Sustainable Food Challenge @ AU

Want to compete in a 30 min, Sustainable Iron Chef like challenge? Contact Carolina below:

Carolina Fojo
East Coast Fellow, Bon Appétit Management Company Foundation
carolina.fojo@bamco.com
Cell: 650-906-4304

Framing Nonprofit Communications

Evaluating Social Issue Campaigns:

How Do We Demonstrate Impact When Re-Framing a Debate?

Friday, Nov. 12 11:30am-12:30pm

Location Ward 2

Tiffany Manuel, Ph.D.

FrameWorks Institute

In this presentation, Manuel discusses the research challenges in assessing The FrameWorks Institute’s mission to advance the nonprofit sector's communications capacity. FrameWorks designs, commissions, manages and publishes communications research to prepare nonprofit organizations to expand their constituency base, to build public will, and to further public understanding of specific social issues. Its work is based on an approach called "strategic frame analysis," which underscores the value of empirical research that has been developed in partnership with UCLA's Center for Communications and Community.

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Tiffany Manuel, Ph.D. is Director of Institutional Impact and Evaluation at The Frameworks Institute. Prior to joining Frameworks, Manuel served as a senior policy analyst at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services where she was responsible for conducting and directing public policy research. She has served as a senior researcher at Harvard University's Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study and has served as an Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has worked as an economic development consultant in the areas of program evaluation, comparative regional economic analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and social welfare and labor policy analysis.

Climate Scientist or Weather Guy?

Station Science?

What News Directors and Meteorologists Think About Climate Change

Friday, Nov. 5

11:30am-12:30pm

Location MGC 203/205

Joe Witte

Center for Climate Change Communication

George Mason University

and meteorologist with TBD.com

In this presentation, Witte reviews research on how local TV news directors and meteorologists serve as "gatekeepers" of climate change information. More people get their news from local TV than any other source, TV news directors make the decisions as to which stories to run, and polling indicates that meteorologists are among the most trusted sources of information about climate change. Yet as the Columbia Journalism Review recently reported in a cover story, whether and how to cover climate change at local TV stations remains a political charged debate within news rooms. Witte presents findings from nationally representative surveys of local meteorologists and news directors, analyzing their perceptions of climate change risks, their news decisions on the issue, and their willingness to engage their communities on the problem.

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Joe Witte, Ph.D. is a researcher at George Mason University's Center for Climate Change Communication. Witte started with a career as a USGS glaciologist, investigating, with crampons on his feet, the glaciers of Washington State and the sea ice in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. He's now working on an NSF funded project under the direction of Professor Edward Maibach at GMU about enabling local TV weathercasters as climate change communicators/educators. During the nearly 20 years with New York City’s NBC affiliate as chief meteorologist, many of his reports on flights into the eye of hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, and climate change also aired on NBC’s Today and Nightly News. Witte is currently seen during evenings on TBD TV.

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The Media & Communication Research Group (MCRG) in the School of Communication is a collaborative network of American University faculty and students studying the influence of media and communication on public life, civil society, and social problems. MCRG also serves as a public forum for discussion and debate and as the host for a speaker and seminar series.

Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development in CUBA

Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development in CUBA

Research Tour

http://www.globalexchange.org/tours/1155.html

December 27, 2010 - January 5, 2011

"From high above, what we need to do is so obvious... US - Cuba, one ecosystem, one planet, one world..."

Dear Colleague,

In its 2006 Sustainability Index Report, the World Wildlife Fund, utilizing a combination of the United Nations Human Development Index (a measure of how well a nation is meeting its nutrition, water, health care, and education needs, etc.) and the Ecological Footprint (natural resource use per capita) determined that there is only one nation in the world that is currently living sustainably -- and that nation is CUBA.

How did Cuba, a small island nation of 11,000,000 people, struggling with issues of poverty, the U.S. embargo, and devastating annual hurricanes, achieve this extraordinary distinction? And what can environmentalists in the U.S. learn from Cuba's struggles and successes?

Travel with us and meet the policy makers and practitioners who make it happen!

