Our Volunteers...
... the Beginning of our Green Efforts
We are thrilled with the new “Going Green” trend. Everywhere you look, there are noble attempts at saving and sustaining the world around us. Going green isn’t new to us, however; we have always sought ways to lessen our impact and give back to the earth and will only continue to improve upon our efforts in the future. In 2003, GlobaLinks Learning Abroad created our conservation-based volunteer weekends in order to provide students with the opportunity to give back to the environments in which they spend their time abroad. Students who participate in a semester or year abroad have the chance to sign up for a 3-day conservation volunteer project at a site near their host university. There is no fee involved in the program, and any student who wishes to attend has an opportunity to participate.
Over the past 5 years, we have provided sizable impacts for the betterment of the Australian and New Zealand environments. Since 2003, more than 1,600 GlobaLinks Learning Abroad students from the United States and Canada have provided 6,276 volunteer days and more than $1 million (AUD) in volunteer labor on behalf of the 25-year old conservation program Conservation Volunteers Australia. In 2007 alone, GlobaLinks Learning Abroad students planted more than 1,500 tress, shrubs, and grass and removed nearly 50,000 square meters of weeds. They were also responsible for more than 700 km (435 miles) of walking track repairs and construction. We applaud our student volunteers for the dedication and commitment to giving back to their host countries
in this way. These efforts serve to offset some of our students travel and consumption impacts while abroad, which means that our volunteers are making strides towards sustainable travel.
And we aren’t done yet – we’re making this the year for taking the significant steps towards reducing our environmental footprint as an organization. We’re also encouraging our students to do the same.
Going Green with our Students
MyLearn Paperless Enrollment Process and Resources 
The GlobaLinks Learning Abroad website features the option to create a MyLearn account which allows students to manage every step of the study abroad processes online, without compromising our renowned student services. We encourage you to set up a MyLearn account on our website to access information, instead of requesting printed materials through the mail. By doing so, you can save items to the filing cabinet in your account and sign up for our monthly newsletters, which conserves a large amount of paper and reduces the amount of fuel utilized in the transport of mail.
For our participants, our new online enrollment system includes a paperless, online application and enrollment process, electronic participant guide and resources, and online statements and bill pay. We have save approximately 5,160 pounds of paper annually by not sending paper participant guides. That’s a savings of 62 trees per year! Green Passport –
As a part of our pre-departure process, we encourage students to sign up for the “Green Passport” program. We are a sponsor of the Green Passport program and believe in the mission wholeheartedly. Students who are committed to sustainable study abroad can sign up for the program and are then asked to follow suggested guidelines in which they “respect the interconnectedness of the world’s people and environment and take actions to reduce their ecological and socio-cultural footprint when they study and travel abroad.”
“Travel Light” Departure Package
Prior to departure, students are provided with a departure package as well as an online departure webinar. In addition to the travel wallets we provide our affiliated students, our departure packages now include a reusable, recyclable shopping bag made from recycled plastic. Although these bags are just now picking up in popularity in the U.S. and Canada, they have been very popular and even necessary for shopping in many other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. We want our students to be prepared for cultural differences and to be environmentally conscious at the same time. We also provide participants with “tips for traveling light” which includes detailed information about drought conditions in Australia and the need to conserve water.
Encourage Off-Setting Airline Travel Through the "Study Abroad Carbon Offset Package"
 Students are encouraged to offset the airline miles for their study abroad program and support renewable energy projects in Colorado.
In partnership with GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, the Colorado Carbon Fund has established a carbon offset package specifically designed for study abroad students. International air travel by study abroad students has a huge impact on the environment. One ton of carbon dioxide is released when you travel 5000 miles in an airplane - that's 5% of the average American's impact for the entire year in just one round trip flight from NYC to LA. By purchasing carbon offsets, students help to fund a project that reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The Colorado Carbon Fund provides high quality carbon offsets to consumers as a way to support new energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our state. The Colorado Carbon Fund partners with local governments, community groups, and businesses across the state on our Project C outreach and education campaign, and a portion of all funds raised stay in the local community.
Studdents are encourages to take a step towards responsible travel and make a postitive impact as they experience the world! Purchase of the $40 Study Abroad Carbon Offset Package can be made through the Colorado Carbon Fund, and 100% of your money is used to build the fund in order to support renewable energy projects. For more information about carbon credits to offset airline travel, go to www.coloradocarbonfund.org
Going Green within our Organization
Reduce – Reuse – Recycle in all offices
Our Colorado office, as well as our overseas and regionally based staff, are taking steps to create as little waste as possible in our daily tasks. We have already established practices to:
- Eliminate paper “Participant Guides” for all programs
- Encourage employees to not print at all or to print double-sided
- Designate one printer tray to be 100% reused paper
- Designate recycling bins throughout our office for paper, glass, and plastics
- Recycle and refill ink and toner cartridges
We Support the Colorado Carbon Fund
For every student evalutation form we receive, we donate $1 to the Colorado Carbon Fund in efforts to offset our environmental impact while also encouraging students to provide feedback on our programs. Since January 2009, we donated $684 reflecting the evaluation forms we received from our recent participants. The Colorado Carbon Fund provides high quality carbon offsets to consumers as a way to support new energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our state. The Colorado Carbon Fund partners with local governments, community groups, and businesses across the state on our Project C outreach and education campaign, and a portion of all funds raised stay in the local community. Visit www.ColoradoCarbonFund.org to measure your carbon footprint, get tips on how to save energy and reduce emissions, and make a tax deductible donation to offset your emissions and support new clean energy projects in Colorado.
