Enviro Congressional Brieffings

This briefing is open to the public and no reservations are required. Please feel free to forward this notice. For more information, contact Fred Beck at 202-662-1892 (fbeck@eesi.org)

Wednesday, October 31- Opportunities for Bioenergy Production in Every State. 2:30-4:00pm, 1302 Longworth House Office Building

Thursday, November 1- Can States Meet the Proposed 15% National Renewable Portfolio Standard. 2:00-3:30pm, 340 Cannon House Office Building

Thursday, November 8- "Green-Collar" Jobs: Potential Impact of the Renewable Energy and Efficiency Industries on Job and Economic Growth in the U.S. Time and Location TBD.

reaaaally great phone trainings

Message from Jon Barrows (SSC Trainings Director):
Just a quick reminder of the great phone trainings happening this week!

• TONIGHT (9pm Eastern), High School Outreach.
• TOMORROW (9pm Eastern) Taking the Challenge Off-Campus: Community Organizing.

Register NOW: http://www.ssc.org/trainings/phonetrainings.php

Note: there will NOT be a phone training next week, as Halloween falls on the Wednesday, so this is your last chance before Powershift to join one of the phone trainings. Following Powershift, there will be just two more phone trainings this semester.

**These phone trainings are crucial to the DC Student Coalition as well**

DC Student Coalition...THE MEETING

We will be holding a critical organizing meeting for the DC Student Coalition on Sunday, October 28th from 1:00 to 4:30 PM. The meeting will be held in Room 404 of the Marvin Center at GW (800 21st St, NW - 2 blocks from the Foggy Bottom Metro Station).

All interested leaders and members of your respective environmental groups are encouraged to come shape the coalition during this meeting. The more people that come, the better! If you are unable to attend, please send at least one representative from your group or school.

Matt Stern, the Campus Campaign Coordinator of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, will be facilitating the meeting and guiding us through the direction setting process.

Contact marie.stratton@gmail.com for more details

Learn how to fix your bike....FOR FREE!

FREE Workshops--> Learn how to fix your bike and then hang out in Adams Morgan with fun people every Thursday 6:30pm

2501 Champlain Street
find directions here
*Hosted by City Bikes in Adams Morgan

Nov 1: Basic Maintenance
Nov 8: Derailleur Adjustment
Nov 15: Wheel ___ (I can't read my handwriting, sorry!)
Nov 29: Brake Adjustment

Please join us in Pledging Veg!

On Tuesday, November 13, thousands of college students across the country are pledging to give up meat for the day.

The students and non-student participants are herbivores, carnivores and omnivores who have decided that they would like to give up meat for the day to explore a vegetarian diet.

It's easy to do: simply sign your name here, and then don't eat meat on Tuesday, November 13.

First to See the Light - Science, Society and Sustainability in New Zealand

AAAS and the Washington Science Policy Alliance (WSPA) are pleased to invite you to a breakfast seminar featuring The Honorable Steve Maharey, New Zealand Minister of Research, Science and Technology.

Where: the AAAS Auditorium, the second floor at 1200 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC
Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2007.
Time: A continental breakfast starting at 8 a.m. The Minister's talk at 9. Wrap up by 10 a.m.

Please reply to rsvp@aaas.org by 5 p.m. on Friday, October 26. If you are unable to attend, please cancel to allow others to attend.

Energy Efficiency World Fair

Date: Sunday, Nov 11, 2007
Time: 11am-4pm
Place: Washington DC Convention Center
Admission: $10 (go to EEGlobalForum.com for a 50% discount coupon)
Summary: Learn to reduce your energy bills at the Alliance to Save Energy's Energy Efficiency Global Forum & Exposition’s (EE Global) Public Day on November 11, 2007 at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center. EE Global features new energy-efficient products, energy-saving workshops, experts on hand to analyze energy bills and more. A “real, live Energy Hog” and child-friendly activities will entertain kids. Guests are entered into a raffle for great energy prizes and will receive free give-a-ways, while enjoying music from 94.7FM “The Globe” radio station. Visit www.eeglobalforum.com for detailed information and a 50% off coupon to this exciting event!

