The Black and Veatch Report

Hey guys!

I hope that finals went well, and that your break is off to a great start already. I just wanted to send you guys a quick message with some exciting news!

MSU has just launched its new website <www.energytransition.msu.edu> which has a report on it called the Black and Veatch Report–an analysis done about MSU’s current and potential future energy sources. This is a HUGE step, and one that, with the right push from us (of course), will lead to the clean energy MSU that we’ve been fighting for!

This all means that next semester will be one of the most important for our campaign. We’ve already talked to the administration, and several other VIP’s across campus, and they all want this transition just as much as us, but they don’t have our power to actually make this happen! They told us that the most important thing we can do right now is increase VISIBILITY across campus. This change is going to happen, but it is up to US to decide how. So get pummmmped because the future of MSU’s energy consumption is in our hands!!

Take a look at the report if you’ve got some time, and definitely put some feedback in their ‘feedback forum’ section. And if you know people who would be interested, tell them about the website too–students at MSU should be aware of this huge change that’s happening on their campus.

Also, we’re changing our weekly meeting time/place for the upcoming semester. We’re now going to be meeting on Tuesdays at 7:00pm (location tbd).

Anyways, I’m sorry this was longer than I expected…I hope you guys have an incredible rest of your break, and I can’t wait to start stepping our campaign up a notch next semester!

If you have any questions about the report or the campaign in general, feel free to message me back or email me at tavortal8@gmail.com

Thanks so much!
Talya

Get the Tools You Need to be an Activist!

Though the semester may be winding down, the campaign has been as busy as ever. We’ve had an incredible amount of VIP meetings within the past two weeks, each being more successful than the last! We’ve gotten support from the top people within the administration, and the alumni association, from faculty members across the board as well as student groups across campus. Transitioning the campus beyond coal to clean energy is very quickly becoming the topic of discussion on campus. And we’re just getting started!!

This week we’re doing an activist training that will give YOU the tools you need to make a real difference to support concrete changes at MSU.This is the event to come to this semester to learn how you can build a stronger group on campus, work effectively with the media, and hear more about National student efforts to move beyond coal to 100% clean energy. This Tuesday and Wednesday the big National Day of Action is happening in D.C., so in addition to the training we’re also going to be talking about the national movement!

Who: You! And anyone interested in learning activist skills from local trainers.

What: Activist Training–Tools for Change Workshop

Where: 114 Berkey Hall

When: 7:00-9:00pm this Thursday, December 2nd

Why: Because everyone deserves the chance to make an impact, and we want to help you learn how!

After the meeting: We’re going to be meeting up after the meeting for some good ‘ol ugly-sweater shenanigans (something you definitely won’t want to miss!) Location to be announced at the meeting 🙂

We hope to see you on Thursday! With local professional organizers and campaign leaders from the Sierra Student Coalition–MSU Beyond Coal campaign, you can expect to learn the tools you’ll need to make the change you wish to see on campus!

For more information contact me at tavortal8@gmail.com

Fight on

and GO GREEN!!

-Talya

Clean Energy Rally a Success!

Hey guys!

I just wanted to send a quick thank you to everyone who came and helped out at today’s rally. It was a HUGE success!! We surpassed every single one of our goals and it definitely showed 🙂 And it’s all thanks to your help and support!

I know for a fact that we’re one step closer to achieving clean energy on campus!! We just need to keep up the AMAZING work, and soon it will fully pay off!

We’re going to have a special meeting tomorrow, to follow up on today’s event and start working on the really big meetings we have coming up, so we hope we can see you all there! It’s at 7:30 in 114 Berkey.

Thanks again for all of your support, you guys are amazing!!!
Talya

Come to Our Clean Energy Rally Tomorrow!

So it’s finally here! Our Clean Energy Rally is this Wednesday, Nov 17th at 2pm in the courtyard behind Wells Hall and the International Center!

This event is part of a National Day of Action–so we’re not just working with other student organizations across campus, but with campuses across the nation as well, to unite under clean energy leadership. At each campus, one of the main visuals is going to be featuring pinwheels that represent clean energy. At MSU, we’ve got well over 600 of them! After all of our events, we’re sending our pinwheels to D.C. to have a HUGE display of clean energy support there. There are going to be thousands of pinwheels, it’s going to be such an incredible movement!

In MSU Beyond Coal, our main goal is to get the administration to make a public commitment to move beyond coal as soon as possible. One of the best ways we’ve found in helping them along in that decision making, is by ensuring their awareness of the mass support around campus for this transition. MSU has done some things to ensure we have a clean energy future, but they have not done nearly enough! It’s up to us then to protect our health, the environment, and Michigan’s economy by making this transition a reality!

