Erase Our Carbon Footprint from the 2007 International Convention!
The 2007-08 International Officers are challenging Society members to choose to live responsibly by helping to erase our “Carbon Footprint” from the 2007 International Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
Coming from all corners of the world, almost 4,000 Phi Theta Kappans attended the 89th International Convention in Nashville. These chapters traveled approximately 2,526,930 miles*, essentially putting 1,000 tons of carbon into our atmosphere! Your International Officers are challenging chapters from around the world to help offset that Carbon Footprint by the 90th International Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by planting trees and recycling.
The fossil fuels we burn generate carbon dioxide (CO2), the heat-trapping gas primarily responsible for climate change. The average American generates 20 tons of CO2 each year. Through the Carbon Footprint Project, Phi Theta Kappa members will learn about the consequences that individual lifestyle choices have on our environment and will provide service to their communities by planting trees, recycling, and educating others about actions each of us can take to live sustainable lives, thus offsetting carbon dioxide emissions.
Plant Trees and Recycle
Each tree planted absorbs approximately 500 pounds of carbon in 10 years. Recycling is another great option in helping with carbon neutrality. Did you know that recycling materials helps not only with reducing pollution, but also in creating a carbon neutral community as well? In our quest to purge the environment of pollutants, recycling can serve as a viable source for the reduction of CO2 emissions as well.
Start planting trees and recycling today! Don’t forget to record your progress with our Carbon Footprint Report Form no later than April 1, 2008.
Resources:
We recommend chapters plant trees that are indigenous to their area by checking with their local nursery. You may also browse for affordable trees by checking out the Arbor Day Foundation at www.arborday.org. Becoming a member of the Arbor Day Foundation earns you 10 free trees. If you’d like to find out more about carbon footprints or to calculate your own total carbon footprint, check out the following resources:
Play Consumer Consequences. This interactive game is designed to illustrate the impact of our lifestyles on the Earth. It is part of American Public Media’s special series, “Consumed.” You will be asked series of questions about your lifestyle, and as you play, it will show you how many “Earths” of natural resources it would take to sustain all 6.6 billion humans… if everyone lived your lifestyle.
* To calculate the miles traveled, we worked from the number of chapters and attendees from each state or country. We approximated miles by using the state or country capital (with the exception of Tennessee in which case we used Memphis instead of Nashville) and finding how many miles it was to the Opryland Hotel, site of the 2007 Convention. If the state or country was over 500 miles away from the convention site, we considered that the members from that state were flying to the convention. That number was simply multiplied by the number of attendees from that state. After calculating each state, those numbers were added together for a total of flying miles. If the state capital was under 500, they were considered as a “driving state.” Because many chapters often drive together, we took the number of attendees from each “driving state” and divided it by 2 to represent 2 people in each car. Then, that divided number (attendees) was multiplied with the miles from the capital to the convention site. After calculating each “driving state,” the numbers were added up to get a total number of driving miles.
