Climate Leadership Workshop - This Sunday

[ebecker.livejournal.com]

Climate Leadership Workshop

Sunday, March 22, 2009
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cambridge Innovation Center, One Broadway, 5th floor,
Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA
Requested Donation: $15

Please RSVP to vanessarule@gmail.com (we need names for building security)

Co-sponsored by the Sustainability Institute, Clean Water Action, First Parish Cambridge (Unitarian Universalist), Cambridge Green Decade Coalition, Greenport, Mass Climate Action Network, Somerville Climate Action

Scientific research suggests very alarming climate changes, and that we are nearing “tipping points”. Paleoclimatic records suggest that we need to take strong, immediate action. How do we effectively communicate the climate challenge, mobilize stronger action by more people, and help our communities make the transition to safe, clean, renewable energy?

At this workshop you will receive training, background information, and electronic access to a Sustainability Institute PowerPoint presentation that you can use and incorporate for your own educational purposes.



These resources and the training have been developed to help community leaders:

*Describe the latest climate science and what it means for our lives and the world.

*Summarize criteria for solutions that can sustain human civilization and the earth’s species and ecosystems

*Identify common emotions and reactions people have to the science, and learn how to respond effectively;

*Engage more people in education and action.

We’ll discuss approaches and strategies for reaching different populations. You’ll receive updates on advocacy and action campaigns from the MA Climate Action Network.

Many thanks to Cambridge Innovation Center for generously donating use of their space! This workshop is made possible by a generous grant to the Sustainability Institute and community volunteers.

Presenters:

Philip Rice, Ph.D., Sustainability Institute (www.sustainer.org). Dr. Rice directs the Our Climate Ourselves program of the Sustainability Institute, developing tools to help leaders communicate emerging climate science and solutions. He conducts workshops for sustainable development practitioners from around the world, and for colleges and universities, NGOs, and businesses. He works with SI's Climate Interactive Project helping to design web interface for a climate computer simulator/model being used by governments and organizations involved in the 2009 international climate treaty negotiations.

Tina Clarke, tinaclarke2@comcast.net, 413-863-5253. Tina Clarke has been a Campaign Director for Clean Water Action and an advocate, educator, consultant, and director of nonprofit programs since 1985. She led a national citizen advocacy training program for 16 faith denominations, and directed Greenpeace USA's citizen activist network. She provides consulting and training on citizen-based energy solutions and is a certified Transition Towns Trainer (www.transitiontowns.org).

To register: Email vanessarule@gmail.com. If you have questions, please call Vanessa at (617) 628-2571. Please bring cash or a $15 check made out to Somerville Climate Action. Scholarships available.

Comments

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Hi there,

I realize this is sponsored by a Somerville group, but it doesn't seem to be about Davis Square and isn't happening here, either. Also, there are way too many linefeeds. Please put pretty much all of it behind the cut or remove it. Thanks!

[ebecker.livejournal.com]

Just fixed some of the formatting problems. It's a Somerville Climate Action event and we've gotten a lot of responses to past postings here, so I thought it was worthwhile.
-Eric

[jimmyfergus.livejournal.com]

Sounds very worthy, but it seems to be all about raising consciousness of the issue. Surely consciousness has already been raised. Everyone who is prepared to listen, already knows, and the rest never will.

What is needed is action - I read the title and thought this might be about how to make a material difference in the community. We need community organization and help on energy saving initiatives, understanding grants and other help available, using and supporting local agriculture etc...

[ebecker.livejournal.com]

My view is we need all of the above. Somerville Climate Action (www.somervilleclimateaction.org) is pursuing pretty much all of the things you mentioned: beginning a weatherization barnraiser program, helping build vegetable gardens, working with the city to reduce its footprint (including winning a solar array for a school), holding a living green festival in May at the high school, working with local businesses to go green (GoGreen Somerville).

For more information please come to our next meeting: March 30th at 7:30pm at the offices of PlanetTech in Davis Square at 240B Elm Street.