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Focus the Nation at Macalester College

On January 31, 2008, Macalester College and thousands of colleges, schools, businesses, religious groups, and many more organizations across the nation will take part in a national symposium to take joint action on global warming. The goal of these nationwide Focus the Nation initiatives is to alert communities and political leaders to the significant movement imploring attention and action on this extremely critical social issue.

At Macalester we are planning to engage the extended Macalester community in events to educate on the realities of the impact of global warming on the present and to inform and celebrate the solutions possible for the future. It is our intent to illuminate the devastaion of global warming across the many dimensions of diversity. To successfully and truthfully accomplish this goal we ask all members of the community to join in the process.

Events for January 31st, 2008:

• 9:00 A.M.: Opening Convocation in the CHAPEL. President Rosenberg and Macalester's new Sustainability Manager, Suzanne Savanick Hansen. Macalester faculty, staff and students involved in Macalester’s sustainability efforts will engage in an informative discussion on Macalester’s response to climate change.
  
• 10:45 A.M.,1:30 P.M., 3:15 P.M. Simultaneous Panel Sessions across numerous venues. See the matrix below.
  
  *4:00-7:00 P.M.: Focus the NationMUSIC CELEBRATION and concert in the Kagin Ballroom with Mac's own SOFA KING COOL and the Twin Cities famous Bill Mike Band with MC Carnage!!!
  
• 7:30 P.M.:Focus the Nation Program in the CHAPEL. President Rosenberg, State Senator Ellen Anderson, State Representative Erin Murphy, and State Senatorial candidate Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer will discuss the climate and the obstacles, approaches, and initiatives affecting people in the Twin Cities and MN. 

Focus the Nation Event Locations

Thursday, January 31st, 2008
Schedule of Events

9:00 A.M. Convocation in the Chapel. President Rosenberg and Macalester's new Sustainability Manager, Suzanne Savanick Hansen. Macalester faculty, staff and students involved in Macalester’s sustainability efforts will engage in an informative discussion on Macalester’s response to climate change.

10:00 A.M.: MacCares, Upstairs Campus Center

10:45 A.M.: Panel Sessions

Global Warming from a Geological Perspective: In terms of geologic time, the events we are witnessing can be contextualized in a manner that is anything but shocking. The Earth precesses over tens to hundreds of thousands of years, creating alternating ice ages and inter-glacials. In times past, there have been temperate forests at the poles, and life survived, even thrived, during these periods of Earth history. Still, there is debate within the geologic field concerning the degree of human contribution, and the severity of the impact future changes will have on human life.  With Professors John Craddock and Kelly MacGregor.  
Location: Chapel

Zero Waste (Recycling Initiatives with Eureka Recycling and others):  Representatives from Eureka Recycling, a pioneer in waste solutions,  will speak about the drive for reducing waste and consumption, as well as Macalester’s own recycling program.  
Location: Campus Center JBD (downstairs)

Organized Labor and Sustainability:  A better quality of life, a society that supports family-wage jobs, and the creation of a clean, sustainable economy to leave our children are values shared by members of both labor and environmental communities. These movements are forming partnerships here in the Twin Cities. With labor leaders Lynn Hinkle and Bernie Hesse, and student intern Madeline Kovacs. 
Location: Kagin.

Community Carbon Reduction Strategies: Individuals hold the keys to stopping global warming. Learn from a Saint Paul City Council member, a state pollution reduction specialist, and the director of a local environmental nonprofit about ways that individuals and communities can reduce their carbon footprints. Many ways exist to lower global warming emissions, from personal lifestyle choices to supporting legislation.  Location: Carnegie 06.

12:45 PM:  Tap Water Challenge, Upstairs Campus Center

1:30 P.M. Panel Sessions

Engaging Psychology to Address Global Warming.
Christie Manning, (Visiting Prof. of Envi Studies & Pyschology)
Elise Amel, Professor of Pyschology; University of St. Thomas
Britain Scott, Professor of Psychology; University of St. Thomas

Location:4th Floor Old Main

Wind Industry Solutions:  Minnesota, with more wind potential than the country of Denmark, has yet to establish any wind manufacturing facilities in-state. Yet during the last legislative session, Minnesota passed a 25 percent by year 2020. Come hear how Fresh Energy and industry representatives are working to make wind a viable alternative fuel for both small farmers and for city dwellers.  Location: Campus Center JBD (downstairs)

The National Campus Energy Challenge: Mac Students and the Climate Movement
Laura Bartolomei-Hill: Campus Wars and the establishment of team MN, Timothy Den Herder:  National level of organization, Matt Kazinka:  The Macalester NCEC campaign.  Location: Weyerhauser Boardroom

Energy Justice Workshop
Want to save the climate from global warming? Need to know how to best support green energy? Learn how we can stop dirty energy technologies like coal, nuclear, ethanol, and incineration, and support the clean alternatives: conservation, efficiency, wind and solar. Presented by Mike Ewall, founder of Energy Justice Network.
Location: Chapel

2:30 PM:  MacDems, Upstairs Campus Center

3:15 P.M. Panel Sessions

Community Organizing: Two Sierra Club Representatives will discuss their experiences with organizing groups for environmental change and activism. Location: Carnegie 06.

