Sunday, February 10, 2008

SustainME

From ItsGettingHotinHere.org:

This weekend, February 8-10, 2008 over 60 students from all over Maine descended on Bates College for a charged learning and action experience. Kicking it off with a keynote from State Senator Phil Bartlett the students put all of their energy towards concluding with a pathway to a campaign and network that will eventually reach all of the colleges in Maine. Senator Bartlett was instrumental in getting the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) passed in Maine, and Maine students will now build off of this legislation to achieve the goals set by the 1Sky platform:

-20% reductions by 2020 and 80% reductions by 2050

-Moratorium on new Coal power plants

-Create 5 million new green jobs

Maine Students have set an action plan towards this goal that will work in small achievable steps to arrive at new legislation that strengthens RGGI in its post-2019 regime. Students will start on Tuesday by attending a public hearing of Maine bill LD 2149: “An Act to Lower Energy Costs and Increase Renewable Energy in Maine” sponsored by Representative Hannah Pingree. Along with working to push this legislation, students will be working on the bill LD 2126: “An Act To Minimize Carbon Dioxide Emissions from New Coal-powered Industrial and Electrical Generation Facilities in the State” sponsored by Representative W. MacDonald. These two bills are a step in the right direction, but will not be enough, so Maine students will work with other organizations and the legislature to work on a bill that will take RGGI into the post-2019 regime. Over the next 8 months this focus will be accompanied by the network’s push to get all colleges in Maine to sign the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment (PCC).

These are bold steps we must take to ensure our future. The students of Maine will work together on making their state an example for the national and international climate movement. They are calling on all Maine colleges and universities to join us in this unified effort and to realize the power we can have together.

Together, we call ourselves SUSTAIN MAINE!

Thank you so much to all of the speakers who gave their time to educate us, and all of the participants that braved the elements to create something truly inspiring.

If you want to contact SustainMaine do so at sustainmainesteering@gmail.com

Thursday, January 24, 2008

5th Annual Maine State Climate Summit: Schedule


To register: http://www.ssc.org/involved/registrationsup_mz.php?e=117.


Friday, February 8th


4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Arrival and Sign-ins


5:30 pm – 6:00 pm Welcome and Introductions (logistics and goals for the weekend)


6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner and 1st breakout discussion – a chance to list questions and set goals for the weekend (with school group)


7:30 pm – 8:10 pm Keynote address: Maine State Senator Phil Bartlett!


8:10 pm – 8:30 pm Socializing/networking


8:30 pm - ?:00pm Festivities!


Saturday, February 9th


8:45 am – 9:30 am Breakfast


9:30 am – 9:45 am An introduction from B.E.A.M and an overview of the day ahead


9:45 am – 11:15 am Panel Discussion #1 – an introduction to climate change and our options for mitigation


  • Paul Kando – Climate Expert to be presenting Global Warming, an Update for Maine”

  • Normand Laberge PhDTidal Power specialist, Maine Tidal Power

  • Dr. Michael Dorsey - Dartmouth Professor and climate change policy specialist, Dartmouth College

  • Tom StokesClimate Crisis Coalition Coordinator

  • Kurt Adams Chairman, Maine Public Utilities Commission

  • Mike Jacobs - VP of Transmission, UPC Wind


11:15 am – 11:30 am Break


11:30 am – 12:45 pm Panel Discussion #2 – much ado about climate change (the student's role)


  • Jennifer Andrews Campus Program Manager, Clean Air – Cool Planet

  • Mark OrlowskiFounder, Sustainable Endowments Institute

  • Sarah Lovitz Clean Energy Project Outreach Coordinator, Natural Resource Council of Maine

  • Julie Rosenbach Environmental Coordinator, Bates College

  • Maura Cowley – Campaign Director, Sierra Student Coalition


12:45 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch


1:30pm – 2:45 pm Break out into focus groups – discuss options for achieving carbon neutrality (speakers and presenters can take part in these discussions) each discussion will be facilitated by a Bates students


2:45 pm – 3:00 pm Break – picture on the puddle with a banner


3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Each focus group will briefly discuss and lead a Q&A on their findings


4:00 pm – 4:30 pm Break out into school groups, prepare a profile of your campus organization


4:30 pm – 6:00 pm Campus group profiles – meetings, campaigns, initiatives, etc., what works, what doesn't work, followed by short Q&A and an opportunity to ask for suggestions


6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner


7:30 pm – 8:30 pm Statewide campaign brainstorm activity

8:30 pm - ??:00 pm/am Festivities!


