vice president for business and operations

Climate Change Awareness Continues

In collaboration with the Union of Concerned Scientists, Eco Action held a Global Warming awareness week from November 6-12, 1989. Dave Forman, the Co-Founder of Earth First, spoke in the HUB ballroom to a crowd of 400. Eco Action student’s also preformed “street theater” and handed out pamphlets about global warming.

“It is time to stop waffling so much. The evidence is pretty strong that the greenhouse effect is here” ~ James Hansen, head of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies

Eco Action Protests Radioactive Dump

Eco Action protested in front of Boucke Building agains dumping radioactive waste from nuclear power in Pennsylvania.

“Hell no, We don’t glow!”

1990 Earth Day

The PA House of Representatives congratulated Penn State Eco Action on their 20th anniversary on Earth Day 1990. At the the time we had over 400 members.

The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is pleased to recognize Eco-Action on its celebration of Earth Day 1990; praises its tireless commitment to preserving and protecting the environment; offers best wishes for continued growth and dedication to sustainable living.

The Eco Action held a 1990 Earth Day Celebration at the HUB. There were many films and speakers, including a Birds of Prey Show by Shaver’s Creek Raptor Rehabilitation Program with live birds of prey. There was also a skit of the Lorax and an Earth Cake 6 feet in diameter for everyone to share.