By Erica Thompson, News Staff
This Earth Day will consist of more than just recycling old water bottles. April 22, Bostonians can choose a “green” method of transportation or simply invest in food and clothing industries that help create an eco-friendly environment by producing sustainable and locally produced goods.
Northeastern senior music industry major Jonathan Nueman and sophomore at Wentworth Institute of Technology Adam Squatrito are putting a green foot forward this holiday by skateboarding around the city, not for transportation, but to deliver a city-wide message.
“Green Skate is a nation-wide event, starting in 2007, and it’s all about showing that long boarding is becoming a ‘green’ alternative to driving or taking the train, especially here in the city,” Squatrito said.
This year is Boston’s first Green Skate event, though the event has previously taken place in other major cities across the country, like Astoria, N.Y. and Washington D.C. The event was organized through SilverfishLongboarding.com, an online forum and resource for long boarders across the globe, Nueman said.
“Due to the impromptu, guerilla nature of the event, we didn’t secure any sponsorship or prepare a donation collection, so the objective is primarily to raise awareness about alternative methods of transportation, especially in the city,” Nueman said. “To that effect, Green Skate is not limited to only skaters — bikers are welcome to join.”
The event consists of a meet-up in Boston Common, where skaters ride along the Charles River to Massachusetts Avenue, finishing at Mission Hill. The group will meet at noon Saturday in the gazebo near the Boylston T stop.
“I was in New York for last year’s Green Skate event and the turnout was huge. When I was looking to attend the event in Boston, I saw that there wasn’t one scheduled, so I proposed the idea on the forum,” Nueman said, adding that Squatrito then took an interest and created a Facebook event to help spread the word.
Organizations within Boston are also giving incentives to be eco-friendly in the spirit of Earth Day. The independent and solar-powered radio station 92.5 The River will host a free concert at the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway’s Wharf District Parks near the New England Aquarium, which will include live performances by BoDeans, Entrain and a surprise guest. The concert is rain or shine and will run from noon to 3 p.m. April 22.
“Unfortunately when most people think about going green, they only think about the sacrifices they’ll need to make in order to do so,” said Jesse McBrower, a 2010 Northeastern graduate and former member of the Northeastern Green Team — a club whose mission is to collect recycling items during Red Sox games, as well as promote the ideas of sustainable living. However, McBrower said there are plenty of simple ways for people to help the environment.
He suggested double-sided printing to conserve paper and being conscious of turning off lights when no one is using them. Onlinecollegereviews.com also recommends investing in canvas grocery bags, reusable coffee mugs and water bottles; buying local products instead of brand-named ones; and shutting off the sink while brushing one’s teeth.
“Another thing that’s made going green really easy and fun for me is technology,” McBrower said. “My friend and I went to see the No Limits Dance Crew performance the other night and were able to use our iPhones to get in, instead of printing a physical ticket.”
This is made possible by receiving tickets through PDF-formatted e-mails, McBrower said.
“Just open the PDF file on your phone and have the usher scan the bar code just like they would a paper ticket. It not only saves paper and ink, but also the hassle of having to reprint a ticket if you forget it.”
McBrower now works for Puma International, the athletic apparel company, who allow for time off from work to clean up local parks and help out other causes. They also match any charitable donations up to $500 per year, McBrower said.
Likewise, Proxy Apparel, a local clothing company whose mission is to “empower and employ women in a sweat-shop free environment,” will feature a fashion show and gala April 21. The event will include the debut of Proxy’s new spring line, a sustainable marketplace featuring local vendors, the opportunity to buy Proxy items and refreshments. The event is free and will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Mass Challenge, 55 Northern Ave., on the 14th floor.
Old Navy is also making a recycling initiative this spring by creating The Flip Flop Replay, a program where shoppers can bring used flip flops to any Old Navy store in the US to be recycled. The shoes will be sent to TerraCycle, an organization that takes hard-to-recycle materials and turns them into playgrounds in four communities across the country. Old Navy has two locations in Boston and one in Cambridge. The Flip Flop Replay runs from Earth Day through May 21.
“With Earth Day happening this week, its extra important for people to stay conscious of the resources they consume and to not waste what they don’t need to be wasting,” McBrower said. “Don’t just walk by a piece of trash on the ground. Take the two extra seconds and put it in a trash can. If there’s a trash can and a recycling bin right next to each other, make the effort to put your recyclables in the right bin.”
