EARTH Biofuels

Hi Mr. Clarke,


Right now classes are restarting at EARTH, it is our last trimester of this year. As you may know, we are really excited because of that but things are going normal by the time.

It is great hearing those great ideas of Organic garden you are implementing at Westminster. I think starting with small projects could then become greater ones. At EARTH there are some professors that are really engaged with organic processes: Pánfilo Tabora and Jorge Arce. If you would like to write them, just lookr at their names in this link: http://www.earth.ac.cr/progacad_facultad.php

About the Congres, well, A LOT OF THINGS!! I have like 2 weeks I return and I had not finished checking all the contact list and organizations. It was a really good experience at Quebec. I met a lot of people from different parts of the world, hear several ways of thinking but also I realize how much we have to work for making a sustainbale world. People are still on the air, because we need much more practical policies for taking care of the environment, but for the moment I think humanity is working for that.

Also, I want to tell you that the University is organizing a conference about biofuels that will be held in mid-november, you could see more details in this link: http://www.earth-ufbiofuels.org/


We hope you could participate in our magazine in the next issue which we are trying to post online: http://revistaestudiantileeehh.blogspot.com/


So, keep in touch.

Johanny

PD: A suggestion, I think you could add the emails of the people related to this blog in the section of configuration, that talks about sending an email when happens any actualization in the blog.

Johanny, congratulations on attending the World Youth Congress! That's very impressive, and I look forward to hearing about your experiences there. I'd love to and come up with an article for your trimester magazine, and I'll get started thinking about a good subject right away. Westminster is abuzz with some exciting new environmental developments. I don't have the details on a lot of the new sustainable initiatives getting started on campus, but I do now that WISOR, our hands-on sustainability club is working on getting an organic garden started. Ironically, the Discovery program, an outdoor organization at our school is also setting up an organic garden. So we've got gardens galore sprouting up on campus! In our cafeteria we have replaced the cardboard milk cartons with milk dispensers, and have phased out our plastic cups, instead using biodegradable cups made from corn. Two very exciting new developments. So, as a new year starts at Westminster, we can already see more stewardship initiatives taking hold. I look forward to hearing about the World Youth Congress, and thank you for your contact!

From EARTH UNIVERSITY

Hi Everybody!

Do not worry, I have also been very busy during these weeks. The magazine of this trimestre is already completed, but if you want you can send us your article by the next issue.

From EARTH a lot of things, next August 8th, me and three more students will be attending to the 4th World Youth Congress to be celebrated on Quebec, Canada. The main topic of this event is to promote youth-led sustainable develoment, and participants will share their projects and experiences in which have been part.


Four year students are preparing their graduation project, and you can see some past projects in this link: http://usi.earth.ac.cr/glas/sp/ColeccionVirtual/index.htm (spaniah). Also you can see some research investigations, made by teachers in the Scientific Magazine of EARTH University: http://usi.earth.ac.cr/tierratropical/tierra_tropical.php?id=316

This will be my last week in the trimester at EARTH, and I have my final exams, so I will connect as soon as I finish.

Bye and keep in contact!

Johanny

(sorry about the break, my computer's battery died)
Anyway, there are some new developments regarding Westminster's campus ecology. First, there's the privet that we tried to eradicate. Johanny, Westminster has a serious infestation of Chinese privet and in the spring we tried to go out and get rid of a large patch of it. Unfortunately, we only cut away at the big bush and didn't apply herbicide as we had planned since we didn't have it yet. As such, when I went to check the site a couple weeks ago, I found that there are new shoots coming up off the stumps of the old ones. Bummer! The class of '09 definitely has their work cut out for them. On a lighter note, I was talking to one of my friends' younger brothers and he mentioned that he was looking for an idea for his eagle scout project. I suggested that he help with wood duck habitat on campus, and he responded entusiastically. So that means that Westminster could potentially have first rate habitat for blue birds AND wood ducks on campus! Woot! These last points are just a couple of my musings, but working at the summer camp I would see blue herons and red tailed hawks almost daily. Now how cool is it that Westminster provides habitat for these creatures in thick of human development? I feel like WISOR or the Campus Conservation Corps could do something really cool with those two species. Now, after that update, Johanny, anything exciting to report from Earth?

The Blog Must Live!!

Hello everyone! First, I'd like to apologize for this blog's long dormancy. I've been slacking off. Second, I'd like to extend another apology to you, Johanny, for promising an article and not delivering. I really have no excuse other than the quick deadline, and I hope my negligence did not mess anyone up. A new development on the

Student Magazine EEEHH?

