Last Tuesday, Feb 21, EcoPax members met with members of Goshen College's staff and administration to discuss our college's ecological footprint and the recent Environmental Resource Assessment (see the Resources page).  We also had tea and cookies!

Issues and ideas discussed at the meeting included: the Assessment's value, steps that can be taken to lessen GC's ecological footprint, the feasibility of such steps, and ways that students (namely EcoPAX members) can help the staff and administration be more eco-friendly.  We also discussed some of the good things that are already being done on our campus.

The meeting not only helped put in perspective some of the difficulties involved in "greening the campus," it left us with constructive ideas on how to assist staff and administration in taking steps to make improvements.  Members of EcoPAX were encouraged to research the ways that other schools and organizations stay clean, green, and healthy, and report any pertinent findings to staff and administration for consideration. 

Soon, we hope to have a page on this website where such research can be posted and viewed by the wider GC community.  Until then, we encourage anyone - EcoPax members or otherwise - to contribute information and ideas for research via email (zacharytagoshen.edu). 

Goshen College Interim President John Yordy recently signed a statement pledging to curb global warming.  The statement, entitled "Climate Change: an Evangelical Call to Action," was released on Feb. 6, 2006.

The statement asserts four claims: that "human-induced climate change is real"; that "the consequences of climate change will be significant, and will hit the poor the hardest"; that "Christian moral convictions demand our response to the climate change problem"; and that "the need to act now is urgent." 

Way to go Yordy!  We at EcoPAX support your decision to sign, and appreciate your active attention to the issue!

For more info, see the Goshen College Press Release, here, or the official site of the Evangelical Climate Initiative.