Wednesday, November 28, 2007

A Conversation About Our National Addiction Energy R&D at DoD: A Panel Discussion with the Services

December 10, 2007
5:30-6:15 PM Reception
6:15-8:30 PM Presentation & Discussion
Doubletree Hotel, Washington Room 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA

Speakers: - Rich Carlin, Director of ONR's Division of Mechanics and Energy Conversion- Tom Hartranft, Army Energy Branch Chief, ERDC-CERL- Dr. Mark J. Lewis, Chief Scientist of the U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. Chief scientific adviser to the Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Air Force- Al Shaffer, Director of Plans & Programs at OSD DDR&E

Registration: FREE
Refreshments: A vegetarian friendly buffet is available for $10.
Transportation. The Pentagon City Metro on the blue/yellow line is just 3 blocks from the hotel. Parking: Street parking is limited. Hotel parking with validation** costs $5
RSVP: Sarah Minczeski, minczes@cna.org.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Be a Published Citizen Scientist!

Youth age 13-26 are invited to submit original scientific research or position papers for the 2008 Citizen Science paper competition! Winners will have their papers published in the online journal Citizen Science, as well as have the opportunity to present their work at the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development.


TOP FIVE reasons to submit your work:

  • Share your passion for addressing the world's toughest challenges through sound science
  • Join the SustainUS delegation to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in New York
  • Present your work and communicate the importance of youth involvement to international leaders
  • Get published in Citizen Science
  • Start a relationship with the premier youth-run network for sustainable development, SustainUS!

Citizen Science, a program of SustainUS, is hosting our annual paper competition. The winning work will be published in Citizen Science, an online journal that honors young people in the United States who are interested in enriching public dialogue with innovative, scientific approaches to sustainable development. Authors of winning papers will also present their work at the UN Commission on Sustainable Development's 16th Session in New York City in May 2008.

Papers should be written for a non-scientific audience on natural or social science topics related to the economic, social, technological or environmental dimensions of sustainable development addressed by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. This year's topics are: agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa. Papers need not describe original research, though original research is welcome and encouraged.

The deadline for submissions is January 1, 2008. Please send all paper submissions and questions about the competition to CitizenScience@SustainUS.org. For more information, competition entry rules, and winning papers from prior years, please visit http://www.sustainus.org/citizenscience.

Application for Citizen Science 2008

Role of Nuclear Power in Meeting Future Energy Needs

When: Wed November 28th 9:00 am – 11:30 am
Where: CSIS B1 Conference Level
1800 K Street, NW, Washington DC

In response to concerns about climate change and energy security, policymakers, business leaders and the public at large are beginning to reexamine the role of commercial nuclear power both domestically and abroad. In this session the CSIS Energy and National Security Program has assembled a distinguished group of speakers to analyze prospects for expansion of nuclear power generation.

Panel Speakers include: Marvin Fertel (Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer, Nuclear Energy Institute), Phil Sharp (President, Resources for the Future), Michael Wallace (CEO, Constellation Energy), Dr. Dale Klein (Chairman, Nuclear Regulatory Commission)

RSVP by Monday November 26 email energy@csis.org

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Polar Bear Plunge


Date: Saturday, Dec 08
Time: 11:00am
Place: Philip Merrill Environmental Center (Headquarters of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation)
6 Herndon Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21012

I'm trying to get an autovan or a couple of drivers so we can take a pilgrimage out there.
Interested? Get in touch with Erin (410 980 2242, erinosul@aol.com)

Saturday, November 17, 2007

November 17 Day of Action Against Coal Finance

November 17 Day of Action Against Coal Finance
Saturday, Nov. 17
10 am - 1 pm
Bank of America, Adams Morgan
1835 Columbia Road, NW (18th St. and Columbia Rd)
We'll have available, on site:
  • Literature to hand out
  • Petitions for signing
  • Posters to hold
  • 17 Polar Bear Suits to dress up in!!!
  • Coal. Yeah.

Bring your cameras and your video cameras!

Planning contact: Jen at 617-894-5745; nonewcoaldc@gmail.com
IF YOU'D LIKE TO HELP, PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL!! WE NEED YOU!!
RSVPs for Nov 17 appreciated! (so we can figure out how much printing to do)
DAY-OF Contact: Brook at 757-617-0863
If you have: Posters, Poster Making Supplies, Access to Free Printing/Copying, or Great Ideas, let Jen know! (Any billionaires for coal out there?? We'd love to hear from you!)
Contact: Matt Stern, Campus Campaign Coordinator of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network
240-396-2149
matt@chesapeakeclimate.org

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

NO COAL!!!

ACTION ALERT
CALL-IN TO STOP CLIFFSIDE COAL PLANT EXPANSION

Duke Energy is continuing their efforts to expand its Cliffside coal plant in Rutherford County, North Carolina. The NC Utilities Commission has given them a permit for one 800 megawatt pulverized coal generator. This facility will emit millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the air annually, along with adding mercury and other deadly pollutants into the atmosphere.

The new generator will create more global warming pollution while worsening our already poor air quality. The deadline for giving public comments to the NC Department of Air Quality has already passed, but that doesn't mean that NC is locked into a future of dirty energy.