The fight for clean energy is the challenge of our generation, and at this rally, we have the opportunity to make our voices heard! We are the ones who can make MSUtruly green, and we are the ones who can make MSU a clean energy leader for the rest of the nation!

So help transition MSU out of the dirty, outdated past into the clean, innovative future by showing your support on Wednesday at 2pm! We’re also going to have some incredible speakers, free coffee, and some kick-ass cheers and more!

Then, after the rally, we’re going to be having our weekly meeting on Thursday at 7:30-8:30pm in 114 Berkey. This is going to be a really big meeting–so we hope to see you there!

GO GREEN!!!!

Help Us Get Ready for Our Nation Day of Action!

Hey guys!

It’s time to show both our campus and national leaders that we must move beyond coal to clean energy solutions starting immediately. With so many recent disasters, accidents and spills in the dirty energy industry, we simply can’t wait. Communities are at risk from our addiction to these outdated fuels, but there is hope for exciting and innovative solutions available right now!

Therefore, this is a really exciting time for the MSU Beyond Coal Campaign–we’re gearing up for our biggest event of the year: a clean energy rally!!

It’s next week on November 17th at 2pm in the courtyard behind Wells Hall and the International Center. This event is part of a National Day of Action, so campuses across the nation are all going to be uniting in clean energy leadership. We’re all going to be featuring pinwheels at our events which represent clean energy, so come to the rally on Wednesday November 17th to make a pinwheel that will be delivered to Congress in D.C. after Thanksgiving break to show them you’re ready for clean energy.

In the meantime, in order to continue building up visibility for the campaign as well as for the Clean Energy Rally, we’re having:
-Wednesday table petitioning in Phillips Hall from 12-3pm and we’re also going to be making pinwheels there too 🙂
-Friday Dorm Storm for Pinwheels 3:30-5:30pm–we’re meeting in front of Brody caf
-Sunday Visuals Making Party 4-6pm in the main lounge of the union

And, as always–we’re having our Thursday weekly meeting at 7:30pm in 114 Berkey
This week, we’re having another speaker, Josh Buswell-Charkow, who is the Campaigns Director for Green Corps. He’s going to be doing a training at the meeting, so this is a great opportunity to learn from someone who knows the field, and knows how to make a successful campaign! Also, we’re going to be talking about some of the VIP meetings we’ve had the past two weeks. It’s going to be an especially interesting meeting, so we hope you can make it!

If you have any questions about the campaign or the upcoming events we’re planning, then don’t hesitate to ask!
RSVP for any and all events that you are attending to Talya at tavortal8@gmail.com

Thanks so much!
Talya

GO GREEN!!!

Clean Energy Rally!

On November 17th, we’re putting on our BIGGEST event of the year: a Clean Energy Rally–we’re rallying to make a transition beyond coal energy to clean, renewable energy!

Our rally is going to feature several keynote speakers, free food, and even some musical entertainment!! It will also show off the HUNDREDS of clean energy pin wheels that you made–this is one event you cannot miss!

Campuses from across the nation are also going to be participating in this National Day of Action–uniting to demand clean energy leadership.

Fighting against dirty energy is the challenge of our generation, and this rally is an opportunity for YOU to stand up for your right to breathe CLEAN AIR!!

So join us on November 17th at 2pm and, as always, let’s make our campus…
GO GREEN!!!!

Special Meeting This Thursday!

Hey guys!

I just wanted to send out a reminder about our meeting tomorrow, it’s going to be a pretty important one this week–especially after the election results.

Now more than ever we’re needed to continue campaigning for clean energy! If the people in office won’t voice our views on a clean future, then it’s up to us! We can make this transition into a reality–it has already happened on several other campuses across the nation (most notably University of Wisconson, and University of Illinois), so why not MSU??

Our guest speaker this week will be Susan Harley, the Michigan Policy Director of Clean Water Action!

Susan is going to talk to us about the election results as well as possible solutions for transitioning beyond coal!

And to top it all off, we’re going to be making PINWHEELS for our Clean Energy Rally coming up on Nov 17th!

So I hope to see you all there, ready to learn, ready to make a difference, and ready to have a kick-ass time!!!
…tomorrow at 7:30 in 114 Berkey 😉

Go Green!!!

-Talya Tavor

National Day of Action Coming Up!

Hey all!

I hope that you all had a great Halloween weekend!

