SIS-388 International Environmental Politics

RSVP by 1/24: Offshore Oil & Gas in the Arctic: The Next Five Years

2012-01-23T12:31:00.000-05:00

WHEN:	January 26, 2012, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
WHERE:	Environmental Law Institute 2000 L Street, NW, Suite 620 (Sixth Floor) Washington, DC Click here for directions.
RSVP:	The event is free and open to the public, but you must RSVP. To do so, please email Marcia McMurrin at mcmurrin@eli.org by Tuesday, January 24, 2011. Please indicate whether you will be attending in-person or by teleconference; teleconference information will be emailed one day prior to the event.

U.S. demand for energy resources continues to increase, along with growing concern about the short- and long-term impacts of domestic oil and gas development and consumption. In few areas is this tension so clearly exemplified as in the U.S. Arctic. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently published a mean estimate that the Alaskan outer continental shelf contains 26.6 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and 131.45 trillion cubic feet of such gas. Yet there are significant concerns about how drilling will impact surrounding marine environment and subsistence harvest by Alaska Native communities, including the ramifications of an oil spill in this extreme environment that lacks infrastructure to allow for immediate response and clean up.
These issues are central to the discussion of U.S. plans to enable further exploitation of offshore oil and gas. On Nov. 10, 2011, BOEM disseminated a draft five-year leasing program for oil and gas on the outer continental shelf. As required by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the plan must balance potential oil and gas discovery with potential impacts to the environment and coastal zone. The draft 2012-2017 leasing program (open for public comment through Feb. 8, 2012) includes multiple sites in the U.S. Arctic that will be made available for leasing.
In this seminar, panelists will discuss the draft leasing program and aspects such as science needs and availability, expected activity impacts, and how the program may align with other ongoing ocean management processes, such as coastal and marine spatial planning
PANELISTS:

Eleanor Huffines, Manager, U.S. Arctic Program, Pew Environment Group
Jessica S. Lefevre, Counsel, Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission
Shoshana Lew, Senior Advisor, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Department of the Interior
Stacy Linden, Managing Counsel, American Petroleum Institute

MODERATOR:

Peter J. Schaumberg, Principal, Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.

MATERIALS:

Speaker Biographies (PDF)

The 2011 Ocean Seminar Series is generously supported by the
Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation.

Transforming Transportation: January 26-27, 2012

2012-01-23T12:28:00.001-05:00

EMBARQ, the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Inter-American Development Bank will host the ninth annual “Transforming Transportation” event at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. on January 26-27, 2012.

This year’s conference will focus on big ideas to scale up sustainable transport best practices in cities worldwide. In the previous years we have highlighted challenges facing urban transport and key projects that were good examples to emulate. The aim in 2012 is to reflect briefly on past successes and ongoing challenges of implementing sustainable urban transport and development, and then to turn our attention to scaling up for the future. Conference attendees will discuss and brainstorm practical ways to overcome obstacles and implement best practices. New ideas will be shared for scaling up solutions and transforming transportation in many more cities around the world.

The plenary session on Day 1 will discuss the future of the city, and on Day 2 we will look beyond the transport sector for inspiration on how to scale up best practices. Other sessions will include moderated panel discussions, and rapid presentations of innovative ideas. The agenda also features screenings of urban transport videos and a cocktail reception to honor the late Lee Schipper.

Transforming Transportation 2012 is open to the public but registration is required. Our guests will include about 200 of the world’s leading transport and urban development experts from national and local governments, multi-development banks, foundations, civil society organizations, research institutions, and private companies and associations.

Wilson Center Events - January 25

2012-01-23T12:23:00.001-05:00

Is a Food Crisis Brewing in the Sahel?

January 25, 2012 // 9:00am — 12:30pm

While African nations and the donor community struggle to mitigate famine in the Horn of Africa, concern is growing that drought in the Sahel will trigger a food crisis of comparable proportion in West Africa by the spring of 2012. However, experts caution against misdiagnosing food insecurity in the Sahel, for fear that excessive band-aid treatments of emergency food assistance will squander energy and scarce resources that would be better utilized in treating pockets of severe food shortages and building resiliency in the region. With input from American and African experts on the Sahel, this event will explore the true nature of the emerging crisis in the Sahel and seek to identify effective responses, including regional trade and resilience-building through agricultural development.

To RSVP: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/rsvp?eid=21325&pid=25

Sustainable Solutions for the Planet’s Energy Challenge

January 25, 2012 // 3:00pm — 5:00pm

The environmental challenges of climate change, energy demands, and natural resource loss continue to mount. World population hit seven billion on Halloween and is projected to go to ten billion if not more. The first decade of the 21st century was the warmest in 130 years of recorded global temperatures and 2010 was the warmest year yet recorded. Extinction rates are 1000 times base rates. The Amazon had the greatest drought in recorded history in 2010. Droughts, floods, wildfires, and probably intense tropical storms are becoming more frequent. These challenges call for action at a planetary scale.
The “Managing Our Planet” seminar series – developed jointly by George Mason University and the Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program and Brazil Institute -- addresses planetary scale problems and solutions.

Please RSVP to ecsp@wilsoncenter.org with your name and affiliation.

DC Update: Mayor Vincent C. Gray and U.N. Environment Programme Announce District Will Be North American Host City for World Environment Day 2012

2012-01-23T12:18:00.003-05:00

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Mayor Vincent C. Gray and officials from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) today announced that the organization has named Washington, DC, as the North American host city for World Environment Day (WED) 2012. With the regional theme, “Unite for a Sustainable D.C.,” UNEP invites area residents and organizations take part in energy-efficiency and sustainability activities during the six weeks linking Earth Day on April 22 and WED on June 5.
Mayor Gray’s office and the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) will work with partners that include UNEP’s Regional Office for North America, the D.C. Public Schools, local businesses, Earth’s Natural Force and other non-profit organizations to galvanize the D.C. community into action.

“By its 1987 U.N. definition, the word ‘sustainable’ means to ‘meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs,” said Mayor Gray. “In other words, our resources are finite. We must do everything we can to protect the interests of our children, our children’s children and beyond. Through our Sustainable D.C. initiative, the District has been moving forward with purpose to ensure our city is the greenest in the world. We are honored and proud to be selected as the North American Host City for WED 2012, as it is the perfect platform to unite the city around its successes and future goals.”

This year, the overarching international WED theme is the “Green Economy.” The UNEP-led Green Economy Initiative aims to foster investment in green sectors and to fully value the Earth’s natural resources.
A key way that citizens and businesses can help create a green economy is through business efforts to promote energy efficiency. The WED 2012 celebration will highlight this link by focusing on energy efficiency, sustainability and the important role residents play in their local communities in these efforts.

“The District of Columbia was chosen as the North American host of WED 2012 not just because of the work that the city has already done for sustainability, but also because of the city’s plans for the future,” said Amy Fraenkel, Director of UNEP’s Regional Office for North America. “I am excited to see how WED will help link local and global actions — particularly in the lead-up to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development or Rio+20.”

Planned activities that highlight the regional theme, “Unite for a Sustainable D.C.,” will include the following:

The District will be signing a Green Economy pledge with an array of international embassies at the end of January to show a united commitment to a green economy and sustainability.
The International Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment will engage local students in a global art contest that addresses why environmental protection is important. Sponsored by UNEP, the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace, Bayer Corporation and Nikon, the competition has been held annually since 1991 and has received over 3 million entries from children in 150-plus countries.
Elementary and high-school students in the District that participate in Energy Patrol programs will receive energy education and assessment training that they can use to assess how their school uses energy. During WED, this program will expand to include additional D.C.-area schools and students.
WED will offer the opportunity to forge linkages between the District of Columbia and Brazil, the global 2012 WED Host Country.
Mayor Gray will present his 2012 Sustainability Awards http://ddoe.dc.gov/service/mayors-environmental-excellence-awards) (to local individuals, schools, organizations and businesses just prior to WED, recognizing efforts to build a greener, more sustainable future for D.C.

UNEP and District leaders invite the entire DC community to participate in these activities, and to develop others in support of this United Nations day.

See full press release here.

Green Corps opportunity

2012-01-18T23:27:00.002-05:00

Green Corps 2012-2013Field School for Environmental Organizing

Green Corps is looking for college graduates who are readyto take on the biggest environmental challenges of our day.

In Green Corps’ year-long paid program, you’ll get intensive training in the skillsyou’ll need to make a difference in the world. You’ll get hands-onexperience fighting to solve urgent environmental problems — globalwarming, deforestation, water pollution and many others — with groups such asSierra Club and Food and Water Watch. And, when you graduate from Green Corps, we’llhelp you find a career with one of the nation’s leading environmental andsocial change groups.