Join us in solidarity, from wherever you are, as we flood the Governor's office and the Duke Energy Headquarters in Charlotte with calls, emails and faxes. Urge Governor Michael Easley and Duke CEO Jim Rogers to stop Duke Energy from expanding Cliffside. Demand investment energy conservation and efficiency programs to offset the power this plant would provide, save us money and create jobs. Insist that Duke fund clean, renewable energy for future expansions.

On November 15th, make your voice heard by calling and telling Governor Easley and Jim Rogers that renewable energy is the future of NC and not "clean coal." Why? Because the future of North Carolina depends on it.

Contact the Governor's Office:
Phone: 1-800-662-7952 valid in North Carolina only; (919)733-4240, or (919)733-5811
Fax: (919)715-3175 or (919)733-2120
Email: governor@ncmail.net

Contact Duke Energy Office:
Phone: (704) 594-6200 (Corporate Office)
Jim Rogers Direct Line: (704) 382-1087
Email: tcwillia@duke-energy.com (Tom Williams, Policy/Energy Efficiency/Environmental Media Relations)
Fax: 704-382-0199

Sunday, November 11, 2007

What’s Your Plan? photo petition

On November 15th, join thousands of students across the country in asking the Presidential Candidates: "What’s Your Plan?" to address issues Climate Change. Take a photo or hold your own photo shoot and send your photos to the Student PIRG campaign. They will then deliver your photos directly to the candidates.

Friday, November 9, 2007

Help Save the Gulf Coast!

A message from the Gulf Restoration Network:

Save Our Cypress Day of Action!
Saturday, November 17th

It’d be awesome if you could gather a group of friends to cause trouble in front of a Lowe’s store on Saturday November 17th. Waive some signs, pass out fliers, and then when you can talk to the manager, you can present him a cypress seedling (fake) to adopt since its parents are ground up in the gardening department!

You can get lots more info and useful tips with the action manual and sample materials at http://www.healthygulf.org/save-our-cypress/cypress-resources.html.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Buy Nothing Day

Challenge for eco-sensers:
organize a reflection on consumerism at AU
Maybe for the Local Band Showcase (via table at the event, arts/crafts to promote Buy Nothing Day on the quad fri 16th or sat 17th, or maybe even some role-playing between classes to draw some attention)

For some more creative ideas and further information about buy nothing day:
http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Acoustic Rebel Folk Benefit for Empower DC

When: Friday November 9th 7PM doors 8PM music
Where: The Saloon 1207 U St NW, upstairs (U St/Cardoza metro stop)
Performers: Casey Neill, Erik Peterson, Kathy Cashel $5-10 sliding scale

Please bring peanut butter, whole grain cereal, or canned veggies for the We Are Family food bank to be delivered to low-income community seniors

More information: Call (202) 487-8698 or email wearefamilydc@aol.com

Clean Energy Open House

Saturday, November 17th, 1-5pm in Takoma Park, Md.

Come see solar panels! View electric, biodiesel, and hybrid cars firsthand! Eat solar-baked cookies! Learn how to landscape your yard with native plants! Buy wind power certificates and energy-saving light bulbs! Test drive a tofu-powered lawn mower! And more!

Sponsored by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and Chesapeake Native Nursery. Free admission to all ages.

VOLUNTEER AT THE OPEN HOUSE -- Email Jay Tomlinson at jay@chesapeakeclimate.org

Mountain Justice Spring Break

Contact Arielle Burlett, a senior COMM/ENVS student at American University at arielle_burlett@yahoo.com to help plan a spring break trip to West Virginia ASAP. We can attend the second Mountain Justice Spring Break. Find out more information about this spring break trip at http://www.climateaction.net/mjsb

Meet Adam Clampitt, a candidate for DC City Council

DC for Democracy Meeting

When: Wed November 7th at 7PM
Where: Ben's Chili Bowl 1213 U St., NW (right off U St metro stop)
He will be having a discussion with the group about the campaign.
RSVP with keshinil@yahoo.com

Green on the Screen

Part 1: After the Warming
Where:
Library Media Classroom
When:
Thursday November 8th 1-2pm
Bring your lunch!


After the Warming (1990)
Social journalist James Burke presents several possible scenarios caused by the greenhouse effect during the 1990’s to 2050. Part one of this provocative quasi-documentary looks at the evolution of civilization and its relationship to the weather. Part two goes forward to 2050 to look back on a what could happen in the near future. The gimmick in the second part is that it's delivered as a mock-documentary format as if it really happened. What would our future hold if the scientists are correct, and if we take no action to slow the greenhouse effect? Each part is 55 min. Pt. 1 will be shown Nov. 8. Pt. 2 will be shown Nov. 15.

Library staff and the AU community (students, faculty, and staff) are welcome.

This screening series is sponsored by the Library's Green Team and will run through the end of the semester.

Friday, November 2, 2007

Energy: A Conversation About Our National Addiction

"A Driving Force, Energy at the Department of Transportation"

Speakers: Deputy Secretary Thomas Barrett & Dr. Jan Brecht-Clark, Associate Administrator for the Research & Innovative Technology Administration at the Department of Transportation

Date: Monday, November 19, 2007
Time: Cash Bar Reception 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Seminar with following Q&A6:30-8:30 PM
Place:Doubletree Hotel, Commonwealth Room
300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA
Fee: FREE
Refreshments: A vegetarian friendly buffet is available for $10

RSVP to minczes@cna.org