Five Colleges, Incorporated: Focus the Nation 2008

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Five Colleges Takes Part in National Global Warming Teach-in

Member campuses of Five Colleges, Inc. are participating in Focus the Nation, a national teach-in on global warming solutions, on January 31, 2008. Locally, the teach-in will include panel discussions, music performances, lectures and break-out sessions aimed at educating students and area residents about the world's greatest environmental threat. Highlights of the day include a presentation by Michael Klare, the Five College Professor of Peace and World Security, and discussions of area efforts to reduce global warming threats.

Nationally, with millions of students at more than 1,000 colleges and universities expected to participate, Focus the Nation organizers predict it will be the largest teach-in in US history. Events will kick-off on the evening on January 30, 2008, with the national screening of the interactive webcast The 2% Solution on Earth Day Network TV.

The broadcast will feature Stanford climate scientist Stephen Schneider, sustainable business consultant Hunter Lovins and others discussing potential solutions and audience members voting on questions related to climate change. The title refers to the idea that to properly address global warming, developed countries must cut pollution 2 percent each year for the next 40 years.

The following schedules offer an overview of events on each campus. All events are free and open to the public.

Mount Holyoke College

Click here for additional details.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

7-10 p.m.,
Chapin Auditorium, Mary Wooley Hall
Focus the Nation Kickoff: "Sustaining Community: It Starts Here"
An evening of music with Erica Wheeler, storytelling by Marge Bruchac, and a community viewing of the nationwide Focus the Nation webcast, "The 2% Solution."

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Noon
Chapin Auditorium, Mary Wooley Hall
Panel discussion: "Political, Personal, Powerful: Activism for Climate Change"
Students and alumnae discuss their activist activities related to climate change. This session will include reports from students who attended the PowerShift gathering in the Washington, DC, area in November.

4 p.m.
Chapin Auditorium, Mary Wooley Hall
Panel discussion: "Focus the Campus: Environmental Stewardship at MHC"
Staff examines MHC's climate protection goals and other elements of on-campus environmental stewardship. This discussion will launch the spring semester Focus the Campus initiative designed to reinvigorate campus efforts towards energy conservation, recycling, etc.

7-9 p.m.
Chapin Auditorium, Mary Wooley Hall
Evening panel: "No Degrees of Separation: MHC Speaks Out on Global Warming"
A panel consisting of eight MHC faculty, one staff member and one alumna will present a one-hour kaleidoscope of multi-disciplinary views and insights on climate change. MHC President Joanne Creighton will also speak during this event. Expected participants: Jeremy King (history); Jill Bubier (environmental studies); Doug Amy (politics); Corinne Demas (English); Jens Christiansen (economics); Joe Smith (art); Persa Batra (geology); Angie Dickens (chemistry); Mary Jo Maydew; and alum Lisa Brunie, Canon Corporation.

The second hour will consist of audience break-out sessions to discuss the presentation and formulate recommendations for campus action.

Smith College

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

8 p.m.
Weinstein Auditorium, Wright Hall
Interactive webcast of The 2% Solution

Thursday, January 31, 2008

9 a.m.
Weinstein Auditorium, Wright Hall
Introduction: Smith President Carol Christ

9:15-10 a.m.
Weinstein Auditorium, Wright Hall
Plenary Speaker: Michael Klare

10:30-11:50 a.m.
Locations TBA
Break Out Session I (multiple concurrent sessions, topics TBA)

1-2:30 p.m.
Locations TBA
Break Out Session II (multiple concurrent sessions, topics TBA)

3-4:30 p.m.
Campus Center, Carroll Room
Global Warming Jeopardy!
Game show.

5:45 p.m.
Campus Center, Goldstein Room (fireplace lounge)
Dinner Theatre: Reading of an original student play, "Winter Requiem"

7-8:30 p.m.
Weinstein Auditorium, Wright Hall
Legislative Roundtable

9-11:30 p.m.
Campus Center Pub Night with environmental band Melodeego

Proposed Smith break-out sessions

Creating a Sustainable and Just Energy Future: Race and Class Matter

Was the Largest Mass Extinction in Earth History Caused by Carbon Dioxide?

Global warming skeptics' most common arguments against a human role in climate change, and how to answer them all with consensus science

Economics of Water in the Middle East

Oil in Africa: Social Consequences to the Continent

Climate Change as a Moral and Spiritual Issue

Climate Change and Sustainability Issues on the U.S. Mexico Border

Sustainable Biofuels: Local, clean fuels for heating and transportation

Intergovernmental Cooperation to Promote Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Renewable Energy

Transportation: How will we get there beyond Peak Oil

Psychology of Effective Persuasion: How to Get People to do the Right Thing

Globalization of Environmental Issues: Expanding Gateways for Increasing Public Understanding

Chemical Principles Behind the Greenhouse Effect/ What makes a Molecule a Greenhouse Gas?

Global Warming: Policy Solutions 101

Recycling and Product Life Cycles

Sources of Greenhouse Gases

Reducing Petroleum in our Landscapes

Climate Change: Science and Policy Solutions

Ecohydrology and Water Resources

Smith's Efforts Towards Carbon Neutral

Global Warming and the Coral Reef Crisis

The Great Global Warming Swindle: True or False (film/discussion)

Environmental Refugees/Economic Migrants: African Migration to Europe in the 21st Century

Confronting Your Dementors: Common Solutions to Peak Oil and Global Warming

Energy and Sustainability in Massachusetts

Policy "Solutions" to Global Warming

Global Warming: the Student Perspective

Community Gardens as a Global Warming Solution

Additional details at www.smith.edu/green/focustopics.php

Hampshire College

Focus the Nation events are being planned for mid-February, when students return from winter break. Continue to check www.fivecolleges.edu for updates.

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