For more information, read below or visit our web site: www.greencorps.org.

In your year with Green Corps:
You’ll get great training with some of the most experienced organizersin the field: Green Corps organizers take part in trainings with leadingfigures in the environmental and social change movements: people such as AdamRuben, political director of MoveOn.org, and Bill McKibben, author andorganizer of the “350.org” rallies for climate action.

You’ll get amazing experience working on environmental issues across thecountry: Green Corps sends organizers to jumpstart campaigns for groups such asRainforest Action Network, Sierra Club, Greenpeace, Food and Water Watch andEnvironment America in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston and dozens of otherplaces in between.

You’ll have a real impact on some of the biggest environmental problemswe’re facing today: Green Corps organizers have built the campaigns that helpedkeep the Arctic safe from drilling, that led to new laws that support clean,renewable energy, that convinced major corporations to stop dumping inour oceans and much, much more.

You’ll even get paid: Green Corps Organizers earn a salary of $23,750.Organizers also have a chance to opt into our health care program with apre-tax monthly salary deferral. We offer paid sick days and holidays, twoweeks paid vacation and a student loan repayment program for those who qualify.

And when you graduate from the program, you’ll be ready for what comes next:Green Corps will help connect you to environmental and progressive groups thatare looking for full-time staff to build their organizations and help themcreate social change and protect our environment.

In the next few months, we‘ll invite 35 college graduates to join Green Corpsin 2012-2013. We’re looking for people who are serious about saving theplanet, people who have taken initiative on their campus or community, andpeople who are willing to roll up their sleeves and work for change over thelong haul.

If you think you’re one of those people, visit http://www.greencorps.org/apply tosubmit your application to join the 2012-2013 class of Green Corps’ FieldSchool for Environmental Organizing.

Green Corps’ year-long program begins in August 2012 with IntroductoryClassroom Training in Boston, and continues with field placements in multiplelocations across the U.S. Candidates must be willing to relocate.

For more information, visit : www.greencorps.org.orcontact Aaron Myran, Green Corps Recruitment Director, at aaron@greencorps.org or 617 747 4302.

Dierdre Stenson

Green Corps Recruitment Intern

617 747 4302

Dierdre@greencorps.org

Free Admission to All National Parks from January 14-16!

2012-01-11T14:43:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON: Start your new year with a free visit to a national park! All 397 national parks across the country will offer free admission from January 14 through 16 to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

You can literally walk in Dr. King's footsteps at Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Georgia, the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail in Alabama, or the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC – just a few of the many national parks that have direct ties to Dr. King or the Civil Rights movement.

Other parks that will hold special events honoring Dr. King that weekend include the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC, Morristown National Historical Park in New Jersey, Fort Donelson National Battlefield in Tennessee, and Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Washington, DC.

“Dr. King led the fight to realize his dream of a nation free of discrimination, where every citizen was able to enjoy the inalienable rights promised to all Americans,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “Dr. King’s story and those of so many others whose efforts changed our country are preserved in the national parks, places where history happened. I hope every American can take advantage of the upcoming fee free weekend and visit their parks to experience their history firsthand.”

Your nearest national park can also help you keep that New Year’s resolution, whether it is to get more exercise, spend quality time with family and friends, try a new sport, learn some history, expand your horizons, or enjoy the natural world. There’s something for everyone at a national park, even in the middle of winter. Choices include snow shoe hikes, canoe trips, campfire programs, film festivals, battle reenactments, and music jams. It is also a great time of year to view wildlife such as bison in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming or grey whales at Point Reyes National Seashore in California. A list of activities can be found at www.nps.gov.

The National Park Service will also waive admission fees on 14 other days in 2012 – National Park Week (April 21 to 29), Get Outdoors Day (June 9), National Public Lands Day (September 29), and the weekend of Veterans Day (November 10 to 12).

www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 397 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

Mountain Justice Spring Break in VA and WV

2012-01-04T16:48:00.001-05:00

Friends of the Appalachian Mountains,

What are you doing for spring break?

Come to Appalachia and join the fight against mountaintop removal coal mining and hydrofracking for natural gas! Meet awesome community activists and student leaders organizing in their communities to save their beloved Appalachian Mountains from blasting! Have fun while while learning about coal mining, fracking, Appalachian music, culture and heritage - do community service work - go hiking in the mountains - see mountaintop removal and hydrofracking and learn about the death cycle of coal - hang out with other concerned, aware young people supporting local communities in their struggles against extractive industry.

This year, Mountain Justice is offering two Mountain Justice Spring Break weeks:

Virginia Mountain Justice Spring Break March 3-11, in Appalachia, Virginia - a historic town in the beautiful mountains of far western Virginia that has mountaintop removal coal mining very nearby. Residents of the town and the community group SAMS (Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards) are fighting to protect Ison Rock Ridge from mining. You will see mountaintop removal up close, and meet with local residents who have lived in the mountains for a lifetime. Workshops, organizing skills, trainings, site tours, mountain music and dancing.

To learn more and to register for Virginia Mountain Justice Spring Break, go to http://mjsb2012.wordpress.com/

From March 21-28, Mountain Justice Spring Break (MJSB) will be in northern West Virginia near Clarksburg, in the middle of the Marcellus Shale geological formation. Driving in you will see dozens of active natural gas drill sites and hundreds of hydrofracking tanker trucks going up and down the highway. This is a scenic and remote area of West Virginia that is getting drilled to death.

To learn more about hydrofracking, check out Steven Colbert's explanation of the issue.

Our West Virginia MJSB site is in a very comfortable and modern heated building with bunk beds, warm showers, and great home-cooked food lovingly prepared by volunteers. The week will offer workshops, trainings and community-led presentations that focus on building bridges between the anti-hydrofracking and the anti-mountaintop removal campaigns. Everyone is welcome and we have some awesome local West Virginia speakers lined up.

We will offer site tours to see hydrofracking in nearby Wetzel County, West Virginia, and see mountaintop removal at Larry Gibson's famous Kayford Mountain.

Please note that the West Virginia MJSB begins and ends on a Wednesday - There will also be lots of activities and site tours (and possibly housing) before and after the camp.

MJSB is high-energy, youth-led and it's always exciting. Check out this video from MJSB in 2007, when community members and college students entered the office of WV Governor Joe Manchin, demanding that a safe new school be built for the children at Marsh Fork Elementary, whose school was beneath a giant lake of toxic coal waste:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jqENyow0cQ

Registration for Mountain Justice Spring Break includes all food, workshops and lodging - it's low cost and no one is turned away for lack of ability to pay.

To register and for more information on the West Virginia MJSB, go to
http://www.mjsb.org/index.php

Masters and PhD students are invited to participate in the 6th World Water Forum

2012-01-04T15:31:00.001-05:00

The 6th World Water Forum is looking to invite advanced Master’s and PhD students from around the world to present their solutions-based work and participate as fully engaged members of the Forum. Selected applicants will have the opportunity to work with high level experts from academia, the public sector, and private industry. They will take part in networking events with other young professionals and water experts from around the world. So don’t wait to fill in the form to apply!

Deadline: 15th January

http://wateryouthmovement.org/

http://www.jotform.com/wateryouthmovement/applicationforthe6thworldwaterforum

Wetlands Photo Contest

2012-01-04T13:24:00.001-05:00

World Wetlands Day Photo Celebration: Wetlands Tourism
Jan. 3-20, 2012

Showcase the beauty of wetlands along with your talent! Submit your best photos to a World Wetlands Day photo celebration under this year’s theme “Wetlands Tourism: A Great Experience,” sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in partnership with the Ramsar Convention Secretariat. From January 3-20, 2012, upload your best photo(s) to our Flickr site in one of four wetlands and tourism-related categories: wildlife, landscapes, plants, and tourists (one per category per participant). ALL are invited to mark your favorite photo in each category through January 22.

The top photos in each category will be showcased on U.S. Department of State, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Ramsar Convention Secretariat and its International Organization Partners’ websites and social media platforms around the world on World Wetlands Day, February 2, 2012. Visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/StateDepartment.OES and www.flickr.com/groups/WWD2012PhotoCelebration for instructions and more information.

MSc in Environmental Governance at UNU-IAS

2011-12-12T10:36:00.003-05:00

The United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) is now accepting online applications to its Master of Science in Environmental Governance with Specialization in Biodiversity programme for the 2012 academic year.

