Earth Day Network Blog Updates

What’s falling from the sky??? You should be on the lookout Friday for an unidentified flying school bus falling from the sky! Wait, WHAT?! Now for those of you who watch PBS, this is not Ms. Frizzle’s “Magic School Bus” coming back from an out-of-the-classroom experience in outer space, but just a six-ton NASA satellite – the equivalent of a yellow school bus – falling from the sky! That’s right. And to top it all off, it is anyone’s guess as to where it will land on Earth! Yikes!

Did you know that 45 million Americans think the ocean is a source of fresh water? Or that 130 million people believe that hydropower is America’s top energy source (when in reality, it really is just 10% of the total)?  Shocking, right? So what’s our solution? Environmental Education! However, before Congress left town for August recess, we learned that the House Appropriations Committee proposed eliminating ALL federal funding for the EPA’s Office of Environmental Education.

Last night, President Obama delivered his job’s speech introducing the American Jobs Act to Congress and the nation. In it, he proclaimed: “We have to look beyond the immediate crisis and start building an economy that lasts into the future!” The future? There is no better place to start than investing in the education of our youth. Spending money on education generates the largest number of jobs (23.1 per $1 million dollars in spending) of any government spending according to Dr. Robert Pollin of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

Did you know that the sun is greatest power source for planet Earth? In fact, it provides more energy to the Earth in one hour than the amount of energy produced by all nations in one year! And with growing prevalence of solar technologies worldwide, solar power is an excellent way to produce energy for your home and also save you tons of money on heating and energy costs. Don’t believe us? Then visit the U.S.

Have you shown an interest or been following the events with respect to new Green Ribbon Schools Award program? If so, the U.S. Department of Education would like YOU to give your feedback on their proposed plans for this incredible initiative. This is the first time the federal government has launched a comprehensive green schools initiative, and you can contribute to it!!

“Teaching children about the environment and giving them a hands-on opportunity to experience nature makes them smarter and healthier,” said Democratic Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island.[1]  On July 14, 2011 Reed, along with Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Congressman John Sarbanes, (D-MD) re-introduced the No Child Left Inside Act (NCLI Act) into the House and Senate.

This month, the USDA unveiled an initiative to help communities become more involved in school health and nutrition.  This plan will be put into action through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.

Imagine walking into a grocery store and hearing a child beg his parents to buy him strawberries, apples, or yogurt. In reality, you are far more likely to hear kids plead for ice cream or sugary cereals. For this reason, the healthy foods movement has recently gone to great lengths to begin to regulate the types of foods advertised to children. These new regulations could bring this imaginary scenario closer to a reality.

We’ve had a busy week here in the education department at Earth Day Network. The Green Schools Program, with the support of the UPS Foundation, recently produced a webinar detailing the importance of biodiesel, and how to integrate its production into schools. This resource was created in conjunction with our work to build two biodiesel production labs at schools outside of both Boston and Seattle.

Annie Stoller-Patterson is an intern in the Education Department of Earth Day Network

Next September, members of the Class of 2012 will return to Maryland public schools to finish their last year of high school.  But this year, their education will look a little bit different: Maryland high schools have gone green.