Neighbors, Free Beer, and Fighting Global Warming with the Sierra Club

On Thursday, October 18th, the Sierra Club hosts Global Activist Night at 7:00 PM at the Sierra Club Metro DC Field Office in Tenleytown. This event will be a great opportunity to help prepare for upcoming global warming events, meet like-minded professionals and activists, and phone volunteers.

For those that enjoy walking and talking, the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Outreach at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 20th in Petworth will be a fantastic opportunity to visit neighbors and distribute free energy-efficient light bulbs while urging DC residents (1) to convince Mayor Fenty to fight global warming with smart energy solutions, and (2) to attend next Tuesday's Sierra Club and Beer.

Oh, did we say beer? Back by popular demand is the Sierra Club and Beer Night at 7:00 PM at Temperance Hall on Georgia Avenue on Tuesday, October 23rd. Enjoy free beer. Meet new people. Protect the planet. In addition to free beer, the first 100 participants will receive a free CFL light bulb. You should read more about Global Activist Night, Neighbor-to-Neighbor Outreach, and Sierra Club and Beer Night at www.sierraclub.org/metrodc/Calendar and sign up today!

Green Collar Jobs Panel in DC

THIS IS AWESOME! Please attend if you are available (when you register, put Eco-Sense as your organization!!) If you want to go with someone, email marie.stratton@gmail.com

http://www.americanprogress.org/events/2007/10/greenjobs.html

When: October 22, 2007, 9:00am – 10:30am
Where: Center for American Progress 1333 H St. NW, 10th Floor
Nearest Metro: Blue/Orange Line to McPherson Square or Red Line to Metro Center

With billions of dollars poised to flow into cities in the form of green investment, a movement is growing to ensure that the new green economy builds local businesses and creates good jobs for those who need them most. The question people are asking is: "who will get the green jobs of the future?" Around the country, cutting edge businesses, community activists, and forward-thinking elected officials are making good on the promise of green cities to expand economic opportunity and build career ladders into family-supporting green jobs with living wages.

Ocean Policy Briefing/Climate Change Briefing

EVENT: Ocean Policy Briefing/Climate Change Briefing, 10/29, 10am -2pm
Sea Grant/AAAS Fellows Briefing October 29, 2007

Following on the success of our March Knauss Sea Grant Fellows briefing, the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University will be holding a second session primarily for current Sea Grant and American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellows on October 29, 2007. We anticipate over 60 participants representing different branches of government who are all involved in informing policy through the best science. There will be two separate sessions, one on Oceans Policy and the other on Climate Policy, followed by a working lunch where we will break out into groups and discuss opportunities in this Congress and beyond regarding these issues. We will bring attention to the Nicholas Institute as a resource and conduit of the latest scientific research.

When: Oct 29, 2007 10am – 2pmWhere: Reserve Officers Association One Constitution Ave, NE Washington, DC 20002

Agenda10:00-11:00 Oceans Policy: Opportunities to move from Discussion to Action: An Interactive DialogueRafe Sagarin and Sheril Kirshenbaum

11:00-Noon Climate Policy: All the Moving Parts and Key Issues under DebateNicole St.Clair and Lydia Olander

Noon – 2pm Lunch and DiscussionPossible Topics:• The interface of Oceans and Climate Policy• Law of the Sea: Does it Matter?• Iron Fertilization: Environmental Economic and Legal Challenges• How Forests, Farms, and Public Lands can be counted in Climate Policy• Avoided deforestation in international and national climate policy

PLEASE RSVP BY EMAIL TO sheril.kirshenbaum@duke.edu BY TUESDAY OCT 23,AND NOTE WHICH LUNCH TOPICS YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN JOINING OR SUGGEST ANOTHER ONE.

