Sustainability
Now!
Sessions & Schedule
Below is the latest list of sessions for Saturday, May 17, 2008. Morning sessions will follow a 9:15 to 10:15 AM Morning Plenary, and will last from 10:30 to 11:45 AM, and early afternoon sessions will begin after lunch at 1:15 and end at 2:30 pm. Late afternoon sessions will begin after a short break at 2:45 and will last until 4:00, at which time a Children's Performance will be held. Rooms and schedules are subject to change.
Engaging Children in the Natural World
2:45 - 4:00 PM
Description
Segments of the documentary "Where Do the Children Play?" will be shown. Discussion that follows will incorporate reflections from this viewing and participants' own experiences and knowledge of the decreasing opportunities for outdoor play. Discussion will use the "world cafe" structure.
Presenter
Betsy Loeb: Betsy has a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. She has worked at Action for Children since 1995; Vice President of the Clintonville/Beechwold Resource Center Board; steering committee member of the recently founded Leave No Child Inside Central Ohio Collaborative; member of Sustainable Clintonville and Simply Living.
Conversations about Sustainability in Higher Education
2:45 - 4:00 PM
Description
Jim Merkel will share some about of his experiences in working as Dartmouth College's Sustainability Coordinator as well as highlight programs from leading green campuses. Then he and session participants will engage in a roundtable discussion about what are some of the opportunities and challenges of achieving greater sustainability at institutions of higher education.
Presenter
Jim Merkel: the author of Radical Simplicity and consults with campuses on sustainability initiatives. Jim founded and directs the Global Living Project in Vermont. As Sustainability Coordinator at Dartmouth College his work helped Dartmouth earn the highest grade given on the Sustainability Report Card issued by the Sustainable Endowments Institute for the two years he led the campuses sustainability efforts. Merkel's projects include Sustainable Dining, Solar Thermal Evaluation, Carbon Reduction, Sustainable Offices, Green Greeks and Solid Waste Reduction. Full Bio.
State and Local Food System Development
1:15 - 2:30 PM
Description
The State of Ohio recently appointed an Ohio Food Policy Council and a process is just underway to assess the state's food system and identify opportunities for developing it. American Farmland Trust and other Central Ohio food system stakeholders are beginning to engage in a process to assess the regions local food system. Join in a discussion of these and other initiatives aimed at developing a more vibrant food system in the state and region.
Presenter
Brian Williams has been Ohio State Director of American Farmland Trust since October 2005. Before that, he had a 25-year career in journalism in Ohio, Minnesota and Chicago, and frequently wrote about local food, agriculture and land-use.
Navigating the Great Turning - Learning to Change from Empire to Earth Community Language
2:45 - 4:00 PM
Description
The language of Empire permeates our everyday lives - tending to make us believe it's true! When we take the time to analyze it, though, we know that it's not. This workshop will demonstrate the distortion that Empire "framing" gives to our perception of the world around us and gets us started on the vital path to reject that language and to build a new one that shows us that "another world is possible" - one where we live in community with all beings and with nature, here and around the world. Workshop will be interactive and seek to help participants to become sensitized to language as a means of distorting reality and exploring ways to speak truth.
Presenter
Michael Greenman: Michael is an activist "global citizen" having lived a good portion of his life outside the United States. This life experience has led to a view of the U.S. role in the world as having an "imperial" impact. His focus as an agent of change has been on addressing issues of globalization, corporate power/personhood, culminating at this time on a support for our transition from "empire" to "earth community" and global sustainability.
Walk, Bus, Bike
10:30 - 11:45 AM
Description
This presentation demonstrates it is possible to reduce reliance on the automobile in central Ohio. The resources and opportunities exist to move around the community by walking, using public transit and riding a bicycle. This presentation encourages the use of other modes of transportation in order to transform, not end, your relationship to the car. You may attend this as a one-time presentation only, or enroll in the ATP's three-part workshop entitled "Walk, Bus, Bike: In the Zone," which features more in-depth strategies and support on changing your mobility habits.
