Eco Columbia

Writer Blair Mishleau is studying abroad in London this term. While there, he will be observing the differences across the pond in terms of sustainability and environmental action.

Blair Mishleau, reporting from London!

Different countries have different issues, from the type of weather they have to the way they obtain drinking water.

In terms of environmental action, London has strong and weak points compared to the states. Here’s a breakdown in the main differences.

+ Transport(ation) for London

With the oldest subway system in the world, Londoners are pretty down with taking public transportation, although they never add the –ation, it’s just transport. Their tube system goes far and wide, making it much more complex than the Chicago CTA.

Their system interconnects very well with the National Rail Service, as well. (This is the much nicer equivalent to Metra in Chicago.) You can use the same card you use on the tube on the National Rail, making transfers much quicker and less confusing.

They also have a massive fleet of famous double-decker buses, many of which are either hybrid, gas powered or efficient in some other way.

Add the lovely British lady who notifies you of stops, and you’re set!

(more…)

This holiday season, how about making it easy for a friend or family member to go green? For the next week, we’ll be helping you do just that. Check the blog to find daily gift ideas that won’t break the bank or, ya know, kill the earth.

This year, Americans sent over fifty million plastic bottles to landfills and, in the case of water bottles, it’s waste that is easy to prevent. We spend millions a year to make our tap water clean. So let’s drink it!

Using a reusable bottle saves both money and our planet, without sacrificing convenience. There are no less than a million and half different options out there but we decided to help you narrow it down in time for the holiday season. So here are a few of our favorites… (more…)

Poster design by Caro Griffin

Starting in the fall semester of 2010 The Columbia College Recycling Program will be building a campaign around our consumption and use of the natural resource water.

Given Columbia’s wealth of talented students, we want to showcase awareness about this issue through visual art. Our art installation project gives student’s the ability to visually represent this theme through the creation of flyers and posters. Submitted work will be displayed all over campus, in the library, and at The Columbia Chronicle newspaper stands. The chosen winner will get a FREE full-page ad in the Columbia Chronicle.

This opportunity will bring exposure to students while also drawing attention to growing environmental issues. We hope this will build a discussion on how social issues and art can relate. (more…)