August 2022

Go green and eat less meat!

The food and agriculture industry generates CO2 and methane, which damage the ozone layer and contribute to the greenhouse effect. The meat industry specifically damages biodiversity, as more and more land is converted to land for raising slaughtered animals. Manure from animals flows into watersheds, increasing nitrogen and phosphorus in our water and contributing to algae blooms and dead zones.

In essence, it’s important that consumers eat less meat. For August, we recommend that you make one of the following fun non-meat recipes:

• https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/eggplant-parmesan-recipe-2008982
• https://www.loveandlemons.com/peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-cookie-bars/

Meatless food options don’t have to be processed bean patties- there are a plethora of resources online with recipes that don’t have meat. Additionally, we ask that you dedicate at least three meals for each month where you don’t cook with meat- the little contributions added together will make a difference.

2021-2022

May 2022

We challenge you to support and buy produce from farmer’s markets this month. As May offers sunshine and rain, many fruits and vegetables are readily available at local farmers’ markets across the state. Buying produce locally has a multitude of benefits for your family, farmers, and the environment. Shopping at local markets is better for the environment since less transportation is needed, so less carbon is released into the atmosphere. Additionally, buying farmers’ products will support them and their families and promote a sense of community. These local items are also likely to have higher nutritional values by being fresher, flavorful, all-natural, and organic. Possibly best of all, you have the advantage of knowing where your food is coming from! Some farms around Maryland include McCutcheon’s Apple Products, Hancock Farms, Homestead Farm, Larriland Farm, and Butler’s Orchard. Always be on the lookout for farms near you, so your family can benefit from local produce!

 

April 2022

What positive impact will you have on the environment today? We have a suggestion that requires little effort yet is crucial to combat detrimental chemicals: start creating rain gardens! Rain gardens are created by making a steep area in your residential back/ front yard and “placing” a garden there which rain can run into. These spaces absorb chemicals before they run off into your water. Think of it as a craft project that can reduce the damage to our waterways! By keeping a rain garden where the path of rain can take its course, you are doing both yourself and the bay a favor.

This article (outside source) explains how to make a rain garden: https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-build-a-rain-garden-in-your-yard/

 

March 2022

This month, be aware of how you use water and how you can help conserve it! Simple everyday activities we do without a second thought may contaminate our water sources or, just as badly, compromise the sustainability of our water usage. We are often unaware of harmful practices, from plastic water bottles to improper waste disposal or gutter cleaning, which can contaminate our waters. So, this month, let us take action against this!

It may be helpful to first research – read an article, watch a video or two – and learn a bit more about water sustainability. Once you grasp the idea, try to use reusable water bottles, and when disposing of liquids, make sure it is not in an uncontrolled urban environment. Check twice to ensure your trash does not end up on roads, waterways, or sidewalks, and make sure to discard liquids into sinks instead of your everyday trash bag.

If gardening, try to limit your use of fertilizers or pesticides. You can even clean your house gutters before the rain takes with it all of the harmful chemicals that accumulate! With each of these actions, you can prevent dangerous runoff with the potential to pollute ecosystems in our waters. The nitrogen and phosphorus our plastic bottles, trash, gutters, and gardening chemicals release onto groundwater can wash up into bays and overstimulate harmful aquatic growth. Next month we will introduce you to an innovative way that you can prevent these recurring problems.

 

February 2022

Each year, more than 100 million trees’ worth of bulk mail arrive in American mailboxes! We can save energy and trees by opting out of maillists to prevent junk mail from showing up in our mailboxes. Here are a few ways that will allow you to switch to online methods:
• Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT to remove your records from credit card/ insurance mailing lists.
• If you receive unwanted catalogs or other mail from specific sources, call the customer service number associated with that company.

Alternatively, the most convenient of all is to visit 41pounds.org. This online service can help eliminate 80–95 percent of junk mailings by contacting dozens of direct marketers on your behalf. A one-time fee of $41 covers all adults in your household for five years. The best part is that a third of this fee is donated to an environmental organization of your choice! Let’s all join the effort to save the trees!

January 2022

As people go through self-checkout or through the checkout lanes to pay for their groceries, they tend to use up many plastic bags, which is a huge mistake! As we all know, plastic is catastrophic for the environment! Plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose and is also known for sickening and killing many animals and marine life. We have to stand up against this!

The next time you go to a grocery store, consider using reusable shopping bags. If you do not have any, buy some! Reusable shopping bags limit the amount of plastic that pollutes the earth and are a great way to be environmentally friendly!

However, if you end up using plastic bags, make sure to reuse those bags once or twice, and do not just throw them away. We always have to remember to keep the three R’s in mind: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

So, the next time you go shopping, remember to use reusable shopping bags and always have an environmentally friendly mindset!  Shop green!