Monthly Green Challenge
Each month, we focus on one theme to provide employees with advice, resources, and even “challenges” to make going green easy. Month-long activities such as the “Stair Challenge” remind staff members that small steps in the right direction (like avoiding the elevator) can save energy, reduce carbon emissions, and ultimately reduce the impact we have on the earth. Challenges we have already undertaken and those scheduled for the next few months include: - Stair Challenge – climb instead of ride the elevator – 20 people participated and 1,720 stairs were climbed – making us all healthier and reduced emissions from the elevator transport
- BYOC – Bring Your Own Container – with special focus on reducing use of plastic water bottles, disposable coffee cups, plastic grocery bags, and take out containers
- Reduce – Reuse – Recycle – we already do so much of this, we took it to the next step by encouraging staff to recycle odd things such as tennis shoes, batteries, and old cell phones
- Save Energy – with special tips on how to change computer settings to reduce electrical waste
- Alternative forms of transportation – with a specific goal of cutting our greenhouse emissions related to our combined daily commutes in half for one month
- Buying Local – including information on how much impact the transport of food has on our environment
- Conserve Water – a special “shave 2 minutes off your shower” challenge
Contribute to the Local Environment
The GlobaLinks Learning Abroad staff adopted a track of open space near the office beginning in January 2009. As an on-going contribution to the local environment, staff members donate their lunch hour to picking up trash and keeping the area clean.
On Arbor Day, April 24, 2009, our staff donated their lunch hour to plant trees in the local open space. This is an area being encroached upon by non-native species, and the saplings will make a lasting impact on that swatch of land. Check out the gallery of photos from our tree planting and open space clean up efforts. A few words from open space manager, Nathan Kelbe about our volunteer efforts: Attendance at Local “Green” Events
In order to continue to learn and expand our ideas of how to improve our sustainable business practices, we attend local events such as the Northern Colorado Green Summit.
We also participate in sessions related to sustainability in international education at conferences at the state, regional, and national levels.
Green Machine
We even have our very own GREEN form of transportation. This donated mountain bike is a great way to make a quick run to the local store or coffee shop from our office without starting the car engine.
Our Staff’s Travels
As a team, we have committed to hold more “virtual” meetings via teleconferences and webinars with advisors at campuses throughout the U.S. and Canada instead of traveling to visit them at their location. Not only will this reduce the amount of CO2 released into the air through airline and car travel, it will allow us to “visit” more individuals more regularly.
Resources for Going Green while Abroad in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji World News Australia: Going Green: The Directory
http://news.sbs.com.au/worldnewsaustralia/going_green_the_directory_44
Australian Conservation Foundation
http://www.acfonline.org.au/Default.asp?c=83518
Consumption Atlas
http://www.acfonline.org.au/consumptionatlas/
Save Water
http://www.savewater.com.au/
Clean Up Australia Day – there’s even a commercial and a TV report
http://www.cleanup.org.au/au/
Say NO to bags
http://cleanup.org.au/au/Campaigns/say-no-to-plastic-bags.html
Clean up mobile phones
http://www.cleanup.org.au/au/Campaigns/what-can-i-do.html
National Tree Day
http://treeday.planetark.com/
Australia leads the world in newspaper recycling
http://www.pneb.com.au/pdf/australian_recycling_record.pdf
Some facts and figures (older stats)
http://www.wasteservice.nsw.gov.au/dir138/publish.nsf/Content/educations_kids_facts_figures
Recycle More, Recycle Better: Recycling Stats – AWESOME for stats!
http://www.planetark.com/nrw/media/07nrwfactsheetgeneral.pdf
National Recycling Week TV ad:
http://www.planetark.com/campaignspage.cfm/newsid/200/newsDate/9/story.htm
Water Saving Tips
http://www.planetark.com/campaignspage.cfm/newsid/205/newsDate/9/story.htm
NEW ZEALAND
Volunteer programs by region
http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/summary.aspx?id=38741
Network of Green Communities around NZ
http://www.4million.org.nz/index.html
Links of Green companies
http://www.greenpages.org.nz/
Government site - NZ is trying to become the first sustainable country in the world
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/sustainability/
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