The University of Mississippi celebrated its sixth annual Green Week on Earth Day (April 22) with the goal of opening a campuswide dialogue about sustainability.
Rob Nixon, author of Slow Violence and the Environmentalism of the Poor (Harvard University Press, 2011), delivered the Earth Day keynote lecture. His session focused on complex global issues related to sustainability, including “slow violence,” the slowly unfolding environmental effects that are often underpublicized or unnoticed.
“As we educate and support the development of the next generation for responsible citizenship, we consider these global issues to be of critical importance to their preparation,” said Anne McCauley, assistant director of the UM Office of Sustainability. “Changing behaviors and habits are important, but equally important is understanding the larger context behind why we advocate for these changes. We hope Green Week brings to light both actions for individual responsibility as well as awareness of social, environmental and economic challenges that need to be addressed.”
The week’s events included “Business in the Green,” during which representatives from International Paper, Project Green Fork and Toyota shared sustainable strategies and operational practices in the workplace.
Other events included the annual eco-fashion show and gala, which featured outfits made from uncommon materials, and the annual Green Week Sustainability Fair. The fair featured plastic bag knitting, an on-campus farmers market and displays from several university groups.