December 2021

November 2021

Advocate for stores/eateries in Maryland to stop putting non-reusable utensils in carryout bags meant to go home. If people are ordering from home, there is not much use for plastics and other non-reusable items in bags. Why place plastic spoons, forks, and knives in bags when customers can use reusable utensils found in their homes. This green goal can start at a small scale (with smaller-sized businesses) and branch out to bigger stores, restaurants, and eatery chains within Maryland. This green goal will efficiently reduce the usage of plastics in many places. You can be a part of this timely change by making it your priority to indicate that you will be using your own utensils during the ordering process!

October 2021

Colder weather is approaching so as you freshen up your wardrobe, try to shop at sustainable stores and companies for warmer clothes!  Brands such as Levi’s and Patagonia have positive impacts on our environment. While some fast fashion companies create vast amounts of pollution and waste. According to statistics and research, many other companies have a harmful impact on the environment, too. (outside source: https://www.vox.com/2019/9/12/20860620/fast-fashion-zara-hm-forever-21-boohoo-environment-cost.)

It is also important to note that once you make any purchases of clothes, do not throw out your old ones!  Try to give them a new life by donating them to your local clothing drop-off locations! 

Here is an article that you can use to make your own determination of what brands to support (outside source:  https://www.sustainably-chic.com/blog/fast-fashion-brands-to-avoid).

September 2021

As students are settling in and adapting to their school environment, we challenge you to waste zero school or stationery supplies. A few strategies that will help you accomplish this goal is to use what you already have! Don’t rebuy if there are lost or forgotten supplies lying around your house. In order to be eco-friendly, there are many other options to resort to such as donating or recycling supplies that may not be useful to you anymore. Lastly, if some items on your shopping list cannot be satisfied, search for them around the web on secondhand online businesses like eBay!

August 2021

This back-to-school season, buy sustainable school supplies! Look for durable supplies that don’t have to be quickly replaced and can be used again next year. Although such products can be a few dollars more expensive, their long-lasting quality gives them considerably higher value. Some examples of materials that can be used for more than a year include mechanical pencils over wooden ones, refillable pens, cloth pencil pouches over plastic ones, and “binder notebooks” or Rocketbooks over paper/cardboard ones. Reuse materials from previous years such as folders, drawing materials, and notebooks with sufficient amounts of remaining pages. 

 

One helpful idea is to insert loose-leaf paper and sheet protectors into three-prong folders or flexible binders, creating notebooks that don’t leave unusable extra pages. This also leaves room for miscellaneous papers and small supply pouches within the notebook, reducing the number of separate binders, folders, and notebooks you have to buy.

 

Consciously reducing your waste when restocking supplies by buying less and thinking creatively is one of the easiest environmentally friendly habits to adopt. Make it your goal this year!

2020-2021

June 2021

As we welcome summer with open arms, our challenge is how to beat the heat and stay environmentally friendly. Air conditioning units require the use of hydrofluorocarbons(HFC), a group of compounds that tear holes in the ozone layer. By using shades, setting units to higher temperatures, utilizing fans, and keeping an eye out for HFC alternatives we can transition to more environmentally friendly air conditioning practices. Check out the Climate Institute´s website to learn more about HFCs. If you know of any unused refrigerants (gases like Freon), contact Tradewater to see how to dispose of them safely!

May 2021

Let’s talk about drying clothes for a second. An average family of four uses over a ton of carbon a year to dry their clothes. One way to reduce your carbon footprint is by drying your clothes on the line. There are also plenty of indoor clothing lines available. If a drier is necessary, think about programming it to stop when the clothes are dry. For more information about drying machines go to https://www.greenamerica.org/green-living/ditch-your-dryer.       Enjoy the sunshine!!

March 2021

March is the month for Meatless Mondays! Meat production contributes about 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Some of the ways meat is bad for the environment are through deforestation, fertilizer production, methane released from the animals and manure, and transportation including refrigeration. A single quarter-pound burger requires 425 gallons of water, which is the water needed to sustain 1,700 thirsty people. Additionally, 75% of agricultural land is used for meat production. Head to Monday Campaigns to learn more about meat production!

February 2021

As the new presidential administration begins, it is important that we, as student leaders, understand the Biden Administration’s stance on the environment and read about their policy and plans for the next four years. Head to https://joebiden.com/climate-plan/ to see what his campaign promises about climate change.

January Challenge: Buy Used / Donate

As the holiday season draws to a close, it’s an important time to reflect on our national waste culture. The US creates the most amount of trash per capita and exported 436 million kg of trash to other countries in 2019. We must focus on reducing and reusing our plastic. This month’s challenge is two-fold: choose to buy second-hand and sustainably sourced goods and donate what you don’t need. Local women’s shelters and second-hand stores are great places to bring your used toys. 

Use the hashtag #mascgreenchallenge and tag @md.stuco to celebrate your work!

December Environmental Advocacy

Many of your local divisional and county-level officials may have changed or been re-elected in the first few weeks of November. This month, MASC challenges you to both learn about these elected officials, as well as speak to them about environmental issues within your jurisdiction. These topics can be things the previous administration was working on or ideas you have to improve the overall status of the environment! To see who your appointed officials are by county, you can visit https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2020/results/General/index.html, and click on your county!

