[tsl/leadership] Fireside Workshop: A Closer Look At Your Eco-Footprint
For this Fireside Workshop, we decided to go green and look at our impact on the environment by measuring our eco-footprints. To begin examining our impact, the teens determined everything they threw away the previous day. The lists were long and included everything from leftover food to wrappers to clothing and electronics. To create our own virtual garbage pit, each teen then created one piece of garbage that was on their list. Our virtual garbage dump contained a lemon, leggings, and paper just to name a few of the creations. I was impressed at the creativity the teens expressed to build and re-use items from their own Second Life inventory to create their "piece of trash" in just a few minutes. To wrap up our trash analysis, we calculated the approximate weight of our household contribution to waste based on the statistic that the average resident of the US creates approximately 4.6 lbs of garbage each day. Many of the teens create more trash than the expected. The teens discussed how they could reduce the amount of trash they create by recycling more and agreed that the behaviors of those around them whether at home or at school have made recycling a habit for some and completely out of mind for others.
After we finished analyzing our trash, we went a step farther to calculate our eco-footprint. By looking at what types of transportation we use, how large our houses are, and the amount of electricity we use, we were each able to calculate our eco-footprint, a measurement of how much land, water, and resources are needed to support one person’s habits. The measurement also includes how much land is needed to handle the waste and pollution created by an individual. As the teens analyzed their eco-footprints, the majority realized energy and electricity is one of the biggest contributors to their eco-footprint. We were able to share practical ways to help reduce our footprint ranging from more efficient lightbulbs to turning off the lights and computers when we leave a room. When discussing why our eco-footprints matter, as one teen suggested, knowing the size of it makes you want to reduce it. The Firesiders then debated whether their eco-impact will matter more to their generation or their children's generation. The conversation evolved to discuss whether this is a local or global issue. While there was a differing in opinions as to whether environmental change should start at the local or global level first, it demonstrated to me that the teens understand the strong tie between the layers of impact at both levels. I found it especially interesting that the real-world locations of where the teens live was very closely tied to both their impact as well as their views. Those living in suburban areas must rely more heavily on personal automobiles while those in more urban areas could use public transportation or bicycles to get about. Having students from different countries also created an interesting dynamic where the group could compare the incentives and policies that their own countries, states, and cities enforce in order to reduce their eco-footprints as a community. As the Firesiders drew parallels between their eco-footprints and the changing weather patterns in their own communities due to global warming, confirmed for me that while our environmental impact is by no means a new topic, it is more timely than even in light of the natural disasters that have rocked the global community in the recent months.