Throughout the 1960's, 70's and 80's, the Cuban people enjoyed the highest quality-of-life indices in Latin America, rivaling the United States and other countries of the developed world. Cuba was internationally praised as the one developing country that had eradicated hunger and the World Health Organization touted the Cuban health care system as a "model for the world." As early as 1989, Cuba ranked 11th in the world in the Overseas Development Council's Physical Quality of Life Index, (which includes infant mortality, life expectancy and literacy) while the U.S. ranked 15th.

After the setbacks of the 1990's, caused by the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the tightening of the U.S. Embargo, Cuba's quality of life indices did decline slightly for a few years, but then steadily improved. Denied their former imports of petroleum products and pharmaceuticals, Cuba's 35,000 scientists, operating in 200 research institutes across the island, began to explore indigenous and more sustainable ways to meet their food, medicine and energy needs. Extraordinary innovations in organic agriculture and urban gardens earned Cuban agriculturists the Alternative Nobel Prize/Right Livelihood Award; advances in renewable energy including solar, wind, micro-hydro, biogas, and biomass, and island-wide energy efficiency campaigns earned the Cuban NGO Cuba Solar, the UN Global 500 award; and the development of alternative and traditional health care practices earned Cuba recognition by the UN Development Council, as one of the five most important projects in health care internationally.

25% of Cuba's land is in a "Protected Area"; it's coral reefs are healthy (Jacques Cousteau used to say that whenever he was in despair about the state of the world's ocean ecosystems, he thought of Cuba and his hope was renewed); and it is one of the few nations in the world to have increased its percentage of forested land in the past several decades.

Cuba models, for the rest of the world, the possibility of obtaining a high quality of life, on a relatively small national budget, while utilizing low levels of the planet's limited resources. This tiny island nation may be showing us a way to live simply, healthfully, and sustainably on the Earth.

Program Highlights:

• Tour of sustainable development projects in Havana and Old Havana
• Urban gardens and farmers' markets in urban and rural Cuba
• Meetings with staff of environmental education NGOs and Ministries
• Tour of Las Terrazas intentional sustainable community
• Environmental Protection in the Sierra Rosario Biosphere Reserve
• Renewable Energy NGO's and vocational-technical school
• Recycling and Environmental Clean up projects
• Cultural Activities
• Small group meetings according to professional interest

1. For complete programmatic and travel / logistical information on this research tour:

http://www.globalexchange.org/tours/1155.html

2. For any questions regarding program or logistics, please email Drea Hightower, Global Exchange Reality Tours, Cuba Department at drea@globalaexchange.org or call 415-575-5527.

* * * * *

3.

To register for this research tour:

1. Fill out the Cuba Application, Health and Liability, and Travel Affidavit forms on this web page:

http://www.globalexchange.org/tours/forms.html.

2. Scan and email them, along with your CV or resume, to

drea@globalexchange.org

or Fax them Attention: Drea, Cuba Reality Tours at 415-255-7498.

3. If you wish, you may call in your credit card information for your deposit to Drea at 415-575-5527 (a secure line).

We look forward to your inquiries and interest!

Sincerely,

Drea Hightower

Global Exchange Reality Tours, Cuba Department

drea@globalexchange.org

415-575-5527

* * * * *

Global Exchange Reality Tours, a licensed Cuba Travel Service Provider, has over 20 years experience arranging Cuba travel for professional, educational, cultural, and "people to people" delegations to research every aspect of Cuban life.

Internship: Council on Environmental Quality

If anyone is looking for an internship for next semester, interning with the Council on Environmental Quality is a great opportunity and the application/description is here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/internships

WWF lecture: Dr. Elinor Ostrom (Nov 18th)

World Wildlife Fund’s

Kathryn Fuller Science for Nature Seminar Series

Dr. Elinor Ostrom

Research Director of the Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis
Indiana University

Date: Thursday, November 18^th, 2010

Time: 4:30-5:30pm (lecture); 5:30-6:30pm (reception)

Admission: FREE!!