Be sure to continue to chart your progress using #MASCgoesgreen!

What is November’s Green Challenge?

Turn your thermostat down to 68°F.

As the weather starts to change it is important to change your thermostat. Each degree change could save your household three percent on energy costs. Also, consider turning that heating system down when everyone leaves the house for extended periods of time (i.e. for in-person school or work). 

There are also passive ways to decrease energy usage. For example, extra insulation can reduce the amount of energy needed to heat the house. 

Use the hashtag #mascgreenchallenge and tag @md.stuco to celebrate your work!

October Green Goals Challenge

September Green Goals Challenge

MASC wants you to focus on Environmental Justice this month. Before getting into the challenge, let’s answer the question: What is Environmental Justice? Across our country and the globe environmental burdens disproportionately affect poor and minority communities while environmental benefits are disproportionately enjoyed by more privileged communities. What does this look like? Green Spaces, bike trails, safe drinking water, and parks are examples of environmental benefits. Toxic waste, landfills, incinerators, sewage backups, airports, highways, and poor drinking water are examples of environmental burdens. Poor and minority communities often have limited access to alternative housing and jobs, as well as less political and economic power to change their situation. Increased cases of asthma and obesity can be linked to restricted access to parks and fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as the surplus of pollutants like ozone and particle pollution that plague vulnerable communities. Flint, Michigan is an unfortunate example of the lack of environmental justice, but there are sadly many examples of environmental racism in Maryland. The sewage backups in Baltimore are one example of an environmental justice concern.  

We challenge you to research the environmental justice concerns around Maryland and write a letter to one of your representatives to deal with these issues!! Additionally, ask yourself, who is affected by your trash and carbon footprint? 

Make sure to keep track of your work by tagging @md.stuco and using the hashtag #mascgreenchallenge. 

August Green Goals Challenge

What is the green challenge of the month?

The Green Challenge of the Month is a new initiative led by the MASC Environmental Affairs Coordinators, Henry and Ember. Each month, a new “challenge” will be published in the bulletin for students to work toward! Record your progress by tagging @md.stuco and using hashtag #mascgreenchallenge

August Green Challenge of the Month: Research no-idling zones in preparation for the 2020-21 school year!

2018-2019

May Green Goals

Hello, student leaders of MASC! The Chesapeake’s six-state, a 64,000-square-mile watershed, is home to more than 18 million people and 3,000 species of plants and animals, including us. It is important that we help to save it! This month we want to shed light on the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. This foundation works hard to save the bay by educating communities, engaging public leaders, acting through litigation, and coordinating cleanups.  

Here’s how you can support CBF and protect the bay!

Follow CBF on social media to keep up with their work and events.   Twitter: @chesapeakebay      Instagram: @chesapeakebayfoundation

Join a group in your area that helps conserve the bay with this link. https://www.chesapeakebay.net/action/join

Advocate! Urge your legislators to support or draft legislation to keep the bay clean.

Stop using fertilizers on your grass. The runoff created from the rain washes it into the Chesapeake Bay which can cause eutrophication (excess nutrients that create dead zones in the water).

Organize a community or school event! This event can be dedicated to planting trees or cleaning up trash along the bay. You can even coordinate with CBF.

Try using natural cleaning products. These products end up going down the drain, and if they include chemicals, they could be harmful to both your health and the watershed.

Be sure to post yourself completing this month’s Green Goal and tag MASC!
Instagram: @md.stuco         Twitter: @MDStuCo

April Green Goals

Hello, MASC! As many of you may know, Earth Day is on April 22, 2019. On this day, people from all around the globe band together and are just a little bit closer to a healthier planet. We want our student leaders to be involved! After all, as Mahatma Gandhi said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” We have come a long way since the first Earth Day in 1970, but we need to make even more tremendous steps forward if we want to truly make the change needed.

Here are just a few simple ways that you can get involved in Earth Day this year:

• Learn – Environmental literacy and learning about what exactly is going on with our planet is a monumental part of working towards solving the issue. Be sure to educate yourself and others on climate change, environmental justice, and more. The faster we are all knowledgeable about an issue, the faster we can solve it.

• • Host an event – Try hosting an Earth Day event at your school through SGA! This could be as simple as a trash collection service project at your own school, or you could even plan a community tree planting! The possibilities are endless for this option, but be sure to get others involved in making the planet healthier!  

• • Attend an event –  Sometimes hosting an event may not be possible! That’s okay! Attend an Earth Day event that is being hosted in your own community. Check on social media and with your school to see if anything is going on. School websites or websites of school systems will often post events on their online calendar, so be sure to check there as well.
• • Advocate –  This day is the best day to contact your representatives and tell them why you support green initiatives. Feel free to research local green bills or initiatives. Find your representatives here: https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/
• • Use social media –  Social media is such a valuable tool. Spread awareness for Earth Day events that are happening in your school or community! Educate others about climate change! Tweet at your representatives! You can use social media in so many ways!

