Environmental Affairs Board - Blog

Eat-In at UCSB: Demanding our right to local, healthy food with community in mind!

mdiebolt — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:28:31 +0000

By Marissa Diebolt, UCSB 4th Year Undergraduate

At 11:45 am on the morning of Thursday, April 26th, 2011, I was thinking to myself, “Please, let this work.” Standing in the middle of the Arbor at UCSB gazing at the white tablecloths running down the length of our dining table seated for 75 people, freshly picked flowers in vases, and home cooked food at every other seat, I was amazed to see the vision my group had created finally come to fruition. An enormous “Occupy the Food Supply!” poster hung on one end of the tables, a soapbox, display by the Isla Vista Food Co-Op, and a comparison between organic and conventional produce stood at the other end.

Many showed up right before noon and the event started a few minutes late, but at 12:10 when Environmental Studies professor David Cleveland began speaking and questioning the workings of our food system, I began to feel more at ease as an event organizer. Additional participants filtered in, bringing heaping dishes of food. Students walking by were struck by our dramatic event. The Eat-In, located at the center of the UCSB campus, was a statement like no other before. The magic of offering free food and smiles? People actually participate!

As we kindly encouraged curious passersby to join us at the table and become educated on our food system, and taste a little bit of our delicious, healthy, and local food (and believe me, they did-we had about 80 people either seated or gathered at the table by 12:30), I was on cloud nine. I overhead and participated in some great conversations and sampled some delicious food, although I really was a bit too excited to eat, to be honest. Many fellow students I talked with are now looking into joining a CSA at a local farm, and the dramatic comparison in nutrients between conventional and organic produce truly convinced many to support organic because of their higher nutrient content! Both the Santa Barbara Independent and the Bottom Line (a local student run newspaper) were doing interviews, and several other students and I got up to the soapbox and voiced our demands and shared our motivations for holding this protest.

So what was my motivation behind holding this Eat-In, a public potluck-meets protest, in the middle of my university campus? I am a college student after all, and as we all know it, the cost of food is definitely a determining factor in many students’ food choices. More importantly, however, I am a human being, and as a human, I have a right to: 1) have access to fresh, local, and healthy food, free of pesticides, sprays, GMOs, and the like, and 2) KNOW what is being put in my food via labels. I feel it is my obligation as a human to inform other human beings of the dangers associated with our industrial agriculture system, to withdraw all support from “Big Ag.,” but more importantly, to support the local food system. Santa Barbara is fortunate enough to have a vibrant, high-producing agricultural system and broad availability of fresh produce and foods year-round, with plenty of organizations involved in sustaining our local food supply. However, the unfortunate fact is that approximately 95% of food consumed is Santa Barbara County is imported (260,900,000 lbs), and 99% of what is grown in Santa Barbara County is exported- (2,360,800,000 lbs) annually.* What is grown and eaten in Santa Barbara County only makes up a mere 8,500,000 lbs, and is a serious problem that needs to be addressed directly.

I feel the Eat-In was a true success, and I would love to see more events like this sprout up all over Santa Barbara County, and even our state, and country. I have a million ideas streaming in and out of my mind on how to provide everyone, especially those in areas of lower incomes and/or higher obesity rates access to healthy, fresh food. This can be achieved by implementing community and school garden programs, nutrition lessons, and utilizing the ideals behind urban agriculture, slow food, permaculture and other practices. I feel the next step for me personally, as I look into my life post-graduation this coming June, is to become involved in under-resourced communities teaching the basics of gardening and health, continuing to educate and promote the importance of local, healthy food. However, I am just one person, and there are many roadblocks ahead to achieving access to real food for all people of our nation, and it will take many more individuals, just like you and I, to start this revolution. The trend of “local,” “organic,” and “sustainable” is becoming more prominent in today’s society, and it is important to keep in mind the integrity of this food revolution in a country based on profit and convenience. Nonetheless, I am optimistic in knowing that Eat-In events, like the one held at UC Santa Barbara, can be the initiation for change in the path towards taking back control of our food system; a path I encourage everyone to take.

*information provided by David Cleveland and the UCSB Santa Barbara County Agrifood Systems Research Group. More info:http://es.ucsb.edu/faculty/cleveland/CV/pub.htm

Original article posted on the Ca Food & Justice Coalition Blog: http://cafoodjustice.org/2012/05/07/eat-in-at-ucsb-demanding-our-right-to-local-healthy-food-with-community-in-mind/

Channel Islands Restoration Trip

mmcarthy — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:30:52 +0000

On February 1st 6 EABers got the chance to ditch class for the wonderful opportunity to visit Anacapa Island. We got the chance to explore edge to edge, eat on the cliffs of inspiration point, oh ya, and we did some restoration too.