As you may know, the topics covered are on social aspects of relevance in the University or cultural activities, which are of critical thinking and social issues that could be interesting to young students.

Please be reminded that the deadline for receipt of articles is up next Monday, June 16th until the evening hours. Along with your article that could be of one page, write a brief paragraph containing information about you, and ask permission to place their post in the article published.

If you would like to place a photo, we will warmly receive it.

In advance, thank you for the enthusiasm and interest to collaborate with the magazine.

We look forward to your articles.

Johanny, that's awesome about your lunch! I hope it was highly productive. I would LOVE to contribute to your local publication-is there any topic you think it would be good for me to address? How long should my article be? I don't mean to bombard you with questions, I just want to draft an article worthy of such high caliber students as yourselves!

World Environment Day

Hi Clarke and friends!!!

First of all, lets talk about the world Environment Day which was in June 5th. Worldwide that day was celebrated with different activities. At EARTH University me and two more friends: Angela Ospina and Jorge Cespedes planned a really nice lunch. We showed some slides about the Carbon neutrality project of the University and the Blue Flag Programme in good treatment of water here; also, there was a special dessert.

It is great to know that the leaders of your Campus Conservation Corps are planning to help with blog management. I had not heard before about the organisation WWOOF but I know some friends that could be very related with the topic. Anyway it sounds interesting and right now I will check the web site of the organisation.

I wanted to tell you that during this trimester I am the Current director of the Student Magazine, which presents critical articles about social issues like: food crisis, biofuels, World environment politics, etc. made by students and some times we have invited professors or People from other Countries or Universities. I send you the invitation if you want to present any article we would be very happy to receive it. The deadline is until Friday June 13th. Please confirm me at: jperez(at)earth.ac.cr.

Well, keep in touch,

Johanny Pérez

Johanny, so good to hear from you! It's exciting to get the communication going. Right now the leaders of a sustainability organization, the Campus Conservation Corps, are planning to help with (and hopefully eventually take over) blog management. They are the lovely and famous Chris Busch and Catherine Lamb. Woot! I'm going to invite them now. So Johanny, do you have any friends who have been WWOOFers? Put another way, have you heard of the World Wide Oraganisation for Organic Farming?

Hello from EARTH University!!

Hi everybody!

My name is Johanny Perez and I am a sophomore student from EARTH University in Costa Rica.

As you may know, at EARTH there are students from aproximately 22 latin american countries and Africa. We study agriculture with the concept of sustainability.

It is great we are reducing distances making communication through this blog!!

Well, lets keep in contact.

Yours,

Johanny

Hello blog! I apologize for this long hibernation. My plan right now is to start finding rising seniors at Westminster who will take over blog management for next year. While this does appear to be a classic case of shirking one's duties, I need to go ahead and find someone who will be at Westminster to manage the blog and interact with Westminster students. I'll let you know how my search progresses. In the mean time, please feel free to post anything you feel is pertinent to the blog's purpose. Again, one of the driving purposes of this blog is to simply get Earth and Westminster students talking. Feel free to post anything you feel like saying.

Hello All,

I'm very pleased to be a member of this blog.

My name is Kyle Vermillion and I am a biology teacher at the Westminstewr Schools.

This is some information about me which is posted on the Westminster School's website.

"Kyle earned his B.S. in marine biology and chemistry Florida State University, and later did graduate work in fishery biology at Tennessee Technological University. He also earned a Masters in professional accountancy at Georgia State University while he taught chemistry at Berkmar High School. Since 1969, Kyle has taught at various public and private institutions including the Florida Institute of Technology, Kennesaw State University, Tennessee Technological University, Brookwood School, and Merritt Island High School, and has had several years’ experience auditing in the medical and transportation fields. He has taught at Westminster for 22 years and has been the science department head (1991 – 1996), co director of the Marine Science Institute (1989 – 1995), instructor of physical science, oceanography, physics, environmental biology, honors biology and honors chemistry, in addition to coaching JV boy’s soccer and Varsity girl’s softball. Kyle is currently the greenhouse manager for the science department, and a member of the Bolch ScienceTalk and Exploratorium committees. He also plays clarinet and arranges classical music for the Robinson Chamber Ensemble. Since 2004, he has also been a community member of the CDC’s Biosafety Committee. Kyle resides in Acworth with his wife, Ellissa, with whom he enjoys camping, hiking, and nature study."

Test Post

This post is to test this magnificent blog, which will eventually open up a flood of wholesome, knowledge-filled dialogue between Westminster and Earth. I am thoroughly excited.