Earth is only one day of the year. We must work each and every day to maintain the planet that we live on! Here are a couple of ways to do just that:

• • Buy a metal reusable straw. This will help eliminate the mass amount of straw waste that you produce. Links: https://bit.ly/2Ir1CRk https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M7SFLCW/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_t1_gEMSCb9ECMVB5
• • Start taking notes electronically. Use OneNote or Word by Office to take notes instead of wasting enormous amounts of paper.
• • Unplug cords when they aren’t in use. This will probably help lower your electricity bill but will also save energy.
• • Go digital. Buy ebooks or sign up for your library’s e-library. This helps reduce your paper usage and save you a lot of money.
• • Use cloth napkins! This will save you money so you don’t have to continuously buy paper towels or napkins and reduce the amount of waste made. Earth Day Events in Maryland:
  • • Run the Run for Nature Earth Day 5k on April 27th at Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis (http://fqwp.org/sign-up-open-for-the-3rd-annual-run-for-nature-earth-day-5k/)
  • • Earth Day on the Square on April 22nd at Leonardtown Square and Leonardtown Wharf Park (St. Mary’s County) (https://www.visitstmarysmd.com/events/earth-day-on-the-square)
  • • Earth Day at the National Aquarium on April 22nd in Baltimore (https://aqua.org/Visit/Activity-Calendar/earth-day)
  • • Earth Day Gardening Celebration on April 20th in Jefferson (Frederick County) (https://www.visitfrederick.org/event/earth-day-event/11635/)
  • • Earth Day 2019 Celebration on April 27th Aberdeen Festival Park (https://visitharford.com/event/Earth-Day-2019-Celebration-at-Aberdeen-Festival-Park/2019-04-27)
  • • Takoma Park Earth Day Celebration on April 20th at Takoma Park (https://mygreenmontgomery.org/event/takoma-park-earth-day-celebration/)
  • • Earth Day Film Fest on April 22nd at Towson University (https://events.towson.edu/event/earth_day_film_fest#.XLUAX5NKg1I)

   

  Be sure to post yourself completing this month’s Green Goal and tag MASC!
  Instagram: @md.stuco         Twitter: @MDStuCo

  March Green Goals

  Hello, student leaders! Water is essential to life as we know it. It is such an integral factor of the life cycle that it is the first thing researchers check for when trying to find life in space. Despite the fact that about 70% of the world is covered in water, only about 2.5% of it is fresh, and only 1% of that is easily accessible. Therefore, as student leaders and members of our global community, we need to be mindful of water pollution and water scarcity. Many of us are lucky enough to have access to clean water, but 844 million people lack even a basic drinking water service according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

  Here are just a few simple ways that you can combat this water crisis in your everyday life:

   

  • Dispose of substances correctly. Most people don’t think of what happens when they dispose of things. They seem to just disappear. However, we need to be cognizant of how we dispose of chemicals, fat, oil, grease, and medications. These substances can enter our waterways and accumulate harming the environment and contaminating water sources.
  • Minimize the use of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and road salts. These chemicals can run into sewage systems and bodies of water wreaking havoc on nearby aquatic ecosystems by causing eutrophication, which is oxygen depletion, in water caused by excessive plant growth from the chemicals. Additionally, road salts that are very commonly used during the winter months can run into waterways and increase the water salinity above a livable range for organisms.
    

   

  • Conserve water. By conserving water, you can save money and help the environment at the same time. This can be done by waiting until you have a full load to run the washing machine or the dishwasher. You can also switch to low-flow fixtures which are typically 20% more water efficient.
  • Use environmentally friendly soaps. Typical soaps tend to use harsh chemicals that build up in the environment. The next time you buy soap, try to check for more sustainable ingredients, such as soybean oil or shea butter or pick up soaps that are marketed as eco-friendly.
  • Plant vegetation. While this may seem like an unlikely solution, plants, especially trees, help to reduce erosion and runoff of chemicals that may harm our waterways. When you have the chance, especially those of you who live near bodies of water, consider planting trees, grasses, bushes, flowers, and other types of vegetation.

   

  Be sure to post yourself completing this month’s Green Goal and tag MASC!
  Instagram: @md.stuco         Twitter: @MDStuCo

   

  February Green Goals

  Hello student leaders! As you all may know, our Earth happens to just be at the sweet spot in our solar system to support life. We are fortunate enough to enjoy the biodiversity the Earth brings because of this. However, our biodiversity is rapidly declining as you are reading this due to things like extinction, climate change, hunting, habitat loss, and more. All of these issues are driven by human activity.  Humans have caused this, and humans can fix this, but we only have so much time to do so. As student leaders, we must get involved as much as possible because this is the world that which we will spend the rest of our lives. This is the world that our children will live in. The following ideas are only some things that we can do.

