Multi-colored chalk writings across campus, numerous Buzz postings, and concern for the state of the environment brought Guilford community members together in hopes of making change. Approximately 30 people gathered Jan. 31 in the Walnut Room to recognize a nationally organized global warming teach-in day.

The teach-in was orchestrated by environmental group Focus the Nation to educate the American populace about causes, dangers, and solutions of global warming. Over 1,750 other institutions, ranging from colleges to churches to K-12 schools, participated in the teach-in effort nationwide.

Focus the Nation, a non-partisan member of the Green House Network, has set a brief timeline of national events and goals to make rapid environmental change.

“In the next few years, we as a nation will make, or fail to make, critical decisions regarding global warming pollution and clean technology investments,” said the organization’s Web site, www.focusthenation.org. “These decisions will have far-reaching and irreversible impacts on the lives of today’s students and the lives of their children.”

The Web site offered templates and suggestions to organizations participating in the teach-in.

Guilford’s Sustainability Council organized the campus’s events, including a “lunch and learn” with food donated by Sodexho and a screening of Focus the Nations’ web cast, “The 2 Percent Solution.”

The 2 percent solution is a pollution-limiting concept created by environmental experts.

If greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current rate, by 2050 the temperature of Earth will raise by 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit. According to leading climate scientist James Hansen, that much of a climate change “will guarantee disintegration of West Antarctica and parts of Greenland.”

The 2 percent solution involves an 80 percent cut, approximately 2 percent a year, in emissions by the year 2050 in order to keep global warming to only 3-4 degrees Fahrenheit.

Following the Web cast viewing, Environmental Sustainability Coordinator Jim Dees and Project Sustainability Manager Rex Harrell facilitated a discussion that included information about Guilford conservationism.

“One goal at a time, one step at a time,” Harrell said.

Guilford’s recent environmental efforts include last year’s installation of solar panels to heat the water in Shore Hall, aerators on faucets, and waterless urinals that save 48,000 gallons of water apiece.

In 2007, President Chabotar signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment. By signing the commitment, Chabotar pledged to develop a plan to make Guilford carbon neutral.

Beyond Guilford’s accomplishments, the day’s events were heavily focused on personal contributions.

“We’re trying to get people to understand that this is a change that must come from the individual,” Dees said. “This isn’t institutional change; it’s got to come from everyone.”

Throughout the luncheon, attendants were asked to sign a personal commitment board, promising to make individual environmental efforts. Commitments ranged from taking shorter showers, composting, and riding a bike to using the cloth shopping bags that were available at the event.

Personal commitments allowed people to see the ease with which they can lessen their impact on the environment.

“The impression I had was you have to be a lawyer or a senator to make any change, but then I came to Guilford,” said senior Elizabeth Vachon, the sustainability coordinator intern. “There’s a national community and it’s important to write to your senators, but it’s also important to affect your own personal community with your personal commitments.”

Beyond the National Teach-In Day, Focus the Nation has long-term programs including Future Vote and Green Democracy. Both encourage individuals to make environmental change through the government.

“I can make decisions in my life personally, but if I vote I can influence government,” Dees said.

Visiting Instructor of Business Management Vicki Foust sees the potential of Focus the Nation and other environmental efforts.

“The green revolution is going to happen,” Foust said. “The change is already happening. You can’t watch T.V. for an hour without seeing some sort of green advertising for an environmentally friendly product or something organic.”

Dees claims that change will “take time” and be “hard to judge.” The next few months and campaigns of large organizations like Focus the Nation and efforts of individual institutions such as Guilford will be what makes or breaks this “green revolution.”