Spring Break
Speaker discusses steps for sustainability
Eau Claire is ahead of the pack, he says
Frank Pellegrino
Issue date: 4/2/09 Section: Campus News
Terry Gips, president of Sustainability Associates, held a seminar Monday evening before a packed crowd in Schofield Auditorium.
Gips, who has more than 30 years of experience, is an agriculture economist, sustainability business consultant and author.
Sustainability Associates is an organization that focuses on bringing environmental sustainability to everyone, according to its Web site.
Kicking off Earth Month in the Chippewa Valley, Gips' presentation was the beginning of an April effort to promote environmental awareness throughout the area.
The presentation, "Taking the Natural Step to Sustainability: A Win-Win-Win for Business, Communities and Earth," focused on coming up with a solution for the public, private groups and non-profit organizations.
Sophomore Anastasia Davis had reason to believe listening to Gips would be beneficial for her.
"I attended the event because I had seen Terry Gips speak on campus during first semester," Davis said. "He has some really great ideas, and puts those uncommon ideas in a relatable perspective."
Gips pointed out early he is excited about the advances going on throughout Eau Claire, and that he thinks Eau Claire can be a sustainability leader in the country.
He began by defining sustainability with several definitions, but said he preferred the UN definition of the word the best.
"Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs," according to the U.N. World Commission on Environment and
Development.
Davis explained why she thinks most people don't keep this idea of sustainability in mind.
"I think a lot of the reasons people don't make those simple daily decisions is because they don't know," Davis said.
Gips stressed that if we were all willing to work towards something like this, a sustainable future will help save enormous amounts of money and can happen very quickly as well.
Gips, who has more than 30 years of experience, is an agriculture economist, sustainability business consultant and author.
Sustainability Associates is an organization that focuses on bringing environmental sustainability to everyone, according to its Web site.
Kicking off Earth Month in the Chippewa Valley, Gips' presentation was the beginning of an April effort to promote environmental awareness throughout the area.
The presentation, "Taking the Natural Step to Sustainability: A Win-Win-Win for Business, Communities and Earth," focused on coming up with a solution for the public, private groups and non-profit organizations.
Sophomore Anastasia Davis had reason to believe listening to Gips would be beneficial for her.
"I attended the event because I had seen Terry Gips speak on campus during first semester," Davis said. "He has some really great ideas, and puts those uncommon ideas in a relatable perspective."
Gips pointed out early he is excited about the advances going on throughout Eau Claire, and that he thinks Eau Claire can be a sustainability leader in the country.
He began by defining sustainability with several definitions, but said he preferred the UN definition of the word the best.
"Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs," according to the U.N. World Commission on Environment and
Development.
Davis explained why she thinks most people don't keep this idea of sustainability in mind.
"I think a lot of the reasons people don't make those simple daily decisions is because they don't know," Davis said.
Gips stressed that if we were all willing to work towards something like this, a sustainable future will help save enormous amounts of money and can happen very quickly as well.
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