  1. Advocate for legislation that will help to promote and preserve biodiversity. Any bill that reduces pollution or supports the protection of habitats can be a major step toward helping the environment from the legal side of things. Other activities such as starting petitions to support your local wildlife and habitats or supporting candidates that make the environment a priority are a huge help.
  2. Donate to organizations that help to promote biodiversity such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
  3. Restore habitats in your community by planting trees, reducing pesticide and inorganic fertilizer use, creating bird boxes, and more.
  4. Buying organic, local foods that are made with fewer chemicals and don’t require very much shipping helps to reduce pollution. It also helps to promote the health of the environment and people. When the environment is happy and healthy, people are, too.
  5. Reduce, reuse, recycle. The three R’s we all learned in elementary school are still very important to help preserve our planet. We must first reduce our consumption and waste creation. If it is prevented and never made in the first place, it doesn’t have to be managed. Then, you must reuse as much as possible such as reusing old candle jars as cute containers around the house instead of throwing them away. This is a great chance to DIY and be creative! Finally, recycle whatever is left!

  Be sure to post yourself completing this month’s Green Goal and tag MASC!
  Instagram: @md.stuco         Twitter: @MDStuCo

   

  

  January Green Goals

  Happy New Year MASC! Many people often use this time of year as motivation to get fit and reduce their waistline, but we should also keep in mind the environment. Let’s start off the new year with environmentally conscience resolutions. One thing to keep in mind is waste. Most people produce 4.4 ounces of waste per day which adds up in the long run!

  Here are some minor adjustments that you can add to your daily routine to reduce your “waste-line”:

  1. Use glass or stainless containers for bringing your lunch to school. These containers are reusable which reduces the amount of waste that we create. Additionally, using Tupperware is handy but when they are heated in the microwave the plastic can get onto the food. Also, food does not leave stains on the container after use.
  2. Switch to reusable water bottles. It’s important to stay hydrated, but be sure that you aren’t using a new plastic water bottle each day. These water bottles take approximately 450 years to decompose, and they definitely add up. To reduce all this plastic waste, forgo the plastic water bottles and invest in a nice reusable bottle. As a bonus, they can even insulate your water keeping it nice and cool throughout the day!
  3. Go digital. In our beautiful 21st century, we have a world of technology to take advantage of! These days, we can conserve paper by digitizing some of our activities. This can include taking notes on a word document or making grocery lists on your phone.
  4. Use towels. Instead of paper towels or napkins that need to be discarded after each use, try to utilize towels or rags as much as possible because they can just be thrown in the washer as opposed to being thrown away.
  5. Donate. Items you may not want to use anymore such as CDs, furniture, and clothes, can be given to others who may need them. You can give back and be environmentally friendly at the same time. It’s a win-win situation. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
  6. Trade in old electronic devices.  You can turn them in for money instead of throwing them away at Best Buy. You can reduce waste and earn money simultaneously! (Best Buy also gives $2 coupons for every ink cartridge that you recycle with them.)

  These are only some ideas to get you started on reducing your “waste-line” and helping out the environment! Feel free to try anything else in the new year to get you started on a more environmentally friendly path!

  Post your new resolutions on Instagram or Twitter and tag MASC!
  Instagram: @md.stuco         Twitter: @MDStuCo

  December Green Goals

  Hello, student leaders of MASC! Global warming is the Earth’s overall rise in temperature over the years which affects so much of our daily lives and our futures. Due to this, sea levels have been rising. This could result in parts of Florida being underwater! This is only one detrimental consequence of global warming. However, there are so many more consequences that will especially affect younger generations. As student leaders that will ultimately live in a world impacted by global warming, we need to do our best to help reduce it as much as we can now.

  1. Invest in renewable products.
  2. Carpool or take public transportation! It’s an easy way to decrease the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
  3. Change your thermostat settings. If you turn it up two in the summer and down two in the winter, it can save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide!
  4. Make sure your tires are inflated properly. If not, tons of carbon dioxide are released, increasing greenhouse gases.

  Educate your friends and get them involved with trying to save our beautiful planet!
  Instagram: @md.stuco         Twitter: @MDStuCo

  November Green Goals

  Hello, student leaders! This month we are going to discuss ways we can give thanks to our lovely environment. November is a month of giving thanks, so it’s the perfect time to give back to the Earth. There are so many little things that it gives us that we may just take for granted, such as the beautiful flowers that we see each day. To give thanks, let’s cut back on our environmentally harmful ways.

  Ways to Give Back

  • Cut back on plastic baggies and plastic bottles! Using these plastics may seem very convenient, but reusable container/bottles are an easy alternative that will save you money in the long run. It takes plastic waste 450 to even 1000 years to decompose.

  • Buy locally grown foods! With all the food you are going to be eating this Thanksgiving season, be sure that you do your best to obtain food that is grown in your area. Most of the food in America travels 1,500 miles to reach your dinner table! Packaging and shipping food contribute to increased levels of pollution.