The programme draws on UNU-IAS's long-standing reputation for excellence in policy-oriented research for sustainable development. UNU-IAS provides students with the intellectual foundation and practical field experience necessary for understanding environmental governance regimes. Graduates of the programme will receive a Master of Science degree from the United Nations University and the skills necessary to forge new frontiers as researchers and practitioners with an interdisciplinary and systemic understanding of biodiversity, ecosystems and sustainable development.

For more information on course offerings, fees, duration and application procedure, please visit www.ias.unu.edu/masters. Deadline for applicants seeking financial support is 28 February 2012. General deadline for all applications is 30 May 2012. Classes are scheduled to commence in September 2012.

Best regards,

Makiko Arima

Jobs Available at ITIF

2011-12-12T10:33:00.000-05:00

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) is lookingto hire two positions for its *Clean Energy Innovation Policy* platform: a full-time *Clean Energy Policy Analyst* and a 1-year contracted *Clean Energy Research Assistant*. Both position descriptions can be found here.

As many of you know, ITIF is a non-profit, non-partisan policy think tank in Washington, D.C. committed to advancing a pro-innovation agenda as we believe innovation is central to boosting productivity, spurring economic growth, and addressing key societal challenges. Our Clean Energy Policy program is no different as it aims to make innovation central to climate and energy policymaking in order to address global energy issues and anthropogenic climate change. ITIF’s work ranges widely and includes convening high-level stakeholder meetings, producing high-impact policy reports and recommendations, holding public events like the annual Energy Innovation Conference series, curating public energy innovation data and analysis through the Energy Innovation Tracker project, and advising decision makers on implementing innovation-oriented policies.

The 1-year *Research Assistant *position would be perfect for new college graduates looking to get their foot in the door to D.C. policymaking. Not only will this position directly support clean energy policy research and reports, it will staff the further development of the Energy Innovation Tracker project.

The *Policy Analyst* position best fits folks with more experience (BA/BS+ Experience or MA/MS) and a deeper knowledge of energy and climate policy. In particular, this position will directly support key report projectsand stakeholder meetings planned for 2012.

ITIF is looking to fill both positions by the beginning of 2012. Please pass this information along to anyone that may be interested and also contact me with any questions regarding the job openings.

Matthew Stepp

Clean Energy Policy Analyst

Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

1101 K Street, NW Suite 610

Washington, DC 20005

AU’s Center for Environmental Filmmaking on the Chesapeake Bay!

2011-12-12T10:27:00.000-05:00

AU’s Center for Environmental Filmmaking is excited to offer a one-week program on the Chesapeake Bay March 11-17.

Registration is beginning now and is open to AU students as well as the public. The course is limited to 12 people.

This week-long, non-credit class is for both first-time and experienced filmmakers and photographers who have an interest in the environment, natural history, and the outdoors.

Led by award-winning filmmaker and AU MFA alum Danny Ledonne, students learn how to prepare for and organize a shoot, how to shoot the footage necessary to tell a compelling story, how to edit a polished project, and how to use tapeless HD cameras and supporting sound gear.

The program serves as an enjoyable educational experience for aspiring filmmakers, photographers, and anyone interested in communicating environmental issues through media.

For more information and for a copy of the syllabus, please write to Professor Chris Palmer at palmer@american.edu.

Rotary International and UNESCO-IHE team up to offer Masters scholarships

2011-12-06T12:14:00.001-05:00

The global humanitarian organization Rotary and the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education are teaming up to tackle the world's water and sanitation crisis by increasing the ranks of trained professionals critically needed to devise, plan, and implement solutions in developing countries that bear the brunt of the problem.

Through this new strategic partnership, The Rotary Foundation will provide grants to Rotary clubs and districts to select and sponsor eight students each year for scholarships to any of three Master of Science degree programs at UNESCO-IHE, a United Nations institute in Delft, The Netherlands, that is the world's largest postgraduate water education facility. The school's scholarship-eligible programs are Municipal Water and Infrastructure; Water Management; and Water Science and Engineering.

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, under its new Future Vision plan, seeks to forge strategic partnerships with established organizations with expertise in Rotary's six areas of focus, one of which is water and sanitation. The other focus areas are peace and conflict prevention/resolution; disease prevention and treatment; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and economic and community development. UNESCO-IHE scholarship grants are available only to clubs in the 100 Rotary districts piloting Future Vision until the plan is fully implemented July 1, 2013.

UNESCO-IHE is owned by the member states of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Its mandate is to help meet the water-related capacity-building needs of developing countries and countries in transition.

Go to the website for more information: www.rotary.org or www.unesco-ihe.org.

RFF Event - Dec 7: Greenhouse Gas Regulation for Power Plants under the Clean Air Act

2011-12-05T10:36:00.001-05:00

Greenhouse Gas Regulation for Power Plants under the Clean Air ActAn RFF First Wednesday Seminar
December 7, 2011
12:45 - 2:00 p.m.A light lunch will be available at 12:30 p.m.
Resources for the Future
First Floor Conference Center
1616 P Street NW
Washington, D.C.

This seminar will also be webcast live beginning at 12:45 p.m.
Have a question for the panel while watching the live webcast? Simply tweet your question of fewer than 140 characters and include the hashtag #AskRFF. Watch the Q&A at the end of the event to see if it is selected.

Registration is required. To RSVP for this event, please visit RFF's event registration page.

PLEASE NOTE: Registration is intended for guests attending this event in person. If you plan to watch the webcast of this event, there is no need to register.
About the Event
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may soon propose Clean Air Act rules regulating the largest class of greenhouse gas emitters: coal-fired power plants. With climate policy off the congressional agenda, these and other rules under the act have taken center stage in the formulation of U.S. policy for limiting carbon emissions. But what will the rules for coal plants look like? Will they include market-based mechanisms? How expensive will they be, and on whom will those costs fall most heavily? How will they work with existing state-level programs like those in California and the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic? These questions have been the focus of research at RFF and elsewhere over the past year that has aimed to both understand what EPA may do and provide input into the agency’s decisionmaking process.
This RFF First Wednesday seminar will present some of the results of this research, along with a broader discussion of the Clean Air Act as a pathway for climate policy.

moderator:
Nathan Richardson, Resident Scholar, Resources for the Future

Panelists:

Joshua Linn, Fellow, Resources for the Future
Art Fraas, Visiting Scholar, Resources for the Future
Dallas Burtraw, Darius Gaskins Senior Fellow, Resources for the Future
Discussants:
William L. Wehrum, Partner, Hunton and Williams, LLP

Brian McLean, former Director, EPA Office of Atmospheric Programs

Wilson Center Event - Dec. 14

2011-12-05T10:30:00.001-05:00

Government Leadership in Sustainability

December 14, 2011 // 3:00pm — 5:00pm

As the Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), Martha Johnson is responsible for annual government purchases of over $65 billion and more than 360 million square feet of federal real estate. She will discuss GSA’s initiative to aggressively pursue a zero environmental footprint (ZEF) that will reduce waste, support innovation, and boost efficiency across federal buildings, operations, and acquisition.
Administrator Johnson will explore the opportunities for partnership among government, business, and academia to support sustainable design and efficiencies with the goal of supporting a clean, green 21st Century American economy.
Please RSVP with your name and affiliation to ecsp@wilsoncenter.org.

Location: 6th Floor, Woodrow Wilson Center

FAO Report: State of the World's Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture

2011-12-05T10:13:00.001-05:00

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation recently published its first State of the World's Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture report, which can be found here.

Managing systems at risk

By 2050, food production is projected to increase by about 70 percent globally and nearly 100 percent in developing countries. This incremental demand for food, together with demand from other competing uses, will place unprecedented pressure on many agricultural production systems across the world. These 'systems at risk' are facing growing competition for land and water resources and they are often constrained by unsustainable agricultural practices. They therefore require particular attention and specific remedial action.

The State of the World's Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture (SOLAW) analyses a variety of options for overcoming constraints and improving resource management in these areas of heightened risk. In each location, a mix of changes in institutional and policy measures will have to be combined with greater access to technologies for better management of land and water resources. Increased investments; access to novel financing mechanisms; and international cooperation and development assistance will also help overcome these constraints.

This first issue of SOLAW, which complements other "State of the world" reports published regularly by FAO, is intended to inform public debate and policy-making at national and international levels.

Discussion Question 9

2011-11-29T15:32:00.001-05:00

Here'syour last discussion question for the semester:

What will you take away from this course?

Looking forward to your responses,
simon

Environmental Writing Competition!

2011-11-28T20:21:00.001-05:00

The recently formed Web of Life Foundation – WOLFoundation - runs an annual competition looking for the best non-technical, English language writing on any subject related to environmental issues. Deadline 15 Dec 2011.