Presenter
Eric Davies, Chris Luers & Lisa Staggenborg: Lisa, Chris and Eric have formed Simply Living's Alternative Transportation Project (ATP), which offers fundamental approaches to help individuals and groups become more active in personal, political and infrastructure change.
Beyond Sustainability:
An Inspiring Vision of the Next 250 Years
1:15 - 2:30 PM
Description
- An exploration of how "The Great Story" - the epic of evolution told as a
sacred story - bridges science and religion and how it provides common
ground for atheists, theists, pantheists, humanists, and spiritual seekers.
- A way of thinking about the cosmos and our relationship to it that
inspires people to relate to social justice and environmental sustainability
in an entirely new way.
- An exploration of directionality in the cosmos (how evolution has led to
greater complexity, cooperation, and interdependence over time) and a look
at long-term evolutionary trends and short-term historic trends that are
especially hopeful and inspiring for those of us committed to just, healthy,
beautiful, and sustainably lifegiving future.
- A thoughtful discussion of these three questions:
(1) What is the role (destiny?) of the human in the evolutionary
process? What is our unique contribution as a species?
(2) Given long-term and short-term trends, what can we reasonably expect over the next 250 years, good news and bad news? What are the challenges and opportunities we will likely face?
(3) What difference can this perspective make in my life and the life of my circles of care and commitment?
Presenter
Michael Dowd: a veteran deep ecologist and community organizer, is the author of "Thank God for Evolution: How the Marriage of Science and Religion Will Transform Your Life and Our World", which has been endorsed by 5 Nobel Prize winners and 120 other luminaries across the religious and philosophical spectrum, from Buddhists to Baptists. During the 1980s and 90s, Michael pastored three United Church of Christ congregations, worked with Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, and Evangelical leaders across America on environmental, peace, and justice issues, and managed government funded Sustainable Lifestyle Campaigns on both coasts. His great joy is telling the 14 billion year history of everyone and everything in ways that evoke awe, gratitude, and trust, inspire faith and passion for life, and empower people to follow the path where their own great joy and the world's great need intersect.
Radical Simplicity
1:15 - 2:30 PM
Description
As oil prices reach record highs and climate scientists offer stark and dire warnings, author, volunteer and engineer, Jim Merkel suggests that by moving toward deeply sustainable lifestyles, we can directly address these challenges. Since quitting his work as a military engineer in 1989, Jim's experiment has been to live as close to the global median income ($5,000 per year) as possible. His burning question remains, "can I share the Earth equitably with other species, humans and future generations?" His presentation will include practical approaches to making sizable cuts in spending and footprints both in our lives and workplace. Included are images of light living in North America, Kerala, the Indian Himalaya and highlights from his sustainability work at Dartmouth College.
Presenter
Jim Merkel: is the author of Radical Simplicity and consults with campuses on sustainability initiatives. Jim founded and directs the Global Living Project in Vermont. Full Bio.
OSU Solar Decathlon Team
10:30 - 11:45 AM
Description
The OSU Solar Decathlon Team is a part of the Sustainable Living Effort at OSU, and will be designing and building a solar-powered house that will be entered into a competition (along with houses from nineteen other universities) that takes place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in the fall of 2009. Members will be presenting on the team's activities, showing examples of energy-efficient design, and hosting a panel discussion about the team's motivations for entering the competition and their involvement in the renewable energy scene in Ohio.
