From SCAD's Focus the Nation Teach-in on Global Warming
Community Panel at Trustees Theatre, Savannah GA January 31, 2008

By the time current freshmen graduate from the Savannah College of Art and Design, it will be too late to start making meaningful changes to address global warming.

Scott Boyleston, a SCAD graphic design professor, stressed that as he addressed students in the school's portion of a nationwide teach-in on global warming Thursday.

"The debate is no longer, 'Is global warming happening?' " Boyleston said. "The debate is what you can do and should do."

And art students can do plenty.

As presenters noted, not only will their individual lifestyle choices affect change, but they also will have the opportunity as professionals to change how items are packaged or buildings are designed.

Industrial design professor Peter Fossick urged students to make products more sustainable. He used the example of how Nike streamlined its packaging and reduced its use of harmful solvents and metals.

"You can have the worldwide brand and still enjoy cachet in terms of lifestyle and aesthetics," he said.

Ornithologist and professor of environmental studies Steve Wagner painted a grim picture of disappearing wildlife in the face of global warming. He called for concerned students to volunteer with Sierra Club, Audubon or at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.

"I'm not entirely pessimistic," he said. "Otherwise I wouldn't try to do what I do."

SCAD was one of more than 1,500 colleges nationwide that took part in the day-long Focus the Nation teach-in. It gathered students, faculty and community members for discussion of issues that address global warming and personal responsibility.

The topics on the day's agenda included community stewardship, product packaging, corporate responsibility, transportation and local action influencing climate change.

Hundreds of students attended. And no, not because it was required.

Roberto Vega, for example, skipped class to listen to the climate change lectures. Vega is a fifth-year architecture student working on a master's thesis. Its focus: retrofitting Savannah's City Hall to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

The building could raise local awareness of global warming issues and solutions, he said.

Jess Menrath, who's studying for a master's degree in interior design, plans to take action after the teach-in. Her focus is where SCAD buys its food, and she's going to contact the administration about the issue.

"I want to spur social change," she said.

Students, especially art students, can do that, said Clara Fishel, sustainable brokerage associate for Melaver Mouchet.

"Art is a great driver for social change," she said.

"You creative people, it's not only the light bulbs or the food you buy. You have the ability to make an impact through creative expression, and you should absolutely go for it."

Local action

The scope of global warming may leave individuals with a sense of hopelessness about making changes.

But Tommy Linstroth, head of sustainable initiatives for Melaver Inc., has a different perspective.

Don't wait for the federal government to make progress on this issue, he urged SCAD students Thursday.

Instead, push change at the local government level.

Most Americans live in cities, so the cumulative impacts add up, he said, and municipalities are nimble compared to the federal government, which can take years to act.

"Local government can have something implemented in four weeks," he said.

Linstroth has co-authored a book on the topic.

Called "Local Action, The New Paradigm in Climate Change Policy," the book gives examples of how local governments have made significant contributions to reducing global warming.

His example in Savannah is the city's successful low-flush toilet give-away program. In this flat landscape, Linstroth said, about a third of the city's municipal electrical usage comes from pumping water. Reduce the amount pumped, and you reduce energy consumption.

You don't even have to believe in global warming to support local actions to reduce it, Linstroth said.

Reducing energy consumption, using land better and having more efficient transportation systems all save money and improve quality of life, he said.

Published by the University Press of New England, "Local Action" may be ordered at 800-421-1561 or online at www.upne.com/1-58465-672-7.html.