Green Halloween

1. Invest creativity instead of cash in your costume. Dig into the back of the closet (yours or a friend's) or hit the thrift store to find wacky clothes and accessories instead of buying plastic costumes. **Need inspiration? The Green Guide and Care2 have clever DIY ideas that can be great projects for adults and kids. (You can make your own decorations too.)**
2. Use natural makeup to avoid chemical exposure.
3. Avoid masks made out of vinyl. Latex ones are safer, unless you're allergic to the material.
4. Don't forget a reusable shopping bag to carry your trick-or-treating haul!
5. Set a spooky mood with soy or beeswax candles, not those made from petroleum-based paraffin. If you like scented candles, look for ones with fragrances derived from essential oils rather than synthetic chemicals.

No War No Warming - Protest!

Student Organization: Eco-Sense From: No War--No Warming Coalition Chris Otten, Campus Outreach, nwnw1022@gmail.com, 202-536-4065 This email is to inform you that hundreds of students will be in Washington, DC on Monday, October 22 standing up for peace and looking to prevent catastrophic global climate change -- and the No War No Warming Coalition would like to invite Eco-Sense to participate. The Earth is frying while families are dying. Bombs are dropping while the US keeps shopping more weapons. The glaciers are quickly retreating while millions of poor are needing to eat. Isn't time we STOP, SHIFT, and GO! Join the direct action demonstration in the Nation's Capital to increase the peace and prevent global climate catastrophe. WORKSHOPS/TRAININGS Throughout this week and on Sunday October 21, there will be educational workshops where students can learn more about pressing climate issues and ask questions about the consequences of war. There will also be trainings about direct actions and Constitutionally protected free speech demonstrations. For a workshop/training schedule click here ACTION ON MONDAY OCT. 22 On the morning and through the afternoon of Monday, October 22 (one week from today), we bring our concerns into the streets of the Capital and demand that Congress divert money away from war and put it to things that matter, such as ways to prevent global climate change. Our action will involve many different student groups and we would like to see students from to participate. LET US KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED Please let us know you are interested by clicking here >> http://nowarnowarming.org/form.php?id=52 Or contact our campus organizer who can bring you materials, make a presentation at your meeting, and send you additional e-outreach tools to help get more students involved >> Chris Otten, Campus Organizer, 202-536-4065, nwnw1022@gmail.com Feel free to send the sample email below to your contacts to help build a contingent including students from Eco-Sense or click on the following link to use a form to send emails >> http://tinyurl.com/2zbf7s ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Student: * The Earth is frying while families are dying. * Bombs are dropping while the US keeps shopping more weapons. * The glaciers are quickly retreating while millions of poor are needing to eat. Isn't time we STOP, SHIFT, and GO! Direct Action demonstration in the Nation's Capital to increase the peace and prevent global climate catastrophe. NO WAR -- NO WARMING Full Schedule: October 21 to October 23 DAY OF ACTION: October 22 in Washington, DC Stop. Shift. GO! www.NOWarNOWarming.org Education workshops and direct action trainings are scheduled to take place this week and on Sunday October 21. ** Accommodations and food will be provided -- so all you have to do is show up! * ARE YOU GONNA COME >> http://nowarnowarming.org/form.php?id=52 * TELL YOUR FRIENDS >> http://tinyurl.com/2pvqsh * TRAINING/WORKSHOP INFO >> http://nowarnowarming.org/article.php?id=108 * MORE INFO >> http://www.nowarnowarming.org (((PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD TO OTHER AFFILIATED STUDENT GROUPS)))

ACT NOW

Get on a Committee Scroll down to find a list of committees and contact information

Register to house others for Power Shift and GET IN FOR FREE!
1. visit www.powershift07.org
2. click on "Find a Place to Crash"
3. register a user ID
4. post your housing offer
5. receive an code via email that will allow to register for the conference for free

Sign up to see Urinetown FOR FREE! We have been asked to attend the "invite only" screening of Urinetown on Thursday Oct 18th at 8pm at the Greenberg Theater (corner of Wisconsin Ave and Van Ness). Please respond to this topic with your name and any friends you will be bringing and SHOW UP on Thursday!


Spread the word about Eco-Sense's campaign:
RE-INVENT AU
reduce, reuse, rebuild


Email marie.stratton@gmail.com if you want to attend The Meeting to establish goals and visions for the DC Student Coalition at GWU on Sunday October 28th at 2pm.