  • Plant Trees! Deforestation negatively impacts various habitats and ecosystems. This also affects climate change since there are fewer forests, and more greenhouse gases are in the atmosphere. For info on how to start a reforestation project check out this link https://www.pfla.bc.ca/forest-management-tips/from-planning-to-planting-reforestation-basics-for-forest-owners/

  • Advocate for our planet! Get involved with an environmental movement. Zero Hour is a youth-led movement that advocates for climate change solutions. Simply go to this link to join http://thisiszerohour.org/

  
  These are only a few ways that you can show your gratitude for the environment this month! Try to do something different each week to show your love for all the Earth has given us. If you have more ideas on how to show gratitude or if you’d like to show us how you’re completing this month’s goal, post on Instagram or Twitter and tag MASC!
  Instagram: @md.stuco         Twitter: @MDStuCo

  October Green Goals

  Imagine a world in which no one cares about the environment. Trash and waste cover the streets. Thousands of species of beautiful plants and animals have gone extinct. Future children will only ever see a tiger in their dreams or in stories. People will have to wear masks to breathe the heavily polluted air. Trying to swim at the beach isn’t even considered a fun hobby anymore, not with all of the plastic blanketing the shore and filling the waters. Is this the world that we want to live in?

  There is so much that can be done each and every day to avoid this nightmare. Being environmentally friendly does not have to be such a struggle. There are easy ways to help without going out of the way. It’s a spooky season, but let the terror come from the ghouls of the night, not from disregarding the environment.

  • Throw bottle caps away!

  Unless stated otherwise, bottle caps are typically non-recyclable, so be sure to leave them out!

  • Learn the Resin Codes for Recycling!

  The resin codes are important because they let you know if the plastic is recyclable since some plastics are not. Resin code 7 is not recyclable.

  

  • Get out there and vote!

  While many of us are below the legal voting age, you can still register to vote! You can also always encourage those in your life who can vote to do so. Voting on these environmental issues is a great way to make a difference.

  • Volunteer!

  There are so many organizations that have opportunities to volunteer to help the environment. This may include planting trees, cleaning up litter, educating young children about the environment, and so much more! As people who live on the earth, we all have an obligation to make sure that it’s as healthy as possible.

  • Reduce your waste production!

  Reduce is the first of the “three R’s” and is the most important. If there is less waste and pollution in the first place, then there is less to worry about. Do your best to use reusable items daily instead of single-use items that will simply end up in landfills. On average, Americans produce a staggering four pounds of waste per person per day. The smaller that number is, the better.

   

Be sure to post yourself completing this month’s Green Goal and tag MASC!
Instagram: @md.stuco         Twitter: @MDStuCo

September Green Goals

Hello, student leaders! Imagine a world without litter. Imagine a world where people work together each day to make the world a happier and healthier place. That world you’re imagining right now is the goal of the cleanup movement called Let’s Do It!.  It all began ten years ago when thousands of citizens in Estonia came out to help make their country a cleaner place. This has spread globally and has led to another World Cleanup Day on September 15th of this year, and we wanted to honor that in this month’s green goal. Be part of the movement that embraces using cooperation to make the world a cleaner and healthier place.

To get involved…

1. Go to https://www.worldcleanupday.org for more info on the event and to donate.
2. Create a service project in honor of the day. Take your SGA out and clean up the litter around school.
3. Spread the word to your fellow peers. Help them join the movement.
4. Post on social media about World Cleanup Day. Make the movement even bigger!
5. Download the World Cleanup App to join an event in your area or start your own!!

Be sure to tag @md.stuco on Instagram or @MDStuCo on Twitter when you post you doing these goals.

August Green Goals

Hello, fellow student leaders! August 18th is National Honeybee Day. These bees are dwindling at an alarming rate due to a variety of factors including pesticides, habitat loss, poor nutrition, and more. Cases of Colony Collapse Disorder have decreased in recent years but more still needs to be done to make sure that honeybees survive. Use the following goals as a starting and a guide in being proactive toward this issue. Bees are very important to our everyday lives from the pollination of plants that we depend on to the creation of the honey that makes our lives sweeter.

What to do from Home

• Plant flowers of the colors violet, blue, purple, yellow, and white. These colors are attractive to their eyes.
• Install a home for the bees. Order one online or do it yourself. Just drilling various sizes and amounts of holes in trees (dead and still standing) can give them space to nest in these holes. If you’d like to build your own, check out this link https://www.nwf.org/en/Garden-for-Wildlife/Young/Build-a-Bee-House.

Sponsor a hive! You can help increase the number of hives by sponsoring them. Check out https://thehoneybeeconservancy.org/sponsor-a-hive/ for more information on how to get started.

2017-2018

May Green Goals

Hello fellow student leaders! As the year wraps up, let’s reflect on some of the ways we can continue to be environmentally friendly throughout the summer. Let’s finish off strong with our last green goals of the year.

1. Ditch the car and take a walk or ride a bike. In D.C. you can rent a bike for a few hours. It is an easy way to stay fit and decrease the amount of gas emissions.
2. Use a non-toxic sunscreen. It keeps your skin and the environment safe.
3. Unplug from your devices and take advantage of the beautiful weather.
4. Do chores such as laundry, vacuuming, and running the dishwasher at night. It saves money and keeps your home cooler. Doing these during the day increases the humidity in your home.
5. Before you travel, turn off the thermostat and all the electricity in the house.