It was a great crew. Our group was paired with a group of workers from the zoo which made for a great group, lots of laughs and singing. And the hard work was actually quite relaxing. Planting plants overlooking the endless blue ocean, not a bad way to go. We didn’t even have to dig the holes, just plop a plant in a hole and throw some dirt on it.

A wonderful day, maybe next time we can camp out with the foxes on Santa Cruz!

-Michelle

January Happenings.

mdiebolt — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:22:42 +0000

Hey there everyone. January has come and gone and we’ve done so many wonderful things these past few weeks! Here’s just a reminder of all the lovely events:

Carrot Mob at Coffee Cat on State St. run by the Community Environmental Council with the help of our Sustainable Business Coordinator Keni.

Hike from Steven’s Park, beautiful day!

CAB/EAB hike to Tangerine Falls (this wasn’t even the whole group!!)

The launch of the Compost Pilot Project: installing composting components to 6 berthas on campus to divert waste from landfills!

CPP Waste Audit-With the launch of the Compost Pilot Project in full force, it is necessary to audit waste entering our trash bins on campus to get an understanding of what type of trash is being disposed.

Delicious cabbage salad made by a friend from UCLA for the Central Coast Potluck hosted by Chelsea, our State-Wide Affairs Coordinator.

Not all of our amazing events were included, but this was a great majority of the work we’ve been doing so far!

Peace, love, and trees

-Marissa

Updates From Your New Historian

mdiebolt — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:56:38 +0000

Hey all you lovely environmentalists, Marissa here. I’m back from Studying abroad in Singapore and have a few photos to share with you of this past week back up in SB.

A big warm welcome from EAB Core

We had a great time on our Winter 2012 Core Retreat and talked about some amazing and exciting projects coming up this quarter and next. Hope you’re as excited as we all are!

Beautiful Zaca Lake Retreat

What better setting to share stories, ideas, and EAB love? Zaca Lake Retreat is just a stone’s throw away in Los Olivos. If you ever get a chance to visit, check it out!

just hanging out

Our lovely Co-Chair Natasha monkeying around

Rattlesnake Canyon Hike

We had an incredible turnout for our first hike of the quarter to Rattlesnake Canyon this past Sunday 1/15/12. 14 people total (myself not pictured) including friends visiting from Chico, and exchange students from Spain and Italy. Thanks for making it out guys!

More updates to come!

Much Love,

Marissa

Unwanted Mail

ncolley — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:16:32 +0000

I am inundated with unwanted mail, including local publications.

For example,The Montecito Messenger began sending me it’s newspaper, which I never requested. Not wanting to receive it at my home, I called its offices, and asked that it not be sent to me. Still, it keeps coming. The same thing I tried some time ago with Casa and other local publications to no avail. How many times must we call to be removed from unwanted mailings?

Perhaps 90% of the publications sent this way end up being tossed without being read; hopefully they are recycled. In our society, we truly have an epidemic of unwanted mail. It uses much energy to produce, transport, and to recycle all this mail. Also, a terrible destruction of trees occurs to produce it, and a lot of toxic ink is used as well. Massive clearcuts mar our national forests, destroying critical wildlife habitat, in order to create wood and paper products. An alternative is to use postconsumer recycled paper and soy ink, but of course that’s more expensive.

It costs a lot of money to create all this stuff. The cost of producing it as well as mailing it ends up being passed down to all of us–the advertisers pay for the “free publications”, and we end up paying more to buy their products or services.

How much does it cost to send the Montecito Messenger to all Montecito residents, as that newspaper proudly proclaims? I find these local publications interesting, and may read them from time to time. But they are readily available in front of stores, so why do they need to be delivered to everyone?

Years ago, I had a similar problem with unwanted phone calls from telemarketers. Government came to the rescue and created a “no call” list. I signed up, and the calls ceased.

Perhaps, Supervisor Carbajol would be willing to create a local “no unwanted mail” list that residents could sign to stop advertisements and publications. It could be tried on a voluntary basis, and if that doesn’t work, if businesses ignore our requests to not receive this mail, it could become involuntary with penalties, as is the case with the “no call” list. Obviously, the first amendment would not allow prohibition of unwanted mail for non-profits or political purposes, but the majority of the mail is advertising. And the merchants could still put their advertisements in stands in front of local stores, or send them to customers who don’t sign the “no unwanted mail” list.

