Cat in the Stax: Earth Week
As Falvey’s Cat in the Stax, Rebecca writes articles covering a broad range of topics, from academics to hobbies to random events. All the while highlighting how Falvey Library can enhance your Villanova experience!
We are officially two weeks away from the last day of classes! I don’t know about you, but I feel like this month has been flying by. Assignments are piling up, finals are looming, and you’re probably anxious for summer break. Make an effort to take some time to yourself this week. Find some way to decompress so that you can finish the semester strong!
Take care of yourself this weekend, and if you have time next week, try to take care of the Earth. Next Monday, April 22 is Earth Day, the second day of Earth Week, which runs from April 21-April 27 this year. The global nonprofit Earthday.org selected the 2024 theme “Planet vs. Plastics,” informing about the dangers of single-use plastics and undertaking a commitment to ending the use of plastics entirely. Proponents for this cause are demanding a 60% reduction in plastic production by 2040. Kathleen Rogers, President of Earthday.org, explains that “The Planet vs. Plastics campaign is a call to arms, a demand that we act now to end the scourge of plastics and safeguard the health of every living being upon our planet.”
Achieving sustainability is huge focus in efforts to combat climate change. Simply put, sustainability means meeting the needs of the current generation without compromising future generations’ ability to do the same. On an individual level, this can be as simple as changing your habits to reduce your carbon footprint. The biggest things you can do, of course, are recycle and use reusable water bottles and food containers instead of plastic ones. If you want to learn more about sustainable living and the various ways you can make a difference, check out Villanova’s Pathways to Sustainable Living. You can calculate your ecological, carbon, and water footprints and learn ways to reduce your impact.
Looking to get involved in making a difference? Villanova has organized a myriad of events over the next two weeks to celebrate Earth Week. Click here to look at what’s being offered and to sign up!
If you would like to learn more about the importance of protecting the environment and how you can make a difference, check out some of these books and film documentaries available at Falvey:
- Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver
- Sustainable Home: Practical Projects, Tips and Advice For Maintaining a More Eco-Friendly Household by Christine Liu-Perkins
- An (Almost) Zero Waste Life: Learning How to Embrace Less to Live More by Megean Weldon
- Food, Inc. (Documentary)
- Anthropocene: The Human Epoch (Documentary)
Rebecca Amrick is a first-year graduate student in the English Department and a Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.