Group encourages residents to ‘Think Green. Act Green.’

Published in the Starkville Daily News. Wednesday, 23 September 2009

By KELLY DANIELS citybeat@bellsouth.net What started as an early American philosophy valuing conservation has since evolved into a branded way of life. Now known as the green movement, environmental concerns have confronted almost every facet of society: Industry, travel, commercial development, home development, the economy, foreign policy, education and even food. The City of Starkville has been no exception. In just a year, city officials have adopted a sustainability policy and a sidewalk committee to write an ordinance mandating sidewalks with future developments. The city also created a recycling committee to facilitate curbside recycling, which began this month. The new Electric Department building and the grant-funded fire station are both expected to acquire certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Members of Starkville in Motion, an ally for pedestrians, have kept an influential presence in the city since its establishment five years ago, when it began the work of installing a bike path on University Drive. And the founder of Green Starkville, Nisreen Cain, thinks these measures bring a great opportunity to address what these things mean for individuals and also the meaning of green-related words found in the media. Cain will hold a gathering called “Think Green. Act Green.” Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the State Theatre meeting room on Main Street. This meeting marks the first of a series held by Green Starkville amid attempts to hold non-profit status. “Our talk this Thursday will address many topics, but our focus is mainly on showing people how simple, easy and beneficial it is to be green,” she said. “Being green,” according to Cain, is an attitude that encapsulates social responsibility and awareness of the environment and community. “It also holds a great value to the individuals will being and health. For businesses, it is not only an image, but a great economical benefit,” Cain said. Cain and Green Starkville vice president Nick DiColandrea will also hold a discussion about the rights of consumers to be aware of products and to dictate their own habits and beliefs on the market. The idea, they say, is to think green by being aware and asking questions, and then to act green. “Acting green is to take social responsibility and to take action to improve the quality and enrich our personal lives,” Cain said. “This in turns brings change to our families, communities, and the world.” For more information, visit: http://www.greenstarkville.org/.