Anyone who does not want to receive the Montecito Messenger can call (805) 564-6001 and try to cancel it. Also, Casa Magazine can be reached at 965-6448.

If Supervisor Carbajal hears from enough people, he may want to create such a “no unwanted mail” list. I’m sure local environmental organizations would love to help him. Persons interested can call his office or their own supervisor at (805) 568-2190.

Greening Our Economy

ncolley — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:13:50 +0000

The number of problems the U.S. faces today seems to be infinite. Whether you have come to this realization through opening up your CNN homepage or even the walk from the Davidson Library to the Arbor, I’m sure you have been confronted by headlines, news articles, active petitioners pining for your attention regarding issues of unemployment among veterans and the poverty line, the raise in tuition prices and educational program cuts, oil drilling and the environmental movement. Often times they are presented as separate issues disregarding any sense of interconnection. But in fact, these issues are connected at the core and can be solved by a single solution: Green Jobs.
Van Jones, the former Green Jobs White House advisor to president Obama came to the Marjorie Luke Theatre on October 29th, to speak of the connection between our economy, environment and everything in between, advocating for the promising future of Green Jobs. UCSB students of Environmental Affairs Board members listened as Jones talked about the “next generation”, our generation’s responsibility to halt the exploitation of earth’s resources by big business and individuals.
Jones’s main point is simple: America needs to invest in its renewable resources and in its citizens. There is an environmental demand as well as an economic demand to create jobs that are stable and renewable. Jones outlined this in his lecture, as well as his book, The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems, utilizing the idea of “the fourth quadrant” to make his point. The fourth quadrant relies on the horizontal and vertical intersection between the environment and the economy. Jones uses the environment as the horizontal axis running from “gray problems” to “green solutions” and uses the economy as the vertical axis running from “rich” to “poor.” Our focus point is the quadrant represented by “green solutions” and the “poor”, the fourth quadrant.
He also highlighted the connection between “the fourth quadrant” and the core aim of the Occupy Wall Street Movement. The nation should be encouraging the top 1% to invest in the 99% to empower the 100% with protection of mother earth at the forefront of our minds. Providing and creating green jobs particularly among poorer U.S. communities while encouraging innovation coming from all communities and individuals.
Our nation’s array of problems will not be solved overnight, but we have reached a point at which urgency for solutions that work are a necessity. We need to realize the green movement is not just about awareness and the failed economy is not just about unemployment. If the world lacks trailblazers, architects and builders, this movement will not succeed. America needs a national community coming together for the greater good of the environment and the economy. From there, we can think globally.