*Tweet or tag @mdstuco a picture when participating in Earth Day

April Green Goals

Happy April everyone! Earth Day is this month on April 22nd. People from all over the world have celebrated this day since 1970. Various events are held to show support for environmental protection. This month’s green goals will include activities to do on your own or with a few friends to benefit the environment. Go out and show your support for environmental protection.

1. This year’s Earth Day theme is “End Plastic Pollution.” Visit www.earthday.org to sign up and learn more about how you can contribute to the cause.
2. Take initiative. Speak with clubs or organizations at your schools to ask what they are doing on Earth Day. If they are not planning anything, take action!
3. The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is partnering with the UDC Garden Club and the Environmental Sustainability Leadership Club to host an on-campus Earth Day celebration event. This will take place on April 19, 2018, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
4. Educate yourself on how you can better the environment. Kick back and turn on a documentary on Netflix such as A Plastic Ocean or Chasing Coral.
5. Find yourself lost and undecided for what to do on Earth Day? Check out EventBrite.com which displays a list of all activities and events on Earth Day. Find one you like, bring a friend, and make a difference!
6. Looking to Advocate for your environment? Attend the March For Science that will be held on April 14, 2018 in Washington, D.C. at the National Mall. Check out https://www.marchforscience.com/dc2018 for more information about this great event.
7. Grab some friends and go clean up the areas around you. Take a trash bag and some gloves and go around and pick up trash. Then, dispose of collected items properly via recycling bin or trash can. If you are willing to go the extra mile make a compost with what you find  that is compostable.
8. The caps on water bottles are not recyclable; please throw them into the trash. Plastic bags must be clean, dry and empty before they are recycled.

*Tweet or tag @mdstuco a picture when participating in Earth Day

March Green Goals

Happy March, student leaders of Maryland! The universal World Water Day is held this month, on March 22nd. The United Nations’ dedicated this day to increase people’s awareness of water’s importance in the environment, agriculture, health and trade. This day shines light on how crucial water is to our day to day lives and how privileged we are in the United States to have an abundant source of clean water. In tribute to countries around the world without a source of clean water, we dedicate this month’s green goals to water conservation.

Do not flush things down the toilet that can be easily thrown in the trash. Each flush is usually about 3.5 gallons – that can add up quickly!

Put a water bottle with a few pebbles in the tank of your toilet. This saves up to 10 gallons of toilet water a day.

When using a dishwasher, refrain from pre-rinsing. Scrap leftover and then put it in the dishwasher.

Instead of using the garbage disposal, make a compost with some of your food waste.

Wash your clothes in cold water. An added bonus- it saves money!

Only do laundry or dishes when you have a full load. We need to be as efficient as possible.

*Tweet or tag @mdstuco a picture when doing these

February 2018

Welcome to February student leaders. The past few months we’ve focused on reusability and sustainability, but now it’s time to target reducing our ecological footprint as a whole. Little changes in our day to day lives can have an immense impact on restoring water and air quality. We’ve composed a five-step process to achieving an earth-friendly lifestyle!

Step 1 – Start the morning right with a hot cup of coffee or water. When doing so, ditch the plastic or paper cups. Invest in a coffee tumbler or reusable water bottle. This easy change in habit goes a long way in reducing waste.

Step 2 – Driving to school can be boring. Pick up a friend! Not only is it earth-friendly, you also have a friend to talk to on your way to school. Carpooling is the best way to reduce gas emission from transportation.

Step 3 –  When you have arrived at school, you may notice that many of your classmates are not as awake as you. Encourage your classmates to take an ecological footprint calculator and research the ways they can reduce it.

Step 4 – After dinner, you may have dishes to wash. The average dishwasher uses 6 gallons per wash. It is imperative to run only full loads in your dishwasher or hand wash your dishes!

Step 5 – You’ve arrived at your home. It’s time to start winding down. Before hitting the bed, lower the thermostat. Bundle up to stay warm, and sleep well knowing that you’re making a difference in saving the world.

*Tweet or tag @mdstuco a picture when doing these

January 2018 

Hello fellow student leaders, we hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing Winter Break and New Year! With 2018 coming along, New Year’s resolutions are made. The New Year is a great way to say goodbye to your non-environmentally friendly habits; so let 2018 be full of a new environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Leave plastic water bottles in 2017, grab a reusable bottle which can save a lot of money and they are BPA free (BPA is a chemical used in plastic bottles which can be harmful to your health and the environment).

Use less water. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and only use the dishwasher if it’s completely full of dishes.

Carpool to events, having multiple cars going to the same location gives off a lot of vehicle emissions that are very disastrous for the environment. (Especially for MASC events that are far away)

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Do not forget the three R’s; they are very important. There are multiple things you can do on a daily basis such as recycling paper or reusing containers.

New year, New you? Try upcycling, a cheap alternative to buying new clothes all the time. This is a great way to add something new to your style. Start 2018 with a new style.

Be green at your school. Join or start a green club at your school to make it a more environmentally friendly. Looks great on a resume, too.