See: http://www.wolfoundation.org/home/Competition.html

The winning entry will receive a cash prize of $1,500. A further $500 will be awarded to the second placed entry.

The top 20 entries will be published as a book of collected essays.

To enter visit our Guidelines page.

The competition is open to all and the judges are looking for ‘fresh ideas, freshly presented’ on any topic relating to environmental or conservation issues. Manuscripts must be written in English, double spaced, no longer than 3,000 words and contain no abstract, list of references or footnotes. Images are allowed as part of the manuscript. Manuscripts may have been published previously or submitted for publication.

Entries will be judged by the members of our Advisory Board.

MTR Event: Tomorrow, Tuesday Nov. 29, 8pm

2011-11-28T20:18:00.000-05:00

ramps at au

Nov. 29: Showing of "Hawks in the City" & "Entangled"

2011-11-28T11:30:00.001-05:00

Colliding Civilizations—Humans vs. Wildlife:

Presented by Maggie Stogner, Aditi Desai, and Kai Fang

On Tuesday, November 29 at 7 pm in the Wechsler Theater

How do our ever-increasing urbanization, population growth, and cultural traditions impact the wildlife community around us? Join us in viewing two documentaries that explore this question. Hawks in the City, presented by Executive Producer Maggie Burnette Stogner, follows the exploits of two red-tailed hawks struggling to raise a family in the concrete environs of Philadelphia. Entangled, a documentary work-in-progress by MFA candidates Aditi Desai and Kai Fang, takes a look at different perspectives on an age old annual kite flying festival in India involving joy, suffering, and death. The producers will introduce the films and answer questions.

Wechsler Theater, 3^rd Floor, Mary Graydon Center

American University

4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016-8017

Directions: http://www.american.edu/maps/

Metro: Tenleytown/AU, shuttle bus service to AU

Discussion Question 8

2011-11-09T16:30:00.003-05:00

The Guardian newspaper has a short online article today titled, "Why is it so hard to stop climate change?" The author sets out three factors that stand in the way of effective individual or international action. What's he missing? What else stands in the way of an effective response?

Looking forward to your replies.

RFF: Managing the Risks of Shale Gas - Nov. 14

2011-11-07T13:50:00.002-05:00

Managing the Risks of Shale Gas:
Identifying a Pathway toward
Responsible Development

Hosted by Resources for the Future (RFF)
November 14, 2011

For decades, natural gas has played an important role in electricity generation, industrial uses, and heating in the United States—and with recent improvements in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") of shale formations, drillers can now access a vastly greater amount of gas at lower cost than in the past.
The rapid growth in drilling and extraction, however, has resulted in tensions—from the community level to the federal policy level. Questions about the risks and safety of shale gas development continue, even as industry has improved disclosure, shared best practices, and assured the public that hydraulic fracturing techniques are safe.
Given these challenges, this year RFF's Center for Energy Economics and Policy (CEEP) launched an initiative to identify the priority risks associated with shale gas development and recommend strategies for responsible development. The CEEP research team will survey expert opinion and public perceptions to determine the most significant risks and the behaviors of industry and regulators that influence those risks. Pairing these findings with analysis of existing state and federal policies and voluntary industry actions will lead to recommendations for how to improve the management of shale gas development.
Please join us on Nov. 14th for the public launch of this project, featuring members of the CEEP team and our expert advisors who specialize in petroleum engineering, geochemistry, and hydrology. The group will provide a context for the interest in shale gas, an overview of the shale gas development process, a drill-down on several potential risks, and a presentation of the initial stages of our work.
RFF is grateful to the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for their generous support of this initiative and event.

A full agenda is available here.

To RSVP for this event, please visit RFF's event registration page.

This seminar will also be webcast live beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Climate Change, Water, and Conflict in the Niger River Basin - Nov. 17 at the Wilson Center

2011-11-07T12:50:00.001-05:00

Please join the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Africa Program and Environmental Change and Security Program for a report launch on

Climate Change, Water, and Conflict in the Niger River Basin

featuring

Lulsegged Abebe, West Africa Programme Manager, International Alert

Roger Few, Senior Research Fellow, School of International Development, University of East Anglia and Member of the Tyndell Centre for Climate Change Research

Marisa Goulden, Lecturer in Climate Change, Tyndell Centre for Climate Change Research and the School of International Development, University of East Anglia

Phil Vernon, Director of Programmes, Africa and Peacebuilding Issues, International Alert

Thursday, November 17, 2011

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

5th Floor Conference Room

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20004 USA

Webcast live at www.wilsoncenter.org

Please RSVP to ecsp@wilsoncenter.org with your name and affiliation.

International Alert, the London-based conflict resolution NGO, has partnered with researchers at the University of East Anglia to examine links between environmental stress, climate change, human (in)security, conflict, and adaptation along the Niger River. Please join us for a discussion of how the consequences of climate change and climate variability are interacting with societal, economic, political, and other contextual factors to increase human insecurity and the risk of conflict, and identify ways in which adaptation can reduce this risk. This report launch is part of the Wilson Center’s Resources for Peace Project, a collaboration between the Environmental Change and Security Program and USAID’s Office of Conflict Management and Mitigation.

Location: Woodrow Wilson Center at the Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW ("Federal Triangle" stop on Blue/Orange Line), 5th Floor Conference Room. A map to the Center is available at www.wilsoncenter.org/directions.Note: picture ID is required to pass through security.

Rethinking pesticide-drenched, manicured lawns: TOMORROW at 7 pm in Wechsler

2011-11-07T12:47:00.000-05:00

Walking the Talk:

Environmental Filmmaker Takes her Subject Seriously

On Tuesday, November 8 at 7 pm in the Wechsler Theater

Catherine Zimmerman is a filmmaker and sustainable landscape designer based in the Washington, DC area. She has recently authored Urban & Suburban Meadows: Bringing Meadowscaping to Big and Small Spaces and is putting the finishing touches on a companion video. The book, video, and Catherine’s Meadow Project are her efforts to help people rethink their pesticide-ridden, manicured, monoculture lawns and return their land to beautiful, natural habitats for native plants and wildlife.

Wechsler Theater, 3^rd Floor, Mary Graydon Center

American University

4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016-8017

Discussion Question 7

2011-11-03T12:21:00.002-04:00

We'llbe talking about climate change the next couple of weeks. Over the next week,I'd like you to spend a little time comparing the "Friends ofScience" website with Grist's "Howto Talk to a Climate Skeptic". Consider, what's the purpose ofthese websites? How should we make sense of and evaluate the scientific claimsthese sites make? Is one of the sites more convincing than the other? If so,why?

Topics for Second Essay

2011-11-03T09:45:00.002-04:00

PapersDue November 21

Choose among the followingtopics:

1. Why is there still chronic hunger in an age of food abundance? What needs tobe done so that every person can enjoy sufficient quantities of safe,sustainably produced food?

2. When people are asked to name something that might be done to tackleenvironmental challenges, the answer is often “education.” What does thatanswer even mean? What kinds of environmental education matter or areimportant, given the severity of the environmental situation?

3. Some commentators suggest thatenvironmental NGOs should focus increasingly on human development and humanrights concerns. Other commentators have suggested that environmental NGOs arebetter off focusing strictly on environmental issues. Who is right? Does itmake sense politically or strategically to separate environmental and humandevelopment challenges?

4. Intergovernmental talks arescheduled in Durban, South Africa, for November-December 2011, to consider apost-Kyoto climate change agreement. Your task is to prepare a briefing paperfor the USnegotiating team. Consider, what is the scientific and political background tothe Durban talks? What is at stake? What should the US position be on the keyissues likely to emerge at the Durban negotiations?

See your syllabus for further essay guidelines. Remember, your essay shouldmake a strong ARGUMENT; it should be carefully and completely REFERENCED; andit should show lots of evidence of deep, sustained ENGAGEMENT with the textswe’ve been using in class, and with authoritative supplementary outside sources.

Spring 2012 Class with Professor Wapner

2011-10-31T08:57:00.003-04:00

SPRING COURSE 2012

SIS-315.001
CONTEMPLATION AND POLITICAL CHANGE
(Tuesdays 11:45-2:25)

Professor Paul Wapner

(an advanced undergraduate course for students committed to environmental protection;
Prerequisite: SIS-388, “International Environmental Politics” or permission of the professor)

How do we best address environmental issues? What types of activism are most effective at shifting structures of power? How can we, as unique individuals, find our deepest engagement with environmental change?

