Bates Energy Action Movement: January 2008

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 8^th

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 1^st 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 9^th

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 PhD – Tidal Power specialist, Maine Tidal Power
Dr. Michael Dorsey - Dartmouth Professor and climate change policy specialist, Dartmouth College
Tom Stokes – Climate 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 Orlowski – Founder, 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 10^th

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)

Events

2/8 - 2/10: 5th annual Maine state climate summit at Bates College!
January 31: National Global Warming Teach-in FOCUS THE NATION!
Step It Up Maine! April 14 Noon-3pm Maine State House
Step It Up @ Bates: April 8, 2pm at Hathorn - come take a break and show congress that you want action now! We've got cookies!
Teach-In: Wed 02/28 @ 8pm in Pgill G52 - Come learn and talk about the how we can make Bates Carbon Neutral and what you can do!
Meeting: Wed 2/14 9:15 @ the ronj- All Welcome and encouraged to come

What exactly is "Global Climate Change"?

The average surface temperature of earth has increased more than 1 degree Fahrenheit since 1900 and the rate of warming has been nearly three times the century-long average since 1970. Almost all experts studying the recent climate history of the earth agree now that human activities, mainly the release of heat-trapping gases from smokestacks, tailpipes, and burning forests, are probably the dominant force driving the trend. The gases add to the planet's natural greenhouse effect, allowing sunlight in, but preventing some of the resulting heat from radiating back to space. Drawing on research on past climate shifts, observations of current conditions, and computer simulations, many climate experts say that without big curbs in greenhouse gas emissions, the 21st century could see temperatures rise 3 to 8 degrees, weather patterns sharply shift, ice sheets shrink and seas rise several feet.

What is carbon neutrality?

The essence of carbon neutrality is a net result of zero emissions of carbon dioxide equivalents (CDE), which includes carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and occasionally other greenhouse gases like fluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. The CDE for gases other than carbon dioxide is calculated by multiplying the mass of a gas by its global warming potential (e.g. 122 times that of carbon dioxide for methane), as defined by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Organizations generally begin the process of achieving carbon neutrality by taking an inventory of their emissions and then reducing the amount of energy they use - chiefly through a spectrum of energy efficiency measures. Once energy efficiency has been maximized, a variety of potential next steps include fuel shifting (such as burning biodiesel, which can be a carbon-neutral fuel) to behavioral changes (like the increased use of public transportation) to further reduce the CDEs. Ultimately, when emissions have been reduced as much as possible, carbon neutrality can be reached by the purchase of carbon offsets from reputable traders in renewable energy credits in an amount equal to the number of tons of CDEs remaining.