Suffolk Participates in Focus the Nation

"The American way of life is not up for negotiation," declared former president George H.W. Bush. It is a simple statement, but its implications declare in an unashamed way why we are currently facing the environmental issues that we are.

As Americans living in a fast-paced, technological society, we are often blind to those things that do not directly affect us on a daily basis. We live in the present, often not bothering to consider future consequences or the effects our decisions make on others.

Due to this attitude and the glaring environmental repercussions it has ultimately caused, it is now clear that we can no longer ignore the issues facing us and deal with them later. The future is now.

So when Focus the Nation took place at Suffolk on January 31st, its messages' were heard loud and clear.

The morning was kicked off with author and environmentalist Bill McKibben, whose expertise focuses on climate change. McKibben outlined the main concerns of global warming and also gave some startling statistics to show the effects it has had on our planet.

According to McKibben, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, which have a defined "safe zone" of 350 parts per million, have already surpassed that number and continue to rise. We currently stand at 385 parts per million. He also pointed out that the average American uses twice as much energy as the average European; further showing that our lifestyle must change.

When asked to list three ways that the typical person could make a difference, McKibben replied, "The first thing would be to politically organize. Secondly, organize politically. And third, get involved in political organization."

The second speaker of the morning was Dr. Martha Richmond, director of the Environmental Science and Environmental Studies majors. She outlined how these two academic concentrations prepare Suffolk students for a future in these fields. In addition, Dr. Richmond highlighted sustainable development, the idea of meeting the needs of the future without compromising the present. This is a concept that has clearly not been implemented in the past; the prototypical American lifestyle has not allowed it.

To explain why we tend to become stuck in the present, lawyer and Suffolk alumni Jeffrey Glassman pointed out the general detachment from nature in our country.

According to Glassman, so rarely do we bother to "stop and smell the roses" that we fail to take the environment into consideration when we make decisions. To remedy his own detachment, Glassman went on a "sacred passage" to a deserted location in the Southwestern United States. There he spent time better getting to know himself and the world around him. Today, he encourages fellow lawyers to use 100% recycled paper and take other environmentally friendly actions.

The final speaker of the morning was David Delcourt from MakeMeSustainable, a company that helps to track environmental footprints and offer more efficient solutions. Delcourt talked briefly about sustainability, using the nation's dependency on bottled water as an example. According to Delcourt, the amount it costs to make one twenty ounce water bottle is equivalent to filling that same bottle a quarter of the way full with oil.

Overall, the reception for Focus the Nation was a promising one, and no one was more pleased than the event's organizer Erica Mattison.

"The feedback from Suffolk's Focus the Nation event has been fantastic," said Mattison.

"Neighbors, faculty, staff, students, and those from other organizations who attended said they learned a lot and were inspired," she added.

Mattison also stressed that there are many ways that students can get involved on campus, whether it be by taking a class on an environmental topic, hosting an information table around campus, or taking part in the many environmental events around Boston.

Needless to say, there is no lack of opportunities for change in this day and age, and with even more environmental complications looming in the future it is time for everyone to do their part.