This course explores the dynamics of environmental activism. Students will undertake projects aimed at addressing climate change, loss of biological diversity, fresh water scarcity, or pollution. In doing so, they will work to alter widespread practices at the university and beyond, and explore their own understandings of political engagement and internal growth.

For centuries, thinkers and activists have wrestled with the question of political change. Is genuine change a matter of altering structures of power, or adopting a different internal attitude to the world? This course places studentsat the center of such questioning by investigating the interface between political engagement and self-understanding. The course utilizes contemplative practices such as meditation, yoga, journaling and so forth as well as traditional methodologies to explore the relationship between external and internal environmental change.

Student Leadership Development/ Community Service Opportunity with the Sierra Club

2011-10-28T14:55:00.001-04:00

From the Sierra Club:

Tar Sands are a really toxic form of oil extracted from Canada, and a company called TransCanada has proposed a pipeline that would bring it through America’s heartland to be refined along the gulf coast of Texas.

The fight to keep tar sands in the ground and stop the pipeline, called Keystone XL, is in full swing! We must be sure our voice is heard during the next few weeks- we have the greatest chance of influencing the decision on KSXL right now, and in the near future.

There are many ways to be involved and be sure that we make our message clear: We do not want dirty fuels like tar sands oil in our future! Keystone XL is a step in the wrong direction. We need to invest in a clean energy economy, not allow foreign companies to keep us dependent on oil, and pollute our communities!

TransCanada wants profits; we need a healthy and sustainable future!

Here is what you can do:

Photo Petition Drive
-Between now and November 21st we will be collecting photo petitions that will be dropped off at the White House on December 1st. Young Americans will send a message directly to President Obama: If he permits the KSXL pipeline to be built, he places our future in jeopardy. Table on campus or in your community and ask people to take a stand against KSXL by taking a photo with a sign! Examples of possible slogans can be found here Tips for Planning a Photo Petition. Check out what students in Michigan did with their photo petition. Example!
-Post your photos on our flickr page so we can print them out and get them into the right hands. Sign up here I want to Stop Tar Sands & KSXL! for the log in and password info!

November 6th White House Protest

-Our goal is to recruit 5,000 people to circle the White House in a peaceful, legal demonstration of our opposition to this atrocious plan. We will join hands around the White House to send a message to President Obama that he should not allow the KSXL pipeline to be built. This event will be historic- nothing like this has ever been done before! Join us.
Visit the Sierra Club website to RSVP, or for more information.
http://www.sierraclub.org/

Students need to be represented! For help recruiting people for the event on your campus, e-mail me at Jackelintrevino@sierraclub.org, or sign up above to help us stop tar sands!

Thank you!

Research Assistant or Staff Scientist, Communications Specialist Sought

2011-10-28T09:00:00.002-04:00

Environmental Health Research and Communications
Research Assistant or Staff Scientist, Communications Specialist

Silent Spring Institute, a non-profit institute studying the environment and women’s health, with a focus on breast cancer, seeks a new addition for our research and public communications programs.
This position involves substantial responsibility for NIEHS-funded research on how people respond to reports on their own environmental exposure data. Other responsibilities include communicating scientific work to the public and building relationships with advocacy organizations.

We are a multi-disciplinary team with expertise in exposure science, toxicology, epidemiology, and communications. Our staff of about 10 works with collaborating investigators at Brown, Harvard, UC Berkeley, and elsewhere. Two recent studies, published in Environmental Health Perspectives and covered widely in the news media, illustrate our work:
-Food packaging is a major source of exposure to BPA and phthalates
- Early life chemical exposures that affect breast development, lactation, and cancer susceptibility

We seek applicants with outstanding academic and communications skills and interests in environmental health science. Journalists with science background are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities:
This position requires versatility in support of the Institute’s research and public communications. It reports to the executive director and affords a bird’s-eye-view of community engaged research, and breast cancer and environment issues.

Examples of activities:
-Working with the principal investigator, manage NIEHS-funded study of how people respond to communications about personal exposure to pollutants.
- Coordinate a multi-institution research team with Silent Spring, Brown, Harvard, and UC Berkeley
- Schedule and conduct interviews with study participants, researchers, and ethics officials
-Code and analyze interview data using systematic qualitative methods
- Help design an interactive digital reporting system
- Opportunities to author peer-reviewed articles
-Write press releases, fact sheets, e-alerts, web content, Facebook and Twitter posts, reports, proposals, and newsletter articles. Develop relationships with reporters.
-Build Institute relationships with environmental health advocacy organizations
-Support proposal preparation for federal and foundation grants.
-Help research team keep apprised of news and policy developments and activist campaigns.
-Some travel. Some evening and weekend responsibilities at public events.

Additional requirements: Applicants with a bachelors or graduate-level degree will be considered. Excellent academic record; social science, environmental science, and communications coursework an asset. Technology and social-media savvy a plus. Relevant work experience preferred. High energy, creativity, attention to accuracy, ability to work independently within a multidisciplinary team. Commitment to careful and impartial research in a context of partnership between scientists and the public.

For more information, visit our web site atwww.silentspring.org. To apply, send cover letter describing your interests and experience related to this job, resume, writing sample, and copy of
academic transcript (photocopy is fine) to Diane Czwakiel, Administrative Manager, Silent Spring Institute, 29 Crafts Street, Newton, MA 02458 or email careers@silentspring.org.

Theater reading addresses international and environmental affairs

2011-10-27T10:49:00.000-04:00

Voices From aChanging Middle East Reading Series, Fall 2011

Fri Oct 28at 2:15 pm BOGED (Traitor) by Boaz Gaon and Nir Erez

Based onIbsen's AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE Directed by Derek Goldman

FeaturingJeff Allin, Maboud Ebrahimzadeh, Mark Halpern, Laura C. Harris, Kathryn Kelley,Michael Kramer, Richard Pelzman, Micheal Tolaydo and Clark Young

In theWashington DCJCC Hyman S. & Freda Bernstein Library as part of our Tea@2New Play Reading Series Tickets $5.00

A suddenchemical leak shakes up a small Southern town at the edges of the Israelidesert. The town’s Mayor is quick to explain that “the crisis is behind us” andthat the neighboring industrial park, Eshel City, the economic lifeline of thetown, will continue to expand despite “unpatriotic attacks” from environmentalactivists arguing against its expansion. Simon’s brother, Dr. Tommy Douany,knows the true price of Eshel City’s continued growth; that the factoriespolluting the town's aquifer indeed may lead to the poisoning of much ofIsrael's water supply. What begins as a family feud quickly turns into all outpolitical war, threatening to rob Tommy of his reputation, livelihood, familyand future. He will discover the true price of becoming a boged, AnEnemy of the People.

Boaz Gaon isone of Israel's leading young playwrights, journalists and political activists.His adaptation of Return to Haifa was produced by the Cameri Theatre ofTel Aviv, and presented to wide acclaim as part of Theater J’s 2010-2011 seasonand its Voices From a Changing Middle East Festival focusing on “Portraits ofHome,” a festival which also included Gaon's Argentina, which recentlyconcluded a premiere run at the Haifa Theatre.

VOICES FROM A CHANGING MIDDLE EASTREADING SERIES

Full Schedule:

This FriOct 28 at 2:15 pm BOGED (Traitor) byBoaz Gaon and Nir Erez Based on Ibsen's AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE (in the WashingtonDCJCC library)

Fri Nov 4 at 2:00 pm THE BIG BLUE TENT AND JEWISH DISSENT by Robbie Gringras (in the Washington DCJCC library)

Sun Nov 6 at 9:30 am IN SPITTING DISTANCE Amonologue play by Taher Najib , English Translation by Ros Schwartz, from theFrench translation by Jacqueline Carnaud and Taher Najib. (At Busboys andPoets in Hyattsville, MD)

Fri Nov 11, at 2:00 pm BEST FRIENDS by Anat Govtranslated by Anthony Berris (in the Washington DCJCC library)

Mon Nov 28 at 7:30 pm Portraits of Egypt SUCH ABEAUTIFUL VOICE IS SAYEDA’S and KARIMA’S CITY by Yussef El Guindi (in theWashington DCJCC theater)

Discussion Question 6

2011-10-25T17:47:00.000-04:00

I want you to try something for me this week. Try to go a day (or 2 or 3 days) without eating corn. Not just whole corn, but corn in any form. Here's a list of things to avoid. Once you're done with this experiment, I'd like you to write about it on your blog. What did you discover? What did you learn?

Discussion Question 5

2011-10-18T11:26:00.003-04:00

Asyou know, we'll be talking about food and agriculture during our next couple ofsessions. Here are some questions to ponder (and respond to on your blogs) aswe look to our next class:

1. What, exactly, do you think about when you make food choices? Do you haveenvironmental considerations in mind? Or other stuff?