Sell or donate used textbooks from the last semester. You never know who could need it.

*Tweet or tag @mdstuco a picture when doing one of these items!

December 2017 

Hello everyone! We hope you had a great Thanksgiving, but sadly we are now back to our busy school day lives. With that said, we all create a lot of waste in and out of school. One person makes 4.6 pounds of waste every day. Americans produce 251,000,000 pounds of waste a year. As student leaders, we all need to be cautious about our human footprint. Human footprints are the impacts of everyday activities towards the world (such as taking a shower or eating breakfast). These activities can either be positive or negative which is why we need to make sure that we pay attention to how our actions can affect the environment.

1. Make a compost basket – throw in soil, a few twigs, compostable materials, and keep it moist with water. Organic Farming!
2. Use Mason Jars or Reusable Containers instead of one time containers
3. Recycle your old electronic devices properly as incorrectly decomposed electronics emit radioactivity and carbon dioxide
4. Repurpose items in your home. Take an old bookcase, add some color, and now you’ve revamped your old boring case.

*Tweet or tag @mdstuco a picture when doing these!

November 2017 

Happy November fellow student leaders! November is the month of food. This month is Good Nutrition Month, American Diabetes Awareness Month, National Peanut Butter Lovers Month, and Thanksgiving. But throughout all our good eats, we need to be a little more cognizant in how the food we eat impacts the environment. And remember, eat well, but eat mindfully!

Water Bottles

1. In the United States, bottled water costs between $0.25 and $2 per bottle while tap water costs less than a penny.
2. The manufacturing of plastic pollutes air, land and water, while exposing workers to toxic chemicals.
3. Plastic is NOT biodegradable and takes up to 1,000 years to decompose.
4. This month do not buy or use any plastic water bottle. Instead, buy a reusable water bottle. You may even start to love it so much you will never want to go back to plastic water bottles!

Food Waste
• Approximately 1.3 billion tons of food gets lost or wasted each year.
• Fruits, vegetables, roots, and tubers have the highest wastage rates of all foods.
• Shop realistically and be sure to check expiration dates.
• Make sure to eat those Thanksgiving dinner leftovers.

Organic Food
• Organic food production eliminates soil and water contamination, conserves biodiversity, fights against global warming, and reduces the use of pesticides and fertilizers.
• This month go to an organic food store in your area once a week to buy essential groceries. Although it may be costly, the cost of saving our planet is important!

*While doing these goals, post on social media and tag us @MDSTUCO

October 2017 

Hello fellow leaders! MASC hopes you all are enjoying the beginning of the school year. This month we will discuss the decline of the bee population. One out of three bites of food you eat daily is pollinated by bees. In other words, a third of all the food we produce depends on pollination! Bees and other pollinating insects play an essential role in ecosystems. However, since the late 1990s, the bee population has been in a high rate of decline. In fact, Maryland ranks as one of the highest rates of bee decline in the U.S. It is urgent that the student leaders of Maryland take a stand to help. Here are a few ways you can help, remember even the smallest actions can make a difference.

1) Plant different flowers and herbs for the bees to pollinate. Also, make sure that the plants are bee friendly.
2) Bees get thirsty after pollinating native plants so place a basin of water with a few pebbles inside of it to help them quench their thirst.
3) Do not weed your garden, the weeds are food for the bees.
4) Don’t use harmful pesticides to treat lawns.
5) Online forms of advocacy and change making! http://www.queenofthesun.com/get-involved/push-for-policy-change/  (MASC is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of this outside website.)

Maryland is over 60%

September 2017 

Hello fellow student leaders, the school year has begun and we want to share with you all the ways we can be environmentally-friendly this school year. Please share these tips with peers to spread the word. As leaders, it is crucial to be eco-friendly in order to take care of our environment. Everyone makes mistakes and these are easy fixes to everyday recycling matters. Remember, little acts of recycling can have a huge impact. So let’s jump right into the Green Goals of the Month.

Reduce Waste
1. If possible take notes on an electronic device while in class to save paper.
2. Use a reusable water bottle.
3. Use a mug or insulated water bottle for drinks with preferred temperatures.
4. Use eco-friendly school supplies because many ingredients in common supplies are harmful to the environment such as PVC (made with dangerous chemicals) which are in common stationery items.
5. Pack a no garbage lunch, using Tupperware and other reusable utensils.

Recycling
1. The caps on water bottles are not recyclable; please throw them in the trash.
2. Pizza boxes cannot be recycled because the grease contaminates the box. In most cases, you can recycle the top if not contaminated by grease.
3. Do not recycle Styrofoam in your recycling bin; find a drop site specifically for Styrofoam
4. Plastic bags must be clean, dry and empty before they are recycled.
5. Milk and Juice cartons are to be recycled.

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2015-2016

Overview of the Year’s Green Goals: GreenGoalsoftheYEAR

April 2016 

Hello all! We hope everyone is as excited for convention as we are! Since there is so much going on this month with elections, convention, and preparing for AP tests, there is only one green goal of the month!

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