With over a dozen signs hanging from trees on College Green and a six-foot cardboard ear of corn, 20/20 Vision's first event as a Penn organization was hard to miss.
The College Green Energy Fair, sponsored by 20/20 Vision, was held to mark Earth Day's half-birthday, which falls on a week from today, on Friday.
College sophomore Katarina Lackner, who helped organize the fair, created a chapter of the Washington, D.C.-based 20/20 Vision at Penn this fall. The non-profit organization works to promote alternative energy solutions.
"With high gas prices, global warming and problems in the Middle East, we are really focused on promoting alternatives to oil," Lackner said.
Various groups from Penn and the city were invited to set up tables with information pertaining to the environment, energy use and the economy.
Among the groups with tables were ActionPA, Green Campus Partnership and another new group to campus, Penn Against War.
First-year History graduate student Matt Richman, a member of Penn Against War, said it's easy to link peace advocacy with environmental awareness and social advocacy because of the impact wars have on the environment.
According to 20/20 Vision's national Web site, the organization's successes include helping establish organic-food standards and investigating the "misuse" of Iraq intelligence.
College sophomore Noah Aptekar, another organizer of the event, stood on Locust Walk in front of College Green asking for signatures to petition President Amy Gutmann to extend Penn's commitment to green policies through such programs as "a fleet of reduced-emissions vehicles."
Even the free food 20/20 Vision provided came with a message.
"The apples were locally grown," Lackner said. "We also had bread, hummus and Ben and Jerry's ice cream."
According to College junior Cameron McQuale, who was involved with the event, there are basic things individuals can do to help the cause.
McQuale said it's important to use "as little energy as possible by using efficient appliances and public transportation."
McQuale says he buys wind power, which costs him roughly $5 extra per month, to power his house.
Students can take "personal initiative" to do little things like throwing away plastic bottles in the appropriate recycling bin on the way to class, Aptekar said.
"It's worth the hassle," he said. "All it takes is a little bit of conviction."
