Growing Greener

Well, it looks like this will be my last blog for the semester with graduation just a couple of short weeks away. Looking back on my last semester at the University of Arizona and writing for the Cat Scan, our theme "living green" has proven to be more than a success. For me it's been educational, a change in my perspective, and something that will remain as an ongoing learning experience long after I've graduated.




Initially I was resistant to the idea of the Cat Scan's green theme, and thought it was too limited. But I quickly came around and found that whether it's sports, fashion, businesses, or cars, it's more than likely there's something green.

Writing on businesses going green for both my blog and the Cat Scan has been a valuable experience. Not only has it given me the opportunity to get my hands on some real-world reporting, but it's made me more aware of what being green is all about. It can mean carpooling, buying local produce, or recycling. Whether you do all of these things or just one of them, remember this: it's a bunch of little things that create a big change in the future of the environment.

I can't say I embrace a green lifestyle or that everything I buy is 100% organic, but I'm working on it. My reporting experiences through the Cat Scan has opened my eyes and made me more aware of my impact on the environment.

To learn more about a greener lifestyle, check out some of my favorite sites:

• Treehugger - a great place to check out anything and everything that's green
  
• The Green Guide - by National Geographic, this site is great for searching the most recent eco-friendly tips, tools, and product reviews
  
• Simply Green - blog by Danny Seo that offers creative and sustainable solutions from everyday materials
  
• Greenloop - a great place to check out eco-fashion
  

Lick Global Warming

Many of you may know Ben and Jerry's for their innovative ice cream creations like their Cherry Garcia, Chunky Monkey, or Phish Food. (My favorite is Oatmeal Cookie Chunk.) However, Ben and Jerry have been redefining more than just ice cream since day one. Through their dedication to a sustainable corporate concept, they embrace progressive values that focus on children and families, the environment and sustainable agriculture on family farms.

Below are some examples of how Ben and Jerry's embrace and continue to improve upon eco-friendly business practices.

• 2002: Ben and Jerry's launched their Ben and Jerry's Lick Global Warming campaign which educates others on the challenges of global warming
  
• 2006: "Cool Your Jets"" program was introduced to educate the public on carbon-offsetting and encouraging them to purchase carbon offsets to counter the greenhouse gas emissions from their airplane travel
  
• 2006: Ben and Jerry's converted their vanilla extract and the cocoa powder to Fair Trade Certified in 2007
  
• Beginning in 2007, all eggs used in their U.S. ice cream production were transitioned to Certified Humane cage-free suppliers, making Ben and Jerry's one of the very first national food manufacturers to commit to this practice
  
• Ben and Jerry's continues to work closely with farmers who supply milk and cream for their products in order to help implement sustainable practices on the farm
  

Ben and Jerry's also launched four organic flavors: strawberry, vanilla, sweet cream and cookies, and chocolate fudge brownie. All are made from certified organic ingredients and cultivated in environmentally-sustainable ways.

GreenCareers at MonsterTRACK

As I've mentioned before, my plan is to graduate in December - and I say "plan" because I don't want to jinx myself before my diploma comes through the mail if heaven forbid, something goes wrong until then...

Anyway, I was online the other day job-searching on MonsterTRAK when I came across a page dedicated strictly to GreenCareers for college students and recent graduates. As I clicked around, I found out that MonsterTRAK has been onto green businesses for awhile and is recognized as the first environmentally responsible recruitment website.

In partnership with ecoAmerica and sponsored by Environmental Defense, GreenCareers supports companies and recent graduates who share a desire to impact the environment in positive ways. People searching through this site can check out the featured employers of the week, such as Greenpeace, BP Solar, and Malcolm Pirnie. It also has specific links for Green Opportunities, Career Advice (for pursuing a green career), and articles on green actions such as how to live green or becoming more involved.

GreenCareers even has a link for green scholarships intended for students studying conservation, sustainable agriculture, or have promoted eco-related subjects throughout their community.

Consistent with MonsterTRACK job searches through their homepage, GreenCareers is set up in the same way. Students and graduates can conduct a career search using a specific job type (part-time, full-time experienced, internship, etc.) with specific keywords and locations to find a compatible job opportunity.
For more information, check out GreenCareers powered by MonsterTRACK.