Wednesday, 4/23/97 A concern for humanity UCLA Earth Day fair
highlights both ecological and humanitarian concerns
By Karen Duryea and Rachel Munoz Daily Bruin Senior Staff What
do endangered species and crowded buses have in common? They are
both an integral part of Earth Day 1997. Over the last 20 years,
the celebration of Mother Earth has expanded from its original
focus on earthly elements to a broader concern for humanity. In
celebration of Earth Day ’97, the UCLA Environmental Coalition
sponsored its ECO-Fair in Westwood Plaza on Tuesday. While the
turnout was not exactly global, various groups came to spread the
news that Earth Day no longer concentrates only on the air, water
and land, but rather with the people who control those forces.
"Earth Day is more than the environment, plants and animals – it’s
about humans and relationships," explained Anne Cabrinha, a
third-year anthropology student and Amnesty International member.
Representatives from organizations such as the Vegetarian Society,
Inc., the Sierra Club and Coalition for Clean Air waited in the
sunshine for students to sign various petitions or to pick up
informational literature. Anibel Comelo, an assistant coordinator
at the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research, feels
environmental issues are controlled largely by the business world.
"Environmental issues are tied in closely to corporate greed and
lack of control in public policy," she said. She cited "unbridled
corporate power" and "lack of accountability" as reasons why
business bigwigs are having their way with nature. Although
Tuesday’s student interest in the fair was relatively low,
participants came with the message that big corporations really do
affect the welfare of humanity, both domestically and
internationally. Local students and faculty are directly affected
by public transportation, said representatives of the Bus Riders
Union, who were present at the event. The group called for support
in pressuring the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to
enforce an agreement they signed over six months ago. Scott Miller
of the Labor Community Strategy Center and Bus Riders Union said
that the agreement promised to add 152 new buses to the MTA fleet
for two reasons – to promote new service and to reduce crowds.
Miller described a typical situation in MTA lines that run along
Vermont Avenue or Wilshire Boulevard. In a 43-passenger bus, there
can be up to 50 standees. The agreement hoped to reduce the amount
of standees per bus to eight in the next seven to 10 years.
Although the MTA initially agreed to the improvements, they have
yet to materialize in everyday life, Miller said. He blames this on
a lack of pressure on the MTA, leaving promises unfulfilled. He
believes that UCLA’s role in aiding the bus union lies in changing
aspects of the curriculum in the departments of urban planning and
economics. He feels that more attention should be given to the
transportation needs of lower-income communities and that urban
planning should put more emphasis on bus transportation rather than
such railways as Metrolink. "It’s not like UCLA needs to get
involved," Miller said. "It already is." Another issue close to
home for students which raises concern is clean air. Lorin Lindner,
president of the Fund for Wild Nature, explained that smog and
pollution are environmental problems that influence students on a
daily basis. Upset with the lack of student interest, Lindner
upheld that concern for the environment is stronger in areas with
community support, which she claims Los Angeles lacks. "The entire
city is based on consumerism," she said, with two salmon-crested
cockatoos perched on each shoulder. "Sensationalistic solutions are
not based on reality. There is an impression that things are as
easy as the weather here." But not all students were motivated for
the sake of immediate change. Student representatives from Amnesty
International and the Burma Forum Campaign for Corporate Withdrawal
were on hand with their longterm project of petitions against
Unocal, a large corporation with investments in Burma. "Unocal is
taking people away from their homes to work on an (oil) pipeline.
They make them work to ruin their own environment," Cabrinha said.
Cabrinha feels that human rights standards need to be upheld. The
UCLA chapter of Amnesty International works with other chapters and
organizations to write letters to governments and corporations.
Although it may not seem like a letter will have an impact on
corporate or governmental decisions, Cabrinha is confident that
organized efforts are bound to have an impact. "When one person
receives 3,000 letters on one issue, it creates a huge
embarrassment," she said. Earth Week continues with events
including a panel discussion, speakers and entertainment sponsored
by the Environmental Coalition of UCLA and the Graduate Students
Association. For more information, call (310) 206-4438. Barbara
Wampole of Friends of the Santa Clara River and Peter-Moore
Kochlacs, a UCLA campus minister, discuss how students and Los
Angelenos can save the Santa Clara River. Daily Bruin Stories:
Environmental crusader remembered