If trends in Hollywood are any indication of the current social trends in America, trumpeting the ills of environmental degradation is becoming the new ‘in thing.’

During the past year, Hollywood doled out one of its top awards to Al Gore for his documentary on global warming, while celebrities as disparate as James Taylor and Brad Pitt have actively encouraged Americans to enact measures to combat the wanton destruction of animals, plants and the larger ecosystems that house them. Not surprisingly, the mass population has largely followed Hollywood̢۪s lead.

The American public is increasingly aware of, and outraged by, the pending environmental crisis. Even political discourse has changed; where environmentalism was once a “third railâ€Â of political discourse, many mainstream politicians are now incorporating environmental ethics and policies into their discourse and their platforms. In fact, many political analysts believe an environmentally friendly platform will be required in the 2008 races.

While global foci and solutions are essential to mitigating environmental disasters, the scope of the debate often leaves people feeling overwhelmed, fatalistic and inefficacious. With alarming regularity, people throw up their hands – offering up to the Heavens a rhetorical ‘what can one person do?’— and they give up.

This is where the Fresno State Recycling Club enters the fray.

For several years, the Fresno State Recycling Club has been fighting tiny battles for Fresno State̢۪s campus environment. They are dedicated to promoting recycling, waste reduction and environmental sustainability on our campus.

To do this, the club operates a recycling program in the dorms. The club provides bins to collect recyclables, diverting the material from the campus̢۪ waste stream. Their program has diverted several tons of recyclables each year.

“[Fresno State’s] 20,000 plus students… have a large effect on our community,â€Â said Jenny Fortel, the club’s secretary and a founding member.

Last year, the club̢۪s leaders worked with Associated Students Inc. and Plant Operations to help Plant Operations start their on-campus recycling program.

This program, which has expanded to almost 50 pairs of recycling bins, provides students with accessible recycling options.

This year, the club is extending its focus to environmental advocacy. The club̢۪s leaders want to lobby campus leaders to increase waste reduction and recycling on campus, and incorporate other sustainable standards for energy use and building construction.

More importantly, the Recycling Club is working to provide students with information on simple, proactive actions that can be easily incorporated into an individual̢۪s lifestyle.

For example, students can recycle all products made from plastic, paper, cardboard, or metal, and can also accommodate any product that is made from a combination of these materials.

Even small items, like candy wrappers, can be recycled, provided that they are not soiled by food stain. “Change inAmerica is effectuated with your voice and your wallet,â€Â the club’s leaders believe, who will be working to create letter-writing campaigns to ask local businesses to reduce packaging materials and use recyclable materials.

Localized action is necessary to combat environmental degradation. This year, the Recycling Club wants to empower students to take the needed actions, and to recycle and reduce waste.

For more information on the club and its efforts, visit the University Student Union Room 308 at 7 p.m. on Sept. 18 for the club̢۪s first meeting.