Sunday, February 10th


9:00 am – 9:30 am Breakfast


9:30 am – 10:30 am Breakout session (workshops and additional presentations)


  • Eco-sculpting

  • Environmental Justice

  • Climate Change and the Maine Coast

  • Presidential Candidate Overview

  • Coal and Mountaintop Removal

  • Climate refugees

  • Carbon Trading and Capping

  • Sustainable Agriculture


10:30 am – 12:30 pm Laying the foundation for a statewide campaign


12:30 pm – 1:00 pm Closing statements


1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Lunch available, open-time for ongoing discussions


Monday, January 14, 2008

The 5th Annual Maine State Climate Summit February 8-10


The Bates Energy Action Movement is proud to announce that this year's Maine State Climate Summit will be held at Bates College in Lewiston, ME. Please forward this message along to any relevant lists or potential participants at your school.


What is it?

The summit, co-sponsored by the Sierra Student Coalition, is a three-day event that unites students from high schools, colleges and universities in Maine to discuss and take action on issues pertaining to climate change, ranging from wind power to eco-art.

Although the summit is primarily concerned with climate change in Maine, it will also address National and global issues. Our goal for the weekend is threefold: to teach, to train, and to organize. Panel discussions and workshops will serve to strengthen a participant's knowledge base and resources, while networking opportunities and campaign development will set us all on the course to effective climate change action as a powerful and united body of student activists.


Who should come?

No. Experience. Necessary. We will be starting from the basics and working our way through some of the crucial and exciting issues surrounding climate change and sustainability. Come to learn, come to network, come to organize, come to debate! This summit is for students in Maine (and surrounding states) who feel strongly about taking action on climate change, our generation's most pressing challenge.


What to expect...

The weekend will consist of a keynote address, panel discussions, student workshops and statewide campaign organizing as well as great food, socializing, recreation, and entertainment. Accommodations will be provided for all registered participants. The following is a list of confirmed speakers and presenters:

Sarah Lovitz – Clean Energy Project Outreach Coordinator, Natural Resource Council of Maine
Tom Stokes
– Climate Crisis Coalition Coordinator
Mark Orlowski
– Founder, Sustainable Endowments Institute
Paul Kando
– Climate Expert to be presenting “Global Warming, an Update for Maine”
Michele Hertz
– Environmental activist and eco-sculptor
Kurt Adams
– Chairman, Maine Public Utilities Commission
Julie Rosenbach
– Environmental Coordinator, Bates College
Normand Laberge PhD
– Tidal Power specialist, Maine Tidal Power
Dr. Michael Dorsey
- Dartmouth Professor and climate change policy specialist, Dartmouth College
Jennifer Andrews – Campus Program Manager, Clean Air – Cool Planet

Stay tuned for a full schedule of the weekend!


How to register...

Here's a link to the registration page: http://www.ssc.org/involved/registrationsup_mz.php?e=117.


Everyone who plans to attend must register by January 30th.


There is a per-person registration fee on a sliding scale from $15.00 - $30.00, which will help offset the cost of food for the weekend. Registered e-mail addresses will be added to a list serve and will receive regular updates including an event schedule and more specific information on what to bring and how to prepare. If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns feel free to contact us (Mike Pickoff - mpickoff@bates.edu).

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in February!

Love,
The Bates Energy Action Movement

Step It Up Maine!

On April 14, over 1000 organizations will be hosting events in their communities to call on policy makers to take aggressive action to mitigate anthropogenic climate change, the greatest threat of our generation. Our message: "Step It Up! Cut carbon emissions 80% by 2050." You can be a part of this historical event by joining us at the Maine State House in Augusta as we hand deliver a joint statement signed by thousands of Maine students and citizens. We will be celebrating with information, speakers, and music. Maine of us will be biking from out school and other will be carpooling. If you cannot make the event, your signature and voice can by signing the petition below Please take 30 seconds to sign online and help initiate lasting change that will benefit many generations to come! Students of Maine Sign HERE: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/865908518 Citizens of Maine Sign Here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/358025097 Thank You! Jack Murphy jmurphy3@bates.edu April 14: Noon - 3pm Maine State House Augusta, Me If you would like more information on 'Step It Up!' visit www.stepitup2007.org If you would like more information on the event in Augusta, email Jack Murphy (jmurphy3@bates.edu)