SMC teach-in focuses on environment
SMC Global warming might be a worldwide issue but much like politics, all global issues are local.
That was the message during a day-long teach-in at Santa Monica College on Thursday, an event that addressed the issues of global warming and climate change and how the members of the campus community can do its part to effect positive environmental changes.
SMC was among the more than 1,000 colleges and universities nationwide that participated in the “National Teach-in on Global Warming Solutions” event, a concept developed as part of a national educational initiative called “Face the Nation.”
The event at SMC’s amphitheater, sponsored by various college associations and local radio station KPFK, featured a series of panel and roundtable discussions with college professors, civic and SMC leaders, examining the science behind global warming, studying the psychology, ethics and politics behind the issue, and identifying possible solutions to the problem.
“Today is indeed an historic landmark,” said Sherry Beall, the host of KPFK show “Healthy Planet, Healthy Me.”
The teach-in got a breather from the intense discussions during lunch time when 300 kindergartners watched a SMC student production of Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax,” an environmental tale about cutting down trees.
Heidi Hoeck, the president of the Associated Students, spoke of how lucky Americans are to be able to have access to food and safe drinking water, something that isn’t available in many third-world countries. She touched on the importance of the upcoming presidential election on environmental issues.
“It’s our responsibility to know the effects of what it is we’re voting for,” Hoeck said in an impassioned speech. “We have to own what we vote.”
The teach-in was the first on the topic of environmentalism at the college, according to Dr. Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein, the president of the Academic Senate.
“We have the focus of students on one issue from across all disciplines, regardless of whether they’re math or philosophy majors,” Tahvildaran-Jesswein said on The environmental event was highlighted by an announcement by SMC President Dr. Chui L. Tsang that he signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment on Thursday, agreeing the college will fulfill on a series of promises, such as completing an emissions inventory and taking immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Approximately 500 college and university presidents have signed the commitment.
“This action today is not just symbolic,” Tsang said at the event.“It holds Santa Monica College to an action plan with measurable outcomes — in other words, we have to demonstrate that we’ve put our green spirit where our mouth is.”
“To see what’s been done and what can be done.” — Thursday
The first professor panel discussion addressed the science and politics behind global warming, some of the panelists discussing what students could do to help the environment.
Geography Professor Pete Morris’ suggestion is to ride a bike, something he does everyday for two hours in his commute to the college from his home near LAX.
“In gasoline, I save about $500 a year,” Morris said. Professor Elham Gheytanchi spoke about the United Nations Decade on Water action plan, a program aimed at halving the number of people without clean water by 2015.
When the program kicked off in 2005, it was estimated that one out of six people do not have access to clean water.
Gheytanchi, who grew up in the Middle East, recalls having to conserve water, remembering days when there were power and water outages.
“We wouldn’t have safe drinking water and it was horrible,” she said. “Those days made me realize without water, there really is not life.”
Several hundred students attended the teach-in, many at the encouragement of their professors.
Elba Cabrera, a freshman at SMC, recently watched “An Inconvenient Truth” in her English class where the professor asked the students to attend the event.
Cabrera said she left the teach-in feeling inspired about environmental causes, comparing the Earth to a parent.
“We’re so hard-headed (like children) and do the opposite of what’s good for us,” she said.“In the long run, we realize the parent was right all along.”
College Board of Trustees Vice President Louise Jaffe, who attended the teach-in, said the college has come a long way in addressing global warming and climate causes, from constructing environmentally sound buildings and working to incorporate environmental issues into the curriculum of all disciplines.
“It’s a great college to be a part of,” she said. “We’re doing great stuff.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 1, 2008. Read the original PDF.