Five Environmental Choices

ncolley — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:12:21 +0000

Well, I’m glad that you ignored the environmental title of this article informing you that this was not the Wednesday Hump and that, unfortunately, you’re an entire day late for the article you were truly hoping to peruse. Perhaps you just have some time to kill in the UCen between classes or maybe you’re truly happy to see that the Daily Nexus has included an environmental column in its pages.
This column has been designated for the purpose of increasing the environmental knowledge that you obtained while sitting in Environmental Studies 1 (which you took as your Science G.E. freshman year) with the hopes that through the following weeks you will be inspired to change some of your daily practices for those of a more sustainable nature.
I’m assuming this is where some of you have decided that you’ve had enough of the liberal eco-hippy mumbo jumbo and are considering placing this (recyclable) paper in the trash. I urge you not to do that until you take a quick gander at the five quick easy things I believe everyone on campus or in Isla Vista can do to live a bit more sustainably. Note: these are not the only things you can change nor are they the most sustainable choices you can make.
1) Shower less. America is one of very few countries where a fifteen-minute shower is the norm. What are we even doing in there? Did you know that it’s actually bad for your hair to wash it every day? Take a day off and just take a rinse or, better yet, consider taking a shower every other day. Turn off the water while you shave. If you know you’re heading to the gym later, don’t take a shower now! I know there’s a cute boy/girl there but you’re going to be sweaty anyway and I’m sure they’ll respect your water conservation by only taking one shower… later you can conserve even more by showering together!
2) Change your eating habits. I’m not telling you to become a vegan or only eat local food. I’m not even telling you to buy organic. I’m simply saying that by adding a few more sustainable choices into your diet (even just once in awhile) you’ll be helping to cut back on your foodprint. A few quick ideas? Follow the lead of the Environmental Affairs Board and Campus Dining and go meatless on Mondays! Check out the local Farmers Market for local, delicious, and seasonal produce (which is normally raised with organic practices even though many of the farms cannot afford an organic certification). Check out the IV Food Co-op! They have local food, organic food, vegan food, raw food, and more! Or, if you’re determined to eat steak produced in Argentina non-organically and shipped to America for every meal, pair it with a local beer or wine (only if you’re above the age of 21 of course)… the microbreweries around here are so much tastier than the Nattie Light you drink at parties.
3) Bike to your next appointment. I’m going to hazard a guess that you’re one of the majority of students at UCSB and that you have a bike (whether or not you actually purchased it). Consider biking to Albertsons or even all the way to downtown next time you have a trip! It’s great exercise, a great way to enjoy the beautiful Santa Barbara weather, and it saves gas and a lot of money.
4) Save electricity. Go stargazing instead of sitting inside with your lights on at night. Note to guys: girls find this really romantic and you may find something else to do with the lights off later. Enjoy the outdoors! Watching a TV show about people hiking and surfing is nowhere near as fun as trying them by yourself. Unplug your electronics when they are not in use. It may take a few seconds less to toast your bread if the toaster is already plugged in, but you’ll save on your electricity bill (which is good because we’re starving college students after all). Instead of playing video games, try playing old school card games like Euchre every now and again. Instead of facebooking the girl/boy you’ve been playing games with, try actually talking to them in person.
5) Stop buying plastic water bottle. Those of you who did take Environmental Studies 1, 2, or 3 or even those of you who are Environmental majors have had this told to you over and over and it shows! It’s definitely stylish to have a reusable water bottle instead of a plastic one. And if you’re still sure that you can taste the difference between bottled water and tap water, invest in a Brita filter or at the very least RECYCLE your water bottles. They are a huge waste and end up, more often than not, in a landfill or in our ocean.
More than anything, I’d just like to see you try to make a tiny change wherever you can. If you’re dead set on water bottles, recycle them and try to lower your waste in other ways. There are easy opportunities for making a change in our world all around us so try avoiding those bananas from Ecuador or buy shade-grown teas and coffees when you can… the important thing is that you try.

Farmers’ Market Comparison Tool

mseesangrit — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 02:27:30 +0000

Have you ever wanted to find all of the farmers markets near your home? Most Gauchos know about the Goleta and Santa Barbara farmers market, but where will you shop for fresh and organic produce when you go home for winter break?

Evan Thomas, a 4^th year UCSB student, has paired with FindTheData.org to create a farmers markets comparison tool. The interactive tool allows users to search for farmers markets based on their location, type of food sold and accepted forms of payment. The tool also allows users to make a side-by-side comparison of different farmers markets. The data comes directly from the US Department of Agriculture, but anyone can edit or add a farmers market listing.

Find the Best Farmers Markets

Evan is working on some other resourceful tools for environmentally conscious Gauchos, including a tool for finding E-Waste Recycling Centers in California and a Greenhouse Gas Emissions comparison. He’s also working on a database of plants that allows users to search for plants by growth habitat, growth rate, shade tolerance and bloom period. He hopes that these tools will help UCSB students conduct research and practice sustainable consumerism.

Feel free to contact Evan at Evan_thomas@umail.ucsb.edu

Happy Wednesday!

ccook — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:04:37 +0000

Today is a big day in the history of UCSB. There is an important event going on that is attempting to ban the use of styrofoam containers used at eating facilities on campus. This is huge. Styrofoam is a huge problem for the environment because it does not degrade very quickly as many of you know, so the big deal with this event is that there will be reusable containers available for sale and people will have the opportunity to create little to no waste while dining out at UCSB! More details to come about this amazing turning point, but just thought we’d let you all know what’s going on and do our best to keep you updated!

For more information you can visit our facebook page, website, or weekly newsletter!

Leafnotes-Summer 2011 “Powershift” Issue

chirashiki — Fri, 27 May 2011 04:24:07 +0000

Check out our special “Powershift” issue of Leafnotes (Summer 2011)!

For the online magazine, visit: http://uweb.ucsb.edu/~chirashiki/leafnotes-summer2011/

To download the PDF, go to: http://www.psprint.com/normalizedfiles/2622673.pdf

Be on the look-out for printed copies as well this June!