2. Take a few moments to consider everything you've eaten in the last day ortwo. Of the food or beverage items you've consumed, which, in your estimation,has had the greatest environmental impact? Why?

Resources for the Future: Trade and Sustainability of Forest Products 11/2

2011-10-17T15:22:00.000-04:00

Resources for the Future

Trade and Sustainability of Forest Products: Global Challenges andOpportunities

An RFF First Wednesday Seminar

November 2, 2011

12:45 - 2 p.m.

International buyers of forest products know the importance of identifyingsustainable and legal sources—they also know this is challenging in today’scomplex global markets. Although estimating the scale of illegal logging isdifficult, a recent Chatham House report suggests that illegal activities mayaccount for more than one tenth of the total global timber trade, representingproducts worth at least $15 billion per year. A significant portion of globaldeforestation is the result of such illegal activities—and according to the2006 Stern Review, emissions resulting from deforestation are greater thanthose produced by the entire global transport sector, making illegal logging aserious concern.

Around the world, private and public procurement policies are focusing onways to eliminate illegal fiber from supply chains. This includes a shift fromvoluntary to mandatory government regulations, such as the amended Lacey Act inthe United States and the European Union Timber Regulation.

Moderator:

Roger Sedjo, Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Forest Economics andPolicy, Resources for the Future

Panelists:

Al Goetzl, International Trade Analyst, Natural Resources and MetalsDivision, U.S. International Trade Commission

Adam Grant, Senior Associate, World Resources Institute

Nadine Block, Senior Director of Government Outreach, Sustainable ForestryInitiative Inc.

What: RFF FirstWednesday Seminar

When: Wednesday,November 2, 2011, 12:45 - 2 p.m.

A light lunch will beavailable at 12:30 p.m.

Where: Resources for theFuture,1616 P Street NW, Washington, DC

First FloorConference Center

Registration is required.

To RSVP for this event, please visit RFF's event registration page.

This seminar will also be webcast live beginning at 12:45 p.m.

Have a question for the panel while watching the live webcast?

Simply Tweet your question of fewer than 140 characters and include thehashtag #AskRFF.

Watch the Q&A at the end of the event to see if it is selected.

At RFF's monthly First Wednesday Seminar series, scholars and experts exchangeideas and views with the RFF communityon important energy, environmental, and natural resource topics.

Dan Mathews on How PETA Uses Film and Stars to Promote Its Cause

2011-10-17T10:52:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, October 18 at 7 pm in the Wechsler Theater

Top PETA executive Dan Mathews will show how his organization has long used undercover video to document cruelty to animals in slaughterhouses, laboratories, fur farms, and circuses. But who wants to watch that stuff? By enlisting personalities as diverse as Pink, Rev Al Sharpton, and Cloris Leachman to host gruesome video shorts and carefully marketing them on the web, PETA has reached millions worldwide.

Wechsler Theater, 3rd Floor, Mary Graydon Center
American University
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016-8017

Free and Open to the Public

October 19 Noontime Conversation

2011-10-14T11:54:00.000-04:00

Noontime Oct19 Letter

"Synthetic Sea, Synthetic Me" - Tuesday, October 11 at AU

2011-10-10T17:43:00.000-04:00

American University's Center for Environmental Filmmaking and Anna Cummins: Synthetic Sea, Synthetic Me

Tuesday, October 11, 2011 - 7:00pm

American University, Mary Graydon Center, Wechsler Theater

4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20016

Our oceans are becoming trashed – with plastic waste. Anna Cummins and her husband Dr. Marcus Eriksen have spent the last five years deeply immersed in the topic, sailing across 25,000 miles of ocean, building an oceangoing raft from 15,000 plastic bottles, and co-founding The 5 Gyres Institute to research plastic at sea. Join Anna to learn about their findings, and to hear her suggestions for how to solve this growing environmental threat. For additional information, please contact Chris Palmer at 202-885-3408 and palmer@american.edu.

2011 Water Research Symposium at Virginia Tech - November 15th

2011-10-08T01:38:00.002-04:00

Help Spread the Word about the “2011 Water Research Symposium.”

Coal and Water in Central Appalachia: The Challenge to Balance

November 15, 2011

The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center

Blacksburg, Virginia

http://www.wvwaterconference.org

Please forward this announcement to your friends and colleagues with an interest in policies and scientific information associated with water resources and coal mining in the central Appalachians.

Please post the attached flyer about the symposium on your office or department bulletin board.

About the Symposium

Invited speakers will provide perspectives on water-protection policies that affect mining operations. Technical presentations will address the influences of coal mining practices on total dissolved solids, selenium, aquatic biota, and hydrology of rivers and streams in the region. Symposium participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and contribute to group discussions.

Registration

Registration allows for participation in all symposium activities, including refreshment breaks and lunch. Standard registration is $110.00. Currently enrolled students are eligible to participate in the symposium at the student registration rate of $80.00. To register, go to http://www.wvwaterconference.org.

Professional Development Opportunity
A certificate of attendance will be awarded for 5 contact hours to registered attendees who participate in the full symposium.

Lodging – Special Rates in Effect until October 14, 2011

Rooms have been reserved at the Holiday Inn, across from The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center, at the special rate of $95 plus tax per room for the evening of November 14, 2011. To make your room reservation, call (540) 552-7001 and request the "Water Research Symposium" rate. The special rate only applies while rooms are available in our block and only until October 14, 2011.

For more information

To learn more about the symposium, see http://www.wvwaterconference.org. If you have questions, please contact Ms. Jane Walker at (540) 231-4159 or janewalk@vt.edu.

Hosted By

Virginia Water Resources Research Center

West Virginia Water Research Institute

Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute

Climate Change and Elections event

2011-10-07T11:16:00.002-04:00

American Public Opinion on Climate Change and Its Impact on Voting in Congressional
and Presidential Elections

Jon Krosnick
Stanford University

October 14, 2011

12:45 - 2 p.m.

In recent years, observers have speculated that the American public has become increasingly skeptical about the existence and potential threat of climate change and that the public desire for action by government on this issue has declined. Jon Krosnick will present new survey evidence tracking public opinion in the nation to explore what changes have occurred across the population and in population subgroups.
In addition, Krosnick will present the results of a new study examining whether candidates' positions on climate change policy have influenced their electoral success, using three methods of investigation:

analysis of the relation of candidate website statements on climate with the victory rates of congressional candidates in 2010,
experiments embedded in surveys describing a hypothetical candidate running for a Senate seat, and
a statistical analysis predicting votes in the 2008 U.S. presidential election using data collected from survey respondents before and after the election.

The findings paint a portrait of the likely role of climate change in the upcoming elections.

Who: Moderator:

Jon A. Krosnick, Frederic O. Glover Professor in Humanities and Social Sciences, Stanford University

When: Friday, October 14, 2011, 12:45 - 2 p.m.

A light lunch will be available at 12:30 p.m.

Where: Resources for the Future, 1616 P Street NW, Washington, DC
First Floor Conference Center

Registration is required.

To RSVP for this event, please visit RFF's event registration page.

This seminar will also be webcast live beginning at 12:45 p.m.

Greenpeace Semester

2011-10-07T11:13:00.001-04:00

So far this year, Greenpeace Semester students have worked on a number of critical environmental issues, traveled to see the impacts of mountain-top removal coal mining on communities in Appalachia, and learned how to create their own campaign plans for activism on their campuses. They have made lasting relationships with other students and staff at Greenpeace, taken on leadership roles within the Greenpeace Student Network, and started environmental student groups on campus. We are so excited to see what the 2011 Semester participants accomplish!

Our goal in 2012 is to continue to provide comprehensive training to students who will learn skills to help win important victories for the planet, develop their leadership potential, and get hands-on experience working on environmental campaigns.

Message to students:

Students,

The Greenpeace Semester is an amazing opportunity for you to receive training, hands-on experience, and mentorship in environmental leadership – and the deadline to apply for the Spring Semester is approaching on October 19th!

The Greenpeace Semester spring term is a semester-long training opportunity in Washington, DC for college students who want to become leaders for the environmental movement. Take it from Alexis Boxer, summer 2009 alum and Sierra Student Coalition organizer:

“The Greenpeace Semester changed my life and got me where I am today … the Semester prepared me for work with non-profits and really helped me to realize that my passion for the environment and people can put to good use for the greater good and for the long term. I have made some of the best friends of my life and came away with a family and support system unlike any other.“

During Greenpeace Semester, you will learn about pressing environmental issues, solutions, and how you can have a greater impact. Students learn about working with the media to recruiting volunteers, starting a group on campus, and organizing successful events that help to build people power and win victories for the planet. The Greenpeace Semester prepares students to take on leadership roles on their campus and truly be the change they wish to see in the world.

