Activism, Art and Climate Conversations
tUrn closes out the week with Good Market
“Students peruse a selection of fresh vegetables from the Forge Garden”. Photo Credit: Mako Watanabe.
Attending the Good Market meant leaving with a reusable copper cup, a brochure of the Green Party’s political platform, knowledge on Divestment at SCU’s campaign and a free vintage book.
Santa Clara’s tUrn project held their biannual Good Market event last Friday, where on- and off-campus climate action groups discussed different initiatives, sold eco-friendly goods and created a space where students could relieve their climate anxiety, according to tUrn Faculty Director Kristin Kusanovich.
The market was open from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the walkways in front of the Learning Commons. Combating fast fashion, Green Team at Santa Clara held a pop-up thrift store and sold items from tees to jeans for a maximum of $5. Green Team also tabled outside of Benson collecting clothing donations, and are donating their profits from the thrift store to Colorado River conservation efforts.
“I really think the Market shows how easy it is to live a more sustainable life”
“There's even a vegan food truck to show that eating vegan doesn't have to be boring or bad,” said Green Team member Mia Ingram.
De La Tierra food truck set up next to McLaughlin-Walsh Residence hall for the market. The truck sold vegan asada and jackfruit tacos. Other local stores, including The Source Zero Shop and Before1907, sold low-waste goods like bags and bath products.
The Good Market also featured tables of student and political organizations focusing on climate issues that are both global and pertinent to Santa Clara, including Divestment at SCU. The student-run club passed out brochures to increase awareness about Santa Clara’s investment in fossil fuels.
“We’re trying to get more students to join since unfortunately a lot of people in the campaign are seniors and we definitely want this to be something that keeps going for years,” Santa Clara ENACT (Environmental Action) Program Coordinator Frida Garcia said.
Political organizations at the event included the Green Party. The party members' tabling focused on educating students about the Green New Deal–that was introduced by the Green Party, not the Democrats–as well as an Interim Housing petition for 30 homeless families in the city of Santa Clara. The Green Party came to Santa Clara to connect with young people as they have the power as voters for future elections, said member Nassim Nouri.
“Young people will have both the power and the responsibility to affect our future,” Nouri said.
The Good Market also featured students performing climate poetry, the Forge Garden selling fresh produce and KSCU radio held a live broadcast of the event.
“The climate crisis is still a bit of a taboo subject,” Good Market Vendor Communications and Student Clubs Manager Emily Pachoud said.”It's so overwhelming and depressing to most people. Finding a way to talk about it and being in a big community setting that's very celebratory, has a lot of art, has a lot of creativity, a lot of politics, a lot of intellectual stimulation, includes plants from the Forge garden and our indigenous clubs really matters.”