Presenter
The Solar Decathlon Team was formed in the spring of 2007. A group of students who were concerned about the lack of public knowledge regarding easy ways to use energy responsibly decided to write a proposal for entrance into the U.S. Department of Energy's prestigious Solar Decathlon, a competition which challenges 20 universities from around the world to develop homes that achieve excellence in Architecture, Engineering, Market Viability, and Sustainability. After recruiting professors and professionals to assist them, the team worked through Autumn quarter to develop the proposal. After hearing of their acceptance to the competition in late January, the team has been hard at work managing the project and supporting a variety of outreach activities to further the team's mission, both around campus and out in the community. The team recently partnered with the Pod Project, another cooperative endeavor involving both the College of Engineering and the Knowlton School of Architecture (KSA), to form a Sustainable Housing Initiative at the Ohio State University. The team is working to demonstrate that technology, design, and innovation can meet in an 800 ft2 house that is appealing and economically feasible for the American consumer. The house is currently in the design stage in a graduate-level studio at KSA. Team members are proud to be taking a leading role in developing and promoting sustainable housing at the Ohio State University.
OSU Sustainability Activities
10:30 - 11:45 AM
Description
OSU is going green! Sustainability projects of all sizes are underway across campus. From duplex printing to solar energy generation, this session will outline whats happening; identify the challenges, and what the OSU community can do to promote more.
Presenters
Aparna Dial currently serves as the Director of Energy Services and Sustainability at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, where she is responsible for all strategic and operational aspects of this program area. She has worked for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality in the Division of Surface Water (Enforcement Unit) and the Ohio EPA (Division of Air Pollution Control). Aparna has over 12 years of experience in the area of sustainability with direct experience in strategic planning, project management, environmental compliance and enforcement.
Chrissy Cooley is the Sustainability Coordinator in the Office of Business Operations. (Purchasing, Transportation and Parking, Travel, Uniprint, Stores, Receiving and Mail) As a student at OSU, she began the Scarlet, Gray and Green Fair, organized CFL Raids and helped the administration to plan with sustainability in mind.
Advocacy for "Deep Change"
1:15 - 2:30 PM
Description
Workshop participants will be led through a process for building upon their current capabilities as advocates. The concept of "deep change" will be introduced as an approach for preparing ourselves personally to work with and on behalf of others politically. Sustainability challenges us to become leaders in the preservation of our common good--cerebration of and stewardship for what we as caretakers of the planet have received and will to future generations. That includes responsibility for the human family's health, nutrition, housing, overall economic and environment stability, etc. Participants will be assisted in identifying and building upon their own special compassions for change. Ultimately, we will create together personal action plans for reforming procedures and laws as well as confronting overall systems and dispositions which violate these inherent values.
Presenter
Kathleen Gmeiner: Has been advocating for improved access to health care since 1983, when she was the health law staff attorney at Michigan Legal Services in Detroit. She has worked in the area of Medicaid advocacy, access to primary care and health systems reform. She currently is employed by Universal Health Care Action Network (UHCAN) Ohio to direct the Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage. OCHC seeks to unify the consumer voice on health care reform in Ohio.
Bob Erickson: Bob Erickson is director of the Hunger Network in Ohio, a faith-based mission to end hunger in Ohio by advocating for public policies to reduce poverty. He has been a long-time advocate for social justice as well as a community organizer, including serving as the founding director of the Community Resources Center, a nonprofit agency providing human services and strengthening neighborhoods in the north-central area of Columbus. He has also worked within various church groups and agency roles including chaplaincy, organizational development, and leadership for social change.
Voluntary Simplicity 101
10:30 - 11:45 AM
Description
This is an introduction for those who are feeling life is just too complex. If you are asking how much is enough, you may be searching for "voluntary simplicity". In this interactive workshop, explore the personal and environmental benefits of simplicity, discuss what simplicity means to you and how your inner and outer "stuff" affects your life.
Presenters
Liz Hansen: Liz' interest in voluntary simplicity started about 8 years ago after taking a discussion course on the topic in Dayton, OH. Upon moving to Columbus, she continued in her efforts to live her values through additional courses offered by Simply Living. Using the principals of voluntary simplicity she has made many life changes, including going from full-time to part-time to "resigned" computer programmer to massage therapist, now looking forward to becoming a small scale organic farmer with her husband.
