I have been embarrassed at John Carroll University whenever I dump garbage into the huge recycling containers outside the Rodman and the Murphy Halls. We all know that it is not recycling at all. Sorting paper and glass bottles are common in Korea. My mom used to collect glass bottles when she went out to do her jogging in the early morning because she could sell it.
Today is the 40th anniversary of the Earth Day. Many things are different from the first Earth Day in 1970. Environmental nonprofit organizations are no longer enemies to corporations. In fact, environmental nonprofit organizations now accept that they must take money from corporations or at least become partners with them if they are to impact on the society. Conservation International (CI) has partnered with Starbucks since 1998 and, in March 2008, they launched a renewed five-year agreement to address the most important issue facing our world today—global climate change. And Greenpeace has teamed up with Cisco and Google to hold a Web seminar to deal with carbon footprint.
Overall, the Earth Day seems big business (Cf. New York Times 4/22/2010). For instance, to celebrate the Earth Day, John Carroll University is selling Fair Trade goods such as Fair Trade chocolate and coffee, indigenous gift, Clothing, etc. I agree to the article, “Every Earth Day is a reflection of where we are as a culture. If it has become commoditized, about green consumerism instead of systemic change, then it is a reflection of our society.” Sadly, John Carroll follows that. What if John Carroll holds a forum to invite all environmental groups at the campus to talk about the university’s recycling policy? What if John Carroll celebrates the Earth Day with a rally to commit the members to be more aware of the surroundings and what we can do with it? Something fundamental needs to be considered before following the trend.