Whether you are newly interested in the environmental movement and activism or are already involved on your campus, the Greenpeace Semester is a great way to learn how you can have a greater impact and advocate for the issues you are passionate about.

The Greenpeace Semester is now accepting applications for 2012 programs, and the deadline for the Spring Semester is October 19th. Apply today to be the change! Check out our application here: http://bit.ly/qm0hir

For the planet,

Alexa Markley
Recruitment Coordinator
Greenpeace Semester
usa-semester@greenpeace.org

Discussion Question 4

2011-10-06T11:55:00.002-04:00

One of your readings this week (Roderick Nash's "Island Civilization") asks us to imagine the world 1,000 years in the future. What, he wonders, will a truly sustainable human civilization look like? What is the future towards which the environmental movement should be striving?

I'd like you to tackle a similar exercise. Imagine the United States 100 years from now. Describe a country that has made the transition to sustainability. What does the country look like? How many people are there, living in what ways?

You might write about some of the following:

How is energy harnessed? How do people feed themselves? How is fresh water used and managed? What does the economy look like? What is the nature of transportation systems?

We'll discuss some of your visions at our next class, and think some about what it might take to move the country (and the world) in the direction you have charted.

Philosophy talk on Food, Ag & Agrarianism- Wed Oct 5th

2011-10-03T09:54:00.001-04:00

2011-2012 SERIES

What Makes Food Good? Three Challenges in Food Ethics a lecture by
Paul B. ThompsonW.K. Kellogg Chair in Agricultural, Food and Community Ethics
Michigan State University

Wednesday, October 5, 2011
3:00pm
Mary Graydon Center 200 (see AU Maps)

The diversity of issues that arise in food ethics will be explored with short discussions of three problems. First, improving agriculture and ending hunger are central to development ethics, but there is a fundamental tension between the interests of farmers and of poor people in urban areas. During the Great Depression, this tension was reflected in the irony of "breadlines knee deep in wheat." Although developed nations like the United States have moved beyond the most basic version of this problem, it is far from clear that our current farm and food policies have truly solved it. Second, there is a growing recognition that American diets are contributing to increased rates of diabetes and heart disease. But how should this phenomenon be viewed from an ethical perspective? Contrary to suggestive scientific results, Americans tend to view the problem narrowly as a personal responsibility of prudence, rather than as a moral issue. Finally, although it has long been realized that food practices vary widely by culture, it is unclear how diverse food cultures should be viewed from the perspective of ethics. Are food choices protected by an individual's "right to choose?" Or do they interpenetrate into cultural identities so deeply that they should be viewed as "cultural resources" worthy of protection and preservation? And what are the implications of viewing food culture in one way rather than another? These three problems will be reviewed briefly to give a general overview of the terrain of food ethics, and concluding remarks will focus on how the issues intersect in food ethics, and on how a program in the bioethics of food might inform policy and public health.

Paul B. Thompson holds the W. K. Kellogg Chair in Agricultural, Food and Community Ethics at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. He formerly held positions in philosophy at Texas A&M University and Purdue University. His research has centered on ethical and philosophical questions associated with agriculture and food, and especially concerning the guidance and development of agricultural technoscience. This research focus has led him to undertake a series of projects on the application of recombinant DNA techniques to agricultural crops and food animals. Thompson published the first booklength philosophical treatment of agricultural biotechnology in 1997 and revised in 2007, and has traveled the world speaking on the subject, delivering invited addresses in Egypt, Thailand, Taiwan, Mexico, Israel and Jamaica, as well as a number of European countries. In addition to philosophical outlets, his work on biotechnology has appeared in technical journals including Plant Physiology, The Journal of Animal Science, Bioscience, andCahiers d’Economie et Sociologie Rurales. He serves on the United States National Research Council’s Agricultural Biotechnology Advisory Council and on the Science and Industry Advisory Committee for Genome Canada. Thompson’s new work focuses on nanotechnology in the agrifood system.

In addition to his research on biotechnology, Thompson has published extensively on the environmental and social significance of agriculture. His 1992 book (with four coauthors) on U.S. agricultural policy, Sacred Cows and Hot Potatoes, was used as a textbook for U.S. Congressional agriculture staff.He is a two time recipient of the American Agricultural Economics Association Award for Excellence in Communication, and in 2010 he was a speaker at the Gustavus Adolphus College’s 46th Nobel Conference on “Making Food Good.” He has also published a number of volumes and papers on the philosophical and cultural significance of farming, notably The Spirit of the Soil: Agriculture and Environmental Ethics (1995) and The Agrarian Roots of Pragmatism (2000). In 2008, two edited collections appeared: What Can Nanotechnology Learn from Biotechnology: Social and Ethical Lessons for Nanoscience from the Debate over Agrifood Biotechnology and GMOs (edited with Ken David) and The Ethics of Intensification: Agricultural Technology and Cultural Change. A new book entitled The Agrarian Vision: Sustainability and Environmental Ethics was published by the University Press of Kentucky in July 2010. Thompson completed his Ph.D. studies on the philosophy of technology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook under the guidance of Don Ihde.

EnvironMentors Internship Available (unpaid)

2011-09-29T12:10:00.000-04:00

Position: Development/Communications Intern

EnvironMentors National Office, Washington, DC

EnvironMentors (EM) seeks a creative and committed individual for a part-time (10 hours/week) Marketing and Communications internship. The ideal candidate will have experience and skills in Internet research, writing and communications, program administration, and maintaining a sophisticated internal social networking website. The position will include working as part of a national office team located in Washington, DC and Boulder, CO, as well as with Directors and Coordinators at 13 university-based chapters nationwide. The position’s primary emphasis is to assist with fundraising, communications research/development, maintain/update “EnvironMentors Online Community,” with occasional program support for EM’s university-based chapters.

Primary Responsibilities:

· Broaden EnvironMentors portfolio of development prospects through research and outreach to F-500 corporations and National Science Foundation programs supporting STEM education and advancement.

· Support sponsorship solicitations for the EnvironMentors National Fair and Awards Ceremony and conduct EnvironMentors student scholarship solicitation mailings.

· Write EnvironMentors external newsletters and assist in developing all promotional videos and print materials.

· Support EnvironMentors team in all other program coordination activities as needed.

Qualifications:

·         Two or more years of undergraduate study pursuant to a degree in education, communications, business, web design, public policy or related field.
·         Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication and writing skills.
·         Ability to work efficiently in a team environment while remaining responsible for individual tasks.
·         Strong commitment to underrepresented youth and the environment.

Status: Part-time (10 hours/week)

About EnvironMentors

EnvironMentors is an environmental science mentoring program geared to preparing high school students from underrepresented backgrounds for college degree programs and careers in environmental and related science fields. Initiated in 1992 as a community based organization serving DC public high school students, EnvironMentors is now an initiative of the National Council for Science and the Environment and currently undergoing an ambitious scale up as a national, college access program with chapters located at 13 universities across the country.

To apply:

Send resume and cover letter to:

Jessica Soule

Subject/Attn: EM Intern Application

Electronically to: jsoule@ncseonline.org

Or via fax: 202-628-4311

Discussion Question 3

2011-09-28T17:53:00.003-04:00

In one of the articles you have been assigned to read this week, Eric Assadourian suggests that the environmental situation demands "cultural transformation." What does he mean? What do you make of his transformative plan, and what do you think of the steps he advocates to get us there?

Tar Sands Action: Next Steps

2011-09-23T19:32:00.002-04:00

Tar Sands Action: Phase Two
Monday, September 26, 2011Butler Conference Room7:30 PM

Eco-Sense and SIS Global Environmental Politics Program
presents:

Join students and faculty as they share their experiences taking direct actionagainst theKeystone XL pipeline, educate thecampus community about the issues involvedwith TarSands Oil, and the next steps tostop thePipeline!
For access questions and disabilitysupport contactau_eco_sense@yahoo.com

Ashoka's Youth Venture Seeks Capacity Building Associate

2011-09-23T12:14:00.000-04:00

Ashoka’s YouthVenture Capacity Building Associate

Ashoka is a workplace beyond the time-card. Finding aprofessional home here begins when what we do resonates with who you are. Before submitting an application, please take the time to learn what we do andwhy we do it.

