Tuesday, July 5, 2011

New Graduates Attracted to Sustainability Jobs


From the NY Times, June 24, 2011

"Suddenly, “sustainability” seems to resonate with the sex appeal of “dot com” or “start-up,” appealing to droves of ambitious young innovators. Amelia Byers, operations director for Idealist.org, a Web site that lists paid and unpaid opportunities for nonprofit groups and social enterprise companies — some 5,000 of which are environmental organizations — said the number of jobs related to environmental work has roughly tripled in the last three years. “A lot of new graduates are coming out of a world where volunteerism and service has been something that has helped define their generation,” she said. “Finding a job with meaning is an important value to them.”

The rapid expansion of green jobs isn’t confined to the nonprofit sector. There is money to be made here as well. Ivan Kerbel, director of career development for the Yale School of Management, a graduate-level business program, noted that environmental issues like reducing waste and carbon footprints were increasingly important to corporations of all kinds, something business students are recognizing. Even ultra-ambitious M.B.A. candidates with C-suite aspirations are integrating issues like sustainability into their education, he said."

Read the entire NY Times article.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

UW-L Year of Sustainbility During 2011-2012 Academic Year

UW-La Crosse will have a Year of Sustainability theme during the 2011-2012 academic year. The theme year was approved by Chancellor Joe Gow and all four UW-L governance groups. The Joint Committee on Environmental Sustainability is planning and coordinating sustainability activities and events during the Year of Sustainability. Learn more by reading the Campus Connection article.

UW-L College of Business Administration Considers Sustainability Minor

Faculty members Donna Anderson, Economics; Nicole Gullekson, Management; Tom Hench, Management; Steve Tippins, Finance, and Maggie McDermott, Marketing have formed an ad hoc committee to explore the possibility of offering a business sustainability minor in the College of Business Administration (CBA). CBA will offer a pilot course in Principles of Business Sustainability this fall to evaluate student interest in offering a potential business sustainability minor. Read the Campus Connection article.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Green Fund Proposals Due February 25

Proposals for projects funded or partially funded by UW-L Green Fund dollars are being accepted now. Proposals are due February 25, 2011. You can find out more about the Green Fund and how to submit a proposal at www.uwlax.edu/sustainability/html/green-fund.htm.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Possible Global Warming Effects Cause of Rare Bird Sightings?

A number of rare bird sightings from the Winona area's Dec. 18 Christmas Bird Count left some local experts scratching their heads.

Area ornithology experts believe the misplaced birds are here because of a shift in weather patterns caused by global warming.

"It's over-simplified science," said Richie Swanson, an area bird expert and longtime participant in the count. But global warming has changed plant and insect composition. The alterations have affected the structure of the animals' habitat and food chain, which makes it difficult for the birds to reproduce and survive.

Read the full story in the La Crosse Tribune

Monday, November 29, 2010

UW-L Fair Trade Sale

A Socially Responsible Alternative to Holiday Shopping

(Sponsored by: Progressives, Environmental Council, and the Native American Student Association)

UW-L student organizers urge the community to shop responsibly this holiday season by providing a fair trade market.

When: Monday, November 29 and Tuesday, November 30th, 9:30 am-6:30 pm

Where: Port O Call, Cartwright Center at UW-La Crosse

What: The Fair Trade Market is as an alternative for holiday shoppers where the buyer can rest assured that each product is 100% socially responsible. These certified products guarantee fair wages for the worker, quality products, community development, and sustainable environment. There will be an extensive array of fairly traded products available for sale from Concern America, Ten Thousand Villages, Heart of the Sky, Beehive Collective, and more. The student organizers of the fair trade market believe that the event will spread awareness about the fair trade movement and how each purchase counts toward the welfare of others in impoverished countries.

Monday, November 22, 2010

New Bike Lane in La Crosse

La Crosse’s now has a bike lane paid for by Communities Putting Prevention to Work /ARRA Grant. Watch a video of the new facility on 7th St. from State Street to La Crosse Street.

Video courtesy of Jack Zabrowski, Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinator, La Crosse County Health Department.