Dear Editor,

We all live in one of the wealthiest and most consumptive societies in the world. And it is a remarkable time to be alive. We are the generation that will have to deal with the draining of the world’s petroleum supply. Many say that it is in our lifetime that the world population will reach the nine billion point. Sometimes looking at all of the statistics and predictions looming over us can be quite overwhelming. It seems though, that the only way to counteract this hopeless feeling is to do something. At the Claremont Colleges we have the opportunity, everyday, to do something. The way we can begin to solve the world’s resource problems is by committing to do something in our own community.

Some of this may just seem like talk, and I know talk is cheap, so I will provide you with some action. The Claremont Colleges Eco-Club is beginning to take some action. The club took a long time to decide on a campaign this semester. They had extensive discussions about what they wanted to accomplish and whether they should work at a national level or a local level. After much deliberation they decided on a long term campaign of establishing a 5C Environmental Review Committee. This seemed the most appropriate course of action if they wanted to do something that would affect the college community in the long run. Each college works independently on its grounds and resource issues, but it would be to the benefit of the whole if we could pool information. Research and improvements could be accomplished together and would therefore minimize costs for each individual college. The Review Committee would also be a body that would help facilitate the "greening" of the Claremont Colleges. By researching and promoting more sustainability on campus, the committee would be a body for positive change.

I think this is the beginning of something. This is not the absolute solution for any world problems, but it any attempt at positive change is a part of the solution. We have the opportunity to become leaders in sustainability. Not only do we have the opportunity, but we have the responsibility. There are simply not enough resources left for us to go on the way we have been. This committee would be committed to doing that; trying to figure out what is too much. With all that is looming over us, it is the least we can do.

Sincerely,

Ruth Cusick