What do Irish step dancing, a capella singing and climate change have in common? Over 75 students who turned out to participate in last night's Environmental Consciousness Outreach (ECO)-sponsored "ClimateFest" event learned the answer to this question first-hand, as they watched performances from a variety of student groups interspersed with informational discussions about global warming and other hot-button environmental issues.
"The goal is to get students at Tufts aware of the complexities of climate change - not just the problems but also some of the solutions and how they can influence climate change themselves," said senior ECO officer Carrie Jones, one of the event's main organizers.
Held in Sophia Gordon Hall's multi-purpose room, which was lined with over 25 informational posters created by students, professors and activist groups on campus, the event included performances from the Irish Dance Group, Ezra Furman and the Harpoons, the Jackson Jills, the Emperor Norton Stationary Marching Band, Traveling Treasure Trunk and BEATS. Between acts, environmentally-themed talks were held by groups such as PANGEA, Emergent Energy Group and OXFAM.
Fletcher Professor of International Environmental Policy William Moomaw (pictured at left), a member of the United Nation's Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, also spoke at the event, encouraging students to take action against climate change even on a small scale.
"You don't have to wait for the diplomats," he said. "There are things we can do to influence these issues as individuals. Get aware, get involved and make some positive change."
Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning lecturer Rusty Russell, who junior co-organizer Mara Gittleman called "one of the foremost experts on environmental law and policy," also spoke, presenting students with a list of major challenges the world faces in combating climate change.
Jones said the event was a success.
"Change comes from a combination of small actions - it's this collective that's going to affect climate change," she said.
-by Matt Skibinski
