A week of regard for Mother Nature

Consider it no coincidence that Earth Day falls at the end of April.

It's hard not to get excited about anything involving the outdoors and the color green when flowers finally make their appearance in late April - especially in Buffalo.

With Earth Day 2005 on Friday, student environmental groups here at UB will be looking to capitalize on the student body's longing to get outside and celebrate Mother Nature. This year's activities and events include a local band, rock climbing, nature walks and environmental demonstrations.

Jim Simon, vice president of the UB Environmental Network, said he hopes this week's events expand students' opinions about taking action and learning more about how to help their environment.

"In my mind, what goes on in the environment will shape what the world will look like in the future," said Simon, senior environmental studies major and student assistant for UB Green. "Earth Day should be celebrated everyday, but this week is a time to celebrate where we are in terms of the earth and recognize there is a long way to go."

The week kicks off with a presentation from Randolph Rakoczynski, an environmental engineer from the Great Lakes Air Waste Management, who will talk about the challenges of his job at 5:30 p.m. in 223 Jarvis Hall.

Following Rakoczynski, Simon and fellow club member Rachel Taylor will speak about what UB Green is doing on campus and the group's future plans to help the environment.

On Thursday, the celebration continues with tree planting at Baird Point at 10 a.m. The trees have been donated by the local Arbor Society, and student groups like Engineers for a Sustainable World and the UB Engineering and Science Club will all be taking part.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Earth Day hits the Student Union, which event organizers said would be packed with local environmental groups, rock climbing, a scavenger hunt, demonstrations and an array of prizes.

At 1 p.m. there will be live animals including hawks and raptors from Hawk Creek Inc., and the free rock climbing runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There will also be guided nature walks leaving from the Student Union lobby at 11 a.m.

Along with the good-natured physical events and activities, UB Green will be setting up a tent with petitions and handouts containing information about how to get involved. The Toyota Prius, a new hybrid car, along with an electric scooter will be displayed along with a demonstration of Straw Bale construction, a more environmentally sustainable way of assembling a structure.

According to Simon, the mix of events, activities and information are meant to raise both awareness and profile.

"These events are all about exposure (for the environmental groups), alternatives for students, and to create awareness for students," Simon said. "Each table has something, much more than paper that everyone can take with them."

A Rochester band, Hypnotic Clambake, will be providing the music for Thursday's festivities. Event organizers described the band as "post-Bulgarian neo Celtic rock."

With Earth Day events often seeming rehashed, Simon said it's important to bring something different to the table every year.

"Earth Day has been around since the 1970s and there used to be much more concern back then," Simon said. "We're trying to up that concern again."