Nationwide Climate Reality project visits UAlbany to talk environment crisis

"We only have one earth; this will be our only one. We must take care of it."

A projector illuminated these dramatic words in the Campus Center Assembly Hall on Thursday. Climate Reality, a nationwide project had a presentation this week.

Climate Reality is an organization funded by Al Gore and Nobel Laureate, it has nearly 5 million members worldwide.

According to their website, they are guided by one motto, "The climate crisis is real and we know how to solve it."

At each Climate Reality event, the goal is to simply raise awareness. During 24 Hours of Reality, the event recently held, this was ever-present.

A live feed of destroyed home fronts and carnage streams for 24 straight hours and people come in and watch. Experts are brought in to discuss what people can do to help, and they offer tips on saving energy and the importance of preserving our natural resources.

The woman behind UAlbany's 24 Hours of Reality event is Grace Nichols, an alumnus who works for the State Disability Chapter and is incredibly passionate about our environment.

She said that her goal is to raise awareness and let people know that they are not alone when they go through horrific natural disasters, like Hurricane Irene.

As a result of her work with the disabled, Irene hit close to home due to generators failing and other drama, it was a real wake-up call.

"We can mitigate these effects, there are a lot of new technologies that can help us deal with and prevent destruction," she said.

There is a lot of good in people, she believes, and we need to build on that.

"Build on what's good," she said, "Take care of our land."

Nichols also mentioned that she is very happy with Albany's efforts to help those effected by Hurricane Irene, including the relief efforts and clean-up.

Featured on her table, along with pamphlets about "going green" and information on how to help was an issue of The ASP opened to our article on solar panels at UAlbany.

As an alumnus, she is very happy that these types of events are occurring, and hope they continue.

She goes on to explain that in order for New York State to reach any kind of environmental advances, we need federal funding.

"Our damages are not supportable," she said, "We've passed the deadline."

The event drew a good-sized crowd at around noon, and people were coming in and out all day. With all the efforts lately to "go green," Climate Reality actually presents you with the facts, along with shocking images of what our earth is and slowly becoming.

"The time is now, we cannot wait any longer," the announcer said, followed by images of destroyed neighborhoods and communities in peril due to natural disasters and forest fires.

The 24 Hours of Reality was the first of many UAlbany events to raise awareness.

Given the current status of the planet, there is no better time to hold them.