This week we’re going to be continuing our efforts to build up visibility for our big National Day of Action coming up on November 17th! This is an event that will be happening all across the nation–as campuses are all getting ready to call out to their administrations to make a clean energy movement. We’re going to be having a HUGE pep-rally at the back of Wells hall and the International Center–in the field area. We’re going to be rallying for clean energy on campus, and just like the other campuses across the nation, we’re going to have hundreds of pinwheels displayed at the rally (which represent clean energy).

As the campus with the LARGEST on-campus coal plant in the country, it is especially important for us to show the mass support of a clean energy transition. We are one of the leading contributors to dozens of detrimental health problems, countless environmental issues and even economic hindrances–all because of the 250,000 tons of coal we burn annually. This can all change if the Administration realizes that they have no choice, but to transition away from this dirty energy source.

And what’s a better way to show this to the Administration than by having a pep-rally? We’re trying to work with other student organizations to generate a mass student coalition of support. After all, it’s one thing if a bunch of environmental organizations support an environmental cause; however, it’s an entirely different thing if a wide variety of student organizations rally together to support a cause!
If you know, or are a part of, any groups that would want to support our Clean Energy Rally–then email me back at tavortal8@gmail.com

So, in order to make this rally a success, we’re going to be petitioning all week!
On Tuesday and Wednesday, we’re going to be petitioning at the bridge behind Wells hall across from the Administration building from 11-3pm.
And on Thursday, we’re going to have a table set up to petition at the Union between 11-3pm

And, as always–we’re having our weekly meeting on Thursday at 7:30pm in 114 Berkey Hall.

Thanks for your support in the movement to make our school
GO GREEN!!!!

-Talya Tavor

Meeting Tonight!

So yesterday was Campus Sustainability Day, and in honor of that, people from the coal plant decided to put on a panel to talk about all of the great things that they are doing and trying to do. They even had a cute little powerpower point to explain it all to us.

They told us that there’s no way MSU can start transitioning off of coal yet because of financial reasons and lack of technology. However, places all over the WORLD have somehow managed to get around these roadblocks—so what’s MSU’s problem?

As a student group, we represent the voice of the student body—which is no small thing! We speak for the 47,000 others who breathe in the TONS of toxic chemicals like Mercury, Arsenic, Lead, etc, that come from burning coal. We’re actually breathing this stuff in with every breath we take. And let’s face it, most of those 47,000 are completely oblivious to this.

That’s how the Administration is able to get away with continuously poisoning us and everyone/everything around us. They’re banking on the student body’s apathy.

So it’s up to us now to show them that we’re no longer willing to let our own health be put at risk! We’re no longer willing to accept their excuses of delayed change! We’re no longer willing to accept that the 31 coal-related deaths in Lansing-East Lansing area ALONE each year are worth our “perfect” energy source.

The Administration believes that the student green initiative is just a fad. They think we’re going to go away when our four year cycle is over. We need to show them that we don’t think preserving LIFE is a fad!

So come join us at our weekly meeting TONIGHT at 7:30pm in 114 Berkey–we’ll show MSU that we are here to stay, and we’re not going anywhere until they realize that it’s time for real change.

We’ll be the ones who teach MSU how to really GO GREEN!!!

Thanks so much for being a part of this with us!

We look forward to seeing you TONIGHT at 7:30pm in 114 Berkey!

-Talya Tavor

Spartans Rally for a Coal-free Future this Homecoming at MSU

East Lansing, MI— As the Spartans prepare to play the University of Illinois for Homecoming this weekend, Michigan State University students will hold a pep rally to urge President Simon to get MSU in the clean energy game and commit to making MSU a coal-free future campus.

Despite taking the lead in athletics, the Fighting Illini and other Big Ten schools are already winning in the fight for a clean energy future by making commitments to transition off of coal on their campuses. Michigan State’s coal plant is the largest on-campus coal plant in the country, burning 250,000 tons of coal each year. Students will gather in their Spartan-best, holding football-themed signs and props, and will collect petition cards urging President Simon to move MSU beyond coal to 100% clean energy.

WHO:
Hosted by the MSU Sierra Student Coalition Beyond Coal campaign;
Talya Tavor, MSU Beyond Coal Campaign President;
Nicholas Howison, MSU Beyond Coal Campaign Media Coordinator

WHEN:
Thursday, October 14th, 11:30 am

WHERE:
The Rock near Farm Lane bridge and the Auditorium on Michigan State University’s campus.

VISUALS:
In light of homecoming week, students will be dressed as MSU football fans, holding signs and a Giant clean energy scoreboard and photo petitions showing support for clean energy from MSU Students, faculty, and staff. The rock will be painted.