Policy Approaches:  Professors Roopali Phadke, Bill Moseley and Sarah West speak on the impacts of global warming and the policy responses to the issue.  They will address the issue from political, economic and humanitarian perspectives.  Location: Chapel

Home Solar Installation:  An exploration of the current energy situation and how your home fits into the bigger picture.  Learn about available solutions to energy consumption, specifically an economical approach to home solar installation.  Location: Weyerhauser Boardroom

Panel Descriptions:

1. Organized Labor and the Climate Crisis
The rise of national orgnizations such as the Blue-Green Alliance (between the Sierra Club and the Steelworkers) and the Apollo Alliance are the culmination of a growing movement uniting labor and environmental causes. A better qulity of life, a society that supports family-wage jobs, and the creation of a clean, sustainable economy to leave our children are values shared by members of both labor and environmental communities. Come hear how these movements are forming partnerships here in the Twin Cities from two of these labor leaders themselves, Lynn Hinkle and Bernie Hesse, and fellow student intern Madeline Kovacs.

Lynne Hinkel (UAW Local 879)
Bernie Hesse (UFCW Local 789)
Madeline Kovacs (Macalester Student)
Contact: Madeline Kovacs

2. Community Carbon Reduction Strategies

Individuals hold the keys to stopping global warming. Learn from a Saint
Paul City Council member, a state pollution reduction specialist, and the
director of a local environmental nonprofit about ways that individuals and
communities can reduce their carbon footprints. There are many ways to lower
global warming emissions, from personal lifestyle choices to supporting
legislation.

Russ Stark, Saint Paul City Council Member, Ward 4
Philipp Muessig, Sustainable Community Development, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Mary Morse, Executive Director, Neighborhood Energy Connection


3. Engaging Psychology to Address Global Climate Change
Christie Manning, (Visiting Prof. of Envi Studies & Pyschology)
Elise Amel, Professor of Pyschology; University of St. Thomas
Britain Scott, Professor of Psychology; University of St. Thomas
Contact: Chris Wells

4. Wind Industry Solutions
Minnesota, with more wind potential than the country of Denmark, has yet to establish any wind manufacturing facilities in-state. Yet during the last legislative session, Minnesota passed a 25 percent by . Come hear how Michael Noble, executive director of Fresh Energy, and -------------- are working to make wind a viable alternative fuel for both small farmers and for city dwellers.

Michael Noble (Fresh Energy),
Carl Nelson (Mac grad and community wind developer, Green Institute),
Judy Poferl (Xcel Energy, the nation's largest purchaser of wind power)
Contact: Madeline Kovacs

5. Global Warming from a Geological Perspective
In terms of geologic time, the events we are witnessing can be contextualized in a manner that is anything but shocking. The Earth precesses over tens to hundreds of thousands of years, creating alternating ice ages and interglacials. In times past, there have been temperate forests at the poles, and life survived, even thrived, during these periods of Earth history. Still, there is debate within the geologic field concerning the degree of human contribution, and the severity of the impact future changes will have on human life.

Kelly MacGregor (Macalester Geology Professor)
John Craddock (Macalester Geology Professor)
Jeff Thole (Macalester Geology Lab Technician)
Contact: Madeline Kovacs

6. Community Organizing
Cesia Kearns (Sierra Club)
Karen Monahan (Envi. Justice Advocates of MN)
plus one other
Contact: Sam Adels

7. Zero Waste Solutions
Diana Kennedy (Eureka Recycling)
Susan Hubbard
Alex Danovich
Contact: Adam Rule

8. The National Campus Energy Challenge: Mac Students and the Climate Movement
Laura Bartolomei-Hill: Campus Wars and the establishment of team MN
Timothy Den Herder: national level of organization
Matt Kazinka: the Macalester NCEC campaign
Contact: Piera

9. Policy Panel
Roopali Phadke (Macalester Environmental Studies Professor)
Bill Moseley (Macalester Geography Professor)
Sarah West (Macalester Economics Professor)
Contact: Jeff Jay

If you'd like to be involved with planning this event please contact any of the following students:

Sam Adels                   sadels@macalester.edu

Jeff Jay                        jjay@macalester.edu

Madeline Kovacs         mkovacs@macalester.edu

Adam Rule                  arule@macalester.edu

Piera Von Glahn          pvonglah@macalester.edu