GET ON A COMMITTEE

Green Buildings Policy Committe (includes recycling committee): Casey Roe caseyjean5@gmail.com and Drew Veysey av3514a@american.edu

Power Shift Committee: David Smedick ds2184a@american.edu

Environmental Justice Committee: Genna Voss gcvullo@gmail.com

Event Planning Committee (includes recruitment): Mackenzie O'Donnell mackenzie_odonnell@hotmail.com

Outreach group: Rachel Voss rcvoss@gmail.com, Erin O'Sullivan erinosul@aol.com, or Marie Stratton marie.school@gmail.com

*If you aren't interested in being on a committee BUT still want to be really involved, try to come to the Core Group Meetings MON at 7PM in MGC

ENVS Internship with the Smithsonian!

Sponsor: Smithsonian Institution
Program Number: 08925
Title: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) Internship Program in Environmental Studies                                                                                                                                                                 
E-mail: SERCintern@si.edu

Program URL: http://www.serc.si.edu/pro_training/internships/internships.jsp
SYNOPSIS:
The sponsor offers undergraduate and beginning graduate students a
unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the fields of
environmental research  and education. This program enables students
to work on specific projects under the direction of the sponsor's
professional staff and is tailored to provide the maximum educational
benefit to each participant.
Deadline(s): 11/15/2007
                 02/01/2008
                 06/01/2008

DEADLINE NOTE
The deadline for summer positions (May to August) is February 1.
The November 15 deadline is for spring positions (January to May).
The deadline for fall appointments is June 1.

Link to full program description: http://www.infoed.org/new_spin/spin_prog.asp?08925 

--
Nathan L. Harshman
Assistant Professor of Physics

McKinley 160
Department of Computer Science, Audio Technology, and Physics

Conservation Contest!!!

Dear Victoria, The Student Conservation Association is offering students an opportunity to protect the environment, challenge their intellect, and win top prizes. And, given your ongoing support of SCA, I am asking for your help. Please forward this link to your students: http://www.thesca.org/contest/ We seek to engage the intelligence and passion of America's young leaders to help restore and protect our natural world. We are looking for practical solutions that involve young people in addressing an environmental challenge. As teachers and mentors, you are probably exposed to great ideas daily. Please share this information with your students, including those who may be working on a qualified paper. Submissions may be a research project or thesis as well as video, PowerPoint, or even a website Prizes include a 2008 Mazda3i, $37,000, and eight expense-paid trips to SCA’s April 2008 EarthVision Summit in Washington DC The deadline is December 1, 2007 The SCA/Mazda Conservation in Action Multimedia Contest is part of a year-long series of events to celebrate SCA’s 50th anniversary and honor founder Elizabeth Titus Putnam, whose senior thesis launched SCA in 1957. She proved that a young person with vision and determination can make a difference. SCA believes that’s still possible. Thank you for your continued support. Patty Holland Campus Recruitment Manager

Green Corps!

** Applications due Oct. 26, 2007 - apply online today at

http://www.greencorps.org **

Green Corps is the non-profit Field School for Environmental Organizing,

founded by leading environmentalists in 1992 to train environmental

organizers. Our program includes intensive classroom training, hands-on

experience running urgent environmental campaigns, and placement in

permanent positions with leading environmental and social change groups.

Classroom Training. Our intensive classroom training combines issue

briefings, workshops and skills trainings to prepare you to run a grassroots

campaign. Issue briefings include Clean Cars, Renewable Energy, Forests and

Endangered Species. Strategy workshops include The Legislative Process,

Social Change Methodology and Effective Media: Messaging and Framing.

Finally, hands-on skills trainings include Leadership Development, Training

Volunteers and Running Effective Meetings. Training is run by the Green

Corps Central Staff, as well as environmental and social change experts such

as John Passacantando, Executive Director, Greenpeace USA, Bill McKibben,

author and climate change expert, and Wendy Wendlandt, Political Director,

U.S. PIRG.

Field Training. Our field training puts you on the front lines of today's

most urgent environmental campaigns. With Green Corps, you will work in

multiple cities nationwide, chosen for their ability to make an impact on

critical environmental problems. Potential locations include, but are not

limited to, San Francisco, CA; Chicago, IL; Washington, DC and Boston, MA.