At Ashoka’s Youth Venture we are committed to building an Everyonea Changemaker™ world. We believe that this begins with inspiring andinvesting in teams of young people to be changemakers in their communities. Wehelp young people create and launch their own sustainable,community-benefitting Ventures while at the same time connecting them to aglobal movement of young changemakers from all around the world. Consistent with our theory of change, we hirecollegial, conceptual entrepreneurs determined to realize that vision. Welook for:

Entrepreneurs/intrapreneurs who have started and led things their whole lives (from university debating clubs and community gardens to large companies or new initiatives)
Systems thinkers who are broadly and passionately interested in creating an Everyone a Changemaker™ world and who recognize youth as an integral part of this puzzle.
Colleagues who have the highest ethical fiber and empathy, who are trustworthy

Responsibilities:

The operations team focuses on providing our global teamwith the resources and support they need to further develop and grow their officesand programming. Additionally, the team works to build capacity and structuresthat allow us to do what we do more effectively and efficiently. As a member ofthe team you will be interacting with people around the globe and helping buildand grow our team culture.

Some specific responsibilities associated with the positionare noted here. Please note that these are subject to change, if necessary.

Support our national and global team with resources and support as needed.
Be an internal switchboard for requests regarding finances, seed funding, nominations, and progress reports.
Be the go-to person regarding Salesforce support and maintenance within the team.
Schedule various team building, capacity building, and professional development events each month.

Qualifications:

Given our entrepreneurial culture, the candidate must be aself-starter, must thrive under tight deadlines, and must be able to multitask.

Bachelors Degree
Have excellent interpersonal skills and will successfully interact with and establish trust with members of Ashoka’s Youth Venture regional offices and Youth Venturers.
Comfortable with working independently, and within a global team
Attention to detail and accuracy
Ability to support a vast and diverse global team with patience and efficiency
Take on new projects, learn new tools
Ability to prioritize between goals and meet tight deadlines
High level of comfort with Salesforce, Outlook, and Excel. Not required, but a plus.
Ability to pass a background check

Compensation:

Ashoka’s Youth Venture offers a compensation package on parwith the nonprofit sector, commensurate with experience.

Location:

The position will be based at Ashoka’s Global headquartersin Arlington, VA (part of the greater DC metro area)

To Apply:

Please submit a Word document version of your resume (2references included) and a cover letter to Rachel at rcentariczki@ashoka.org with CAPACITYBUILDNIG ASSOCIATE in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed as theyare received. The deadline for applications is 12:00am EST on Oct 1, 2011.Questions regarding the opening should be directed to rcentariczki@ashoka.org.

*Include Jacqui Kemp's e-mail in your application if you are a student at AU: jacquikemp@ashoka.org

Globalization & Modern Day Slavery in Brazil -- Tuesday, September 27

2011-09-21T09:05:00.001-04:00

Greenpeace Internships Available Spring 2012

2011-09-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

Build skills while making a difference!

Intern with GREENPEACE for Spring Semester 2012

Who is Greenpeace? Greenpeace is the leading independent environmental campaigning organization that uses peaceful direct action and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and to promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future.

Why intern with Greenpeace?

As a Greenpeace intern you can:

· Promote solutions to the global warming crisis

· Stop the destruction of the world's last ancient forests

· Empower consumers and shareholders to hold corporate polluters accountable

· And yes - save the whales!

A Greenpeace Internship is a great way to learn first-hand how an international environmental campaigning organization works. You’ll gain issue expertise, build valuable career skills and make connections. In addition to job training, you’ll have the opportunity to take part in trainings such as corporate campaigning, non-violent direct action, media relations and grassroots outreach. You’ll get to meet awesome people and work alongside experienced staff in a casual, high-energy environment.

Apply now for a Greenpeace internship! Go to: http://www.greenpeace.org/internships

Available Internships:

Global Warming, Toxics, Campaigns, Grassroots Organizing, Student Organizing, Activist Recruitment, Actions, Strategy, Media, Photography, Video, Online Organizing, IT Support, Human Resources, Membership, and more! Visit our website for a full list and details on the specific tasks and requirements for each internship.

Locations:

Positions are available in Washington, DC, San Francisco, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, LA, New York City, Philadelphia, and Tampa. Not all internships are available in all locations. Visit our website to see details on where each internship is offered.

Program Details:

Our fall internships start January 30th and end May 4th. Part time and full time positions available. We are flexible with your schedule and can help you receive class credit. All internships are unpaid. Unfortunately Greenpeace cannot provide travel or housing.

Requirements:

Applicants must be over 18, but do not have to be current students. We’re looking for people with excellent verbal and written communications skills, strong online research skills, the ability to work well independently, commitment to non-violence as a means of affecting change and enthusiasm for protecting the environment.

Diverse perspectives and experience enhance the way Greenpeace selects and approaches issues, as well as the creativity and effectiveness of our campaigns. Greenpeace strongly encourages applications from women, people of color, and other under-represented communities.

Apply now for a Greenpeace internship! Go to: http://www.greenpeace.org/internships

AU Sustainability Fair - Thursday, September 22

2011-09-20T21:28:00.001-04:00

A Green U: A Sustainability Fair

Thursday, September 22nd

11:30 am - 3 pm

On the Quad

Come to the quad to learn about the Sustainability Fund and see a sampling of environmental projects that you can do on campus. The Sustainability Fund gives money to students, staff, and faculty for sustainable projects on campus. The application for grants can be found at bit.ly/AUSustainabilityFund and is due October 15th. At the fair we'll have tables on different environmental issues i.e. transportation, energy issues, and more. Eco-Sense will also be providing free tie dye! The fair is hosted by Student Government and Eco-Sense.

Thank you,

Jennifer Jones

SIS-388 International Environmental Politics

RSVP by 1/24: Offshore Oil & Gas in the Arctic: The Next Five Years

WHEN:

WHERE:

RSVP:

Transforming Transportation: January 26-27, 2012

Wilson Center Events - January 25

Is a Food Crisis Brewing in the Sahel?

Sustainable Solutions for the Planet’s Energy Challenge

DC Update: Mayor Vincent C. Gray and U.N. Environment Programme Announce District Will Be North American Host City for World Environment Day 2012

Green Corps opportunity

Free Admission to All National Parks from January 14-16!

Mountain Justice Spring Break in VA and WV

Masters and PhD students are invited to participate in the 6th World Water Forum

Wetlands Photo Contest

MSc in Environmental Governance at UNU-IAS

Jobs Available at ITIF

AU’s Center for Environmental Filmmaking on the Chesapeake Bay!

Rotary International and UNESCO-IHE team up to offer Masters scholarships

RFF Event - Dec 7: Greenhouse Gas Regulation for Power Plants under the Clean Air Act

Wilson Center Event - Dec. 14

Government Leadership in Sustainability

FAO Report: State of the World's Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture

Managing systems at risk

Discussion Question 9

Environmental Writing Competition!

MTR Event: Tomorrow, Tuesday Nov. 29, 8pm

Nov. 29: Showing of "Hawks in the City" & "Entangled"

Discussion Question 8

RFF: Managing the Risks of Shale Gas - Nov. 14

Climate Change, Water, and Conflict in the Niger River Basin - Nov. 17 at the Wilson Center

Rethinking pesticide-drenched, manicured lawns: TOMORROW at 7 pm in Wechsler

Discussion Question 7

Topics for Second Essay

PapersDue November 21

Spring 2012 Class with Professor Wapner

Student Leadership Development/ Community Service Opportunity with the Sierra Club

Research Assistant or Staff Scientist, Communications Specialist Sought

Theater reading addresses international and environmental affairs

Discussion Question 6

Discussion Question 5

Resources for the Future: Trade and Sustainability of Forest Products 11/2

Dan Mathews on How PETA Uses Film and Stars to Promote Its Cause

October 19 Noontime Conversation

"Synthetic Sea, Synthetic Me" - Tuesday, October 11 at AU

American University's Center for Environmental Filmmaking and Anna Cummins: Synthetic Sea, Synthetic Me

2011 Water Research Symposium at Virginia Tech - November 15th

Climate Change and Elections event

Greenpeace Semester

Message to students:

Discussion Question 4

Philosophy talk on Food, Ag & Agrarianism- Wed Oct 5th

2011-2012 SERIES

EnvironMentors Internship Available (unpaid)

Discussion Question 3

Tar Sands Action: Next Steps

Ashoka's Youth Venture Seeks Capacity Building Associate

Globalization & Modern Day Slavery in Brazil -- Tuesday, September 27

Greenpeace Internships Available Spring 2012

AU Sustainability Fair - Thursday, September 22