Registration: http://www.worldwildlife.org/science/fellowships/fuller/item1816.html

Location: World Wildlife Fund Headquarters

1250 24^th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20037

____________________________________________________________________________

Diagnosing Social Ecological System

Many crucial problems affect social-ecological systems (SES) of diverse scales all the way from small lakes, forests, and irrigation systems to the globe. If we do not really develop a common language for discussing these questions, we are not going to move forward. In her talk, Dr. Ostrom will discuss the SES framework that was initially developed for a special feature of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This analytic framework examines the interactions among four domains – governance, users, resource systems, and resource units – and the social and ecological outcomes that result from these interactions. She will apply it to the analysis of the impact of institutional arrangements on the performance of irrigation systems in Nepal and forests in 10 countries across the world, and discuss some of the current interests by scholars in Europe and the U.S. to move on and develop it still further.

Abbreviated Biography

Elinor Ostrom is the Arthur F. Bentley Professor of Political Science and Senior Research Director of the Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis, Indiana University, Bloomington; and Founding Director, Center for the Study of Institutional Diversity, Arizona State University. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society, and a recipient of the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2009, Reimar Lüst Award for International Scholarly and Cultural Exchange, the Elazar Distinguished Federalism Scholar Award, the Frank E. Seidman Distinguished Award in Political Economy, the Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science, the Atlas Economic Research Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award, and the John J. Carty Award for the Advancement of Science.

Her books include Governing the Commons (1990); Rules, Games, and Common-Pool Resources (1994, with Roy Gardner and James Walker); Local Commons and Global Interdependence: Heterogeneity and Cooperation in Two Domains (1995, with Robert Keohane); Trust and Reciprocity: Interdisciplinary Lessons from Experimental Research (2003, with James Walker); The Commons in the New Millennium: Challenges and Adaptations (2003, with Nives Dolšak); The Samaritan's Dilemma: The Political Economy of Development Aid (2005, with Clark Gibson, Krister Andersson, and Sujai Shivakumar); Understanding Institutional Diversity (2005); Understanding Knowledge as a Commons: From Theory to Practice (2007, with Charlotte Hess); and Working Together: Collective Action, the Commons, and Multiple Methods in Practice (forthcoming 2010, with Amy Poteete and Marco Janssen).

"Looting the Seas" - New Documentary on Bluefin Tuna Black Market

Position in financing sustainable biz in WV

Natural Capital Investment Fund focuses on financing sustainable businesses in areas such as energy efficiency, sustainable forestry, local food, and renewable energy. They're a great organization, a big supporter of my local foods program, I think they'd be fun to work for and would offer a chance to help grow a sustainable economy in Appalachia.

The position would be in Beckley or possibly Charleston.
Word is, they soon will have another lending position opening that is specifically focused on energy. If that interests you more, give me or NCIF a shout.

Here's the link!

http://www.conservationfund.org/employment_opportunities/business-lender-ncif

Contact: Savanna Lyons - savanna.may@gmail.com

Paid PT Internship, Center for Food Safety

Job Title: Part-Time Intern, Center for Food Safety

Description: Assist various staff members at the Center for Food Safety with research projects aimed at informing policy makers and non-governmental organizations about sustainable agriculture and food production.

Research Projects:

· Links between climate change and agriculture (including potential mitigation and adaptation measures) and the resulting impacts on food security.

· Relationship between world hunger/food security and genetically engineered (GE) seeds and crops developed by large agribusiness firms.

Duties may include:

· Assisting staff with research projects by accessing applicable journal articles, books, academic studies, news articles and UN/NGO/government reports

· Preparing and writing research summaries

· Filing and cataloguing research materials

· Maintaining or updating administrative/research database

· Fulfilling administrative tasks when needed

Hours per week: 15-20 hours per week

Compensation: $10 per hour

Please submit cover letter and resume to: avannoy@icta.org

Abbey Vannoy

Policy Intern

Center for Food Safety

660 Pennsylvania Ave SE, 302

Washington, DC 20003

P: 202.547.9359 F: 202.547.9429

Biggest Vegan potluck ever!

