Last year Mid-Pacific Institute celebrated its 100th year in Manoa. This year students will do their small part to rally together with our nation and world to be eco-friendly.

At this year's convocation, Mid-Pacific's principal, Richard Schaffer, appealed to students and faculty to become the school's color, green—true GREEN!

The theme for Mid Pacific Institute this year is “;Going Green!”; This is not a new concept for the campus. The school has a recycling system on campus; however, students and faculty sense a need to become more aggressive in efforts to have a positive impact on the world.

On Sept. 23, 2007, the Hono- lulu Star Bulletin's lead story was entitled “;The Drowning of Hawaii.”; The article stated that in the near future, an increase in droughts, hurricanes and tsunamis across the islands was expected as a result of global warming. The distant future of Hawaii was summed up in one word: underwater.

One of the significant facts in the article was a predicted rise of ocean levels by 39 inches by the end of the century. According to the University of Hawaii Research Corp. the consequences Hawaii faces are inevitable.

Also mentioned in the advisory article was the especially harsh blow that Waikiki will endure compared with the rest of Oahu. Waikiki is predicted to be consumed by torrents of waves as tourists flee frantically. The economy of the islands will plummet as tourism will grind to a halt, and local residents can only stop and watch as our paradise sinks to the ocean's depths.

Students at Mid-Pacific Institute discuss how Kailua and Lanikai beaches are disappearing rapidly and how it's amazing that their childhood memories are being washed away in front of their eyes.

Claiming ignorance is not an option; with movies such as “;An Inconvenient Truth”; and “;The 11th Hour,”; many people are being informed about topics of environmental concern. The problem is that so many others who are preoccupied with their daily lives think that these concerns are fabricated or don't care at all. It is this attitude that Mid-Pacific Institute hopes to address with the message of living green.

The school believes that an enormous impact is possible if every person takes initiative to complete one earth-conscience action every day. Simple everyday activities such as grocery shopping can turn into a wonderful opportunity to save the nonrenewable resource petroleum, which is used to make plastic bags.

Just a little green fact: The petroleum it takes to make 18 plastic bags could fuel a car for one mile. Most supermarkets in Hawaii take a few cents' reduction off the total price for each reusable tote bag that is used in packaging groceries. This is just an example of how easy it is to go green.

At Mid-Pacific the teachers and faculty are already doing their part. Last year in staff meetings, teachers received water bottles. Now they bring their own reusable containers to fill up using a water dispenser. With the information from the meetings and other important events being posted on MPI's Web site and campus Intranet, communication and documentation is shared and stored paper-free.

Students are also helping by placing plastic and glass bottles in recycling bins around campus and discarding paper into recycling bags in classrooms. Na Pueo, the school newspaper, will have an official “;Green Tip”; column in every issue to share recycling tips and eco-friendly ideas. Mid-Pacific Institute is truly GOING GREEN!