You must be willing to relocate during your year with Green Corps.

Dates. The program begins in August 2008 and concludes with graduation in

August 2009.

Responsibilities. Plan and implement a series of critical environmental

campaigns with groups like Rainforest Action Network, Sierra Club and

Greenpeace. You will secure media coverage, recruit and manage volunteers,

train new leaders, and mobilize grassroots activists.

Career Development. Upon completion of the training program, Green Corps

will connect you to organizations that are seeking full-time professional

staff. Green Corps graduates hold positions with MoveOn.org, Sierra Club,

Greenpeace, Global Exchange, Endangered Species Coalition, Global Trade

Watch, Corporate Accountability International, ForestEthics, and many other

environmental and progressive groups.

Qualifications. Each year we select 35 recent college graduates to join

Green Corps. We are looking for people who are serious about saving the

planet, have demonstrated leadership experience, and want to work for change

over the long haul at the grassroots level.

Salary & Benefits. Salary of $23,750. Optional group health care coverage,

paid sick days and holidays, two weeks paid vacation, and a student loan

repayment program for qualifying staff.

To Apply. To apply to Green Corps, fill out our online application by the

Early Application Deadline of Oct. 26, 2007. Deadlines, 2nd round interview

locations and our online application are at http://www.greencorps.org.

Contact. Jesse Littlewood, Recruitment Director, at jobs@greencorps.org,

617-426-8506, x1.

Solar Decathlon! Oct 12-20

The Solar Decathlon is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's
Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) and partners to
promote the development and adoption of solar power and energy
efficiency in buildings. Twenty teams of university students will erect
solar-powered homes that they have designed and constructed to create a
solar village on the Mall. The houses are required to derive all of
their energy from the sun, as well as achieving high architectural
design standards, and the teams compete in ten contests that measure how
well they meet this challenge.

The solar village houses and educational exhibits will be open to the
public daily from Friday, October 12 through Saturday, October 20,
except that the houses will be closed for competition purposes on
Wednesday, October 17. The solar village will be constructed between
10th Street and 14th street, and between Madison Drive and Jefferson
Drive on the Mall. For further information, please see the website at
www.solardecathlon.org.

The Solar Decathlons in 2002 and 2005 were educational, inspirational,
and reflected increasing technical sophistication. From Allan's position
in EERE and Pete's perch as an enthusiastic observer, we are excited
about the Decathlon and think you will find this year's competition very
worthwhile. Please pass this along to your colleagues.

Green Drinks International

Every month people who work in the environmental field meet up for a beer at informal sessions known as Green Drinks.
We have a lively mixture of people from NGOs, academia, government and business. Come along and you'll be made welcome. Just say, "are you green?" and we will look after you and introduce you to whoever is there.It's a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts. Everyone invites someone else along, so there’s always a different crowd, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organising network.
These events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity. It's a force for the good and we'd like to help it spread to other cities. Contact your local node to get the latest info about coming along.

ACT NOW

SPEAK OUT AND TESTIFY in front of DC City Council: Unique opportunity for youth only to tell the DC City Council what issues matter most to them. Get out to the 5th floor chamber of the John A Wilson building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW) on Saturday Oct 13th at 10am. Tell city council why you are concerned about climate change!! Contact contact Chris Weiss - cweiss@foe.org

Get on a Committee Scroll down to find a list of committees and contact information

Register for Power Shift: www.powershift07.org [Contact David S. about getting more information and a discounted registration fee: ds2184a@american.edu]

Contact Mackenzie mackenzie_odonnell@hotmail.com to help promote Open Mic/Open Minds 10/8 OR Eco-Sense's Campaign Kickoff (and power shift promotion) 10/9 on the QUAD.
Contact shilpa_joshi2005@yahoo.com with the subject line: I WANT TO HELP 10/9 (or whatever date) if you can table or volunteer in any way!

Spread the word about Eco-Sense's new campaign:
RE-INVENT AU
reduce, reuse, rebuild