(I literally copied and pasted from their .pdf poster. If you want the original, let me know - Peter)

Celebrate climate action with delicious eco-friendly, vegan food!
Bring a vegan dish to share with a list of ingredients (no meat, dairy, or eggs).
COMMUNITY PEACE POTLUCK
October 10, 2010 4:30–7pm
Bread for the City / 1525 7th St, NW
We'll tell leaders: “We're getting to work—what about you?”

Cohosted by: Live Green; 10/10/10 Global Work Party; A well-fed world

LEARN MORE AT: www.livegreen.net/events
RSVP: contactlivegreen@gmail.com

Come out early to check out the LOCAL FOOD BLOCK PARTY with Roadside Organics and the HIP HOP CAUCUS from 12-4pm.

JOIN US FOR THE PEACE POTLUCK THE LARGEST VEGAN POTLUCK EVER!
Celebrate climate action with delicious eco-friendly, vegan food!
Bring a vegan dish to share with a list of ingredients (no meat, dairy, or eggs).

Luncheon with Afghan Governor Habiba Sarabi and Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai - Oct 7, 11:30a - 1:00p

Space is limited. RSVP as soon as possible to reserve a space on Oct. 7, 11:30am-1pm, in the Cannon Caucus Room.

___________________________________________________

Pew Environment Group | The Pew Charitable Trusts

901 E Street, NW | Washington, D.C. 20004

p: 202.540.6455 | f: 202.552.2299

The United Nations Foundation, the Alliance for Global Conservation and

The Green Belt Movement

in cooperation with

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Gwen Moore, Rep. Judy Biggert,

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz,

Rep. Lois Capps, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite

cordially invite you to attend a luncheon event

WOMEN HEROES OF GLOBAL CONSERVATION:

REPAIRING NATURE, EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES

Maria Otero

Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs

and women from the frontlines including:

Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize Winner

Green Belt Movement, Kenya

Habiba Sarabi, Governor, Bamyan Province, Afghanistan

Time Magazine “Hero of the Environment”

and other inspiring women conservation leaders

from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean

“[W]omen are the primary caretakers, tilling the land and feeding their families. . . . Environmental degradation forces them to walk farther to attain wood for cooking and heating, to search for clean water, and to find new sources of food. . . . When the environment is destroyed, plundered, or mismanaged, it is their quality of life, and that of their children and families, that is ultimately undermined.” – Wangari Maathai

Moderated by

Katty Kay

Washington Correspondent, BBC World News America

Thursday, October 7, 2010 * 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Cannon Caucus Room

(3^rd Floor of the Cannon House Office Building, Independence Avenue and 1st Street, SE Washington, DC 20003)

Please RSVP at bkramer@pewtrusts.org

The Alliance for Global Conservation, the UN Foundation, and the Green Belt Movement make every effort to comply with federal, state and local government ethics rules when hosting events. Please make sure that your participation is consistent with applicable ethics rules.

Center for American Progress: Cultural Advocacy: Connecting Art and Climate Change October 7, 2010, 7:00pm – 8:30pm

It's free....

Center for American Progress: Cultural Advocacy: Connecting Art and Climate Change October 7, 2010, 7:00pm – 8:30pm

RSVP required. Follow link below to see invitation and link to register.

Full in-browser view: click here or copy/paste link below:

http://app.mx3.americanprogressaction.org/e/es.aspx?s=785&e=155435&elq=b6493b10a4334166abbc6bb80b400773

Reminder: volunteer at Peak Oil conference

All - I just wanted to reiterate this opportunity to volunteer for ~2 hours and get free registration to a weekend conference in DC about Peak Oil. Please contact me (Peter) if you're interested.

This is a friendly reminder that our registration fees for next week's conference will increase to on site rates on October 7, 2010. If you plan to attend and have not registered please do so as soon as possible. We hope to see you in Washington, DC next week!

• Speakers Dinner Friday Evening is included with ASPO-USA Membership
• New Registration Categories
• Full Conference Agenda
• Full Speaker List

2010 Peak Oil Conference
The Future of Oil, Energy, and the Economy

Oct 7-9 Washington, DC
For More Information visit http://www.aspousa.org/