When temperatures fluctuate nearly 50 degrees in a matter of days, one
local group wants Iowans to recognize the reason for such extreme
changes: global warming.
The
Iowa Student Public Interest Research Group hosted a viewing of Al
Gore's An Inconvenient Truth on Thursday night and a follow-up
discussion with Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City regarding future energy
plans for the Hawkeye State.
PIRG is a national organization on
nearly 80 campuses, and it is involved with the Campus Climate
Challenge, whose main goal is to have all universities completely rely
on renewable energies rather than electricity. PIRG is looking to local
politicians to initiate change.
As Gore puts it in his movie,
people in politics tend to ignore global-warming issues, but "the moral
imperative to make big changes is inescapable."
Bolkcom
discussed the issue bluntly, saying that political changes in the
Legislature have pushed issues such as global warming to the forefront.
There will be a negative effect on Iowa's agriculture if the state
doesn't take action, he said.
"We spend $12 billion a year
importing energy in Iowa, and there are so many other resources for us
to take advantage of," he said.
Iowa ranks third in the nation
in wind power, Bolkcom said. He added that while ethanol fuel is a step
in the right direction, "simply turning corn into fuel is not going to
do anything for [global warming]."
UI sophomore Jacob Zawa asked
Bolkcom about the possibility of making Iowa City a "car-free" city
during the summer months. Bolkcom said that would be a great idea, but
more must be done by the City Council to change pedestrian and bike
pathways.
"Mayor Wilburn must get engaged in this issue,"
Bolkcom said. "Lighting ordinances must be changed, and bike
accessibility has to be improved."
For UI students and other Iowa City residents, small efforts can make a big difference.
"If
you are not using the lights, turn them off," said Haley Pollack, an
Iowa PIRG campus organizer. "If you are not using your computer, turn
it off."
Pollack then suggested that students use natural light when possible and keep their thermostats low.
PIRG
is hosting more events to create global-warming awareness. On Feb. 25,
it will show Kilowatt Ours - a documentary about a family of four and
how much they contribute to global warming in a 24-hour period - at
Hillcrest.
Tony Thompson, a speaker on behalf of The Climate
Project - a follow-up to Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth - will be at
the Iowa City Public Library on March 7 to discuss solutions to global
warming.
