PSU Dining Aims for a Zero Waste Dining Hall

(originally posted 10/08 at wordpress)



NEWS RELEASE
Source: Laura Weiss (503-984-8539)
Regional Sustainability Manager, ARAMARK Higher Education
Author: Office of University Communications, 503-725-3711

As Campus Sustainability Day is celebrated on October 22, Portland State University Dining, in partnership with its food service provider, ARAMARK, is proud to announce that the dining hall, known as Victor's in Ondine Hall on Sixth Avenue, is taking steps to reduce its contribution to solid waste by aiming to be a "zero waste facility."

By following rigorous recycling practices, composting all food waste and taking steps to eliminate unnecessary packaging, PSU Dining will be diverting the majority of its waste produced by the dining hall operations from the landfill. Zero waste practices at the dining hall include the following methods:

Reflections on the Faculty Favorite Lecture Series

(originally posted 06/08 at wordpress)


by Emily Hutsell

This term I took the IST 499 engagement credit, which required my attendance at 6 PSU sponsored events. Because of the interesting subject matter, I chose to attend many of the Faculty Favorite Lecture Series, for which a faculty member is chosen to present their current work. The topics of the lectures covered sustainability, White Studies, interrupting oppression and why America isn’t ready for a female president. Each of these events was extremely thought provoking, and whether or not there was an opportunity for discussion, it has been part of my discussion with others.

"On March 8, 1857, thousands of working women marched through the streets of New York City demanding an end to sweat-shop conditions, improved childcare facilities, equal pay for equal work, and the right to vote. In 1910 at the International Conference of Women Socialists, Clara Zetkins proposed that March 8th be observed as International Working Women’s Day in honor of the New York March. Since that time, International Women’s Day has been celebrated around the globe.

The Portland event features female entertainers, women owned and/or operated businesses, and organizations that focus on women within our community and globally. It also showcases poetry and writing, health issues, and educational workshops designed by women for women. Our volunteer organization is committed to going beyond cultural barriers and prejudices to provide a place to share women's achievements as individuals, communities, and institutions. We are proud to present Portland’s 33rd Annual International Women’s Day Celebration in honor of women making a difference in the quality of life of women. "

For Information about Portland International Women's Day, please visit http://www.piwd.org/2008/

posted by Blythe

Herstory: Wangari Maathai

(originally posted 02/08 at wordpress)



by mae stephenson

Wangari Maathai “Protecting the global environment is directly related to securing peace…”Wangari Maathai is an ecofeminist who has received numerous awards for her activism, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. This professor from Kenya earned a PhD from the University of Nairobi and is most well-known for establishing the Green Belt Movement in 1977. Since then, over 30 million trees have been planted by the non-profit. The organization, based in Kenya, organizes groups of women to plant trees on their farms and in their communities. The Green Belt Movement works against deforestation and aims to empower Africans, especially women and girls.

for more information on Wangari Maathai or the Green Belt Movement, see http://greenbeltmovement.org/

Emergence

(originally posted 02/08 at wordpress)



by Blythe Pavlik

Many years ago, in the early stages of my personal self exploration, I serendipitously came across a transformative quote by Anais Nïn. She wrote, “It takes courage to push yourself to places that you have never been before... to test your limits, to break through barriers. The day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” This quote has since remained a sacred mantra in my life. It defines the critical, painful and rarely mastered moment of labor.

The labor of self actualization... the labor of humility... the labor of change.