Ellen Baumgartner: With a background in nursing, Ellen is passionate about caring for the earth and working tirelessly for its healing. She has mentored many discussion groups through the courses related to sustainability offered by Simply Living's Earth Institute, is an avid cyclist, locavore, activist and advocate for social justice.
The Power of Community Media
2:45 - 4:00 PM
Description
Being the media is a powerful tool, now increasingly available to Central Ohioans. From Simply Living's community radio station, WCRS 102.1 and 98.3 FM, to Indy Media, the Internet and the possibility of a full-power FM station, learn how we are bringing new and diverse voices about issues that matter and how you can get involved.
Presenters
Eugene Beer is Chief Engineer for Simply Living's community radio station WCRS and serves on the board of The Neighborhood Network, which has applied for an FM non-commercial community radio license in Delaware County. He is famously known as the energetic Piano Peddler and for 22 years was a computer software engineer with AT&T and Lucent Technologies.
Robb Ebright is in his second year of service as a VISTA volunteer and is deeply committed to increasing access to community media for all Central Ohioans. In both his work and "leisure", he advocates, promotes, develops and supports media initiatives, including community technology centers, Columbus IndyMedia and internet technologies.
Basra Mohamed is publisher and editor-in-chief of Danjir News, a local newspaper serving Somalis in Central Ohio. She also produces Somali-language "Danjir Somali Program" on WCRS, and works with many Central Ohioans from diverse African countries.
Marilyn Welker is Director of Simply Living and has worked to bring community radio to Central Ohio since 2001. Currently working on building WCRS as a community force for sustainability, she believes strongly in the critical role for media to shape our thinking and actions in positive directions.
Local Matters and You! Designing and Expanding a Vibrant, Local Food System in Central Ohio
10:30 - 11:45 AM
Description
Learn the basic elements of a healthy regional food system and the role Local Matters plays in helping to design and expand this system in Central Ohio, participate in an interactive visioning exercise, and consider what part you may play in bringing the dream to fruition.
Presenters
Noreen Warnock and Susan Weber of Local Matters, a nonprofit organization working to expand the availability of local food in Central Ohio and making the harvest of this food supply equally accessible to everyone.
Susan Weber brings 16 years of experience in sustainable landscape design and urban food production to her position as Principal with Urban Wild and Program Director for Local Matters. Her passion is facilitating the planning, design, installation, and maintenance of collaborative outdoor community spaces, including experiential school sites and urban farm gardens.
Noreen Warnock, Director of Programs and Community Outreach for Local Matters, is a food justice advocate who has worked on community-based food issues for the past ten years. She works to connect growers and consumers by developing markets for locally grown foods, designs and presents educational programs on the "how to" of local food system development, and assists in developing outdoor learning environments and health, wellness and nutrition curricula for local schools and other learning institutions.
Rescuing & Resuscitating our Resources
10:30 - 11:45 AM
Description
No matter how you cut it, words that begin with R seem to speak the message that we must be better stewards of our material resources. Away, that convenient place where we used to throw lots of unwanted stuff, is becoming less available. Happily new options are appearing. Most, if not all, are preferable to the old practices. This workshop will tell you about some of the new options now on-line in Central Ohio and some others in the development stage.
Presenters
Neil Drobny: is a business consultant who works with companies to help them implement sustainable business practices. He also teaches courses on sustainable business in the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State, chairs the Green Business Committee of Mayor Coleman's Green Team and volunteers as Executive Director of the Central Ohio Sustainability Alliance.
Mike Long: is the recently retired Executive Director of SWACO and has started his own business Resource100 LTD which has a mission to convert what has heretofore been viewed as waste into resources that can add value to our community. He is a Board Member of Columbus Sister Cities International where he chairs the Sustainability Committee and a Board Member of the Central Ohio Sustainability Alliance. He is also in the process of establishing the Ohio Business Council for Sustainable Development, an affiliate of the U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Development.
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